Restaurants in North Tonawanda

Soaring 525 feet above the Niagara Gorge, within the Tower Hotel, executive chef Phillip Thompson floods the newly renovated Pinnacle Restaurant with the aromas of seafood, steak, and pasta. As they dine, patrons soak in panoramic views of the falls and the waiters belaying down them to refill water glasses. Chef Thompson's culinary feats have appeared in such outlets as Food Network's I Do Let's Eat and Toronto Life magazine.

Wagner’s two most popular dishes are quite different, but equally delicious. Certified Angus roast beef nestles within the cushy embrace of a salted weck roll, while the Roaster chicken wings are topped with bourbon- or honey-garlic sauce and serve as a filling snack after a long day of learning how to use echolocation in a dark cave. At lunch, diners can nosh on wraps rolled with Cajun turkey or greek chicken, whereas the dinner menu introduces entrees such as baked haddock and fettuccine alfredo with chicken or crab.

Neon lights glow above the bar at Taco N Tequila, shining down on the bottles that bartenders tip as they concoct frosty margaritas infused with watermelon, traditional lime, and other flavours. Patrons can order those margaritas in sizes as large as 45 ounces and drink them while seated at the bar or atop one of the horses that occasionally wanders through the restaurant. Cooks prepare plates of sizzling fajitas, tostadas, and chimichangas, as well as Mexican-American specialties such as Mexi-Cheese Fries with sour cream and housemade chili. The sounds of classic and contemporary Latin music pulse through the air during everyday business hours or themed parties, encouraging diners to digest to a synchronized beat.

At Mezza Restaurant & Lounge, owners Johnny and P.J. draw from their experience working at the family restaurant⎯Pete's Greek Isles in Boulevard Mall⎯to turn Mediterranean cuisine into a luxurious nightlife feast. Live flamenco and Middle Eastern music sets the mood for Lebanese tapas such as tabouleh salad, hummus topped with sautéed pine nuts, and pastries stuffed with minced beef. After a feast of flatbread pizza, char-grilled steak kebab, or tender, marinated souvlaki, guests can head out to the hookah patio and share a bubbling water-pipe. Servers replace coals, fill visitors in on the rich tradition and history of the hookah, or make suggestions about flavors, which include spearmint, honeydew, strawberry, and Xtreme mesquite barbecue.

Chen's taps diverse Chinese, Japanese, and Thai traditions to forge a slate of Eastern dishes and creative cocktails that have gleaned numerous accolades from Zagat. Executive chef and owner Bing Zhou plates elegant portions of lemon chicken, peking duck, and seafood gently seasoned with Chinese spices as maki rolls nestle raw morsels of salmon, lobster, and yellowtail in innovative combinations. Bartenders sling more than 25 martini styles beneath the soft lighting of recessed sconces as bamboo floors support terra-cotta statues of historic warriors. In the lounge, overstuffed chairs sidle up to a crackling fireplace to share stories of their ottoman ancestors beneath cream and persimmon hues.

Two classic American dessert institutions join dulcet forces at Dairy Queen and Orange Julius, where frozen treats, and fruit drinks attack palates with a one-two punch of comforting delight. Classic Blizzards swirl in all manner of candy combinations, whereas the Orange Julius revels in the decadent simplicity of citrus.