KANU

A R

Update...Had breakfast at Kanu all three mornings of our stay at the Whiteface Lodge. The buffet spread is very nice. You have your choice of dining at the restaurant or bringing the food back to your room. We have dined here on four occasions now, Kanu is definitely a lot better than the reviews I've seen here... We dined at Kanu on our last visit to Lake Placid and had a wonderful overall experience. Both the food and service were great, the restaurant is stunningly beautiful. It has an amazing Adirondacks feel to it. In any event, Kanu is definitely underrated. It is a great spot for a special occasion meal.

Amy Bolliger

We dined here tonight and am shocked by the number of poor reviews. From the very start, the staff was so pleasant and helpful. The bread and the shrimp for starters were delicious. Our main entrees were all awesome! Dessert and cappuccino to end the meal were also a win. The ambience and atmosphere of the lodge are super cool too. We would absolutely return!

Kat Maloney

Amazing time here. Lumber Jack libation drink & bison burger were very very good. Shrimp Pot Pie was very good too and I liked that it was deconstructed so it was a lighter version of a pot pie. Ambiance was amazing!! Highly recommend!

Craig Herrick

I was perplexed by the wide range of rating and almost went elsewhere… glad I dined here. One has to realize that COVID has thrown a lot of places for a loop and this perhaps some of the low scores. But in April we found them on their game will delicious cuisine, charming service, and north woods decor. So glad we dined here. Prices… perhaps a bit high for what you get but that aside we very much enjoyed dining here.

My husband and I stepped out while on vacation to have drinks and grab food at the bar. Theresa was our bartender and we couldn’t have had a more positive experience. She was incredibly friendly and knowledgeable about the menu and cocktails, and made wonderful recommendations without being pushy. Overall a wonderful experience for parents who rarely get time to step out!

We had the prime rib buffet. Wayne was a fantastic waiter and the food was great. The chef, Shane, went out of his way to give us a special dessert that my daughter (who has a severe food allergy) could safely eat. Wonderful experience!

This place is cozy and beautiful. There was a singer with a guitar which brightened up the atmosphere and made it very welcoming. The hibiscus hugo drink with gin was delicious and so was the nicotine salad was devine. Definitely recommend this place.

The breakfast buffet is very worth it if staying in the hotel. The egg selection is limited, but lots of fresh fruits and bread options. Real maple syrup. Pancakes great. Chobani yogurt good touch. And they allow take out. The dinner prime rib buffet on Sunday we agonized long and hard $45 vs Peak 47 next door with live music. We talked to a number of staff and they recommended the prime rib. It did not disappoint. Had a fair few prime rib buffets and this was the best even compared to non buffet ones we’ve tried. The selection is limited but the quality of the beef and the roasted veggies are great. They could really improve the desserts, only come here if you like beef.

Wayne was very attentive to our table. He was very friendly and knowledgeable about the place. The food was really good. Cannot go wrong with the wagyu steak and the roasted freebird hen. The drinks were on par with the food. 100% recommend getting the hibiscus cocktail.

Had an absolutely amazing dining experience at Whiteface Lodge. Theresa behind the bar made a phenomenal mojito. Gentleman Joe one man band gave a great performance with his own twist on some classic cover songs. Last but certainly not least if it wasn’t for our server Kresta who offered a truly unique Adirondack experience I would not have known to get the special. Chris

Our 1st experience was not the best but 2nd was fantastic. We had 9 people everyone enjoyed their meals. The special was the duck which was tender, cooked deliciously. Staff was friendly and welcoming.

Gregory Stern

Our 1st experience was not the best but 2nd was fantastic. We had 9 people everyone enjoyed their meals. The special was the duck which was tender, cooked deliciously. Staff was friendly and welcoming.

Chris Dydzulis

Had an absolutely amazing dining experience at Whiteface Lodge. Theresa behind the bar made a phenomenal mojito. Gentleman Joe one man band gave a great performance with his own twist on some classic cover songs. Last but certainly not least if it wasn’t for our server Kresta who offered a truly unique Adirondack experience I would not have known to get the special. Chris

Keara Hanson

This place is cozy and beautiful. There was a singer with a guitar which brightened up the atmosphere and made it very welcoming. The hibiscus hugo drink with gin was delicious and so was the nicotine salad was devine. Definitely recommend this place.

