Everything about this was excellent...til it wasn't. Overall, our experience was positive. Food was (for the most part) good and it was a nice atmosphere. First disappointment was that entrees come with a choice of soup or salad. It was Caesar salad or tomato soup- both of which contained dairy so I couldn't have either and was not offered another option. The salmon was excellent but 2 bites in I realized the rice was partly crunchy. Told the server and was not offered a new portion or another option. Then coffee comes and upon pouring the cream in, it immediately separated. Was at least brought another cup. Then the bill comes and NOTHING was comped. Now, any one of these experiences would have perhaps been a minor inconvenience but you add up all three and I would have minimally appreciated an $8 dessert comped on an almost $200 bill. Would probably not be back. read more

See all

First time there....no idea why we never went there before. It was awesome!!! Went on a Monday night...who would have thought they would be open. The food was awesome, bartender and waitress were incredible. Atmosphere was top notch beautiful place. Go there. read more

Unprofessional staff, terrible food. Chef passed away a year ago and they have yet to hire a new one. But they kept their high prices. $48 steak I can guarantee will be cooked wrong. Sad to see this place going down the drain. Always empty. read more

While the service was slow the most recent night we went, usually it is very good. The food is wonderful; it's very upscale for small town NY. We have enjoyed drinks there many times as well, and they are consistently good. read more

Finding this restaurant, priceless! My boyfriend and I along with my best friend and her boyfriend came here for dinner this past Saturday night for dinner and we couldn't be happier with having done it. The whole experience from beginning to end was awesome. Lexi ( I hope I'm spelling her name correctly) was great. Chef John came to our table to introduce himself and to let us know what his specials were. And he is a riot. super funny and very friendly. Everyone loved what they ordered. We all got desert. Listen I'm horrible at this kinda stuff. I am just gonna say ...go and do not walk to this restaurant. You will regret NOT going if you don't!! I HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!!! read more

Fantastic French Restaurant! We'll start off by saying we were guests of the inn and had heard amazing things beforehand concerning the restaurant, and executive chef John Luciano. It was all that we heard and more. Unassuming street entrance at the Canal Place building, inside was gorgeous, A beautifully mirrored/mosaic lighted bar was the first thing that greeted us; we chose to eat outside on the patio simply because the weather was perfect. The inside was beautiful; the tables set perfectly. The menu was quite extensive for a small specific restaurant. it was hard to choose not because of so many options, but the creativity and potential of those options. If you're a foodie, this is a place you do not want to miss. Chef John and his staff are friendly, funny, professional and trained. Shout out to "Little Kara" who was our server. I forget the bartender's name but his drinks were superbly crafted. OK, now for the dishes we chose. Photos and descriptions below. Beet salad with fig-balsamic reduction Calamari Bluefin Tuna special with roasted corn pico de gallo and rice with fresh garden peas Homemade ravioli STUFFED with fresh coldwater lobster and topped with beurre blanc. Chef John LOVES to cook, and he loves to share his passion. He was so gracious to us. I tell no lies - best meal I've had in 52 years, and yes we eat everywhere and anywhere. If you are visiting Little Falls, Canal Side Inn MUST be on your dinner list! read more

See all

If you're in Little Falls, New York, this restaurant is a must try. The food is absolutely amazing. Bartenders and servers are great and to top it off. The chef came out to talk to us and was amazing as well. read more

Canal Side Inn - Restaurant - Meatloaf and fillet sandwich - French Near Me - Little Falls, New York

See all

Great meal and experience We were at Canal Side for a planned-ahead dinner (like an in-house catered thing) for my brother's wake. :-( We showed up with about 10 people more than the Chef was expecting. He was not phased a bit. Before long they had another table and all the fine accouterments out for the additional people. The food was outstanding (especially the avocado-based chocolate mousse). Chef John is a gem of a guy and you can tell he puts lots of love into his creations (pppssss, that is the secret to the most excellent food, I swear, try it). read more

Located just north of Cooperstown in the amazing town of Little Falls in Upstate NY, this place was definitely a surprise gem. Great appetizers, full bar and a diverse menu to choose your entree. The interior is simple and decorated nicely with unique area paintings. The staff were amazing attentive, keeping the appetizers and drinks coming. Chef John Luciano, with his larger-than-life and upbeat personality came out to visit with us on several occasions to make sure everything was good. Definitely do yourself a favor and visit this place if you're in the area! Then take a walk around the river district when you're done...beautiful surroundings. read more

