Fantastique! Highly recommend. Call ahead for a reservation.

We were here celebrating a 60th birthday party. Fantastic in every sense of the word. Will definitely be returning from Toronto again this fall. Many thanks

There must be some retired Michelin star chef here or something because the food is incredible for its humble atmosphere. Strongly recommend the bread and fondue.

Our favorite restaurant in the whole area. Wonderful, flavorful, beautifully prepared food. Casual elegant atmosphere. Anne is the best, so friendly and generous to the community. A slice of France on the Saranac river. Warm in winter, enjoy the porch on the water in summer

What an amazing "find!" While there are many good restaurants in the upper Adirondacks, we have never found anything like this: a true French bistro with authentic preparations, a great menu, attentive service from an owner who (as well as the other owners) spends a lot of time in Paris (it shows!), an excellent Bordeaux at a reasonable price, splendid live music, nothing not to love. We hope to be back next fall (we are international foodies who live in Chicago) and the chance of our heading back to Left Bank is 100%.

The selection is small, but it has been thought out well, and executed well as well. Don't let those simple sounding dishes fool you, you are going in for a treat. Get the bread with cheese dip first, you're welcome.

Amazing place ! Small by quaint. Excellent service. Fantastic food ! Owners are on site and work very hard to make your dining experience magnificent. Highly recommend you try this place next time you are in town!

Really beautiful waterfront restaurant, with friendly staff and delicious, classic French cuisine. So pleased we chose to have our last dinner there in a summer Sat eve. Excellent wines, Escargot, mushroom ragout, poulet francaisse, boeuf bourguignon, and a delicious chocolate crumble dessert.

Left Bank Cafe is a real treat. The atmosphere is warm and inviting, with rustic and vintage decor that creates a cozy and intimate ambiance. The menu is a creative blend of classic and modern dishes, each one expertly crafted and full of flavor.

Quite possibly the best restaurant my wife and I have eaten at. Excellent food in a charming atmosphere, dog friendly outdoor space with fine french cuisine. Anne was fantastic from reservation to dessert.

It is always a great pleasure to eat at the Left Bank Cafe. Very tasty French cuisine prepared the traditional way and well presented. In addition, the setting is charming and the owner very welcoming! Highly recommended!

Best food service atmosphere

+4

We had an excellent dinner on a busy night at this cafe. The food was outstanding, the service was good and sitting outside next to the Saranac River can't be beat. Service was a bit slow but not uncommon for French restaurants.

Cannot say enough good things about the food. I had the quiche of the day (spinach something) that was probably the best I have ever had. (And I don't say that lightly.). Croissant with frangipane so very yummy! Always stop for lunch on our way farther east. Perfect start to our holiday! :)

Amazing almond Croissants! We were in France last year and have been trying to find croissants in the US that were comparable. The Croissants at West End were to die for, so delicious and amazing. Thank you, well worth a trip to the Adirondacks just for these. Restaurant looks Amazing, will return for that as well

Amazing atmosphere, food, and service!! We will return.

Best French food we have had outside of France! the sauces where excellent. they had a vegi and vegan options on the menu. my wife had the duck breast my son the duck leg , I had the mushroom lasagne and they where all perfect.

We were a party of 3 so we had several different appetizers, cocktails, entrees and desserts. All were REALLY good. Decir, service, etc was all very pleasant.

EAT HERE. Jerry the owner is hands on the the food is amazing. Best fine dining in the Adirondacks. Awesome decor, my wife and I had the best time!

We had a really lovely meal here on new years. So there was live music and a really cozy festive atmosphere. I expected great country vibes but didn’t expect the food to be so elevated. What a gem of a place.

Gorgeous spot, and the escargot was amazing ❤️

Wonderful experience: the ambiance, the live piano music, the staff, the signature drink and the food all blended perfectly. Classic French fare with good portion sizes. Each course of the meal felt balanced and had high quality ingredients. The staff were friendly, attentive, welcoming and very much added to the experience. A memorable evening for us.

