Fishbone By The Lake

I have been to this restaurant twice in the past week! I found out that they closed on Sept. 19, 2015 so I wanted to be able to savour the last of the summer days out on their deck. The restaurant’s seating area is entirely outside. This place gets very busy so for dinner I’d say get there before 5:30pm. On both occasions service was unremarkable. All of the dishes that we ordered were very good except for the crab sandwich; it was a grave injustice to sandwich the delicately flavoured patty between two cheap, untoasted white bread buns (the kind you’d buy at Walmart) that had no seasoning or pizzazz! Other than that everything was quite tasty including the chocolate mousse dessert. They said they didn’t have anymore Portuguese tarts since it was their last weekend. It is actually nice to sit outside even when it rains, although they will close if weather gets too severe. The view is quite lovely. A note to all high-​heel wearers, the seating area is a wooden deck and thinner heels can get stuck between some of the boards so I’d say just stick to flats when you visit this place. The washrooms leave a little to be desired; clearly they have not been updated yet, the stalls are tight, some doors are missing locks, but overall they were clean from what I could tell. My family really liked it, my friends loved it, we will be going back next spring!

First off I must thank Cherrie T. for posting that picture of herself because if she didn’t then I would have never of known this restaurant existed. Note to Cherrie T. (I was going to copy the selfie that you took at the very same spot, posing the exact same way but I was also super excited to be there and completely forgot). Anyway, when I saw where it was located on google maps and saw the beautiful scenery, I made sure I went on very my next day off. The drive here is very beautiful with all the farms and greenery, plus there is no traffic.
I think this restaurant only has outdoor seating and there is no seats inside, which means this place might only open during the spring/​summer? I forgot to ask. But who would want to eat inside with the spectacular view of the lake.
The menu is very small with very few options to choose from but I think this is a good thing so that they can focus on making quality food. I wanted to get the crab burger but the waitress broke my heart/​stomach when she said they are no longer offering the crab burger for the remainder of the season :(
Started off lunch with a $ 9 alcoholic beverage (pomegranate mojito). They put alot of alcohol in it so you sort of get your moneys worth.
Fried calamari $ 13 — tasted fresh and cooked well with nice flavours on the seasoning.
Honey mustard wings $ 12 — the wings were super small. They were like infant chick sized wings. However, it was done really well. The skin was really crispy just as advertised on the menu. I also think because the wings were so small that it made them more juicy. Great flavours and texture and would not hesitate to order again.
So instead or ordering the crab burger I settled for the Forno Bravo pizza $ 15. The pizza was really good. It had a nice crunch on the crust and overall tasted good. The only complaint is that they put very little toppings on it. The pizza comes with chicken, goat cheese and red peppers but there were barely any of these toppings. Just regular cheese was the dominate topping. Still tasted okay at least.
Service was excellent and the view of the lake … amazing.

This is such a beautiful atmosphere! You can go to enjoy a delicious meal and look out onto the lake or grab a drink at the bar and lounge on the outdoor couches. You feel like you are on vacation!

The view is really the first thing we came here for. The second was their talked about ‘crab burger’. We got both. The view is nice and enjoyable and relaxing. The crab burger is quite simple on the toppings with nice soft texture on the patty.
Crab Burger ($ 17)
Brussel Sprouts ($ 10) — Grilled and mixed in with sweet chili sauce. Nice but not the greatest use of brussel sprouts like other places I’ve had.
Fried Calamari ($ 13) — Was a bit cold when we got it. Likely breaded and goes with some ranch dip. It was alright.
Would come back just for the view and the burger…
Also the plus is FREE parking!

The atmosphere is amazing at this outdoor restaurant. It has a great layout and overlooks Musellman lake. We went on a Friday evening and there was a wait as expected, but it wasn’t too, too long.
Food: For apps we shared the spiced olives and chips & dip. Both were ok. For mains my friends got pizzas (Pepe’s pizza and Spicy Mediterranean) which were tasty but the crusts were charred on both. I got the crab burger, which sounded intriguing, but when I actually ate it, the bun overpowered the flavour of the burger itself. I don’t know if I can even call it a burger, it was more of a crabcake on a bun. The fries were good.
Service was for the most part great. I was a little annoyed when I ordered a Steamwhistle (at the bar before our dinner), and I received a beer with a ton of head. I asked the bartender for less head. She complied but made sure to tell me, «Just so you know, that’s how much head there’s supposed to be for Steamwhistle… 3 fingers». It looked like more than 3 fingers to me… I’ve been drinking for 10 years, she didn’t even look old enough to drink… I’ve never received a hard time about excessive head before. I don’t mind a little, but really? Later during dinner I ordered another one, and again, it had a ton of space at the top. I cut myself off after that because I can’t stand paying for a beer and receiving two thirds of one.
Overall I’d return, but probably just for dinner with no drinks. Mosquitos were out when it got a little late, so if you plan to come in the evening remember to cover up.

I have to say, I have been here a number of times since it opened in 2014.
The menu is small but very adequate. The food preparation is exceptional, the flavours and textures are great. The staff are very friendly and efficient. You will always find at least one of the owners there. They are very attentive and do an absolutely great job of making you feel so welcome.
The other thing is the location. Sitting eating a delicious meal overlooking mussel mans lake. Beautiful sun sets all thrown in.
I would have no hesitation in recommending this place whether you want just a bite or a romantic dinner. Five stars.

This place actually had no reviews when we tried it, earlier this year. We saw it on TV, and decided to take a drive — was worth every km driven.
The setting is great, the staff are very friendly, and the food is delicious — what more can you ask for?
Will definitely repeat.

I’ve had the opportunity to revisit Fishbone twice in the last week. This remains such a beautiful place to dine. The patio overlooking Musselman’s Lake with views over the water is nothing short of gorgeous. As I looked around the patio I noticed many other repeat customers… a sure sign that Fishbone staff is doing something right. The menu is fairly limited (but varied) and as in the past, the deep-​fried brussel sprout appetizer is a big hit. The Lindt chocolate mousse desert is worth every calorie. Wait staff is friendly and accommodating and the place is bustling. Each entrée was nicely presented and delicious. I hesitate to criticize because I enjoy Fishbone so much… but there is room for improvement in the length of wait between ordering and receiving our meal. I like leisurely dining, but both of our visits took longer than expected. This will remain one of our top places to dine!

What can I say? A HIDDEN gem in Stouffville. Their Main Street location is gorgeous but their lakeside location is perfect for an evening out under the stars. Situated literally looking over musselman’s lake their big white umbrellas shade you from the sun and at night the string of twinkle lights drape over your head over the most fabulous deck.
The food is fabulous. Upscale gourmet Portuguese pub food is my explanation. Their Brussel Sprout appetizer is AMAZING! I had the Crab Burger last time I was there and it is also mouth watering. My friend had the Tagliatelle which she said was delicious and we couldn’t resist ordering a side 12″ Mediterranean pizza. The menu is too delicious to not go BIG!
This is the most perfect date spot — expect to be there for a few hours as table turnover doesn’t seem to be quick.