The Crazy Fox Bistro

I am a student, on a student budget but wanted to have a nice «fancy» dinner out with my boyfriend. This place is located right on bayfield but in between uptown and downtown Barrie. I have driven by it plenty of times but never really thought to go in. Tonight that changed!
It’s a hidden gem! The atmosphere was relaxing and inviting. We were seated on the belony overlooking the the restaurant… the only problem would be those who have a difficult time with stairs, there are a lot of stairs in this place. While they do have seating on the main floor it is not wheelchair accessible and there is about 2 flights of stairs to get to the restroom.
My boyfriend and I ordered two appetizers; crab dip and chicken wings both were very good. I ordered the… Omgosh I am going to butcher this! The spinach, mushroom and goat cheese pasta dish with rose sauce. It was fantastic and suprisingly very filling.
The staff were friendly and helpful and I would recommend this place for those who are willing to pay more for a nicer meal. With my current student lifestyle I can’t say I will be going back anytime soon but if my boyfriend wants to treat me again then I will definitely say yes!

We went here for the first time and will be back. Food was very good. For the region north of Toronto I am having trouble thinking of a place we would rather go. The restaurant looks fresh and modern in spite of it being a long established restaurant. The menu is varied for the price range but we did not find, as is normally the case when a restaurant has a lot of variety, that quality suffered as a result.
My wife eats light and had the vegetable rolls and mushroom soup as her «main»
I had the baked goat cheese appetizer and the fettuccini with beef tenderloin special. The fettuccini was especially flavourful and the sauce lovely. Warning: very peppery. I like my food smoking hot and found the pepper good but sharp, and at the edge of what I can enjoy. Steak was high quality.
We shared a ½ bottle of Shafer 2010 Merlot and it was excellent
For dessert we had the apple caramel pecan tart with vanilla gelato.
Everything tastes very good. For five star you have to go to Charleston, Montréal, Toronto, Paris, New York, Napa, Quebec City. But for the area north of Toronto this restaurant shows a ton of creativity and quality and by comparison to other (even high end and more expensive) restaurants in the area and would probably deserve a 4.5 if that were a possible Unilocal rating.
The service was adequate, friendly and casual, with some small but noticeable ‘misses’. But we will be back, hopefully on the patio next time. 15 degrees and raining the 27^th of June… blech

In short: consistently excellent upscale dining. It’s on the pricey side for Barrie, but the quality of the food justifies the expense — especially if someone else is paying!
When I was growing up in Barrie, The Crazy Fox was pretty much the only *good* restaurant in town. Back then, it operated out of the gorgeous old century home on Bradford Street just off Tiffin, and it was a wonderfully cozy, somnolent sort of upscale, with just three or four tables in each room, occupied by well-​dressed men and women enjoying well-​bred conversations. Even though being taken there for dinner was a rare treat for my younger self, the waitstaff always greeted my parents by name, and Coos always remembered to cook up an extra order of his incomparable beet chips for my mother.
I’ll admit, I was initially disappointed when The Crazy Fox moved across town to become The Crazy Fox Bistro. The new space lacked the rustic charm of the old house: it was open, and noisy, and cramped. The food was still generally excellent, but some of the old favourites were gone. For several years, whenever The Crazy Fox was mentioned, I would announce in my best hipster sneer that it just wasn’t the *same* as it used to be, and therefore, it was worse.
Now, a few years later still, I have to admit that change isn’t always bad. Yes, the Bistro is louder than the plain old Fox had been, but it’s also livelier: less murmured talk, but more laughter, and there’s been decent live music on a few occasions. The tables in the lower section have a view into the glass-​walled kitchen, which can be entertaining. And while the waitstaff no longer greet my parents by name when we go out for a rare family reunion dinner, well, that’s just a poignant reminder that Barrie isn’t a small town anymore.
The old Crazy Fox was a full five-​star restaurant. The Crazy Fox Bistro gets an appreciative four stars: the food is wonderful, the service is very good, but the atmosphere is a bit of a muddle between upscale and urban casual, and some of the tables are uncomfortably cramped.
(That said, I would forgive any and all of the above-​mentioned sins if I was presented with a basket of freshly-​fried beet chips…)

A great gem hidden in Barrie. It is always nice to be in a restaurant that isn’t part of a chain but that is privately owned. The menu offers a good selection of appetizers and entrees that are priced appropriately for this type of restaurant. The items that we ordered were excellent and very well seasoned. The service was professional and more important, very friendly — thank you Denise. It is worth the drive from Aurora and a place that I will definitively return.

Called a bistro, but for me it’s the quality of a fine dining restaurant in disguise…
Tucked away just off the street, so most would drive by, not realizing this little gem.
We were celebrating a birthday of one in our party.
There were 12 of us in the group and everyone thoroughly enjoyed their meal. Many who frequent upscale eating establishments and others who do not — and all enjoyed equally.
Tasteful dinner music with a sultry female singer was entertaining, but not too loud to converse. (not sure how frequently they have musical entertainment)
Our server was extremely attentive, but not intrusive. We were not rushed, and encouraged to enjoy our stay long after the bill was delivered.
Interesting «chips» on the plate, upon investigation (and inquiry) were beet crisps and we were all scheming with thoughts of how do we get more of that!
(I now add beets to my roasted veg at home as an ‘homage to our crazy fox experience)
If you’re hesitant to try it out then
a) go during Barrielicious for around $ 20 — pre selected menu of 3 choices per course
or
b) at costco barrie, pick up a $ 100 worth of gift cards for $ 75
If you’re feeling adventurous, try the sample platter of frogs legs and wild boar (etc)… or enjoy a Boston Pear Salad with caramelized warm pear, pistachios and
poppy seed walnut oil dressing; some selections from the sea, or stick with the classics — steak!
All in all a wonderful night for a celebration.
(They will open on a Sunday or Monday for private functions should the need arise)
Making plans to go back soon…