Ginger Restaurant in Niagara-on-the-Lake
390 Mary St, Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON L0S 1J0, Canada
About
Intimate, family-run fixture at the Orchid Inn providing a seasonal Asian fusion menu & local wines.
Business Hours
Services
Photos
Reviews
Most Mentioned
Gorgeous dinner. Service attentive, atmosphere lovely and quiet. Great wine selection. Only suggestion is for more outside lighting in the parking lot - we had a bit of an adventure trying to find the entrance and a spot because it was so dark. Best pad thai I've had and will certainly go again on our next trip. Can't recommend enough.
We were pleasantly surprised by the food and service at this quaint little restaurant. It was very quiet with soft music playing in the background. The prices were reasonable and the food was delicious. We are looking forward to going back to try something different on the menu.
We were so pleasantly surprised at this restaurant! It was quiet and the food was amazing. The choices were so unique and we felt like we barely scratched the surface! We will definitely recommend to friends and be back to try something else. What a pleasure.
This was a small restaurant, so it is intimate dining. It felt like I was guest in someone's home. The food was delicious. I mean top shelf good. Like next time I'm in Niagara, I'm going back good. After a day of visiting wineries and sampling this was the perfect ending.
The restaurant was more than accommodating when we arrived late for our reservation. We already knew what we wanted to try based on the reviews so we went with the crab cakes the spring rolls and the Malaysian chicken to start followed by the beef and crispy chicken. Everything was fantastic. Food was great. No room for dessert wish we had room😅. Considering we have leftovers for two more meals the price was extremely reasonable I strongly recommend you try this hidden gem. I will definitely be back. Well done!
I had a nice dinner here with a friend. We could not decide what to have, so shared four of the appetizers followed by a warm chocolate brownie. The calamari salad was very nice, with mangos and cilantro. The calamari was tender and the overall flavour good. The Malaysian chicken skewers with peanut sauce were tasty, and the crabcakes were fresh and crispy. The spring rolls were unusual in that they were filled with vermicelli noodles and carrots, but again, they were hot and crispy. The servers were very professional and friendly, and the food came quickly. It is located in an old house, so had a nice atmosphere.
Some of the best food we enjoyed in Niagara-on-the-Lake came from this restaurant! Ginger is actually part of the Orchid Inn, but there were many people who just came here for dining and we were glad to have gotten a last minute reservation. Because it was such a nice day, we opted to eat outside at one of their covered tables. They've done a nice job of converting part of the parking lot to accommodate those who feel safer outside, or to just enjoy the weather! I really enjoyed that they had mostly wine from the area. It is a sad statement that most of the restaurants in NOTL do NOT feature local wines! Our excellent and super-nice hostess Cindy told us that these restaurants feel their American customers prefer California and European wines. However, we opted for a Big Head Bigger Red Select bottle that was perfect with our fantastic meals! The table of four of us enjoyed a Ginger Spring Rolls starter that was perfectly fried crisp, but with no excess oil. Then the fun began! Two of us got the Beef Ribs, which were the best short ribs we had in a long time. My wife had the Coconut Curry Chicken, which was excellent, with a bowl of perfect jasmine rice- sticky without being overcooked! I was also tempted by the third dish, delicious lamb shank that fell off the bone! Our server was Seth, an extremely friendly and professional young man, who answered our many questions about the menu. As we paid the bill, Cindy mentioned Seth was one of her sons, the other was the chef in the kitchen. Covid had challenged the family operation, so Seth was also the prep chef! We could feel the passion they had in providing such a relaxing, warm, and tasty dining experience! Of all the places we ate, Ginger had the best combination of service, food, passion, and value for money!
Great Asian fusion food at Niagara on the Lake. We got a bunch of the appetizers, including the crab cakes, Kushiyaki beef, Malaysian skewers, pork belly bites, and the Thai style coconut curry. All the dishes were amazing, the portions were generous, and the items reasonably priced. The wine selection is great as well. Highly recommended.
What an amazing restaurant! Everything from the atmosphere to the best food I ve ever had in a restaurant. 12/10!!
