Reviews of Benchmark (School)

Candice Stroud

This is the second time we have been here. Each time we had young children with us. The restaurant is quite accommodating to the dietary needs of our children. This visit being a time when there is only the Valentine's menu, the kitchen that accommodate by providing additional children's menu items. Christian, our server, was very attentive, polite and helpful. For the price point, we felt the food what's excellent. Favorite was the slow-roasted Angus striploin. It was extremely juicy and tender. Have a peek at the menu items that we posted from the Valentine's menu. It was quite delicious. Highly recommended

Han Nguyen

Always amazing food and staff. The students do so much work behind the scenes and do such a great job. The mothers day brunch is awesome too. I also love that they serve the student beers and wine.

Abena Giles

Ok for a teaching restaurant.

Yule Pandav

If you are in the area, you need to come here. Very high quality food and top notch drinks at very reasonable prices.

Andrew English

Nice

Andreas Kyriacou

Excellent food, made by well trained students

Jonathan Douglas

Great concept! Beer and wine made at the college as well as the fresh organic greenhouse produce they use in their dishes. Awesome!

Ivy Grissom

A must... stop in for a bite if visiting Niagara. The students put their heart and soul into their work. Food is amazing and can not brag enough about their wines.

Radek R

Great food, excellent prices and service

Chi-Hung Han (Jack)

Beautiful atmosphere

Barry McKelvey

Disappointing. We were a group of 6, three of us ordered steak, and all three came out very overdone. A "rare" was completely grey and dry. Sent back, and the replacement steaks were hardly better, medium-well at best. Well priced wine selection, but the food was market priced, and very poorly cooked. We thought it would be nice to support the students, but you're better off visiting a winery and getting a meal from a competent cook for the same price.

Phuong Le

A great meal with great service. The food is cooked to perfection and the staff are enthusiastic, educated and clearly enjoy what they are doing. The Niagara College wines and beer are outstanding. This is a hidden gem and we will absolutely be back.

Hannah Elias

Today I went to Bench and asked for helping because I have no idea on what their meal be like. Cashiers there really friendly and helpful by showing me the pictures of their Monday lunch meals so I can decide what I want. And I got the Sausage fries which is delicious with its sauce. Will be back and try more lunch options.

James Gomm

This was a pleasant surprise food was great atmosphere and great friendly service it will easily be one of my favorite places to eat... it was beautiful and prices were very fair I highly recommend it!!!

Thomas Egan

Amazing food, I would definitely go back. A bit hard to find at night.

Gabriela Duron

Always my first choice in the area. Never disappoints. Food quality and service are top notch. Superb value.

Randy Vermeer

I’ve been to this restaurant twice. Both times a great experience.

Nick Soave

Excellent food quality, service and value for money. Delicious and beautifully presented Fogo Island cod. Interaction with the students and staff was an added bonus

Dan Popowich

This is a good restaurant where the staff are students in the cullinary program at Niagara College. The food is very good with some imaginative dishes, and there are vegetarian and vegan options. The excellent draft beer is brewed by students (although they also carry bottled domestic beer for those who don't like craft brews). Prices are OK - $15 to $20 for an entree, $8-$10 for the interesting starters - bookings are mandatory. Great value, good experience.

Shana McChesney

First time stopping at Benchmark from the highway before heading into Niagara. A lovely teaching restaurant offering food, beer and wine from the local college. Scallops were excellent, as was the chicken. There's something for even picky eaters. Service provided by their student in front of house programs was very good. Wines and beer are on par with other Niagara establishments.

Lily Rinehart-Mann

Great Place, Good food

Barbara Warner

Good meal at a reasonable price. Service was attentive

Adam P

Service was a little slow because they're learning, but the food more than made up for it. Best steak I've had in a while.

Jay Di

Great environment, super friendly staff. Good food. A little lean in the goat cheese and candied walnuts on beet salad and took awhile to get the food. Beer brewed in site was good. Waited Brandon M. Was great.

Jessica Wright

Good food and local wine and brewery

Stephen De-Wint

Attended my nephews wedding here, the food was absolutely delicious, the ambiance was amazing, my absolute favourite was the ice tea it was the best tea I have ever had. The catering staff, servers, bartender went over and above to make this day outstanding. Thank you

Bobby Thompson

Great food and service, all by students. Get a former experience at student process

DARSHDEEP SINGH

One of the finest dining experiences my wife and I have experienced in a while. Price, presentation, quality and service, all exceptional. Won't be our last visit

Scott Barrie

Excellent food, excellent service, great ambiance.

Marina Michelakos

A refreshing experience in a interesting location and staff that are eager to provide great service.

