A bustling, welcoming space on a vibrant block of downtown Guelph. Thoughtful, knowledgeable and connecting service. A varied menu, with consideration to varied needs and attention to provenance. Finally, an inspired cocktail menu, with plenty of options for the sober folk at your table. I've been here a few times and it's a favourite. Hits just the right notes. read more

Friendly service and excellent food and drinks. Caesar: We'd never had this classic Canadian drink before and my partner really liked it. It was too spicy for me, but I could definitely appreciate it. Kind of like a quality shrimp cocktail sauce drink? Weird but good. Mostly salty/savory! Calm Collins: I'm not sure if I felt calm or not after this, but I enjoyed the drink nonetheless. Kind of like an arnold palmer, not too sweet or tangy. On the Wagon: Tastes just as described, though I think this one had dried lemon instead of candied ginger. A nice sipper, especially if you enjoy ginger drinks. 3 Sisters Salad: I love a Mendocino Farms Quinoa Kale salad (which I would order over most delicious junk food options), but this is likely my second favorite salad. The dressing is light and flavorful, slightly sweet, ever so slightly tangy. The puffed wild rice provided an excellent texture, very similar to crunchy quinoa. The chickpeas and corn added a savory and sweet mildly chewy texture. We added the trout and it was excellent on its own. Crispy skin, perfectly cooked and salted. Pan Roasted Chicken: I was surprised there was only one bone in this! The meat was tender and juicy, well cooked. I can't remember exactly how it tasted because we scarfed it down so fast, but trust that it was good. Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie: You can't have a meal without dessert. The pie filling is similar to halva - sweet, soft, light and fine. Great to share between two, but would also be excellent for one... read more

Miijidaa Café + Bistro - chocolate peanut butter pie! - Canadian (New) Near Me - Guelph, Ontario

As a multicultural nation, Canada doesn't have many restaurants that specialize in truly "Canadian" or Indigenous cuisine. Miijidaa Café & Bistro specializes in "Canadian" cuisine that blends Indigenous roots with French, English, Viking, Portuguese, and Italian influences. The word "Miijidaa" is from the Ojibway language that loosely translates to "let's eat". It's a celebration of Canada's Indigenous roots, and a chance to showcase cuisines that influenced the country's culinary landscape. The menu changes by season as it utilizes seasonal local ingredients. There are lots of vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options. Every pizza and sandwich can be made gluten-free and vegan by using gluten-free dough / buns, and substituting dairy with vegan cheese. This fall, we tried: 1) Three Sisters Salad (leafy greens, marinated chickpeas, charred corn, roasted butternut squash, toasted pumpkin seeds, puffed wild rice, maple mustard vinaigrette) - Loved everything in this salad, especially the charred corn and roasted butternut squash. Perfect for autumn. 2) Vertical Greens Salad (leafy greens, compressed pear, roasted grapes, Woolwich goat cheese, almond granola, marigold petals, elderflower vinaigrette) - Light and refreshing with a nice subtle dressing that isn't over-powering. I asked for it without the goat cheese / have it on the side, so the salad could be made vegan / without dairy. 3) Forager Pizza (thin-crust pizza with pesto bechamel, roasted mushrooms, baby spinach, crispy shallots, porcini powder) - This could be made gluten-free and vegan, using vegan cheese. The crust was quite chewy. Toppings were alright. The mushroom slices were quite thin. 4) Umami Vegan Burger (roasted mushrooms, butternut squash and wild rice patty, house ketchup, sage & sumac aioli, pickled red onions, tomatoes, vertical greens, o'doughs bun) - This was one of the best veggie burger patties out there, in my opinion. It had a nice crispy outer edge, with real chunks of butternut squash and mushrooms in the patty. They gave a good amount of fresh lettuce and tomato slices in the burger too. The house ketchup and aioli definitely tasted house-made. Really great vegan burger with plant-based "umami" taste! 5) Butternut Squash Barley Risotto (roasted squash, caramelized onions, chestnuts, toasted pumpkin seeds, nutritional yeast, fried sage, kale chips, basil purée, maple gastri) - This was just alright. They used barley instead of the usual arborio rice that's usually used to make Italian-style risotto. (I prefer barley so that worked out.) It was warm and soothing, the kind of food you'd want on a cold autumn day. I wish they incorporated more of the kale chips in the dish. 6) Cast Iron Brown Butter Pumpkin Bread (butternut squash purée, cream cheese & crème fraîche, fried sage, toasted pumpkin seeds, maldon salt) - Not sure why they put this in the Appetizers section. It was very sweet and had the texture and taste of a cake. Not my cup of tea. I appreciated the nice plating on a wooden board though. My favourites were the Three Sisters Salad, Vertical Greens Salad, and Umami Burger - all vegetarian but can be made vegan by ommitting the cheese in Vertical Greens Salad. You can also substitute the fries with a salad that comes with the burger (for an extra $3). I love the concept of using local seasonal ingredients, especially butternut squash and pumpkin in the fall. The interior of the restaurant is spacious, well-lit, and there is a sizeable patio with umbrellas at the back for warmer months. The walls are adorned with paintings of landscapes and animals from local artists. There is a full bar in the middle of the restaurant, and more table seatings at the back. Another big reason why I love supporting this business: Miijidaa is a proudly certified B corporation. B crops are "leaders in a global movement of people using business as a force for good that champion an inclusive, equitable, and regenerative economy." They do a lot of good and philanthropy in the community, such as: - Helped combat iron-deficiency in Indigenous communities by donating over 2,200 Lucky Iron Fish - Raised over $500,000 for local non-profits including Kidsability, Food4Kids, Women In Crisis, and many more - Fed more than 5,000 Superheroes at Kidsability's annual run - Kept local riverways such as the Speed and Grand Rivers safe by raising over $250,000 read more

