“Savor the Flavors of Gracious Restaurants”
Exciting culinary experiences await visitors to Lake Placid that will please any palate. Restaurants offer an array of options from family-style to gourmet meals, all set in the magnificent splendor of the region and it legendary Adirondack Mountains. The diverse cuisines match the variety of guests and their gastronomical cravings. Elegant inns, rustic lodges and hotels provide a variety of accommodations and wonderful restaurants featuring world class dining.
During our three week stay, we sample many of the local restaurants and find the dining options superb. Join us for a “taste” of Lake Placid’s several fine dining establishments for our final (Part V) article on The Amazing Adirondacks.
The Crowne Plaza Resort and Golf Club offers two upscale dining options each with its own style, atmosphere, cuisine, and unique settings.
The Veranda Restaurant sits high above the Village of Lake Placid offering breathtaking views of the village, Mirror Lake and the majestic Adirondack High Peaks. Housed in a stately manor with inside and outside dining, the Veranda has developed a reputation as one of the finest dining restaurants in the region. The elegant manor Hearth room has beautiful fireplaces, rich woodwork and 19th century stained glass windows imported from Germany. It’s a beautiful evening and we choose to dine on the Veranda’s covered deck with its awesome views. Watching the setting sun cast a golden hue on the scenic lake and mountains creates a special ambiance for our dining experience. Starting with the Salad Veranda, we each select seafood for our entrée. Richard has the delicious broiled Sea Bass, while I thoroughly enjoy my Trout Meunière. The Veranda has very good food, service and the most wonderful serene, scenic setting for outdoor dining from its hilltop vantage point. Be sure to stop by the Crowne Plaza located near the restaurant for more great views and a huge outdoor patio for after dinner drinks.
The Lake Placid Club Boat House Restaurant sits on the pristine shores of Mirror Lake across from the village of Lake Placid. The Boat House’s rustic dining room is warm and open featuring huge windows along one wall with impressive views of picturesque Mirror Lake and the Mackenzie mountain range. The bar and fireside seating areas are great for enjoying cocktails and delicious desserts. Seated by the picture window, we watch the kayakers, canoeist and swimmers enjoying the lake on this summer afternoon. Our savory dinners include a Boat House Salad, Halibut with Clam Sauce and a scrumptious Rack of Veal. The waiter is very attentive and in keeping with a fine dining experience provides fresh tableware between servings. With its cozy lakeside setting, spectacular sunsets, and mountain views, the Boat House is a truly memorable dining experience. The service and food were very good. The restaurant has a beautiful setting on Mirror Lake and was busy with many families and large groups.
Lake Placid Lodge Artisan’s Restaurant is housed in a majestic hotel which blends perfectly with its setting on the emerald shores of Lake Placid. The restaurant has an intimate, fire-lit dining area that extends out to wide covered balconies decorated in the Adirondack Arts and Crafts tradition. Our prime seats on the balcony are an idyllic setting with fabulous views of Lake Placid with its leafy islands. Close by in a huge stone fireplace logs burn taking off the late afternoon chill and Afghans drape the chairs should we need extra warmth. Caleb is our waiter for the evening and is extremely conscientious. During our leisurely dinner, we watch boaters on the lake and the sun casting shadows on Whiteface Mountain as it descends behind the mountains. While the restaurant is full, the setting is still serene and romantic. A true culinary event, we delight in our wonderfully prepared and luscious dinners of Caesar Salad, Filet of Wild Striped Bass and Seared Filet of Halibut. A light dessert of Summer Fruit Crisp with Vanilla Ice Cream is a marvelous ending to a delectable dining experience. Afterwards we browse this luxurious Lodge and its unique yet superb accommodations of imaginative; rich and romantic décor with soft fabrics, polished wood, stone fireplaces. Artisan’s is the ultimate in a fine dining experience. It has unmatched service in an idyllic setting while still exuding comfort and warmth. A special dining experience for a special event! Note the lodge age requirements for children.
Mirror Lake Inn Resort and Spa’s restaurant, The View won the 2009 Diners’ Choice Award. Perched on the scenic shores of Mirror Lake, the historic Inn is a quintessential mountain resort. Climbing the steps to the entrance, we browse the warm, cozy library with its fireplace and comfy couches before dinner. The View’s dining room exhibits a classic elegance for our dining experience as we are seated by a picture window. A wonderful view of Mirror Lake enchants us with yet another perspective of this charming lake and the alpine village of Lake Placid. A more traditional restaurant setting the dining room is quiet this evening with only a few couples. Eric, our waiter is alert to all our needs. Our dinners of Diver Scallops and Wild Sockeye Salmon are excellent and are accompanied by top notch service. The View continues to win coveted awards for dining including being an eleven time winner of the Wine Spectator’s Dining Guide Award of Excellence. Excellent service and food, the View is a great dining experience with terrific views of Mirror Lake and the mountains. We had a chance to tour the property and were impressed with the Inn’s variety of accommodations from family oriented to very modern upscale suites and units.
The Whiteface Lodge is located on the outskirts of Lake Placid and has received the AAA four Diamond Award and Zagat’s World’s Top Hotels, Resorts & Spas. Reviving the Adirondack Great Camp experience the lodge is a lavish, rustic log and stone structure. Its premier dining venue is KANU featuring an open kitchen showcasing the talents of the culinary team. In the dining room are two huge fireplaces with various stuffed animals in keeping with the Adirondack décor. Scott, the Sommelier, quickly greets us and seats us near the fireplace. Annie, our waitress, generates warmth with her friendly, yet professional personality. The open dining room, the fireplaces, the active kitchen and the gracious, welcoming staff create a special charm at KANU. Offering a wide variety of tapas and entrees in two sizes allows diners options to select and control portions. Sharing the Baby Field Greens Salad, I choose tapas dishes of a scrumptious Penne and Many Cheeses and superb Seared Sesame Crusted Tuna for my main course. Richard opts for the smaller portion of the flavorful Grilled Atlantic Salmon. Annie persuades us to have desserts of a Flourless Chocolate Cake and Adirondack Creamery Ice Cream with Fruit. After dinner, we walk through the Lodge admiring this stunning beautifully appointed resort. Absolutely fantastic! The food is excellent and the hospitable service is superb. Whiteface Lodge may lack a scenic view but it compensates with a premier dining venue.
Visitors will be extremely impressed with the culinary variety and fabulous fine dining offered in the Lake Placid area. Savor the flavors of at least one of these delectable restaurants on your visit to the area.
If you:
Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism, 46 Parkside Drive, Lake Placid, NY 12946; 800.447.5224; www.lakeplacid.com; www.whitefaceregion.com