Below is my review from seven years ago. Left bank Cafe remains a wonderful dining experience. You can sit on a charming porch overlooking the Saranac River in the middle of Saranac Lake and enjoy well crafted drinks, delicious food (perhaps the best salmon dish I have had), and exquisite desserts. Plus attentive and congenial service. ******************************************** What a find! Charming atmosphere, great food, friendly staff, live piano, outside porch. It's a must dining stop if you're in that neck of the woods.

The food was fantastic and beautifully served. I had the pasta special with mushrooms, fresh leeks, asparagus and bacon. Delicious. The wine was delicious as well, and I had to get a look at the bottle. Sabra, our server, was knowledgeable and friendly. It was a wonderful meal.

Our family stopped in for dinner on a whim. The food was fantastic. The live pianist was on point. And our server , Doreen was excellent! 10/10. Can’t wait to go back!

What a great restaurant! Gourmet french food made from best and freshest ingredients, atmosphere, decor, music all combine together into a celebration of senses with exclamation mark. We have been coming back to this restaurant every time come to Saranac for a vacation. Never disappointed. It is a great talent of everyone who works in this place to make this magic happen. Thank you!

Incredible dining experience in Saranac Lake! Great food, friendly staff, and a perfect location next to the river. The live piano music providing atmosphere was pleasant.

Very pleasant service in a beautiful date night atmosphere. The cheese board was rich and our dinners (the shaved potato gallette and seafood bouillabaisse) were delicious and well-portioned. Amanda, our server, was friendly and attentive. Will definitely be back the next time we're in town.

We have been here a few times, and every time has been great! Great service, the food has always been quality, and we like the atmosphere. It’s a must visit every time we are in the area.

Great place with nice food. Small but cozy. Had someone playing the guitar while we were there, which was a nice addition. Just wish the hours were longer as it closes early, but if your are in before 9, they don't rush you to finish and go, which was nice. I even checked and the owner was very nice and explained this.

Food was great. So glad they had Beef Bourguignon stew back on the menu.

This restaurant was fantastic. Service, food,, etc. There is a live piano player adding to the ambiance of your evening. I let them know it was my mothers birthday and they treated us like royalty. Was a wonderful meal. I highly recommend eating at this restaurant if you're in the area.

We had a fabulous meal tonight and highly recommend this fine dining experience. We had a party of five and the service and food was top notch. We appreciated all the recommendations for the entrees from the bartender, Kyle. Can’t wait to go back!

The atmosphere is great, food is gourmet, desserts are fantastic. Chris, the owner, is delightful. Live music (in French) made us feel like we were dining in Paris. The lamb chops were fabulous. If you are looking for some gastronomy with carefully selected wines in Saranac Lake, this is the only place you'll find it.

This evening I asked my wife , "If you could eat in any restaurant in the world, which restaurant would you choose." She said, "The Left Bank." We had lived in Rome for six years and have travelled a fair amount, but this was her choice, and I agreed. We ate there seven years ago this summer and the Left Bank still stands out as one the best restaurant experiences of our lives, from the moment we were welcomed graciously at the door, to being seated in "the library", to eating a fantastic meal, with great wine and delicious desserts. The whole experience could not have been better. If you are anywhere near Saranac, do not miss the chance to eat at the Left Bank.

Lovely setting, especially if you score a table outside, very pleasant staff, good menu. Country pâté with fresh figs, duck confit, Kwak beer (a Belgian ale since 1791) then a glass of Pouilly Fumé. The choice is neither too small nor too large, but it hits many good spots, and it’s very reasonably priced. I’ll sure come back. Reservation is a must.

Excellent restaurant. Beautiful outdoor porch area that's dog friendly and has a view of the water. Food was delicious, prices were good, and service was fast and friendly.

Best food in town, bar none. Professional staff interesting liquor selection (read: boutique or uncommon). Make a reservation and hope the French onion soup is on the menu that day...