Robert Strutt

Great food at affordable prices

Jinaele Douglas

Always a pleasant spot to eat, all in-house fresh ingredients, family friendly and decently priced for the area!

Mark Sear

We went with a group on the wine tour of Niagara College Wine Education Centre. The tour and the meal were superb. It's nice to know that the future of wine making and food preparation are in good hands. Next year, we'll take the brewery tour at NC and visit some local breweries as well.

Lee-Anne Watson

What a great experience! You sit in a beautiful little dining room, surrounded by windows and the crops of all the vegetable that will be on your plate. Farm to table at its finest and a fantastic beer and wine selection from the students. We could not understand why every table was not occupied on a Friday evening but will recommend this great college run restaurant

Catherine P E

A bit pricey but great food and atmosphere.

Michael Bethke

Unusual rotunda type building which contributes to positive ambiance. Food is good but not out of this world. Service was variable, started good and became less attentive as the evening progressed. Would suggest an earlier booking (our was for 8) otherwise you have to enjoy the spectacle of 5 or 6 students clattering about setting up the bain maries for the next day's guests. I would say 7/10 for service and 6/10 for quality.

Viktor Vukovic ITCP

Great resteraunt.

Andi Agung Sang Pejuang

Great place and patronage helps groom the next generation of chefs.

Maria Zegarac

This is a great restaurant on the Niagara College site. The food was excellent and the drinks amazing. The service was great. I know hotel and catering management courses like to talk about the "meal experience" and this place delivered the real deal.

Dave Daigle

Fabulous venue, options, food and service. Wish we lived closer.

Brady Steeper

Over priced for small portions. Food was decent but don't think we'd come back all the way from Toronto when we can get food prices the same for better quality and quantity

David Tsang

Food and service were excellent and professional.

Eric Wong

The experience would have been better if they weren’t out of stock on so many wines. All of their full bodied reds. Since this is wine country, you would expect they would order in a replacement. Not the servers fault. Good food and service otherwise.

L Maier

Wonderful, unobtrusive service, excellent food and a great selection of brews and wines from the school. An absolute must if you are in the area. Even if not, well worth the drive.

Aaron Wong

Delicious local food, very good service, extensive wine list. I strongly recommend you stop here if you are in Niagara-on-the-lake.

Jorge Montoya

Was too Pricey for the value... but great location.

Chad Brown

The food quality of this restaurant is fantastic, the service is always top knotch and the setting is second to none. You can stop and purchase beer or wine after your meal and the teaching aspect of all three makes this a very unique area to visit. As a graduate of Niagara College I am very proud of all 3 venues.

Andrew M.

Great food! Excellent service. A bit chilly on a winter's night.

Alessandro Zamai

Great food, staff and a fantastic beer selection by Niagara College Brewery

Jeff Farrow

You will be pleasantly surprised!

Hiba K

Tasty food and great service

Matt Harrison

Thought it would be better since it's a culinary school. Bread wasn't up to par. Dinner was ok. Service was good.

Allison Brown

Food was great. Beer was great. Service was great. Atmosphere was great. I really enjoyed my meal here. The Roasted Beet Salad was unlike anything I had before and was delicious.

David Wong

Love eating here, I've never had a bad meal, and the service is always friendly and engaging.

Drew Bramham

Waited over an hour for our food. The Turbot and Scalop dishes were VERY small and had very little flavour. The steak dish was also very tiny. We went to another restaurant after because we were still hungry. You would expect more for $30 a plate.

Sarah Smith

A wonderful experience. We spent several days at the venue for CISO training. We enjoyed 3 lovely meals each day prepared and served by students with beer and wine all made on-site. A fantastic experience.

Steve Fryers

I attended Benchmark Restaurant for the second time with 4 neighbours. This is a lovely, large, 2 story round greenhouse feeling space enclosed in glass with wooden beamed ceilings. It is part of Niagara College Campus. Free parking for restaurant patrons. We were greeted by Mo who enriched and charmed all us ladies. He was our waiter and informed us he was, in training as a student and graduating the following week. Then going back to school for restaurant management degree. There is a varied lunch menu including sandwiches and main dishes. Started out with a delicious parsnip soup. 4 of us had it and enjoyed it. Food is prepared by students studying to be cooks, food preparers, etc. There is a gourmet flare to the food. Lunch with wine about $40.00. (including tax and tip). I had the crispy tofu with kale, salad, wilted red onions on a bed of rice which was delicious. The deserts were outstanding and enjoyed. Afterwards we took a tour of the greenhouses and another separate building for wine tasting and purchase of wine made on the premises at the teaching winery of Niagara College. I would recommend this resaurtant for a special occasion.

