Niagara College’s on-campus Benchmark restaurant will re-open for lunch service starting Wednesday, September 11.

Lunch service will be available Wednesday through Friday, from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., until the end of the year. Benchmark offers a table d’hôte menu priced at $45, featuring a three-course fixed-price menu that will change frequently. Guests have the option to add wine flights to pair with their courses for an additional $13.

Lunch service will be open for reservations only. Reservations can be made via Open Table.

Benchmark’s Head Chef Justin Downes, alongside Chefs Anthony Greco and Dollar Thakar, has crafted a brand-new menu that captures the essence of fall in the Niagara region, using local ingredients and creative cooking styles. Victor Oliveira, NC’s Manager of Catering and Special Events, will continue to oversee the front-of-house operations at Benchmark alongside Events & Dining Room Coordinator Xiao Chen.

A new cohort of co-op students from the Culinary, Tourism, and Beverage Studies division will begin their journey at Benchmark, working as front- and back-of-house staff, gaining hands-on experience alongside seasoned team members to maintain excellence. Academic offerings from the School of Culinary Arts will also continue at Benchmark as part of the Culinary, Tourism, and Beverage Studies division.

Located at NC’s Daniel J. Patterson Campus in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Benchmark is an award-winning Niagara dining establishment. Regular restaurant operations paused in December 2019, and since 2022, Benchmark has been dedicated to academic initiatives from the College’s Culinary, Tourism, and Beverage Studies division, including culinary pop-ups, final exam lunches and dinners, and more.

For information about upcoming events, visit Benchmark on Facebook at facebook.com/benchmarkatnc or visit www.niagaracollege.ca/culinaryarts/benchmark/.