Life

10 great Canadian pit stops

Our readers’ recommendations on where to pull over for a roadside meal, from Clarenville, Nfld to Hope, B.C.

In 2012, Maclean’s asked readers to share their favourite highway eats from coast to coast. Here are 10 of the most popular picks and what people said:

1. Owl Street Café, Hope, B.C.: “The food is fresh, made to order and organic. Give it a shot if you are driving to the interior from Vancouver or the Fraser Valley.”

2. Dutchmen Dairy, Sicamous, B.C.: “Great ice cream and cheese curds, and a zoo. Unfortunately, their llamas recently died.”

3. Wendy’s Dairy Bar, Vauxhall, Alta.: “This tiny roadside drive-through is the home of the best burgers and shakes, not to mention deep-fried mushrooms and zucchini sticks and a host of other delights. A welcome treat on the long drives through the Alberta outback.”

4. Salty’s Drive Inn, Winnipeg Beach, Man.: “Best roadside perogies and kolbassa anywhere.”

5. Nite Hawk Café, West Hawk Lake, Man.: “Stop at the café for great burgers and milkshakes, then run down the road and jump in the lake to cool off.”

6. Auntie Jane’s Too, North Bay, Ont.: “I had the fish burger both on the way up to Timmins, then on the way back, that’s how good it is. They also sell Superior Meat hot sausage at the counter—you know, for later, when you’re feeling peckish on hour six of the drive”

7. Casse-croûte du Connaisseur, Tadoussac, Que.: “A must-stop for fries and poutine. Folks from all over make a beeline there, even if it’s not on their route.”

8. Ossie’s Lunch, Bethel, N.B.: “Golf-ball-size local scallops!”

9. Aucoin Bakery, Petit Étang, N.S.: “Located right on the Cabot Trail, the bakery offers breads, rolls and cupcakes for 50 cents each. They also serve Acadian-style meat pies and have been family-run since 1959.”

10. Rod’s Restaurant, Clarenville, Nfld.: “Best place on the Rock to get fries with ‘dressing’—a stuffing-like topping mixed with gravy and meat.”


The Maclean’s Book of Lists, Vol. 2, is now available at www.macleans.ca/bookoflists, in the iBookstore, and on newsstands June 24.

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