Best Restaurant Guide for Lake Placid and Saranac Lake

2025 Year End Wrap Up

We’re coming up on 5 years as homeowners in the village of Lake Placid, and 15 years as visitors. So, we’ve eaten at nearly every joint in town. In 2025 we spent about 6 weeks in Lake Placid in February and March, and a longer 3-month stretch from late-July through late-October. This recap is based on the restaurants where we ate in 2025, the places we love and those we no longer recommend (yikes!).

Lake Placid - Highly Recommend

Cafe Rustica: This is our top pick for a nice meal in Lake Placid. Most recently we went with another couple and had a great evening. Two of us ordered the Salsiccia Orchiette, Eric had the Veal Spezzatino, and our fourth person got the Cavatelli Bolognese. Everything was delicious, but Eric’s veal dish was outstanding. We’ve had great fish dishes in the past. You cannot go wrong with any of their pasta dishes. Chef’s kiss.

West Shore BBQ: As native Texans, we’re pretty picky when it comes to bbq, especially brisket. And while I think Smoke Signals on Main Street is good, it’s a bit of a scene and quite pricey. My favorite brisket comes from the team at West Shore BBQ, and there’s usually a line out the door to back me up. Their food is Ahh-mazing! They aren’t open year round, so check their website before you go. And get the brisket.

Lake Placid Pub: Always good and nearly always busy. Get on their Yelp waitlist before you head over there! We always get a beer and Fish & Chips. Delicious.

Big Slide: It’s quite similar to all the other brew pubs around, but you get a little bit more of a foodie flare with the menu at Big Slide. Good salads, good pizza. We often take out-of-town guests here. But get on the waitlist before you leave the house because they’re always busy.

Noon Mark Burger & Pie: This is a teeny-tiny location with a small bar and about 4 stools, but well worth the stop. Their limited menu includes smash burgers, french fries and pie … that’s it. Seriously good burgers with thin patties and crispy edges. You can get one, two or three patties, with cheese, grilled onions and pickles. (Don’t ask for lettuce and tomato, they don’t offer it.) The single patty is just $8, which is the absolute best deal around. It makes for a great place for a family. They make all their pies daily at the diner in Keene Valley. So, so good.

Soulshine Bagels: Um, yes please!! We get the Polaris (with lox) on an everything bagel at least once or twice every trip. In fact, the girl who works there recognizes us and already knows our order when we walk in the door! Ha ha ha! They make their bagels fresh daily from scratch and they’re excellent. Yum. Always consistently good.

Capisce Coffee & Espresso Bar: Since this cute spot opened, it’s become my favorite coffee shop around. Unfortunately it isn’t in walking distance, but still worth the trip. I also like Origin Coffee.

Simply Gourmet: Our favorite sandwich spot and I almost always order the Marcy. Except when I’m getting a breakfast burrito. We frequent the location on Saranac Avenue, although their Main Street shop has the same sandwich menu.

Cloudsplitter: This rooftop bar is only open in the summer, but it’s a great spot to drink a beer on a beautiful day.

Top of the Park: If you’re looking for a fancy craft cocktail and small plates, this is your place. Nicer and more romantic than Cloudsplitter and an equally stunning view. Perfect for date night.

Heritage Indian Grill: We returned to the new-ish Indian restaurant in town, which opened summer 2024. Another tasty meal for when you’re in the mood for something other than pub food. Chicken Tikka Masala, Lamb Rogan Josh and Garlic Naan — yum! The location (down from Hannaford’s and the laundromat) leaves something to be desired, but the interior space was freshly decorated and nice.

Saranac Lake - Highly Recommend

MTN Chef: While I mourn the loss of Barley Sandwich, MTN Chef has popped up on Main Street in Saranac Lake to fill the void. Oh, my. Eric had the Cuban and I had a Shaved Beef toastie, and both were outstanding. We couldn’t decide which was better. This is a great spot to grab a sidewalk table in nice weather, eat inside or take your sammie to go. They also do private catering.

