The Sagamore

This review is for the dining area, and not for the hotel. The place was «ok.» From the pictures, and looking up the prices I was expecting a grand lobby, and a majestic hotel. I was kind of disappointed. We dined in the Italian Restaurant, the service, and the food was not that great. We made a reservation far in advance, and asked to be sat outside. Once we arrived the teenage host sat us in a table, and when we asked to sit outside she gave us a sly remark of saying, «No» So we opted to sit inside. Our server Alex was very nice, but didn’t speak a lot of English. The bread arrived very cold, and only had three tiny pieces in the basket. The waitress did not understand our cocktail order, and had to slowly go over the drinks again with us. We had two cocktails, and started off with the cheese board which was fantastic. After an hour later (a very long wait) our chicken arrived. The chicken had a weird smelt to it, but was lacking flavor, or seasoning. I had to pour a lot of salt, and pepper to get some sort of flavor. After we had the crème brûlée that had three flavors. I could not even get a taste out of that, and which should be advoided at all cost. The resturant did not feel Italian at all. After all this place is way over hyped the room prices were $$$$$ if you are looking online, and the service standards of the restaurant could be improved.

This review is for the dining area, and not for the hotel. The place was «ok.» We dined in the Italian Restaurant, the service, and the food was not that great. We made a reservation far in advance, and asked to be sat outside. Once we arrived the teenage host sat us in a table, and when we asked to sit outside she gave us a sly remark of saying, «No» So we opted to sit inside. Our server Alex was very nice, but didn’t speak a lot of English. We had two cocktails, and started off with the cheese board which was fantastic. After an hour later our chicken arrived. The chicken had a weird smelt to it, but was lacking flavor, or seasoning. After we had the crème brulee which should be advoided at all cost. After all this place is way over hyped the room prices were $$$$$, and the service standards of the restaurant could be improved.

The hotel: well, in our case, lodge 6. It’s a long way to the hotel (over 1,000 Fitbit steps). It’s a terrible room for $ 300/​night. Small room, tiny bathroom but worst of all, I’m not sure it got cleaned properly the whole time we have been here and even before. When we arrived, there was a bill of some sort (with someone’s name and address on it) on the floor next to the bed. Really? Did you not notice it when vacuuming? Also, I made some crumbs on the table and floor but decided to leave them (as a test) and none of them were cleaned up (gross, really?). In the bathroom, nothing was moved (including bath mat towel) so I think, nothing was really cleaned in there. I hate this room. No lake view, a door that closes but has a large gap at the top, allowing the bright hall light right outside the door to shine in my eyes all night long. Terribly loud slamming doors. Did I mention that for $ 300/​night, I hate this room. I feel
Gross, cheated from my «luxury» stay. I don’t know if the hotel rooms were nicer but at $ 600+ a night, just couldn’t do it.
Food has been okay, Bella Vita is the same exact restaurant and menu as other Opal properties (we visited one in bar harbor and also the Samoset last sept), disappointing. Service shaky, slow. Mr. Browns was average, nothing special, slow service.
Golf: fantastic. We liked the course (played twice) and all the staff at the course was great.
Children: I guess we didn’t realize that children would be loud and running around unattended all over the place. I’m not that old and curmudgeonly but it would be nice for some parental attendance.
The Morgan: boat ride was great and complimentary to hotel guests.
Fitness Center: quite nice and the pools at 7:00 — 8:00 am were slice of heaven, with no kids running around.
So, it’s a nice place but I can’t get past the price of my crummy, uncleaned room so I don’t think we will return.

Hard not to like this peaceful hotel right on lake George. Service and staff are incredible. Rooms have view on the lake. Stayed at the Sagamore on business trip and wish I had time to hang out more and discover the area. The sagamore is right next to other restaurants, cute streets and boutiques, boat rentals.

Disclaimer: I came first week of May, «off season»
Not worth it
1. housekeeping DID NOT make up my room! I had to call around 3 pm, and first they told me they dont finish up til 5pm. I called back to see if they could come «now» and they came 20 min later. When she did show up, she said «so what would you like me to do, clean?»???
2. ridiculous price to upgrade to lake view, and the non-​lake view rooms are like standard and not worth the 259/​night we paid. $ 399 per night for a lake view ??? seriously???
3. totally over-​rated
4. nothing is open right now and they don’t exactly tell you that
would go to a cuter b&b or just one of the other motels, just as clean, no frills and at least know that you’ll be down by the lake

Can’t wait to return. A two night stay wasn’t enough for my fiancé and I. Would like to check out more of the surrounding attractions, such the caves, Fort Ticonderoga, and Frankenstein Wax Museum. Otherwise, The Sagamore and Lake George are worth the experience.

