My husband and I hosted our son and daughter-in-law’s rehearsal dinner at Sunset Bistro/Ampersand Bay Resort. Thank you, Brian LaVallee for going above and beyond! The flowers were done by LAKE PLACID FLOWER AND GIFT CO. (Lisa Kirby). They were simply STUNNING! Literally, from soup to nuts the entire event was spectacular. We cannot praise it enough; the flowers were gorgeous and the food plentiful and delicious. Chief Richard Brosseau and his staff were courteous and efficient and made sure the food was hot as it was served to our 36 guests. We would highly recommend this restaurant for dinner or for an event.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Leah Ginsburg
What a gem on Saranak Lake. Long drive yes........worth it !!! Great service and the drinks (chocolate martini) was great !!! My duck was uniquely delicious and highly recommend this jewel.....Not to mention great location with breathtaking sunset views on the lake.....😋
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Jeff Doane
Service was very good and friendly
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Rebecca Flemer
We had a fabulous meal and great service. Especially after our dinner when the chef rescued us after we got a flat tire!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Brian Smith
I stumbled across Sunset Bistro and what a find! It's got to be one of the best decks in the ADKs! We had a wonderful dinner on the deck while watching the sun set. The food was amazing and our server was absolutely wonderful. Best of all they are dog friendly! We had our dog with us and she fell in love with our server who was so kind to her. We will definitely be back!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Karen
Everything from the get go was fantastic! The food was spectacular, the service incredible! The open view of the kitchen was a nice touch, being able to speak with the chefs to tell them just how incredible the food was. We are local and will definitely be back. I can't believe it took us this long to find this little gem of a place.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Dionell Peart
Food was good and well prepared, but limited in variety.
Service was slow, but attentive, when present.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 3
Tyler Ellithorpe
As a local this is torture. $51 for 2 burgers. This is absurd. Amazing location, friendly staff but the food is abysmal and the pricing is outrageous. Our burgers came with 1/4 cup of coleslaw. $6 to add bacon… 1 strip of bacon came on my burger.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 1
Service: 5
Deborah Young
Cannot beat the gorgeous views from the deck and the frozen sangria was delicious. Very tasty mushroom flatbread. The specials menu listed haddock with risotto and summer squash. What we got was broccoli ,some kind of giant beans and dry haddock.Told waitress who said she would tell chef. Wait staff was inattentive..never asking how food was or if we would like another drink and the water waiter completely skipped our table.Waitress asked if we wanted dessert but really didn't try luring us with mentioning what was offered. I am a local...in my 60s and this is only the 2nd time I ever complained about a restaurant. This is the only lakefront restaurant we have and I want it to be awesome. Hoping it was just a bad night. We will give it another try.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 2
Service: 2
Matthew Marotta
Fantastic owners and staff. We went on our honeymoon and had a little porch section to ourselves and had fantastic food and drinks. We were met in the door by one of the owners who immediately blessed us with her grace and kindness. She complimented my now wife's dress (which was beautiful) and it immediately felt like we made the right choice. They invited us to the bar after the meal and talked with us for a bit about local things to do over a delicious espresso martini. Highly recommend this place and make sure you check out their paddle boarding or pontoon boating too!
This restaurant is a beautiful location right on the lake! We had our own private little two top table on a balcony over the water! We started with the refreshing watermelon poke salad and it was delicious. The fresh feta, sweet watermelon and tender tuna was a medley of flavor! My husband got the tender juicy peppercorn duck entre and I got the steak frites accompanied with a Demi sauce, it had an unexpected surprise of pickled asparagus and it was a flavor profile that unforgettable in all the right ways! The dessert was a vanilla bean custard with a blueberry compote and shaved vanilla bean! We both got mules and they were perfectly balanced with the appropriate ratios! The manager Ryan and his wife and the resident chef invited us in for a drink and they made the best espresso martini I’ve ever had! This spot is tranquil and calm with an elevated menu that has a sophistication to it while also offering classics like burgers and fries that have their own flare that make them not an an ordinary dish! 10/10 recommend if you want to feel a sense of welcome with tons of flavor! We will be back!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Demi Laino
Hard to find but totally worth it. Beautiful restaurant right on Amperstand Bay with gorgeous views. The drinks were delicious and they have an extensive wine and beer list. I had the catch of the day which was delicious and fresh. My husband ordered the chicken pillaird which was equally enjoyed. Dessert was poached pears with a goat cheese cream and it was beyond!! This place exceeds expectations...make reservations!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Pierce Warburton
Great service and beautiful views! We sat outside and it really did live up to its name with the sunset haha. I'll have to stop myself from coming every week!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Stephen Anderson
Sunset Bistro at Ampersand Bay Resort completely changed my outlook on resort dining — this is a true hidden gem in the Adirondacks, and an absolute must if you’re in the area.