Hernan Mendez

Amazing

PL K

Delicious beef hoagie. Hit and miss here but today they crushed it. Best I've had in a while.

Skylar Franke

Always amazing food!

Jag D

Amazingly great food and great service

Kaustubh Donde

Great food and good service. Local ingredients, VQA wines. Highly recommended.

Badar Syed

So-so food with high prices. Meh.

Howard Slaney

This place was so NICE and the food was AMAZING I would definitely recommend this to everyone We will be going back

Barry Cull

Meals prepared by the students of niagara college. Good selection of food, freshly prepared and reasonable prices.

Ogads Way

Unique and beautiful setting, reasonable prices, great wine and the knowledge you are helping future culinary and food service professionals.

John Paterson

I Looked around for a place for lunch when visiting Niagara on the Lake and we were lucky enough to get a reservation at Benchmark. Its refreshing to find a restaurant of this calibre considering some of the overpriced restaurants located in town and at the Winery's nearby. It's a beautiful space with soft unobtrusive music and tables spaced to give diners space. A good selection of both wines and beers produced at the College and neighbouring wineries and craft beer producers. It was my wife's birthday and she ordered the Duck which she pronounced to be the best she's ever had.I ordered the Lamb Cavatelli Bolognese which I found to be excellent. The portion sizes were in our opinion to be very generous. The quality of both our meals were excellent. Our server who called herself Mo was great and made our day really enjoyable . Fantastic dessert large enough to share. We will certainly be returning here as the students do a great job and the food excellent.

Alice Fok

Excellent food prepared by students. Great value. Nice to support young learners too.

Benjamin Haire

We were excited to try this restaurant based on all of the amazing reviews. We love the farm to table concept with in house beer and wine options, and that all of the employees are Niagara College students. The service was excellent, but the food was honestly not great. We had the Digby Scallops (bland), Cavatelli Alfredo (bland), and the Duck Breast (good but not great). All of the food was only luke warm which, per previous reviews, is because they spend a lot of time on the plate presentation. Also note that it's not easy to find the restaurant - it looked like it was empty and closed from the outside because the windows are tinted very dark.

james gayda

Great food & service.

Tracey Connell Salvo

Super nice place to eat great ambiance

North Town Dentistry

Loved evrything about this place! Service and food is excellent!

Kiana Mozayyan

My only regret is that I could not grow a second stomach to try the rest of the menu. This place would get 10 stars if only Google would allow it. First off, it is a student run establishment with some of the best service my wife and I have received. As background, we have traveled the world extensively the past year and been to more than 50 Michelin star restaurants. The service here is on par. Additionally, all of the ingredients are locally sourced with the greenhouse and gardens right outside the window for guests viewing pleasure. Each dish is creatively assembled and does not throw too much flavor at you. Just the right hints of each ingredient. If you eat nowhere else while visiting Niagara or Niagara-on-the-lake, please stop by here. Reservations are accepted in advance via Opentable.

Kairvee Malik

As usual the service, menu, food and drink were top notch at affordable prices. The staff even turned off the outside speaker on the patio so we could hear the atudent2 concert on campus.

Dee Elle

(Translated) I recommend the entry of fried apple and salmon with jasmine rice + quinoa and fried kale. Very good restaurant and then it helps students (Original) Je recommande l'entree de pomme frit et le saumon avec le riz jasmin + quinoa and fried kale. Tres bon restaurant et puis ca aide les etudiants

Jacquie Fuentes (Jax)

Good food and nice selection of Niagara region wine.

Vickie Pangea

Excellent quality and service

felix Jeon

(Translated) we have good experience the dishes were as beautiful as good, several textures on the plate but, services a bit long (Original) nous avons bien l expérience les plats étaient aussi beau que bon, plusieurs textures dans l assiette mais, services un peu long

Vincent Mok

The Benchmark restaurant is inside the niagara on the lake campus it's not a big restaurant but it's really nice and clean. it serves alcohal also and diffrent kind of wine and specially there wine is really great coz they have their own brewery. they have kids menue too. I don't think that they have much options for vegetarians but ya you can find plenty of diffrent courses in non-vegetarian.

Ahmed Aliyu

The food was satisfactory.

Ernest Chan

One hour fifteen minutes until appetizer. Another half hour until entree. Way too long.

Sarah Gonska

Amazing experience. Loved the service, eating area, noise level (dome shape keeps noise low), food quality and value! Can't believe the large portions with the superb quality. We'll be back.

Leigh Musson

Excellent food.....very nice restaurant

Len Kilby

Great place to eat and great food!