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My brother-in-law was teaching in Waterloo yesterday and my nephew has to have dinner by a certain time so in order to make the timing work, we met him halfway, which was in Guelph. When we tried to find a restaurant this one was recommended on every list we saw. Having eaten there, we can see why. Their menu has unique items and more familiar items for less adventurous eaters. Also familiar items with more unique ingredients, such as venison burgers. So basically something for everyone but the focus is on more locally available ingredients. Normally with such an eclectic menu, the food is just okay since they are a jack of all trades but a master of none. However, that's not the case here since each and every dish was as good as the next...and they were all really good. The service was friendly and fine. The atmosphere was casual and inviting with nice outdoor space and a homey feel. Which is funny because based on the food pics I sent my brother, he thought we were at fine dining. Price wise, it's not the cheapest but definitely reasonably priced, especially for the quality of the food you get. read more

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Lovely meal and atmosphere with great service. Perfect for a quick lunch stop. I really enjoyed my half pizza and salad. It was the perfect size lunch. read more

Miijidaa Café + Bistro - Half Pizza & Salad - Canadian (New) Near Me - Guelph, Ontario

Popped into this place for a late lunch this past weekend and was pleasantly surprised at the menu options. They have lots of very good vegetarian options as well as some game meat options, such as elk and venison, which suited us perfectly. We started out with a glass of wine and an apricot sour beer - I really enjoyed the beer. It's nice to see good craft beer options on the menu instead of just the standard mass-produced lagers. We also decided to have a couple of appetizers, and went with the jalapeño corn bread and the scotch egg. The corn bread was delicious, but not at all spicy. I was pretty disappointed in the portion, though - for $8 it was pretty small. The preserved red pepper relish that came with it was fantastic - this would be great on just about anything. The scotch egg is made with elk and pork, but the meat was very under seasoned and lacked any discernible flavour for me. It was cooked perfectly, though, so I couldn't really complain - I just asked for some salt. The side salad was nicely seasoned, though and I really loved the cranberries on the side. What a nice pop of colour and flavour! The veggie burger is a great option for people who dislike the taste of meat, meaning it's not a substitute for a regular burger, but it's definitely a very good vegetarian burger. I'm not a fan of lentils normally so I was surprised I enjoyed it as much as I did. Must've been the combination of pickled onions and feta cheese that made it taste so good. Lastly, the mushroom pizza was very good, despite the relatively small quantity of mushrooms on it. Although I expected more, it still managed to hit the mark. We weren't able to finish everything so we boxed up the leftovers to enjoy for dinner later. I don't think I'll be in the area again anytime soon, but I would definitely return to Miijidaa if I find myself close by. Definitely recommend. read more

