Stopped in this past Saturday, for their Gingerbread contest that is being held, the next few weekends. My main two reasons to stop in: Fun holiday, creative event, great way too see the school and celebrate holiday season. Next, i was curious too see what was left from Rainbow Mall...a few things were, glass elevator, and original stars. Beautiful, modernized location, with the bookstore, areas for public, private events, Barnes and Nobles store for students, and an area to buy student purchases bake goods. Purchased parmassen chive scone, and the hot chocolate cookie. Both were devine, flavorful, high quality. Sorry forgot pictures. read more

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I was previously here outside normal business hours for a local film shoot, but this weekend was the first time I had a chance to visit while the space was in operation. There's a restaurant we need to check out, a small Barnes and Noble, and a patisserie operated by students at the culinary institute. Beautiful space. Definite potential to help revitalize the Falls. read more

Niagara Falls Culinary Institute - Chocolate dipped Oreos and rice crispy treat - Cooking Schools Near Me - Niagara Falls, New York

Great time, learned new things and had fun with people we didn't know. We took a knife skills class, jerk chicken dinner. We learned how to cut a chicken leg, chop onion and basil. The process was great...we watched the culinary chef showed us how to prepare our meal and when we were ready went back to our stations to get started. We had our instruction and also a screen above to follow. 2 culinary chefs were around to guide us. Besides the chicken we made rice and beans as well as asparagus. The asparagus was my take away of learning. All in all it was a great night, great food and a lot of fun. When you are done cooking you go to the dining room to eat. Next time might have to do it with family and friends. read more

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For 2019, one of my resolutions is to step out of my comfort zone/routine and try something different, so tonight (01/25/2019), I took a cooking class at Niagara Falls Culinary Institute and had a fantastic time! Around the beginning of January 2019, I registered for a class about cooking the perfect steak. Come the week of the class, I did email a contact from the institute about paying for the class as you don't pay when you register. The women I spoke to was incredibly pleasant and easy to talk to and emailed the receipt as well as directions and tips to remember upon arriving at the institute. Parking was pretty straight-forward with plenty of spots within the Rainbow Ramp. The class itself was excellent! Our instructor, Chef Emily Lonigan and the gentlemen who assisted her (sorry, can't remember his name) were fantastic! Chef Emily did a great job explaining how we should approach preparing the meal, cooking and cutting techniques, talking about the ingredients, etc. She had the class come to the front of the kitchen and listen and watch her prepare and cook the meal right at the start of the class. Afterwards, we were set loose to prepare and cook the same meal. Emily and her assistant were walking around and providing any help and tips the entire time. It was really nice that we didn't have to wash our dishes afterward so big kudos to the staff! For this class, we pan-seared a ribeye, which was topped with a herbed compound butter (that we made), a homemade steak sauce with a side of hand-cut, Belgian-style french fries and sautéed broccolini. Once we plated everything, there were tables setup with salad and fresh-baked dinner rolls. Overall, this was a blast! It was a nice change of pace for a guy who rarely deviates from routine. I look forward to taking another class here soon. read more

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Amazing !!! Chef Emily and her students are amazing and talented ! Totally recommend any class she is teaching ! It is fun and you learn a lot. Where comfortable shoes as you are standing a while. Loved it ! read more

We took their public cooking class called Date Night: the perfect steak. We had so much fun learning the proper knife and prep skills while making these delicious steaks and sides. After you finish you get to sit down at a nice table with the other people in the class and enjoy your meal. You also get to take home your leftovers and the portions were very generous! This is a fun thing to do solo, as a couple, or a whole group. read more

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Very nice what they are doing in Niagara Falls. Service was great and food was good. Great prices. All run by students and the university. They do lunch and have kids meals as well. I went to the CIA and ate at the restaurants there and the experience is similar (CIA is more expensive and higher end). A nice secret in Niagara Falls! Can't wait to go again!!! read more