I’m here now, so I’m not to go into length about it. I’ll edit this review once I return home.
Suffice it to say, I LOVE this place!

One final stop in the Lake George area of the Adirondacks, and that’s what brought us to The Sagamore in Bolton Landing. The Sagamore is a Victorian-​era resort hotel, built in 1883, and named after an American Indian character in James Fenimore Cooper’s 1826 novel «The Last of the Mohicans». The hotel was financed by a number of prominent summer residents, and it soon succeeded in attracting a wealthy clientele. Throughout its history, the Sagamore has been a social center for wealthy tourists and residents of «Millionaires’ Row», the stately mansions along Lake George’s western shore.
Unfortunately the Sagamore fell into disrepair in the 1980s, but after years (and millions of dollars) of renovations, the Sagamore is once again recognized as Lake George’s premier luxury resort. It is a AAA Four-​Diamond resort, and they work hard to maintain the grounds and the hotel to peak conditions.
My Dad and I had seen the Sagamore earlier in the day from the deck of the Minne-​Ha-​Ha paddlewheel steamer, and we had booked an afternoon meal at Mister Brown’s Pub at the resort to celebrate our trip up into the Adirondacks.
The first thing you should know is that this resort is Disney-​like magical and spectacular. There must be a family of elves living under a tree stump, and they scamper out and snag each little piece of trash before it hits the ground. I am quite sure that I even saw them clipping the hedges with fingernail clippers before we walked by. Yes, it’s that immaculate.
The second thing you should know is that this place gets insanely crowded in the summertime. What first looked like seals sunning themselves on the beach, turned out to be rich tourists sprawled out on lawn chairs. Lots and lots of tourists, with the New York City attitudes to match.
Dad and I enjoyed walking around the grounds with our pinkies up, while soaking in some of the culture. At the appointed hour, we walked to Mister Brown’s Pub, and thankfully found ourselves in a more casual environment, surrounded my golfers and people who were just relaxing in this cozy Adirondack camp-​like setting.
I had a cup of their broccoli-​cheddar soup, and an herb-​marinated chicken sandwich, served with Applewood-​smoked bacon, Vermont cheddar cheese, lettuce, tomato, and a maple bourbon BBQ sauce on a toasted Stirato roll.
My Dad reminded me that Rachel Ray (famous TV chef) was born and raised in nearby Glens Falls, NY, and later managed Mister Brown’s Pub at the Sagamore. Well, Yum-​o to that!
The Sagamore is a very lovely resort, with a friendly and attentive staff. The views of the lake and the surrounding mountains are spectacular, and the entire experience seems first-​rate. All that being said, I’m glad that my niece chose to have her wedding at the Inn of Erlowest instead. *pinkies down*

²⁄₁₉ Love this hotel but must have 2^nd string staff in the winter months at the 1^st floor restaurant. The bottle of wine we ordered took 15 – 20 min to come out! Bad! Our apps and entrée’s all came at once! Bad Bad! The food was defiantly not hot. My lobster was undercooked as well as my friends filet which he ordered medium and it came out very rare! Bad Bad Bad !! You get this sometimes at 2^nd rate hotel/​restaurants but was not expecting this from The Sagamore! :(The waitress did apologize.

I hadn’t been up to the Sagamore in years, and I’ve never been here «in season» (likely not my thing on many levels), but off season I was struck by the beauty of the location and the graciousness of the current main building (there are also many functional, but far less gracious – and entirely separate, as in you must walk outside to reach them, guest accommodations, so think through your needs and preferences when booking). Although it’s history dates back over a century, the current «old» building only dates from the 1930’s and was closed and reopened in the 1980’s. It offers scenic Lake George views from many angles, including the chairs on the terrace. The conference facilities (located in a separate modern structure) were satisfactory, as was the food service.

