Restaurants in Niagara Falls, NY

Keep your expectations low -- most options here are either chains or hotel restaurants. Not that this means you can't get a good meal, but it's unlikely you'll find a cute little hideaway right in the heart of falls-ville, and even the less expensive chains tend to cost more than usual.

Twenty minutes away in Niagara-on-the-Lake, is some of the best food (and wines, of course) in the Canadian Niagara region. Here you'll find excellent upscale dining at the elegant Georgian-style Charles Inn, 209 Queen St. (tel. 905/468-4588) as well as local favorite Stone Road Grille, 238 Mary St. (tel. 905/468-3474), a casual bistro known for their artisanal cheeses and housemade charcuterie. On the American side, Carmelo's, 425 Center St., Lewiston (tel. 716/754-2311), turns out exquisitely prepared seasonal Italian fare, and is well worth the 15-minute trek from the falls.