Normally, I steer away from restaurants inside resorts. I’ve had better luck with local spots in town. But Sunset Bistro? It flipped that narrative for me, in the best possible way.
We were staying at Ampersand Bay Resort (another review entirely — and also excellent), prepping for our summit hike of Mt. Marcy. After 11 hours and 40 minutes of rain, wind, mud, and scrambling to the top of New York’s highest peak, we were cold, wet, tired… and starving. Our group of five included some serious food lovers, and we had reserved Sunset Bistro for our post-hike celebratory dinner — seeking something upscale, convenient, and worthy of the occasion.
Let’s set the scene: We rolled out of bed at 4:45 AM, hit the trail by 6:30, and finished just in time to rush back to the resort and change before our 7:45 PM reservation. Thankfully, we were staying in the Saranac Suite — right above the restaurant — so all we had to do was (carefully!) hobble down the stairs.
The vibe? Perfect. Casual and inviting, but still refined — ideal for winding down after a massive day. There’s a warmth to the space: cozy yet trendy, laid-back yet worthy of a special night out. The view of Lower Saranac Lake at sunset is breathtaking. Watching the water, the boats, and the golden light dancing on the lake made the night feel magical. The open kitchen added a nice sense of energy, and the deck looked like a dream for warmer evenings.
Service? Flawless. Attentive, genuine, and elevated without being stuffy. A wine expert on staff helped guide our selections — which we appreciated even more since one of our hikers makes wine and we know a thing or two ourselves. We started with a Brunello, and later, a Châteauneuf-du-Pape — both excellent. They’ve earned a 2024 Wine Spectator Award of Excellence, and it’s clear why.
A huge shoutout to Brian, the resort GM, who welcomed us like old friends. It was a quiet Monday night, and we invited him to share a glass of wine with us — he was the perfect host, rounding out what already felt like a perfect night.
Now for the food — truly outstanding. Several in our group had the Duck Breast, pastrami dry-rubbed and perfectly seared, served with sweet potato mash, asparagus, and a cherry-balsamic reduction. It was elegant, flavorful, and beautifully presented. I had the evening special — Trout with Beurre Noisette, served with fingerling potatoes and asparagus. The fish was tender and moist, and the brown butter sauce tied everything together masterfully.
This isn’t just a “resort restaurant” — this is a destination in its own right. The view is stunning, yes. But unlike so many places with a great view and mediocre food, Sunset Bistro delivers across the board: thoughtful cuisine, an exceptional wine list, and warm, memorable service.
If you’re anywhere near Saranac Lake, make a reservation. Whether you’re celebrating something big or just want to enjoy a beautiful lakeside evening, this place is something special.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Addison
The outside of the restaurant is deceiving. Almost didn't go in. Parking lot is incredibly small, not paved, & had to wait quite a while for a parking spot to open up. We did make a reservation and arrived on time, but waited around 30 minutes for our table. A handful of empty tables were available. Menu is limited & we knew that walking in. Since one of us is underage & the other party was driving, we chose to have water. Upon being seated we were provided half a glass of warm water. This was never refilled. Service was incredibly slow. No update from the server.. and again no water refill. The food had potential but it was cold when we got it. Cold. We thought for certain our server would check in & we could address the issue. Nope. She did walk past us five times, but no eye contact, no check in, & we did try to get her attention with no success. Our server spoke to us a total of three times (order, food drop off, check) and no one else was walking around.