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I have been here several times and each time it has been amazing! Food A+, Staff A+, Drinks A+! However, beware to parents of littles, the bathroom does not have a changing table which in a family friendly city is surprising! Had to change my babe on the ground in the bathroom which was extremely unpleasant and cold. read more

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This restaurant serves modern Canadian food. They get 3.5 stars. Got to try some Food Day Canada specials: Roasted pig tails were decent. They were very meaty. Bison striploin was good. The corn + chive fritters were surprisingly good, having an interesting flavour. Lavender & goat cheese ice cream was decent. Usually lavender flavour in stuff is weak. This was stronger giving a good balance with the goat cheese, which wasn't too overpowering. The bee pollen added a nice texture. Also tried a dish off the normal menu; the venison burger was a bit dry but still quite tasty. The fries were a bit undercooked. Also had their daily soda which was Chamomile Honey. While it was decent, I think the flavour would have been more pronounced without the carbonation, since the flavour was mild and so was overshadowed by it. read more

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Cozy, tastefully decorated, clean and nicely illuminated. Went there on weekend night. They are practicing COVID-19 safety rules and guidelines. Our server was really nice and attentive to maintaining physical distances. We had Elk Scotch Egg as appetizers. For mains we choose Hey Smoked Duck Breast and Smoked Tofu. Nicely prepared and presented. It's in downtown, limited street parking available in front of the restaurant on both sides of the road. read more

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Ordered fish & chips for a treat. At around $24, I was expecting a decent amount of food but was disappointed. One piece of fish (Not overly flavorful) and very few chips (Maybe 1/2 of a medium potato's worth). Perhaps 2 tablespoons worth of salad. Overall, I would say the meal was overpriced. I left hungry! Service was average: quick but not particularly attentive. No offer to refill coffee; I could let that go on a busy night - but it wasn't. In spite of that, it seemed very noisy and echoey - Some sound softening treatments would help. Menus are well written and selection is interesting, but the end result was a letdown this time around. read more

Went in for a visit during Covid19. They are offering take out service. Second time in Guelph didnt know this place existed. It was a happenstance to come across it. During this time they are offering a limited menu, as their staff are reduced. What's great about this restaurant is the name Miijidaa means "let's eat" in Ojibwe. The intention of this place is to showcase the culinary art that comes to us locally from the First Nations Peoples of the land here. They even have a land acknowledgement outside! Amazing! All places should be conscientious enough to have a land acknowledgement. In fact, it should he mandatory! Of this menu I got the wild sock eye salmon, with dill potato salad, asparagus and honey sumac butter. The sock eye salmon was seared beautifully. Usually I try not to discard the fish skin, as most of the nutrients are in there. It was easy to eat. Crispy, crunchy and flavoured well. They give a heaping portion of the potato salad, which I will admit had harder than I prefer potatoes. It is a matter of preference though. I dont eat a lot of potatoe salad to know if the potatoes are meant to be a little on the harder side. I would've liked them on the softer side. This salads combo of herbs made for a delicious sensation on my palate. Asparagus nice and simple. Steamed and to perfection. Not too done and not under done, just right. The honey sumac butter was a mystery to me. I tried it plain. Curious as to what it was since I had forgotten the menu option precisely. I wasnt sure what to put it on. The potatoe salad was already dressed, that'd be weird. The fish? Spread the butter on the fish? In my opinion that didnt make sense, the fish didn't need any additional flavoring. And to me, the Aspargus could have potentially used it. Sometimes people like butter on their steamed veggies. I didnt find it necessary. I saved the butter for spreading it on bread. It'll spruce up the flavour of my next sandwich or waffles. My sister ordered the roasted chicken, atop the quinoa salad and the peanut butter pie. Both were absolutely scrumptious. The chicken in the salad was moist and very well seasoned. And the salad had a good combo of flavours too. That chocolate peanut butter pie. The crust was crushed "similar to the chocolate cookie from oreo" Smashed up we were told, except obviously better quality, as the crust was not oreos rather it was essentially chocolate graham crackers or something similar. In the centre of this delightful pie was a smooth, creamy, velvety blend of cream cheese and peanut butter. Basically a PB cheesecake. I tried it, a sliver was enough as it is really rich. My friend ordered the fish and chips, which came with a coleslaw salad. He really enjoyed it too. Oh and the cornbread. Truth be told I personally have had better corn bread, however it still had a pleasant taste. All in all great experience. We walked by, they have a blockade at the door to prevent entry from persons apart from staff. You can order online and then p/u or you could go there order and then wait 20 to 30 minutes. Their patio is apparently opening this Friday, so stay tuned you might be able to enjoy a social distance patio experience soon enough. A couple of additionals: they support Black Lives Matter, and they have these auctions of the art on display in their restaurant. Local artists change regularly. Given Covid, the experience in food and interacting with the employee they had working were top notch! I would definitely return! read more

