Smoke Signals

The vibe is very cozy, and the lighting is nice, with little candles on the tables and the overhead lights dim. The view of the lake is the perfect backdrop for an excellent meal! The food here is phenomenal. I cannot say enough good things about the brisket burnt end entree. It is insane, ordered it two nights in a row. We also had the smoked chicken bbq nachos, the pork belly cinnamon roll, and the smoked reuben, they were all excellent! The cranberry maragarita is also super tasty. The portions of everything are huge! Every waitress we've had there has been very friendly and knowledgeable. Definitely will be back!

Great place and very good food! I had a small plate with brisket, potato and cheese. It was a little bit too greasy for because the potato was deep fried and the brisket already had the natural fat, so this plate would be a lot better and lighter to the taste if the potato was boiled or baked (the oil from the brisket would be more “clean”). I personally don’t like competition with grease/oil with meat in my plate. My husband had the sandwich and it was good. Good cheesecake ❤️.

Reservations recommended. Absolutely delicious dishes. I had to order the brisket as it's their signature dish and it was a HUGE portion. The photos really don't do the size justice and I couldn't finish the plate. The wings are also really tasty and the ghost pepper hot bbq has the perfect amount of kick.

Loved this place! It had a great atmosphere. Low lighting and the smell of good food.The food was so good and plenty. My girlfriend and I had enough to keep for leftovers. Went on a friday night during Thanksgiving season. The wait was about 45 minutes. Had the bbq nachos and brisket mash special that they were serving. I can just picture my dinner when thinking about this place. Will go back again. Best dinner had in the Lake Placid area!

It was incredible via DoorDash and even better in the restaurant! I got the brisket dip and we ordered the Brussels sprout appetizer and they were both incredibly hot, fresh, and perfection. This place will definitely be our go to whenever we’re in Lake Placid

We decided to try this place because it had the highest ratings in town. While the food wasn’t bad, it honestly didn’t live up to the hype. It felt more like a “view-first” restaurant — the kind of place that gets attention more for the scenery than the actual dining experience. Our server was lovely — warm and friendly, which we really appreciated. But the experience took a turn when the outdoor heater suddenly turned off on a chilly, windy day. A man (possibly a staff member or manager) came over to change the gas for the table next to us. When we politely asked about ours, he responded curtly, saying, “We don’t have that much gas!” in a very rude tone. His attitude was cold and dismissive the entire time — walking around with a scowl, making it uncomfortable for guests who came to enjoy a meal. The wings were tasty, and the brisket came in a huge portion — Honestly, it might be better to reduce the portion a bit and offer a more reasonable price. (It was $42) The side dishes, like the coleslaw and apple slaw, were just ok nothing special — and honestly felt a bit poorly prepped. The vegetables felt like they’d been chopped in a rush — roughly prepped, and the red onions especially stood out — huge, uneven chunks that felt like they were just hastily chopped and tossed in. The mac and cheese was also quite heavy and lacked finesse. Service was very slow, possibly due to being short-staffed — it took quite a while just to get our check. And speaking of the check, seeing a pre-suggested 30% tip on the receipt was a bit off-putting, especially after such a mixed experience. Overall, without the view, I’m not sure this restaurant would have the same reputation. A lot of potential, but the hospitality and execution need improvement to justify the hype.

Tons of gluten free options. Wait staff was super helpful, and was very knowledgeable about the menu. Parking in the area can be tough, but the resteraunt has great vibes, and is right on the lake for when it gets nicer out. I got the brisket with mashed potatoes and Cole slaw and it was AMAZING (and big portions). Two improvements they could make: have a squeeze bottle of BBQ sauce on the table, and chop the red onions smaller in the Cole slaw.

Absolutely our favorite restaurant in Lake Placid. Everything was perfect. The food was tasty and delicious. Ribs were perfectly seasoned and cooked. Can’t wait to get back there again.

