Mrs. Mitchell's: Refined Dining in Mulmur, Ontario
Mulmur, Ontario is home to charming hamlets and local delights. Bri has written up your guide to the renowned local restaurant, Mrs. Mitchell’s.
The garden at Mrs. Mitchell’s. Photo Credit: Chris Mitchell.
A sense of calm falls over you from the moment you enter the charming grounds of Mrs. Mitchell’s Restaurant. Being led to your table, you’re instantly enveloped by the tall hedges, the overflowing flowerbeds and, if you visit in springtime, the sights and smells of pristine peonies. Nestled in the hamlet of Violet Hill in Mulmur, Ontario, Mrs. Mitchell’s is a local treasure, and a hallmark of the region.
If this Ontario restaurant wasn’t on your bucket list before, then we’d strongly recommend that you add it right about now.
We should probably also say that we know that our last name is the same as the restaurant’s name, but there’s no relation (though we do love the name).
The History of Mrs. Mitchell’s Restaurant
The dining garden at Mrs. Mitchell’s. Photo Credit: Chris Mitchell.
Mrs. Mitchell’s began as a family endeavour forty-one years ago. In 1980, the restaurant opened in an old schoolhouse, and was named for the school’s most dedicated and loyal teacher.
The restaurant was the vision of its original heart and soul, Maureen Baufeldt, who steadfastly ran the place for thirty-one years. While her passing in 2011 was a great loss to the community, her legacy and restaurant lives on in her daughter, Heidi Baufeldt. We had the chance to meet Heidi on our visit, and her passion and dedication to this establishment it notable even all the way across the garden. She’s clearly proud to continue to this restaurant, which has become an icon of the community, and she should be.
Heidi has spent most of her life in and around the restaurant. From around the age of seven or so, she’s been immersed in her mother’s business. Fast forward to today, and Heidi is at the helm of the dream team of dedicated staff at Mrs. Mitchell’s. During our visit to Mrs. Mitchell’s, we felt so well taken care of, which we can only imagine is something that has been present in this business since it first opened.
Heidi knows every little detail about the menu and the local suppliers she works with. With the clear dedication and commitment to the local community, it’s plain to see that Mrs. Mitchell’s is focused on propping up and supporting fellow businesses in the region. All of that makes it easier to spend a little more for a meal like this, and feel that it was worth every penny.
Dinner at Mrs. Mitchell’s in Mulmur, Ontario
Mrs. Mitchell’s has a selection of martinis, cocktails and draft or bottled beer to choose from. With the help of our hostess Sarah, we decided to start with a bottle of local pinot noir from Windrush Estate Winery. Later in the evening, we opted for a local bohemian pilsner from Caledon Hills Brewing Company.
Pinot Noir from Windrush Estate Winery. Photo Credit: Chris Mitchell.
You might find it hard to settle on what to eat at Mrs. Mitchell’s. We sure did!
After a charmed check-in with Heidi, we decided there were a few staples we had to try. After some freshly-baked bread with local butter and a garden salad, we enjoyed some Stuffed Mushroom Caps and their famous Wild Mushroom Soup. In the world of mushroom soups, you can sometimes be inundated with cream. This wasn’t the case for this staple dish. It was simply delicious, and it let the local mushrooms shine.
Stuffed Mushroom Caps. Photo Credit: Chris Mitchell.
Wild Mushroom Soup. Photo Credit: Chris Mitchell.
For our entrees, we chose the Duck Confit with sun-dried cherry & bourbon jus for me and the Mediterranean Veal Cutlet with Havarti cheese and Mediterranean salsa for Chris. The duck was crisp and delicious, and the cherry and bourbon was a combination I was excited to try. It was so well-balanced and tasty.
Duck Confit. Photo Credit: Bri Mitchell.
The veal was a creative take on schnitzel, and the medley on top was reminiscent of a Mediterranean-style ratatouille. The confluence of flavours and regional specialties for both dishes was divine.
Served with a sizeable side of farm-fresh vegetables, Chris and I were both swooning.
Mediterranean Veal Cutlet. Photo Credit: Chris Mitchell.
Although we were more than satiated from dinner, we knew we had to try some of their famous freshly-made desserts to top off the evening. Like their entree menu, we were also pleasantly surprised by the variety of desserts to choose from. Sarah, our hostess, had pretty much told us outright that if we had the room for dessert, then we had to go for it. That’s the advice we’d pass along to you as well!
We knew we had to try the Raspberry Cream Pie and the Sticky Toffee Pudding, both of which have been on the menu since 1980.
Heidi shared the story of her mom’s frequent visits to England where she always had sticky toffee pudding, and worked hard to get the recipe right at Mrs. Mitchell’s. Heidi even mentioned that they tried over fifty different recipes for the Sticky Toffee Pudding before they settled on the right one. Funny enough, it was apparently their Scottish neighbour nearby who helped Heidi’s mom lock in the final recipe, and it hasn’t changed since.
It seemed very fitting to enjoy both of these dishes in such a pristine English garden.
Raspberry Cream Pie. Photo Credit: Chris Mitchell.
Sticky Toffee Pudding. Photo Credit: Chris Mitchell.
Final Thoughts on a Visit to Mrs. Mitchells
All in all, this restaurant was one Chris and I both left feeling incredibly satisfied and impressed with. It’s the sort of place where the moment you leave, you’re already mentally planning your next visit, and who you’ll bring with you.
From the warmth of the service to the friendliness and homeyness of the environment, it’s hard not to feel special after leaving this historic place. We’ve spent time visiting restaurants in London, Ontario, perusing Ganonoque’s restaurant scene, and really criss-crossing this province in search of great meals all over, and there’s something about this place.
While we were delighted by our dinner experience at Mrs. Mitchell’s, there are other amazing ways to enjoy this restaurant in Mulmur, Ontario, too. We were so excited to learn that Chris’s parents actually used to bring his grandma up to the Mulmur Hills area many years ago on an annual day trip to see the fall foliage.
She loved the rolling hills in the region, and a visit to Mrs. Mitchell’s for lunch and tea was always a staple on their trips. Depending on the time of your visit, they also offer an excellent lunch menu, or brunch on weekends. It would be remiss to say (and I’m sure you’ve gotten the picture by now) that the ambiance of Mrs. Mitchell’s is so intimate and memorable that it would be perfect for an special event or occasion, too.
You can visit their website for more details around planning your visit, or call +1-519-925-3627. Reservations are recommended.
What a beautiful evening in Mrs. Mitchell’s garden! Thanks to Heidi for taking the photo for us.
Heidi’s mom loved to learn about and cultivate English gardens, which is abundantly clear from the moment you set foot at the restaurant. Through chatting with Heidi, we learned that the garden at Mrs. Mitchell’s used to be for special events only, and wasn’t used for their regular dining service. As many restaurants have had to get creative, the same was true at Mrs. Mitchell’s due to the need for outdoor dining spaces during the pandemic. We were more than happy to enjoy dinner in the garden, and we’re quite sure you will too.
Between the twinkling strands of Edison bulbs and the smooth jazz playing throughout the garden, we wouldn’t have any idea this hadn’t been a staple to sit outside at for the past forty-one years. Their indoor dining area is cosy, warm and inviting, too.
Regardless of where you sit, you won’t soon forget the warmth and delights of this memorable place.
I want to humbly thank Central Counties Tourism for hosting me as media. All opinions are completely my own. If you’ve visited Mulmur, Ontario or specifically Mrs. Mitchell’s before and have any comments or additional recommendations, then kindly write them below!
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