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What a charming little shop with total cozy farm vibes! We rolled in right before closing (classic us), and sadly all the food trucks were already shut down. Tragic, I know. But we still managed to squeeze in a lightning-fast shopping spree--and yes, it was totally worth it. They officially stole my heart when I spotted the magical words: "Gluten-Free Pies." Say less, I'm in. The staff was super sweet and didn't rush us at all, even though they were probably ready to clock out. Next time, we're coming earlier and doing this properly--because this place deserves more than a five-minute hustle. Can't wait for round two!
The big apple has a lot of products for sale. Mainly, they are a bakery. They are famous for all their baked goods using apples. Our tour bus had the big apple as one of the stops for our lunch break. There are a number of food trucks outside the main building. Since it was raining hubby and I went inside and ordered from the smokehouse restaurant. I had the classic burger with french fries and hubby had the cheeseburger with french fries. The burger was really good compared to something like Wendy's. Their french fries were also good and not salted which I appreciated. Just a note, their indoor eating area is not very large. So I saved a table for us a while hubby ordered the food. They also have an outdoor eating area that is covered. Besides the bakery, they also have a small souvenir section where they sell T-shirts, hoodies, also skin care and some pet items. Outside, there's also a petting zoo and you can buy pellets to feed the animals. They also have a candy store. There is a large bathroom down the hall from the candy store for patrons of the shop. Hubby and I ended up buying several pies, pecan butter, tarts and caramel pecan brownies. I saw these cute honey, lemon candies and got some of those as well. They also have honey products, maple syrup, products, barbeque sauce, mustard, and other condiments. It was fun to look around the shop and see everything that they had. I'm sure we missed a couple of things because of the limited time we had on our bus tour. But I'm glad I got to enjoy the food there and also get some baked goods to take home for the family to try. I would definitely come here again if I could. You definitely need a car to get here though. So for those who don't have a car or drive, it would be really hard to visit this place.
We have been travelling between Toronto and Montreal since the past eight years, and this was the first time we took a break at this place, partly because it is quite close to Toronto and so too early or too late to take a break, depending upon where you are coming from. This time we took the break deliberately to explore it. There is a mini golf area outside for which the equipment can be avail from the restaurant. The restaurant which is a part of the larger store was fine. We went for a vegetarian sandwich with soup combo and a vegetarian poutine. The sandwich was supposed to be grilled , but it looked like they forgot. It tasted OK. The soup was not good. The poutine was good. The souvenir shop was amazing. It had many options in terms of merchandise. For food, there is a seating area inside as well as outside. Plenty of parking available. While the food wasn't great, I would still recommend checking it out.
We always enjoy visiting The Big Apple on our way to East and it never fails. The market has so many great options to buy; apple cheesecake, tart, cookies, raspberry/strawberry/Burberry tarts and so many more options. You can also watch their baking area as it's on the premises. They also sell many more goodies that you can enjoy. There's a playground for the kids and ample parking spaces available.
I love stopping by here every time I drive out east. I like to bring my kids here too. They have a huge variety of snacks made with apple. I'm totally in love with their apple fritters and apple bread - something that I would always get. They are absolutely delicious! They also offer take out food like burgers and sandwiches. Highly recommend The big apple!
This is a great place to come with Kids. They would love it so much. It's on highway, many people drive from Toronto towards East would pass by. The Big Apple, I thought it was a place to have apple picking, but I was wrong. There were stores, farmer markets, putting zoo, petting zoo, and train rides. The really impressive part is customers climbing up to the top of the huge apple. There are 3 floors inside: ground floor has 3 big figures with 2 big pies; 2nd floor has a cabinet of apple collections; 3rd floor is the lookout point. I like the farmer market that we could actually watch how they make the apple pies. We like the NO sugar added apple pie, and the Pesto spread. We definitely will come back.
The Big Apple, is quite the experience. I have driven by this place every year on my way to University. Finally decided to stop by after four years of just driving by, and oh man, I wish I had gone sooner. This place has all sorts of different treats with apples inside of them. We bought the apple pie and crumble, definitely some of the best apple pie i have ever had!
