Canal Side Inn

The Canal Side Inn is lovely. It would get 5 stars except for the stairs (no fault of theirs, it is an older building) The room was clean and spacious. Had everything we needed for our stay. Great Location, close to town and the canal. For those having difficulty walking, the stairs are steep and narrow.

Had my daughters baby shower there yesterday! Food was beyond spectacular! Atmosphere and ambiance was awesome! Staff was fantastic and engaging loved them them all! Highly recommend the Canal Side for any event and the dinners there are delicious as well- the lobster ravioli—-YUM!

Chef John cares about his food and even more, cares about the customer. He had something specially prepared for my mother who was delicate having just left the hospital. It was a return visit for us and the food was superb. The servers are friendly and attentive and EVERYONE makes sure your dining experience is the best ever. What a gem of a restaurant not to be missed!

This place is an absolute gem! The food is superb! Staff is friendly and professional, casual atmosphere. The executive chef is attentive, visit each table to insure everyone is satisfied. He's also very entertaining, and clearly loves his work. Located right off the NY Thruway. We'll be back! My advice: Go There!!

Visited here during a trip south on the Erie Canal. Chef and Owner John was great. His evening specials were excellent. Between three of us, we enjoyed them all. The Tomahawk steak at 32 oz was out of this world. The Grill Chilean sea bass was perfect as was his Seafood Medley. Desserts were scrumptious. Service was impeccable. It was all topped off by Chef John giving us a ride back to our boat in his Dodge Charger. Thanks XL CHEF for a memorable night !!

Canal Side Inn is a perfect place to stay while traveling the Erie Canal Rail Trail by bike. It's close to the path in this quaint town of Little Falls. The room was a suite with two large rooms and a large bathroom. Very comfortable accommodations especially after a full day of riding. We would highly recommend this Inn! I wish the dining room was open, but it was closed on Sunday.

Nine weary Erie Canal riders were treated to a wonderful repast with verve, loca vore, and Chef John’s larger-than-life presence & presentation. Definitely STOP here for bistro bests, lovely staff and ambiance!

We ate at the Canal Side Inn, and stayed upstairs in the Inn. The restaurant was excellent. The food is a fresh take on French favorites, deliciously updated to be lighter and prepared to reflect local, farm fresh ingredients. The Chef was friendly, welcoming and came to our table personally to talk about the specials, as well as to check on the food. Service was beyond high quality, attentive, friendly, timely and helpful. The wine list was very good for a small town and a locally oriented restaurant. There were selections from France, Italy, Argentina and Chile, as well as the usual suspects from California. Wines by the glasses were affordable but did not sacrifice quality for price. A Cesar salad had the best Cesar dressing we have ever had. The Coq Au Vin was tender and rich but light. The Blue Crab Stuffed Haddock Eglefin was tender and fresh, with a bright lemon sauces, and with just enough heat to play up the crab stuffing. A desert cheesecake was a stand out. We enjoyed our stay at the Inn as well. Very clean, comfortable bed, right above the restaurant and yet very quiet and quaint. Little Falls is a quaint, history filled little town. No pretense, no attitude, just charm and welcoming folks. I highly recommend!

I never would have thought such amazing food and service was so close by. Chef John makes this place what it is as well as the other staff members. Everything I tasted had so many levels of flavor and there was a great variety to choose from. I’ve never had an experience where the chef himself announced the specials and interacted with each table, and it added so much to the experience. Definitely try the crème brûlée for dessert because it will not disappoint. As a matter of fact, I don’t think anything on the menu could disappoint. I will definitely return.