Skylon Tower, Niagara Falls

My boyfriend and I decided to splurge a little and do the early bird buffet for dinner. The price includes "free admission" to the observation deck. Below you'll find a list of pros and cons to our decision. PRO: Excellent view from the top, and the external elevators are glass so you get a great view going up! CONS: 1. Expsensive! The end bill (after taxes) for the two of us was $82 to eat from the "buffet." 2. Our waiter told us that tea wasn't included in the price, so all we had to drink was water since they didn't offer soda (tea was extra, and they charge for every refill). If I'm paying $35 for a buffet, it really should include drinks... it's not like tea is a high-end pricy beverage. 3. They call it a buffet, but maybe Canada has a different definition of buffet. It's more like "buffet-style" entrees (much like you'd see at a catered event). There were only a few main entree choices, and a very limited salad bar / chilled foods with no dressing available. The hot choices included: battered cod, sliced beef, BBQ ribs, baked chicken, rigatoni pasta, stir-fry noodles, steamed carrots and broccoli, and roasted potatoes. The desert bar was very limited as well. 4. The food was average at best (although my boyfriend, who worked in the food industry, said the food was horrible). I had a slice of rib-eye beef, which was very much undercooked and needed seasoning. The steamed vegetables were very dry and tasted old. The chicken was overcooked and tough. The cold shrimp in the salad bar weren't peeled. The pasta was good (but it's hard to screw up pasta), the fish was good and the potatoes were good. 5. We felt like we were treated like low-class patrons only because we didn't previously have a reservation. We showed up early when nobody was there, and were denied a seat by the window only because we hadn't made a reservation. The place was practically empty, and we paid the same price that everyone else did. 6. The seating is very cramped. Our table and the table next to us were maybe 1 foot apart, and whenever a waiter or other patron tried to pass, you were bumped into or had to move. 7. The service was poor. All our "waiter" did was refill our water and took 1 plate away (other staff removed the other plates). When we received our bill from the hostess, "Gratuities not included" was circled on the check, implying that we should tip, which I thought was rude and unprofessional. Also, the "chef" became defensive when I asked what each entree was (none of the hot or cold foods were labeled). He very curtly asked "which one," and gave basic answers like "fish" and "chicken." 8. Before you enter the elevator, they take a souvenir photo in front of a green screen to superimpose over a scenic background. The photos are 2 for $20, which would normally be fine, but considering we just paid over $80 for a few cheap entrees and water, the cost is ridiculous. 9. When we were leaving, the elevator attendant asked how our experience was. We told him it wasn't worth the money. He said that most people have the same complaints. So even the staff know that most patrons aren't pleased, and don't seem to do anything about it. 10. They do have an option to ride to the observation deck only for $11. While the view is nice, it's through gates and steel, so it's a tainted view (as compared to looking through glass). Also, the buffet floor doesn't rotate like the middle deck does, so if you're sat on the side away from the falls, your only view is of the city. The place is a HUGE tourist trap.

awesome.not one complaint.ive come for elegant dinners with girlfriends and now my wife for many years.even did xmas dinner when we vacationed from family!staff was quik ,efficient and set out some very nice food at 800ft in the air...cmon!i dont know how the complainers are doin it ,but you come up top on a friday or saturday and its a suited up and blackdress evening and the bottles flow at some gregarious tables at 200$ a pop and its a spectacle to be enjoyed for sure.we grab some steak yknow..and the pies not bad either.the reviews that say go to mc'ds ?..well thats where they usually go with the kids i suppose.for the rest of us that know too leave the kids at home when we dine at a 4 or 5 star resteraunt and dont feel out of our element.the food is fine ..the drink are poured as long as u like and the man at the piano plays it just rt like he has for yrs.go there and appreciate the architectureral rarity.no whining allowed. grandisle pat

We went out for a meal at the Skylon Restarant and it was superb. I was very impressed with our meals. It was fine dining but atmosphere was romantic yet casual. The kids loved their meals. Our server was great and very helpful with his suggestions. We ordered the lamb, steak and shrimps and the kids ordered pasta and chicken fingers. All nicely prepared and food was awesome. I really liked the view at night time. It is a rotating restaurant which takes a bit of getting used to but nothing that a Martini won't cure :) We will be coming back the next time we are in Niagara Falls. After dinner we all headed up to the observation deck and that was very cool. Great time, wonderful food and will do it again.

