Whether you’re a wine enthusiast or not, you cannot deny the beauty of Niagara-on-the-Lake. With its picturesque vineyards, adorable town and prime location, folks travel from all over to visit. While many hit up a wine tour for a taste of what the area has to offer, what you don’t get on a wine tour is a taste of the eats you can find. That’s right, there are plenty of Niagara-on-the-Lake winery restaurants you’re missing out on! Next time you find yourself in NOTL, be sure to check out these Niagara wineries with restaurants.
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Dine at These Incredible Niagara-on-the-Lake Winery Restaurants
There is no shortage of great eats in Niagara but if you’re sitting there thinking “where should I eat dinner in Niagara-on-the-Lake?” Then we have the answer as you can’t go wrong with these Niagara-on-the-Lake winery restaurants!
Peller Estates Winery Restaurant
A top destination in Niagara-on-the-Lake for wine tours and tastings, Peller Estates should also be on your list for a bite to eat. Open for brunch, lunch and dinner, each of their dishes is thoughtfully paired with a vintage from the Peller Estates cellar. Yes, even dessert!
These delectable flavours are crafted by Chef Jason Parsons who has over two decades of experience in the culinary world. Peller Estates is proudly FeastON certified with 50% of the ingredients used sourced from the province and 98% of the ingredients sourced from Canada. Many of the items actually come from the Peller Estates kitchen “garden” which has now expanded to a 10-acre farm just down the road from the winery. It really doesn’t get much fresher than that!
In working with so many local products, this Niagara-on-the-Lake winery restaurant’s menu is updated frequently, reflecting the availability of produce. You’ll also find a variety of dishes on the menu from low-key, pub-style fare like poutine (with Cabernet gravy mind you) to more upscale eats like their lobster linguini. Rumour has it that you need to save room for desserts like their double chocolate cake, so don’t forget!
What really sets Peller Estates apart though is that they firmly believe food and wine go hand in hand. Winemaker Katie Dickieson works with Chef Parsons to create specific flavour profiles for their wines while Chef Parsons creates food pairings you just won’t find anywhere else. I’d say this is a big reason why Peller Estates’ restaurant is considered one of the best restaurants in Niagara-on-the-Lake.
Peller Estates Information
Address: 290 John St E, Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON L0S 1J0
Hours of Operation: Daily from 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm
Take Out: Yes, place your order by calling 1-888-510-5537 or order online
Reservations: N/A
Average Price per Person: $20-$40
Trius Winery Restaurant
Trius Winery is the first to be recognized internationally as their 1991 Trius Red vintage took the title of Best Red Wine in the World. While it’s been three decades since then, Trius continues to innovate both in the winery and on your plate.
Chef Frank Dodd is the brains behind the menu. A skilled chef who cultivated his culinary skills at some of Britain’s finest inns, he has found his home at Trius. He’s always looking to transform the every day into something special. Take the Trius Burger for example as many wonder how a simple burger can taste so good. It’s just a matter of going the extra mile.
If you really want to experience this, check out their Black Glass Dinner. Starting with a guided tasting, you’ll enjoy a four-course meal using seasonal ingredients. It blends everything Trius prides itself on – plus whoever guesses the most wines correctly during the tasting leaves with a bottle of Trius Brut!
INSIDER TIP:
Some of their vintages are only available on-site and not at the LCBO like the Trius Distinction Sauvignon Blanc.
Trius is also known for making your dinner a true experience with a number of fun photo ops on the premises. Once dinner is done, take a little stroll and snap a few selfies to fight your food coma. Don’t forget to ask for your coupon as restaurant guests get a discount at the Trius wine shop!
