MICHELIN Guide Fuels St. Catharines and Niagara Benchlands Food Scene Buzz With Even More Praise

Niagara Benchlands and St. Catharines restaurants are continuing to win the hearts and stomachs of MICHELIN Guide Inspectors. When the MICHELIN Guide revealed its 2026 Toronto & Region findings this September, the list of accolades revealed some exciting new additions in St. Catharines and the Niagara Benchlands.

Bib Gourmand award winners, which MICHELIN considers to be standout restaurants serving some of the most exciting and creative food at a great value, were bestowed on only five new restaurants in total throughout Toronto and the surrounding area. St. Catharines’ Les Incompetents (opens in a new tab) and Jordan Village’s RPM Bakehouse (opens in a new tab) were the only award winners located outside of Toronto.

A diner photographing a plated dish at Restaurant Pearl Morissette — Restaurant Pearl Morissette (opens in a new tab), Jordan

Les Incompetents’ (opens in a new tab) playful approach to breaking culinary rules caught the attention of MICHELIN Guide inspectors. Vintage vibes abound in this bustling space with cozy booths, a killer raw bar, a creative French-inspired menu, and elevated cocktails.

A table of small plates, wine and cocktails at Les Incompetents in St. Catharines — Les Incompetents (opens in a new tab), St. Catharines

RPM Bakehouse’s (opens in a new tab) use of ingredients from the Restaurant Pearl Morissette farm and garden, and heritage grains in its slow-fermented breads, made it a standout. RPM Bakehouse offers excellent coffee, scratch-baked pastries, fresh plates from the garden, small bites and Pearl Morissette wines indoors or on its patio.

Loaves of dough proofing in baskets at RPM Bakehouse — RPM Bakehouse (opens in a new tab), Jordan Village

St. Catharines’ OddBird (opens in a new tab) is another newly noted dining destination to gain MICHELIN attention. The beloved St. Paul Street bistro earned a recommendation as a “study of contrasts” that offers something for everyone, doesn’t take itself too seriously, and still cooks with proper care and attention.

A spread of dishes at OddBird in St. Catharines — OddBird (opens in a new tab), St. Catharines

Jordan’s Restaurant Pearl Morissette (opens in a new tab) held its title as Ontario’s only restaurant with the honour of two MICHELIN Stars. Restaurant Pearl Morissette offers a fine-dining experience, showcasing an ever-changing menu of regional ingredients that reflects the European ideal of destination dining in the heart of agriculture. The indoor dining room, perched on the top floor of the Pearl Morissette winery, has floor-to-ceiling windows boasting views of the 42-acre property’s regenerative farm. Guests can add wine pairings or non-alcoholic garden pairings to the ever-changing prix fixe menu.

The dining room at Restaurant Pearl Morissette, with floor-to-ceiling windows — Restaurant Pearl Morissette (opens in a new tab), Jordan

In identifying “great food beyond Toronto proper” as a 2026 trend defining the city and surrounding region’s gastronomy right now, the MICHELIN team also highlighted St. Catharines’ Fat Rabbit (opens in a new tab), which maintained its MICHELIN recommendation for the third year running. After adding a fabulous new dining space to accommodate even more guests at this unique restaurant and whole-animal butchery, Fat Rabbit Chef Zac Smith shows no signs of slowing down. He and his team are also behind the success of Les Incompetents and are just putting the finishing touches on a third exciting St. Paul Street dining destination. Sunset Steak and Cheese (opens in a new tab) draws inspiration from Philadelphia’s classic sandwich shops. Housed in a diner that’s been a favourite haunt of the city’s breakfast set since 1956, diners can expect delicious food at an accessible price point with a healthy serving of character on the side when it opens this fall.

Cutting into a plate of sausage and mash at Fat Rabbit — Fat Rabbit (opens in a new tab), St. Catharines

Build Your St. Catharines and Niagara Benchlands MICHELIN Guide Map

Two MICHELIN Stars: Restaurant Pearl Morissette (opens in a new tab)

MICHELIN Bib Gourmand Award Winners: Les Incompetents (opens in a new tab) and RPM Bakehouse (opens in a new tab)

MICHELIN Recommended: Fat Rabbit (opens in a new tab) and OddBird (opens in a new tab)

Browse our Culinary (opens in a new tab), Wine and Craft Beverages (opens in a new tab), and Farms and Markets (opens in a new tab) pages for even more food-focused stops to incorporate into your trip. Add a cozy place to stay (opens in a new tab), and you’ve got a recipe for a winning gourmet trip to St. Catharines and the Niagara Benchlands.

Read the MICHELIN Guide articles recognizing the Niagara restaurants highlighted in this post:

FAQs

Are there MICHELIN-starred restaurants in St. Catharines and the Niagara Benchlands?

Restaurant Pearl Morissette in Lincoln holds two MICHELIN Stars and is Ontario’s only two-starred restaurant.

Are there any Niagara restaurants in St. Catharines, Lincoln, or the Niagara Benchlands recognized in the MICHELIN Guide?

St. Catharines, the Niagara Benchlands and Lincoln are home to several restaurants that have caught the attention of MICHELIN Guide critics, including Restaurant Pearl Morissette, which has two MICHELIN Stars, Les Incompetents and RPM Bakehouse, which both hold Bib Gourmand distinctions, and Fat Rabbit and OddBird, which are MICHELIN Recommended.

What does it mean if a restaurant has two MICHELIN Stars?

The MICHELIN Guide bestows two Stars to restaurants that it feels offer excellent cooking that is “worth a detour.” Restaurant Pearl Morissette in the Niagara Benchlands is currently the only restaurant in Ontario, and one of only two in Canada, to have earned this rating, which is the second-highest in the guide.

What is a Bib Gourmand restaurant?

A Bib Gourmand is the MICHELIN Guide’s award recognizing good food at a good price. In St. Catharines and the Niagara Benchlands, Les Incompetents in St. Catharines and RPM Bakehouse in Lincoln both hold this distinction.

What does MICHELIN Recommended mean?

MICHELIN Recommended restaurants are places the Guide’s inspectors believe serve good food and are worth a visit. In St. Catharines, Fat Rabbit and OddBird are MICHELIN Recommended.

Which MICHELIN Guide restaurants are in St. Catharines?

St. Catharines has three restaurants that have received MICHELIN Guide recognition: Les Incompetents, which won a Bib Gourmand award, and Fat Rabbit and OddBird, which are both MICHELIN Recommended.

Which MICHELIN Guide restaurants are in the Niagara Benchlands?

The Niagara Benchlands has two restaurants that have received MICHELIN Guide praise: Restaurant Pearl Morissette earned two MICHELIN Stars, and RPM Bakehouse won a Bib Gourmand award.

Where are the Niagara Benchlands?

The Niagara Benchlands is a wine country region located in Lincoln, Ontario, sitting between Lake Ontario and the Niagara Escarpment, between Toronto and Niagara Falls.

Can I visit more than one MICHELIN restaurant on a single trip to St. Catharines and the Niagara Benchlands?

St. Catharines and the Benchlands are neighbours with a total of five restaurants with MICHELIN Guide recognition just a short drive apart. Many visitors pair a MICHELIN meal with winery visits across the Niagara Benchlands and other attractions in St. Catharines.

Do I need a reservation at MICHELIN restaurants in St. Catharines and the Niagara Benchlands?

Those wanting to dine at Niagara restaurants that have received MICHELIN Guide praise are encouraged to check the restaurant’s website in advance for current booking policies and reservation windows. Some restaurants, like Restaurant Pearl Morissette, require reservations well in advance, while others can accommodate same-day reservations and walk-ins.