Best bbq in lake placid area and in top 5 overall, in my lifetime. Went on a Friday night, dinner time and there was a wait. No problem, we started with a drink at the bar and just as we started talking, our table was ready. After being seated, our server arrived immediately and asked if it was our first time? Yes, so she went through the intro unfortunately several menu items - including what I planned to order- was sold out / all gone, however to be expected, as it was a busy weekend and late during a dinner service. Went with our 2nd choices and they were very good, delicious, as was the sides. Cornbread, Mac n cheese both shouldn't be missed. I also enjoyed the coleslaw and really like that to complement when eating meats. Ordered a 2nd Mac n cheese side so I didn't steal all that we were splitting. Our server Leslie was fantastic. Took great care of us during the meal and even gave us tips about the area, attractions and hiking as we were finishing up and relaxing after the meal. Best server I had in a while.

12/10- incredible bbq. Maple chicken wings were out of this world, as were the bbq ribs. All the sauces are made in house. Fantastic lake views, or great to watch a game at the bar. Unbeatable happy hour from 4-6pm. Reasonably priced, plenty of vegetarian options available, too. The wine menu was a mess but the Cab we had was wonderful.

The restaurant had great ambiance, very woods and it overlooks the lake, just beautiful. The service at first was really good, the waitress was friendly, made suggestions and helped us decide what to get. Once we had our meals, we barely saw her and our glasses went unfilled once empty. The food was ok, nothing I would go back for. We were also staying in a hotel as most people in the area are and yet they had no "to go" utensils. Over all disappointing except for the view.

Lake Placid, NY - delicious BBQ joint on the main drag, with lakefront views and outdoor deck seating. We ordered the beef brisket with 2 sides (I chose Boursin & bacon mac plus cornbread) - it comes with three fat slabs of marbled brisket, and is enough for two to share. My eyes were definitely bigger than my stomach so I took away enough leftovers for at least another meal! The duck fat wings are incredible. My husband's burnt ends bowl was pretty good too. The menu offerings are delectable and consist of many staples and favorites, but is by no means boring. Service was wonderful and our waitress was very friendly. This is a great place to eat when you're in Lake Placid!

We had a great time at happy hour, they had some really good deals for both food and drinks, though notably had to be sitting at the bar for them (indoor bar has longer happy hour). The outdoor bar is small and filled up quick and we were a little disappointed we were unable for a patio seat as they would not take any parties below 5 (this was on a weeknight). Staff was very friendly and service was quick, overall we got a lot for the cheap happy hour prices. Parking nearby is paid but easy enough to find.

We had our wedding cocktail hour and reception here after our ceremony. It was the perfect place for our rustic vibe. And the food is incredible. A tasting was included in booking our event here and we were beyond amazed with everything we tried. We chose the carving prime rib station with horseradish cream, carving citrus cider and herbed smoked turkey station, garlic mashed potatoes, cornbread and cheddar bacon mac n cheese and the house salad with cornbread croutons, cherry tomatoes, pickled onions and maple balsamic dressing. Our priority in choosing our reception venue was the food. For our cocktail hour appetizers, we chose the mushroom toast, ahi tuna wontons, pastrami toast points and smoked pork belly & grilled pineapple skewers. Our guests raved about the mushroom toast. My favorites were the pastrami toast and ahi tuna wontons. But they were all delicious. Jason worked with us throughout the year with scheduling our tasting, finalizing our menu and guest count, and allocating times for us to come in before the restaurant opened to work on setting up our decor. The staff was so nice and accommodating. We were late in starting our ceremony and therefore delayed in getting to our cocktail hour but they were helpful upon us arriving with getting everything back on track. They also saved one of every appeziter from cocktail hour for myself and the groom to have once we arrived. The bartenders made great drinks. Everyone was just so nice and we couldn't be more grateful for everything they did for us to make our night special.

this place totally kicks a*s! we come every year and it never disappoints and we get the brisket and maple bbq wings of course and the place just kicks as*

I came here on a Sunday night in mid January and put our name down on the waitlist. They take your name and phone number and text you so you can go elsewhere and do other things. They also send you a warning text to let you know when the table is almost ready and then give you 10 minutes to get to the restaurant when they text you to say your table is ready. I got a text after 50 minutes. Drinks: a winter spritz and a lager Apps: brussel sprouts Entrees: baby back ribs with cornbread and mac & cheese and a dinner entree special of burnt ends The brussel sprouts were very good, but could've been a little crispier but probably the tastiest part of the meal Baby back ribs were good Corn bread and mac & cheese were okay, pretty basic Burnt ends were not burnt ends. They should be fatty, tender pieces. Instead they were just overcooked cubed pieces of pork. Very disappointing.

