Adirondacks, New York
13 Best Places to Eat & Restaurants in Lake Placid + Surrounding Region
Lake Placid is one of our favorite small towns in Upstate New York, located smack dab in the heart of the Adirondacks. There are endless year-round activities and attractions just waiting for travelers and enthusiasts to take advantage of. In between the adventures, travelers can take a break and treat their palates to some of the most fantastic restaurants in the Lake Placid region.
We just got back from an epic road trip through the Adirondacks. We got to explore the beautiful Lake Placid and Saranac Lake regions. And thus, got to eat at all types of restaurants, from fancy rooftops to gas station markets. Here are our top favorite restaurants in Lake Placid + surrounding region!
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DRINKING & EATING in Lake Placid
You can’t experience the Adirondack region fully until you’ve explored the local cuisine. From traditional, rustic mountain grub to flavorful dishes from chefs who have traveled across the seas, these restaurants in the Lake Placid region are worth adding to your travel itinerary!
Bonus: A popular thing to do in Lake Placid is to visit some of the best breweries in the Adirondacks. Even if you don’t drink, the experience of entering these spaces for food and live music is a wonderful activity year-round. So we’ve added our favorite breweries to eat at to this list as well.
Many of these establishments work hard to support their communities by using the finest local ingredients and offering fresh farm-to-table food. Here are some of our favorite spots and why they have to make your foodie list.
BEST RESTAURANT IN LAKE PLACID + NEARBY
We’ve had the privilege of eating at dozens of different restaurants in the Adirondacks. Here are our top 13 favorite spots we recommend for a delicious bite and good vibes!
1. The Stagecoach Inn ★
This is one of my top favorite places to eat in upstate New York! The Stagecoach Inn is the oldest building in the area and also one of the top hotels in Lake Placid But if you can’t sleep here, then at least come for a meal. Chef Billy is excellent at crafting spectacular dishes with delicious flavor on every plate. From the cheese boards to the pastries, we loved every plate. He creates fantastic appetizers, entrees, and desserts, with no room for disappointment. You have to make reservations ahead of time, so plan ahead for this hidden gem restaurant!
Interesting in sleeping here, too? Read our review of staying at the Stagecoach Inn here!
2. Top of the Park ★
This impressive establishment serves an exquisite selection of tapas-style dishes created to pair with local wines and hand-crafted beers. Top of the Park‘s menu is simply delicious, featuring small plates of field, land, and sea-inspired dishes made with fresh, local ingredients.
The executive chef here has over 30 years of culinary experience and has traveled throughout the country to sport his talent– even helping host Super Bowl 49, Pro Bowl 2014, and Rose Bowl 2014!
At the bar, patrons can choose from various incredible craft cocktails while enjoying epic views of the majestic Mirror Lake on the spacious outdoor balcony. The bartender creates masterpieces of fresh cocktails with perfectly balanced flavors! They were some of the best cocktails we’ve ever had!
To top it off– the service at this friendly restaurant is fantastic.
3. Fiddlehead Bistro ★
This fabulous Tuscany-style bistro is only 15-minutes west of Lake Placid in Saranac Lake. Known as one of the best fine dining spots in Upstate New York, the dishes at Fiddlehead Bistro are eclectic masterpieces inspired by recipes from around the world.
Visitors enjoy a warm and elegant atmosphere unique from the cabin-style rustic composure of most Adirondack eateries.
Everything we ate here was delicious. You can tell that they really care about the detail, ingredient, flavor, and texture of each plate. Dishes on this menu are unlike any you will find anywhere else in the region. If you are a traveling foodie like me, this is your stop!
4. Ray Brook Brewhouse
Considered one of the best breweries in the Adirondacks, Ray Brook Brewhouse is the ultimate craft beer experience with food to match. Sitting right between Saranac Lake and Lake Placid, Ray Brook features a host of traditional and wild brews, all crafted with local and exotic ingredients.
The rustic atmosphere is warm and inviting, perfect for enjoying their full menu of delicious appetizers, chicken wings, flatbreads, burgers, and sandwiches. Some customer favorites include the Brewtine fries, beer brined wings, and corkscrew calamari.
I loved almost every beer I tried from my tasting flight. You can order up to 6 different beers to taste for about $12. Some of their beers have fruit flavors. And one of them even has naturally occurring probiotics!
Just note: The brewery is closed on Sundays and Mondays.
5. Little Supermarket
If you’re looking for a quick, delicious, and affordable bite to eat, the Little Supermarket is excellent! It may look like just another market in a gas station, but their sandwiches and coffee are AMAZING.
You can order a jam-packed sandwich for just $4.50 and a cup of brew for $1.25. They customize every sandwich to your liking, and they are made to perfection.
This is a convenient stop on your way to or from adventures in Wilmington, such as High Falls Gorge, Cobble Lookout, and Whiteface Memorial Highway.
