Tankard Taverne | Lake George, NY

Published March 3, 2018

As you've learned from my other New Year adventures in Lake George, we dined mostly in the Fort William Henry Hotel. 

For lunch on the first afternoon, we ventured through the hotel halls to the Tankard Taverne. 

Tankard Taverne | The Interior 

Photo Credit: Jamie

When you first enter this large room you see the wall of windows on the left. They overlook the outdoor patio, hill, and lake.

Immediately to your right is the wooden bar (which felt like a polished Pinterest project). Past the bar is a dining room with a mix of four-person seats. Two leather chairs perched in front of a fireplace in the center of the room. Flatscreen TVs played football with subtitles. A red popcorn machine sat in the corner near the bar, filling the room with the smell of butter and salt.

Photo Credit: Jamie

The Lunch Menu 

We were the only people who sat down for lunch in the dining room that first afternoon. We received a menu, which I found out, is from an older restaurant in the area. 

Either way, we ordered Caesar salads as a reasonable dish to judge the restaurant. (Because really, how can you mess up a Caesar salad?) 

The best part of this salad was those little pieces of toasted bread with spices. 

The salad came in a large bowl and (as you can see) had shaved cheese over top. I personally, would've liked more dressing on it, but overall it was a good lunch portion. I believe it was $9. 

The view from our table | Outdoor Patio & Lake

The bartender was also our waitress. She seemed new but was friendly and attentive. We sat at a 4-person table right next to the window.

A bar-top fire pit called to me from their outdoor patio. In the distance, the hill overlooked the strip of summer shops, and then the frozen lake and docked boats. 

The Dinner Menu 

For New Year's Eve we came back to the Tankard Taverne. Fireworks were scheduled right outside so we planned to sit from the top of the hill and watch them. 

Our dinner menu was The Tankard Taverne's everyday menu. But they also had New Year's Eve specials, such as: 

• Appetizer

  • Smoked Salmon Garni

  • Vegetable Stuffed Portabella Mushroom

  • Shrimp Cocktail

• Second Course

  • House Garden Salad

  • Sweet Potato & Crab Bisque

  • Caesar Salad

• Entree

  • Pan Seared Chicken Champignon

  • Crab Stuffed Sole Beurre Blanc

  • Roast Prime Rib Au Jus

  • Penne Pesto Prima Vera

• Dessert

  • Cake

  • Torte's 

  • Mousse

  • Pie

I didn't try their fancy several course meal, but I did order their pulled pork sandwich (my other go-to dinner dish). 

This was the type of dish I was expecting from a bar/tavern type of restaurant: classic comfort food with homemade, local ingredients.

The chips were hand-cut, warm and salty from the fryer. The coleslaw was peppery and mellow, piled on top of the tender pork. This portion was more than enough for me and was a perfect, cozy dish for a winter night. 

I believe my sandwich cost $12. We were so excited for the fireworks, that I didn't note as much detail on this menu.

The Recommendation

 

The Tankard Taverne has a beautiful bar and dining area. Considering it was a holiday, the kitchen and staff managed the room well and offered many dishes. 

The lake view, inviting fireplace, and central location within the Fort William Henry Hotel are some of the top reasons why you should stop in and try their food.

Looking for more restaurants to visit? Click here to read the New York restaurant reviews.