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Loved this little spot in downtown Guelph. It is definitely a cozy and artsy vibe and it's connected to a bookstore. They have local art showcased on their beautiful brick interiors. We had some great drinks to start, I had the perfect pear (whiskey and pear) and my boyfriend had the strawberry mojito. We ordered a couple of items to share and had some hits and misses. The Halloumi starter was decent, the smoked Arctic Char was really great and the pesto pizza had a perfectly crispy thin crust and balanced flavour (loved the watercress pesto). I was really excited to try the beet ice cream, but I felt that the beet flavour didn't really come through. Note that items are on the pricier side, but they seem to care about their ingredients and everything is made fresh! Service was also amazing! read more

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Miijidaa is a local fave - the service is always friendly and welcoming. I often go with family when I am in Guelph. They've always found a spot for us even when packed! It can sometimes get loud, but that's ok - and you'll see a mix of families, students, and groups. I've never had anything bad - today I had the venison burger, which I enjoy every time. It's flavourful and so fresh! Specials, menu standbys....never disappointed. read more

Went here for dinner with family. Got seating at the patio as requested. Food & service both were great. My cocktail drink was way too sour for my taste so could not finish it. Food portion was very filling. read more

Miijidaa Café + Bistro - Pesto pizza - Canadian (New) Near Me - Guelph, Ontario

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The food is good and the service is good. I like how it's a cafe and a bistro at the same time. This place is busy so arrive really really early or make a reservation. They have some unique dishes and I was intrigued by their house sodas. I had the carrot and ginger soda which was an interesting flavour. The food was generally good. I had the smoke duck and their peanut butter pie. My husband had the Bouillabaisse and he said the soup was delicious. I thought the prices were very reasonable but I am comparing their prices to Toronto. read more

Miijidaa Café + Bistro - Smoke duck - Canadian (New) Near Me - Guelph, Ontario

Absolutely love this restaurant. The menu is unique and delicious, the staff are always friendly, and the back patio/garden is gorgeous. Can't wait to sit back there again! read more

This place is pricey, but totally worth it for a treat-yo-self meal. The food is very high quality and we also loved the decor. Give it a try when you want to indulge! read more

Superb service as always. Gave us a birthday drink instead of a dessert, which I greatly preferred. Great for tapas and interesting/tasty cocktails. read more

Attended a fundraising event here that supported Breast Cancer. It's a cute restaurant attached to a bookstore. Great atmosphere inside the place, not very large but a good size. My only struggle was finding parking but it's just the downtown area which caused this. They served the fish sliders and a few different flat breads as appetizers. The food was so delicious, I really enjoyed their salmon flat bread and the sliders. I took a look at their menu and found that it is very local and large in variety. The staff was very friendly as well, service was on par and efficient in keeping the venue clean. I will definitely return again to dine in for a full experience! read more