My wife and I were looking for something different while in Lake Placid. One of the locals suggested we make the 15 minute drive to Saranac and try this place. Let me tell you, I am so glad that we did. We shared the escargot as I told my wife about the little French Bistro in Germany where I had my first taste of this dish during my days in the military. This version was much better than my memory of this delicacy, and the portion size was amazing. For our main meal, my beloved had the Truffle Tagliatelle and I enjoyed the Special, a local pork chop that was acoompanied by a truffle macaroni and cheese. My wife did not stop raving about her meal the whole time she ate, and did not stop eating until her plate was empty. As for my own meal, the pork chop was a sensory delight of aroma, color and flavor. The mac and cheese was incredible and complimented the protein perfectly. I had hoped to try one of their wonderful desserts that the local had raved about. Unfortunately, we were so full after our entrées that we had to pass on dessert. I highly recommend this place. For the quality and quantity of food, it was a great value. We actually may return tomorrow just to try the desserts!!! Oh, and I better not forget the service. Our waiter made us feel like royalty. Thank you to everyone at The Left Bank for providing us a wonderful evening.

Excellent French Cuisine and delicious wines . The French onion soup is a must try .

A restaurant worth another visit! We only tried a few appetizers this time, kinda sad we didn’t get to try the entrees and dessert. I can already imagine how good they will be cuz the appetizers were all amazing! The bread was fresh and escargot is one of the best I’ve tried. Soups are hot and hearty. Nothing negative about our experience!

Everything about this place was great! It's warm and cozy. Our waiter was attentive and accessible without hovering, and he knew his stuff. We had a hard time choosing from the menu because everything sounded so good! We ended up ordering the coq au vin and the brown butter roasted gnocchi, which were both delicious! Our appetizers and dessert were also delightful. The special drink of the evening was seasonally appropriate and also very tasty. I enjoyed it even though I'm not a gin person. I can't wait to return to try more of the menu and enjoy great service!

Definitely recommend sitting on the patio if you get the chance, it makes for great atmosphere for a well made meal. We had the bread basket and a dinner special as well as dessert, and everything was very high quality. The staff was friendly and accommodating as well.

Love it!! Great staff ask for Tom Went for New Years, such a wonderful place.

Oscar Esteves

Had a fantastic experience, thank you for the opportunity to have the family come together on our important day.

Bryant Pless

Walked in late on a Wednesday - not a problem. Service was lowkey, food was wonderful. Cheese platter, spicy cauliflower soup, special soup chicken gnocchi and shared the fall salad. Apply cake topped it all off. Highly recommend

Neil Gillespie

We dined Left Bank tonight and it was a tremendous surprise in a positive way. The setting is rustic and quaint and everything we tried we loved. The curry cauliflower soup and Caesar salad appetizers were very good. My wife had the pork meatball and peanut sauce Raman. She ate it all. I had the pork gnocchi with peas and thought it was fantastic. All in all, we will return when in town next year

Sam

The food is awesome and service is excellent . The vibe is super great at night sitting at the porch.

+2

Rob Poyer

We had an incredible dining experience at Left Bank Café in Saranac Lake! We came for their Guest Chef Series and were blown away. We sat right by the river, which made for a perfect, peaceful evening. The food was outstanding — we had the pork ramen with handmade noodles and the beef bourguignon. Both dishes were rich, flavorful, and beautifully prepared. We also had the pleasure of speaking with the owner, who was super friendly and passionate — hearing their story really added something special to the night. You can tell there's so much heart behind this place. Highly recommend for both the food and the atmosphere. We'll definitely be back!

Steve Fuller

Our favorite restaurant in Saranac Lake. This was clearly a local favorite and is a must stop for any visitors! My wife and I spent four days mid-July in Saranac Lake and discovered the Left Bank Cafe on day 2 of our visit. We had spent most of the day hiking and swimming and were looking for a good meal that wasn't bar food. Our plan was to order appetizers and drinks but we stayed for much more and the Chef did not disappoint. We started with a chilled pea soup that was the perfect finish to a hot summer day and followed that with a fresh green summer salad. I had the beef bourginon and my wife enjoyed a caramelized onion and mushroom tart that was delicious! Our hostess, Doreen, was super friendly and the atmosphere lovely. The Left Bank Cafe was amazing in the summer and I imagine it will be magical in the Fall, Winter and Spring. We are looking forward to our next visit!

