Kanu (say it like canoe) is so beautiful that I planned a whole leg of a trip around visiting this restaurant. The inside of the restaurant is as stunning as the photo show it to be. I wish we came when it was cooler so that the fireplaces were lit. Something to note is that we ate really early (6 pm) so we were the second party seated and eating. You get a bread basket to start with. Our bread basket came with bread pieces similar to a French baguette as well as a cranberry walnut bread, which was a 10 out of 10. Another great thing is that they brought a good amount of butter so we didn't have to ask for more, which is rare. We ordered the Caesar salad, the Wagyu, flatiron, and the prime filet, and the crispy brussel sprouts. Cesar salad - meh. It was basic and nothing to write home about. Crispy Brussel sprouts - 10/10 would order again and again Wagyu flatiron - my mom loved this steak both the cut and how it was cooked. Came with mashed potatoes that were good and plain broccolini which was meh. It was literally plain. Prime filet - this was my meal and it was the worst steak I've ever ordered. Literally Texas Roadhouse or Black Angus is better. I ordered it medium well and it came out almost rare. On top of that my steak knife had an issue cutting through the steak. There were tendons in the steak it couldn't cut through. * as a side note. The house steak sauce that they serve is sweet so if you're looking for that tangy A1 steak sauce, it is not it. No, I didn't send it back and our waitress never came around and asked how the meal was. I am an avid steak lover, and this was the worst steak I've ever ordered, and it made me so disappointed in a restaurant that I was so excited to visit and eat at. read more

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The ambience is absolutely stunning, with tall ceilings, lodge-style architecture/decor, and fireplaces that really set the mood. We were seated immediately, but then waited close to 10/15 minutes before our server acknowledged us, even though the table next to us seated after us was greeted first. It was our anniversary and we appreciated the complimentary champagne our server brought when she came to greet us. Our table was located next to large exterior glass doors, making it uncomfortably cold so when our server returned to take our order we asked if it would be possible to move to a table by the fire. Before we could even finish asking, she immediately shut the request down without offering to check with the hostess, stating the restaurant had a packed evening. At the time, the restaurant was very slow, and several fireside tables remained open even after we asked. We also watched another table request a move to a fireside table and be accommodated right away, which made the response to our request especially disappointing. There was additional confusion when the chef stopped by our table after we had ordered, mentioned a special menu, and asked if we were pescatarian. When I explained that I wasn't and that I had already ordered the salmon, it seemed he realized he was at the wrong table. He said he would return, but never did. The food was good, but not memorable enough to outweigh the rest. We would consider returning for the ambience alone, but the overall experience fell short. read more

Reviews are generally correct. Service absolutely horrible. Food even worse. Who can't make a decent spaghetti and meatballs.

If you look deep enough in google results, you can find a page from ten years ago that contains a food blog's glowing review of the Whiteface Lodge's Kanu restaurant. Compared to what I experienced at Kanu, what was written by that amateur food blogger struck this amateur food blogger as a work of fiction. That chef left roughly seven years ago, and what remains in his wake is perhaps the ugliest implementation of a post-covid "let's see what we can get away with" restaurant that could exist. Though all staff were pleasant, the drinks are very good for the prices, and the setting remains gorgeous, you get charged oh-my-god (high) prices for oh-my-god (frustratingly mediocre) food. There's no way to get around this except by not patronizing the restaurant after breakfast time. The six or so entrees have a median price exceeding $50. Trying to inflate your average check like this is diabolical yet does happen at Aspen, Telluride, or even Vail, but at Kanu it's delivered with the sting of an icy snowball to the face. Really? You can't offer a $30 trout or salmon or duck that in some way evokes the locality? $52 for "truffle" penne with some watery sauce and an absence of black truffles is insulting. Fifty-something dollar short rib (probably the best thing on the menu) served with gnocchi as a side dish rather than using the same rich sauce... lazy and incongruent. The scallops dish pictured here is down to three scallops instead of four, at a cost of basically $17 per scallop. The prices seem to have increased mightily post-covid, and it doesn't appear that anyone in a management position cares about preserving what might have actually been the best restaurant in town a decade ago. Please heed my warning: do not bother until you see evidence of management acknowledging its failings (even on review sites) and attempting meaningful changes. read more

