Left Bank Café — Restaurant in Town of Harrietstown

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...

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...

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...