The Gem was a pleasant find during our stay. We made reservations, which I highly recommend, and…read morechose it for my husband's 50th birthday celebration after another restaurant at the resort had completely missed the occasion the night before. No acknowledgment, candle, or mention of his birthday despite it being noted, so our expectations were modest. From the moment we arrived and were served cucumber water that was VERY refreshing, the Gem delivered a much better experience. The atmosphere was lively and inviting, and our server was friendly, attentive, and genuinely engaged throughout the meal. The cocktail menu was creative and fun. While I felt the pours were a bit shallow for $18-$20 drinks, and the oversized ice cubes seemed to take up a lot of glass real estate, the drinks themselves were well-made and enjoyable. The food was the star of the evening. Everything we ordered was delicious, and it was easily one of our better meals during the trip. When it came time for dessert, we asked if they could add a candle so we could celebrate my husband's birthday. Unfortunately, the dessert station had already closed, leaving bread pudding as the only option available. While that was a bit disappointing, our server went out of their way to make the moment special by bringing over a mini mint cordial. There was still no candle, but the thoughtful gesture was genuinely appreciated and meant far more than a scripted birthday acknowledgement. The Gem struck a great balance between good food, a fun atmosphere, and attentive service. Our only regret is that we didn't have another day to try the outdoor seating area in the back, which looked fantastic. Maybe next time!

Most Americans generally associate slow-cooked, wood-smoked meat with the southern regions of these…read moreUnited States. Finding respectable barbecue in upstate New York requires a slight adjustment of geographic expectations. The Gem, located in Bolton Landing, attempts this feat with a wood-fired smoker and an ambitious cocktail program. My wife ordered the smoked chicken wings and a side salad. The wings possessed a deep smoky flavor and properly rendered skin. The salad performed its minimal duties without incident. My youngest son consumed the kids cheese fries. They were sufficient to satisfy an 11 year old's palate, though underwhelming when subjected to adult inspection. I selected the brisket, which spent hours absorbing hardwood smoke. The flavor was rich and beefy, though the cut was somewhat leaner than I prefer. In my experience, truly magnificent brisket requires a generous layer of rendered fat to achieve complete structural tenderness. This was good, but it was not that. The genuine masterpiece at our table belonged to my oldest son, who ordered the pulled pork. It was moist, tender, and properly seasoned. I found myself eyeing his plate with the quiet envy of a father who made the wrong selection at the counter. To assist with the meat, the establishment places four distinct sauces at every table: Texas Red, Carolina Copper, Georgia Mustard, and Alabama White. Experimenting with all four is an enjoyable exercise in flavor chemistry. The bar produces some of the finest craft cocktails in Bolton Landing, maybe in the entire Lake George region. The drinks are mixed with intelligence and high-quality spirits, which helps soothe the human nervous system after a long day in the sun. The primary defect of The Gem is monetary. Prices in Bolton Landing include an unwritten tax levied on tourists. Other local establishments justify these steep prices by offering a view of Lake George. The Gem sits on Lake Shore Drive, offering a view of asphalt and passing automobiles instead of water. Paying high-end prices for barbecue without a lake view attached makes the final bill a bit harder to digest. Still, the pulled pork and the cocktails were good enough to warrant a return visit. One must simply prepare to surrender a few extra dollars for the privilege.

We both had the roasted beet salad and the swordfish. Unusual that we ordered the same things…read more For dessert, we parted ways. He had the apple tarts with vanilla, and I the cherry pie a La mode. Lovely experience all around. We will be back next year!

We were able to fit in one more trip to the Owl before summers end and we were very pleased! The…read morefood and service were spectacular and the live jazz singer added to the ambiance. The fried green tomato salad is a favorite, and the pasta special (puttanesca with shrimp and mussels) was fantastic! Highly recommended!

Just a shockingly delightful find on the outskirts of the main Lake George Village strip. Who would…read morethink you could turn off the strip, walk up two blocks and find a cozy, wonderfully apportioned Irish-style pub slinging up quality cocktails and nice pints of Guinness in a lovely environment. An oasis in the true sense of the word, you walk in here and enter a specific and unique world in this bar. The bartender made me an absolutely perfect Negroni, and my cousin enjoyed the specialty cocktail from the drink menu. Solid wine and draft options and a quality Guinness pour and, again, immaculate vibes in a classic Irish pub kind of way. As I understand the food situation, they have one house dish for the evening on Sundays, for as long as it is available. I have not experienced it but have heard raves. But that seems secondary and supplemental to the bar experience here.

Came to the Lobby Bar after dinner and it was the perfect place for an after dinner cocktail. It…read morewas our date night, so wanted some place with a nice vibe and good drinks and that's exactly what we found there. Fantastic espresso martinis- great service. We will absolutely be back!

I had the fish and chips and they were delicious. The bartender was very friendly and the service…read morewas great!