See all

We recently held a dinner for family after our son's funeral. More people attended than we anticipated and the staff and Chef John couldn't have been more accommodating. The buffet was "over the top", wait staff were friendly and very efficient. Chef John and his staff are the very best. We highly recommend Canal Side. Definitely will be back! read more

One of my favorite restaurant. Chef John is amazing, staff fantastic and the food is outstanding!! I have no problem at all eating gluten free here. Highly recommend this for a delicious fun evening. read more

Premiere dining experience in small town USA. Canal Side Inn Restaurant is a hidden gem in Little Falls, NY. Not necessarily hard to get to, just hidden. But it's well worth the time if you're looking for fancy dining in a not so fancy atmosphere. Take heart the dining area is pleasant but not overly elegant, but the food makes up for it. Chef John is a true culinary artist with a big personality. Of course, High end meals come with a high end price tag. If you are celebrating something special where the food is meant to impress, I suggest this little hidden spot of fine dining for those special occasions. read more

Somehow had never been prior to a few days ago and I can't stop thinking about it. My husband and I both ordered the surf and turf special and it was filet in puff pastry and he had a bite before me and I looked at him and asked what was wrong... I found out when I had my first bite and teared up with joy. This meal brought us both the rarest of events- tears of delicious joy. I can't stop thinking about it. My only advice is- don't plan on sharing anything because you just won't want to once you've had a bite. Also the staff was friendly and the whole experience was just great. I'll be daydreaming about this meal until I can get back again. read more

We had the nicest most helpful server (who used to live in France). The chef came to our table upon threat of being discovered in the "witness protection program" where he was seeking shelter from being discovered by the Northern Portuguese ReFried Calamarisistance Coalition. The shrimp and calamari appetizers were like aphrodisiacs for the NPRC soldiers who happened to stop in Little Falls and sat at our table for a few lascivious moments. The lamb/beef/andoulli sausage meatloaf was delish, but nothing can compare to the chocolate espresso martinis we had for dessert. We tried to ask the bartender what manner of heavenly chocolate graced the rim of our martini glasses. He said only: "Go in peace, semper Fi, and it was northern Portuguese ganache." read more

Had a lovely evening for our anniversary. Restaurant was very busy, but staff was attentive and friendly. Food was delicious. read more

Canal Side Inn - Restaurant - Seafood casserole special. Oh so good. - French Near Me - Little Falls, New York

Had a Monday memorial service so finding a place for a private luncheon was tough because most places are closed. Chef John came through and the twenty of us did a buffet and it was spectacular. Fantastic service, terrific entrées and great atmosphere. John is a wonderful host and everyone thought he was terrific and engaging. My only complaint is that we live in Albany and we wish the restaurant was closer- we'd be regulars! read more

Knowing better than to eat our dinner at the same place adjacent to the ticket booth & souvenir shop, I made reservations for dinner after a lovely cruise on the Erie Canal at this restaurant with good reviews. The staff was warm and friendly, attentive to nearly a fault. The food was very good, with minor exceptions. Nobody gets fried calamari right, and my Beloved's was a bit uneven. The items we ordered, the stuffed fish fillet and the chicken croquettes, we very tasty. I could taste the enhanced flavor of the roasted chicken. My Beloved's fillet seemed stuffed with real crab meat. Desserts included cheesecake and mousse, both great, and we left perfectly full and not bloated. My only suggestion might be to offer a few more non-alcoholic entrees. The myth that all the alcohol burns off could be detrimental to some. We know better. Overall, a great experience! We look forward to exploring more of Little Falls soon! read more

Ok, but I not the same as the original owner. Been going there for 30 years and disappointed with new ownership. Gone are the real silver and beautiful plates. Service was very good but food very average. Pretty decent wine list. Filet was good portion but dry with 3 little carrot pieces and dry mashed potatoes. Brought two little bread pieces the sized of half dollars that were reheated. Had to ask for more. Fresh bread doesn't seem like too much to provide. Looks like they've gone the efficiency route. Cesar salad was soggy and soaked through with dressing. This is not that difficult. High expectations, yes when you spend almost $200 for two. read more

I don't recommend this restaurant. The food is subpar and way too overpriced. It pretends to be fine dining but the chef isn't really a chef. He shops at the local Price Shopper getting premade food. read more

Excellent in every way! Ambience, cocktails, absolutely delicious food, excellent service. We drive an hour and a half for the experience and we do this multiple times throughout the year. read more