Trius Information
Address: 1249 Niagara Stone Rd, Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON L0S 1J0
Hours of Operation: Wednesday through Sunday from 12:00 pm to 6:00 pm
Take Out: Yes, call 1-888-510-5537 to place an order
Reservations: N/A
Average Price per Person: $30-$50
The Restaurant at Ravine Vineyard Estate Winery
A staple of the Niagara-on-the-Lake wine scene, the restaurant at Ravine Vineyard sits on a family-owned farm. It’s been in the Lowrey Family for five generations, since the 1860s. They’ve always been very cognisant of their impact on the land which is why they practice biodynamic and organic farming – one of the few wineries to do so in the Niagara Region.
They’re one of the few winery restaurants that bake their bread in-house, grow their own organic vegetables and raise their own pigs. Not only will you enjoy fresh fruits and vegetables in-season from the Ravine Vineyard garden, but Chef Proprietor Paul Harber and Chef Ross Midgley also preserve a number of these items to ensure “going local” isn’t just for what’s in season.
While you can enjoy the delicious eats from their menu year-round, Ravine Vineyard Restaurant is best known for its seasonal wood-fired pizza oven. Enjoy gorgeous views of the vines as you sip on one of their delightful vintages while you wait for your pizza. Topped with their fresh produce and locally-cured meats (if that tickles your fancy), it’s one of the best spots for pizza in Niagara.
Ravine Vineyard Information
Address: 1366 York Rd, St. Davids, ON L0S 1P0
Hours of Operation: Wednesday through Sunday from 2:00 pm to 7:30 pm
Take Out: Yes, call 905-262-8463 then select option 4 or place your order online
Reservations: N/A
Average Price per Person: $25-$50
Kitchen 76 at Two Sisters Vineyards
Just steps from Peller Estates, you’ll find another first class Niagara-on-the-Lake winery. Two Sisters Vineyards is, as you may have guessed, run by two sisters – Melissa and Angela. They oversee 76 acres of beautiful vineyards on a unique appellation between Lake Ontario and the northern end of the Niagara River.
Walk through the double doors of their extravagant 16th Century Italian Renaissance-style building to find the tasting room and the winery’s restaurant, Kitchen 76. This Italian-inspired bistro features seasonal items inspired by their family’s favourite recipes. Chef Justin Lesso insists on sourcing their meats and fish from Niagara producers to ensure the freshest quality possible. Enjoy a taste of Siciliy here in Niagara with their Arancini (Melissa’s favourite) or try the flavours of Venice with the Baccala Mantecato (Angela’s favourite). Whatever you decide to indulge in from their menu, your experience will be taken to the next level if you’re able to snag a table in their barrel cellar room.
Kitchen 76 Information
Address: 240 John St E, Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON L0S 1J0
Hours of Operation: Daily from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm
Take Out: Yes, call 289-241-4983
Reservations: N/A
Average Price per Person: $30-$60
The Farmhouse Cafe at Caroline Cellars
Caroline Cellars is four generations in the making, spanning both Germany and Canada. Their grapes sourced from not one but two farms in Niagara-on-the-Lake. You won’t find their vintages in the LCBO or anywhere else so you’ll need to pop by for a tasting… and a bite to eat!
The team at the Farmhouse Cafe make as many of their menu items as they can in-house, sourcing as many ingredients as possible from the local farming community in Niagara. On-site, you’ll find a gorgeous garden where Rick and Frieda still grow their famous tomatoes along with a number of other items including herbs and vegetables. While it’s not uncommon to see German dishes like schnitzel or spaetzle on the menu, they have a wide variety of dishes to please every palate.
When their tagline is “we make food for food lovers”, you know these dishes are going to be delish! If you’re looking for a fantastic wine country restaurant that’s low-key and makes you feel at home, you need to plan a meal at Caroline Cellars’ Farmhouse Cafe.
Farmhouse Cafe Information
Address: 1010 Line 2 Rd #358, Virgil, ON L0S 1T0
Hours of Operation: Thursday to Sunday from 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm
Take Out: Yes, call 905-468-8814 or place your order in-person
Reservations: N/A
Average Price per Person: $15-$25
OLiV Tasting Room & Restaurant at Strewn Winery
Located in a repurposed cannery from the 1940s, Strewn Winery has evolved into a popular wine country destination in Niagara. Utilizing grapes from their own vines as well as 16 additional local growers, Strewn has been making their remarkable wines for almost 25 years now. Stop in for a tasting and a tour or consider staying to enjoy a meal in their beautiful restaurant overlooking Four Mile Creek.