During the Holidays the Culinary Institute showcases a huge Gingerbread House. It is amazing to see. This coincides with the City of Niagara Falls' Jingle Falls Celebrations which takes place on Saturdays during December. I was pleasantly surprised to find the Buffalo Niagara Concert Band performing in the Institute when I went to see the gingerbread house, adding to the experience. The NCCC students build the gingerbread house making all the parts then decorating with frosting. It's so beautiful and different every year. This year they have a "Reindeer Games" house with dominoes, monopoly with NF street names of course, sorry and other classic children's games in the design. The smell is wonderfully sweet. It creates a nice backdrop for holiday photos. It is worth stopping in to see...bring the kids, grandma....anyone would enjoy this delight. read more

Niagara Falls Culinary Institute - Reindeer Games House - Cooking Schools Near Me - Niagara Falls, New York

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This place is incredible. I've been for a few things. The ginger bread house. The wine tasting. The cooking school. All an awesome experience! I can't wait to return. read more

Niagara Falls Culinary Institute - Cooking Schools Near Me - Niagara Falls, New York

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This review is for one of their non-credit cooking classes. My husband and I went on Valentine's Day for the Surf and Turf cooking class from 5pm-8pm. The menu was pan seared steak, grilled shrimp, grilled asparagus, roasted potatoes and chocolate truffles. When we arrived, everything was already set up for us at a station. The instructions were listed simply on a tv above us and then there was an instructor led demo of various steps. The instructor and her assistant were very nice and friendly, but the instructor led portion went WAY to fast, which might be because she normally teaches culinary students and not average home cooks. We broke and then did a few of the steps on our own and then went back to a nother mini instruction. Again, the instruction was quite fast and many of us had follow up questions back at our stations, which was hard, because the instructors were not always available to help. It was oddly stressful. We also were all looking for various pots and pans or salt and pepper with little help. BUT, we soldiered on an managed to put out a VERY yummy meal and learned a few good tips. Once we made our dinner, we ate it in the hallway with the other couples, which was strange because it was supposed to be more romantic but I understand the space limitation. A few people at my table inquired about wine (which was mentioned in the class description) but were told they needed to purchase it before the class started which was NOT mentioned. Several of the couples were very unhappy about it. We also personally had an issue with out dessert, our cooler didn't work, so while we were waiting.... our truffles melted. It was disappointing and the instructors didn't seem to concerned. Regardless, we made the best of it and tried to fix them. All in all, it was a fun date night, but I would love to see some more attention to detail when we go back (especially after how much we paid). We could have had a less stressful meal for the same price had we gone out to eat. read more

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We have gone to the pastry shop here a couple of times, and it never disappoints! Most recently we came for the Gingerbread Wonderland Exhibit with our son. It was an amazing display, and we were truly blown away by the attention to detail. On the way out we purchased a couple of treats to both- chocolate ganache topped cheesecake, and a peppermint mocha cream puff. Both were absolutely delightful. I feel the prices are very, very reasonable for the quality of what you are getting. I believe it was around $6.50 for the two desserts to go. I'm really looking forward to trying their restaurant, Savor next! read more

Niagara Falls Culinary Institute - Part of the Gingerbread Wonderland display - Cooking Schools Near Me - Niagara Falls, New York

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Adult evening classes at the Niagara Culinary institute are amazing! No matter what level of cook you are, you will always learn something! The Dinner courses are fun and everyone makes their own meal/ food item! The macaron Class was difficult, but the instructors really helped to insure everyone could do it! They have gift certificates for classes which makes a great gift for that hard buy for person! I will be back for sure. read more

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This is a super neat place, and I love the concept and addition to Niagara Falls. The institute lies on Old Falls street and contains a couple of student run food establishments including the Pasterie (spelling?) and their restaurant with some fancy named but not priced foods to try. The college is run through SUNY College system and offers programs for aspiring chefs, pastery artists, and everything cooking related between a future in the food industry! They also have cooking classes all the time available for the general public. They also have a wine bar! How cool! I'll be back to try a class and a glass of wine sometime, check it out it's worth a visit if you're in the area. read more

This place is well beyond our expectations! If you're anywhere near Niagara Falls, you must visit. Friendly students, timely staff, accommodating chefs and overall INCREDIBLE! Reservations necessary. read more

