More Niagara dining establishments are gaining recognition in the Michelin Guide, with two local additions making it to the 2026 Bib Gourmand list. This accolade is reserved for restaurants that offer high-quality food at reasonable prices.
The newly listed establishments are Les Incompetents, a “French-ish” bistro located at 386 St Paul St. in downtown St. Catharines, Ontario, and RPM Bakehouse at 3839 Main St. in Jordan, a community in Lincoln.
Les Incompetents, designed to evoke a nostalgic feel with its menu and decor, received the prestigious award within a year of its opening. General manager Emily Walker expressed surprise and excitement at this achievement, noting the absence of Michelin in the region just a few years ago. The restaurant, a collaboration between Zach Smith of Fat Rabbit and individuals from Dillon’s Small Batch Distillers, aims to recreate the warmth of a living room or diner.
Chef de cuisine Julio Guerro at Les Incompetents infuses South American and Asian influences into the “French-ish” menu, featuring a raw bar with Canadian seafood like oysters from Prince Edward Island. The restaurant offers a flexible-pricing chef’s menu, starting at $80 per person, with appetizers from $15 and mains up to $38. Cocktails are priced between $15 and $19.
RPM Bakehouse, a sibling of the two-Michelin-starred Pearl Morissette restaurant, also received a Bib Gourmand recognition. Head chef Daniella Germond emphasized the use of locally grown ingredients, including Ontario-milled Canadian heritage grains, aligning with the ethos of Pearl Morissette. The bakehouse focuses on ingredients grown in Canada, showcasing a menu absent of chocolate, vanilla, and citrus, and instead using produce from their own farm and garden.
RPM Bakehouse’s savory menu changes weekly based on seasonal produce, with lattes priced at $7.50 and pastries ranging from $5 to $10.
Other Niagara restaurants recommended in the Michelin guide include Fat Rabbit on 34 Geneva St., oddBird on 52 St. Paul St., Pearl Morissette on 3953 Jordan Rd., Revé on 4-242 Mary St., and Trius Winery & Restaurant on 1249 Niagara Stone Rd.
This recognition highlights the growing culinary scene in the Niagara region and the diverse offerings available to both locals and visitors.