The Big Apple is located right off the 401E in Colborne. The facility itself is massive; there is plenty of parking, a petting zoo, mini putt, food trucks, and off leash dog park available. I was impressed with the variety of options offered by the Big Apple including tarts, pies, crumble, fudge, slushees, cider, and a hot table. It could be what I purchased, but I was underwhelmed with the quality and taste of the food, especially for the price. I ordered the grilled cheese on apple bread, with fries, which cost $13. The concept of a grilled cheese on apple bread is unique, but the flavours were lack-luster. I also ordered cranberry apple crumble tarts for $13. The tarts did not taste like they were made fresh in a bakery. Rather, they tasted like they were from the grocery store. The cranberry in the tart over powered the apple flavour so the dessert was unbalanced. The service was just ok; when I ordered the grilled cheese, there was only one person in front of me and it took five minutes to take her order. Not sure if I will be back, but I can see the appeal for families.
Looking for a popular pitstop along Highway 401 East? The Big Apple is a popular family spot to get homemade bakery products made with apples. There are EV charging stations for people driving their EV's. This complex consists of brewery, bakery, candyside, dog run, food trucks, Maple room, Mini golf, Ping Pong, Train, Petting zoo. What a great place to spend some time with your family and kids. The apple fritters were kind of pricey $12.99 for 6 pieces. I bought one at $2.99 to try it out. The fritter was lacking the sugar icing and apple cinnamon flavour. I was disappointed as the fritter didn't have many apples in it. The apples used were not sweet at all. We bought the 9 inch mumble crumble apple pie $16.99. This pie had lot of sweet apples and crunchy crumble on top. They definitely make these pies with love. So next time you're heading east don't forget to stop by in Colborne, Ontario and grab some delicious pies and pastries.
It was a stopover going to Ottawa . It was highly recommended so we bought their famous apple donut. It smells so good inside fresh apple pies . They make inside. It was a fun time to watch them making it from the glass window. Price is moderate. Chocolates are available in different kinds. Also lunch menu like takeout salad and sandwiches are available. It's a good stop and stretch as well.
The Big Apple was a great spot to stop on the way from Toronto to Kingston. It is a store that sells food, mini apple products, including fresh apples, baked goods, many souvenirs, wine, and of course, apple cider. They also have lots of clean bathrooms to use. It is also possible to go up the big apple to a viewing deck on top. I purchased some ciders to try out and a loaf of freshly baked apple bread.
When we decided to take a trip to Ottawa, one thing we knew for sure was that we were going to pop by The Big Apple. We took in the sights and grabbed some pictures, and then we figured we should eat some food. I was surprised by the number of options on offer, and though I initially planned to get a hot dog, I find it difficult to say no to a Grilled Reuben Sandwich ("served with fries"). It was ready pretty quickly and it was...fine? The bread was insanely greasy and the meat was a little rubbery, while the dressing was so sparingly applied it was basically non-existent. So yeah, I can't say it was among the best Reubens I've ever had. The meal was redeemed, however, with a slice of apple pie. Said pie was actually quite delicious; the plentiful apple pieces were so tasty, and the pie itself was super flavorful and not too sweet. It's good stuff. I think I'll stick with the apple pie on future visits to The Big Apple. read more
3 months ago
This large Apple themed roadside attraction, restaurant and shopping in Colborne, Ontario Canada is known for its giant apple shaped buildings, bakery and family friendly activities. They have a cafeteria style restaurant with Apple themed food, a country store with local products, and free outdoor activities like mini-golf, a petting zoo and a playground. Located right off highway 401, we stopped to take a look and purchase a few items like apple cider, apple turnover, etc. read more
What a charming little shop with total cozy farm vibes! We rolled in right before closing (classic us), and sadly all the food trucks were already shut down. Tragic, I know. But we still managed to squeeze in a lightning-fast shopping spree--and yes, it was totally worth it. They officially stole my heart when I spotted the magical words: "Gluten-Free Pies." Say less, I'm in. The staff was super sweet and didn't rush us at all, even though they were probably ready to clock out. Next time, we're coming earlier and doing this properly--because this place deserves more than a five-minute hustle. Can't wait for round two! read more