This is one of the coolest places I've ever been. We sat at the chefs table and were able to watch all of what happened behind the scenes. It was so cool...like being in kitchen stadium during an iron chef showdown. We came in a group and ordered a variety of things off the menu. Everything was so delicious, but let's just focus on those crab cakes! There was hardly any filler. The crab meat was well packed and yet the crab cake was light and so fresh! The dessert was heavenly! The chocolate was so rich and decadent. The new age dehydrated fruits were so cool! Since they change their menu all the time, every time you come, it'll be an adventure for your palate. You can tell everyone loves what they do. Food here is something of an art form. Come. Marvel at the artists as they create your meal. read more

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Easy 5 stars for the food alone, the staff just push that over the edge. I can't say it enough, if you are in Niagara Falls, you HAVE TO eat here. Definitely a must read more

What a gem for the area. In a repurposed mall, they have kitchens, classrooms, bookstore, and three restaurants. First week of June, so the kids were gone, but the able staff, both on the floor and in the kitchen, did their thing admirably. The menus is varied, well done, and nice pricing. Check it out when you're in the area. Also checkout their bookstore! read more

Visited the restaurant Savoy after visiting the falls. Have been to culinary schools in other states and have been always able to get a top notch meal for a good price (cooked by students). Well, while the food was really good, the price is not representive of a culinary school. Each entree is $30+, apps $8+, and drinks $8+. Service: was good but slow. You get 2 waiters per table which is nice, however, they were limited on how fast the food came out. Food: i ordered the roasted duck with goat cheese mashed potatoes. It was to die for! The duck was so tender and juicy and mashed potatoes held its own as well. The flavors were on ppint and blended well together. I was very impressed with the entree. Husband ordered a thai dish. Whil he said it was "ok", it was definitely near the flavors of thai food or any asian food. He said the pork belly that was in the dish was good, however, the noodles tasted like Raman noodles lol. The dinner came with didferent types of bread and butter which was nice. They had this strawberry butter that was really good. We also ordered the calamari as a app for $9, it was good but small. The portion size was very underwhelming. Ambiance: this is definitely a romatic place, really good for a date night. After five the lights are down low and there are candles, and you can see into the kitchen which is really cool! Overall, it was a nice experience. Definitely overpriced for a culinary school but i would visit again if we are in the area. read more

Niagara Falls Culinary Institute - Roasted duck! To die for! - Cooking Schools Near Me - Niagara Falls, New York

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Update: We recently visited Savor before they their temporarily closed due to the pandemic. They've upped their game considerably when it comes to their food and service, from their bread served with gourmet butter to their Asian pear arugula salad made with local pears. The broccoli pizza was delicious and the $15 price fixe lunch special was a deal. COVID-19 safety protocols were followed to a "T": tables were very far apart and all staff wore masks. Can't wait until Savor reopens in 2021! read more

Was up there the weekend of June 8 through the 10th 2018. Made 830 pm reservations and the people at our table, who had been there at 5 pm were still sitting. When we got there. After a 25 minute wait the host offered all of us (5 people) free drinks from the bar. At 905 we sat down. Our waiter Jared was fun, upbeat and engaging. Everything was great food, drinks, wine that we booked a reservation for the next night and asked for the same waiter. And had another great experience although this time our table was waiting for us. By the way those people who were there from 5pm left about ten minutes before we did that night. They were there until 10:20!!! read more

This review is for Savor located inside the Niagara Falls Culinary Institute, I was able to get last minute reservations for my birthday dinner. The serving and food preparation is all performed by culinary institute students. Our server was a pastry chef. He was wonderful, explained all the specials and answered any questions we had about items on the menu. We ordered the Hearth bruschetta, lobster roll, margarita pizza, mexican gelato sandwich, warm mixed berry crostata and a bottle of Riesling. The food was absolutely delicious, portions are small and expensive but it was totally worth it for my special day. This is one of The Niagara Falls restaurants I would return to again just for the overall experience, food and decor. FYI: The mexican gelato sandwich is a must try! read more

