Spring shows up differently in Ontario. Markets wake up. Chefs start texting their farmers again. Menus ditch the heavy winter layers and slip into something brighter. If you want the inside scoop on where to eat right now, skip the usual suspects and book a table at a Feast On® restaurant.
These kitchens don’t just “support local.” They build their menus around it. Farmers are named on menus. They know the cheesemakers. They plan dishes around what comes out of the ground this week, not what ships in from who-knows-where year-round.
What is Feast On®?
Feast On® is a certification program run by the Culinary Tourism Alliance (that’s us!). It celebrates businesses that source and serve Ontario grown food and drink. To be certified, restaurants must spend at least 25 percent of their annual food budget on Ontario grown or raised ingredients. Many spend far more, especially on local beverages.
Jump to a Restaurant
Looking for your next spring dining reservation? These Feast On® restaurants are serving up fresh Ontario flavours right now. Jump to a spot near you:
Alright, let’s dive in!
1. The Waring House
Where: 395 Sandy Hook Rd, Picton, ON (View Map)
Waring House gives you the perfect excuse to explore Prince Edward County before the summer crowd rolls in. Spring feels slower here. You can wander wineries, stroll the shoreline and actually snag dinner reservations without plotting weeks in advance.
Turn it into a proper getaway and stay the night (or a few) at Waring House. After dessert, you just wander to your room and In the morning, you wake up to fresh County air and start again!
The kitchen brings local produce to the table in new ways, often with an international twist powered by Prince Edward County ingredients. Think County-harvested asparagus, rhubarb and more. Past dishes have included everything from the apple and cheddar soup made with cider from The County Cider Company to the Heirloom Tomato Tart with whipped goat cheese from Fifth Town Artisan Cheese. Or how about the Maple-Glazed Chicken Breast with Parsnip Risotto and Fig Jus featuring maple syrup from Vader’s Maple Syrup? Sweet, savoury and a true taste of spring.
If you want more than dinner, book a cooking class and learn how to transform seasonal County ingredients into globally inspired dishes. Alternatively, gather your favourite people for Afternoon Tea and settle in for tiered trays, local flavours and a little spring indulgence.
2. Restaurant Capelin
Where: 31 James St, St. Catharines, ON (View Map)
If you like your dinner with a side of storytelling and zero elbow room between you and the chef, book a seat at Restaurant Capelin.
This fairly new spot in St. Catharines already draws serious food people, and for good reason. Husband-and-wife team Alex and Kat run the show, greet you at the door and guide you through every course. They serve just 11 guests at a time. Yes, eleven. You won’t hide in the corner and you won’t want to.
Capelin focuses on Great Lakes and Georgian Bay fresh fish, building a pescatarian tasting menu that evolves every five to six weeks and keeps things low-waste. The kitchen shapes each experience around Niagara’s growing cycles and the availability of exceptional Canadian fish. If the lakes shift, the menu shifts. If a farmer harvests something beautiful, it lands on your plate.
Expect thoughtfully handled Ontario lake fish, peak-season produce and zero filler. Alex and Kat highlight their partners and producers throughout the evening, sharing stories about who caught the fish and who grew the greens. Ask questions. They love it.
The wine list sticks proudly to Niagara, pairing each course with bottles that amplify the flavours without overpowering the fish. You taste the region in every sip and every bite.
3. London Bicycle Cafe
Where: 320 Thames St Unit 101, London, ON (View Map)
Park the car and grab your helmet. London Bicycle Café sits just minutes from downtown London and anchors the perfect spring day on two wheels.
This hyper-local hotspot doubles as a bike shop and repair hub, so you can hit the city’s trails, cruise along the river and roll straight in for a tune-up and a bite. On warmer days, snag a seat on the outdoor patio and watch cyclists coast by while you refuel. Coffee powers the morning rides. Cocktails take over when the sun dips.
Chef Alicia Berkelmans leads the kitchen with a Dutch-inspired, Ontario-driven menu that feels both comforting and clever. Past dishes have ranged from smoked trout with scrambled eggs to hearty Dutch meatball sandwiches and steel cut oats finished with rich Ontario cream. Everything tastes intentional and there are loads of menu items that support local producers. It’s equal parts community hub, café and culinary pit stop. Ride. Refuel. Repeat.
4. Something Different by Chef D
Where: 184 Main Street, Cambridge, ON (View Map)
Head into the heart of downtown Cambridge for Something Different — a brand new restaurant by celebrity chef, Chef D! Enjoy a spring menu that changes as the first crops pop up from the ground. Think asparagus, rhubarb and more!
Known for his time on CTV, Breakfast Television, CHCH, Rogers and more, Chef D is bringing all of his culinary experience to the kitchen here and you’ll taste it in every bite! Fancy something even more different?
Book your table on an event night to indulge in everything from 7-course French bistro menus to his Blue Light Specials featuring a 4-course dining experience for just $65!
5. Ravine Vineyard
Where: 1366 York Rd, St. Davids, ON (View Map)
If you measure spring by asparagus sightings and patio reservations, book your table at Ravine Vineyard Estate Winery.
As soon as the first crops push through the soil, the kitchen flips fully into spring mode. Asparagus, radish and strawberry steal the spotlight. The menu leans bright, fresh and unapologetically ingredient-driven, which fits Ravine’s reputation as Niagara’s go-to food and wine destination. Early plantings across the property start thriving, feeding the team and shaping what lands on your plate. You can literally see dinner growing a few steps away.
When patio season kicks in, the whole place shifts gears. Glasses clink louder. Lunch stretches longer. The Pizza Patio reopens on the May long weekend, and locals treat it like a holiday. Order a pie, grab a bottle and settle in.
Spring also rolls out fresh wine releases and a stacked event calendar: SPCA Music Trivia Night on April 11, a Mother’s Day Painting Workshop on May 9, an early Father’s Day Brisket Masterclass on June 13 and a Canada Day bash on July 1 with food, fireworks and plenty of Niagara wine.
Come for a tasting. Stay for the afternoon. Leave planning your next excuse to come back.
6. AquaTerra
Where: 1 Johnson St, Kingston, ON (View Map)
If you want dinner with a waterfront flex, reserve a table at AquaTerra inside Delta Hotels by Marriott Kingston Waterfront.
This Kingston staple serves up sweeping lake views year-round, but spring really shows off. Boats start gliding by. The patio gears up for summer mode and live music drifts across the water once the warm nights settle in.
The menu spotlights locally and regionally sourced lake fish, thoughtfully prepared steaks and seasonal features that shift with the calendar. You’ll also find an elevated craft cocktail program that deserves its own spotlight. We recommend trying the Sweet Temptation— a fruity little number with Canadian-made Bearface Whisky, lime juice, lemon juice, cherry syrup, cherries and a vegan foamer.
Weekend brunch draws a loyal crowd, but don’t sleep on weekday lunch or Sunday dinner. You can slide in for a polished midday meeting, a relaxed waterfront date night or an easy end-of-weekend reset without waiting for a special occasion.
That said, if you do want to celebrate something big, AquaTerra delivers. Private dining options, polished service and those lake views make any milestone feel cinematic. Come for the scenery. Stay for the seafood, steak and a second cocktail.
Delight in Spring Flavours
No matter where you find yourself in Ontario this spring, there’s sure to be a Feast On® restaurant nearby packing the flavour. From asparagus to radish and rhubarb, you don’t want to miss the spring delights right on your plate!
