The stunning natural beauty of Niagara Falls attracts thousands of marveling visitors every year, and chances are if you’re reading this then you’re one of them. We’ve put together a list of our favorite restaurants near Niagara Falls, so grab your ponchos and let’s go!
The Top 10 Places to Eat near Niagara Falls
SPoT
€ | Cafe | Open Early
Starting off our list, this little café is one of the best spots near the falls if you’re looking to grab something light, especially if its early in the day. Located on Buffalo Avenue, SPoT sports a casual interior coffee shop setting, along with patio seats that are a perfect place to enjoy a cup of coffee and start your day.
SPoT serves breakfast all day, and offers a wide variety of usual suspects made right. The Western Omelette is our favorite, stuffed full of three different cheeses, sauteed onions, aged ham and served with a slice of freshly baked bread. If you’re looking for something a bit lighter, the oatmeal is infused from locally sourced maple syrup and goes wonderfully with a cup of black coffee. All together, it’s a great way to start your journey to the falls on the right foot.
Address: 24 Buffalo Ave
Savor
€€ | Culinary School Restaurant | Experimental
Where SUNY Culinary students show off their skills, this farm-to-table spot is always one of the most interesting restaurants near Niagara Falls. Emphasizing fresh ingredients and an ever-changing menu, you never know what to expect at Savor. With its naturally lit and tastefully decorated dining room, along with ample outdoor seating, its perfect for lunch or dinner. What makes this place really special is its “open kitchen” concept, where guests can observe students receive their instruction as they cook. It’s truly like stepping into the classroom!
As we said, the menu here is always changing and you should definitely try whatever is on offer when you arrive. If they have it, however, we’d recommend the house smoked chicken pizza, smoked for hours to produce a tender, succulent texture that is topped beautifully with arugula and smoked mozzarella. Everything here will run you from about $12 to $20, making it one of the most affordable fine-dining restaurants near Niagara Falls.
Address: 28 Old Falls St
Weinkeller
€€ | Beautiful Patio | House-Made Wines
Another spot that emphasizes fresh, locally-sourced ingredients and an attention to detail, Weinkeller should be on anyone’s Niagara Falls itinerary. With its contemporary menu options and self-made wines, you can really sense the personal touch that goes into every thing they do here. If it’s a nice day, the hidden garden patio is a lovely place for lunch. The interior, however, with its modern take on a rustic tradition, is great as well.
To start, why not try the beef carpaccio. Thinly carved and coated with herbs, it’s tender and perfectly satisfying without being too filling. For your entrée, keeping things simple with the locally caught salmon is the way to go. Served fresh with fresh caper hollandaise, it’s a light but gratifying lunch that pairs wonderfully with a glass of the house white.
Address: 5633 Victoria Ave
Mandarin
€€ | Chinese | Bang for your Buck
Sometimes you just need something that hits the spot, and this family-owned Chinese spot does just that. With its casual and colorful dining room, decorated with marine imagery evocative of the falls themselves, it’s a great place for big groups looking to eat as much as possible.
The dining experience here is certainly unique. Mandarin offers pay-per-dish dining. Simply check off what you’d like off the menu, and you’ll be brought round after round of freshly made food the moment it’s ready. With Chinese classics like sweet & sour pork, BBQ spareribs, fried dumplings and vegetable fried rice, you can stuff yourself silly eating here. Though we would we would definitely recommend waiting a little while before stepping on to a boat after your meal.
Address: 7555 Montrose Rd
Bakery Restaurant & Lounge
€€ | Casual | Steakhouse
Keeping things casual since 1969, this steakhouse offers satisfying American fare in a rustic, wooden interior that’s just about the perfect place for its traditional offerings. Diners are treated to a cozy atmosphere that’s a great getaway from a chilly day at the falls. Whether you want to play some darts, grab a pool cue, or just want to sit down with your family and enjoy a great meal, this is the place.
No need to crazy at this place. Whether you order one of the perfectly cooked steaks, or a hamburger piled high with cheese and fried onions, you can be sure of the freshness of the ingredients and the quality of the cooking. If you’re worried about finding a good vegetarian option, don’t worry. The Mediterranean Wrap, stuffed with homemade hummus, asparagus, fresh cucumber and sweet bell peppers is absolutely delicious!