Skip the "Christmas Meal" Underwhelming, Overpriced, and Empty Food Trays Rating: I recently visited Kanu at Whiteface Lodge for a holiday meal with my family, and unfortunately, it was a complete letdown. The experience was underwhelming, the food was cold, and the prices were exorbitant. It is with great disappointment that I write this review. Firstly, the quality of the meal was far from what we expected. The dishes lacked flavor and creativity, leaving us unsatisfied. To make matters worse, the food was served cold, which was a big letdown. It's disheartening when a special holiday meal fails to meet even the basic standards of taste and temperature. Another issue we encountered was the emptiness of the food trays. Despite the restaurant being only half full, the trays were frequently empty, and it seemed like the staff wasn't able to keep up with the demand. This lack of attention to replenishing the food displays left us feeling frustrated and disappointed. Kids were $25 and don't come with a soda. Very petty on a holiday menu to not offer a drink to a child. NO GLUTE FREE! I was told they would have gluten free options for our child who has celiac. He had steam and sorbet. That was it. $28 :/ Moreover, the prices at Kanu were significantly higher than what we would consider reasonable. We paid a staggering $350 for two adults and two children under 10, expecting a memorable and enjoyable dining experience. Unfortunately, it was far from that. The value we received for the price paid was simply not worth it. If you're looking for a holiday meal that lives up to your expectations, I would strongly advise skipping Kanu at Whiteface Lodge. Save your money and find a restaurant that offers better quality, service, and value. Overall, this was a complete waste of a holiday meal, and I sincerely hope that the management takes note of the shortcomings and makes improvements for the sake of future diners. read more

Kanu - $350 worth maybe $200. That's even stretching it. - New American Near Me - Lake Placid, New York

We were recommended to go to Kanu and after having an excellent dinner at The View at Mirror Lake Inn, we couldn't have been more disappointed. The food was inedible and the service was dismal. Not once did anyone come by to fill our water or ask if we wanted more drinks. Our entrees were brought out while our appetizers were still on the table and they were not cleared until well into the meal. At this level of dining this should not happen. The steak (ordered medium) was rare ( still moo'ing) and the bolognese penne was lukewarm, chewy (not aldente), and lacked any true flavor. Kanu is a beautiful restaurant that gets away with poor service and food due to the ambiance. for the level this restaurant purports to be and costs, this was one of the worst meals we have ever had. It was eye opening going from the View one night to Kanu the next, where you can really see the drop in level of service and quality of food. read more

I am all about value in a meal. But the Whiteface Lodge is a little bit different. It's more of an experience that you need to consider. I have stayed at the lodge three times over the past few years. And this most recent trip was just as wonderful. The Kanu has a great selection of wine yet a limited menu. It's quite good food with very nice plating. Yes, the prices are high but the staff is always amazing. They are conversational, interested, and value that you have a good experience. It's not about how many people we can get in and out. It's more about creating memories. When it comes to that, I'm all in. Our meal was perfect. We sat near the windows while it snowed and the fireplaces were going on either side of the dining room. I had the pork chop with Gorgonzola gnocchi and my wife had the red snapper. We really enjoyed our meals as well as the atmosphere and service. This is one place where my value for the meal adjusts. Especially when I get to share it with my lovely wife. This is a special place to take in the area as well as rejuvenate. read more

Kanu - Butterflied pork chop with Gorgonzola gnocchi (hidden underneath). - New American Near Me - Lake Placid, New York

Food was terrible and totally overpriced. Staff was nice ambiance great. It seems like they have a kitchen problem. Such a shame.

