Cliffside at Muskoka Bay Resort — Restaurant in District Municipality of Muskoka

Nestled along the scenic shores of Muskoka, Cliffside at Muskoka Bay Resort offers an exceptional dining experience that beautifully combines breathtaking views, exquisite decor, and a thoughtfully curated menu. Inaugurated in 2014, this restaurant has quickly become a standout destination for both locals and visitors seeking a memorable culinary adventure.

As you step into Cliffside, you are immediately captivated by its elegant decor, which seamlessly blends modern design with natural elements, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere. The expansive windows provide a panoramic view of the stunning Muskoka landscape, making it the perfect setting for any special occasion.

During our visit today , we celebrated our wedding anniversary, and from the moment we arrived, the staff made us feel truly special. We were warmly welcomed with a complimentary glass of Prosecco, which was delightful and set the tone for the evening. The menu offers a variety of delectable dishes, with some of the most popular items including the Grilled Salmon, Lobster Risotto, and their signature Cliffside Burger. Each dish was beautifully presented and bursting with flavor, showcasing the culinary team's dedication to quality.

What truly set our experience apart was the extraordinary service provided by Avery and Zack. Their attentive and intuitive service is something we have only encountered in the finest restaurants. They were knowledgeable about the menu and the local area, providing excellent recommendations that enhanced our dining experience. Their genuine warmth and professionalism made us feel right at home, allowing us to fully enjoy our celebration.

Additionally, Muskoka Bay Resort features a stunning golf course designed by the renowned golfer and architect, Doug Carrick. This championship course offers a unique challenge and breathtaking views, making it a premier destination for golf enthusiasts. It's worth noting that the resort is currently in the process of privatization, which adds an element of exclusivity to this already remarkable destination.

The reservation process was seamless, and the follow-up communication was prompt and informative, ensuring that our special evening was perfectly planned.

In summary, Cliffside at Muskoka Bay Resort is a must-visit for anyone seeking an unforgettable dining experience in Ontario. With its stunning views, delicious food, exceptional service, and the added allure of a world-class golf course, it has quickly become one of our favorite spots. We look forward to returning for more celebrations in the future!

Here’s our updated review…

We had such a positive experience during our last visit that we decided to return to this place before heading back to Toronto. Our favorable opinion remains strong and is reinforced by the new brunch menu and the extraordinary and friendly service from Haley. This time, we ordered steak & eggs, smash burgers, lobster bisque (AMAZING), Cinnabon buns, and raspberry cheesecake. Everything was delicious, and the ambiance was just as beautiful as during our...

If you love Overpriced and Underwhelming Food, DEFINITELY come HERE !

This review only gets better now.....................

The only reason why we give it 5 stars is because of Mercedes at the Cliffside Dining Lounge/Patio. She was the best.... Muskoka Bay is super lucky to have her. If it wasn't for her we wouldn't have even stayed given it was damp, wet and the temperature was 11degC outside. We were literally the only guests there and someone even cancelled a birthday reservation with prepaid magnum of Moet Chandon, so you see our predicament.

However, Mercedes won us over. We were originally seated in an area on the patio terrace overlooking the course which on any given day in the prime of summer would be a lovely place to be but this given day it wasn't. She was kind enough to reseat us in a slightly less colder area, away from the wind, and was so kind and courteous. There were no patio heaters to warm us up on the super cold terrace but we just asked that she bring our food to be nice and hot and she did that. Surprised that a place of this stature didn't even have a proper birthday cake available but she conjured something up and brought us a Smores funnel cake with a cute little birthday candle. This young lady thought of everything and made our special moment very memorable.

Like I said, the menu is ridiculously overpriced and underwhelming but Mercedes made up for all that and more. You get better bang for your buck elsewhere, but we really lucked out and to Mr. Peter Freed, you really need to hold everyone there to her standard and I highly encourage you to give her a raise/promo. She is a fabulous person and you are extremely lucky to have her on your Staff. Feel free to contact me if this hard to believe but she really is that great.

When we come back to visit and play this Fall at Muskoka Bay Resort, we are going to come for one primary reason.... Ms. Mercedes, the gem of Gravenhurst ! The Golf, dining and accommodations are...

We swooned over the senbei crusted tuna ($20), a starter of ahi tuna wrapped in seaweed and rice cracker bits, deep fried to create a crispy coating but still leaves the fish raw and warmed. Sliced into thick meaty pieces, it’s adorned with a wasabi aioli that gives it Japanese French flair.

The amazing tuna made the shrimp lettuce cups ($17) seem severely underwhelming. Sure, it contained great fresh ingredients like delicate butter lettuce, poached shrimp, and cool vermicelli, but it seemed to be missing something – like a mango slaw (or even the coleslaw they serve with the fish and chips) - anything to give it colour, interest, and more flavours.

Cliffside smartly heats their plates, so the mains arrive and stay piping hot. But it does mean proteins like the seared salmon ($42) should be undercooked to finish, so it’s not completely cooked through when it arrives. Nonetheless, the fish had a nice crust and was still flaky inside.

I wouldn’t have thought to marinade salmon in a rosemary beet mixture, it ends up creating a natural tasting sweet and savoury glaze. Overall, the main is a healthy but filling dish finished with soft creamy stewed lentils, roasted asparagus, and a light citrusy beurre blanc sauce.

Our seafood meal continued with the fish and chips ($24), which had a nice airy crispy beer batter. In lieu of the traditional chips, Cliffside serves the fish with shoestring fries, it’s slightly softer texture almost reminiscent of McDonald’s spuds.

Online reviews generally commend the restaurant’s food but complains about service. Our Friday dinner went off without a hitch with someone around whenever we needed. The only anomaly was Cliffside includes a bread plate and butter knife with their place settings but never actually asks if would like or serves any carb. Perhaps a bit strange, but hardly anything that would mean a flaw in...