Good bbq on the lake with good views. The service was top notch. Ribs are good as is the brisket. Come hungry the brisket is a big portions.

The food came out hot and was delicious. The atmosphere was great. I really enjoyed my pastrami' sandwich and the ribs I brought for dinner

Smoke Signals has some really good BBQ in Lake Placid. The brisket tasted great but was a little too expensive. My wife enjoyed the Rubin sandwich even though it was a little too salty for her taste. We will definitely return when we come back to Lake Placid.

"We have a 13 party wait list." Sat at the bar for a bit. Watched others get seated before us. Nachos were cold. Not worth your time. Disgraceful. Went to the Pickled Pig and it was 500 times better.

We went to Smoke Signals on a Saturday night and only had to wait about 10 minutes for a table. There were some great specials and we wanted to try everything so we ended up getting old bay wings, some of the ribs (both off the special menu), a pulled pork slider, and a Northeast Salad. Everything was great but the ribs were some of the best I've ever had. They fell right off the bone and the sauce was excellent. The restaurant itself is really big, and I felt like we had plenty of space. It's clean and modern. On my next trip to Lake Placid, I'm coming back here for some more ribs!

Food was good as was the service. Came here for a table of 2 and only had to wait 20 minutes. Server was very attentive and pleasant. A bit loud inside the restaurant. Amazing views of the water. Only issue was a long time to get the check after eating but it was very busy inside

I was referred here by three friends but left disappointed. Tried calling four times to make a reservation--no answer, no voicemail, I asked the hostess about this and she said when we get out it's really busy and we don't answer the phone or return calls. Waited over an hour for a table after being told 15-20 minutes, and they skipped over us because they "couldn't send texts or make calls," even though we were right outside. Once seated on the beautiful deck, our server Chris was friendly and explained the steaks well. But our Brussels sprouts appetizer never came, and my steak was missing the mushrooms I ordered. We weren't charged for the mistakes, but poor communication, long waits, and missed items made this visit a letdown.

Definitely lives up to the hype! Came here on a Saturday evening with a friend and was told it would be a bit of a wait. Luckily a high table by the bar opened up that we were able to swipe, just had to order ourselves at the bar. Everything from the appetizers, entrees, and slides were all spectacular. Started with the Boursin & Bacon Mac and Cheese and the Duck Fat Fries. Both were amazing! What a way to start the meal. For our entree we got the Smoked Chicken Roulade and Baby Back Ribs which we got with Coleslaw and Cornbread as our sides. I didn't think it was possible to surpass the bar that the appetizers set for us but the main dishes were just as good. Everything we ordered was a hit. If you can make time for this place during your visit to Lake Placid I can't recommend it enough!

Drinks were generous. Salad was huge. Hubby got tacos. They were all good. I had Southwest salad with smoked tofu. Would highly recommend. Sit outside if it's nice

Wings were incredible and brisket was huge! Hope to come back and score a sunny spot on the patio next time we're in town :)

This place was highly recommended by a friend, so we booked reservation 2 weeks ahead. It was the best decision! We were seated early & great table with view of Mirror Lake. The specially drinks were so good that I got 2! The service was awesome, such a great waitress! But, hands down the best thing was the brisket. Being from Kansas, I have has lots of good brisket ... but this was AMAZING1. It was like excellent prime rib ends! I had to share with someone as it was 16oz! And the sides are all great, but Mac & cheese was loved by all at the table! Duck fat fries were so good, with homemade bbq Ketchup- yummy! French dip sandwich with brisket = terrific! Burnt end bowl = terrific! Four of us dined and we all loved each dish. We shared & tasted the others, so I can safely say this. Apple Cole slaw is good, cornbread was very nice too!

Really solid bbq + beer with a killer view of the lake. Had the pulled pork slider with a cold beer and nothing but good things to say. View was gorgeous. Check it out!

