Niagara on the Lake
 

Getting ready for a trip to Niagara on the Lake and have a few questions. Is it worth the trip to drive to Toronto? We only have 3 1/2 days on the Lake. Would like to visit some market I read about in Toronto. Any restaurant recommendations? Thanks for the help.

Are you asking about Niagara Falls, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Toronto, or all three? The market in Toronto is probably the St. Lawrence Market on Front Street East, a wonderful daily market with extra farmers on the weekend. But it's a long drive from Niagara-on-the-Lake just for a market. Traffic can be very heavy on the expressways and the main route into downtown Toronto is under serious repair. Better to ask your hotel for summer markets around Niagara, a traditional fruit-growing region where wineries are now the prime agricultural attraction.
http://www.stlawrencemarket.com/

A great restaurant is the Oban Inn. It is pricey but good. You can check there menu on line. Also a place off the main is a restaurant called RESTO. The food is really good and is kind of a funky place. Make sure that you have reservations for this time of year can be very busy pre theatre.

Sorry I just realized that I spelled their wrong on my above post. I guess I should be a better proof-reader.

If it is St Lawrence Market, the best day to visit is Saturday for best effect... Although traffic and parking can be difficult, a side trip to Toronto with a few other attractions can be worth it... Plan on three hours on the road plus market time.

Personally, I would only recommend the Toronto trip with an overnight stay... That would allow you to add a lunch, dinner, more attractions, a walk around the city, plus time at the waterfront...

With three plus days in NotL, you will have theatre, some wandering, and a vast Wine region as well as plenty of romance. If you are also visiting Niagara Falls you will have plenty to do during your time in Niagara-on-the-Lake.

Some of the best restaurants in Niagara-on-the-Lake include the wineries ...Peller, Hildebrand, Peninsula Ridge, all offer excellent choices of local food. Gourmet French can be found at the Prince of Wales hotel. On the Twenty in nearby Jordan is one of the finest area restaurants.

Casual food can be found at the Harp Irish pub , Olde Angel Inn and the Niagara-on-the-Lake golf course. Other good food could be found at the Oban Inn, Queens Landing hotel and Good Earth winery.

If you do venture into Niagara Falls proper, avoid paying exorbitant prices at the restaurants there and concentrate your eating outside of the main tourist area. Even prices at chain restaurants can be double the price you're familiar with for the same food and service.

If you are interested in wine touring let me know, so that I can offer you some opportunities at the better wineries. Have fun.

I was in NOTL for 5 full days last October. We did a day trip to Toronto. It's doable, but, it was a very long day. The drive was a bit of a nail biter as well. With only 3.5 days in NOTL, I'd probably concentrate on all the wonderful things to do in the area.

Our favorite restaurants were the Garrison House and Terroir La Cachette at the Strewn winery. Don't miss the gelato at Nina's. It was the best I've had outside of Italy.

If you're planning on visiting wineries, we really enjoyed Ravine and Konzelmann. I'm kicking myself for not buying more of the Cabernet Rose at Ravine. Tawse and 13th Street, which are a short drive from NOTL have some great wines too.

If you come to the St. Lawrence Market on Saturday, drive down to the bottom (the south end) of Market Street which runs down the west side of the market. At the end of the street, on your right, there will be a Green P parking building which is very inexpensive.

It's about an hour and a half drive from NOTL to Toronto but that's not taking into consideration all the construction that's going on downtown. The St. Lawrence Market really is a treasure, though, and if you go plan to have lunch there. Don't forget to explore downstairs for food stands and the candy place!

Thank you all so much! It really helped me make up my mind to not go to St. Lawrence Market as we will be short on time. Thanks for the restaurant reviews as we are all about the Food!

http://www.innonthetwenty.com/ Can personally recommend this place for lunch. Full wine store/ gift shop there as well. Skip Toronto and explore the region.