Do you often have a desire to try multiple dishes? If so, you need to plan a visit to OLiV at Strewn Winery. Chef Alex Mahumuni utilizes Strewn’s famous balsamic vinegars and extra virgin olive oils in every seasonal menu. The unique flavours of these creations elevate each and every dish. While Strewn’s menu centres around shareable tapas plates, their takeout menu features larger dishes including, steak sandwiches, pasta, salmon and more.
If you’d like to upgrade your own culinary skills, you might want to sign yourself up for one of the classes at the Wine Country Cooking School. You’ll prepare three courses, a salad course, a main course and dessert, which you’ll get to enjoy along with a complementary Strewn wine as you learn about the principles behind food and wine pairing.
OLiV Tasting Bar Information
Address: 1339 Lakeshore Rd, Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON L0S 1J0
Hours of Operation: Wednesday through Sunday from 2:00 pm to 7:30 pm
Take Out: Yes, call 905-468-1222
Reservations: N/A
Average Price per Person: $15-$35
Whiskey Bar Patio at Wayne Gretzky Estates
Hockey fans will recognize this name and it alone may entice you to visit but there are many more reasons to plan a trip to Wayne Gretzky Estates than just ‘The Great One’! It’s the first combined winery and distillery in Ontario and it offers unique attractions like their hockey rink in the winter months, making it a great spot to spend an afternoon enjoying Niagara’s wine country.
If you’re travelling with any non-wine drinkers, Wayne Gretzky Estates is a great spot to visit as you can enjoy tasting their whiskeys as well as their beers. Just remember to indulge responsibly!
Chef Desharnais is the brains behind the Whiskey Bar Patio menu, offering delicious comfort foods and a number of cheese and charcuterie boards. He’s all about farm-to-table flavours that are sure to satisfy your palette.
One thing to note is that reservations are not available and it’s a first-come, first-served. It’s not uncommon to struggle to find seating, especially on weekends in the summer months.
Whiskey Bar Patio Information
Address: 1366 York Rd, St. Davids, ON L0S 1P0
Hours of Operation: Wednesday to Sunday, 12:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Take Out: Yes, call 1-888-510-5537
Reservations: N/A
Average Price per Person: $20-$30
Seasonal Niagara-on-the-Lake Winery Restaurants
While the aforementioned Niagara restaurants are open year-round, summer is prime wine and dine season. As such, there are a few extra Niagara-on-the-Lake winery restaurants where you can enjoy a bite to eat!
Please note that as these dining options often depend on good weather, they may be closed if the forecast calls for rain. We recommend giving them a call or checking their social media pages to see if they are open when you’re planning to visit.
BarrelHead at Pillitteri Estates
Soak up the sunshine and enjoy a bite to eat at BarrelHead, Pillitteri Estates’ outdoor restaurant. Specializing in wood-fired pizza, Chef Michael Zappitelli serves up traditional Italian classics and some savoury pies with a twist. And yes, they do offer gluten-free dough! All of the ingredients used are sustainably farmed and sourced locally to ensure the best quality possible.
INSIDER TIP:
Do you live in Niagara? Mention that when you visit to receive 15% off any food you order!
Beat the heat with one of their signature icewine cocktails. As the world’s largest estate producer of Icewine, you’ll want to indulge in a peach mule or cold-pressed mimosa. Keep an eye on their Instagram for daily specials and seasonal cocktails!