This place has a decent patio - not anything noteworthy. A few too many bugs around us. The service was great. Very attentive servers. The food portions were small and overpriced and just ok. The chicken breast was tender and well cooked. The goat cheese Mac and cheese was nice but meh. I just wasn't impressed. read more

2nd time at Miijidaa and the only thing difficult about this place is it's spelling. Warm reception, lovely atmosphere, food delicious. We went straight into main courses, myself with the pesto pizza/green salad, my partner with the bean stew. Both of us thought the food was delicious, promptly served. Attentive (but not overly) wait-staff...shout out to Maris, but everyone is lovely. Finished with the BlueberryGrunt (not sure who makes up these names) lovely. This will be one of our regular locations as we come to Guelph several times a year. Thanks for being there. No points off for the espresso...I'm a coffee snob, drink it straight and wasn't moved. My fault not yours. read more

My husband and I went there for lunch and the mussels was excellent. A very cozy restaurant and the waitress who served us was really friendly. The only thing that I didn't give it a five-star - the waiting time was a bit too long. Was hoping there would be bread to serve while we were waiting. read more

Miijidaa Café + Bistro - The mussels are very very fresh - Canadian (New) Near Me - Guelph, Ontario

Keep talking with everyone what an excellent dinner we had here! The mussels and cornbread were to die for, and the service was excellent. Must try to get there again one of these days...just trying to figure out where to park. Had to fight for the last spot on the street. Was worth it when we got inside and had a laugh about it. read more

This is definitely a Guelph restaurant that I would recommend! There is beautiful decor and the food is delicious. I tried the duck and it was a tad salty, but the vegetables were well favored, the duck was tender and the presentation was gorgeous. The friend I was with also said the venison burger was great. Its a place you can go if you want a nice meal but also if you want a good burger or sharing plates. read more

Miijidaa Café + Bistro - Plate of duck, great presentation - Canadian (New) Near Me - Guelph, Ontario

Great atmosphere and service but very over priced and very small portions. The presentation is nice and they do a good job of having the outside the box menu. The food we had was well done but the portions are very off. To be honest Guelph has much more to offer in that price range. read more

This was our first the in Guelph and we stopped here for dinner before a concert nearby. The service was great! They were so friendly and welcoming. I started with the bannock. This was my first bannock. It is basically bread with a tartness to it. It was just ok. Was this traditional? I have no idea. I also had the boulibaise. This fresh seafood soup/stew was perfect for a cool night. I'd go back just for that! Be sure to make reservations in advance or you can ask to sit in the community tables and share the table with others. read more

I don't get into Guelph too often but I find most of the 'popular' places are chain restaurants or glorified pubs at best. Miijidaa is a breath of fresh air. They have a good selection of dishes (a lot of it made in house) to choose from thats not just pizza and pasta. I get the sense Guelph has a large dine out pizza culture. Although they do offer a varirty of pizza as well, to cover all the bases.. I had a chance to sample the following dishes and would reccomend them all: POTTED GOAT CHEESE PAN ROASTED CHICKEN HAY SMOKED DUCK BREAST BRAISED BEEF CHEEKS* *my fav The service was great, couldnt ask for better and the place a nice vibe to it. It gets pretty busy on the weekends so i would suggest making a reservation beforehand... read more

I am endlessly impressed by this restaurant. Excellent quality food, great service, hip atmosphere, good music. The staff cares, with thoughtful touches and a friendly, knowledgeable approach. The dinner and a movie is great - they reserve your seat. Would be extra awesome if the combination got you a discount (we're Bookshelf Members). Keep doing what you're doing. PS your wait staff need new aprons... read more

Very good food! Covid-safe environment and great staff. We recommend the sausage pizza, ginger carrot soup, and fish and chips. We didn't have room for dessert! Will have to return! read more

This is an amazing place. The food is unique and light but filling. service was attentive and friendly, and the overall experience was just fantastic! read more

Do not miss the smoked pickles or soda of the day! Always a delicious meal and a really warm and inviting space.