We had a great dinner here. We had an 8:15pm reservation, but they were able to seat us much earlier to our pleasure. We got a table outside, which gave us a great view of Mirror Lake. The prices here are reasonable. They have a lot of great drink options and a decent variety for appetizers and entrees. Would definitely come back again.

This place is all the rave on Reddit and seems to be quite popular with everyone in the area too. Definitely get a reservation if you plan on coming as the wait could get quite long during peak hours. The food was great, some of the best brisket I've had in a long while, and the lake view was very enjoyable. A meat lover's heaven (if you don't care about prices). Come with a larger group, or just a lot of meat eaters.

We've been coming up to Lake Placid for quite a while and when Smoke Signals opened it was a wonderful addition to the town. Beautiful interior and they even added a beautiful deck with a bar and seating outside. They have an upstairs for events and large parties. They now take reservations,( after too many years of having long lines outside with people leaving their names and being called when their table was ready. ) The bar has an incredible selection of whiskey from around the world, American whiskey and bourbon, wines, draft and canned beer and a nice selection of cocktails. Our server was very efficient, our waters were filled, drink orders taken and delivered in a reasonable time and our food order was then taken. Every time our server came to check on us she cleared dishes and empty glasses, this was nice as our table was a bit crowded. Our dinners came out and most of us were very happy. My Hanger Steak with mashed garlic potatoes and maple carrots was perfect medium rare, tender and delicious. Two Burnt Ends specials over mashed, one brisket french dip and a brisket were all enjoyed very much. The 3 BBQ nachos were "just okay" and one of them had quite a bit less brisket than the other two platters. The duck fat fries tasted fresh cut and the sauce with it had a nice spicy taste. The cornbread was delicious and while crumbly, held together enough to eat without a mess. They add 20% gratuity, not sure if that's to all tables, or because we were a party of nine.

Service and ambiance was very good but the food was mediocre. We had the ribs, pulled pork and brisket. All of them ware dry. The sides made the meal but the stars of the place lacks the true bbq meaning.

Sat inside. Was a bit cold. Could have sat on the patio over looking Mirror Lake but it was a bit warm out. I ordered a canned cider that was unfiltered and pretty good. Also ordered the brisket bowl. It was like a KFC bowl but with brisket and cheese. Cheese on it was a great addition. Wife got wings but was very jealous of my bowl.

The food was great I really liked the pulled pork sandwich and the brisket but the steak was really pink when I asked for it well done and the steak tips they didn't ask how you wanted it done so it was really pink but the food was good the service was slow when we were trying to be seated but it wasn't that crowded like normally but the waitress asked my parents what they wanted to drink but not me and my brother but the food was good just not the service.

If you have never been to Lake Placid, I highly recommend the trip! Especially if you live anywhere in New England, it is worth the drive!!! Autumn is a bountiful cornucopia of colors everywhere, the weather is still nice, the mountains are majestic and the trails are lovely! Winter, though absolutely freezing (you're basically on planet Hoth lol so no cute wannabe winter clothes and coats ladies), is a veritable magical winter wonderland!! Now if I have been successful enough to convince you that the long drive will enchant you, while planning your trip, make a reservation at Smoke Signals. Yes, you heard that right, RESERVATION!! This place is extremely popular locally and with tourists alike so if you want to partake of the tasty BBQ treats that they have and not wait 2-3 hours for a table then please save yourself the aggregation and make that reservation! The food here is always great! I've had the pleasure of eating here several times and have not been disappointed yet. Y'all know how picky I can be about the quality of food and respect shown to ingredients, so you can take this opinion to the bank! I do however recommend eating in rather than getting takeout, my only caveat. Enjoy guys!

I have to say every time we end up in Lake Placid this is our first dinner spot! The ambience in this restaurant is rustic and warm. A log cabin feel with great views. Dress is casual as most places in Lake Placid. The service is always friendly and fast. As for the food there are so many must haves!!! The brisket is obviously a fantastic choice, smoked chicken wings are top notch and the brisket Reuben is so delicious! Oh and don't forget the cornbread!

Brisket was very good. Glad we decided to share as the portions were huge. We set at the outside bar and the bartender was very friendly. We don't drink but that was ok.

