Two Nights, Four Meals in Niagara, Part 1

Suffering post-election hangover, Mrs. 500 Words and I headed to Ontario's Niagara Region for a few days' R&R.

Our first stop was for lunch at Vineland Estates Winery in Vineland. For $29.95 per person, we enjoyed the Spring Fling Chef's Lunch and Wine Package in the winery's restaurant overlooking the Escarpment Bench and Lake Ontario. Part of the Niagara Spring Flings promotion, we were served a three-course lunch paired with Vineland Estates wines. That day's menu consisted of mussels served with Vineland Chardonnay Musqué, an open-face steak sandwich accompanied by a Cabernet Merlot, and dessert of rhubarb sorbet and cheesecake with Late Harvest Vidal. It was all delicious.

After browsing the wine shop and picking up some of the Chardonnay Musqué, our favourite of the wines we had been served, it was off to Niagara Falls and the hotel we had booked for the night, the Country Inn and Suites by Carlson. This property is located on Victoria Avenue, across from the rear of Casino Niagara, the first casino built in the Falls, and close to the attractions on Clifton Hill. Our room was spacious and clean, and included a small fridge and microwave. There is an indoor pool, spa, and fitness room. A breakfast buffet was included in the nightly rate of $79. Parking was an additional $5 per night.

Although there are many restaurants close by, we chose to take a taxi several kilometres to the Syndicate Restaurant & Brewery on Lundy's Lane. I admit, the main reason for our choice was the beer brewed on the premises, but Syndicate had also received good reviews on TripAdvisor.

We were completely unprepared for how good the food was. The better brewpubs I've been to, like Duggan's in Toronto, may aspire to beef ribs braised in dark ale, but Syndicate would be a dining destination even without the beer. The menu is a fixed price of $17, with a few items involving an additional $2 or $3 charge.

For starters, I had the Atlantic crab cake that was accompanied by collard and fingerling potato hash. Mrs. 500 Words enjoyed the Syndicate Benny, consisting of a poached duck egg and local bresoala (air-dried, salted beef) on puff pastry with horseradish and ale cream.

For our entrées, she had the bouillabaisse, loaded with shrimp, scallops, fish, clams, mussels, and calamari in a saffron lobster broth. Even the accompanying grilled flatbread was deemed delicious. I had the pan roasted lemon and thyme chicken suprème with Yukon gold potatoes mashed with applewood smoked bacon. I was a happy man.

For dessert, my wife had a crème brulé and a blueberry tea, while I had a selection of three cheeses and ripe olives, chosen to complement the beer I was drinking. My wife had tried the flight of four sample sized beers. I had half-pints of three different beers, one per course. Before tax, our bill was less than $80. Service was attentive, accommodating, and knowledgeable. Food of this creativity and quality, at this price, is unequalled in our experience.

In part 2, I'll tell you about our second day.