Delicious meal! Small restaurant, reservations recommended. Server was very knowledgeable and made great recommendations. Server made good wine recommendations for both dinner pairing and for local wineries to visit while were in town. Small focused menu with delicious choices. Dietary restrictions: Came with parents who are Gluten Free and the menu was extremely limited for them. Maybe two entree choices? And one had to be modified extensively to be gluten free.
I absolutely love the food I ordered from Ginger Restaurant . I recommend the spring rolls and crab cakes. I will return to sample other menu items . Dipping sauce delicious enough to drink
Tasty and quality food. Good portions. You will not be disappointed. The owners are really friendly!
We had two wonderful dinners here (we ve been coming here for years). The food is always consistant and delicious. Quality ingredients and attention to detail. We had the beef cheeks, Japanese fish & chips and coconut curry. We had the crab cakes as appetizers on both days as they were amazing.
Excellent food, great service.
This was probably the best meal I have had in years. Such a great surprise to find this unassuming amazing restaurant. Strongly recommended.
My wife and I stay at the Orchid Inn at least once a year and we always have dinner at least once during our stay. The Asian Fusion menu is excellent and the price is reasonable. We enjoy the food every time, its just so delicious and the service is amazing. Thane and Seth do an awesome job running the restaurant!
Truly delicious food! This place is an understated gem. Cozy, unassuming intimate dining room. Staff were extremely friendly, thoughtful & went out of their way to craft dishes that suited our tastes (kid-friendly). Each dish was presented beautifully with unique flavours to impress. Would highly recommend making the trip when in NOTL. Vegetarian options: Vegetarian curry & soba noodle salad were delicious vegetarian options. Kid-friendliness: Catered to kid tastes (asked about their preferences & spice tolerance).
One of the best places I ve EVER dined at. Welcoming, friendly and outstanding food! Would highly recommend it!
Easily one of the best Asian food restaurants I hv been to. The soup of the day (coconut based) was to die for and the Thai curry was delicious too. It s run by two brothers - one is the chef and the other (Seth) serves and manages the rest. Service was super efficient and recommendations were spot on. Great conversations too with Seth about the town and area in general. Overall a super experience. Parking: Enough parking
Amazing place for a nice evening! Probably the best Asian fusion restaurant I have ever been to. Excellent selection of local wines and beers, incredible menu (my personal favourites are the coconut curry and the braised beef ribs. The house made crab cakes are out of this world delicious). I have been here several times and have never once been disappointed. Very nice family owned and operated business. Service is always prompt, even on busy weekends. This restaurant deserves more than 5 stars!
Excellent service, great food. Loved the fish and chips!! Will go back, can t believe I ve never been to this gem in my many visits to NOTL.
Every dish was unbelievably flavorful. The service was excellent and the place has a very calm, relaxed environment
Just run there.. food, service, atmosphere isare amazing... Small family owned business that they take pride in..Amazing everything... I wish we think it is one of the best restaurants in the area, highly recommend Parking: Free parking lot for customers
Excellent food and great service! Highly recommend.
Oh so so delicious! Im still dreaming of the beef short ribs! Loved everything we ate and drank and the service and ambience was so charming. Cannot wait to return!
Great friendly service. We all shared a wide variety of appetisers.
Good clean fresh quality tasting food, will definitely be back when back in the town.
Amazing service and food.
Dont sleep on this place. Its SO GOOD and everyone was SO friendly. The food was so filling and so satisfying. Definitely try the soba salad.
By far the best restaurant in NOTL. I had the Beef Short Rib this was fantastic. My wife had the Lamb Shank which was tender and delicious. Service was top notch and will definitely be back
Do yourself a favor and dine here....exceptional and unique.
Very good restaurant, calm atmosphere which allows you to chat and enjoy the moment! Excellent service and good advice for choosing our meals and wine. Everything was tasty! Good portions and fair prices. Thank you for a very pleasant evening!
One of the best restaurant in Ontario. The crispy chicken is a dream, as well as the lamb! Parking: Lot of places!
Food and service was excellent. So many interesting flavours. We will definitely come back.
First time, & it wont be the last time either. Had crab cakes, spring rolls, chicken curry & Korean short Beef ribs. All was excellent. Although not an extensive wine list, it is very good and not over priced. Lastly, nice stemware for the wine. Parking: Nice that theres a parking lot and you dont have to park on the street.