Fabulous location in the village of Bolton Landing on Lake George. Within walking distance from the…read moreSagamore. Many spirits options - something that will suit everyone. The menu includes many cocktails, wine, and beer. Friendly team that is knowledgeable and experts at what they do. I recommend the smoked old fashion, and bourbon peach smash for cocktails. On the rocks or near, the double barrel bourbon. The espresso martini looked divine as well, but I was there to try their locally distilled products.

Great cocktails. Very friendly service. Full bar with a wide range of liquors. I had a last word…read morecocktail.

Staying in Woodstock for the weekend and we decided to check out Rutland. My husband wanted to pop…read morein here spontaneously on Halloween 2025, despite knowing how much I rely on yelp reviews before walking into any establishment , and I am glad we checked it out! The cocktails are great and the bartenders are really friendly.

By far the best bar in the north country. The bartenders are the friendliest and the drinks are…read morethe best. Music changes daily and be ready to sing with the crowd.

We loved top of the park! The views are insane and highly recommend sitting outside. Probably the…read morebest views you can get while dining in Lake Placid. I was not expecting much from the food, but it was amazing! Everything we got was better than the next including hummus, wings (so flavorful), pork (so tender), and fish (with crispy skin!). I highly, highly recommend this place if you're in the area!

Great customer service, delicious and beautiful food, outstanding views of Mirror Lake. Your…read morepartner will love it!

We met friends for dinner at Cleome with very high expectations due to lots of positive chatter…read moreabout it. The bar area and wall garden are extremely cool. It's a fairly small space so definitely make reservations if you're planning on going during busier dinner hours. Service was decent - it was a little confusing and disjointed at times but I chalked that up to some inexperience (the server seemed a bit green) and that it's a fairly new restaurant. We had read somewhere that it was small plates - more like tapas...but then was explained that it's "family style". This is what caused said confusion at the table since "family style" to the four of us meant large, sharable portions. So, we just ordered a bunch of stuff in waves since we didn't really know how much food we were going to need. Some items arrived quickly, others took a very long time. Standout dishes to me were the Brussels sprouts and the apple cobbler dessert (which I just had a little taste of). I found some of the accompanying crackers odd - I think they were Ritz brand or something like that? We did request a few gluten free crackers and were brought a few. The swordfish was on the dry side - that's a tricky protein to get right. The fried chicken was served as cutlets - so some of the items were more difficult to share vs. others. The shrimp salad cups were somewhat unremarkable and a bit too loaded with mayo (in my opinion). The shishito peppers were nice - I think I was the one at the table that enjoyed those the most. We did linger at our table for a long time - a combination of wait times and good conversation with friends. We never felt rushed or pressured to leave (there wasn't a wait or line for tables). All in all, we had a nice time at Cleome and will likely give it another try at some point - now that we know what to expect

Back to Cleome with the family and for dollar oysters which were fantastic. I mean you can't screw…read moreup oysters but they didn't have cocktail sauce. Why? I have no idea. Three entrees: Tried the Lobster Mac and Cheese again and it was MUCH better than previously reported! That was great as was the fried chicken- soooo good. My burger unfortunately didn't arrive until after everyone else at the table was done with their meals. Oh bother.... it tasted meh and it's clear they are using a very low fat ground beef which made the burger more like a tasteless hockey puck. Still, everything else was wonderful and the background music was audible and made the experience even better. The Egg nog cocktail we had at another visit a few days before was delish. Despite my burger, we were please with our experience. I can only hope that they reconsider their low fat ground beef for something a little more tasty and juicy. Recommended.

One of my favorite places to be! Kendall is my favorite bartender! You can't go wrong with any of…read morethe drinks. The menu is amazing! Every time a new menu comes out it never disappoints! I highly recommend! The best restaurant on south street!!

One of the best eateries Glens Falls has to offer - the best staff, fantastic food, and the…read moreambiance is stellar. Glad to have Southpaw in Glens Falls.

I've been going to the Crossroads since I was a kid. As an avid fisherman they always have exactly…read morewhat I need. The food is also soo fantastic! From breakfast sandwiches to subs for lunch, 100/10 every time. The store itself is really cute and inviting. There is the deli on the first level, sporting goods on the bottom level and on the top level a little gift shop with great options for clothing and hiking apparel. Staff is always very friendly. This place has that ADK charm you hope to find.

For the outdoors enthusiast, Crossroads is the place to go in the area. Large selection of hunting,…read morefishing, hiking, and camping equipment. I was very happy to see a section in the fishing area devoted to Hinckley spoons, including the renowned 88's which, to me, are the best lures for attracting lake trout. Crossroads also sells live bait. Their worms have more squirm, and their shiners are finer. Prices reasonable. A smallish breakfast area, but their sandwiches are eggggcellent. Even gas prices, considering Crossroads is a bit off the beaten path, are comparable to the Stewart's on rte 8. And my friend, Locomotive Breath, who never passes up an opportunity to patronize a bathroom, says the men's room is clean and the "bathroom tissue" (toilet paper) is 2-ply! We always visit Crossroads when in the area. Highly recommend! 5 stars!