The Inn at Erlowest: History, Fine Dining and Ambiance
I’m a lake and mountain girl. I spent every summer as a young girl at our summer home on Lake Wallenpaupack in the Poconos. Now, more of my time is spent on the lakes in the Adirondack Mountains. One thing hasn’t changed; I am happiest when I am on or near the water surrounded by mountains! The setting for my dinner at The Inn at Erlowest certainly put me in the right frame of mind. We dined on the patio facing Lake George with the mountains as our backdrop!
My companion and I felt welcome from the moment we arrived. Our server was so superb that we guessed her age way beyond her years. She was calming, knowledgeable and accommodating. We were greeted with a bread basket filled with warm baked goods our server described as a blend between a croissant and a popover. That was quickly followed by an amuse bouche of polenta topped with mushrooms, peppers and a 15-year balsamic. This incredibly delicious bite certainly lived up to its name, which translates to “entertain the mouth.” The earthiness of the mushrooms combined with the sweetness of the balsamic and the peppers made my mouth water for the rest of the meal.
I anticipated with excitement the arrival of my Gnocchi Bolognese. What I did not anticipate was, because my companion did not order an appetizer, she intended to share mine! The hearty Bolognese sauce balanced the light potato pasta and the saltiness of the shaved grana Padano cheese. I wish we had ordered two!
As luck would have it, sharing my gnocchi was a blessing, because when my Tomahawk Pork Chop arrived, I was happy I had plenty of room. The generous bone-in pork was cooked with barely a hint of pink, yet still moist. As I cut each bite, I dragged it through both the celery root puree and the fig conserva so I could get all the goodness in each morsel. My entree normally would have been served with a leek risotto, and I know that would have been the best flavor profile, but I really wanted to sample the duck sausage risotto. The chef was gracious enough to accommodate my request, and I’m so happy he did. I have tasted a lot of incredible risotto, but this one was the best I’ve ever enjoyed. It was creamy and nutty, but the fatty duck sausage elevated it to a different level. For the record, my companion had the leek risotto and I enjoyed one bite of my entree with the leek risotto and, of course, the chef had the right pairing. My companion thoroughly enjoyed her New Zealand Lamb with Rosemary Bordelaise.
Of course, for dessert I had to have the Crème Brûlée. My companion and I shared the brûlée as well as Valrhona Chocolate Cake. While the crème brûlée was delicious, with one of the strongest shells I’ve ever cracked, the cake was the show stopper. It was a flourless cake that had a decadent chocolate flavor. The consistency and crunch reminded me of a marjolaine, a cake that includes layers of meringue.
While we were enjoying our dinner, there was a wedding going on in the party space. It was such a romantic, picturesque setting for summer nuptials. The ballroom opened to an adjacent patio and as the guests spilled out to take in the view, the music wafted over to our table and made the evening complete. ■
The Inn at Erlowest, 3178 Lake Shore Drive, Lake George, New York, is a historic, picturesque location for fine dining. Visit theinnaterlowest.com for menu previews and reservations, or call 518-668-5928.
Written by: Joanne DiMarco
Joanne DiMarco has a degree in restaurant and hospitality management from Paul Smiths College. She fully enjoys life in Upstate New York. When not writing the Cravings column, Joanne is considered a trusted sales and marketing professional as a Strategic Sales Manager with Cars.com and an Associate Broker with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Blake, Realtors®.
Check out her blog at UpstateGoodLife.com.