The big apple has a lot of products for sale. Mainly, they are a bakery. They are famous for all their baked goods using apples. Our tour bus had the big apple as one of the stops for our lunch break. There are a number of food trucks outside the main building. Since it was raining hubby and I went inside and ordered from the smokehouse restaurant. I had the classic burger with french fries and hubby had the cheeseburger with french fries. The burger was really good compared to something like Wendy's. Their french fries were also good and not salted which I appreciated. Just a note, their indoor eating area is not very large. So I saved a table for us a while hubby ordered the food. They also have an outdoor eating area that is covered. Besides the bakery, they also have a small souvenir section where they sell T-shirts, hoodies, also skin care and some pet items. Outside, there's also a petting zoo and you can buy pellets to feed the animals. They also have a candy store. There is a large bathroom down the hall from the candy store for patrons of the shop. Hubby and I ended up buying several pies, pecan butter, tarts and caramel pecan brownies. I saw these cute honey, lemon candies and got some of those as well. They also have honey products, maple syrup, products, barbeque sauce, mustard, and other condiments. It was fun to look around the shop and see everything that they had. I'm sure we missed a couple of things because of the limited time we had on our bus tour. But I'm glad I got to enjoy the food there and also get some baked goods to take home for the family to try. I would definitely come here again if I could. You definitely need a car to get here though. So for those who don't have a car or drive, it would be really hard to visit this place. read more
We have been travelling between Toronto and Montreal since the past eight years, and this was the first time we took a break at this place, partly because it is quite close to Toronto and so too early or too late to take a break, depending upon where you are coming from. This time we took the break deliberately to explore it. There is a mini golf area outside for which the equipment can be avail from the restaurant. The restaurant which is a part of the larger store was fine. We went for a vegetarian sandwich with soup combo and a vegetarian poutine. The sandwich was supposed to be grilled , but it looked like they forgot. It tasted OK. The soup was not good. The poutine was good. The souvenir shop was amazing. It had many options in terms of merchandise. For food, there is a seating area inside as well as outside. Plenty of parking available. While the food wasn't great, I would still recommend checking it out. read more
We always enjoy visiting The Big Apple on our way to East and it never fails. The market has so many great options to buy; apple cheesecake, tart, cookies, raspberry/strawberry/Burberry tarts and so many more options. You can also watch their baking area as it's on the premises. They also sell many more goodies that you can enjoy. There's a playground for the kids and ample parking spaces available. read more
I love stopping by here every time I drive out east. I like to bring my kids here too. They have a huge variety of snacks made with apple. I'm totally in love with their apple fritters and apple bread - something that I would always get. They are absolutely delicious! They also offer take out food like burgers and sandwiches. Highly recommend The big apple! read more
This is a great place to come with Kids. They would love it so much. It's on highway, many people drive from Toronto towards East would pass by. The Big Apple, I thought it was a place to have apple picking, but I was wrong. There were stores, farmer markets, putting zoo, petting zoo, and train rides. The really impressive part is customers climbing up to the top of the huge apple. There are 3 floors inside: ground floor has 3 big figures with 2 big pies; 2nd floor has a cabinet of apple collections; 3rd floor is the lookout point. I like the farmer market that we could actually watch how they make the apple pies. We like the NO sugar added apple pie, and the Pesto spread. We definitely will come back. read more
The Big Apple, is quite the experience. I have driven by this place every year on my way to University. Finally decided to stop by after four years of just driving by, and oh man, I wish I had gone sooner. This place has all sorts of different treats with apples inside of them. We bought the apple pie and crumble, definitely some of the best apple pie i have ever had! read more
2 months ago