The food was so wonderful, the view was beautiful, and service was friendly and quick.

Food was really good but our waitress was extremely rude. Will be back but I will not have her as my waitress .

There are so many choices for restaurants in lake placid I wish I had tried another. The staff was curt not very welcoming. Once seated it took awhile to get our order in. The salmon was good, the tomatoes were way to salty high high sodium I could not eat them. The cocktails were very expensive so I opted for water which had a piece of plastic in it. The ribs were okay done very fatty and uneatable. Pesto not very good, opt for bbq sauce. French fries not as hot and crispy as expected. Overall going back to placid next week, will be looking for a better option.

It's just ok, nothing to write home about. About as good as the worst Sonny's. Probably would not go back unless I'm stranded here

Amazing food! Here for a friend's wedding and could not be more impressed with the staff and quality of service.

Every time we come to Lake Placid we try and stop here for dinner. Last night we decided to get here early and thankfully was able to get a table with a beautiful view of Mirror Lake. Our server greeted us right away gave us some great recommendations. We decided not to try an appetizer this time and ordered two entrées to share. We decided on the barbecue surf and turf, which was a generous piece of tender brisket and pan seared scallops. And the other entrée was the hanger steak. The flavors were on point, everything was delicious!! The sides we had included the carrots, garlic, mashed potatoes, and the mac & cheese, all SO good. The only things that we wish were slightly better was the hanger steak, as it was a bit chewy and the cornbread was underwhelming. To end our visit was the chocolate peanut butter Reese's cheesecake , delicious.

Stopped in here for lunch. We sat at the bar and bartender was great with our group. The wings were delicious. My group split an order of the buffalo bbq & it had very mild heat. The smoked reuben sandwich was even better. It was a hefty size sandwich with a side of fries.

Great smoked meats and a great view of Mirror Lake (as long as you sit on the outside deck)!

Man my most recent visit here was not good. For one thing the prices seem to have damn near doubled since a year ago. Secondly portions are smaller than ever, this is BBQ it's always cheap food with good portions come on. I got the Cordon Bleu to try something different this time and it was just not good. The wine sauce had nearly no flavor and what it did have was bitter and buttery not a good combination. My fiancé got a special for 25 dollars which ended up being barely an appatizer for one person and was not worth the money. Not sure what happened here but I'm not rushing back after this most recent visit.

Incredible lake view. Meaty smoky chicken wings but could have used a bit more spicy flavor. My family enjoyed the fall off the bone ribs. They liked the hangar steak but wished the portion was bigger

I love baby back ribs. So I was pretty disappointed when the ribs here were not good. They were dry with no flavor like they were cooked too fast in an oven instead of slowly in a smoker. The BBQ sauce was ok, but slathered on thickly to hide the dryness of the meat. The small portion of garlic mashed potatoes was so overworked and full of cream, they tasted like vaguely potato-flavored whipped cream. Service was great and ambiance is nice. But if you can't do ribs right...

Excellent food, and even better service. Chelsea is a gem and really made our visit special.

First off, this food was by far the best of our trip. We stayed in Lake Placid for a few days and were pretty weary of suggestions since those suggestions led us to some very mediocre food. At Smoke Signals, we started with the wings which were cooked perfectly, they were juicy and their sauces all packed a lot of flavor. Then we order the pepper with pulled pork and the burnt ends bowl. Both dishes were not only very filling, but the meat was so tender and delicious, and everything else within the dish only enhanced the flavor of the meat. The price was extremely reasonable for the value we got. The service could have been a bit quicker, but they also seemed super busy and nonetheless our waitress was very friendly. This restaurant is very large, with mood lighting and a cozy vibe.

