Benchmark

Name: Benchmark
Address: 135 Taylor Rd, Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON, Canada, L0S1J0
Telephone: (905) 641-2252 ext. 4619
Price range: CAN$31 to CAN$50
Rating: 4.7

4.7 (1419)

CAN$31 to CAN$50

Contemporary American

135 Taylor Rd, Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON L0S1J0

Make a reservation

2 people

Jun 14, 2025

7:00 PM

Booked 5 times today

About this restaurant

Good for special occasions
Innovative
Good for groups

Prepare to embark on a delectable journey as Benchmark at Niagara College proudly unveils the much-anticipated relaunch of its lunch service. under the creative direction of renowned Chef Justin Downes and the impeccable service leadership of Victor Oliveira.

Chef Justin Downes will lead the culinary student team and deliver a harmonious blend of culinary innovation and a deep commitment to education. Building upon its established reputation for culinary excellence, Benchmark will continue to be a cornerstone of culinary education while elevating the dining experience for visitors and the Niagara College community.

Don't miss the opportunity to support the School of Culinary Arts, foster future culinary talent, and relish the flavors of Niagara Region. Join us for an unforgettable dining experience that perfectly marries tradition with innovation, all in the heart of one of Canada's most picturesque regions and one of Canada's most loved Culinary Institutes.

Additional information

Dining style
Casual Dining
Price
CAN$31 to CAN$50
Cuisines
Contemporary American
Hours of operation
Lunch Tue–Fri 11:30 am–2:30 pm
Phone number
(905) 641-2252 ext. 4619
Website
https://www.niagaracollege.ca/culinaryarts/services/
Payment options
AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Dress code
Business Casual
Executive chef
Justin Downes
Private party facilities
Checking out our upcoming events: https://www.niagaracollege.ca/culinaryarts/events/

Location
135 Taylor Rd, Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON L0S1J0
Neighborhood
Niagara-on-the-Lake
Parking details
Public Lot
Public transit
To ensure that you receive complimentary parking anywhere on campus during your visit, please complete the Guest Parking Form at www.niagaracollege.ca/campussafety/guestpass/, ahead of your visit, to avoid any penalties or fees associated with parking.We also welcome guests to park in the “reserved” parking lot closest to the Benchmark entrance if space permits.Please let us know if there are any issues, and we will happily assist you.
Additional
Beer, Cocktails, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Vegan, View, Wheelchair Access, Wine

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100 Toronto / Ontario Restaurants to Love This Valentine's Day

Benchmark Student Experience Award
If you would like to support our students, donate to the Benchmark Student Experience Award! Every term students from hospitality and culinary are awarded based on their passion, commitment and performance. Your server can add any denomination directly to your tab. (no tax)

What 1,419 people are saying

Benchmark reviews from people who’ve dined at this restaurant. Based on recent rating.

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.7

4.7 based on recent ratings

4.6Food
4.6Service
4.7Ambience
4.6Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

Toronto / Ontario
Contemporary American
Niagara
Best Value
Niagara
Good for business meals
Niagara
Innovative
Niagara
Healthy

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews

Benchmark offers a delightful dining experience, combining "excellent food" with "amazing service" in a beautiful setting. Guests appreciate the "artfully presented" dishes and the opportunity to support Niagara College's culinary students. Despite occasional service hiccups, the atmosphere remains inviting, with a "cozy" ambiance and "beautiful views." A must-visit for "exceptional preparations" and "palate-pleasing creations."

