We wanted a non-chain cafe with some yummy coffee and this was it! Service with a smile and honest…read morefood details made it first-rate. They serve local roasted beans from Muskoka Roastery Coffee Company and I ordered a French press of hazelnut vanilla coffee which hit the spot. They had several grain-free (and gluten free) options for sweets and I ordered a delicious brownie which was perfectly vanilla-heavy and fudge-like and not too sugary. All freshly baked too! Hubs ordered a butter tart which was generous and flaky while my toddler enjoyed a trail mix style cookie. She certainly enjoyed it and I hope you will too! There is a small market-style grocery attached which has very fresh produce.

Super cute little market in Washago…read more Seems to offer anything a cottager or local would need - prepared foods section at the back, small fresh produce area at the front, bakery at the side with amazing baked goods, and various other foodstuffs in between. Ended up grabbing a few bags of chips, along with other snack items. I also grabbed an incredible freshly baked croissant from the bakery next door, so good!! Could have spent a lot more time in here browsing/drooling but alas the lake (and my trunk full of booze!) were calling! Until next time!

Still a five-star joint and just getting better. This year the butcher's stock was even more…read moreamazing, and not just the meats. Don't tell anyone, but I fell off the veg wagon *hard core* during our stay in Bala this year. I couldn't resist, and I was soooo glad I didn't. This year's meaty samplings included whole, marinated chicken; beef kebabs; pork tenderloin; jumbo tiger shrimp; sea scallops; beef burgers; lamb sliders; and prime beef steaks. The quality of meat here is blow-your-mind amazing, and most of it is cut, filleted, or ground right before your eyes. You can pre-order rarer meats, too, like bison, duck, elk, and rabbit. Also available are a selection of amazingly delicious cheeses including real smoked cheddar and black truffled goat. As well as gourmet crackers, chips, dips, and spreads. Not to mention tidbits like addictive Milford Bay smoked trout, brie wheels, charcuterie, and homemade frozen cookie dough to take back to the cottage. Insane. Staff is wonderfully friendly, a local family who loves what they do -- we visited nearly every day for 9 days, and they always recognized us, chatted with us a few minutes, and thanked us profusely for our business (I think we're putting the youngest through uni). And they're still trolling the lakes on their adorable pontoon boat, delivering your orders or stopping by your dock if you flag them down to let you browse that day's selection. This place has to be, without a doubt, one of the best butcher shops and gourmets on the planet, let alone Bala.

This place is not inexpensive but you get what you pay for. This place is filled with premium…read moremeats, seafoods and cheeses. Premium comes at a price. But this is Muskoka cottage country and why not splurge. I have never bought a bad product here. The lamb, beef and fish has always been very fresh and very good. They have a great selection of frozen items as well. Also a place to get really good cheeses. A small selection but all of them top grade.

Went into the hair salon in the Walmart, while I was getting my hair cut, the lady cutting my hair…read morecalled over her manager and the manager proceeded to say I had head lice. I asked my friend (we both work at a camp we do lice checks on staff and campers every week) to look at my hair and all she found was dandruff. She yelled at my friend telling her she couldn't do that in her salon. And she yelled at me and said that if I knew I had lice, I shouldn't have come to her salon. The lady cutting my hair rushed through it, it was all uneven and they didn't even bother to blow dry it. I have never been treated so horribly during a hair cut. Would not recommend this salon...

Had absolutely no issues with this store. Everything was easily accessible and we found everything…read morewe needed.

I went with my puppy this morning we had ran out of dog food late last night. The lady had no way I…read morecould get him food early... couldn't go get it and bring it to front desk or anything... left my two month old baby with no food until 9am telling me to leave the store. Disgusting. Nothing but rude as well.

Ordered takeout. Quality premium hamburgers. Sushi and small fruit tray of strawberries, kiwi and…read moreblueberries. Excellent friendly service in a clean farm style grocery store in Barrie. Take out options definitely superior to your regular burger place. Worthy of return visits for the quality and variety.

Nice store; the ambiance is classy. More expensive than other stores. Nothing special offered in…read moreterms of food products. I do not plan on ever visiting this one again.

Bala Freshmart has the look and feel of a big chain grocery store, but has the distinction of…read moreactually being one-of-a-kind. It's an independent supermarket, the only one of its kind in Bala. When you need ketchup, Clamato, or paper towels, BF is it. Its only competition comes from Don's Bakery, The Cottage Butcher, and the produce stands around town. While BF is much smaller than chain supermarkets, its stock is quite comparable. They don't carry *as much* here, but the variety is there, and much of the produce comes from local farms or greater Ontario which means greater freshness and flavor. Also, they carry the generic Canadian brand "no name (sans nom)", in its distinct black-and-yellow packaging. And while this isn't unique to the Bala Freshmart, seeing the no name brand always tickles me. Prices can be high, and there's now a $0.05 plastic bag fee if you don't bring your own. But BF is the only grocery going in Bala, and rather than resting on those laurels, they've opted to step-up their game and provide excellent quality and service. Good on you, BF.

Small town grocery store with everything you need! More importantly service with a smile everyone…read morewas pleasant and helpful! Caleb overheard that we needed to get our groceries to a boat down the road and offered up his car to shuttle is there, such a nice gentleman !

I don't usually shop at metro, but the bakery is phenomenal! They are more affordable than any…read moreother place I have come across for quality desserts. Ever since my husband and I had our son we have ordered his custom birthday cakes from the Lakeshore Metro Bakery, and they have never disappointed. Theresa the Head Decorator is fabulous, she listens to our requests and lets us know what is in her capabilities. We always make sure to bring our own toys or specific candies for the cake to make our orders possible and easier on the bakery, but they really knock it out of the park on flavours, quality, and making our vision come to reality. Thank you so much to everyone at the Metro and Metro Bakery that helps us makes our sons birthdays spectacular!

I'm sorry, but not nice customer service what so ever…read more Bought a bouquet of flowers I was gonna put in vase for my grandmas 88th birthday, found out that my mom had already gotten some WAY nicer ones from Costco for the same price, so I went to go ask for a possible return on them not even 3 hours later after purchasing/after I was done meeting with my grandma. And the customer service lady snapped on me and yelled at me because I hadn't put them in water right away. Very loudly staring me down saying "Oh you thinks it funny huh?!" and "Now they're probably gonna die!", as I stand there not laughing one bit, maybe a smile, but that's my usual self, I always smile. Like I'm sorry lady. I was just trying to do something nice for my grandmas birthday by getting her flowers and I get ripped a new one in front of the whole store for not putting them in water. And I know I'm no flower expert or anything, but I kept them in a cold cooler bag pretty much the whole time, and they looked exactly the same as I bought them 3 hours earlier. I've honestly never had such an awkward experience in a grocery store in my entire life. I don't know if the lady was just having a bad night or whatever, but it was completely unnecessary/unacceptable behaviour. Ruined my night if I'm being honest.

great prices some of the food was no good need to check it…read morefirst need more cashiers waited to check out for 15 mins

on Saturday June 21 2025. i was shopping here finished and came out. saw a dog in a hot car tongue…read morewas curled and whit marks. Showing signs of over heating. I went to customer service and told the manager there I had the license plate number and a picture of the dog. The manger did nothing. No calling the person over the intercom or anything just told me that he has to contact the plaza manager to see if they want to call the cops. I was appalled Being an active dog owner who is always making sure my dogs have everything they need. To working them and to keep their minds busy. i am always training them. and studying their body language. I know a dog over heating when I see one. Side note. with The hot weather pleas if you can't take your dog into a store please please please leave them at home. A crane window no bigger then your pinking is not good air flow