Barrelhead Information
Address: 1469 Pelham Rd, St. Catharines, ON L2R 6P7
Open: Victoria Day Weekend until early October
Hours of Operation: Daily from Noon to 10:00 pm
Average Price per Person: $25-$50
Short Hills Kitchen at Henry of Pelham Family Estate Winery
Some of the first grapes in Canada were planted where you’ll now find the Henry of Pelham Family Estate Winery. With family ties dating back to the 1770s, this winery is six generations in the making! As one of six wineries in Ontario to be certified as following sustainable winemaking practices in all aspects of production, they go the extra mile to not only ensure great wine but that plants, helpful insects, animals and people will continue to thrive for generations to come.
In the summer months, enjoy a “localicious” lunch from the Short Hills Kitchen. You’ll be treated to gorgeous views of the vineyards from the patio. Envelop yourself in the al fresco atmosphere as your taste buds are treated to Chef Erik Peacock’s delightful eats. While the menu is limited, each dish is bursting with flavour that will have you visiting again and again.
Short Hills Kitchen Information
Address: 1469 Pelham Rd, St. Catharines, ON L2R 6P7
Open: Approximately mid-June to early October
Hours of Operation: Thursday through Monday from 11:30 am to 4:00 pm
Average Price per Person: $25-$50
Peller Estates Terrace Wine Bar
Enjoy the same great tastes of the Peller Estates Restaurant but on what is said to be the most picturesque patio in all of Niagara’s wine country. Chef Jason Parsons’ culinary prowess shines as it’s paired with an extra dose of vitamin D. Savour every bite on this recently expanded patio as you watch the brilliant sunset over the vineyard.
Terrace Wine Bar Information
Address: 1469 Pelham Rd, St. Catharines, ON L2R 6P7
Open: Approximately mid-June to late October
Hours of Operation: Sunday through Thursday from Noon to 8:00 pm, Fridays & Saturdays from Noon to 9:00 pm
Average Price per Person: $25-$50
Wayne Gretzky Estates Beer Garden
The newest addition to Wayne Gretzky Estates, the Beer Garden is the perfect place to enjoy a pint or two while soaking in the summer sun. Featuring a limited menu including snack foods and pizzas from Chef Maurice Desharnais, spend an afternoon challenging your friends to a game of bocce ball, ping pong or pool. Wine and cider are also available if you prefer as you enjoy this “Munich-inspired beer garden with a bit of a Gretzky twist”.
Beer Garden Information
Address: 1469 Pelham Rd, St. Catharines, ON L2R 6P7
Open: June to October
Hours of Operation: Daily from Noon to 7:00 pm
Average Price per Person: $10-$25
More Niagara Winery Restaurants to Dine At
You may or may not know that top-notch wine isn’t limited just to Niagara-on-the-Lake. There are a number of other areas in the Niagara Region that are home to amazing wineries! If you’re looking to beat the crowds that come with NOTL, we recommend checking out some of these winery restaurants in the Niagara Region.
13th Street Winery – Where food, wine and art mix and mingle to create a truly unique experience in Niagara’s wine country. Enjoy a meal at the Farmhouse Bistro or order one of their online packages to elevate your date night, Sunday brunch and more at home!
Good Earth Food & Wine – Grab a seat at one of Niagara’s original farm-to-table experiences and indulge in some classic bistro fare courtesy of Executive Chef Andrew Thorne. Vegetarian and vegan options are available on the menu.
Honsberger Estate Winery – Indulge at one or both of their seasonal restaurants in the town of Jordan. They’re best known for their outdoor pizza oven in the summer months but you’ll fall for the quaint atmosphere of The Small Barn in the winter months.
Redstone Winery – Head to Beamsville for an upscale dining experience in their gorgeous restaurant, have a snack and settle in for an evening at one of their firepits or grab something from the takeout menu.
Ridgepoint Wines – Settle in for a meal at Ridgepoint Wines’ charming restaurant in Vineland, featuring a seasonal menu with dishes inspired by their Italian heritage.
Rockway Vineyards – If you’re a golfer or have one in your tasting crew, Rockway Vineyards will be a fan favourite. With gorgeous views overlooking the golf course on the outskirts of St Catharines, sink your teeth into their menu of elevated bistro dishes. Plus you can always pop by Rockway Falls after, one of the stunning waterfalls in Niagara!