Nathalie Lauzier

(Translated) Although this is a restaurant in the school, I think the dishes here are very delicious. I will come here whenever I am dining at school. (Original) 雖然這裡是一間學校裡的餐廳，我覺得這裡的菜色非常的美味，每當我在學校用餐時，我都會來這裡

brock olive

Good

Miro Nagy

The service and food was excellent. Their creme brulee was absolutely delicious and it was very clear that the wait staff were working extra hard to provide a great experience.

David Reeve

A MUST GO TO PLACE! I had the best pasta of my life....yes, i am talking about the future too....i don't think anything will ever beat it! Amazing service by the students. Highly recommend this place.

Brian Hollingworth

Very good food and prices. It's a supervised teaching restaurant, so the service is excellent. The view of the escarpment in the fall is also a bonus. My only complaint is that if you go regularly, the menu can remain the same for quite a few months.

Jesson Cote

(Translated) Food tastes good and friendly (Original) 음식 맛 괜찮고 친절해요

Michelle Falone

Ambiance was romantic and unique. The Benchmark Burger was out of this world incredible. The Benchmark Crispy Chicken Sandwich was also delicious. We ordered an extra side of the Lemon-Thyme Fries with the Triple Crunch Aioli because it was so scrumptious! Would absolutely return for both the burger and sandwich with the fries! (We didn’t care for the Polenta Fries pictured in the middle)

Dragos Luca

Very good place to visit.

Sarah Marvin

Support the students ! All of the food is delicious. Have the Charcuterie board to start.

Brenden Martin

Great meal on the Niagara College campus. Everything was expertly prepared and served, and portions were made specifically to suit or party.

Lou-Ann Perez

Got served raw fish and then got creamer spilled on me. Dessert was the best part. Bad night out.

Carmine Ciriello

Excellent food. My only issue is that there are no signs from the road. Google takes you to the residences vs the actual restaurant. Put an arrow or 2 from the road so first timers know where to go.

Sam Johnson

Very clean, quiet restaurant; delicious & reasonably priced meals; fast service and friendly staff. What else does a person need in a restaurant?????

Alysha Dupuis

If you are in southern Ontario, Canada, and are looking for a great place to enjoy dinner, I highly recommend the Benchmark. It's run by culinary students from Niagara College....and jts wonderful. Great, inventive, tasty food and exceptional service.

Billy W

Wonderful food .. Fantastic food .. Great atmosphere

Mehran Alaee

Very impressed, excellent staff and food!

Steve Nagy

Great food, and an exceptional wine list. The service is amazing for a teaching environment and has lots of Iof local homemade options. Would highly recommend.

Matt Crncich

Very nice restaurant. Thoroughly enjoyed the ambiance, service by Nathan and Hannah . Food was delicious . Very calming touch to the nice evening.

Daph Jay

Excellent food and great service. Everything ordered was top notch. Scallops, shrimp, etc. Will be going back soon.

Brenda VanBelois Madronic

Great food but limited hours make it tough to get it. Be sure to book online well in advance

Rene Coxworthy

Great food, awesome service!

Will Houghton

You must go!

Veny L

An incredibly impressive dinner. Perfect service. Perfect food. A great wine selection. This is fine dinning at its finest.

Greg Gadren

Dinner was fabulous. Service was a little quiet. Our server was good but not super knowledgable on the beer and wine but knew enough to ask. The bread and honey butter was perfect. Delicious. I had the scallops.. a little oily for my taste but I'm sure perfect for most every one else. My husband had the steak. Plate is cleaned and even got the hmm hmmm after the first bite which is high praise. Sitting eating and telling friends we need to come back.

Jim Parker

What is there not love about this place.....everhthing I ate was good.... The service was friendly (thanks Nicole) and fast.......must try! Parking is free and the establishment is wheelchair accessible.

keith richards

I have been there 3 times and have never been disappointed.

Ian Watson

Fresh, affordable food.

Gurmukh Sidhu

Nice place and food

Karen Nagy

Wow, just amazing food! Stopped here for lunch on a wine tour, impressed.

Nathan Knapp

Great food, great environment (inside and out), friendly staff, and the food was great ????

Douglas Anderson

Went there hungry on a Friday evening expecting a fast service. The restaurant was about a half empty. The service was very slow. I guess they do not work for the tips. The menu selection was short; the food quality an average. Very nice food presentation. I expected more based on all the 5-star reviews below. I do recommend it for a glass of wine to enjoy the beautiful scenery around you.

joanne weyman

Great restaurant with passionate staff. Highly recommend the food and atmosphere.

Karol Gawrych

I’ve always got the most delightful experiences here. Nothing to complain when you can enjoy excellent service whilst looking out of window admiring scenic campus. Nonetheless, I highly recommend let’s always saving room for dessert! You will never know when they will be replaced with a new recipe and then realize that you‘ve lost your chance.