Shared a pretty tasty lunch here that included the cast iron cornbread as an appetizer, tourtière main, the eggplant sandwich with a side kale salad and the caramelized apple bread pudding. I thoroughly enjoyed the ambiance and overall homey feel. The service was A++ and all the waitstaff seemed to be in a great mood. The cornbread was 7.5/10 due to dryness but the preserved pepper relish did slightly alleviate its case. I was so delighted with the tourtière, 10/10 with the fingerling sides and the spiced ketchup really making it noteworthy. Definitely returning for that. My date enjoyed the eggplant sandwich immensely but found the kale salad to be lackluster at best. However, the only true devastation came from the the bread pudding. It was Death Valley desert dry, bites reminiscent of sawdust. The accompanying ice cream was rather lovely but couldn't mask the bread puddings downfall. I plan to be back to try the elk burger and will update the review. read more

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I've been to Miijidaa a few times now. The first, I ordered a Caeser, Pizza and fries. We sat inside the main section of the restaurant (they have a more casual cafe front-end, as well a patio out back). Patio looked fab in the summer! Inside, the service was a bit slow considering we were the only table seated inside. Having returned another time (seated in the same area) we were sure to mention we had an appointment an hour and a half later and there was no issue with service and timing. Food is great, portion size is good, and there is free 2hr street parking out front. Wifi available, but it's open (no password) and difficult to get to work, admitted to by staff. For this reason, I wouldn't recommend if you are only stopping by the front-end cafe for a coffee and to do your work (if you need the internet). Otherwise, always a good experience here. read more

Tasty food, good service, very nice place! We enjoyed lunch here on Canada Day. We've ordered soup, pizza, sandwich. Waitress paid attention to my son's gluten-free food request. His pizza was tasty too. Certainly recommend this place. read more

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A great cafe. It's connected to a bookstore so a two-in-one. Great decor and photograph locations! I had the Mac and Cheese which came in a larger than expected serving but was overall great. Was slightly disappointed in the lack of cheese however. Also shared the Sausage Pizza which I would recommend to all first timers at this location as the thin crust and well dispersed toppings make it a great pizza and serving size. The mussels and corn bread were well done and seasoned. The serving sizes of the dishes vary from dish to dish so it may be hard to gauge. This location also affects metal straws! The staff was very friendly and accommodating. If you attend on your birthday they also provide you with a gift card for your next visit. They do have a patio option as well. One thing I would mention is the bathrooms are not very well-kept or accommodating. Overall a great restaurant and would go again. read more

This is probably my favorite restaurant in Guelph! The food from start to finish was so scrumptious. The bouillabaisse had a terrific taste. Also, the fresh cut fries are a total must! They are delicious. If you're into pizzas, the Canadian is a top pick. The service was superb. Jenna was so delightful and helpful. Will be eating there again soon! read more

Wasn't super impressed with this place. Wait staff seemed very space-y and a little rude. I had made a reservation and when we arrived, I asked to sit by the window at the back and they told me that section was closed because they were short staffed; not even 2 min later they sat another table back there. The food was decent. I ordered an elk burger, and it came quite rare in the middle, so rare that I didn't feel comfortable eating it all. read more

Great food, friendly service and if they get it wrong they'll make it right! Great place for a date night or lunch with a buddy... love the patio in the summer too! read more

The food, service, space, ambiance, location...everything was 100% perfection. I was unexpectedly surprised at the quality of Miijidaa, simply because the level of food options in downtown Guelph has been "standard" fair in taste and price in our experience. But this place is a great gem, and you get what you pay for and then some. All their food is fresh, hot, and not oversalted. We loved their sandwiches and soups, and the portions are more than enough. High praise for not having calamari as a fallback on the appetizers list, and so happy you have fresh breads! We had a grilled cheese bacon sandwich, soup, soppressata sandwich, elk scotch egg, and plenty of water at the table. If you've seen some of my past reviews, I have an irrational prejudice against mason jars -- there were mason jars here for decor, but everything else about the dining experience made that forgivable. We will definitely come back. read more

This is a great place to bring people who are visiting Guelph. The service is consistently good and the people who work there are friendly. The food is pretty good; their bannock is a little disappointing, though probably because I have had actual bannock in the past. read more