I’ve heard of on Golden Pond but maybe I should call my experience at the Sagamore, On Golden Lake George. I have seen many wonderful things in my life and I can actually say The Sagamore is yet another.
I know, I’ve only talked about what I saw because it’s worthy of continuous praise. Set on a small island with an amazing views of Lake George, the hotel is by far the crown jewel of the area. Please make no mistake, The Sagamore has other beautiful neighbors as well.
My stay at The Sagamore was a brief one but a lasting impression was certainly made! I stayed in the main hotel and my room was clean, spacious and beautiful. I had a view of the lake and the outdoor lounge area. The bathroom was filled with many amenities and having free wifi made my stay extra special. I had several meals and a few drinks. I must say, everything was made with excellence.
The only issue I had was during dinner one night. It appeared our waitress was new and she made a few errors with our meal. Other then that, my stay at The Sagamore was picture perfect and I would highly recommend The Sagamore to all my friend and family.

Let’s start with the positive: The bed was very comfortable.
The room, however, was in the back over a service area. We were twice awakened by the piercing BEEP-​BEEP-​BEEP of backing-​up delivery trucks. Management, must they unload at 3 a.m.
Bathtub and vanity sink were both verrrrry slow-​draining. I do not relish standing in six or seven inches of water whilst I shower.
The staff member at the front desk greeted me frostily, though all I offered was a genial hello and I was dressed neatly.
My reservation explicitly requested two double beds for my sister and me, but when we got to our room there was only one double bed. I called down to the front, and again the staff member (the same as before) evidenced no politesse whatsoever. Sister and I waited in the room for more than an hour before we got a call that there was a new room for us. Of course, no one offered to help move our luggage, nor did anyone offer to bring us a new room key. We had to fetch it. Management, may I suggest remedial charm school for some of your staff?
This is a high-​dollar hotel with four-​star aspirations but it falls far short in service.
We were looking for a special place to stay in the Adirondacks and were willing to pay a little more (our tariff exceeded $ 300). Reader, if you are looking to do the same, I suggest you learn from our pricey mistake and book somewhere other than the Sagamore Resort.

Ummm I love The Sagamore. Every time we visit we are greeted with excellent service and hospitality. We usually stay in the governors suite and the views are picture perfect. The great part about this resort is that you can stay in the hotel or other types of lodging, so it accommodates different styles and budgets. The food is fine for dinner, but we usually hit the town to eat. The breakfast is good in my opinion. Yes, there are weddings almost every weekend, so it does get crowded and some rooms can hear all of the commotion outside, but it is what it is. We come in the fall, so they always have the fire roaring and music playing. They also provide nice warm blankets and heaters so you can sit outside with a nice drink on a cool night. The spa is great and I have had my best massages there. You are close to hiking, boating, town, and LG village. What else can I say? I’m a fan!

I was here recently as a guest for a wedding and greatly enjoyed myself.
Experienced both the lakefront cocktail hour area and the reception hall for the actual wedding.
The staff were all very friendly, attentive, and present. There were plenty of bar and food areas during the lakefront cocktail reception. The views were phenomenal. There was another cocktail hour happening at the same time, and that one was closer to the building, so you may not have the whole space to yourself (and may have to specify which you’re renting), but really, who cares? It’s all beautiful. They provided outdoor heaters as it was getting cooler. Perhaps they may even want to invest in some of those robes that some outdoor/​rooftop bars have.
The finger foods were very good. I’d say to cook the bacon for juuuust a bit longer. Most of the bacon trays that came out were on the under cooked side, but there were enough food options that there was plenty to eat. Smoked Gouda, whoo!
The wedding itself was very well done. From start to finish it was well planned, and again, the staff was very accommodating. Bartenders were especially friendly even as the night went on. They don’t have tip jars, so be sure to slip them a few bucks every now and then.
The filet mignon was a decent size and cooked on the rare side. Not sure if you can specify how you’d like yours cooked. Very good. The gnocchi main plate was super tiny. I’d recommend tripling/​quadrupling the portion of that. The deserts were on point.
Nice after party in the back outdoor area with a small fire pit and s’mores.
It’s going to depend on the particular wedding you go to, but we all had a very nice time in this setting.