Deb H

The food was great and service was good - I was expecting a more fine dining experience but it really wasn't fancy... Great food and like I said the service was good. Also the prices are great.

Jan Vanderwal

Lovely place, delicious food I will go back

Sanjoy Hazra

Food is great. The service is slow and clumsy, but the students are learning.

Kim Fleming

Both, the food and the service are amazing. I wouldn't mind driving all the way there from Toronto for dinner.

Anthony

Lovely restaurant ran by culinary students. Thr food is amazing and the service is great although they may be on the slow side sometimes. We ordered their famous benchmark burger, beat salad, and a pizza plus one of the appetizers. It took about 45 mins for the food to get to the table but they covered the appetizer to make up for it. Everything was five star delicious and the servers were extremely hospitable and polite. Would recommend 100%.

Doris Walvius

Great place to eat and fancy food too.

Larry Deighton

Is a little expensive but is run by students. The food was delicious and the service/servers were great. The atmosphere is really cool too, the restaurant is almost a hexagonal shape and all windows, very neat. If I'm in the area again I will be returning.

Lorraine

Great teaching restaurant. They’ve redone their menu concept so it is now a la carte, which I think works better for them. Great value and a nice menu, ranges from sandwiches and pizza to nice entrees. Good place to go with a group. Only caveat is things can be a bit slower as it is still a school, but if you’re in for a nice leisurely meal it’s a great find in the Niagara region.

Ivan Malyshev

Very good food and always a pleasant experience. The Bench to go is also great for grab and go food.

Robert Bell

Good food but abysmal wait times. We wanted food, got excuses, waited nearly two hours to be served. All other tables around us received their food despite us being the third party to be seated right at opening time. Experience is part of dining, not just food.

Joanne Akiyama

Good food for a quick grab

Thomas M

Amazing! I have been to a number of colleges that have culinary programs but Benchmark beats them all. Delicious food, beautifully plated, fantastic wine list, and their cider is made on site and is a flavourful, dry, cider. We went for my Mom's 90th birthday and our waitstaff were so welcoming and made her feel very special. The dessert menu was incredible. Benchmark is fantastic and I highly recommend it!

Matthew Wilson

Very fair price and nice environment. However the food we ordered taste very flat. Ordered the tempura squash and it is very crunchy/hard to eat (not fully cooked, taste like a very bad tempura yam). The seared cod and the duck breats also just taste like a hung of protein with not much flavour. The presentation of the food is stunning, drinks are good (that have their own brew) and their servicebis excellent. However I think the quality/taste of the food is important so I can only give a 3 star.....

N Midence

Fantastic fine dining menu at diner prices.

Marcy Auman

A first class restaurant in Niagara for the foodie. Located at the Niagara College campus in Niagara on the Lake.

julian mainprize

I plan on going back. The setting is gorgeous, the drinks are fantastic, and there was actually a mother's day buffet with well-crafted tasty food. Also the staff was professional and courteous.

Patrick Woo

Such a delicious Sunday lunch to end our weekend of wine tasting! Beautiful restaurant with incredible views, and the food was fantastic to boot! I would highly recommend (for the wine too - very nice, especially their 2016 Viognier!

Liz Franklin

This is an amazing restaurant. We have been here a number of times. The majority of front and back staff are students from Niagara College and they are nothing less than extremely professional. The food Is amazing and comparable to fine dining restaurants. Would highly recommend Benchmark.

Sadeva Dhanapala

Great food. Beautiful view. Suggest trying a few wines or beers at the tasting centres before dinner to make it a truly amazing experience.

Lyndsey Howell

Delicious food and lovely ambience!

Adam Corrigan Holowitz

Fantastic food and a beautiful location - food is seasonal and prepared beautifully. Be sure to tour the school's greenhouse and have a tasting at the brewery and winery.

Fern da Silva

Excellent food and excellent service!!!

Tiffany WatersStone

My go to lunch place on the way to Niagara area! Always a new menu and fresh ingredients. Great service!

D Vella

Very cozy and nice restaurant. We love their menu as they update it with food in season so the quality is very good.

Andrew Cull

very nice atmosphere

Al Thai

I would award it a Michelin star. (And yes, I have eaten at several Michelin-starred restaurants in New York and France, including a 3-starred one.)

Kaysee McCracken

Excellent food and service

Rick Singh

Wonderful service from Tania and the maitre'd, thank you! Incredible food from NC culinary team. They're food presentation and flavour was on point yet again. I am always confident in making a reservation here. Great experience!