Best Restaurants in Niagara-on-the-Lake and Why

Every time I go onto a Niagara Facebook Group, I always see people post that they are coming to Niagara-on-the-Lake, and what restaurants do people recommend. The responses are most often a list of names. That’s fine. You could Google each one. But what kind of atmosphere are you really looking for? I would have a different recommendation for a 25th wedding anniversary than I would for a place to go with the kids. It really depends on what you are looking for. 

Here are my top 5 restaurants in Niagara-on-the-Lake based on price, quality, vibe and location. 

1. Barrelhead at Pillitteri Winery. 1696 Niagara Stone Road. Picture this. It’s a beautiful summer day. You go to Pilliteri for a wine tasting. Then, you get comfortable on a picnic table in a Cherry Orchard and have a delicious pizza! Barrelhead has a great summer vibe. It’s got a huge patio. They often have entertainment. Prices are fair. The pizzas are possibly the best in the region. This is where I took my besties when they came to visit. The orchard vibe is just so different. It’s an experience. They obviously serve wine, beer, and they even brew their own pop. It’s a family friendly place with a casual vibe. It’s a favourite of my for sure. 

Me with my besties at Barrelhead. 

2. Dinner at Peller Estate Winery. 290 John St. Now this is a fancy place! This is somewhere I would go for an anniversary or birthday dinner unless money is no object. World Renowned Chef and regular Cityline TV guest chef, Jason Parsons,  is known for his delicious farm-to-table unique dishes. Pair that with a good wine from the cellars of Peller Estate and that will make for a memorable and special dinner date.

Beautiful Peller Estate Winery

3. The Waterfront Restaurant 143 Front Street. I may regret posting this gem as it’s known as a local’s secret. The Niagara-on-the-Lake golf course, actually the oldest golf course in North America, has a wonderful restaurant and patio. It is the only restaurant in Niagara-on-the-Lake that is actually on the lake! It’s a middle of the road restaurant in terms of cost and ambiance. There are lots of golfers, so most people are dressed in casual attire. The restaurant is open to the public. This is one of our go to places. The menu is varied and the staff are great. The view of the lake, looking across to Fort Niagara at the mouth of the Niagara River is so spectacular. And the sun sets over Fort Mississauga beyond the first hole. It truly is a gem! 

View from the Waterfront Restaurant on the Niagara-on-the-Lake Golf Club 

4. The Irish Harp-Classic and a favourite for locals and visitors. This pub is in town at 245 King Street. This is the pub with the gorgeous wooden bar flown in from Ireland. They have great entertainment and special events! The food is hearty pub food. Always good! But it’s a place with a fun vibe and people love coming back to this special local pub time and time again. And, if you are lucky, my daughter might be the one taking you to your seat. This is a great location for heading to the Shaw’s Festival Theatre after dinner. 

The Irish Harp at night in the winter. 

5. Aura-on-the-Lake. 233 King Steet. This is the only Indian restaurant in town and it is so delicious. I have to admit, it’s a bit pricey but if you love Indian, you need to try it. We stumbled across this restaurant during a storm in December that shut down most of the town. It was open so we gave it a try. We left ordering up to the owner. He made excellent choices. They have a dish called Samosa Chaat that I sometimes dream about at night; it’s that good! While other restaurants sometimes have lines out the door, this is a big, historic building with lots of space and they also have a patio in the summer. It is right across from the horse drawn carriages outside the famous Prince of Wales Hotel. 

There are more great places! We have great restaurants in Niagara-on-the-Lake! I just think you can’t go wrong with these choices.