Excellent as always!!!
Each dish served looks like piece of art and tastes great. Plus beautiful interior, relaxing music in the background, and wonderful service. All adds up to the great experience. Thank you. I highly recommend this restaurant.
Outstanding, easily the best restaurant in Niagara on the Lake, probably the entire Niagara region. Service is 10/10. Consistent in all their reviews here is service. Soba Noodles, Fish and Chips, Beef Short Rib, Crab Cakes are top dishes so far that weve tried, have dined here twice in the last three weeks.
Top quality food and service. Every new thing we try is better than the last. A local gem with local wines well represented.
Excellent Mother s Day dinner. My wife s Korean Beef Short Ribs were amazing. So was my tiger shrimps Thai curry meal. The only shortcoming was the vinegary sauce that came with the spring rolls (our appetiser). The service was outstanding. We will come back.
A delightful and intimate owner-operated restaurant. Their attention to detail and pride in the food show. We ordered a selection of small plates to get the most variety and enjoyed everything. This restaurant serves the inn but we just stopped by for dinner. The crab cakes are a signature dish and were wonderful. Very light and fried flatter than you usually find. The contrast of that crispiness against the crab was unusual and very nice. Everything here is done with a delicate touch and thoughtfulness. Its not a brash style of cooking but depends on faithfulness to the flavors of the ingredients. We look forward to returning here!
Great food and service!
I REALLY recommend Ginger, the food was fantastic, the service excellent in a charming location. We had the Asian Fish and chips and Coconut Curry, and both are amazing.
Amazing food! I shared the spring rolls to start, then had the lentil curry. It was to die for! They didn t skimp on the veggies: there were bok choy, zucchini, cauliflower, broccoli, carrots, and green beans along with the chickpeas. It was absolutely delicious! My husband had the lamb shank and he said it was one of the best he has eaten and he s eaten a lot of lamb being that he s from Turkey. The meat fell off the bone! We sat inside because rain was threatening. It s small, with only 9 tables. We also love that it s a family-run restaurant: one brother serves the tables, another cooks, and the mom helps out when needed (she covers the hotel portion of the property more).
Good new restaurant looking forward to going back Dietary restrictions: They were accommodating
Family run location. One brother is the chef and the other runs the front of house. Food was very good and I would come back here anytime
Found this little restaurant by checking the reviews and it was amazing!!! I had 3 appetizers - the spring rolls, Malaysian skewers and Japanese veal schnitzel!! OMG....so, so good!!! What a find!! My friend had the grilled salmon and soba noodle salad.... she loved it. And found a new favorite wine...Big Head Red!!! The restaurant is small inside with an outside eating area, too. Make reservations for sure!! They have just a few waitstaff, so expect to sit and relax as it will not be a quick dinner!! Its great to slow down and just enjoy your experience!!
Excellent food and wine. Outstanding service.
Ginger is an Asian-inspired fusion restaurant just outside the core tourist area. The restaurant was quiet and service was attentive. Somewhat oddly, before taking our order, our waiter felt it necessary to state that there are no substations. Food portions are ample without being overwhelming. We share a spinach and beef appetizer. I had the Japanese-style fish and chips. The main difference from English-style is that the breading is thinner and more delicate. We enjoyed the food.
We have been to this restaurant a few times and even had take out but last night we took a friend who hadn t been before and was disappointed in our meal. We love the small intimate space and family run business but my crab cakes were bland and no dressing on the greens to speak of. I had the chicken skewers which were tasteless. All in all not up to their usual standard.
Fantastic restaurant. Great and friendly service. Food was delicious! Enjoyed the outdoor dining. Highly recommend this restaurant.
Great atmosphere, incredible food, excellent service.
One of the best meals Ive had in years, and the portions were gigantic. Excellent service as well
Great food lovely atmosphere.
A wonderful intimate restaurant that never seems to miss on great food and attentive service. The soup was outstanding! A great evening with good friends.
