Best Restaurants in Peterborough

Downtown Peterborough has a great variety of locally owned restaurants, each with its own unique cuisine and character. In our downtown core, the cuisines include authentic Mexican, Caribbean, Middle Eastern, European, Asian, Italian, Greek, and standard American & Canadian. You can make a trip around the world in cuisines within a small radius of downtown.

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You’ll be craving your favourite meal by the end of this!

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Cafe’s

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The Silver Bean Cafe, which is open seasonally from May 1st through mid-October, is a staple in Peterborough cafe experiences. It’s outdoor dining only, with a large patio, and is open from 8:00 am until 6:00 pm daily, with the kitchen closing at 3:00 pm. Their menu has a variety of options from specialty sandwiches, paninis, and salads, to delicious breakfasts, smoothies, baked goods, and locally roasted coffee. Their ice cream window is open all day, and their beverages and baked goods are served until closed! The location is in Millenium Park in Peterborough, which is in the downtown area along the Otonabee River. The views are stunning, and there is a trail that runs through the park and along the river to Little Lake if you’re looking to walk or bike to or from your meal. Kawartha Outfitters has a rental shop below The Silver Bean that allows rentals for stand-up paddle boards, canoes, and kayaks.

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Cork & Bean is a great place for a morning coffee, or a midday meal and drink. They offer coffee, wine, and craft beer, along with baked goods, charcuterie, soups, and sandwiches - all under one roof! You’ll have access to free wifi and lots of power outlets, making this cafe a hotspot for those working remotely. Their welcoming atmosphere and a great selection of craft beer and wine specials keep the locals coming back!

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Sandwiches

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If you’re looking for the best “Samwiches” in town, check out Sam’s Place. Located downtown, this deli features locally sourced ingredients from the bread to the meat and the produce, and the meats are all smoked, cured, and prepared in-house. This truly is exceptional in itself! They have an extensive menu of specialty samwiches and sides, there’s something for everyone - and their menu even includes gluten-free options. Its existence is a dominant one in Peterborough's downtown core, and you will likely soon become a regular there after your first experience.

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Pubs & Breweries

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Peterborough has a lot of craft beer influence at its local pubs, and here are a few of our favourites!

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For a restaurant that also has its own brewery, try The Publican House! Their menu is amazing, and they have a great atmosphere whether you’re dining inside or eating on the patio. The Publican House makes all kinds of beer for you to try, and you can find their beer menu here.

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St. Veronus is a great option if you’re looking for something a little different. The building is actually an old bank - so its atmosphere has tons of history and character, and the food is phenomenal. St. Veronus brings the Belgian dining experience to Peterborough with its Belgian influenced menu and beer. If you like seafood, you can’t go wrong with the mussels!

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The Ashburnham Ale House offers a large selection of beer, wine, cocktails, and even a robust coffee. Their food is incredible and their menu presents a variety of sandwiches, pizzas, salads, and a medley of delicious culinary dishes from other cultural influences.

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If you’re looking for a RealSports vibe but on a smaller scale, One Eighty Hunter is the perfect local comparison. At this gastropub, you can find amazing meals, great drinks, a patio, and lots of big-screen TVs to watch your favourite team play. The atmosphere is welcoming and upbeat, and there is a combination of pub-height tables, large booths, and bar seating, as well as a patio in the warmer months. One Eighty acquires their fresh cuts of meat from their family-owned butcher shop, Franz’s, and is one of our go-to places in town!

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Dr. J’s BBQ & Brews is your go-to place in Peterborough for anything barbecued and smoked! They’re an award winning restaurant with great meals and great service. They serve large portions of your favourite pub food, and have an upbeat southern vibe to them. You’ll think you’re south of the border when you get your hands on these meals!

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Gerti’s is a gastropub that offers a cozy atmosphere with comfortable seating, and friendly and helpful staff. If you’re looking for a diverse menu, this place is for you! They have a wide variety of menu items including delicious appetizers, unique salads, and drool-worthy mains. They even offer ½ sized portions for anyone with a smaller appetite!

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Riley’s Peterborough is a hotspot for locals. They offer great food with big portions and have a large seasonal rooftop patio that overlooks downtown and the Otonabee River. They are the only rooftop patio in town! They have $0.44 wings on Tuesdays starting at 5:00 pm, and 20 beers on tap. They also offer a pool hall and lounge area on the joining side and have live music on weekend evenings.

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Upscale Dining

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Berc’s Steakhouse is a favourite in Peterborough. They offer an amazing menu that offers entrees such as steak, seafood, and lamb. Their atmosphere is welcoming, and their service is top-notch. If you’re looking to dine here, make sure to call and reserve a spot!

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Rare is truly a local experience. You can see the kitchen from your dining area, and the record player sets the mood for a classic vibe making the atmosphere much to be desired, and the staff are always welcoming and helpful. Their menu features locally sourced food and has a diverse selection of culinary experiences for you to try!

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Chemong Lodge needs to be on your list of places to try. Their dinner menu includes salmon, ¼ chicken dinner, and an intense 38oz tomahawk steak, as well as comfort meals such as mac n’ cheese and shepherds pie. They’re not only open for dinner, but for brunch and lunch as well - and with three amazing chef’s curating locally sourced and seasonal dishes, you won’t want to miss a meal here. The lodge has a unique feel to it, as it was built in 1895 and overlooks the beautiful Chemong Lake.

