There are times you want a nice meal with great food in a restaurant that doesn’t have outdoor picnic tables. A place where you need to at least take a shower between hiking and dining. And even though I’d consider Lake Placid to be firmly a beer town, these are places where you’ll want to order a craft cocktail or nice bottle of wine.

Here are our picks for a great date night.

1. Jimmy’s 21: Located on Main Street, Jimmy’s 21 has been around forever. In fact, it’s the oldest restaurant in Lake Placid. Truth be told, we walked past Jimmy’s many times before we actually tried it. I guess I consider many of the Main Street restaurants fairly mediocre, and wrongly lumped Jimmy’s in with that bunch. But, oh, was I delighted when we finally went there. Not only do they have excellent Italian pasta dishes, but the seafood and steaks are also well prepared. Veal Sorrentino and Crispy Half Duck a la Orange scream Date Night! And they also offer Homemade Meat Lasagna for those just looking for a great meal, as well as lighter fare like their Mediterranean Salad topped with seafood. You’ll enhance the dining experience if you reserve a table on the balcony overlooking Mirror Lake. Bonus points if you score a romantic sunset.

2. Top of the Park: If your idea of the perfect date night includes sharing small plates and sipping amazing cocktails with a view, then Top of the Park is your spot. It’s located above Player’s on Main Street, but has an entirely different vibe (and different owners). Because the plates are small, you’ll want to order several different things and share them. Whatever you decide, don’t skip the Mac and Cheese. I’m telling you, it’s delicious!

3. Fiddlehead Bistro: Even though I haven’t personally eaten here, I’m including Fiddlehead Bistro in Saranac Lake because I’ve heard so many rave reviews about it. It’s definitely on my list for our next date night. It’s a small operation run by a local couple. The place looks tiny, at least from the street, and cozy romantic. I dig that they’re farm-to-table in a literal sense that their menu changes constantly. They also offer a lot in terms of vegetarian, vegan and gluten free, but also straight up meat and seafood. You definitely need to check the website for the current menu, and book a reservation in advance.

4. Campfire Grill: I love the fun, trendy decor at the Campfire Grill at Hotel Saranac in Saranac Lake. I love the green metal chairs and cute upholstered wing chairs. While this atmosphere may lean more casual and carefree, they have a classic date night menu with dishes like Grilled Lamb Chop and Ahi Tuna, and a great list of craft cocktails. As a couple who has been married for more than two decades now, this definitely qualifies under our definition of date night. Just not as romantic as some of the others on this list.

5. Artisans or Maggie’s Pub: Before we bought our house in Lake Placid, we loved to stay at the Lake Placid Lodge. I don’t know if they still do this, but under different management they used to offer incredible Black Friday 50% discounts on lodging during the shoulder season and we’d book the Birch cabin in May. Anyway, they have two excellent restaurants with outdoor seating and spectacular views of the lake and Whiteface. Artisans is fine dining with all the trappings, but without a pretentious vibe. I also like Maggie’s Pub for date night. It’s more casual and approachable, but still upscale and elegant. Artisans only allows children 12 and up, but neither restaurant is truly child friendly. Of course, that’s part of what makes it perfect for date night! During the pandemic they closed the restaurants to everyone but hotel guests, but have recently reopened for the 2022 summer season. We’re looking forward to returning this year.