Amazing time here. Lumber Jack libation drink & bison burger were very very good. Shrimp Pot Pie was very good too and I liked that it was deconstructed so it was a lighter version of a pot pie. Ambiance was amazing!! Highly recommend! read more

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A convenient place when you don't want to venture outside the lodge. Nice rustic interior with a view of the lodge's outdoor area between the lodge & clubhouse. Quick efficient service & located on the second floor of the lodge which was great for those of us who were located just down the hall :) Enjoyed some casual food & the drinks were a good pour. Drinks are pretty pricey which is why I took 1 star off. read more

Kanu - COVID breakfast menu - to go only as of 10/3/20 - New American Near Me - Lake Placid, New York

Our son has severe food allergies. We notified the restaurant months in advance. They ended up serving him the allergens directly, twice. The waitress and manager tried their best to prevent this but the kitchen just ended up doing it anyway. Beside that my first drink was made incorrectly. That said, the manager did have it remade and it came back right. Food was underwhelming; atmosphere was nice. Service seemed understaffed. We waited an unusually long time to even be seen by a hostess. We didn't mind but it was indicative of the situation. read more

You are paying for the experience. It's a complete price product mismatch...tiny short rib (lukewarm) sauteed carrots and a gnocchi out of a box. Stunningly beautiful dining room however...good cheer in the place (moose, stag, beautiful paintings, old Tiffany lamps). Nothing was spared building this place...but the food was really mediocre. I would come here for a couple of cocktails at the pub at the Lodge and peep your head in Kanu. Lake Placid like Saratoga Springs has a lot of high priced mediocrity geared towards relieving the New Jersey, Long Island, Manhattan folks of their moolah...the Whiteface Lodge is absolutely a gem (we did two nights...) but Kanu is pretty much for the visuals... read more

If you are staying at the Whiteface Lodge, you should definitely dine here. The ambiance is amazing and the views are awesome. The service is very friendly and efficient. The food is very good but the dinner menu is somewhat limited. After a couple of nights you would find yourself having the same thing again. Other than that, try their daily soup specials. They are very good. Also, have the Filet Mignon if it's on the menu. read more

Kanu - Kanu - New American Near Me - Lake Placid, New York

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We celebrated our one month wedding anniversary here. Our server was friendly and checked in fairly frequently. We ordered the seared salmon and the scallops. Both dishes were flavorful and filling. I also ordered a Long Island iced tea which was delicious. When we're in the area again, I wouldn't mind stopping by to eat here. read more

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Amazing location. Restaurant is over the top lodge with antlers and complete with roaring fireplace. Definitely affected by covid. Waited for awhile but valet was never there. Left our keys with the front desk. We were seated immediately and our server was top notch. She was clearly working a lot of tables as best she could. Menu was limited. I had the pasta and the soup. Both were okay. Husband had the salmon and it just didn't wow him for the price. It was our most expensive dinner on our holiday and fell a bit short. I suspect things were different under more normal circumstances. read more

Gorgeous location and great food! Food took a little longer than usual to arrive but there was a large party of at least 15 people just ahead of us so it's to be expected. Our server was attentive and kept us informed of the wait. No worries, we had nowhere to be! Haha! Food was delish! I had steak frites with amazing potatoes and my husband had a double thick pork chop that was prepared perfectly! Great spot for our anniversary dinner! read more

Went for the Christmas dinner. Very disappointing. Bland, dry buffet for $100 a head. Saw the waiter once. Stoned valet attendants had us waiting in the cold for 15 minutes for our car... read more

This room is beautiful! We ate breakfast here 3 times and every-time I still found myself looking around. They have a big skylight , windows all around to watch the snow fall and plenty of space. Breakfast was included in our stay. Due to Covid we didn't take the food ourselves. They had 1-2 people serving each person. They have a written menu you can read which makes it easier to order. We had load potatoes , mixed medley home fries , scrambled eggs , yogurt and granola , fresh fruit , pancakes and sweet potato home fries.. We really enjoyed breakfast! My favorite was the sweet potato home fries and mixed home fries. So so good. Make sure to ask for your bill when ordering drinks if you are in a rush. read more

