The trip to this small-town restaurant is well worth the drive.
By Julia Tramontin
Entering Mrs. Mitchell’s restaurant on a cloudy, blustering day feels like a refuge. As soon as you walk in, you are surrounded by what can only be described as a charming English cottage. On one wall, there is a large open fireplace. Odd antiques and knickknacks dot the wooden shelves and cabinets around the two intimate rooms serving as the dining area.
The dim lighting and hardwood flooring lend a cozy atmosphere to the space, harkening back to a bygone era, which is not surprising considering its rich history. The woodwork and elegant tables are far from what used to be there: chalkboards, desks, and students.
Tucked on a quiet street in the grassy hamlet of Violet Hill in Mulmur, Ont., Mrs. Mitchell’s was originally a schoolhouse that operated from 1889 to 1968. The restaurant’s name is a tribute to the school’s last and longest-serving teacher.
According to their website, Mrs. Mitchell’s offers fine dining, casual elegance, and historical charm, which it delivers on.
Mrs. Mitchell’s is a family-owned restaurant which lends itself to a warm and friendly atmosphere. The building was originally purchased by Maureen Baufeldt, who turned it into a restaurant in 1980. When Baufeldt passed away in 2011, her daughter Heidi took over. A picture of Baufeldt now sits on one of the wooden cabinets in the dining room.
In warmer weather, the restaurant also has an outdoor patio surrounded by overflowing flowerbeds and twinkling string lights.
The dinner menu is uncomplicated yet sophisticated, offering a wide range of traditional dishes with modern twists, such as Duck Confit and Seafood Brochette.
One of the most popular appetizers for sharing is the Warm Baked Brie, coming as the centrepiece on a wooden board surrounded by flatbread and berries. The brie is warm and gooey, with the crunch of the candied pecans on top balancing the cheese’s smoothness in every bite. The apricot chutney and pepper jelly offer bold pops of sweet and spicy to the neutral brie.
Every meal comes with a garden salad drizzled with a delicious but subtle creamy garlic dressing, bottles of which are available for purchase.
The Pan Seared Arctic Char melts in your mouth with every flaky forkful. A mandarin and pomegranate salsa spooned over the fish creates bursts of sweetness, pairing perfectly with basmati rice and steamed vegetables.
Mrs. Mitchell’s also offers brunch and lunch and is known for its dinner concerts which pair live music with a four-course meal.
Although about 45 minutes outside of Toronto, the drive offers a scenic view of Hockley Valley’s landscape of sprawling hills and trees, which is beautiful at any time of year
Mrs. Mitchell’s is not your typical restaurant, with the entrees alone ranging from $28 to $48. However, the splurge is well worth it for a special occasion or leisurely meal. Before you go, just remember to make a reservation.
As soon as you leave Mrs. Mitchell’s, you’ll start planning your next visit.