Diners' Choice: Good for special occasions restaurants in Central Ontario

OpenTable

Updated 05 September 2026

Looking for the best special occasion restaurants in Central Ontario? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyses nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favourite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you book, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Bar Vita

4.9

4.9 (322)

CAN$30 and under

Italian

Peterborough

About the restaurant

Please note, if Open Table is showing no availability for the date and time you are looking for, please do not hesitate to call us at 705.743.3339.

We have a 15 minute grace period. Please call us if you are running 15 minutes later than your reservation time.

Bar Vita offers italian-inspired cuisine in a stylish setting. We use fresh ingredients to bring our country-flare to classic Italian cuisine.

Patio and indoor seating available. Please indicate your preference and we will be happy to accommodate.

Top review

Renée

Dined on 26 Sept 2026

Fabulous girls night out with delicious food and acoustic music!!

The Peddler

4.9

4.9 (21)

CAN$30 and under

Canadian

Peterborough

About the restaurant

Exquisite dining. House-made pastries. Exceptional wines. Specialty coffee.

Welcome to The Peddler, a distinguished bistro nestled in a heritage building at the heart of downtown Millbrook. Our international chef, Arjay Ramirez, crafts globally inspired dishes with impeccable attention to flavour and presentation, while our pastry chef creates house-made pastries that are as elegant as they are indulgent. From carefully curated wines to artfully prepared lunches and dinners, every detail is designed to delight the senses in a refined yet inviting atmosphere. Reserve your table and experience the pinnacle of bistro dining.

Top review

Wendy

Dined on 22 Sept 2026

Quiet, intimate, great drinks, great lunch menu, nice little town to explore independent shops after delicious lunch.

Heather Lodge

4.8

4.8 (400)

CAN$51 and over

Contemporary European

Peterborough

About the restaurant

Reserve an evening of fine dining with meals finished by a superb culinary team in an adult-only restaurant. Whether it is a romantic dinner or a friend's gathering, we offer an experience you will remember. It matched with an Ontario Local Bar Menu of featured Wineries, Local Brewery and Spirits, and even an option for BYOW for an extra charge. Our staff team wants to spoil you with a great meal, served with attention to detail in a relaxing and special ambiance. Please be sure to tell us if you are celebrating a special occasion so we can decorate your table. Choose from an option of early seating from 5:00-5:30pm for a 3-course meal (1.5 hr timeline) for $70.00 per person or 6:00-7:30pm for a 4-course meal for $76.00 per person (includes tea/coffee). The menu is created daily & created to order with our culinary team: featuring a soup of the day, 3 salads, 3 appetizers, 5 main courses, and 3 dessert options. Please notify us in advance of any dietary concerns.

Top review

tom

Dined 3 days ago

Wonderful experience, excellent food, attentive staff

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Experience

Romantic Table Package

The Imperial Tandoor

4.8

4.8 (349)

CAN$30 and under

Indian

Peterborough

About the restaurant

Discover The Imperial Tandoor, your destination for authentic Indian cuisine in Peterborough. Step into our inviting space and enjoy the enticing aromas of grilled meats and spices. Our open kitchen showcases the skill of our chefs as they prepare each dish with care. Our diverse menu features flavorful kebabs, freshly baked naan, and a variety of curries to delight every palate. From creamy butter chicken to spicy vindaloo, each dish is made with the finest ingredients and traditional methods. Our friendly staff is here to enhance your dining experience, ensuring you feel welcome and satisfied. With dedicated parking and wheelchair accessibility, The Imperial Tandoor is perfect for a memorable meal with friends and family. Join us for a culinary journey that will awaken your senses and leave you craving more. Experience the joy of Indian cuisine at The Imperial Tandoor today!

Top review

Tim

Dined on 24 Sept 2026

Excellent food and great service. We have been driving by this restaurant for years and always wanted to try it out. We finally did and are now really glade we dropped in! We will be returning!

AGAVE BY IMPERIAL

4.8

4.8 (304)

CAN$31 to CAN$50

Mexican

Peterborough

About the restaurant

Trendy, authentic restaurant with elevated Mexican plates, many tacos, tequilas and a full service bar. AGAVE is located in the heart of George Street, Peterborough and is a great place to meet up with friends or a perfect destination for celebration. With an electric and multicultural concept, AGAVE makes everyone feel welcome; either because of the fresh and vibrant décor, authentic Mexican food, the full service bar, the atmosphere or the excellent service offered to our guests.