Parker Druzbik

Had a great experience here - we had cocktails at the bar and it was a great time. The bartender, Theresa, was so friendly and attentive. Our drinks were delicious and can’t wait to come back.

Jenna Godwin

My husband and I stepped out while on vacation to have drinks and grab food at the bar. Theresa was our bartender and we couldn’t have had a more positive experience. She was incredibly friendly and knowledgeable about the menu and cocktails, and made wonderful recommendations without being pushy. Overall a wonderful experience for parents who rarely get time to step out!

Lauren Gorman

We had the prime rib buffet. Wayne was a fantastic waiter and the food was great. The chef, Shane, went out of his way to give us a special dessert that my daughter (who has a severe food allergy) could safely eat. Wonderful experience!

Rodrigo cisneros

Wayne was very attentive to our table. He was very friendly and knowledgeable about the place. The food was really good. Cannot go wrong with the wagyu steak and the roasted freebird hen. The drinks were on par with the food. 100% recommend getting the hibiscus cocktail.

Ken Dodenhoff

We were greeted and served dinner by a true professional, Wayne. My wife, daughter, son in-law and our two (under two years of age) had a wonderful experience in the dining room. Wayne was congenial, attentive and accommodating to all of our needs. His energy and attitude made this day even more special. Thank you very much Wayne!

Karl Schwarz

The word “extraordinary” doesn’t come close to describing this place. My wife and I came for dinner and could not have been more pleased with the meal, but what made it sure special was our server, Wayne. What great humor he has!

Abby Pfister

We ate two dinners at Kanu during our mini moon stay and it was a fantastic meal both nights. The ribeye and prime rib were delicious and cooked perfectly, and adding the lobster tail was a real treat! But the best part about our experience was our wonderful server, Wayne. For our first meal, Wayne went above and beyond to make our mini moon dinner experience so special and he was beyond accommodating. We were so happy to see Wayne as our server the second night as well - he amazingly remembered both of our drink and food orders, too! Thank you Wayne!!

Ma Breats

The breakfast buffet is very worth it if staying in the hotel. The egg selection is limited, but lots of fresh fruits and bread options. Real maple syrup. Pancakes great. Chobani yogurt good touch. And they allow take out. The dinner prime rib buffet on Sunday we agonized long and hard $45 vs Peak 47 next door with live music. We talked to a number of staff and they recommended the prime rib. It did not disappoint. Had a fair few prime rib buffets and this was the best even compared to non buffet ones we’ve tried. The selection is limited but the quality of the beef and the roasted veggies are great. They could really improve the desserts, only come here if you like beef.

I really like the food in your lovely lodge, but im angry that you changed the cookie recipe. The old cookies were spectacular, the dough was as fine as could be, the chocolate as milky as a cow, but the hardness is what impedes this old formula of the cookie.

This setting is amazing, surrounded by hunting lodge trappings decorated seasonally (especially stunning at Christmas). Fireplaces and dark wood throughout give a consistent warm, cozy, atmosphere. I’ve eaten here twice now and the food was good but expensive compared to comparable dining in the area. Service has been mixed, sometimes fast and attentive, but there is a tendency for food to take a long time to arrive. Cocktails are excellent and there is a strong wine list. The menu has a lot of variety but pay attention to prices - entrees can run $20-$80 so you don’t want to get surprised with the check. This restaurant is super convenient if you’re staying at the lodge.

Mad Irish

This setting is amazing, surrounded by hunting lodge trappings decorated seasonally (especially stunning at Christmas). Fireplaces and dark wood throughout give a consistent warm, cozy, atmosphere. I’ve eaten here twice now and the food was good but expensive compared to comparable dining in the area. Service has been mixed, sometimes fast and attentive, but there is a tendency for food to take a long time to arrive. Cocktails are excellent and there is a strong wine list. The menu has a lot of variety but pay attention to prices - entrees can run $20-$80 so you don’t want to get surprised with the check. This restaurant is super convenient if you’re staying at the lodge.

Raph H

I really like the food in your lovely lodge, but im angry that you changed the cookie recipe. The old cookies were spectacular, the dough was as fine as could be, the chocolate as milky as a cow, but the hardness is what impedes this old formula of the cookie.