1,419 Reviews

I
Isabela
Toronto / Ontario1 review
5.0
Dined 3 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Everything was perfect: food, service, ambience. Congrats to the team and students!
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D
David VIP
Toronto / Ontario16 reviews
5.0
Dined on May 30, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
We loved the Niagara ale, too bad it was not in stock for takeout. This place is amazing will come back.
Is this helpful?
J
Jim
Toronto / Ontario5 reviews
5.0
Dined on May 22, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 5
The meal was outstanding, we always enjoy eating here.
Is this helpful?
E
Erin
Toronto / Ontario1 review
4.0
Dined on May 16, 2025
1. Overall 4
2. Food 5
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 5
This was our first time visiting Benchmark and it was wonderful. I would recommend additional signage out front for first timers to know where to go. The grounds are beautiful. Our server Sebastian was lovely and it was his 3rd day working with Benchmark. He was able to answer all of our questions and was very polite and professional. The food was delicious, the presentation was exquisite. We were pleasantly surprised and impressed. The flavours were exciting and intriguing. I would encourage front of house to communicate better with the kitchen as dessert arrives before our entrees were cleared and our tiny table for two couldn’t handle that many dishes. We highly recommend and will definitely be back.
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J
Jan
Toronto / Ontario1 review
5.0
Dined on May 16, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Great place to experience local gourmet food and support Niagara College culinary school, wine making and brewery programs. Bring your friends and family for an amazing dining experience for a 3-course lunch.
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R
Rose
Toronto / Ontario8 reviews
5.0
Dined on May 15, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Benchmark is top notch in every way. Keeping in mind it is a teaching winery/restaurant, we expected a few bumps here and there...quite the contrary!! It was hard to believe that it was young students cooking and serving. They have outranked many upscale eating establishments that we have dined at in the past. They paid close attention to EVERY detail. From service to the quality of food served. We would like to give special mention to Victor who manages, teaches and overlooks every aspect of the restaurant and to Sebastian who gave us quality service. It was refreshing to see Victor go from table to table to check in on every patron and see that all is done to their satisfaction. It was also nice to have our server, Sebastian make sure all our needs were met while maintaining an upbeat and caring personality to ensure a pleasant dining experience. Kudos to the chef, kitchen staff and the bartender as well. As for the food, let's just say that my friends and myself left no bits of food on our plates, it was all (3 entrees) exceptional!!! The ambiance was so nice!! Wonderful place to go for an upscale and delicious meal. Just about to book another reservation. Thank you Victor of Benchmark and the inspiring and/or aspiring Niagara College students!!
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P
Patrick
Toronto / Ontario2 reviews
2.0
Dined on May 9, 2025
1. Overall 2
2. Food 2
3. Service 1
4. Ambience 5
Up until today, our experience at the benchmark was overwhelmingly positive. Today was my worst experience at this facility. Main entrée was served lukewarm. Waiter didn’t have a clue what he was doing and had to be reminded several times by us on items he was missing. Other staff members and supervisors had to step in for him to make it right. Head chef seen on camera has to work on some hygiene issues that were noted privately to the restaurant. We will not be back.
BenchmarkResponded on May 12, 2025
Hello Patrick, Thank you so much for your review and feedback. It is really important for us and our students as we also teach them the value of feedback and acting on issues brought up by our guests. We are really sorry that you did not enjoy your time in Benchmark. Our students work very hard to make sure our guests are taking care of but, as you can expect from a teaching restaurant, they are always learning. In fact, your visit happened on their Week 2 in the term. They are still getting used to the concept of service, reading menus and the importance of timing. Many have never carried a tray before or poured coffee tableside. In due time and with instruction, they get more confident and skilled. Thank you for coming to support and we hope you change your mind about coming back.
1 person found this helpful
M
Mary
Toronto / Ontario1 review
5.0
Dined on May 8, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Wonderful variations in taste on each plate. Artfully presented. Overall great experience
Is this helpful?
K
Karen
Toronto / Ontario1 review
5.0
Dined on May 7, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
The food was excellent, the presentation was pleasing to the eye. The service was excellent and interesting as we got to see first hand the process of teaching the students how to offer excellent service to customers. Overall, a most enjoyable dining experience.
Is this helpful?
C
Caroline
Toronto / Ontario41 reviews
4.0
Dined on May 1, 2025
1. Overall 4
2. Food 4
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 4
We were served by many first-time servers and they were pleasant and willing to learn. There was a graduate accompanying the first-timer so they can be helped and mentored. Food were plated beautifully. We ordered the pre-fixed 3 course lunch. The only negative is the duck confit is a bit too salty. We had a 9 year old girl with us and the kitchen made her a pasta with butter sauce and freshly shredded Parmesan cheese. It's good that the venue offers culinary college students real life experience in cooking and serving.
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FAQs

Benchmark is rated 4.7 stars by 1419 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

2 people

Jun 14, 2025

7:00 PM

Booked 5 times today

135 Taylor Rd, Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON L0S1J0

Additional information

Neighborhood
Niagara-on-the-Lake
Hours of operation
Lunch Tue–Fri 11:30 am–2:30 pm
Price
CAN$31 to CAN$50
Cuisines
Contemporary American
Dining style
Casual Dining
Dress code
Business Casual
Parking details
Public Lot
Public transit
To ensure that you receive complimentary parking anywhere on campus during your visit, please complete the Guest Parking Form at www.niagaracollege.ca/campussafety/guestpass/, ahead of your visit, to avoid any penalties or fees associated with parking.We also welcome guests to park in the “reserved” parking lot closest to the Benchmark entrance if space permits.Please let us know if there are any issues, and we will happily assist you.
Payment options
AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Executive chef
Justin Downes
Additional
Beer, Cocktails, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Vegan, View, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Website
https://www.niagaracollege.ca/culinaryarts/services/
Phone number
(905) 641-2252 ext. 4619
Private party facilities
Checking out our upcoming events: https://www.niagaracollege.ca/culinaryarts/events/

Featured in

100 Toronto / Ontario Restaurants to Love This Valentine's Day

Benchmark

Make a reservation

About this restaurant

Additional information

Featured in

100 Toronto / Ontario Restaurants to Love This Valentine's Day

Menu

Bread Service

AdditionalCA$12.00

Appetizers

Little Gem Caesar Salad

Niagara Asparagus Bisque

Entrées

Steak & Frites

Atlantic Salmon

Fresh Fusilli Pasta (Vegetarian available)

Desserts

Milk Chocolate Mousse

Sweet Cherry Clafoutis

Benchmark is a "no-tipping" establishment

Benchmark Student Experience Award

What 1,419 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Loved For

Review summary

FAQs

How is Benchmark restaurant rated?

Is Benchmark currently accepting reservations?

Make a reservation

Additional information

Featured in

100 Toronto / Ontario Restaurants to Love This Valentine's Day