LAKE PLACID – We haven’t seen anything that has dealt with the specific topic, but we can tell you that dining Lake Placid can be a vacation unto itself.
Certainly, the spring event EatAdk does yeoman work drawing attention to the culinary offerings in the entire region, but our town alone has a non-stop array of quality eateries. Of course, we’re biased, but we like to think that the three distinct choices associated with the Mirror Lake Inn are at the top of the list.
In fact, The View Restaurant, our town’s lone AAA Four Diamond option, located just a few steps from the Inn’s front desk, is the number one choice on TripAdvisor for those interested in dining Lake Placid. Reservations are required (518-302-3000) and preferred dress is resort casual.
Prime Beef Filet Mignon, Braised Lamb Cheeks and Free Range Chicken Breast are staples on the menu along with their ever popular Sea Scallops and Hudson Valley Foie Gras appetizers. Dinner can be topped off with desserts including Raspberry Crème Brûlée, Peanut Butter Shortbread or a variety of house-made ice creams and sorbets.
You can also expect to see nightly features from Chef Jarrad Lang and his team.
Chef Lang’s kitchen staff presents classically influenced cuisine with a modern touch, drawing largely from local and regional producers. Some 10 regional vendors supply produce, artisanal cheeses, beef, poultry and more. The daily market fish and seafood come directly from the Boston and New York fish markets. These suppliers and purveyors arrive daily with their bounty which will find its way to your table that night.
The culinary team also creates and cooks for the trendy Taste Bistro and Bar, adjacent to The View. It’s Kilcoyne Farms Pot Roast and burgers are two of the locally sourced house favorites that are always in season. There’s also lighter fare to choose from like an Artisan Cheese Flight and Fried Brussels Sprouts, or Smoked Scottish Salmon, Fisherman’s Stew and their famous Oysters Rockefeller if you’d prefer something from the sea.
Long ago, Taste Bistro augmented the use of Vermont Creamery cultured butter with dippings from Saratoga Olive Oil to accompany their artisan breads. The company has a storefront on Lake Placid’s Main Street and is just a three-minute walk from the hotel.
The View has received the Wine Spectator Award for 19 straight years, and thanks to Wine Director Justin Peregoy, we’ve just been upgraded by the publication Award of Excellence to Best of Award of Excellence. Hence, now you see us displaying two glasses instead of one. This is in recognition of The View’s commitment to expanding the breadth and depth of its selections and presentation.
There’s a robust supply of reds from California, France and Italy. Other international selections come from Greece, Lebanon, Austria and Slovakia.
Peregoy has chosen Rose as the wine theme for August, followed by sparkling wines in September. For his thorough presentation, check out our recent Facebook post.
And for experiences that will showcase the best of Mssrs. Lang and Peregoy, The View is offering a Laurent-Perrier champagne dinner on September 21. This will be an elegant five-course event with the pouring of some rare champagnes and the finest wines in the Laurent-Perrier portfolio. The company will attend and help guide the selections.
As one can see, The View’s dinner reputation is unquestioned, but it’s such that perhaps its breakfast is overlooked. It shouldn’t be. From a functional standpoint, it’s said that this meal is the most important of the day. To that end, dining Lake Placid should include a morning visit.
The View’s breakfast buffet features omelets made before your eyes at a live station, fresh cut fruits and berries, smoked salmon, Mirror Lake Inn’s homemade granola, plus thick cut bacon, maple sausage and crispy home fries. In addition, fresh squeezed orange juice, Eggs Benedict, Belgian Waffles and Adirondack Flapjacks with local maple syrup are always available to help get your day started correctly.
Lake Placid’s premier lakeside pub, The Cottage Café, is literally cool due to its setting on the shore of Mirror Lake, as well as the vibe from its eclectic and hip patrons. Local realtors, entrepreneurs and general bon vivants create the mix.
The reasons why eventually everyone experiences The Cottage are varied: indoor and outdoor dining; lunch overlooking the lake is a winner; you could be there for an apres ski wind-down; any time of the year you could get your night started with dinner and a beverage; or it’s an appropriate spot to bring your night to a close.
The Cottage offers kicked up pub fare that includes our famous chili, market humus, artisanal flatbread pizzas, original nachos, baked brie, hearty soups, maple bourbon BBQ chicken, healthy salads and mountainous sandwiches – all of it presented with stunning views of the High Peaks from your lakeside table.
While dining Lake Placid, if you’re into the burgeoning microbrew scene, ask our beertenders as all three establishments stay current on the region’s best craft beers.
Our options make dining Lake Placid a special experience, and as we said at the top, the culinary experience around town is deep and varied with many outstanding choices. If you’re here for an extended period and would eventually like to venture further afield, our front desk recommends the nearby Interlaken Inn and Caffe Rustica.
Bon appetit!