Celebrating my wife s birthday we decided to visit the Ginger Restaurant.Fortunately with the lifting of pandemic restrictions the restaurant was able to take indoor reservations. We had a wonderful meal with lamb shanks being the highlight for both of us. The staff is friendly and although the restaurant was very quiet it was a lovely evening. Will certainly return and try their other featured menu specialties.
The food at Ginger Restaurant is exceptional. We ordered Crab Cakes, Malaysian Skewers, and Spring Rolls to start and Thai Coconut Curry, Crispy Chicken, Japanese Style Fish and Chips, Korean Braised Short Ribs and Sweet and Sour Pork Belly as our mains. There really wasn t much on the menu that we didn t want to try and for good reason. All of the food was amazing, the peanut sauce and pineapple salsa was the perfect accompaniment for the skewers and the short ribs melted in our mouths, the sauce was so flavourful. The crab cakes were seasoned to perfection and made with obviously fresh crab, delicious. Every single dish was just perfect. This was all ordered by take out due to the lockdown in Ontario and the food was packaged very well to keep it fresh and any sauces from leaking. 10/10 would recommend trying this restaurant - you won t be disappointed.
The food from here is the very best
Ultimate dining experience. Beautiful patio, beautiful people and mind blowing food!! The best crab cakes i have had in canada, really!! Malaysian chicken skewers with the home made peanut sauce and Thai curry was out of the world and the Japanese cheese cake is to die for!! Really recommend everybody to try this place if you are visiting the city. Fairly priced menu too!! What an experience!!
This is the most AWFUL place I have ever been to!! They were NOT AT ALL willing to accommodate for allergies and instead proceeded to blame the customer. I wouldnt wish this place on my worst enemy. Food was absolutely HORRIBLE, service was TERRIBLE and I noticed that the staff catered more towards caucasian people than POC. Worst place ever would NOT recommend this to ANYONE.
This is my second time visiting Ginger and I was not disappointed! From the topnotch service to the pretty ambiance, I really enjoyed my experience. I started with the crab cakes (to die for!!) and then had the coconut curry shrimp bowl for dinner. The portions are perfect and all the food is absolutely delicious! I would highly recommend this restaurant! Cant wait to return when Im in the Niagara on the Lake area.
What a wonderful surprise that exceeded my expectations. My green curry dinner was delicious, and my wifes short-rib dinner was amazing. Dessert (creme brule and cheesecake respectively) was equally delightful, and the local wines only added to the experience. Service - its family run - was very good, and the price is quite reasonable. Id go back again for sure.
The service was great and the food was delicious. We had the fish and chips entree; and the portions were generous.
Quality food from an attentive and professional staff. The experience here is unique and pleasant, especially in a touristy neck of the woods. I would recommend the short ribs. The price is slightly high but justified by eloquent preparation.
Id heard so much about this place that I was truly looking forward to it. Certainly, the staff were polite, enthusiastic and welcoming. Kudos to Seth. However, I found the Julienned salad to be a sodden mess although there was interesting notes in the copious dressing. The crab cakes served without any accompanying sauce were indistinguishable from a shaped lump of mock crab from the Costco frozen section, briefly seared on each side and would be easily forgettable except for the price. I do like to see local foods and beverages on the menu. However, the house wine Reif estates Shiraz at $24 / 1/2 litre and $30 /bottle should be avoided. The grilled calamari salad was ok. Would have been better if the calamari had been a little bit warmer upon arrival. The Thai coconut curried shrimp was the standout dish. Quite simply, lovely, if a bit pricy. Ambiance was quaint and pleasant on the patio and while Seth did make a valiant effort, I am sorry to say that the brownie looks quite sad plunked down on a plate like that. Yes, a simple piece of local pie would have been better. Finally, no decent coffee? But you have an eclectic import beer like Tsing Tao for those so inclined? I recognize that these are tough times for the restaurant industry but .....
Couldnt be happier with our experience. The entrees were very good portions, and the food tasted amazing and fresh. Would recommend the tempura batter fish and chips
When the depth of flavour arrests you, and you share the dish with your spouse, as she has the identical experience and shares it with you, then you may be dining at Ginger Restaurant. Precious is the occasion when you feel the emotion of simply abandoning yourself in the deliciousness of a meal.
the asian fusion makes it bad. either go full asian or dont.