My husband and I hosted our son and daughter-in-law’s rehearsal dinner at Sunset Bistro/Ampersand Bay Resort. Thank you, Brian LaVallee for going above and beyond! The flowers were done by LAKE PLACID FLOWER AND GIFT CO. (Lisa Kirby). They were simply STUNNING! Literally, from soup to nuts the entire event was spectacular. We cannot praise it enough; the flowers were gorgeous and the food plentiful and delicious. Chief Richard Brosseau and his staff were courteous and efficient and made sure the food was hot as it was served to our 36 guests. We would highly recommend this restaurant for dinner or for an event.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
What a gem on Saranak Lake. Long drive yes........worth it !!! Great service and the drinks (chocolate martini) was great !!! My duck was uniquely delicious and highly recommend this jewel.....Not to mention great location with breathtaking sunset views on the lake.....😋
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Service was very good and friendly
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
We had a fabulous meal and great service. Especially after our dinner when the chef rescued us after we got a flat tire!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I stumbled across Sunset Bistro and what a find! It's got to be one of the best decks in the ADKs! We had a wonderful dinner on the deck while watching the sun set. The food was amazing and our server was absolutely wonderful. Best of all they are dog friendly! We had our dog with us and she fell in love with our server who was so kind to her. We will definitely be back!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Everything from the get go was fantastic! The food was spectacular, the service incredible! The open view of the kitchen was a nice touch, being able to speak with the chefs to tell them just how incredible the food was. We are local and will definitely be back. I can't believe it took us this long to find this little gem of a place.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Food was good and well prepared, but limited in variety.
Service was slow, but attentive, when present.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 3
As a local this is torture. $51 for 2 burgers. This is absurd. Amazing location, friendly staff but the food is abysmal and the pricing is outrageous. Our burgers came with 1/4 cup of coleslaw. $6 to add bacon… 1 strip of bacon came on my burger.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 1
Service: 5
Cannot beat the gorgeous views from the deck and the frozen sangria was delicious. Very tasty mushroom flatbread. The specials menu listed haddock with risotto and summer squash. What we got was broccoli ,some kind of giant beans and dry haddock.Told waitress who said she would tell chef. Wait staff was inattentive..never asking how food was or if we would like another drink and the water waiter completely skipped our table.Waitress asked if we wanted dessert but really didn't try luring us with mentioning what was offered. I am a local...in my 60s and this is only the 2nd time I ever complained about a restaurant. This is the only lakefront restaurant we have and I want it to be awesome. Hoping it was just a bad night. We will give it another try.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 2
Service: 2
Fantastic owners and staff. We went on our honeymoon and had a little porch section to ourselves and had fantastic food and drinks. We were met in the door by one of the owners who immediately blessed us with her grace and kindness. She complimented my now wife's dress (which was beautiful) and it immediately felt like we made the right choice. They invited us to the bar after the meal and talked with us for a bit about local things to do over a delicious espresso martini. Highly recommend this place and make sure you check out their paddle boarding or pontoon boating too!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
This restaurant is a beautiful location right on the lake! We had our own private little two top table on a balcony over the water! We started with the refreshing watermelon poke salad and it was delicious. The fresh feta, sweet watermelon and tender tuna was a medley of flavor! My husband got the tender juicy peppercorn duck entre and I got the steak frites accompanied with a Demi sauce, it had an unexpected surprise of pickled asparagus and it was a flavor profile that unforgettable in all the right ways! The dessert was a vanilla bean custard with a blueberry compote and shaved vanilla bean! We both got mules and they were perfectly balanced with the appropriate ratios! The manager Ryan and his wife and the resident chef invited us in for a drink and they made the best espresso martini I’ve ever had! This spot is tranquil and calm with an elevated menu that has a sophistication to it while also offering classics like burgers and fries that have their own flare that make them not an an ordinary dish! 10/10 recommend if you want to feel a sense of welcome with tons of flavor! We will be back!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Hard to find but totally worth it. Beautiful restaurant right on Amperstand Bay with gorgeous views. The drinks were delicious and they have an extensive wine and beer list. I had the catch of the day which was delicious and fresh. My husband ordered the chicken pillaird which was equally enjoyed. Dessert was poached pears with a goat cheese cream and it was beyond!! This place exceeds expectations...make reservations!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Great service and beautiful views! We sat outside and it really did live up to its name with the sunset haha. I'll have to stop myself from coming every week!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Sunset Bistro at Ampersand Bay Resort completely changed my outlook on resort dining — this is a true hidden gem in the Adirondacks, and an absolute must if you’re in the area.