Standing proudly amid the tourist section of Niagara Falls and just about a block from the American Falls Park is the Niagara Falls Culinary Institute. I bring this unusual location to your attention because it breaks the mold of learning institutions and defies the local "we're never going to see you again" business model that is so prevalent near the Rainbow Bridge. What makes this culinary institute so unique is that it is run by students under the tutelage of some very excellent instructors and executive chefs. It provides real life experiences in the culinary field so that these students - as they are launched - already have a good sense of what the real world (vs. the textbook world) is like. What that means for you and I is actually pretty wonderful. It means excellent service, good portions, fair pricing and equally great flavor. Here's the great news - it's open to the public. And why not? It wouldn't be adequate training for these future culinary stars if they didn't have a taste of reality. What's inside the box? When you enter the institute you'll notice a beautiful lobby and casual dining area off of which are: Savor - an intimate dining restaurant The Old Falls Street Deli - for casual lunch or dinner as well as take out. La Patisserie - fresh (phenomenal) baked goods and coffee The Wine Boutique - NY State and Niagara Wine offerings and wine trail tours Atop the great flavors and really excellent service are very reasonable prices. If you want to support the students at the institute - come check it out. You, your palate, and your wallet - won't be disappointed. read more

This review is for La Patisserie, the small cafe/pastry shop located inside the NFCI. So many amazing choices! I've been looking for a good pastry shop recently, and this one definitely hit the spot. I had a wonderful walnut, white chocolate chip blondie. They had many delicious looking options - from salted caramel tarts to lemon bars with torched marshmallows. Yum! They also serve gelato. Didn't get a chance to try that, but maybe when I'm back with family! read more

Niagara Falls Culinary Institute - So many tasty options at La Patisserie! - Cooking Schools Near Me - Niagara Falls, New York

This place is fun! You can actually walk around and check everything out. Ask any of the students about any aspect and they will happily explain things to you. We dined at Savor and our meal was phenomenal. The tomato soup.......it wasn't just tomato soup. It was heaven! The spaghetti alla carbonnara was to die for. I'm not normally a big fan of that dish but DAMN! It was good. The portion was perfect for a rich but delicious dish. The restaurant does not serve dessert so they sent us across the hall to the patisserie where we spent forever and three days trying to decide what to eat without exploding. They had petit fours, cakes, candies, cookies, and even gelato. I partook in some tasty gelato and cookies. NOM We then checked out the wine store where you can also buy wines by the glass. Personally, I thought it was rather pricey for New York State wines that are cheaper elsewhere. We also checked out the campus bookstore which had a lot of fun kitchen gadgets, cookbooks, and the like. It was really cool and one of the few things I enjoyed about Niagara Falls. BTW, if you dine at Savor get a reservation for the Chef Table were you can get in on the action and see what they do up close. read more

I came here for a late lunch after visiting the US side of Niagara Falls. The facility is very modern and clean. Their menus change on a regular basis because it is a culinary school. First we stopped by the sit-down restaurant they have there. I had ordered their sausage sandwich, which was very delicious. Home seasoned sausage meat with grilled peppers, provolone cheese, on a warm, soft brioche bread. Probably one of the best sandwiches I've had in a long time. Afterwards, stopped by their bakery. We purchased their peanut butter roll and salted caramel bar. The peanut butter roll was essentially a swiss roll with peanut butter taste. It was dry and not worth $3. The salted caramel bar however was totally worth it. They use honey instead of sugar to make the caramel so the sweetness isn't overwhelming. I would have gone back to buy more but alas we had already purchased the last one. I'm excited to go back in the future to see what dishes they'll be offering with the changing seasons. Definitely worth stopping by. read more

Lots of management confusion, they can't agree on anything, so nothing gets done. They keep running out of bare essentials, like fruit! So these are the low to no standards they teach their students. This is what they are learning! Unbelievable! So the few regular or repeat customers they have are forced to go elsewhere. It's very sad and disappointing. read more

We went to the bakery here and the food was amazing. We ordered two cookies and two coffees and the girl made us vanilla lattes they were quite good. The people who work in the bakery are always super nice. The deli is amazing too I've had their soups before. I haven't had a chance to eat at savor yet for a meal but I did go to a party there and it was quite nice inside. I love this place and I think it's a Gem in Niagara Falls!!! read more

