Editor Pick
Montcalm Restuarant
- December 12, 2007
- Rated 4 of 5 by
BabylonExodus from New York, New York
On our last day in Lake George, as we were driving back to the city, we were looking for a place to eat. Driving down Route 9, we passed several places that were too busy, too generic (i.e. McDonalds, Burger King, etc.), or otherwise unacceptable and ended up at the Montcalm - down by the 6-Flags area. The restaurant didn’t look like much from the outside- just a regular brick building with large windows and a small parking area out front. Stepping inside, we find that the décor looked like something out of a retirement community. Not ones to be deterred by the old-fashioned, hand-me-down look, however, we decided to try it out. And, well, we were hungry.
Perhaps our hunger clouded our good sense; we didn’t listen to the age-old advice, and judged the book by its cover- the Montcalm turned out to be one of the best restaurants we’ve eaten at - and that’s saying a lot. We’re from New York. It’s not particularly innovative or fancy and the menu was quite....wait for it....old-school, but they know how to do it and do it well.
We were served by a very experienced, friendly waiter. She came to us within minutes of our getting seated and was generally quick and attentive during the meal. We were seated close to the warming fireplace, but also near a window. Luckily, not a drafty window. The fireplace gave a cozy feel to the rustic comfort we felt. It was almost romantic, with dim lighting and flowers and candles on the tabletop.
Speaking of the fireplace, over it hung a gigantic picture of George Washington that seemed out of place for a restaurant close to Fort William Henry. Then again, it could have been Lieutenant-Colonel George Monro, the British Army Officer in command of the fort. What do I know?
The food was delicious, appetizing, heavenly, etc. My fillet of Atlantic salmon (broiled with lemon butter and topped with dill hollandaise) was moist, tender, and probably the best salmon dish I’ve had in quite awhile. It’s that good. My companion’s boneless Sirloin steak was also savory, according to him. Our meals came with a vegetable and potato du jour, garden salad, and fresh baked rolls.
The one bummer was the prices. They are slightly higher than normal for the area, but hey, this wasn’t a pub and brewery. My salmon cost about $20 and the steak about $25. Not terrible, but also not what were expected when we walked in.
So, the Montcalm is a must when you’re in Lake George. Enjoy the food, the service, and the relaxing atmosphere- just try not to balk at the décor. It grows on you.
From journal Autumn on the Lake