The Local Gore Mt. Region Food Scene (Written By a Local Who Knows!)

When staying with us at Alpine Lodge and enjoying all that the Gore Mountain and Southern Adirondack region have to offer, there are bountiful options for dining out in the many towns and villages surrounding our lodge. From casual pub fare to fine dining, our corner of the North Country has it all.

So, with that in mind, we’ve compiled a town-by-town list of surefire choices for food and beverage fun, with deep insight only a local can share. Here are our top picks for Gore Mountain dining:

North Creek/Johnsburg

(All locations very close to Alpine Lodge; most even walkable)

Starting our tour of Gore Mountain dining, Marsha’s Family Restaurant and Chrissy’s Cafe both serve tasty diner breakfast and lunch. Café Sarah is a bakery with good coffee and cappuccino, lite breakfast options and super sandwiches. For wine enthusiasts, barVino is a wine bar with “big wines, small plates” and a wonderful atmosphere. (We admit, it’s a favorite of ours!) Oh, and the place has really great brew options, too. Speaking of brew, The Barking Spider is a top-flight bar with a small bar menu. All the bartenders are excellent, but Tim is the quintessential classic bartender, known far and wide.

At the Copperfield Inn, try the casual fare at Trapper’s. Basil and Wick’s has a lovely bar, a nice dinner menu and a great après-ski selection of appetizers. (Ask Jane to point out the pic of Alpine Lodge owners Greg and Sharon from “back in the day”!) Izzy’s Market & Deli has especially spectacular sandwiches and picnic fixings, and they roast their own coffee! Black Mountain Lodge, Restaurant and Pub and The Inn on Gore Mountain have convivial bars, bar food and casual fare. Garnet Hill Lodge is a beautiful drive up the mountain in North River. Be sure to stop in the Main Lodge to see the log work and garnet fireplaces. And don’t miss Beck’s Tavern next to Gore Mountain Lodge, which has a killer bar and a fun après-ski atmosphere, with a German/Austrian/Alpine influence.

Pottersville

(20 minutes from Alpine Lodge)

Cafe Adirondack (open Thursday to Sunday) is a BYOB establishment with good food and a varied menu. Even if you watch your calories, splurge on the Boom Boom Shrimp!

Schroon Lake

(30 minutes from Alpine Lodge)

Sticks and Stones has tasty wood-fired pizza and lots of other attractive options, not to mention, nice fireplaces, both inside and out. It’s the former workshop of a noted rustic furniture maker; some of his pieces are there, and he built-out the bar before selling the building to the current owners. It’s a really nice bar! Try the local Paradox brew while checking out the woodwork.

Olmstedville

(15 minutes from Alpine Lodge)

The Owl at Twilight is another great “foodie” destination. It’s only open summer to fall, though. So, if you’re here in the winter, you should come back!

Warrensburg

(20 minutes from Alpine Lodge)

The Merrill Magee Inn and The Grist Mill Restaurant both have superb atmosphere and food. At the Grist Mill, you must check out the bar (even if you don’t want a drink) and go out on the deck to see the waters of the Schroon River rushing by. Brunetto’s Restaurant has super food, too, and a lot of it. Lizzie Keays serves lunch and dinner with a nice historical perspective of “Olde Warrensburgh.” Willow’s Bistro has a great lunch. And for the ultimate hot dogs (really!) and Greek salads, try New Way Lunch!

Chestertown/Brant Lake

(20 minutes from Alpine Lodge)

Friends Lake Inn has a fine-dining menu and great wine list in the historic main dining room and they offer a light menu in the bistro/wine bar. It’s special occasion-worthy. The Bullhouse (yes, another personal fave) makes a great tableside “guac” and has a Southwestern/South American-influenced menu. Main Street Ice Cream Parlor is the quintessential luncheon spot, with amazing sandwiches. But be sure to save room for dessert: a classic sundae or malt or milkshake! There’s also a fine gift shop upstairs that’s not to be missed.

There’s also O.P. Frederick’s Restaurant, which offers good food and a nice bar in a casual setting, featuring burgers and such, but also nice pasta, chicken and beef entrees. The Place and Buttino’s Italian Bistro serve casual Italian. The Panther Mountain Pub is a bar in Chestertown with a good burger and sandwich menu. The “P-House” serves take out and even delivers pizza! The Silver Star Restaurant (only open summer to fall) and Odd Duck offer casual dining. In Brant Lake, The Lazy Moose has great lunch, as well as a garden and gift shop. And check out The Hub (summer to fall) for light eats, an amazing beer bar and great live entertainment.

Bolton Landing

(35 minutes from Alpine Lodge)

It’s a really beautiful drive to Bolton, provided you have daylight. There’s a nice downtown shopping/restaurant/bar area in town where you can park and walk through, including a plethora of very good dining options, like Lakeside Lodge & Grille, with a full fine-dining menu with lots of options, and Frederick’s Restaurant & Lounge, offering good food and nice variety. The open-air deck is nice in the summer. Cate’s Italian Garden Restaurant & Bar serves good Italian, and Chateau on the Lake is the spot for upscale dining at its finest. It gets our highest recommendation for your special occasion.