Food suggestions in Niagara Falls

[plscott]

Hey All,
We have decided to take a last minute trip to the Niagara Falls area. We have rented a house on the Canadian side near the falls and are really excited about the trip. The cast will be myself, DW, DS X3 (we have 8 year old triplets, all boys!!), both sets of grandparents, and one set of great-grandparents.

What I would really like to know about is food. We like to eat food that we can’t get at home. I have found some really good recommendations for pizza and Chinese on the boards, but we would like to try something a little more unique. We will definitely try those, especially to get the pizza logs I’ve read about, but we want something a little more Canadian. Besides the obvious of Maple Syrup, I’ve read about poutine (if anyone should put gravy on French fries it is us Southerners), bannock bread, ketchup chips (the coolest thing I've heard of ), and even Coffee Crisp candy bar. Do you have any suggestions where we should go to get these? Anything else that you would consider “Canadian” that is available in Niagara Falls or Niagara on the lake?

Also, we like to go to a local or regional grocery store (again, one we can’t visit at home) and get local things to make a picnic lunch. Any suggestions for a Canadian grocery store and what you might get that would be different from folks in North Carolina?

One last thing, we are planning to visit both Fort George and Old Fort Niagara, however, just in case we have to skip one, which one would you suggest seeing?

Thank you so much for your suggestions!!

Paul

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

Ketchup chips and Coffee Crisp chocolate bars can be found at any convenience or grocery store....they will be easy to get your hands on .

For a truly Canadian snack, have a beaver tail from the kiosk on Clifton Hill:

http://www.beavertailsinc.com/

I'd also wholeheartedly recommend the Oh Canada Eh! dinner show:

http://www.ohcanadaeh.com/page/home

 

[Muskrat191]

Cows is an ice cream store that started in Prince Edward Island. The only Ontario store is in Niagara-on-the-Lake.

Another Canadian food (as far as I know) is Shreddies. It is a breakfast cereal made by Post, and the factory is in Niagara Falls. Unfortunately there are no tours or store at the factory, but you can buy the cereal in any grocery store. If you want to see the outside of the factory, it is at the top of Clifton Hill (keep going about a block past the tourist section). The factory makes a bunch of different cereals, including Shredded Wheat.

Editted to add: if you do buy a box if Shreddies, make sure it is the regular, not Honey Shreddies. Our family does not like the honey ones!

 

[plscott]

Wow!
Thank you both so much! What quick responses!

Gina - I am in awe of your trip reports . Thank you for the recommendation. We have gone back and forth with the Oh Canada Eh! show. I know the adults would love it, but I'm not sure about the 8 year olds. How would you compare it to Hoop Dee Doo at Fort Wilderness (if you have seen that show). Also, I had read about beaver tails. It's funny, I think I may have had them in Epcot, but it was years ago and then they did away with them.


Muskrat - I found Cows in Niagara on the Lake. We'll definitely get a box of Shreddies to eat when we're not having pancakes with maple syrup!


Also, to both of you, I read that I need to try the sauce at Swiss Chalet. I found that Swiss Chalet is a chain of restaurants, but what is the sauce I'm supposed to try? And, do either of you know if there is any place that serves Montreal style sandwiches like Schwartz's

One last thing, I forgot to mention we are doing Afternoon Tea at the Prince of Wales Hotel in Niagara on the Lake. We are very excited about everything!


Thank you again!

Paul

 

[EastYorkDisneyFan]

another suggestion well you're in Niagara on the lake if you're a fan of jams and jellies visit Greves. Also don't forget to check out the new tour boats in the Niagara river, they give you a view of the falls you can't get any other way.

 

[Disneylover99]

I read that I need to try the sauce at Swiss Chalet. I found that Swiss Chalet is a chain of restaurants, but what is the sauce I'm supposed to try?

It's called Swiss Chalet Dipping Sauce. It kind of looks like gravy but it is thinner and it has a somewhat zippy/tangy/spicy taste.

You can also buy 36 gram packs of it from the grocery store. It's a powder so you just add water and boil. We always cook some up when we are making BBQ or roast chicken. It's delicious!

 

[dsneygirl]

Wow!
Thank you both so much! What quick responses!

Gina - I am in awe of your trip reports . Thank you for the recommendation. We have gone back and forth with the Oh Canada Eh! show. I know the adults would love it, but I'm not sure about the 8 year olds. How would you compare it to Hoop Dee Doo at Fort Wilderness (if you have seen that show). Also, I had read about beaver tails. It's funny, I think I may have had them in Epcot, but it was years ago and then they did away with them.


Muskrat - I found Cows in Niagara on the Lake. We'll definitely get a box of Shreddies to eat when we're not having pancakes with maple syrup!


Also, to both of you, I read that I need to try the sauce at Swiss Chalet. I found that Swiss Chalet is a chain of restaurants, but what is the sauce I'm supposed to try? And, do either of you know if there is any place that serves Montreal style sandwiches like Schwartz's

One last thing, I forgot to mention we are doing Afternoon Tea at the Prince of Wales Hotel in Niagara on the Lake. We are very excited about everything!


Thank you again!

Paul

My DH took our 7 year old to the Xmas show last year and Oh Canada eh and he loved it.

 

[Muskrat191]

Sorry, I don't know anywhere local to get Schwartz's style sandwiches. (I live about 25 minutes west of Niagara Falls.)

To save some money on food, don't eat in the tourist area (ie. Clifton Hill). Even the regular chain restaurants have inflated prices there.

If you want/get a chance to have dinner without the kids, the Lake House near Vineland is great. It is about 20 minutes west along the QEW. There is nothing Canadian about it, but it is really good.

