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, as well as local favorite Stone Road Grille, a casual bistro known for their artisanal cheeses and house-made charcuterie. On the American side, Carmelo’s, turns out exquisitely prepared seasonal Italian fare, and is well worth the 15-minute trek from the falls.