Restaurants in Waterloo

Nominated for Best Family Restaurant on CityVoter's 2011 A-List, Steamboat Garden has been serving up affordable family food since 1933. Today, guests at the boat-shaped restaurant can peer through its bright red portholes to watch as the friendly staff fills tables with steaks and seafood, breaded pork loin sandwiches known as Tug Boats, and seven incarnations of a signature hamburger that has been a Falls Avenue favorite since the 1940s. Between bites, diners sip old-fashioned floats made with 1919 draft root beer and then send instant photos of their empty plates to mom by accessing the restaurant's WiFi with a laptop or aluminum foil helmet.

Throw 'em back at Irish Shanti, and grow to love this Irish bar planted in Elgin's Marion district. Low-fat choices are not featured on the menu this place serves the real deal. Ready for a drink to unwind? At Irish Shanti, you can pair your meal with something from their full bar. Your large group can all sit together at Irish Shanti. Check email, shop online, or get the latest game scores on Irish Shanti's free wifi. Between the music and the crowds, be prepared for a lot of noise at this restaurant. The after-work crowd can fill the place up, so be sure to take advantage of reservations at Irish Shanti. Put the suit away when heading to Irish Shanti — dress is casual, as are the vibes. Irish Shanti will even bring the amazing food from their kitchen to yours. For those in a hurry, the restaurant lets you take your meal or snack to go. At Irish Shanti, diners can easily find street parking or parking in a nearby lot. Irish Shanti is a prime location for cyclists to park their bikes and enjoy a bite to eat. Prepare to spend about $30 per person when dining at Irish Shanti.

For tasty American fare, head to Franklin Hotel for a sandwich and side. The food at Franklin Hotel is high-calorie, high-flavor, and highly-rated. With Franklin Hotel's wide selection of refreshments available, you can tap into the drink menu early in the evening. Score quick and easy seating for groups of any size at Franklin Hotel. Getting your food to go is also an option. Looking for something delicious to serve at your next party? Franklin Hotel also offers catering. Store your car on the street or in a nearby lot at Franklin Hotel. Make use of the luxurious bike racks at Franklin Hotel. Expect to spend less than $15 per person at Franklin Hotel. Franklin Hotel has menus for breakfast, lunch, and dinner — just pick your favorite meal and head over.

Grab a bite at Waterloo's Newton's Paradise Cafe. Comfort food at its best, low-fat is intentionally left off the menu here. Pick your poison and toast your evening — drinks are also served here. Youngsters are more than welcome to join mom and dad at Newton's Paradise Cafe. On warmer days, you can take advantage of Newton's Paradise Cafe's al fresco patio seating. Wifi here is on the house. For those in a hurry, the restaurant lets you take your meal or snack to go. Newton's Paradise Cafe prides itself in its delicious catering. Bike parking is also available outside the restaurant. There's no need to spend a fortune on a delicious meal at Newton's Paradise Cafe — most prices are under $15.

Enjoy delicious Italian food and romantic mood lighting at Luigi's. Those looking to shed a few extra pounds are advised to put their diet on hold, as Luigi's serves anything but a low-fat menu. Luigi's can provide comfortable seating options for parties of any size. Luigi's can also cater your next party; call today for details. Parking is provided in a nearby lot, so diners can easily walk to and from their cars. Luigi's offers a nice selection of mid-range cuisine, so you can expect a meal there to cost about $30 or less per person. Luigi's happily accepts all major credit cards as a form of payment. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are all available at Luigi's — swing by for your favorite meal.

For true American comfort food, head to Boike's Trailside Inn for a sandwich or side of fries. Both low-fat and gluten-free menu items are offered at Boike's Trailside Inn. Boike's Trailside Inn has a large dining room, making it easy to seat large parties. No need for a wardrobe change when you hit Boike's Trailside Inn — it's strictly casual. Catering from Boike's Trailside Inn will take your party to the next level. Boike's Trailside Inn is surrounded by a number of street parking options for patrons. Prices don't get much better than this, either, with typical meals running under the $15 mark. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are all available at Boike's Trailside Inn.