The Big Apple is located right off the 401E in Colborne. The facility itself is massive; there is plenty of parking, a petting zoo, mini putt, food trucks, and off leash dog park available. I was impressed with the variety of options offered by the Big Apple including tarts, pies, crumble, fudge, slushees, cider, and a hot table. It could be what I purchased, but I was underwhelmed with the quality and taste of the food, especially for the price. I ordered the grilled cheese on apple bread, with fries, which cost $13. The concept of a grilled cheese on apple bread is unique, but the flavours were lack-luster. I also ordered cranberry apple crumble tarts for $13. The tarts did not taste like they were made fresh in a bakery. Rather, they tasted like they were from the grocery store. The cranberry in the tart over powered the apple flavour so the dessert was unbalanced. The service was just ok; when I ordered the grilled cheese, there was only one person in front of me and it took five minutes to take her order. Not sure if I will be back, but I can see the appeal for families. read more
11 months ago
9 months ago
Looking for a popular pitstop along Highway 401 East? The Big Apple is a popular family spot to get homemade bakery products made with apples. There are EV charging stations for people driving their EV's. This complex consists of brewery, bakery, candyside, dog run, food trucks, Maple room, Mini golf, Ping Pong, Train, Petting zoo. What a great place to spend some time with your family and kids. The apple fritters were kind of pricey $12.99 for 6 pieces. I bought one at $2.99 to try it out. The fritter was lacking the sugar icing and apple cinnamon flavour. I was disappointed as the fritter didn't have many apples in it. The apples used were not sweet at all. We bought the 9 inch mumble crumble apple pie $16.99. This pie had lot of sweet apples and crunchy crumble on top. They definitely make these pies with love. So next time you're heading east don't forget to stop by in Colborne, Ontario and grab some delicious pies and pastries. read more
3 years ago
It was a stopover going to Ottawa . It was highly recommended so we bought their famous apple donut. It smells so good inside fresh apple pies . They make inside. It was a fun time to watch them making it from the glass window. Price is moderate. Chocolates are available in different kinds. Also lunch menu like takeout salad and sandwiches are available. It's a good stop and stretch as well. read more
3 years ago
The Big Apple was a great spot to stop on the way from Toronto to Kingston. It is a store that sells food, mini apple products, including fresh apples, baked goods, many souvenirs, wine, and of course, apple cider. They also have lots of clean bathrooms to use. It is also possible to go up the big apple to a viewing deck on top. I purchased some ciders to try out and a loaf of freshly baked apple bread. read more
1 year ago
1 year ago
3 years ago
I love The Big Apple! I visit every time I go to my uncle's cottage for bakery and 401 Cider. This time we had lunch and a Beavertail! I had the grilled ham and cheese on apple bread (it was enormous! I had the other half for dinner) and my bf had the Smoked Meat panini (his was more modestly sized). Both sandwiches came with fries (we couldn't eat all of those). We shared the apple pie Beavertail. Everything was so good and made fresh to order. They have a penny press, so try to find a US Penny or a long forgotten Canadian penny if you collect pressed pennies! I'm not sure if the cashiers have any on hand, I luckily had a US penny in the bottom of my purse! read more
2 years ago
Delicious. Poutine topped with pulled pork and bbq sauce. Portion size is huge. Come with an appetite or get it to share. read more
4 years ago
My sweetie and I are on our Pumpkinfest Weekend Tour! Can't past this place without pulling off the highway on our way home. Bought more treats (again). We picked up 3 apple pies and a bottle of apple cider. On the road again... read more
1 year ago
6 years ago
We decided to head out east to check this place out. We visited some local towns beforehand. We got here in the afternoon and they were bustling. However the patrons and guests are still being mindful of social distancing. I feel like a big kid when I walked into the building. They got a candy store and the amazing bakery! I love the aroma from the bread and pies being made. We got some pies and dessert home to be enjoyed. We will come back! read more
What's not to love?! It's a big red apple you can't possibly miss when driving along the 401. We've always stopped by to grab a bite or just visit the apple for a photo op. This trip we recently made, we noticed the apple is sporting a large face mask. How wonderful!! We went in to see what goodies we might be interested in and I couldn't help but pick up a box of the apple cider. We love the fresh apple cider here and even though it's a bit pricey compared to other local farms, I figure it's worth it once in a while. I'm not a big fan of the baked goodies just because it's always so sweet. They have a huge section of souvenir style gifts. I do wish they would update that section to host and support local small businesses/ handmade goods/ local goods. Everything in there was made in USA or made in China. We had just come from the Belleville area where most stores were stocked with local goods, so this just seemed a bit less exciting and almost tacky. I was excited to see that they've renovated the "petting" zoo. The animals have plenty of space to decide if they want to be swatted at by misbehaving children or hide in their barn. I think they should really have a staff come by just periodically to make sure everyone's being respectful to the animals. If you're driving by anyway, then I think it's worth taking 15-20 minutes out of your drive to stop by for a bite and take a look around. It's a pretty iconic stop and very family friendly. read more
