For tasty scones and other baked goods, step into Bluesberry Bakery (26 Main St., 518/523-4539). For a more extensive breakfast, Chair 6 (46 Sentinel Rd., 518/523-3630) will nicely fit the bill. For mouth-watering barbecue served inside or out, stop at Tail o’ the Pup (Rte. 86, 518/891-5092), a classic roadside eatery located halfway between Lake Placid and Saranac Lake. Also good is local favorite Caribbean Cowboy (89 Saranac Ave., 518/523-3836) serving tasty starters like shrimp and black bean fritters in an unassuming hole-in-the-wall.

The Lake Placid Pub and Brewery (14 Mirror Lake Dr., 518/523-3813), once a church and still bearing a large stained glass window, is a popular spot, offering hearty pub food upstairs, a boisterous Irish bar below. At Nicola’s On Main and Grill 211 (2470 Main St., 518/523-4430, $13–25) you’ll find two restaurants in one. Nicola’s is an upscale Italian restaurant serving pasta, fresh fish, veal, and pizza baked in a wood-fired oven. Grill 211 is a New York City–style steakhouse with wooden floors, tin ceilings, and wooden booths.

On the lake across from the village is the
Boathouse (89 Lake Placid Club Dr., 518/523-4822, $17), a large and comfortable blond-wood eatery with an outdoor deck and great views of the lake. The menu ranges from salads and burgers to fresh fish and steak.

One of the region’s top restaurants, the elegant, candle-lit Averil Conwell Dining Room (Mirror Lake Inn, 5 Mirror Lake Dr., 518/523-2544, $26) specializes in an innovative fare that ranges from fresh pastas and seafood to steak and grilled duck. Also on site is the Cottage (5 Mirror Lake Dr., 518/523-2544, $16), a sort of upscale pub built directly on the lake, where the menu is simpler but just as good. A wide selection of wines and microbrews is available here.

The High Peaks Resort (2384 Saranac Ave., 518/523-4411, www.highpeaksresort.com) has two dining options. The casual The Dancing Bears claims coldest beer in Lake Placid due to their draught beers bubbling out of a frost-covered fountain. And the fine dining Reflections offers extensive rooftop outdoor seating overlooking the lake.