We expected a fine dining experience. They took over an hour to serve the entrees: filet mignon 72 bucks and a pasta dish with chanterelle mushrooms about 52 bucks. They both arrived overcooked and taste less. We returned the dishes and canceled the meal and left. They admitted they the food was sub-standard! They charged us the 69 dollars anyway for 2 appetizers and 2 glasses of wine. It was awful!!! We should not have been charged at all. On top of this, they made us wait until 8 pm to reserve dinner time-despite that the restaurant was almost empty. Diners beware! We ended up scrambling to find dinner in town because it was after 9pm. They accepted no financial responsibility. read more

The staff here are absolute sweethearts and could not have been more sympathetic to the situation. It was almost as if they felt sorry for us spending the Holidays at their workplace. The food was nothing short of criminal. I feel a deep sense of hopelessness and depression after attempting to eat dinner here. I can't help but feel sorry for the working class families of the North East who pound the pavement all year to be rewarded with a salt-less pork chop surrounded by some over baked vegetables for a cool $50. List of things I would rather do than go to Kanu to eat. 1. Tongue kiss my dad 2. Develop an opioid addiction 3. Restart middle school Don't do it. read more

Same kitchen and crew for all restaurants at the Lodge so until there are changes, you might as well eat elsewhere. Except breakfast. Breakfast buffet is worth staying for. It could be better and more variety (smoked fish and croissants would be nice). But dinner... The margherita pizza was so bad it was laughable-not fully cooked thick dough with sparse toppings that were not integrated into the pizza. The chicken was cold, the burgers were so-so and the truffle fries/regular fries were below par. When a restaurant in such an illustrious setting is so bad, and consistently so as seen by reviews, I want to learn more. I asked three staff members about the kitchen. They have staff meetings where this is mentioned repeatedly and no changes. The management knows their kitchen is awful. One excuse was that it's hard to attract a good chef, but Vail and Park City have epic lodge kitchens so I don't buy it. The fact is that it is not a priority and affects staff morale because they want to hear their resort is great in all aspects. I would be firing people... read more

The Adirondack architecture is amazing. I loved the craftsmanship of the building. Spectacular. Be forewarned, the food is incredibly expensive. read more

Quite possibly the worst restaurant in Lake Placid. The room is beautiful. It was 22 degrees outside and we asked the waiter why the 2 huge fireplaces were not burning. He responded that it had to be much colder outside for their fireplaces to draw the smoke out of the room. The food quality is very poor. The meat is borderline edible. The dishes presented are not really close to that described on the menu. The portions are embarrassingly small and the prices very high. The venison, which I ordered rare, was incinerated. The scallops were bathed in salt. The vegetables are over oiled, salted and cooked. The spinach salad was very tired and clearly shelf over ripened. Other than that the service was one step above rude. read more

I must stress that the people and waitstaff are absolutely wonderful and the place itself has a beautiful atmosphere and people who are genuinely pleasant and seem happy. However, don't believe anyone on this site who reviews this restaurant as higher than 1 star. Have had 3 consecutive cold, tasteless meals with food that on the same plate was simultaneously over done and under done within the same dish--how is this even possible? Are half the bulbs in the warming lamp (yes, I actually think that is what they put our food under before they brought it to us) burned out? Who screws up breakfast home fries? Hard little brown nuggets with no seasoning or flavor. Had one sausage link that was raw and one one that was incinerated. Ordered rye toast, got one slice of white and one slice of wheat. Had to special order butter for the toast. Not even a spoon to stir coffee with unless you ask specifically for one. Do they really cost that much more to put into the silverware packet? Finally, my wife had a breakfast omelette where the uncooked eggs leaked out all over the plate and flowed over the rest of the food like like flooding on the shore of the east Hudson River. Not only should breakfast be free, they should pay us to eat it. Dinner scallops that had no sear and no flavor, and how is it that 2 $40 entrees can be served cold. Truffle fries that were cold and large cheese curds unmelted within the overcooked yet still cold fries. Bread was good! And they did give us a complimentary glass of champagne as it was our anniversary. Would absolutely return for the accommodations and atmosphere of the lodge itself, but at over $700/night for the suite and dinner entrees that seem to average between $35-$40, would expect dining experiences that would be better than what we could get at an applebee's. I would agree with other reviewers that the pier 47 bar across the hall has quite good food and execution but a far simpler menu. I suspect the same as others who have commented that it seems like the menu is created to appear upscale with a kitchen that does not appear to be able to meet the expectation. read more