2 years ago
Very disappointed in the big Apple. I only go 4 times a year as it is over 3 hrs from me...bought some caramel apples which are expensive but usually delicious and when I got home went to cut up and two were totally rotton and mushy on the inside...as soon as I picked up from packaging my fingers went right through the apple....not a happy customer to waste money like that. read more
I'd estimate that for a decade, when travelling to either Ottawa or Montreal, I drive it. I often take highway 401 for the most part heading eastbound. I had never stopped by the Big Apple until my recent road trip to Montreal. With my luck, I did it on a rainy day. It did not dampen my spirits, though! You can't miss a charming, happy, huge apple! I parked practically in front of the entrance and walked in. I liked that the restrooms were farm-themed and extremely clean. My bladder was thankful! This place is massive. Do you want candy, pretzels, and other sugary goodies? You can find them here and then some. Want to see every baked good that you can possibly squeeze apples in, such as apple bagels, tarts, and cookies? Yep, they are all here. I stared at a massive monster apple crumble for a good minute. I wanted it, but I didn't know whether my mini fridge at the hotel would fit it. I had to pass. It's fun here. The huge apple is an observatory. Unfortunately, it had closed by the time I got there, but got details from a staff member. I was still pleased to take photos of the cheerful apple. For kids, there are rides and apparently small animals. I didn't see the latter on this rainy day. There is a gift shop, Gifted Garden, with fun items. I liked the pink flamingo by the entrance. BeaverTails is also outside, but it was closed, likely due to the rain. There's a food area, the Smokehouse, where you can get hot items and BeaverTails. There are various little sections in the store for Kawartha ice cream (the best!), 401 Cider Brewery, and more. I got an iced apple cider for the road. It was $4.50 with tax. My iced apple cider was so refreshing on a hot, muggy day. I loved the apple taste and the cider was not overly sweet. It was perfect and it kept me going till I reached Montreal. The Big Apple handles the flow of customers extremely well. It's one direction to head to the cashiers. I paid using a credit card. You then leave by swinging around in a separate lane. Yes! Unfortunately, a huge coach bus decided to park in front of my rental car. I took me three tries backing out and turning in to get out. I was so happy that I wasn't stuck there forever! I had a fun time here. I'd like to come back, hopefully on a dry day, and get some pies. They looked so good! (306) read more
Nice place to visit. Lots of photo ops... especially with the Big Apple. Plenty of seating outdoors- covered or in the sun along with activities like mini golf of visiting the petting zoo. Food wise, nothing special but lots of options. The pulled pork poutine was pretty good although it took a long wait to get the food. The beef brisket sandwich was mediocre. Nice to grab a bite out of convenience but otherwise wouldn't go out of my way to visit again. read more
4 years ago
We have crossed big Apple N number of times but never stopped there thinking it's just an apple market. But couple months ago we stopped here with our 2 year old as enroute stop while on our way to Kingston. I must admit I missed it all these years. The store inside has anything and everything made out of apple that you can't even think in your wild imaginations. Oh lord.. it was all a delicacy. The outdoor mini park was not open yet due to weather and covid restrictions. Would stop there everytime when I pass through it in future. read more
5 years ago