 

[Donald - my hero]

I find this to be very funny! Of the food you listed a few of our family favourites hit that list! POUTINE, OMG as my hubby calls it "heart-attack on a plate" you can get it as a side at most restaurants BUT the true version is made with cheese CURDS, none of this grated cheese for this girl!! If it "squeaks" when you bite into it then you've found heaven on a fork Here's a link to a chain of "Poutinerie" shops that actually has a location in Niagara Falls.
http://smokespoutinerie.com/Locations.aspx?id=41&cid=35&venue=victoria-
We have one in our city and i have been known to take the bus downtown strictly for that!! Swiss Chalet is my hubby's favourite place to eat and always asks for double sauce ... never enough for him. Their fries are also fairly decent.

Bannock bread --- you'll probably need to find a Pow-Wow if you wanna indulge in that goodness. Our D-I-L introduced us to that last summer. But if truth be known if you've ever been camping and wrapped biscuit dough around a stick and cooked it over the fire and stuffed jam in the hole it comes a close 2nd.

Kraft Dinner ... yeah strange but true "KD" is actually Canadian!!

Uhm let's see ... Like a Bloody Mary?? Then you HAVE to try a Caesar, NO not the SALAD .. but a drink, made with Clamato .. sorta like a spicy tomato juice but oh, so much better!!

Kinder Eggs -- little hollow chocolate eggs with toys inside. Your boys might get a kick out of the fact that they are actually ILLEGAL in the States because of the "choking hazard"?? The toys are super cute and usually require some sort of assembly. Wrapped in orange & white foil with a cute yellow plastic container holding the toy. Just make sure you don't cross the border with some wrapped still because someone was actually detained in a detention cell because the border guards found some ???

As far as a "Canadian grocery store" I suppose the Loblaws chain which also includes Zehrs, sells a whole chain of products under the umbrella of "President's Choice" of which i guess the most renowned is their decadent chocolate chip cookie!!

Coffee lovers in your crowd?? Then i'd be remiss if i didn't mention Timmy's Double-Double... AKA Tim Horton's coffee with double-cream & double sugar. The joke in our city is that you can stand on any corner and see at least 2 Timmy's!! But to be honest, you won't find much difference in our restaurants.

We've taken our kids to both forts and they preferred Fort Erie. You'll learn the Canadian part of the War of 1812. If you drive down the Niagara Parkway towards Niagara-on-the-Lake you'll find the homestead of Laura Secord in Queenston and you can have a guided tour by people in period costumes. We've always liked that!!

Have a great time in our wonderful country!! ( i know he's a clown but i always thought he was wearing a Canadian Flag proudly on his tummy )

 

[hcox31]

Another thing to watch for are our smarties, which are chocolate, the smarties you have in the US are called Rockets here,

Niagara Falls the tourist area has very inflated prices and an extra tax because it's a tourist area, just so you are aware.

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

Wow!
Thank you both so much! What quick responses!

Gina - I am in awe of your trip reports . Thank you for the recommendation. We have gone back and forth with the Oh Canada Eh! show. I know the adults would love it, but I'm not sure about the 8 year olds. How would you compare it to Hoop Dee Doo at Fort Wilderness (if you have seen that show). Also, I had read about beaver tails. It's funny, I think I may have had them in Epcot, but it was years ago and then they did away with them.


Muskrat - I found Cows in Niagara on the Lake. We'll definitely get a box of Shreddies to eat when we're not having pancakes with maple syrup!


Also, to both of you, I read that I need to try the sauce at Swiss Chalet. I found that Swiss Chalet is a chain of restaurants, but what is the sauce I'm supposed to try? And, do either of you know if there is any place that serves Montreal style sandwiches like Schwartz's

One last thing, I forgot to mention we are doing Afternoon Tea at the Prince of Wales Hotel in Niagara on the Lake. We are very excited about everything!


Thank you again!

Paul

Hi Paul,

Thanks for the kind comments on my trip reports...you made my day .

I have never been to Hoop de Doo Revue (so I can't compare the two shows), but rest assured Oh Canada Eh! is very much suitable for 8 year olds. Its a very upbeat, hand-clapping, foot-stomping, sing-along, laugh-along kind of show and the food is really quite good too (fish, chicken, beef, potatoes, bread, etc.....unless they have changed the menu since our last visit). Its the kind of show that appeals to all ages, from the very young to the very old. And its a very good celebration of all things Canadian.

Also, just a forewarning on the Chalet Sauce....you'll probably either love it or hate it. I know very few folks who don't have strong feelings about it one way or the other. Me? I love the darn stuff. My husband can't stand it . You will definitely fall in love with their chicken, though....its absolutely awesome.

On your way home, if you have the chance, try to pay The Silo in Lewiston a visit. Its about 10-15 minutes from the Falls area on the US side, and has been featured on Man v. Food. Absolutely worth a stop for lunch....be sure to order their signature "Haystack", its soooo good. Lovely view of the Niagara river from their seating area, too.

 

[plscott]

Thank you all so much! I can't tell you how much I appreciate all the replies. We're here! And thanks to all of you, I'm ready!

Thank you for being a part of our vacation!

Paul

 

[shpirks]

Hi Paul, I live in the falls I hope you have a great time def try poutine and ketchup chips

And on Swiss chalet love the chalet sauce and love the chicken on a kaiser

 

[seashell724]

Mmm. Cows ice cream for sure.

Depending on what time of year you go at the peaches and apples are amazing. Actually, all of the fruit is.

If you like wine you can visit a winery and take back a bottle or two that was made on premises. Ice wine is a local specialty and is worth a try.

 

[MegaSilver]

Instead of Cows, I prefer to go the the Original Avondale Dairy Bar on Stewart Road in Niagara-On-The-Lake. The ice cream is made fesh on site, and 120 flavours plus fresh fruit toppings