Meh. It was basically empty yet service was super slow. Waitress rarely came back to check on us or get our orders. Appetizers came out wrong, entrees came out without their sides, servings were very small. Very nice interior though. read more

Beautiful lodge and atmosphere but the food was not impressive. From the filet to the pasta, "ok" at best. Mostly, it was flavorless. Even the house salad was bland. We don't mind paying for a really good meal, but this was just boring and "old school." How about a little creativity in dining? The good: generous pour of wine and friendly staff. read more

A real pleasure dining at Kanu (and the bar the night before). The servers never stopped for a second. Very hard working crew. Kudos to Tiffany tonite. Bread is a winner to start. Good bread goes a long way. Ok- Caesar was fine. Sized to share. Steak frites (a filet mignon w/ a potato thing) was very good. Halibut very good. Berries for dessert a real plus. ONLY PROBLEM - the crab and artichoke dip app is one of the worst things I have tasted. So bad it should come off the menu. Immediately. For $19 they could certainly come up with a few better appetizers. Did I mention I HATED the crab and artichoke dip? read more

This place is gorgeous, especially during the holidays where a huge Christmas tree out of a childhood dream, decorated to the nines greets you in between two large fireplaces. It truly is a beautiful setting and atmosphere. It's also one of the few nicer restaurants in Lake Placid, and the setting at least feels special. The whole lodge is perfectly decorated, it commits to the cabin vibe, without feeling over done. We started with drinks at the bar in the more casual room. The specialty drinks are wonderfully balanced and crafted, and the bartenders were friendly and knowledgeable. We had a very nice time relaxing and enjoying some cocktails before our dinner, and I would highly recommend coming here for just that. Unfortunately, that is where the positives end. I will preface the rest of this review with the fact that the restaurant appeared very busy and we were there the day before new years eve, apparently much of their staff called out. However, we were seated and not greeted for almost half an hour. We ordered drinks which took another half an hour, at least, and some were not correct (white wine instead of red, wrong bottle of white brought out). After finally putting our food order in we did not see our waitress at all for another hour (2 young children had joined after drinks and they were getting very antsy), in fact were were going up to the bar to get drinks because we couldn't find her anywhere. I think the bartender finally alerted the manager, who came over to our table about an hour and a half after food had gone in. He was very sweet and apologetic, and the food did come out right away after that. Sadly though, the food was terrible. Almost everything was overcooked or under cooked and under seasoned. Then one of my dining companions pulled a large clump of hair out of her chicken after about 3 bites. Once that happened we were done. The manager did comp the meal for us, but it was very disappointing as we were looking forward to one of our nicer meals out there. I wasn't going to leave this review, but it looks like many others have had similar experiences. Hopefully they will rectify the issues. TL/DR: gorgeous place, great for cocktails, food and service needs some work! read more

I am so disappointed! Our server could only be described as hostile- grumpy, unwilling to answer questions, and disregarded my deadly food allergies. But it isn't the service that leads me to three stars- it's the food! The quality of food did not match the pricing. The options were unimaginative. My guests lobster pasta was cold! I would only go back for their giant fireplaces. read more