Normally, I steer away from restaurants inside resorts. I’ve had better luck with local spots in town. But Sunset Bistro? It flipped that narrative for me, in the best possible way.
We were staying at Ampersand Bay Resort (another review entirely — and also excellent), prepping for our summit hike of Mt. Marcy. After 11 hours and 40 minutes of rain, wind, mud, and scrambling to the top of New York’s highest peak, we were cold, wet, tired… and starving. Our group of five included some serious food lovers, and we had reserved Sunset Bistro for our post-hike celebratory dinner — seeking something upscale, convenient, and worthy of the occasion.
Let’s set the scene: We rolled out of bed at 4:45 AM, hit the trail by 6:30, and finished just in time to rush back to the resort and change before our 7:45 PM reservation. Thankfully, we were staying in the Saranac Suite — right above the restaurant — so all we had to do was (carefully!) hobble down the stairs.
The vibe? Perfect.
Casual and inviting, but still refined — ideal for winding down after a massive day. There’s a warmth to the space: cozy yet trendy, laid-back yet worthy of a special night out. The view of Lower Saranac Lake at sunset is breathtaking. Watching the water, the boats, and the golden light dancing on the lake made the night feel magical. The open kitchen added a nice sense of energy, and the deck looked like a dream for warmer evenings.
Service? Flawless.
Attentive, genuine, and elevated without being stuffy. A wine expert on staff helped guide our selections — which we appreciated even more since one of our hikers makes wine and we know a thing or two ourselves. We started with a Brunello, and later, a Châteauneuf-du-Pape — both excellent. They’ve earned a 2024 Wine Spectator Award of Excellence, and it’s clear why.
A huge shoutout to Brian, the resort GM, who welcomed us like old friends. It was a quiet Monday night, and we invited him to share a glass of wine with us — he was the perfect host, rounding out what already felt like a perfect night.
Now for the food — truly outstanding.
Several in our group had the Duck Breast, pastrami dry-rubbed and perfectly seared, served with sweet potato mash, asparagus, and a cherry-balsamic reduction. It was elegant, flavorful, and beautifully presented. I had the evening special — Trout with Beurre Noisette, served with fingerling potatoes and asparagus. The fish was tender and moist, and the brown butter sauce tied everything together masterfully.
This isn’t just a “resort restaurant” — this is a destination in its own right.
The view is stunning, yes. But unlike so many places with a great view and mediocre food, Sunset Bistro delivers across the board: thoughtful cuisine, an exceptional wine list, and warm, memorable service.
If you’re anywhere near Saranac Lake, make a reservation. Whether you’re celebrating something big or just want to enjoy a beautiful lakeside evening, this place is something special.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
The outside of the restaurant is deceiving. Almost didn't go in. Parking lot is incredibly small, not paved, & had to wait quite a while for a parking spot to open up. We did make a reservation and arrived on time, but waited around 30 minutes for our table. A handful of empty tables were available. Menu is limited & we knew that walking in. Since one of us is underage & the other party was driving, we chose to have water. Upon being seated we were provided half a glass of warm water. This was never refilled. Service was incredibly slow. No update from the server.. and again no water refill. The food had potential but it was cold when we got it. Cold. We thought for certain our server would check in & we could address the issue. Nope. She did walk past us five times, but no eye contact, no check in, & we did try to get her attention with no success. Our server spoke to us a total of three times (order, food drop off, check) and no one else was walking around.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 1
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