Pearl Morisette – If you’re a fan of French cuisine, you’ll want to dine here as their prix fixe menu reflects local flavours from over 13 farms in the area, including their own.
Peninsula Ridge Estate Winery – The Restaurant at Peninsula Ridge offers an elevated yet casual dining experience as you enjoy your meal inside a historic “Queen Anne Revival” Victorian mansion located on the Beamsville Bench. Enjoy seasonal eats that pair perfectly with their wines and tastes even better when enjoyed on their outdoor patio.
Westcott Vineyards – Located in Jordon Station, Wescott Vineyards has two locations in Niagara: their “Home Farm” located in the Vinemont Ridge appellation and their Butlers’ Grant Vineyards within the Twenty Mile Bench sub-appellation. This allows them to harness the strengths of two distinct areas in Niagara! They utilize only local ingredients with their menu with many sourced straight from their own gardens and supplemented by neighbouring farms in the region.
Vineland Estates Winery Restaurant – Enjoy a wide variety of menu items from burgers to pasta in the beautifully renovated 1845 farmhouse or on the newly upgraded deck outside overlooking the vineyards.
Things to Do in Niagara-on-the-Lake
Chances are you didn’t head all the way to wine country just to eat at a winery’s restaurant and if you did, that’s totally cool by us. Just in case you’re looking for more points of interest, here are some of the great things to do in Niagara-on-the-Lake and the surrounding area!
- Take some time to explore the heart of Niagara-on-the-Lake proper. Queen Street is adorably picturesque and will have you feeling as though you’ve been transported into the middle of a Hallmark movie set. Be sure to grab a drink from one of the local coffee shops for your stroll!
- Enjoy a drive along the beautiful Niagara Parkway towards Niagara Falls. There are a number of places to park along it to get out and stretch your legs along the paved path parallel to the road. It’s perfect for cycling too and definitely one of the top things to do in Niagara-on-the-Lake!
- Niagara-on-the-Lake played a pivotal role in a number of famous battles, including the War of 1812. Visit one of the national historic sites to learn about this history and take in some of the brilliant views of the area.
- Explore the gorgeous grounds of Queenston Heights Park just 15 minutes south of town where you find beautiful statues, the start of Ontario’s famous Bruce Trail and some great walking trails perfect for an afternoon stroll.
- As one of the oldest towns in Ontario (and even the country!), there are certainly some ghastly fellows that have left their mark on Niagara. Hop on a Niagara-on-the-Lake ghost tour to hear all about the ghouls that go bump in the night.
Spend a Weekend in Niagara-on-the-Lake
It’s no surprise that Niagara-on-the-Lake is a top vacation getaway in Ontario. If you’re planning on spending a night or two in the area, there are a number of fantastic hotels in Niagara-on-the-Lake to stay at.
The Prince of Wales Hotel is the most iconic hotel in Niagara-on-the-Lake. Being just steps from Queen Street as well as the shores of Lake Ontario, it’s one of our top picks for Niagara-on-the-Lake accommodations. You’ll be treated like royalty with their superb service and amenities at this historic hotel.
Ready to Visit Some Niagara on the Lake Winery Restaurants?
As we mentioned earlier, Niagara-on-the-Lake is a popular destination in the summer months so if there is a specific spot you’re looking to check out, reservations are strongly encouraged. Depending on which of these Niagara winery restaurants you’re looking to visit, there is also the possibility that reservations may be required. We highly recommend reaching out to the restaurant to confirm before your trip to avoid any disappointment!
Have you eaten at any of these establishments? If not, which one do you want to visit first? We know it’s hard to choose from the best winery restaurants in Niagara!
While we do our best to keep the information on Eat Local Ontario up to date, we sometimes miss things. If you notice something that needs to be updated, please comment or send us an email at eatlocalontario[at]gmail.com and we’ll look into it as soon as we can. Thank you!