Friends from Albany invited my wife and me for dinner to celebrate my birthday. Little Falls is halfway between our homes, and the restaurant has outside dining making it a a good Covid option for us. Our waiter was attentive. The outside patio is very pleasant. The wine list is ample and fairly and accessibly priced. We had a Ferrari-Carano fume blanc for $38. The menu is diverse with choices for all palates. Our meal was excellent on the whole. The chef, John Luciano, is mega-outgoing. He edges close to the line of being too interactive, but his attention was appreciated and added to the celebratory nature of the dinner. We had a range of apps (great pate and very nice calamari) and entrees (poultry, fish, lamb and beef). Chef John talked two of us into having multiple smaller sized portions of several main courses. All were extremely well prepared with two exceptions. My mini lamb chop and my host's prime rib were both supposed to be medium rare. Neither were, instead they were medium. Had they been our sole entree I'd have sent them back but as a part of a sampler and given they tasted just fine we didn't complain (though I rated them 4 vs. 5 stars for this reason). Desserts are traditional and very delicious. It's a fine place to dine with super pleasant staff and very good food. Brilliant for Central New York after all. read more

Canal Side Inn - Restaurant - Oso buco, lamb and "souped-up" meatloaf sampler - French Near Me - Little Falls, New York

I'll start with saying that prior experiences there have been great and that the unexpected death of a great chef can cause an upheaval. That said, it's expected that there will be uneven food and service performances. The service was consistent, even, drinks were good, no issues with service or ambience, still a delightful spot to dine.... The food, an appetizer of calamari was inedible, had to be sent back. While told there was no meat in the corn chowder, it definitely had bacon. The entrees the house special was an encrusted haddock which in and of itself was good, the accompanying rice was mushy, tasteless, and lukewarm at best. The grouper was tasty, but shrimp overcooked and the portion did not meet the price point. An accompanying couscous lacked flavor and was also lukewarm at best. I have no issues with the rest of the dessert, drinks, etc. now for three people, one appetizer, two entrees, one which was split, 4 drinks, and one dessert the bill was $178 and change. Way to much for the food served. I'll come back because I'm certain the ship will be righted and small issues fixed, but you never get better unless you know what's wrong. read more

Traveled to Little Falls for dinner. Excellent experience. Menu had great selections as well as multiple specials. Service was very attentive. The food was outstanding for our party of 6. The chef visited our table and was friendly and genuinely interested in our experience. Highly recommend! read more

Canal Side Inn - Restaurant - Tuna special - French Near Me - Little Falls, New York

Wow, what a treat! Just a half an hour out of Cooperstown and it was one of the most beautiful drives through dairy farms & rolling green hills. It's in Little Falls--a history-filled town with stone building, a lovely Main street, canal & river. Go early & wander about. Then enjoy the fabulous food--elegant menu, delicious desserts, great service & welcoming chef. Really delicious. Took friends who had come to the Glimmerglass Opera for 30 years & had never known about this place. They were thrilled. read more

Canal Side Inn - Restaurant - Delicious Maple bread pudding $ cheesecake - French Near Me - Little Falls, New York

See all

Food was wonderful and great service! Chef was awesome and accommodated two kids! Def recommend.

A not-to-be-missed experience and an unexpected surprise. Our family was visiting for a college graduation in the area and we were treated to a most memorable meal and a unique dining experience. The executive chef - part artist, part force of nature - and the staff made it their personal mission to ensure that we were treated not only to an excellent meal, but even more importantly, like family. The owner of the restaurant visited every table with a friendly ease and the same concern that we were thoroughly enjoying our evening. The meals were prepared in the classic French style, but with the chef's particular added touches to reflect the locale. Thanks again for a great time! read more

We absolutely love the Canal Side Inn. We celebrated a few weeks ago for 2 birthdays and a visit from our son from out of town. We were given a warm greeting upon entering. The meals were incredible. Lobster ravioli was to die for, steak cooked to perfection. A very nice wine list. Chef John always makes a point to come to everyone's table. The birthday boys were given a complimentary desserts. All the meals were beautifully plated. Thank you Chef John for giving Little Falls such a beautiful restaurant. read more