My review will be geared more towards the wedding venue aspect of this facility rather than the hotel itself
First, the ceremony location. Now, this could have been the bride and grooms choice and not so much the fault of the hotel, but I felt that this was an odd location. It was just to the side of the building in an area that appears to be suited for summer outdoor dining. It was a bit crammed in and views behind the «alter» area were obstructed by a large staircase. I think if the point of using this venue is for the view and you’re going to opt for an outdoor ceremony, make sure you scope this out. I’m sure this place is busy with weddings and they find every nook and cranny to stick one, but take a look and make sure its an area that is suitable for the surroundings.
The cocktail hour — as someone who enjoys this portion of weddings, I was not disappointed by the food or the finger food servings being walked around. The bartender and waiters/​waitresses were friendly and enthusiastic in their rounds. The room itself was a bit odd… It looked more like a conference room that you’d find a PowerPoint presentation being given rather than a wedding party setting. Not that it particularly cared where I was eating/​drinking, it just seemed a bit out designated use
The Reception — essentially outside and under a tented area (heated for the chilly fall evening). A small location but accommodated the group well. The food was actually a bit above average for what I’m used to at these wedding/​catering halls and I enjoyed the salmon and Filet Mignon main course thoroughly. Service was excellent and the staff was pleasant and always around to help. They were able to identify my wife’s need for a vegetarian meal without her having to ask several times to make sure that one is available for her. The tent area leads to the outside where you can walk down to the lake and take some beautiful photos.
The hotel itself offered shuttle service to our off-​site hotel in Lake George Village, and also bad complimentary valet for those that drove. Overall this is a nice venue but the views/​atmosphere are what make it great. Other than that this is average at best for the amount you’re going to spend (which from discussions with others was probably quite high). Keep this in mind when booking and really think about what’s more important to you — a view outside in the background or elegance inside.

I stayed at the lodge at Sagamore resort for 3 nights which was the beginning week of October and most places were closing around the lake George Town by end of the week. Stay at the sagamore was amazing. The lodge was looking over the lake it was a big lodge for 2 people and very comfortable. Lodge room I stayed at had a full kitchen, nice living room with the tv, balcony with two rocking chairs, big bedroom and huge bathroom with stand up shower and a bath. The place was very clean this is what I liked the most about this resort everything was very clean and beautiful. I also used a fitness center which is open 530 am to 11pm daily which gives u time to squeeze a workout in a tight schedule. Fitness center was also amazing had water available and towels, good equipment for cardio and free weighs and couple of machines. They had Indoor pool because outside pools are already closed. Fitness center and pool access was by the room key. Everyone on the resort was very friendly. As soon as you enter the hotel there is outside view which was amazing. We got lucky with weather it was amazing for October in 70’s. The food at the resort was also great. They have lot of activities. Walking around the resort was very nice. Would definitely come back here sometimes next year had a great experience and would also recommend others.

I come to lake George every year and I’m never not staying here, again. Well, I guess that means I’m staying at The Sagamore every year. Done and done.
Most places to stay in Lake George are really teeny motels on lake. Think a few rustic (my nice way of saying really old and run down) cottages on a small lake front area and a pool that can fit like 7 people. The Sagamore is a far cry from all of that. It’s a massive luxury resort with all of the bells and whistles. Tons of bars and restaurants, several pools to lay out on and beach lake front areas to hang out at as well.
The large white mansion is the main hotel area where all of the amenities and restaurants are, but surprisingly enough most of the rooms are not in the main hotel and are rather in lodges that scatter the property. Although the amenity space looks as if it can accommodate masses of people, I was surprised to learn that the hotel only has 375 rooms. I like that though. The pool area never felt overcrowded. I hate having to fight for a lounge chair when I’m on vacation and here there were plenty to choose from. We even found a secluded lakeside area to lay out at with no one in sight.
We only stayed here for one night, so the expensive dining wasn’t too much of a burden, but I can imagine that it adds up fast. Most of the dinner options are super classy and even the more casual patio dining was expensive. Think 15 dollar sandwiches and 12 dollar cocktails.
If you are planning on staying for a few days I’d recommend taking the short walk or bike ride into Bolton Landing where there are a ton of cheaper dining options.
I felt hella classy staying here. They had croquet on the front lawn. Like, that classy. But more importantly, I felt very relaxed. The expansive lake and mountains are breathtaking, and the Sagamore has got some of the best panoramic views around. Put me on a chair with a mojito and a good book and I’ll talk to you in seven hours.

Had a great time, the kids stayed busy the staff was friendly the rooms were clean the food was delicious. What more can you ask for. Oh yes, we had perfect weather and my favorite new pool side drink the Indian summer!

