I don't even know where to begin. Other than to say I am absolutely DISGUSTED with the service and food from Watermark. This review is lengthy but worth the read if you’re thinking about going to this restaurant.
I am always a person to read reviews and take them with a grain of salt, but never in my life have I experienced such poor taste from what was supposed to be a top restaurant in the area. We made reservations for Saturday September 26th for a very special event. During the time of booking our reservation it was requested if we could have separate bills and the hostess said “of course, no problem.”
When we arrived for our 8:15 reservation we were seated immediately and had the best view in the house. We all thought “WOW, this is going to be a night to remember.” We all ordered the 3 course prefix menu and again, we were all excited as all the options seemed absolutely delicious. After our order was taken it took 30 minutes to receive our first soup/salad course. Another 30 minutes went by and we were served our appetizer. Then another 30 minutes went by before we were finally served our main course. All to say that an hour and 30 minutes to eat the most disappointing meal I have ever experienced was the least bit gratifying. The plates were cold; the food was warm at best. The presentation was mediocre and the flavours were bland. The adjectives of the menu disguised what was probably a frozen meal heated up in the microwave.
Believe it or not that wasn’t the worst part, the worst part of this whole disappointing dining experience was when it was finally 10:00pm and we had to wave our waiter down to clear the table and ask for the bills with 1 dessert to go. 5, 10, 15 minutes pass, no bills, no dessert and no sign of our waiter. Finally after 21 minutes the waiter comes back to the table with no bills and still no dessert, he told us he was having trouble separating the bills. We than kindly asked to speak to the manger, hoping this will speed up the process. At 10:25 exactly we spoke to the manager Sarah Nemeth. We expressed that we would just like our bills and dessert. Our patience was running low and we just wanted to leave. The manager had nothing to say but “you all wanted separate bills and this is how long it takes”…maybe I could sympathize if they were busy and under staffed but they weren’t. The place was empty and I later caught Sarah texting by the kitchen 10 minutes after we all spoke to her. Finally at 10:45 our waiter comes back and we are finally ready to pay. The first card to go through “declines” …The second card again “declines” with a comment from our waiter saying “that’s what happens when you have no money” – I am all for fun and games, but was that comment necessary?! Just before we left we asked to speak to the manager one last time as we all wanted to express how disappointed we were. Every time we said something Sarah’s response was “duly noted”…there was never an apology it was always answered with “duly noted” – what is that? Your supposed to be a manager and this is the service we get, complete unacceptable!!! We have tried to resolve this offline but unfortunately the manager of food and beverage from the Hilton Nick Montenaro doesn’t feel the need to return my calls. I have been reluctant for over a week to write this post as I don’t like to leave a bad review but if I can stop anyone from having the experience we did I know I have don my diligence. My advice, go to the Keg, don’t waste your time and money on Watermark. You will always be guaranteed a great...
Read more🎈 SURPRISE! 🎁 I surprised my husband with dinner at The Watermark Restaurant in Niagara Falls on September 13th, to celebrate his birthday. We were seated at table 10, which offered an incredible view of Niagara Falls. What made the experience even more special was having someone like Mark G. as our server. I had dined at The Watermark before, but it was my husband’s first time, and I couldn’t have asked for a better introduction for him.
Mark G. was a true professional, showcasing his passion for hospitality with every interaction. His extensive knowledge of the menu and drinks made it easy for us to trust his recommendations, and he had a natural ability to match our preferences with the best selections. His voice had an infectious warmth and an iconic quality that left a memorable impression, making the evening even more delightful.
The spacious and elegant setting, with its vibrant yet romantic ambiance, sets The Watermark apart from many other high-end restaurants. The floor-to-ceiling windows and open layout created a sense of intimacy while still offering a breathtaking view of the falls. One feature that stood out to me was the restaurant manager making rounds to ensure each guest's satisfaction, a thoughtful touch that really enhanced the experience.
For drinks, we enjoyed high-quality Piña Coladas and Crown Royal, which paired beautifully with our meal. We opted for the 5:45 p.m. seating through OpenTable, with the prix fixe three-course meal priced at $59 per person. We both started with the Caesar salad, which was not only delicious but also beautifully presented. For my main course, I chose the Chef’s featured fish, and I have to say, it was packed with flavor. My husband, who has always wanted to try a flat iron steak, was thoroughly pleased with his choice.
The complimentary in-house baked garlic buns were out of this world—melt-in-your-mouth perfection. And to top off the meal, we indulged in the Turtle cheesecake, which was so delicious I wished I had taken some home!
Watermark Restaurant, located on the 33rd floor of the Hilton Hotel in Niagara Falls, provides a dining experience like no other. With its incredible panoramic views of both the Horseshoe and American Falls, the scenery alone is worth the visit. The elegant space is beautifully designed, with floor-to-ceiling windows and well-spaced seating that ensures every guest can enjoy the stunning views. The menu features locally sourced ingredients, bringing a unique and fresh taste to each dish. Perfect for special occasions or romantic dinners, Watermark combines fine dining with an unforgettable ambiance at the height of luxury—literally!
This is exactly why I chose Watermark to surprise my husband for his milestone birthday. I wanted to make the occasion extra special, and I knew the combination of breathtaking views, exceptional food, and the refined atmosphere would make it a memorable...
Read moreUnfortunately I can't give half stars here, otherwise I would have given it 2.5. My husband and I were pretty excited because this was supposed to be our vacation's "fancy" dinner. The site made it look really good.
The first thing I noticed of course was the beautiful view which did not let down. The hostess was very friendly and we were seated quickly. Unfortunately the seats seemed pretty close and my seat back hit the lady's behind me every few minutes.
After being seated it was almost 30 minutes until our waiter had checked on us and took our orders and almost another 30 for our drinks to come out.
It seemed like we were almost forgotten because as we got our appetizers the waiter let us know there was bread coming out for the table...it seemed like an after thought almost.
With that said, the issue was not just with the wait staff, but also the kitchen. The food not only was slow to come out, but also unfortunately underwhelming. My rule of thumb is that if the food takes long to come out, then it should be worth it. But I can't say it was.
I did enjoy the shrimp appetizer, but it was nothing to write home about. The prosciutto appetizer looked good on paper, but when it came to the table it was lacking in substance. It had a few pieces of prosciutto, 1 and a half boiled quail eggs, and what might have been a half of caramelized fig. For the entrees we ordered the chicken breast and salmon: the chicken breast was dry, and my husband's salmon was bland. The beans that were with the salmon seemed be slightly undercooked and the red sauce was watery with no flavor. The dessert came around, and the creme brulee was quite nice, but my husband's beignet were not light and airy as I know they should be, but we're more like doughnut holes.
Also, when I had gotten my food, I moved the plate closer to me and then felt that the underside of the plate was still dirty. This happened both with my appetizer and entree plates. I didn't say anything during dinner as I didn't see there was an issue with the top side and I was worried that there would be another extended wait for the food to come back.
I am usually pretty understanding when it comes to a busy night, but looking around it was not nearly busy enough to warrant such an underwhelming experience.
Lastly, the dress code on the site states that it's business casual, and like I said before we were excited because this gave us a chance to have a fancy dinner, which includes a fancy dinner ambiance. Looking around there were individuals who were clearly not dressed as such (hoodies and t-shirts), and were allowed to dine anyway. I usually don't care about how people dress in a restaurant, but if the restaurant has set a standard, they should expect their guests to follow it. If they don't care, they should remove it...
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