It pains me to write negatively about Kanu - after all we were married in this very spot in 2018 and had a simply magical wedding. The room is amazing, and it brings back the warmest of memories. The entire lodge is worth a stay for sure - but go eat down in town where there are some excellent choices. Liquids & Solids is a winner as is Top of the Park. Stay away from the food at Kanu. It's just not worth the cost. So back to Kanu. The food to be subpar at best. I'll start by saying once we flagged the issues, the servers were excellent and took care of us as far as comping most of our meal. They did the right thing in the end. But this is really about the food which for the price lacked flavor or flair. The duck appetizer, a terrine of sorts, was plain, crumbly and dry. I'm surprised to have to say this but pates and terrines should be rich and interesting - this was dry and flavorless. It was also served in a jar that was kind of awkward to scoop from as it wasn't a spreadable terrine, but more crumbly. The venison was simply average. Edible but no real seasoning. I ordered the tomahawk ribeye and it came out as a thin piece of chewy meat that at first glance, I thought was the wrong order. I could only assume a $44 steak with be a nice thick cut with a bone, well-marbled and finely seasoned. (I'm not a steak snob - I've had my share of high and low end, but this was NOT a $44 cut of meat.) This looked like a strip steak that had been flattened by a semi. It was overly chewy and not worth more than a second bite. Unfortunately, our server never checked in with us after dropping the food, so my wife finished her uninspiring venison before anything could be done. The server, as mentioned, was very professional and apologetic and comped us for much of our meal. The server also was willing to admit that they send back many of these steaks, but the management has yet to address the issue. I appreciated her honesty. (She also suggested we avoid the sole. I'd add an extra half a star for the server if I could - while she could've checked in earlier, it was an honest mistake and she handled herself professionally. We went next door to Peak 47, their more casual eatery and bar and had a fine enough snack (bar pizza) and a drink afterwards. Maybe stick to that side of the resort and order simpler bar food as that's all they were able to handle. read more

My husband and I had dinner here and loved it! We sat next to the fireplace and we had excellent service. Everyone was extremely nice. Tables were really spaced out and the high ceilings and open space made us feel comfortable with Covid protocols. We would definitely recommend, nice views, cozy atmosphere and pleasant service. read more

1.5 hours to get a salad. Manager never came to table to explain, apologize or comp a glass of wine. Fish was overcooked. Beautiful room with cold draft read more

I visited the Kanu Lounge on a Friday evening and we initially had a little trouble finding a hostess to seat us. However, once we were seated the service was great. We could only see one waitress working that night, which was a little concerning but it didn't really affect our service. The room was beautifully decorated and it had a casual atmosphere, with many people sitting on the couches by the fire and drinking all night. For an appetizer, we ordered the spinach artichoke dip, which was delicious. It came with bread instead of chips but it was extremely good. My entree was a burger, which I asked to be cooked medium and it was cooked to my specifications. It was juicy, tender, and flavorful. A great, classic burger. I also ordered the truffle fries, which the waitress may have overhyped a bit because they were good but maybe not worth the upgrade. Others with me ordered the chicken sandwich and a salad with salmon. I was told that both of their dinners were amazing as well. The Kanu Lounge would probably be the best, or close to being the best, restaurant in Lake Placid if they had a more expansive menu. I would not recommend this place to picky eaters but otherwise, it's amazing. read more

Everything from beginning to end of experience here was amazing. Valet and concierge entering the hotel were so friendly and helpful, host of the restaurant recommended a custom drink for me, server was excellent, professional, and friendly. Our shrimp spinach and artichoke dip app was sooo delicious. I had the scallops entree and my husband the prime beef. Both were cooked perfectly and tasted incredible. The ambience of the whole lodge and restaurant is unbeatable. Cozy fireplaces and Christmas trees everywhere. We also got a drink before dinner at their more casual restaurant Peak 47 which was also amazing! We will definitely be back! read more

Kanu - Scallops and risotto - New American Near Me - Lake Placid, New York

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Bad bad bad food. I've bee coming here on vacations for The last 8 yrs and it's progressively getting worse. Way over priced which I don't mind to an extent but the food is not good and even the servers agree. Huge disappointment for the family. read more

