The Barrel Restaurant — Restaurant in Fort Erie

awful experience! my mother and i visited with family and friends and were treated horribly (we were a table of 15)

my mother and i both have celiac disease and need to be extremely careful with where we eat and we saw that they had gluten free options which made us feel good about going. but when being informed, their waitress Christina showed she didn’t care. i approached her to ask about gluten free pasta and bread as a substitute, and she asked if it was an allergy or a preference? i said, “there are two people at the table who have celiac. so it’s an allergy” she said, “oh that’s no good is it?” with a snotty attitude. when taking my order later on, i asked if their salad was GF and she gave me a dirty look, so i had to specify for her and then when i asked about GF salad dressing, the look on her face told me to just say no to the dressing; cause i didn’t want to have to explain again. my mother ordered a Cheesesteak sub but on french fries. the waitress, Karen, took her order and wrote down “celiac” on the paper, and then later informed her that she had the Teriyaki sauce removed as well because she had an allergy. well once she got her meal, and taking one bite, she realized something was wrong. after informing Christina, who didn’t really acknowledge the problem, Christina said she would ask the kitchen. she did, but even the kitchen staff didn’t know. so it was a few minutes before we found out that the Fries were coated in Flour, and after informing us, christina walked away. i, then, got back up to go get her to inform her that we weren’t done speaking to her. she ignored me, and walked over to our table to assist someone else, to which then, my mother got her attention. christina then said that they will make her the same dish, but no fries and no bun. thank you for changing it, but at that point, the damage was already done and now my mother will be sick for the rest of the week because this restaurant’s staff is so uninformed including the kitchen.

before leaving, my mother went to speak to the manager about what had happened and he kept speaking over her in a very arrogant and condescending tone. she spoke to him about being charged something extra, and he did give her back the change. but he was very rude, and even snapped at Karen, (the super nice and helpful waitress through it all), even tho she was trying to also explain what had happened. he also informed her that they are all up to date on their certifications, but you need to brush up on your customer service certification because that is where you failed the most.

all in all: thank you KAREN for being attentive and helpful and keep up...

I have been dining at this restaurant for in excess of 50 years and always enjoyed not only the pizza and wings they are known for, but the variety of Italian, Greek and American style dishes offered and the homemade salads and desserts. Sadly, my experience last night has soured me. Arriving at around 5 o'clock the place was not yet busy. We ordered almost immediately. My wife ordered Bruscetta. I know there are different versions, but the classic Italian one has lightly toasted Italian bread, topped with a mixture of diced tomatoes, garlic, basil and olive oil. What she received was evidently a sub style bun covered in cheese that had been melted under the broiler and some grated parmesan on top. There was some evidence of a tomato been in the vicinity, but scant. It presented more like the cheesy bread that Pizza Pizza offers. My order was placed. A glass of wine to be followed by Tomato Florentine soup appetizer and Spaghetti with Meatballs as my entree. The wine came, followed by a nice bowl of savoury soup which was delicious. Now I know they stopped doing the small loaves of hot bread some time ago. That's fine, but should't the soup have a roll or some crackers as a side? I guess not. I was just beginning to enjoy the soup when another server arrives to plunk my entree down at the table. So do I wolf down my soup so I can enjoy a hot entree? Hmmmmm...... Next, I start on the main course. The pasta is good, the sauce okay, but the meatballs are terrible. Rather than the fork crumbled version of days gone by, which emanated the smell of garlic and onions, I have a gelatinous, rubbery lump of tasteless mystery meat that smells like the canned stuff you can get off the grocery shelf and whose name it shares with the unwanted e-mails you receive. I can't stomach it. The waitress notices and refers it to her "manager". As we move on to dessert, a gentleman appears at our table. I expect that he is the afore mentioned "manager", however he bruskly informs me that he has been making these meatballs for 30 years. So, is he the chef? He never says, but clearly, constructive criticism of his meatballs is not welcome. And off he goes. No interest in my complaint, only defence of his reputation, I suppose. Dessert and coffee are fine, and then the bill. The entree has been deleted as expected. A mystery salad is in its place. But why bother. Enough is enough. The Barrel Restaurant. Oh...

We had the pleasure of dining at The Barrel in Fort Erie, and it was, once again, a great experience. My family and I make the trek from Haliburton and Bancroft once or twice a year to camp along the Niagara River, and our trip is never complete without a dinner stop at this Italian gem.

​From the moment you walk in, you're greeted with an ambiance that strikes the perfect balance between cozy and elegant. The lighting is warm, the decor is inviting, and you can just feel the family history and love they put into their establishment in the air. It’s clear this isn't just a place to eat—it's a place to gather and make memories. It's been in business for over 40 years! No wonder! ​ The service, as always, was excellent. The staff is attentive without being overbearing and genuinely passionate about the food they serve. They make you feel like family, ensuring every need is met with a smile. It's the kind of service that elevates a great meal into a truly exceptional dining experience. The last time we were here was in May of 2025 with a group of twelve on a bike trip. Same great service. Same great meals. Same great experience. ​ And let's talk about the food! The meals are nothing short of delicious, with flavours that transport you straight to Italy. Tonight my wife ordered the lasagna, and it was a generous, mouth-watering portion of cheesy, meaty perfection. My brother had the chicken parmigiana, which was tender and flavourful, served with fettuccine alfredo. My sister in law had the cheese ravioli while I had a meat lovers pizza; consistently one the best I've ever had. No one leaves The Barrel hungry. The portions are incredibly generous, so you get more than your money's worth. ​ The Barrel isn't just a restaurant; it's a destination. If you're looking for fantastic Italian food, a wonderful atmosphere, and service that makes you feel right at home, this is the place to be.

We're already counting down the days until our next trip to the Niagara Region and our next delicious meal experience...