In town for business, this place was recommended for "fine French cuisine." I will agree with that! I had steak tartufa (NY strip with porcini and truffle sauce, zucchini and carrots, roast potatoes, beets) which came with a very nice spinach bisque and a Caesar salad. All of the food was very nice and service was friendly. Cons: It reminded me of eating at my grandmother's house (or a nursing home)! I'm pretty sure I was the youngest person in the place by about thirty years. The decor is very 1980 - fake flowers, wood panel, patterned China - and It was very dark in the dining room. Overall - a nice place to eat a fancy dinner, just don't expect a modern menu or modern dining room. Friendly folks, exceptional soup. read more

Canal Side Inn - Restaurant - French Near Me - Little Falls, New York

We had a lovely time in Little Falls, a beautiful place on the Erie Canal at Lock 17. We decided to book a room, dine at the Canal Side restaurant, and walk around to enjoy the scenery. The restaurant is one I went to years ago with my parents, an incredible dining experience. Today, they have kept the upscale dinner menu, but they do not have the staff to support it. It would do them well to scale back the offerings, perfect them, and lower the prices to meet offerings. They are really good people, generous and accommodating. I wish them all good things in the future, and really hope they will reassess their menu, scale it back, and focus on cooking a few great things, farm to table. read more

Food and service were awesome in this gem of a restaurant in Little Falls which was close to the marina we were staying at. The calamari appetizer was the best calamari I ever tasted.My haddock was cooked perfectly and food presentation for whole table was exceptional. They have great outdoor seating. Chef John who takes great pride in his creative work was both welcoming and entertaining. read more

The food was absolutely amazing. Drinks were great. The service not so much. We were there for an hour and half and all we had was bread even though we had ordered an appetizer and entrees all at the same time. It's like they stuck us in the corner and forgot about us which is crazy because we were on of maybe 3 tables. When you go to one of these restaurants, you expect a certain level of service to go along with the prices that you are paying for the food and it just wasn't up to par. The server was nice and attentive when he was there, he just wasn't there very often. read more

What a treat! I was very lucky to visit this restaurant as the chef was technically "on vaca" but was present and very welcoming as well as the staff! Great meal and ambiance! Can't wait to return! read more

I worked here for 6 years with Chef James. I started as a bus girl and ended with his last year serving as a waitress. I really love that the new chef includes some of the original items James had on his menu for years; it shows the tradition that has followed throughout the years. They updated the inside and it's a very good atmosphere. Staff are extremely friendly and knowledgeable about the menu and their specials they serve. I am no longer a staff but i still enjoy coming here :) the same customers have been coming for 15+ years and if that doesn't say something I'm not sure what does! A great place in Little Falls to check out. Even the bar menu is great. read more

No wait! Where am I? We had an amazing dinner @ Canal Side and I am not kidding Reasonably price wine list is a great thing to see nowadays. Plenty of wines below $40 bucks The food.....spectacular We started with an AMAZING crab cake that looked like it was on the cover of Bon Appetit and the taste,texture was PERFECTION. Clam chowder was a little flat and needed some salt and pepper and the Caesar salad was robust and bright. Stuffed poblano was spicy and delish. The salmon was perfect and the rice side was exotic and very flavorful read more

What a great experience. One of the best meals I've had in a long time. Worth the hour drive for us to come again and again. The waitstaff is very friendly and attentive. The chef/owner is courteous, friendly and visits the tables...haven't seen that in a long time. It's been a long time since I've been to a restaurant with the customer service and quality the Canal Side offers. Worth the trip again and again. read more

Drinks and food....perfect! The chef/owner was wicked friendly and welcoming! Will be back soon!

This place is outstanding. The homemade meatloaf is off the charts!! Definitely the best restaurant in the area of Utica and surrounding area!! Also very clean. The bar is sooo cozy! I went there years ago,but it's a whole new menu now. Hope these people keep it going this way!! Great improvements overall. read more

Fabulous service and great food. When you go out to a restaurant, there are three things that you look for: ambience, service and quality of food / drinks. All three are excellent at this restaurant. The bartender here has a vast knowledge of libations. The Chef comes to your table and helps you customize your order and helps you select the right pairing of drinks with your meal. The service folks are impeccable. read more

Had a fabulous dinner for my Dads 92 birthday. The food was amazing. The staff very attentive. And the chef was so engaging and friendly. He's a very creative chef I highly recommend this place for a drink at the bar and then a fabulous dinner read more

Really enjoyed our meal. My husband had the meatloaf - it's a must try! Very delicious. I had the filet grinder - very tasty! Full bar with an expert bartender. Would highly recommend! read more