You probably already know this but thought I shd tell you in case you don't: May 20 is a holiday: Victoria Day. So, it will be very busy that day.

OB1

Our flight gets in at 5pm and by the time we pick up our car and arrive at our hotel it should be dinner time. Are restaurants and wineries closed that evening?

I think you should be fine. Most businesses in the area are open to cater to tourists and will be open.

Restaurants in Niagara Falls- this one is high end but has pretty excellent reviews
http://www.sterlingniagara.com/dining/

Other great restaurants in the area
http://www.triuswines.com/cms-trius/trius/eat/menus.html

http://ravinevineyard.com/?p=690

http://www.peller.com/cms/peller/visit-our-winery/dining-experience.html

Nice light lunch available at Jackson Triggs-I also found that the tour you can book there is one of the best.

Casual dining in Niagara on the Lake- Angel Inn is a local favorite and The Irish Harp is also good.

If you head to the Twenty valley area for more wineries and to see Jordan area they have a nice lunch at 13th Street Winery ( closed Sundays) and at Creekside Winery.
Vineland Estates has a nice dining room as well for dinner and the view is very nice.

irecommend - I really appreciate all these wonderful suggestions!
Thanks!
K2

Hi k2,

irecommend's already given you good advice on the winery/eating front. On the winery visit front, here's a link to the Wine Country guide.

http://bit.ly/Wine_Country

There're a number right close to Niagara-on-the-Lake. If you go west along Lakeshore, there's a grouping of five within a 2.7km stretch (Sunnybrook Farm Winery, Strewn, Hinterbrook, Konzelmann and Palatine Hills). Along the Niagara Parkway, you have a half-dozen wineries right along the Parkway in the 10km drive to Queenston and a turn west along the York Road gets you to Ravine Vineyards in St. Davids in short order.

The Beamsville and Vineland areas also have quite a number of great wineries and another one that has a great view is Flat Rock Cellars.

HTH
u

Hi Utour, thanks for taking time to provide a link. If you could choose one or two, which would it be?

Wineries? I think it depends on your personal preferences. While I haven't had a chance to sample all that's available, I personally lean towards Henry of Pelham (their pinot noir and sauvignon blanc work well for me) and more recently Megalomaniac Wines too.

u

Megalomaniac is definitely worth a visit -another amazing view ( as does Flat Rock Cellars)
Vineland Estates is a beautiful winery.
Tawse is also worth a visit.
Cave Springs has some very nice wines.
Calamus is a small winery but has some excellent reds this year (2010 vintage)

There is a great restaurant called REST or it is also known as Stone Road Grill. You will need a reservation. Food is very interesting and really tasty. They probably have a website. Right in front of it is a wonderful bakery if you are looking for a bakery for breakfast. AMAZING! We have eaten at the Oban Inn ...also very good and lovely atmosphere. Have fun!

The sign says REST but the restaurant is called The Stone Road Grill. The host will tell you the story behind the sign if you ask him. The food is very good but do not opt for the half portions that are offered. They are VERY small.

REST...aurant?

I'm late to the post, but let me add a few things... First of all, consider adding the Whirlpool JetBoat Tour to your schedule... It leaves from the dock just outside your hotel and is widely considered the best attraction at Niagara... you will get wet, but you are steps from your room...

Although the Stone Road Grill(REST) is great, it is in a storefront and totally lacks the charm of the Winery region...

For excellent food and Vineyard charm, consider the following... Trius at Hillebrand, Peller Estates, Vineland Restaurant, Penninsula Ridge, or Ravine... all are top notch and somewhat pricey but worth a special dinner...

For lunches and good but less expensive food, consider The Harp, Angel Inn Pub, The Good Earth winery, and the patio at the Niagara on the Lake Golf Course...

Winery tastings close at 5 to 6 pm, and there are probably 20 wineries within 5 miles of the village, some along the parkway to the Falls... just grab a wine trail map and stop when you feel the urge...

have fun...

Thank you all. I do apprciate charm and don't mind early dining. I'm now checking out so many of the recommended wineries. But Stone Road also sounds good, so I'm glad we'll be in the area for 3 evenings.

FYI Stone Road Grill has a new chef so things may have changed recently for the better or worse. You may wish to check reviews closer to the time. Another great non winery restaurant in the area is Treadwell http://www.treadwellcuisine.com/ (not that we probably havent overwhelmed you with choices already!)

There are some excellent choices listedabove. Living here I am always sort of heart broken when I see people choosing some of the restaurants that arent up to snuff and they may end up paying the same price for a less than stellar atmosphere or food experience (ex the greek restaurant on the Queen St )

I have no info on wineries or food, but we loved the Cave of the Winds tour even more than Maid of the Mist. We almost missed out; just happened to ask a park employee. It is still one of our very favorite things we've ever done. Amazing!