Lauren French

We had a lovely meal for three. I had the shrimp, seasonal vegetables served on tagliatelle. Wonderful flavors. Other meal was salmon on a fresh garden salad. Salmon was cooked to perfection. We didn’t have any alcohol - dinner for 3 was $120.00 including tip.

Amber

An amazing local business under new management to support! The menu is constantly changing with seasonal products and the staff is so friendly and attentive. I always make reservations when my mom comes to town and it's the highlight of her trip.

Mary Ellen Hill-Pierce

What a delightful find in downtown Saranac right on the river. I had the Ratatouille which was divine. I've never had such good eggplant. My friend had the seafood and enjoyed it very much. We shared a bottle of Malbec produced in France which was just the right choice.

Elisabeth Stratford

Phenomenal! We had reservations for a table but decided to sit with Kyle at the bar. He was so attentive and knowledgeable about everything on both the food and drink menus. We ordered everything he suggested and it did not disappoint! The charcuterie, chicken dish, and shrimp and risotto were outstanding. What a great experience. We will definitely be back.

Douglas Liebig

Finest dining in the Adirondacks. Cannot wait to come back again. The onion soup is amazing, a must try! The pasta dishes are incredible. The mushroom ragout is very good, the gnocchi with shrimp is possibly better. Enjoyed the fall salad with salmon added also. Again, I'll mention the onion soup!!!!

+2

Mada Francisco

We had a very enjoyable meal at the Left Bank Cafe. The drinks were well made, the apps were delicious and the entrees were all wonderful! The service was very attentive. There Was a live pianist playing during dinner, which added a lovely bit of ambience. If it had been warmer, a seat outside on the porch, overlooking the river would have been another delightful detail. Bravo!

+1

Ken Pace

We were in the Saranac Lake for one night and decided to try Left Bank Cafe. So glad we did. The service was wonderful. The cocktails were done very well - my manhattan was tasty and hit the spot. My wife's wine was a solid pour and very good. And the food was really some of the best we have had. We started with the cheese place that was on the daily special. I also had the Tomato bisque which was a perfect blend of tomato taste and creamy goodness without being heavy or overweighted I had the Shrimp and Gnocci. The Shrimp were fresh and cooked just enough. The gnocci had the right consitency and the leeks and garlic cream sauce hit completed a very very good dish. My wife had the salmon which was cooked equally well and tasty. Would definitely comeback. The staff was welcoming and attentive.. our only regret is that we didn't have room for dessert . Great jazz music playing over the speakers as well. Good hang..

Cameron Knight

Went for a "Nice dinner" ended up with a night to remember, great views on the water, great service and the food options were top of the line. I was pleasantly surprised. A must go!

Meredith Zink

Had a lovely dinner here recently. Nice atmosphere with live music. They seemed to be short staffed (so many places are these days) but we were not in a rush and just enjoyed a bottle of wine and lingering over dinner. Dessert is not to be missed! Will definitely be back!

An ok French bistro in the area, better than other choices for dinner. Like their $3 appetizers. Alcohol selection is good. Service is very decent. Menu is paired down during Covid.

The food and the service were excellent. The live piano music and the general vibe of the restaurant-,very relaxing

This place was very nice. We sat outside next to the river. The drinks were good, and the food was quite pleasant. One complaint is that they didn't serve bread. If you're going to call yourself a French restaurant, you have to serve bread and keep it coming. We had to ask for it, even though my girlfriend ordered seafood bouilliabaisse.