Rivertrail Beerworks: Rivertrail Beerworks in Saranac Lake has now been open for a year and they’re clearly hitting their groove. It’s owned by the same guys who own and run the Lake Placid Pub & Brewery and Big Slide, so the quality is very comparable. Beer is always great. Fish and chips are excellent. I’ve also had the Farmstand Salad which was delicious. And a friend swears by the Cold Spicy Noodles.

Campfire: We took family to Campfire at the Hotel Saranac and it’s just a popular spot for a nice lunch or dinner out. The decor is darling. Great service. Very good food. I had the Venison Chili which was delicious.

Nori’s: Nori’s has an excellent coffee bar with nice seating, and most importantly daily house-made biscotti. I seriously love their biscotti. On occasion I’ll grab a burrito for lunch or some egg salad. Several vegetarian sandwich options too.

Keene Valley - Highly Recommend

Noon Mark Diner: Get the Patty Melt and a slice of pie. Just do it. Trust me.

Honorable Mentions for a Solid Meal

These spots are good and reliable, but nothing incredible.

Dack Shack: Sharing a kitchen with Simply Gourmet, the Dack Shack is more of a locals joint. Nothing fancy but good salads and soups. They have one of the best deals on fish and chips around, and my husband is a low key expert. Located just a short hop from our house, we go and sit at the bar a lot.

The Cottage at Mirror Lake Inn: Maybe I’ve been going here too long, but I really wish they would update their menu with a couple new offerings. It’s such a limited little menu. Nevertheless, if it’s a beautiful night and we want to eat by the lake, this is where we go. It’s one of the better options on Mirror Lake and I like the casual vibe. You can sit inside their cozy pub or outside overlooking the lake in nice weather.

Mr. Mike’s Garage Pizza: This is just solid pizza at a fair price. It’s not swoon-worthy. It’s hot, fresh, good, and reasonably priced. We pick up from Mr. Mike’s Garage whenever we’re craving pizza in Lake Placid.

China City (Lake Placid) and China Jade (Saranac Lake): Both have excellent Chinese take out.

Players: Since Noon Mark hit town, we haven’t been going to Players as much. Their burgers are good — and massive — but is the price worth it? I don’t know. More recently we’ve been ending up at Noon Mark whenever we want a burger.

The Greeks: Nothing to rave about, but they make a decent gyro and greek salad when that’s what you want. My only nitpick is that they make this big deal about being authentic, but I’m pretty sure french fries on a gyro is not authentic. Just saying.

Marcy at Grand Adirondack Hotel: Good food, but the atmosphere seems sad. Whomp, whomp. I want to really like this place, but there never seems to be anyone in there.

Ray Brook Brewhouse: These guys close early at 7 pm during the week and 8 pm on weekends. So, you need to be hungry early. Great fish and chips and yummy chicken fingers.

Blue Line Brewery: The Blue Line Brewery in Saranac Lake is very low key, but a good stop for a thin crust personal-size pizza, and they have good microbrew beer.

Blue Moon Cafe: Classic cafe. Not quite as good as the Noon Mark diner in Keene Valley, but still very good.

Our Plates: If you’re looking for some new flavors, Our Plates is a fusion of Cuban and Dominican comfort food - lots of rice and beans with shredded stewed chicken, pulled roasted pork, etc. I ordered a small combination plate with roast pork and it was very tasty and a huge portion for only $10.

Just Skip It

Okay, here’s the real deal. I’m not going to belabor the point, but we have tried the following restaurants (sometime more than once) and these just don’t make our cut. A couple of these used to be good, but aren’t what they once were. Unpopular opinion? Gasp! Just my personal thoughts here, but I would skip these popular establishments.…. Generations, Upstairs Grill, Dancing Bears, Lisa G’s, Jimmy’s 21, The View at Mirror Lake Inn, Redneck Bistro, Fratelli’s Pizza (Lake Placid location), A New Leaf coffee house, Tail O’ the Pup (Ray Brook), Sunset Bistro (Saranac Lake).