Not enough variety for vegetarians/vegans
Great
Good food with fusion theme which I did not understand. Im use to regular Chinese food. I am giving it 4 stars because the food is good presentation, however 1 star off because the size too small.
Always great food and friendly service. Reasonable pricing for such good quality. Excellent family run restaurant
Perfect! Thanks Seth! Great service
Amazing food, better service. We had the soba noodles, fried chicken, samosas and curry. Not a weak link across the board! We ll definitely be back ASAP to try the Korean short ribs and pork belly we heard other tables raving about!
Best food & Service in the Niagara region!!
I wish I could give it a zero! We traveled all the way from Toronto and the moment we reached they said we are closed and the curbside board read open Such a disappointment. They can atleast have the courtesy to update if they are closed
Great service, amazing food. Must go place for a dinner
Great take out every time!
Food was exceptional. Service was amazing and attentive. Ambiance and atmosphere was perfect. Overall excellent experience. Definitely recommend.
Definitely a 5 star experience! The Ontario trout was superb, thanks to chefs, and floor service impeccable. Thanks to Cindy our host and family!
The food and service were absolutely amazing. Some of the best food we ve ever had; pork belly bites are a must have! Highly recommend.
Omg! Amazing food. Wings were so good!! Will visit again.
The food and service was excellent.
Excellent service
Perhaps the best dining experience in Niagara-on-the-Lake; always an interesting menu which Chef Thane prepares with consistent quality and which Manager Seth presents in a friendly and relaxed manner. Owner Cindy is is always available for a friendly chat. Top quality, great value, never a disappointment - be sure its on your need to visit on your places to go and things to do in Niagara-on-the-Lake!
Went to Ginger with the family. Food was absolutely delicious and the service even better. Most favourite dish was the wings (we raced back to get seconds) and least favourite dish was the spring rolls that just had vermicelli noodles inside. Even with that said, still light and crispy the way youd like it. Cannot wait to go back! They also feature local wineries some of which I never heard of. Because of their wine menu, we actually purchased some different wines online later that day (i.e. Big Head Wines - Top Tier) Restaurant is a gem in the Niagara area for sure!
Food was fabulous and the service is always perfect! Made my birthday extra special!
Fabulous food great service our go to place.
The food was amazing and brilliant service!
Amazing Asian fusion cuisine - try the short ribs!
Great food great service
Great service and great tasting food! Prices are very reasonable as well.
We stumbled onto this place and are really glad we did. Off of the main shopping route, but superior to the downtown places and winery restaurants we have tried. The food is creative, interesting and delicious, the service is first rate, and the room is bright and comfortable. It is now a regular stop for us.
We had an amazing meal at Ginger. The short ribs were incredible, the wine list was local and surprisingly quite pleasing, and the service was out of this world. This is our first trip visiting Canada and haven t been impressed with the speed of service, but Ginger was exemplary. I only wish we could have stayed to enjoy dessert but our kids were getting restless. A must visit when you re in NOTL.
Phenomenal food and ambiance. 2 brothers run the show all top notch choices for dinner. Had to have all 3 desserts even though just 2 of us
A small cafe like restaurant in a beautiful house and wonderful location at Niagara on the lake. Wonderful host and awesome food. The menu is limited though.We ordered some chicken items and a fish preparation. It was delicious. Proper dining experience. Loved it.
Some of the best food weve ever had. Highly recommended! Cant go wrong with any dish.
Good food, but not th he gourmet I was expecting with the price tag.
Delicious food. Had crispy chicken and oh my lord, it was so good!!! Waiter was great. Will be back!
Unbelievable food and service. My husband and I come here often. The food is always cooked fresh and delicious. The crab cakes are the best we have ever tried. Very attentive and friendly service. Family run, high quality and great attention to deal. A must try in Niagara on the lake.
Outstanding!!! Excellent food..Excellent service. Not a single good restauran5t in Niagara, so drove the 30 minutes nd glad I did!!! Short Ribs and crab cakes were the best!!
Great food and local wines
Always a good meal here. The short ribs melted in my mouth absolutely great food and very friendly service. Good atmosphere, too.