Top review

ErinGold

Dined 2 days ago

We always have the best experience at Agave - amazing food and incredible service. As we were walking back to the car I said “I already can’t wait to go back”.

Haliburton Post House

4.8

4.8 (194)

CAN$51 and over

International

Minden

About the restaurant

Fresh, Elevated Culinary Experiences.

Deliciously satisfying chef crafted cuisine at the Post House goes beyond the basics.
Celebrate fine dining and the freshest seasonal ingredients, food & beverages!

Our kitchen is headed by Executive Chef Dan Sanders. Each menu is carefully crafted and uniquely curated each season to bring optimal enjoyment to your experience with us!

Make a reservation for upcoming dining opportunities at The Post House! Enjoy gourmet cuisine at our lodge on selected dates. Our prix fixe menus are updated seasonally.

Top review

Robert

Dined 2 days ago

The atmosphere, food and service was excellent. We save this dining experience for our anniversaries every fall. We just celebrated our 45th Thank you for making it so special 🍁🥂🍁

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Experience

Bistro Night

Experience

Four Course Prix Fixe Fine Dining Menu

Experience

Harvest BBQ at the Post House

Rare Restaurant

4.8

4.8 (150)

CAN$51 and over

French

Peterborough

About the restaurant

Welcome to our vibrant, creative and loving home!

Rare Restaurant + Bar was inspired by Chef Andrew and Mai in Fall 2022. They envisioned a great place to go for unique food, stiff drinks and a memorable experience between friends and family. Quality is at the forefront of Rare's values. As a team, we deliver the best culinary experience to our guests.

Isn't life better with great food and easy conversation? Let Rare take care of that for you.

Top review

Ethan

Dined 3 days ago

Outstanding dinner and service can't wait to go back

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Experience

Prime Rib Dinner at Rare Restaurant

The Keg Steakhouse + Bar - Peterborough

4.6

4.6 (2957)

CAN$31 to CAN$50

Steakhouse

Peterborough

About the restaurant

The Keg Steakhouse & Bar serves the finest cuts of succulent steak, aged for tenderness and grilled to perfection. Prime rib is a Keg specialty, slow roasted, hand carved and perfectly seasoned with special Keg spices. The restaurant also serves delicious seafood, memorable appetizers, crisp salads and decadent desserts. A casual ambiance and friendly, very knowledgeable staff are proud and reliable trademarks of The Keg Steakhouse & Bar. You'll find a truly comfortable and satisfying dining atmosphere accompanied by a fun and up-scale bar setting where guests can enjoy an excellent wine list, signature Keg martinis, and fresh squeezed juice cocktails.

Top review

Leslie

Dined 4 days ago

Food was delicious. The server was the awesome We will be back!!!!! The prime rib bites best thing ever

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4.6

4.6 (1162)

CAN$30 and under

Italian

Peterborough

About the restaurant

One Fine Food restaurant offers a dining experience that is sure to appeal to everyone from shoppers taking a break from perusing the market, to foodies looking for a delicious meal in a casual, unassuming atmosphere. The restaurant features carefully sourced food, authentic Italian flavours and recipes.. With an open kitchen and wood-fired pizza oven adding to the ambience, our interactive style of dining elevates the experience of simply enjoying a great meal to one in which guests leave having had a shared experience with our chefs.

Top review

VictorGold

Dined 2 days ago

What a find. Casual atmosphere with excellent Italian food. Wood oven pizzas in addition to home made italian dishes. Service is fantastic. A Market is adjoining for incredible Italian delicacies including the One pasta sauce from the restaurant.

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4.6

4.6 (341)

CAN$30 and under

Italian

Lindsay

About the restaurant

Welcome to Gusto Grande, experience the soulful vibrancy of our authentic Italian-inspired cuisine. Set in the Kawartha Lakes area, many of our foods are prepared with locally sourced ingredients ensuring we deliver the highest quality product. If you are in the mood to enjoy casual-fine dining and exceptional food in a stylish art deco setting, then Gusto Grande has a place setting just for you!

Top review

Nancy

Dined 3 days ago

Our first visit to Gusto Grande was unexpectedly 5 star. From the decor to the cleanliness, the food and the service, we ( four of us) were highly impressed. The lunch menu value was perfect and not expected. Our server was super friendly yet at the same time, professional. We will be back.

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Popular dish

Caesar

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