I have a confession to make: We’ve lived in Collingwood for years and somehow never stepped foot in The Alphorn Restaurant until last week. It’s embarrassing, honestly.
Walking in, you immediately leave the cookie-cutter, franchise restaurant world behind. The decor transports you straight to the Austrian Alps – European chalet decor, photos of local skiing legends, and a vibe that says this place has seen some fun times. It feels like a genuine apres-ski escape and you’re not in the village!
The food backs it up. I had the chicken schnitzel, and my husband ordered the sausage dish with sauerkraut, steamed veggies and mashed potatoes. You could taste the difference immediately – honest, homemade cooking with no prepackaged shortcuts to be found. They also have an exhaustive international beer list, a rare treat in this town.
But the real magic was the atmosphere. There were three birthdays during dinner, and they weren’t dreary little attempts. The whole room got into it. Young and old, music blaring, everyone was clapping and smiling. Three moments of genuine community and celebration.
We should had visited sooner, but we will definitely return to work our way through the rest of the menu.