Good food in a relaxed atmosphere. I had the French onion soup, which tasted like pretty much every French onion soup I've ever had and wasn't as hot as I would expect soup to be. The Arctic char was much better, with braised leeks and a creamy risotto. The dish was very well balanced, highlighting the perfectly cooked char. The biggest downside is the service. There were two french-speaking servers who seemed very inexperienced and were visibly uncomfortable talking to me. But they were polite and kind. I was served water long after ordering, and I had to ask for a pen when signing the check. Little things, but they were noticeably novice mistakes. Also the hard wood floors, while beautiful, were very loud every time a server walked past. There was a delightful guitarist playing a variety of American Songbook standards, Beatles tunes, and folk songs. It definitely complimented the relaxed atmosphere.

I recently dined at the Left Bank Cafe and was thoroughly impressed by the phenomenal service. We were fortunate to be seated at the back, offering us a delightful view during dinner. Opting for their $40 prix fixe menu option, we had high expectations. However, the absence of French onion soup was disappointing. Though they attempted to accommodate with a veggie option, the resulting salad seemed hastily thrown together. Despite this hiccup, the exceptional service made our experience memorable. Would return for the service, but hope for an improved menu selection.

The food is wonderful and the staff is nice but the service is always slow. They don't seem to staff at appropriate levels. That said, we enjoy the experience.

Lauren Garcia

This place is so charming. We sat outside by the river and it was truly so lovely. The gentleman playing piano really was the cherry on top. The deviled eggs and bread were delicious. And the beef, salmon, and chicken entrees were great as well. The amount of spiders all over the walls and deck of this place made us move inside once the sun went down, but that’s what you get when you’re outside haha.

Davis D. Janowski

Came here and enjoyed sitting out on the river. Ate a good breakfast with my wife and daughter, though it has been years. We love the Adirondacks.

+1

Food was ok and service seemed rushed.

Good food, very expensive. They forgot to put half the ingredients in my dish which they served after I made an inquiry. The live piano music by Mike was delightful!

A quaint little restaurant with seating by the canal. Food was tasty and well presented. Small portion sizes (so, French). I left still hungry. Service was very slow and some items such as a smoothie and chocolate croissant were not even served until after we had finished our meal and were ready for the check.

our server was lovely and kind but the food was at best average. onion soup was good. the crepe came out lukewarm and drowning in a bland, what i assume to be, cheese sauce. the edges of it burnt. i ordered the pappardelle for my main and am unsure of what pasta i was actually given. honesty, i think they were rice noodles like you’d get in pad thai. they were thin and small and chewy like rice noodles would be, not a broad noodle like a typical pappardelle. a very odd texture experience for a pesto dish. i understand that restaurants run out of ingredients but inform your customers especially when they’re paying around $40 / dish. i would’ve chosen something else. ambiance is cute. definitely rustic (which i love) but also a bit outdated.

I am grateful to have an option like this in Saranac Lake, however it’s been constantly disappointing. They do oyster nights in September and we were choking on the shells because they were shucked so poorly. It’s overpriced and the menu has no rotation. Service has always been great but the food gets worse every time we go.

Greeted promptly at door and seated but waited over 10 minutes for initial service. We both chose a main course which the server then told us they had run out of -Beef Bourguignon. We waited another 15 minutes after placing order to receive starters and the excellent bread basket. Meanwhile most other customers were leaving (after 9pm stated closing time). After delivering the main courses our server came to the table three times asking if everything was OK. We felt rushed and not welcome. We then requested the check (no dessert) and took our half-consumed bottle of Primitivo back to the hotel. All in all - good food quality overshadowed by sense of not being welcome and that we somehow were interfering with the restaurant operations. If the 8:30 booking was indeed too late for the restaurant then they should tell perspective customers that last seating is at 7:30 or 8:00. Not recommended!