THE FOOD IS AMAZING!!! .. I have never tried better wings anywhere... the cordon blue was excellent, the garlic mashed potatoes were the best... service is great... , the view is wonderful... we will come back again

This place is overrated; I can't imagine how it has such high ratings. It was my birthday, and based on the good reviews and views, we decided to go there. My first impression was that the staff seemed exhausted. They forced smiles, but it was clear they needed a good rest. I understand the owners might be cutting back on staff due to the low season, which affects the service. When offered a table inside, I made the mistake of choosing to sit outside. The deck, while offering beautiful views, was a huge concrete slab that moved alarmingly. It was unsettling, and when I asked what was happening, our waiter Abby explained it was a floating deck--a massive slab of concrete on metal pillars, not even over water. This was the first time I'd encountered such a thing, and it didn't feel safe, even if it was code-compliant. We couldn't enjoy our food with the floor shaking like we were on a boat. I requested to move inside, as we were initially offered, but the hostess said she'd speak with our waiter. The inside was empty, and I asked for a table with a view. When I wondered why the waiter, not the hostess, was deciding on seating, Abby told us it was because we had a dog and couldn't sit inside, as if she was doing us a favor. It's a service animal for my autistic son, and nobody even asked about it when we entered and were offered seating inside. Abby insisted we could only sit at the bar, claiming they were fully booked on a Monday during the low season. I took pictures of all the empty tables when we left, as I had promised her. As for the food, it was mediocre at best. We didn't even finish our meal, though I must admit the brisket and mashed potatoes were good enough to take home. If you mistakenly choose this low-service place, sit inside for your safety unless you enjoy eating in a storm, and order the brisket with mashed potatoes. Despite the poor experience, we paid a 20% tip, understanding that the pressure to overwork from the owners is likely making these poor employees go nuts. The day before, we went to Luna next door, which felt like a Michelin-starred restaurant in comparison. Unfortunately, I didn't take pictures, but it's true that we often take good experiences for granted until we encounter a bad one.

We have been here a few times and not sure if I ever really "reviewed", but here goes. This is a nice place to get some food and drinks. Tonight was by smell on the street; something good was smoking. A lot of space so you're not crammed in. Service was fast and attentive. Pics are from their daily special: Greek Fries, Pastrami Poppers, and Burnt Ends Bowl.

BUMMED. They don't offer takeout, it's dine-in only. This isn't stated anywhere on their website except for a broken link that says "order" but there's lots of takeout pics on Yelp so they must have offered this in the past. Crazy that it's 2024 and a restaurant doesn't offer takeout.

My friends and I went on a Friday evening around 5 and had no wait for a table, but as we left around 6:30 we heard the host telling people the wait was about 2 hrs for an indoor table (it was getting chilly outside.) We sat outside but they had heaters available which helped. The view is so serene and beautiful. Our server (Eliza I believe) was absolutely wonderful and made our experience fun, and she made excellent recommendations for the food. And the food. Just wow. I got the baby back ribs with mashed potatoes and coleslaw and wowowow. The ribs fell right off the bone and the sauce was beautifully tangy. The mashed potatoes were incredibly creamy and tasty. I wish I had more! I tried my friend's dish which was burnt ends with mashed potatoes, truffle sauce, provolone and oh my goodness was it delicious. Another friend had their French dip and said it was the best she's ever had. The Mac and cheese was also a hit. Blackberry margarita was amazing, super strong but tasty!! We decided that we may return to this place at a later point this weekend, despite having many other great options around. The only negative I might say is the drinks were very expensive, in our opinion, but given how strong I think it's a more fair exchange? Overall, HIGHLY recommend.

BBQ wings, Brussel sprouts and the "on draft Old Fashioned. What? Yes on tap! Very good. If you sit on the outside deck... don't worry it shakes. Omg. But it's safe lol

As a fan of Smoke Signals for the past ~4 years, the new menu changes are super disappointing. They got rid of the smoked tofu from the menu which was fantastic, the fried pickles are now gone, and literally every appetizer now has pork. I understand it's a BBQ joint but why is there not ONE vegetarian option or even a fish tacos on the menu anymore?! Why is shrimp cocktail an appetizer at a BBQ restaurant...? Super strange management decisions. They don't even have their BBQ sauce available on the tables anymore, and it has been removed from the southwest salad which took away a ton of its flavor. Thankfully they now take reservations, but we still were able to snag a table when we walked in last night around 7, which was surprising since it's usually packed. Very sad about the changes, and the price increases are ridiculous. Every entree is now over $30 -- the seared tuna was a whopping $34 for 4 pieces of small tuna and overcooked rice. Will be looking for a new favorite restaurant in the area sadly.