5 Family-Friendly Restaurants in Niagara Falls, Ontario

After your kids have had more fun than they could imagine in the arcades, wax museums and haunted houses of Clifton Hill, the red-brick interior of Antica Pizzeria & Ristorante offers a welcome break. The zesty aromas of oregano and garlic, along with the soothing tones of Frank Sinatra, fill the air, adding to the relaxing ambience. Refuel with such traditional fare as sinfully cheesy lasagna or panini bursting with prosciutto, salami, sundried tomato spread and bocconcini. The wood-fired, thin-crust pizza is a classic that this restaurant gets just right.

Just a hop, skip and jump away from the falls, this family-friendly restaurant serves up classic breakfast, lunch and dinner dishes, but the wood-fired gourmet pizza and flame-grilled steak are its main attractions. Kids will get a kick out of watching the antics of the chefs who make pizza. Across from the Fallsview Casino Resort, this restaurant has hard-to-find free parking as well as live entertainment on the outdoor terrace every night in warm weather.

If your family likes to spice things up at mealtime, make tracks to The Guru, a modest Indian restaurant in Clifton Hill. If you’re also looking for fun things to do with your kids, this eatery is an excellent way to expose them to an exotic cuisine that they may not have tried before. They’ll have a ball reading the menu out loud and learning about new (to them) Indian specialties like tandoori, naan, and saag paneer, and they’ll have an even better time eating these totally delish dishes.

A table on the covered terrace at this restaurant right across from the American and Horseshoe falls affords you one of the best views in Niagara Falls. If you dine on a night when fireworks go off over the majestic waters, the view is nothing short of spectacular. Even without fireworks, the waterfalls are lit up in rainbow colors after dark and are quite dazzling. The gourmet menu includes a juicy maple-brined pork chop with sour cherry-apricot preserves and herb-crusted lamb with minted sweet pea and tarragon pinot noir glaze; there’s also a children’s menu.

If you like options when it comes to your hamburger, you’ve come to the right place, but allow extra time to read the menu. Choose from a list that’s as long as your arm; with names like "Getting’ Piggy With It" and "Living on the Vedge," this catalog of burgers is also a great conversation starter. Culinarily adventurous foodies may want to try elk, wagyu beef or Portobello mushroom as the base. Add toppings like grilled pineapple, Nutella, hot peppers, beets or goat cheese from an equally long list to make your own quirky concoction.