Where to eat on the P’tit Train du Nord, Val-David

You've been pedalling since Saint-Jérôme. The legs are warm, the back is a little sore, and somewhere around kilometre forty the question shows up. Where are we eating tonight?

Here's our suggestion. You're already in Val-David. Don't get back on the bike. Walk five minutes to MacTaverne.

Park the bike. Sit down. Order a pint.

We're a proper English-style pub on the corner of the village. Same building as Le Baril Roulant, now with new owners, new kitchen, new everything. Our terrasse looks across the road at the Rivière du Nord, so when the sun's still up you'll be eating with the sound of the rapids behind you. When the air cools off, we light the fireplace on the terrasse. In winter, we move inside and light one in the dining room too.

What's on the table.

Mike, our chef and my brother, cooks everything in-house. Fish and chips in a beer batter that crackles. A steak that comes with pepper sauce and proper hand-cut fries. Scotch eggs that disappear before you've taken your jacket off. Sticky toffee pudding to finish, because you earned it.

The wines are old world, mostly France and Italy, hand chosen from small producers. A short list, but every bottle is one we'd pour for ourselves. Six beers on tap, including our own MacTaverne Lager.

Stay the night, ride home tomorrow.

If you've ridden far enough that the idea of driving home sounds awful, the auberge has six rooms upstairs. Four with queen beds, one family room, one with two singles. A jacuzzi suite is coming soon. Wake up to breakfast, then back on the P'tit Train du Nord whenever you're ready.

It's a real plan. A lot of people do it.

The basics.

• Address: 1430 rue de l'Académie, Val-David, QC

• Pub hours: Mon to Fri from 5 pm, Sat from 11:30 am, Sun from 11:30 am

• Reserve a table:on OpenTable or call (819) 322-2280

• Reserve a room:direct booking

We'll keep the kitchen open and a candle on the table.