I really want to give this restaurant 5 stars -- but I can't. Had a 6pm reservation at the time there were only 4 other tables. Our server was new so I expected a few misses. However, what I did not expect was for our meal to be delivered before we finished our starter -- unacceptable, when we asked Mary (the seasoned server working) who served our dinner why -- her response was "he was ready" - I assume this to be the Chef. When does the Chef set the customer experience? We were not alone in our experience. There was no offer to take the meal back and bring it when WE were ready. The table behind us had the same experience only they refused to take the meal until THEY were ready and not the kitchen. The food was delicious, its unfortunate what could have be an excellent experience was ruined by a controlling kitchen and an inexperienced server delivering a less than desirable customer experience. I suggest you set the expectation up front if you want to have a leisurely paced meal to avoid the same experience.

We spent a lovely evening on their deck looking out on the Saranac River with a view of Baker mountain in the distance. The appetizers and entrees were quite good (I had the scallops). The service was a bit problematic though. The waiter struggled to time the delivery of the wines with the courses and it made for a somewhat stressful experience. I was especially disappointed with the dessert, while they appear to be attached to a patisserie, the pastry that was served was frozen in the middle! (Full star deduction.) Excellent cappuccino.

John Sadlon

Cozy place with a warm vibe but…….. you can’t always count on them being open as scheduled. Drove into town about a week ago for lunch on a Thursday and they weren’t open. Same for the Friday. Locals are saying that is more common than not

Ilse Funk

Beef bourguignon had no taste of red wine nor of bacon, yet it was too salty for both of us. There was only 1 wait person on a Wednesday for a half filled room of perhaps 20 diners, yet this was a clearly known high tourist week for both peak leaf viewing and a mountain bike competition. The chicken fricassée was good but nothing unusual. I would not recommend this venue

Michael Hess

My wife had the beef bourguignon and reported the potatoes were very old...in addition, the meat didn't taste "fresh." My wife is a good cook, and she suggested that the dish was probably heated up after sitting in a pot for a few days. Not worthy of a mid $30s entree in Saranac, NY. My pork dish was average too. IMO, food reviews at restaurants at this level should include a price/value component. Our total bill was $107 before tip and we felt it was worth $60. Ouch. Oh, one more thing: the restaurant itself is very charming, but the 70s music was not appreciated, given the "French bistro" image they are trying to market. Perhaps someone was tired that night of French jazz. Just sayin' it was weird. Our waiter was good, though. It turns out charm can compensate for a lack of knowledge about the menu.

This is the fifth time we've eaten at the Left Bank, and each time has been a little less impressive than the time before. This time, the dishes came out cold: so cold, in fact, that the butter had hardened on one dish that had been made with a butter-based sauce. Onion soup, ordered, was never brought out, though it was found on the bill. The food was tepid. The wait person did not know what was in the pate; did not know what was on a variety plate as an appetizer; could not locate lemon slices but then could; and we spent about 2.5 hours there, of which 1.5 were waiting for service or the bill. And all the while, the temperature was near 60 degrees. One of the three of us wore a coat for much of the time. I'll probably try it one more time, but after this visit, I'm in no rush.

Went here with my boyfriend early Sunday morning. It was fairly empty and the hostess told us to sit wherever we wanted. We sat at a four top outside and after a few minutes we were told we had to move because a 4 top with a reservation was coming in and they “forgot to reserve the table.” This wouldn’t have been a big deal except that there was another 4 top table outside that remained empty our entire time there. The hostess also tried to refill my latte with regular coffee and our crepes were barely warm. Otherwise it’s cute there.

Excellent food....... terrible service. Brought opened bottle of wine to the table set it down and said .... there you go! No pour nothing. Wait time between servings was very very long even for us, as we like to take are time.

Can't comment on the food or beverages as we never got to order, but it wasn't a warm welcome and we watched other tables receive water and menus while we got nothing. The server never came over once to apologise for taking so long, she didn't even act like she had tables, didn't have a sense of being busy.

