Lake Placid’s Main Street Restaurants
Gulp. I’m just going to put this out there. Many of the restaurants on Lake Placid’s Main Street are mediocre at best.
This might ruffle some feathers, but I’m going to go down the line and give you this girl’s personal opinion. A few of these are actually on Mirror Lake Drive, but they're all on the main sidewalk that goes around Mirror Lake. Oh, and I’m skipping the bakery, ice cream, candy, chocolate, popcorn, jerky and places that only serve wine/beer without a full menu.
Starting from the north end. Recommendations are in bold with links. The others or not…
The View at Mirror Lake Inn: Upscale dining with a side of pretentious attitude. I’d skip it. There are better restaurants for upscale dining, like Caffe Rustica.
The Cottage at Mirror Lake Inn: If your top priority is a view of Mirror Lake, the Cottage is the spot I’d recommend. Beautiful views from inside the restaurant or sitting outside on the patio. The menu is limited and not that creative. (I usually order a bowl of chili.) Service can be hit-or-miss. But it’s all fine when the views are this good.
Dancing Bears: Skip it. The food just isn’t all that great and it’s often dead. Kind of sad.
Players Waterfront Eatery: Players may be overly expensive, but their food is quite tasty as long as you order right. I truly love their Ahi Tuna Salad. The Waterfront Cod, their fish & chips and burgers are also all very good. Just know that you’re paying extra for their location. Avoid anything like the gyro or Philly cheesesteak (both lunch menu items).
Top of the Park: I enjoy Top of the Park even though we don’t go there very often. It’s more of a date night spot with little plates for sharing — very foodie vibe — and a great cocktail menu. I wouldn’t take a hungry family there. Go there for a romantic evening or a night out with friends when you want to elevate your night.
Black Bear: Years ago we had a couple of good lunches here, but I think they’ve fallen down. We ate dinner there recently and the steak was very tough and my Ahi tuna salad didn’t hold a candle to Players.
China City: You’ll get great, reliable Chinese take-out at China City. Orange Beef, Sesame Chicken, Mein Fun. It’s all good.
Jimmy’s 21: This makes me a little sad to say, but Jimmy’s 21 has really dropped. We used to love going there for a reasonable Italian meal, but the food fell flat the last couple times we’ve been. I would put it in the okay, but a little disappointing category.
The Breakfast Club: The Breakfast Club is a greasy spoon that serves up a solid breakfast. Their mega menu covers every kind of egg dish you can imagine, as well as pancakes, French toast, biscuits and gravy, chicken and waffles. Yum.
Ere’s Pizza: The pizza is good at Ere’s Pizza, and they offer a gluten free crust which is nice. I haven’t tried their pasta or chicken parm, so I can’t speak to the rest of the menu. If there’s music playing at Mid’s Park and you can snag an outdoor table at Ere’s Pizza, that’s the time to go. Otherwise, I might keep walking.
Big Mountain Deli & Creperie: A definite thumbs up for Big Mountain Deli. LOVE their sandwiches. Their breakfast burritos are really tasty too.
Luna Restaurant: The food isn’t terrible. But I’d say it’s below average food for a high price.
Smoke Signals: Okay, I know a lot of people like Smoke Signals. It’s almost always crowded and the food is good. But as a Texas girl, I just cannot wrap my head around paying $42 for a brisket plate. I’ll pick West Shore BBQ on Saranac Avenue every single time (even tho they’re only open in the summer).
Noon Mark Burger & Pie Joint. The best deal in town by a wide margin. I crave their delicious smash burgers. Fries are great. And the pie is expensive but delightful. Great spot for a reasonably priced lunch or dinner. There’s no website to link, so just go there.
Fresh Tracks: This is a cute place and I love it in the summer when they open up the windows. Fresh Tracks doesn’t have much of a menu, but it’s a nice option if you’re looking for a healthy grain bowl, salad or something vegetarian.
Upstairs Grill: Nope. Strong pass. Poor service and disappointing food.
Marcy Bar & Marcy Cafe: So sad. I really wanted to like this place, but it’s always dead. There is never anybody in this place, not even the bar. The food is decent, but it’s just a little depressing when you’re the only ones there.
Wyatt’s Mexican: Being from Texas I’m more picky about Mexican food than your average East Coaster (similar to my BBQ snobbery). I’ll stop by and get a burrito from Wyatt’s when I need something that vaguely reminds me of Mexican food, but I wouldn’t go out of my way to recommend it. If you do stop in for a burrito, don’t add guacamole because it’s out of a bag and not fresh.
Eleanor’s Pasta Kitchen: Umm, nothing to write home about. We’ve picked up a few take-out meals, and they’ve been hit and miss.
Soulshine Bagels: YES! Love a hot, fresh bagel from Soulshine. We get the Polaris sandwich with salmon and it’s awesome. I need to try their breakfast sandwiches because everyone is always ordering that, but I just can’t pull myself away from the Polaris.
Bazzi’s Pizza: I’d say the pizzas are a little inconsistent, basic, and it’s usually crowded with kids. I like Mr. Mike’s Garage or even Main Street Pizza instead.
Generations Tap & Grill. I like that they’ve upgraded their sidewalk dining. It looks so nice and inviting on a summer day. Unfortunately, the food is blah. Just not very good. I’d skip it.
The Pickled Pig: I have the same issue with the Pickled Pig as I do with Smoke Signals. Too expensive for what you get, and I’d rather go to West Shore.
Lake Placid Pub & Brewery: A classic winner. Great food. Award-winning beer. Fun atmosphere. The Lake Placid Pub is a win-win. It’s not surprising that it’s extremely popular with both locals and visitors.