I really truly truly wanted to give the big apple a higher rating than a 2/5 star. The big apple is a place I've been since I was a little girl and my memory and experience of it has always been such a joy as they had great apple products. One thing i really enjoyed was the big apple that had a mask. I thought that was a really nice touch and promoted social distancing and wearing a mask, which was super clever! I got the apple sausage hot dog, the apple fries, apple filled doughnut, an apple pie, an apple crumble as well as some apple ciders during my visit at the big apple, and to be frank, i was disappointed. The apple sausage hot dog had little to no apple in it, it tasted like a regular hot dog, which was disappointing as they promoted it as chunks of apple and cheese in the hot dog, therefore we got the product. The apple fries were literally slices of apples just fries up, and when i asked if i could get some cheese on it, they said no even though i said i could pay for it. It tasted like hot apples. The apple filled doughnut tasted kind of like something you would find at Tim hortons, however, i did like it. The filling was sweet and tart, and i liked the cinnamon. I do think it's nothing really special. The pie was disappointing, and even when i baked it, it seemed like something i could have bought at a grocery store like Walmart for 5 bucks. And i bought it for 13.99. The crust was especially dissatisfying. The apple crumble was pretty good after putting it in the oven to heat it up. I really enjoyed it and would definitely get it if i were ever to visit again. I do recommend just getting the smaller one though. The ciders were good, i really liked the pear cider and caramel apple cider from the winery. I believe it's from winery 401. Overall, it was nostalgic but i did drive 2 hours to get there and it was very disappointing as the products were really not special and i could've gotten better at a local supermarket. However, i did like browsing around the store. It is pretty empty and i felt safe covid wise as they did implement guidelines. read more
Definitely a good washroom stop along highway 401, a lot of activities for kids and the whole family. I like the apple pie. We ate 3 slices and bought a whole one to go. We stopped here on our way to Prince Edward County. I passed by this place many times along the 401. It is the 2nd time visiting here. 1st time is with a tourist group. Many tourist groups like to stop here. I highly recommend stopping here along the 401. It has a farm at the back and it is interesting to see donkeys, sheep, lambs, and pigs... Also, it is a good washroom stop. It is super clean and the washroom is nicely decorated. It is a good breakfast as well. The pie is fresh and tasty. I like that pies are not too sweet. The factory is in the building and you could see everything made in front of you. They also sell honey, bread, and cider as well. You could go into the big apple status and climb to the top. Highly recommend to stop here and buy some apple pies. (PS. the apple chips sold here are not made here. Don't buy those.) read more
7 years ago
I finally made it a mission to stop by The Big Apple after a road trip east of Toronto!! I was told by returning patrons that it has changed a lot over the years. It is now organized by groupings of items that are sold by the different shops within the store. There's a treat shoppe which has dessert items that feature no apples at all like fudge, chocolate covered pretzels and Oreos, and an assortment of candy. Connected to the treat shoppe is an area that sells some housewares that are next to their alcohol selection. There was also an espresso bar in this area that appeared to be closed. This area has its own check out. The marketplace has hot foods that you can buy. It features a smokehouse with BBQ goods like ribs and turkey legs. It also offers official Beavertails but does not have the extended menu with hot dogs. This area features fresh baked goods galore with pies, strudels, donuts, and cookies to name a few. My family is a huge fan of strudels so we grabbed a strawberry cheese one (yes, no apples lol) which was very good. There are a ton of deals throughout all of the stores that offer mix and match deals or buy x get one free deals. This is how we wound up with a package of maple filling cookies and ice wine maple cookies. These were also a huge hit. A few notes about the store. There is an accessible entrance alongside the stairs by the main entrance. The whole patio area including the petting zoo was closed during my visit. There is ample parking in the lot. Just watch out for the area that is just reserved for tour buses. If you have fido with you, there is actually a dog run where they can play off leash. We did see a few dogs as we came into the store and left so your pooch can meet a new friend! If you really aren't keen on making the drive out there, you can visit their online shop. They deliver to Toronto and the GTA. Finally, it seems as though they aren't finished making renovations as they will be adding a carousel in the summer. The one hugely disappointing thing is that access to *the* big apple was closed! No real explanation why unfortunately. I really wanted to get a cheesy photo in front of that giant smiling apple but that was not to be on this visit. read more
3 years ago
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More info about The Big Apple
262 Orchard Road
Colborne, ON K0K 1S0
Canada
Directions
(905) 355-2574
Call Now
Visit Website
http://www.thebigapple.ca
Hours
Food & Alcohol
Outdoor Amenities