This review is for Savor, which lives in the NFCI. I went there on a friend's recommendation. Ate at the bar. Great place. Selection of WNY beers was outstanding. I also had a chance to try their own wine, a nice Reisling that was reminiscent more of its German counterparts rather than what's been coming out of the Finger Lakes & the Niagara region. The food was outstanding - beautifully presented and very tasty. I had the salt & vinegar ribs with chimichurri, along with an appetizer of spring salad. Along with the friendly staff, this was a superb dining experience. Definitely will come back and work my way through the menu. read more

Wow! Amazing food! I had the scallops and lovely NY Red wine with a flourless chocolate cake that was to die for. Seems a bit odd from the outside, but this is a reasonably priced spot for a $$$$ meal. If you're in the area don't worry about your clothes and go have a top notch experience. Sophisticated food at a nominal fee! read more

Visited Niagara Falls for the day. Spent our lunch with Culinary Academy. The food was fantastic. Service was top notch! Everything was perfect. Great food selection, prices were the best in the area. Don't miss this experience. A short walk from the 1st parking lot. They have 5 stars! Now you know why! A well kept secret. read more

Nice restaurant in the heart of Niagara Falls. Nice outdoor seating. This is a great place to come for a gourmet meal for a decent price. That is why I like going to culinary schools to eat. They also have Barnes and Noble with books dedicated to cooking and a wine boutique with local wines including one that they bottle. I definitely recommend this place. read more

We visited the culinary institute last weekend for the Gingerbread Workshop. There were tons of activities for the kids like writing a letter to Santa, crafts, balloon animals, cookie decorating and face painting. What was nice was you purchased tickets to only do the events you wanted to, so you didn't have to spend a fortune. This runs all of December and I would recommend it to everyone. There is a gingerbread house you can walk through with Santa waiting to take a picture with you! read more

Loved the food! Loved the students! Very poliet and very welcoming! Defiantly a 5 star place

As one would expect food was excellent But I came with a tour .We were packed in like sardines our bodies actually touched at the tables. Service was awful each "table" Had 20 or so people and we had 2 waiters Drinks came or not, no offer of refills coffee came only after several requests after desert was eaten . English was the second language for our waiter that had a hard time figuring out things liked"doggy bag/box requests .. My take away is do not go with a group uncomfortable seating and Very slow service read more

The only place near Niagara Falls worth eating at! The food was delicious. The portions were large. The prices were reasonable. A gem in the midst of chain restaurants and pizza joints. read more

Do not miss this for the best meal you can have in the area. Food is fantastic. The bread dipping sauce was delicious. The staff is the best. Well worth the time and money. read more

I can not stress just how much my boyfriend and I loved this restaurant. We drove six hours to go see the falls, and we arrived at around 7 at night. We were starving after only having eaten fast food and candy bars all day. We were staying in the Quality Hotel and Suites and sick of driving around, so we looked for restaurants nearby and by sheer luck happened to be within a hundred feet of the Culinary Institute. We both loved the fact that the students actually get the chance to cook in a profession restaurant while attending school, and because of our love of the culinary arts, we could not pass up the opportunity to dine here. Even from the outside you can tell what a lovely restaurant this is, we entered and the hostess was friendly and nice, our waitress, Desiree, skillfully guided us towards the specials for the night and I ordered the filet mignon while my boyfriend ordered the duck. We have both eaten at wonderful, upscale, expensive restaurants, but the meal here was so delicious that we considered moving to Niagara and eating there every night. We also ordered two fabulous Creme Brulees and a plate of cookies, which did not last the night. Shortly after we finished raving to one another about how fabulous everything was, the atmosphere, the price, and of, course, the food, we happened to catch the eye of the manager, who happens to be the mixology teacher at the school, we then talked to for about 10 minutes. When we voiced our concerns about going to the falls afterwards, in fear of them being a disappointment after the meal, he gave us great advice on where to go and the best places to see the Falls. All in all it was a fantastic experience and we cannot wait to go again. read more