6. Whitebrook Dairy
Desert lovers searching for a sweet treat on their Lake Placid adventure must hit Whitebrook Dairy at least once. This local favorite dairy bar is only open on weekends but serves some of the best soft-serve ice creams in the region. They serve up their cool treats old-school style and offer a ton of flavor combinations to fit everyone’s palate. Not to mention, the service is quick and friendly. This spot sends you off on your way to the next attraction with a smile on your face. I’ll be dreaming of the vanilla-chocolate-swirl ice cream here for a long time!
7. Ausable Brewing Co.
Ausable Brewing Co. is locally owned and tucked into 140 acres of stunning scenery, only a 5-minute drive from the Ausable Chasm. Not only is this a perfect opportunity to peruse some of the most beautiful waterfalls in New York State, but it’s also an excellent stop for delicious food and drinks.
This lively farm-based nano-brewery has a host of weekly food trucks to pair with high-quality lagers and ales. There’s plenty of outdoor seating to enjoy the mountain air and live music while sipping fantastic local craft beers. If you’re planning your visit ahead of time, this brewery is only open Thursday through Sunday.
I highly recommend visiting Keeseville as a day trip from Lake Placid. It’s just a 45-minute drive. And there are so many cute places along the way, like one of our favorite farms in Upstate New York: Asgaard Farms.
8. Bitters & Bones
Just 15-minutes from Lake Placid, Bitters & Bones is a rustic-industrial tavern located in downtown Saranac Lake. This local favorite is hailed for its spectacular burgers, flatbreads, and unique entrees. Some of the most beloved dishes are the Poke Bowl (fresh ahi tuna with rice and other fixings), Pulled Pork Plate, Fish Tacos, and the Curry Tofu.
Bitters & Bones has fun weekly specials, including a Taco Tuesday/Trivia Night and Wine Wednesdays with half-priced bottles for sale.
9. Campfire Adirondack Grill
Enjoy elegant meals at Campfire Adirondack Grill, located right inside the Hotel Saranac. Inspired by the Adirondack Great Camps and other royalty that have graced the region back in the 1920s, this establishment combines warm and cozy with sophistication while serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner seven days a week.
The menu changes based on the season, and they offer several gluten-free and healthy plates. If you’re looking for something spectacular, the cornbread with maple butter is delicious.
10. Adirondack Popcorn Co.
OK, this is not a restaurant but we love stopping here for snacks. The Adirondack Popcorn Co. is another great place on Main Street– especially if you are an avid popcorn lover! They offer a ton of unique flavors to try, as well as the traditional favorites everyone loves. I loved the dill pickle popcorn!
Visitors can purchase tins from 1 gallon to 6.5 gallons and fill them with up to three choices of flavors. This is probably the freshest and tastiest popcorn you’re going to find in the Adirondacks and an ideal snack for taking on the go.
Other Restaurants to Consider
We have tried almost every top restaurant in Lake Placid (and the surrounding region). If you don’t see some of the most popular restaurants in Lake Placid on this list, it’s likely that we didn’t list them for a reason (food, service, etc). But here are the three restaurants that we have yet to try that may make the list next time! Have you been? Do they deserve to be moved up?
11. Left Bank Cafe
French cuisine can be hard to find in Upstate New York, so if you’re craving French food, the Left Bank Cafe may be your place. This French bistro is on Broadway in Saranac Lake and offers fine dining in a cozy, quaint setting.
If you plan on eating here, prepare to take your time. Left Bank offers three-course meals, live music, movies, and a dining experience worth your whole night. It was closed when we went, but will hopefully be open for visitors again soon! 🙁
12. Smoke Signals
We’ve heard great things about this spot. BBQ lovers might melt over the fresh and savory dishes served at this eatery on Main Street in Lake Placid. Sitting right on the water with a clear view of Mirror Lake, Smoke Signals may be the perfect mix of Adirondack charm and southern comfort.
The brick-lined interior looks like it offers a comfortable atmosphere paired with live music throughout the week. And by the reviews, customers can’t get enough of their award-winning wings and house-smoked entrees with an amazing selection of housemade sauces and rubs. We can’t wait to try this spot next time!
13. Hungry Trout Restaurant
Nestled in the heart of the Adirondack mountains, the Hungry Trout Restaurant is located on the picturesque grounds of the Hungry Trout Resort, featuring stunning views of the west branch of the Ausable River. With easy access to Whiteface Mountain, this may be an ideal spot to grab a bite to eat after a day on the slopes or trails.
This restaurant seems to be a mix of traditional meets modern fine dining, with a particular focus on trout entrees and seafood creations. Customers of this establishment have praised this restaurant’s views (overlooking Flume Falls) in the High Peak area! Sadly, it was closed when we went. But it’s an easy stop after your Wilmington adventures (one of our favorite Adirondack towns).
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