What does Lokanta mean?
Lokanta is the Turkish word for "eating house" or "restaurant." It's a warm, unpretentious word that describes exactly what we are, a place where people come together over good. We chose it because it felt honest and approachable.
Where is Lokanta Café located?
We're located at 50 Lakeport Road at the heart of historic Port Dalhousie, St. Catharines, Ontario. We're steps from Rennie Park, the waterfront, Lakeside Park and the beach. When driving west into Port Dalhousie from St. Catharines, our parking lot is the first left turn after the bridge.
If you're coming from the QEW, exit at Seventh Street Louth and head toward the lake. Follow Lakeshore Road West until it turns into Main Street, then follow Main until you're in Historic Port Dalhousie. Turn right onto Lock Street and right again after the light onto Lakeport Street. Our parking lot is the first right turn after the light on Lakeport Street.
Where can I park?
Parking is notoriously difficult in Port Dalhousie, especially on summer weekends and on holidays. We recommend arriving a little early or exploring the area on foot if you're staying nearby.
We have dedicated free parking, including accessible wheelchair parking spots in front of our building at 50 Lakeport Road.
If you're unable to find a spot in our lot, there is free city parking across the street and along the right side of the alleyway heading toward Dalhousie House at 56 Lakeport Road.
There is also a free city parking lot behind Dalhousie House at the foot of the stairs leading to Canal Street above. Free street parking can often be found on Main Street, Brock Street, Canal Street, Simcoe Street, and Gertrude Street.
Many locals also enjoy finding free parking on the other side of Martindale Pond and taking a 10 minute walk through Royal Henley Park or Jaycee Gardens Park and crossing the bridge over Martindale Pond to Rennie Park. Royal Oak Drive and Royal Henley Boulevard offer plentiful free street parking and Jaycee Gardens Park has a free parking lot off Ontario Street.
Of course, there is also paid parking on Lock Street, Lakeport Road, and in the lot at Lakeside Park.
Do you take reservations?
Yes, we accept reservations and encourage them, especially for larger groups and during our busy summer season. You can reach us at hello@lokantacafe.com or by phone to book. We also have an online booking system for groups under 6 people. Walk-ins are always welcome and will be seated based on availability at the time.
For groups of 8 or more, an 18% gratuity is automatically added to support fair wages for our team.
What are your hours?
Lokanta Café's hours may vary by season and may change around holidays and special events. We are generally open for lunch and dinner seven days a week. We are open for all Statutory Holidays except Christmas Day and New Year's Day.
Please check our Google Business listing, our website, or follow us on Instagram for the most up-to-date hours. We recommend calling ahead if you're planning a special visit.
Do you have a patio?
Yes, Lokanta Café has one of the most beautiful lakeside patios in St. Catharines, with views of Martindale Pond, Rennie Park, Dalhousie Yacht Club, and the Old Textile Factory.
What kind of food do you serve?
Lokanta is a Turkish and Mediterranean café. Our menu is inspired by the broader Mediterranean region and by the Circassian and Turkish culinary traditions of our chef. We serve mezze dips and salads, roasted meats, souvlaki wraps, salads, traditional Turkish breakfast, and freshly baked pastries, including croissants and börek.
If you're familiar with Greek food, please note that some of our dishes may taste different from what you'd find at a traditional Greek restaurant, and that's intentional.
Do you cater to dietary restrictions?
Yes, our menu naturally includes many dishes that are gluten-free, vegetarian, dairy-free, or halal. Please let your server know about any allergies or dietary requirements when you arrive and we'll do our best to accommodate you.
For complex allergies, we recommend contacting us in advance so we can prepare.
Do you have a dress code policy?
Lokanta is a lakeside café, just steps from the beach. In order to keep every guest safe and feeling comfortable in our space, we have created a Guest Dress Policy (review here).
We ask that all guests (including children) wear clothing and footwear while dining with us.
Our kitchen and dining areas can occasionally have small hazards on the floor such as broken glass or ceramic, and footwear protects you and those around you.
If you're coming from the beach or the water, we kindly ask that you wear a coverup or dry clothing while dining with us. This helps keep our seating comfortable and dry for all guests, and ensures everyone in our family-friendly space feels at ease.
Is Lokanta Café kid friendly?
Lokanta is a family-run, family-friendly restaurant. Family is our number one priority. We love hosting kids of all ages! We offer a train table, colouring books, crayons, puzzles, card games, and building toys to help keep your little ones distracted and happy. We have three high chairs.
We also have a kids menu that includes kid-friendly snacks, orange and apple juice, cheese pizza and cheese panini, as well as ice cream sandwiches.
We also offer sensory kits from Ability Hive for kids with sensory sensitivities. These kits include fidget toys, noise blocking headphones, sunglasses and more.
Is your restaurant dog-friendly?
Lokanta Café enthusiastically welcomes four-legged guests on our patio. We are happy to provide a water bowl and we always keep fresh water out front.
While we would love to welcome all pets inside, Niagara Region Public Health rules bar live animals from all "rooms used for food handling, preparation, processing, packaging, service, display or sale."
Service animals are always welcome inside the café. You must provide an ID card from the Ministry of the Attorney General of Ontario (for guide dogs) or a note from a regulated health professional (e.g., doctor, nurse, occupational therapist). While third-party registries sell certificates, vests, and IDs, these are not legally binding in Ontario.
Do you serve alcohol?
Yes, we are fully licensed by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario. We serve wine, beer and cocktails. We also carry a curated selection of alcohol-free wines and specialty beverages for guests who prefer non-alcoholic options. Smart Serve standards are always followed.
Can I bring a cake or outside food for a celebration?
Unfortunately, we are not able to permit outside food in Lokanta Café for food safety reasons. We can't control the preparation, ingredients, or storage of food from outside our kitchen.
However, if you need something special, such as a gluten-free birthday cake, a dairy-free dessert, or anything else, just let us know in advance and we'll do our best to make it for you. Just because it's not on the menu doesn't mean we can't make it.