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Mexican

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If you’re looking for a mini vacation, slip away into La Hacienda - which is an amazing authentic Mexican restaurant, where the atmosphere is as great as the food! Tuck away to the festive side patio and enjoy a margarita, some homemade tortillas with salsa and the best guac in town. The food is incredible and offers a great range of meals that everyone can enjoy. They’ve got a variety of tacos including Carne Asada (local grilled steak), Campechano (steak + chorizo), Camarón (grilled shrimp), Carnitas (braised pork), Pescado (tilapia), and even Grillo (with locally grown high protein crickets)! Other menu items include enchiladas, soups, fajitas, burritos, and steak and fish entrees. They’ve even got a little shop where you can purchase tortillas, salsa, and other homemade ingredients to make your own Mexican meals at home!

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Middle Eastern

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Ariyana is one of the many local Middle Eastern restaurants, and they offer amazing shawarma! This is one of our favourite dishes to have delivered on a Friday night when the week is over and we’re ready to relax.

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Levantine Grill is another fan favourite for Middle Eastern dishes in Peterborough. They’ve got an extensive menu, and their dishes consist of fresh ingredients, are made on an open grill, and are full of flavour! The pride of ownership is evident and the staff are helpful.

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European

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A Taste of Russia is a local favourite between the storefront and the stand at the local farmers market for European meals. They are well known for their cabbage rolls, borsch, and variety of mouth-watering perogies - which include traditional fillings, as well as a deliciously sweet peach dessert filling! You’ll be going to the market weekly to stock up on these goodies.

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Asian Cuisine

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Thai

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Jasmine Thai is a wonderful Thai restaurant that offers authentic Thai food, a great atmosphere to dine in, and an extensive take-out menu!

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We recommend trying Real Thai PTBO for traditional and delicious pad thai. Real Thai specializes in Central Thailand cuisine that is beyond delicious!

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Sushi

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Peterborough offers a variety of options for Sushi.

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Matsu Sushi has two locations, one on Hunter Street in Easy City, and one on Park Street which is a more central location. Matsu is a well-known Japanese and Korean restaurant that has some of the best sushi in town!

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Vietnamese

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If you’re looking for Vietnamese food, The Hanoi House is owned by a wonderful local family and has an amazing selection of beautiful freshly made Vietnamese dished. They offer appetizers that include fresh rolls, wonton soup, spring rolls, and pork belly fries. Their entrees include pho, vermicelli and rice dishes, Bánh Mì, and they even offer a kids menu.

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Saigon Boys is another great option for Vietnamese in Peterborough. They’ve got a variety of noodle and vegetable dishes, and our favourite - the Tom Yum soup!

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Caribbean

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Peterborough’s variety doesn’t end there. Head over to Island Cream Caribbean Cuisine if you’re looking for something traditional from Trinidad! Island Cream states on its front window that it is “home of the mighty roti”, and in a great article written by Tim Johnson of the Peterborough & The Kawartha’s, the owner states about 90% of his customers order just that. They serve more than just roti though - they also offer jerk chicken, oxtail, curry goat, and much more.

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Greek

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Greek food is another huge hit in Peterborough - and can be found in a few delicious places! The Souvlaki Pit on the South end of George Street downtown, and across from stunning Little Lake, has been serving up Greek food for ages, and they’re darn good at it! Another great spot is The Favourite Greek downtown Peterborough. All of their meals are amazing, but be sure to try their Greek fries if you stop in!

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Taso’s is a newer restaurant in Peterborough offering a great mix of Italian and Greek cuisine with a mouth-watering menu! They offer Sicilian pan pizzas with a variety of toppings, calzones, multi-layered cheesy lasagnas, plates of pasta, and souvlaki dinners.

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Italian

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If you’re looking for Italian, One Fine Food is an amazing place to try! They not only have indoor and outdoor seating, but they offer a restaurant, market, butcher, and cafe & bakery all in one place. You’ll be rolling in here to grab your morning coffee and breakfast sandwich to go instead of waiting in the long lines at Tim Hortons each morning!

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Capra Toro offers meals including traditional Italian antipasti, pasta, entrees, and wood-fired pizzas. The food is fresh and their portions are large. The drink menu includes martinis, spritz’s and specialty coffees, and their atmosphere and music all add to the Italian charm of this restaurant.

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Vegan & Specialty

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The Food Forest is Peterboroughs only glute- free and vegan cafe. The atmosphere is friendly, and they offer a variety of menu items including smoothies, salads, soups, entrees, and desserts. When making their goods, they strive to use as much local produce as possible. Their food is always fresh and delicious!

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Nateurs Plate is a plant based restaurant that makes all of their plant based meats, cheeses, and sauces in-house. They have a great selection of appetizers, salads, ‘burgers’, and ‘wings’. All of their food comes highly recommended, and they have a long drink menu that features spirits, wines, and local brews.

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Peterborough’s restaurant scene is exploding with options, and has never been more exciting than it is now! We can't wait for you to try it for yourself.

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Talk soon,

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Bailey

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