Wonderful place. Only restaurant we have always come back to in NOTL
A delicious experience.
Great experience for professional treatment.
This is a quaint little family-run gourmet restaurant. Service is friendly and attentive. The chef is amazing The food is flavourful, tasty and unique. Distinctly Asian theme with some fusion dishes. The chef even came out to meet us. Excellent wine list. Wonderful experience! Great food! And an amazing family that runs both the restaurant and the adjacent Inn
It is okay, food is very very rich
Delicious food, excellent service.
Always good food, small with great ambiance. Friendly attentive staff. Prices comparable with other restaurants in area.
Amazing food
The location was a good 30 minute walk from Queen St. but well worth the trip! The crispy chicken is so good I am already craving it again! Service was great by the owners son.
Amazing food and excellent service
Very good service and food! Was recommended by locals.
Had a great experience at Ginger. The food and service are amazing. Their crab cakes are a must. My gf had the lamb shank and we both agreed that is was by far the best we have ever had. I had the crispy chicken and it was as advertised, unbelievable! Well be back next time we are in area. A hidden gem in Niagara-on-the-lake.
The best asian fusion I had in Canada (in recent times). Any food lover will love the hospitality, the taste of the food, aroma, texture and the presentation. We had ordered the crab cake, crispy chicken, and Thai style curry with shrimps - each meal is distinct in taste and we love them all. A little pricy but justified - any fine dining would have charge that much.
The calamari, salmon, and crab appetizers were amazing. The Butte crustinng the crab cakes was superb. The squid was tender and the salmon perfectly cooked. The Thai curry was a well sized portion as well. Would recommend to anyone interested he neighbourhood.
We went here for our anniversary dinner last night. The waiter was incredibly kind and gracious. We ordered the trout and the crispy chicken. We didnt have to wait too long and the food was perfectly prepared. Very creative fusion food. Not too spicy and very flavourful. If youre in Niagara-on-the-Lake, youd better go!
Had the blackened chicken that came with a sauce that tasted like plum and cherry. It was so delicious I wanted to lick the plate... on the expensive side so can t go every week...but oh so good.
Great food. Friendly staff. Comfortable atmosphere.
Had a great meal here whilst staying in Niagara on the Lake for one night. Food absolutely superb in a friendly setting and we would highly recommend a visit if you are in the area. Crab cakes, Crispy chicken and Trout all superb and worthy of a Michelin star restaurant.
Fast service, excellent service, delicious food. I recommend it
I went with a group of 4 (2 couples). We were blown away by how delicious the food was. If we hadnt already made reservations for our 2nd night in notl, we would have definitely come back here. Great ambiance and absolutely spectacular service!
Amazing food. Great staff. Will return.
Cosy, great food. A bit pricey considering the portion is quite small. I ordered take away. Would consider going again to dine in.
Amazing service and food. We go here every time we are in Niagara-on-the-Lake. Seth is very friendly and professional. Cute little place with lots of flavour. The braised beef short ribs or lamb shank are amazing. We will be back.
The most fantastic restaurant I have been to in a LONG time. I have not been with a large group of people like this where EVERYONE was impressed by their food. I got the crispy chicken (which sounded boring), and it was a plum sauce on a rotisserie half chicken and some veggies on the side. The chicken was done perfectly, and the sauce was absolutely delicious. The veggies were a nice complement to the tastes on the plate. Portions were great as I left full and didnt even opt for dessert (which I also heard was to die for).
An amazing meal and excellent service from Seth! The crab cakes and Crispy Chicken are must haves. If you dont order these, you will regret it!
Great food. Great service. Not a bad word to say about this place!
Great food and great service!! The crab cakes and lamb shank are a must try!!!
The menu may be small, but its definitely been perfected!
ABSOLUTE BEST CUISINE IN NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE!
Absolutely exceptional, from the food to the service. Nice little restaurant in a B&B. The server was extremely friendly and attentive. The lamb and chicken with Thai curry are a real delight. I recommend this restaurant without hesitation.
Food and hospitality is amazing
Wonderful
Small, Asian, lovely. Third year in a row that weve gone. Service was good. Food for 6 was nice. Thats the operative word.......nice.
Great food. Nice atmosphere.