The Waterfront Restaurant & Lounge — Restaurant in Niagara-on-the-Lake

A Huge Disappointment on What Should Have Been a Special Night

We had made our reservation well in advance to celebrate my sister’s milestone 60th birthday, and were truly looking forward to what we thought would be a special evening. Unfortunately, from the moment we arrived, the experience was a complete letdown. We were greeted by the manager, Lara, who was cold, unfriendly, and visibly annoyed — not exactly the welcome you'd expect for a celebratory evening. No smile, no warmth, just abrupt and dismissive energy. We waited about 10 minutes before being seated — again, by the same unsmiling and clearly uninterested manager. Not a great first impression. Once seated, we waited an additional 15 minutes before a server even acknowledged us. No water. No check-in. Nothing. We were simply left sitting there, wondering what was going on. During this time, we noticed how outdated the restaurant appeared and how understaffed it seemed — perhaps only two servers inside, with a few others working the patio. The menu we were handed was not what we expected based on the website. Instead of the full dinner menu, we were given what felt like a limited patio menu. One of the main reasons we chose this restaurant was for the Prime Rib Dinner, advertised as being available Friday through Sunday after 5 PM. When we asked about it, the server (who offered no apology for the long wait) simply told us that it wasn’t ordered for the weekend. Nowhere was it indicated that a reduced or alternate menu would be in place for the long weekend. At that point, we decided to leave — disappointed, frustrated, and still hungry. On our way out, we asked to speak to the manager again and expressed our dissatisfaction. Her response was dismissive and unprofessional, telling us, “You do what you have to do,” after we mentioned we would be writing a review. No apology, no attempt to make things right — just more coldness and, frankly, rudeness. Her attitude was not only inappropriate, but borderline hostile. A manager in a customer-facing role should never behave this way. To top it off, we had taken an Uber from White Oaks (about $30), and then had to pay for another ride to our Plan B restaurant — The Cannery. The difference was night and day. From the moment we arrived there, we were welcomed with genuine smiles, warm hospitality, and incredible service. And yes — the Prime Rib there was phenomenal. If you are looking for an upscale, welcoming, and memorable experience — The Waterfront Restaurant & Lounge is NOT the place. I would strongly advise against it. There are far better places where your business is genuinely...

We recently visited this restaurant and unfortunately, it fell short on multiple fronts. The food was very average across the board. We started with the steak bites appetizer—which, at $21, was a big letdown. The portion was very small, and several pieces were just chunks of fat, completely inedible. When we gave feedback, we were told that the fat isn’t removed and “that’s how it’s made.” Honestly, a waste of money.

We also ordered pizza for the kids, but it was poorly executed. The cheese topping slid right off with each slice, making it messy and hard for the little ones to eat. Definitely not kid-friendly. The beef pudding looked better than it tasted—fine, but nothing memorable. The roasted chicken was particularly disappointing. It had little to no flavor and was very bland. The texture and smell were off—it resembled boiled chicken that hadn’t been prepared properly, with that unpleasant poultry aroma that’s hard to ignore. The overall atmosphere didn’t help either. It gives nursing home vibes, while the dining experience is anything but peaceful. A group watching a golf game was yelling and being extremely disruptive, and the restaurant staff did nothing to address it.

All in all, I wouldn’t recommend this place. There are far better dining options just...

I’m actually torn I couldn’t leave a 5 star review - but I believe in honesty and transparency. Let me start by stating the service is impeccable! The entire staff is hospitable, professional, and clearly tasked pride in their work. I was fortunate to be served by Mallory and honestly, she’s the best server I’ve experienced in years - in any country I’ve ventured or lived in. Thanks for the genuine and thoughtful service, Mallory. The ambience is a total dream, the property is truly stunning. Full on view of Lake Ontario, with sail boats, yachts and kayakers voyaging. Then there’s a plush, green golf course, and it’s truly all captivating. I had the opportunity to watch this young lady perform guitar and sing and she was breathtaking - almost ethereal! I truly enjoyed my evening there and will always visit once I’m in the area. Where they fell short, in my opinion, is on the food. I had the margarita pizza just to test things out and it was a fail. Bland and overcooked - it was so crunchy it chipped the roof of my mouth and had zero flavor. I always test restaurants by their marg pizzas. Anywho, I still enjoyed every minute of being there and highly recommend this establishment to anyone wanting to have a high end, dining experience...