UPDATE: Oh wow I feel like I have to add this to the review because the owner left a nasty reply. First of all, the first moment the waiter asked how my food was I told him it wasn't good and he said he would pass it on to the chef. Unfortunately he asked towards the end of my meal but definitely before the bill arrived because I had dessert in between. (I did provide more feedback with my payment just in case you know, like most good restaurants, they really wanted to know what was off so they can improve it.) To clarify, he did drop by earlier when I was having my cocktail and like I said in my original review, the cocktail was good and told him so. And yes of course I knew how much the food cost since I ordered it and no I do not expect Applebee portions, I do not find huge plates appealing at all, but I do expect good quality at this price point. Like I said in my review, I don't make a habit of sending my food back or demanding free meals, just that any gesture, would have been appreciated. At the very least even a positive acknowledgement from the owner here would do, kitchens do occasionally have bad days after all. One thing is very clear after the owner's reply - such a disappointing response to an honest review. The best businesses show you who they really are in challenging scenarios. This one clearly showed their true colors. So dine there with caution if you choose to eat there at all. Personally there are other more fantastic options in town.. ORIGINAL REVIEW: Wasn't looking forward to writing this as I was so excited to try this place. 2 stars for the delicious lilac cocktail and lovely location by the river. Ordered the wild mushroom and chicken tourte on recommendation by server but it was so disappointing - not good and so expensive for what it is, $31 for a tiny 5" skillet with very dry and tasteless chicken, barely any wild mushrooms, and no discernible herb flavor. Store bought chicken pot pie have tasted better! The pot de creme was tasty but after the unfortunate tourte, barely 1/2" of custard topped with 3" of whipped cream in a tiny ramekim did not improve things, nevermind the $9 cost. This was the most disappointing meal I've had in a long time and even though I told the server about the tourte, no attempts to make amends besides 'I'm sorry' was made. Perhaps I should have spoken up earlier but I don't usually demand restaurants replace my food though I wish I did this time given how expensive the tourte was. Always happy to pay for good food but this was dismal return of investment. Maybe their other dishes are better, I don't know, sadly I won't be back.

The Left Bank Cafe has been one of our favourite spots in the area but the latest visit was disappointing. We arrived early for dinner at 5:35 pm. Told there were no tables available so we sat at the bar. That is not usually an issue but this time it was. The bartender came across to us as a little pretentious and extended conversation beyond the menu/ordering wasn't going to happen. On top of that, even though there was open space to the left of us the bartender continued to make all his drinks in the space right in front of us. Through our whole meal he was mostly right there, two feet away from us. It was a little uncomfortable. About 30 minutes after we arrived another couple sat at the bar, but then they were offered a table for two that had been sitting empty right behind us. Left us wondering why that table had not been offered to us. Food was very good quality, as it always is here, but the portions were small. I had ratatouille with Israeli couscous. I left hungry and had to get something to eat after. The lobster risotto was better but neither dish was good value for the price. If you want bread that costs extra. Your experience probably may not be like ours was. The atmosphere in the restaurant, the music, continue to be very appealing. However, with so many other good options in Lake Placid (where we always stay) we will be reluctant to make the drive to Saranac Lake to return to the Left Bank.