Very disappointed. I would give ZERO stars if it was an option!!! Over $200 spent on dinner for two with none of our entrees eaten. My steak didn’t have the items on the dish that the menu described. After returning my dish to kitchen, the 2nd attempt was worse!! It was supposed to be medium rare but instead was badly overcooked (see picture). My wife’s short rib was dry and the side dish of Gorgonzola gnocchi was so nasty. Manager couldn’t care less. FOOD NOT EVEN CLOSE TO BEING WORTH HALF OF WHAT THEY CHARGE. Drinks were the only thing that made getting screwed by this place bearable.

The Whiteface Lodge is a grand hotel; would fully recommend 10/10. This restaurant, however, leaves so much to be desired. Let's start with the wine. They advertise bottles of Italian Barolo but they aren't actually Barolo (it's Nebbiolo - not at all the same) and they're not even DOCG. Yet they charge Barolo prices for it. If you know even the ABCs of Italian wine, you'll know that this is 100% unacceptable. For the food: filet was fine, as it better be for $70 a cut. The short rib parpadelle was a lump of meat with pasta. No sauce. No flavor. Utterly disappointing. The green beans on the side could have been frozen for all I know. For the service: After complaining about the wine I was never offered a suitable substitute for my >$200 meal. It shouldn't be hard to find a glass of anything DOCG-rated out of Italy. Nope. And while sitting there visibly angry after we were done eating, it still took another 15 minutes to get the check. And they had the gall to ask if we wanted a dessert menu! If you're a tourist in Lake Placid and want to get ripped off in a fancy rustic-chic setting, this place is for you. If you like fine dining, avoid this place at all costs.

Extremely disappointing and unprofessional experience. About a month ago, I called Kanu to make a New Year’s Eve reservation for my family, who are traveling from Brazil to spend the holiday together after being one year away from them. This evening was especially important to us because it is also my mother’s birthday. For the past four weeks, I called weekly to confirm the reservation. Each time, the same woman answered the phone and repeatedly reassured me that everything was confirmed. She told me the reservation was set, explained the time frame (9 PM–1 AM), the price per person, and said I would receive a follow-up call with menu details and logistics. Because I never received that call, I continued to call weekly and specifically asked multiple times if she was sure the reservation was secured- and every time, I was told yes. Four days before New Year’s Eve, and one day before traveling with my family, I called again just to ask a simple question about bringing champagne. This time, a different person answered, who seemed to be the manager, and informed me that there was no reservation under my name, they were booked up for many months and they would not be able to accommodate us. At that point, every restaurant in the area was already fully booked, leaving us scrambling with no options for New Year’s Eve or my mother’s birthday. This situation was entirely avoidable and reflects extremely poor communication and lack of accountability. Repeated reassurance over multiple weeks, followed by a last-minute denial, is unacceptable - especially for a holiday reservation. Very disappointing experience, and unfortunately not one I would recommend.

Lara Almeidinha

Extremely disappointing and unprofessional experience. About a month ago, I called Kanu to make a New Year’s Eve reservation for my family, who are traveling from Brazil to spend the holiday together after being one year away from them. This evening was especially important to us because it is also my mother’s birthday. For the past four weeks, I called weekly to confirm the reservation. Each time, the same woman answered the phone and repeatedly reassured me that everything was confirmed. She told me the reservation was set, explained the time frame (9 PM–1 AM), the price per person, and said I would receive a follow-up call with menu details and logistics. Because I never received that call, I continued to call weekly and specifically asked multiple times if she was sure the reservation was secured- and every time, I was told yes. Four days before New Year’s Eve, and one day before traveling with my family, I called again just to ask a simple question about bringing champagne. This time, a different person answered, who seemed to be the manager, and informed me that there was no reservation under my name, they were booked up for many months and they would not be able to accommodate us. At that point, every restaurant in the area was already fully booked, leaving us scrambling with no options for New Year’s Eve or my mother’s birthday. This situation was entirely avoidable and reflects extremely poor communication and lack of accountability. Repeated reassurance over multiple weeks, followed by a last-minute denial, is unacceptable - especially for a holiday reservation. Very disappointing experience, and unfortunately not one I would recommend.