Address: 3004 Niagara St
Tide & Vine Oyster House
€€ | Seafood | Fresh
A list of restaurants near Niagara Falls would be incomplete without seafood, and this place does it with flying colors. Combining a rustic charm, plenty of aged wooden décor and a laid-back atmosphere, you’re getting a high-end dining experience without the stuffiness. If you’re visiting the falls, you’ve got to visit Tide & Vine.
Everything here is caught locally and served fresh, so you’ll always be getting the best that’s on offer. If you’re with a group and really want to get a taste of the local fare, then the Chilled Seafood Tower is the way to go. A massive dish that includes oysters, wild gulf shrimp, vinaigrette-tossed lobster, octopus, marinated tuna and mussels, it can leave even the hungriest group begging for a to-go bag. The Turf side of things is pretty great too. Try the braised boneless short rib, tender and explosively juicy.
Address: 3491 Portage Rd
Sahla Thai
€€ | Thai | Authentic
One of the few Thai restaurants near Niagara Falls (and definitely our favorite), give Sahla Thai a try if you’ve got a hankering that only Pad Thai can fix. Located in a dimly lit interior, decorated with carved images of the Buddha, you can feel the sense of authenticity and history just sitting here. And that’s not mention the food!
You might have your own favorites when it comes to Thai food, but Sahla Thai certainly rewards a little bit of adventure in your choice of entrée. The “Lovely Chicken”, for instance, is served with the house’s homemade peanut sauce. Despite our efforts, we could never quite pry out an answer as to how they make this delicious sauce, but it’s absolutely popping with flavor. Served with beer sourced straight from Thailand, we couldn’t have left happier. Of course, you can always order your usual curry or pad thai and you definitely won’t be disappointed.
Address: 270 Saint Paul Street, East
Skylon Tower
€€€€ | Rotating Dining Room | Beautiful Views
Offering stunning views in its unique rotating dining room, the Skylon Tower restaurant is a fine-dining staple of the falls. As the restaurants turns on its axis, you’ll be treated to high-end service and some of the best views of the falls you can find anywhere. If you don’t mind heights, then definitely request to be seated by the window.
Don’t come here if you’re sensitive about the weight of your wallet. Starters like the French-style escargot and the fresh St. Jacque scallops start at around $20! They’re definitely worth it though and serve as the perfect introduction to your entrée. You can’t go wrong here, but we had the rack of lamb and its Dijon mustard anointment occupied our thoughts for days after. It’s just that good.
Address: 5200 Robinson St
Fortuna’s
€€ | Italian | Homestyle
Weary travelers in need of a homestyle Italian meal need look no further, because Fortuna’s is one of the best restaurants near Niagara Falls for just that. The ambiently lit dining space, surrounded on all sides by white archways straight out of the Colosseum, it’s a little slice of Italy just when you need it.
Like other entries on our list, Fortuna’s benefits from the fantastic variety of local farms and producers that surround the Niagara area. Every dish is carefully made, while in large enough portions to satisfy. Start with the Bruschetta, generously topped with tomatoes, onion, green pepper and smoked mozzarella. Then for your entrée, we recommend the Vodka Bolognese, a rotini pasta dish served with a creamy pink vodka sauce and a mixture of pork and beef. The fresh chopped habanero tossed in adds that perfect kick of heat.
Address: 827 19th St
Flying Saucer Restaurant
€ | Unique | Diner
We figured we’d end our list of best restaurants near Niagara Falls with one of the most unique spots in the area. With its colorfully lit and sci-fi themed décor, you’ll feel like you’ve been beamed up to an alien spacecraft when you step into this place. If you’re traveling with kids, or just want someplace fun and casual to eat, then we definitely recommend.
Nothing too fancy here beyond classic diner foods, but sometimes that’s exactly what you need. The centerpiece of the menu is the E.T. Special, featuring a short stalk of buttermilk pancakes, 3 extra large eggs, sausage, bacon, home fries and toast. For only $12.99, it’s so much food you could split it between two people and still leave satisfied. We’ll also say that the Belgian Waffles here are out of this world!
Address: 6768 Lundy’s Ln
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