Two stars for ambiance and really nice waitstaff. But I took three stars away because the food was so so so so bad. My husband and I came up to the area for a winter honeymoon and had a great time at the lodge in the spa! We had a few drinks at the bar and some appetizers before getting dinner at Kanu. The restaurant was pretty empty but it was early and a weekday so I didn't think much of it. But by the time the food arrived we knew why. The meal we ate was completely flavorless, as in I don't think they even used salt. I ended up packing mine up and feeding it to our dog. For sure the most expensive meal my dog has ever eaten! It is a shame because this was our fancy night out and we decided to splurge on it. Wish I would have read the reviews here before going. read more

Great atmosphere! My husband and I very much enjoyed the Brussel sprouts appetizer. They were yum yum! I had the red pepper and tomato bisque soup (soup de jour) which was good. We enjoyed our beef tenderloin entrees, both were cooked perfectly. We would definitely return. read more

We went with a group of about 12 people last night. Unfortunately half of is had a very bad experience. I ordered the bone in strip steak medium rare and it came back raw. 3-4 people ordered duck and it was raw and had to be sent back. Skin wasn't crispy at all. My steak came back out after they cooked it again and it was still raw. I left half of it on the plate untouched and ate dessert instead. I had the peanut butter pie and it was the only good thing that night. read more

We stayed at The Whiteface Lodge for 4 nights, and got food there 3 of the four nights. We ate the buffet breakfast all four mornings. The restaurant was overpriced and variable.  My kid got buttered noodles 3 nights in a row.  The second night, I also ordered one for my other child, and was given two half portions at the same price.  FWIW, my kid loved the buttered noodles. At $9.00 a pop, she better have. The breakfast buffet is ok. The hot stuff is generally a scramble, plain eggs, plain pancakes, flavored pancakes/french toast, breakfast meats and oatmeal. Cold stuff was pastry, cereal, yogurt, fruit and granola. Right now the buffet is served, so you stand on line and tell a server what you want from the choices. If you want toast, you have to order through your table server, which means your breakfast is cold by the time toast comes.  The scrambles were not hot anyway, and the cheese was not melted in them. The pancakes were quite good. Syrup was on the table. However, they did not give us butter for the pancakes, which we realized you have to ask for separately when you are at the buffet. Also, only once in 4 times we ate breakfast there was I given a spoon with my tea/coffee.  Every other time I had to get up and hunt one down.  Big props to "Bersin" who was the one waitress who brought a spoon.  She also brought my kids' drinks in plastic cups with straws, which no one else did, and interacted really sweetly with all of us. As with the rest of the hotel, this restaurant is beautiful and poorly run. Don't try to call from your room, they do not answer. You will need to come and place your order in person. read more

We've stayed at the Whiteface Lodge for our anniversary the last 3 years and have been to Kanu a number of times. Years back it was quite good but most recently our experience has been very poor which I believe has to do with changes in the kitchen staff and menu. My feeling is that the menu items are being chosen to create a facade of a much higher tier of restaurant than what Kanu is realistically able to deliver. They have a number of unique and interesting dishes with menus that change frequently but the kitchen is unable to execute on them. Dishes have come out luke warm, unseasoned, under or overcooked, and with sometimes strange flavor profiles that just don't work. Often times quite expensive items consist of small portions, which even if prepare properly, would be hard to justify price wise. All that said, I think there is a way to turn around the food just by simplifying the menu and allowing the kitchen to perfect more traditional menu items. As I understand it, the lower end Peak 47 restaurant, which is right next door shares the same kitchen staff and they are consistently good every time we have been there so I think the staff can succeed if they are given the opportunity. Moving beyond the food, the service is always wonderful so points for that. Also it must be said that the Kanu dining room is spectacular, and easily the nicest venue in the area. It is worth a trip just to see that in my opinion. We will continue to visit the WhiteFace lodge but until we see changes in the Kanu dining room menu, we will likely eat at Peak 47 or one of the other better restaurants in the area. read more