I'm following up on my review of your restaurant that I posted on Google in which took issue with your "administrative fee." I just want you to know that no time and in no way did I attempt harm your business, but if you don't understand how an unnamed, unannounced and unexpected fee is insulting and off-putting in every way, then you're just not getting it. I've been enjoying fine dining since I could actually first afford it more than 40 years ago|. The idea that any establishment would add a padded charge onto the bill that's not acknowledged beforehand is truly nuts. Just raise your prices. Anything else is disingenuous and is basically lying to your clientele. Your food is terrific, the setting is lovely, my wife and I have been coming there for years every time we're in Saranac Lake. But your stupid, pointless, and insulting administrative fee is the line in the sand. $2 and change? You're not getting it. It's not the charge amount. It's the concept of the charge at all. I go to a restaurant, I order off a menu, I happily pay my bill and I tip very generously. A 2% or 3% administrative charge on $100 plus bill is not going to save your business. Just be upfront with your customers with the pricing on the menu so that there are no unexpected surprises when you present the bill. I don't understand why this is a hard concept for you to understand. I will continue to fight against this trend because it's wrong on every level. Restaurants cannot in good conscience charge administrative fees, set up fees or service fees. It's getting nuts out there. You may be saying it's only 2%, but other restaurants are charging 5% and more. There are bars that are actually expecting people to pay for bartenders to make their drink over and above the cost of the drink. Do not see the insidious nature of this trend? Just raise your prices. I couldn't care less if I pay $30 or $40 or $50 for your delicious entrees. But to see an item on a menu and anticipate what we are getting and what we are paying and then to have a mysterious charge appear on the menu on the bill? It boggles my mind that you can't see how wrong this is. Just raise your freaking prices. A buck or two an entree is greater than the two-point whatever percent you're padding the bill with the administrative fee. You took a very belligerent attitude toward my post in your response. It was totally uncalled for. I gave full credit to your cooking and hospitality. I said that we love the place and we've always had great meals. But you're dead wrong on this and you need to fix it.

Small menu, rude and snooty waitress. Food was good but the service could be better.

Six years ago I posted a 5 star review. I was a regular for years. I haven't been here for a couple years and just tried it again. It is a totally different restaurant. The food sourcing is low quality (peas tasted frozen or worse yet, canned) the beef dish which is their signature dish had hints of deliciousness but I could not get past the weak low quality onions and a total absence of a chef's touch in the sauce. The Salad was lame. The beautiful French soul that used to inhabit the Left Bank is totally gone. I was very disappointed. It tasted like hotel food. It is OK, Sure, eat there. But dont expect anything that will wow like it used to. The only high point here was the service. The server was professional and friendly and made the experience a pleasure. The bartender was also a blithe spirit. Her friendliness and sweet laughter might have been the only 'soulful' aspect of the meal (other than the charming location). My old review from 2018 is below: Maybe someone at the new Left Bank will be inspired to put a real chef in the kitchen, source things better and make it French again (or just change the name from Left Bank to "Loui's mediocre approximation of a bistro". No need to read the old review unless you are curious about what it used to be. The charming space has not changed. Review from 2018 - no longer true: I just ate a fantastic meal at a place called “the Left bank”. Truthfully, it was as good as the food on the real “Left Bank” in Paris where I ate only a month ago. The restaurant is on a lovely winding river with several bridges in view. It is a 10 in charm by American standards- and an 8 by European standards. I had excellent pate with delicious mustard, a small salad (remarkably only $3) and for my main course duck confit with peaches. The dish looked lovely, and tasted even better. I expected something good- but (no offence to the ADKs) I didnt expect to be transported to Paris. It is definitely worth driving there from Lake Placid as well. The decor is very casual old-fashioned feel. Not frilly old fashioned, but simple, wooden, and clean. There is a player piano which at first seemed a bit odd, but soon grew on me. By meals end, the owner switched off the piano and put on some lovely jazz. I finished my excellent creme brulee to the sweet melancholy sound of Jazz clarinet and piano. I highly recommend the Left Bank.

We were very disappointed after our visit on Saturday. There were six people in our party. The service was great, very friendly staff but the food was lousy. My sandwich was suppose to be served hot but was barely warm and quite dry. Four of us wanted dessert and everything that we ordered, they were out of. All the food was a big disappointment abd not French cuisine. It takes more than a French name to make food French.

Food was as exceptional as ever, but a one-hour wait between salad and main course was unacceptable. Our server did her best to avoid all eye contact and never said anything about the extended wait. Once the food arrived (in three separate rounds with one member of our party waiting another 15 minutes for his meal) she slammed down the plates without so much as an apology. Very disappointing service for such extraordinary food

I have been going to left bank for years. new owners are running it into the ground and are rude. I told the bartender that i had history with the owner during my college years and she came out and was super rude and told me i was not welcome back when all i said is that " she does not like me". This does make me sad due to the good food. I would take business across the street to Fiddle Head !