Scrumpdillyicious: The Griffin Gastropub in Downtown Bracebridge

Up a small cobblestone lane off Bracebridge's Main Street in the heart of Muskoka, is the quaint ivy-covered Griffin Gastropub, run by owners Jed Corbeil and Curt Dunlop, which the duo opened in 2008. Known for offering a great selection of craft beers from small Ontario craft breweries, The Griffin also has a small but excellent menu and musical events year round. Once a lawyer’s office, the building that houses The Griffin was built in 1920 and was converted into a pub in 1997. After changing ownership a couple times, the pub was purchased in 2008 by childhood friends Dunlop and Corbeil who were looking for a change in their careers. "We bought this out of the love of music and entertaining, not because of any expertise in the field," says Dunlop. Though they may not have had any formal experience running a pub, what they did know was how to entertain people, and both enjoyed inviting friends to their homes and providing great food and drinks. "It’s kind of an extension of that," Dunlop says. "We wanted to create a place where people can come and hang out. It’s a cozy and friendly atmosphere." And with Chef Erik Davies' delicious menu of homemade soups, fabulous salads, appetizers and sensational entrées made with local produce and lots of love, The Griffin is our favourite place to stop for lunch when we're on our way up to Muskoka — the ideal start to a cottage weekend, but judging by its popularity, it's not our little secret any longer.