For my 36th birthday, I wanted an experience, and this restaurant had been on my radar for some time. They say there's no such thing as "going out for Canadian," but The Hillebrand Estates Winery Restaurant proves otherwise. A sizeable blonde wood, glass, and stone space with several rooms, the restaurant is nestled between the winery's fermenting room and the panoramic views of their vineyard.
It specializes in local game foods, which means be prepared for new, exotic flavors. Presentation overall is clean, but not fussy, with well-spaced tables dressed in crisp white linens, and featuring an efficient yet approachable waitstaff.
The night we went, the room was full at 7pm. This evening they were offering a six-course tasting menu with paired wines which they said would take about 2 1/2 hours - tempting, but a bit more of a commitment than we wanted to make (although the wild boar sausage was a real possibility).
I opted for a venison carpaccio for an appetizer and the caribou steak entree with a blue cheese bread pudding, braised baby veg, and a cocoa/cabernet sauvignon reduction sauce. My wife had a salad of wild greens and an entree with portions of venison loin and black cod with paired wines. Of course, they cook with and feature their winery's offerings on the wine list, and the single glasses are generous.
Desserts are rich and homey, like sticky toffee pudding, and apple crisp that was personalized with birthday wishes in chocolate on the rim.
This is an event restaurant where clean and casual is at home with the formal. Try it, sit back and enjoy the experience of Canadian food!