We ate in the revoloving restaurant. The food and drinks are HORRIBLE!!! Way overpriced which I wouldn't mind if your getting what you are paying for, but that isn't the case. So do yourself a favor and don't waste your time or money. If you want to see the view, just pay to take a ride to the observation level.

DON'T WASTE YOUR MONEY - even if you grab one of their coupons. Yes, the idea is cool - you sit in a restaurant high above the falls and slowly spin while you eat dinner. Only problem......the food is way over priced and really not all that good either. The service is not all that great either. Oh and by the way, there are two rows of seating - one right by the window (the good view) and another just inside of that (the one where you only get 1/2 of the view, but get a bonus of looking at other people eating their dinner). AND - making reservations ahead of time does not mean you get the good seating. So as I said, hit the McDonalds drive through and pay the small fee to go to the observation tower - it will cost a tenth of the price, you still get the view, and the meal will be about the same.

yes the price is pricey but worth it for the view, the waiter was super the food was great but pricey but we were on vacation and enjoyed it you only live once so enjoy

My wife and I attended the dinner buffet on our 40th anniv. and we were both pleased. I have never had a dinning experience where everything I tried on the buffet was delicious. We both were very pleased with the food, view and service. I would like to return soon!

We went one night to the observation deck with a $2 coupon. We enjoyed it, although a little overpriced and the place was kind of tacky and outdated. We decided to go back the next night for the buffet with our $5 off coupons. It was one of the worst dining experiences we ever had. We were completely ripped-off. Some of the food was not there that they adverstised. It was not cooked well. Not much variety - can't say there was anything that stood out that we enjoyed. Noticed one customer has a complaint about the food and staff was very annoyed with them, not apologetic at all. They probably hear complaints all the time!! Biggest warning--Do NOT order anything other than HOT tea, coffee and maybe water. Our soda and ice tea were nearly $7.00 each!! I can understand if they don't include other drinks in the buffet price (although they should) but that is so wrong to overcharge like that. Not to mention they were small glasses and we only got one refill. Dessert looked good but was not. Not sure how anyone can make such terrible desserts. Our bill for two was over $70. Want a good view and the BEST food? Go to the Keg Restaurant at the Embassy. We spent a little more there but had steaks. You can get other cheaper items. It was good food, service, and view. It was a nice casual atmosphere. We ate at the Skylon our last night and just put a damper on the evening. There are also other restaurants right near the falls that would probably be much better.

My husband and I came here for dinner on our vacation. We were very disappointed. I ordered grilled pork chops and the second piece was raw, I told the waiter and he took it back along with my husband's filet which was also rare (he ordered medium well). By the time he came back, i had lost my appetite. Nice view but i would not ever come back here to eat raw pork!!!

The Skylon Tower is not worth the money. I made the reservation online after looking at their information; while it seemed pricey, I thought it would be a great way to celebrate my husband and son’s birthday. On the online reservation, they ask it this was for a special occasion. So I said yes, for two birthdays. (Note we had 2 nine year old boys with us.) The food was horrible. We had a better meal at the Great Wolf Lodge for a lot less money. (My husband was able to get steak at the lodge all he got at Skylon was dry roast beef.) There was no food on the buffet that the children liked – except the jell-o at the dessert table. The restaurant looks like it has not been update since the late seventies and needed a good cleaning. As for advising Skylon online that the reason for our dinner was for my husband and son’s birthday they did nothing for them – not even a slice of cake with a candle. After dinner, we went to the top to take in the view. The view was nice and the boys really enjoyed that part of the evening. The ride down – they put so many people in the elevator that our boys where pushed to the back and could not see anything. I would not recommend anyone eat there – save your money. At best just, pay to take the elevator ride and then go out somewhere nice for dinner.