Well where do I begin…
I visited the sagamore over forth of July week. I was not actually staying at the resort when the following incident occurred…
My family and I were touring the grounds with the hopes of staying for one or two night at this fabulous location. It’s first class all the way. I want to make sure I give credit where credit is due.
We were driving down sagamore road when two house keepers in a golf cart came out of the HR driveway without looking. I slammed on the breaks and luckily did not crash into them… Their reaction… Giggles…
I turned to make sure all my kids were ok… The house keepers then proceeded to make an accelerated left turn and crashed into our car… Causing a tremendous amount of damage to my vehicle. As well as ruining a very expensive Thule Cargo Carrier on the hitch.
As I exited my vehicle one house keeper explained the driver was «practicing» she did not know how to operate the cart.
So they were or acting on probably the busy time of the year… Ok.
Security and state troopers immediately arrived and thankfully no one was hurt…
The general manager arrived and I asked him to provide us accommodations for the night, after going back and forth he agreed that it was a reasonable request… I am grateful for the one night stay which was complimentary from the resort…
Up till this point I have no issues… The GM assured me that they would take care of repairing our vehicle and do what they could to accommodate us and our inconvenience…
I had nothing bad to say they seemed genuinely happy to work with us because of the situation…
It’s what occurred next that upset me…
I got home and tried to find out information about fixing my vehicle. I was given the manager of security information and was assured he will be instrumental in helping us…
I was told by this manager that unfortunately he does not handle this and he would be passing my information to the cooperate office and they would handle it…
I made many phone calls… No call back…
I then spoke to a receptionist at the corporate office who basically told me that I was not allowed to speak to anyone but a certain person who was not in the office…
I explained that I was in need of getting my car repaired and could not afford any delays…
I was then advised to bring my car to a body shop and get an estimate and they would take care of everything…
I proceeded to bring my care to a reputable body shop and send an estimate for the repair… Still no communication from the sagamore.
I then reached out to a operating Vice President of the mother company, he assured me that this was procedure and not to worry he would personally make sure everything would get handled in a timely fashion…
I asked for a rental car because I had no transportation as my car was in pieces at the body shop…
I was then advised by the sagamore that I must take my vehicle to get a second opinion. As they would not be paying the original body shop with out getting a second opinion.
This was becoming very complicated… I asked for the insurance information and was told that I could not be given this information…
Really… I was now on my third day off from work to try and repair my vehicle…
I at that point cut my losses and contacted my insurance company and filed a claim with them…
I can’t believe that such a large company, such a beautiful place is so poorly run.
It could have been such an easy thing to handle…
I lost time, money, and was given a load of aggravation when the only thing I asked for was simple communication…
It’s a shame. I really love the resort and really did not want to go down the road of speaking poorly on social media about the location or the company.
I appreciated the one night given to us, but it was thrown in our face multiple times from multiple staff members of the sagamore…
We are not all wealthy people and cannot all afford to have multiple vehicles in case of bad situations…
The sagamore is a great place just be very careful when your there that it is not golf cart practicing day…

Oh Sagamore, you fancy, huh?
The resort itself is ridiculously stunning (like an ice cream truck when it’s 110 degrees). You drive over a little bridge to get to the «island». The lake views are incredible and it’s oh-​so picturesque. Food on the resort is good but expensive. Service was ok, not too welcoming but serviceable.
The reason for the A-​ok status is that for the amount a room goes for on the weekends, I was expecting better service (front desk people, smile a little… it’ll suite you). The suites are gorgeous with fireplaces and small balconies overlooking the lake. The «normal» lodges are far from spectacular (small, dark, not so awesomely fitted with what you pay for).
I would stay here again (for a special occassion) and would always opt for the suites. Mo money mo problems.

This review is for the restaurant inside the Sagamore, La Bella Vita.
In a few words, it was overpriced and underwhelming. However, we were initially going to eat downstairs in the Pub, but after looking at that menu I’m really happy we chose this instead. The restaurant itself is really beautiful, everything looks clean, shiny and new. Fresh flowers and black & white photography as décor made for a really nice ambiance. The wine list was decent; we shared two bottles of Napa Chardonnay (SLWC) and Cabernet. The menu looked great as well, I was just disappointed with the portion sizes and execution of the food. I got the lobster bisque as an appetizer and while the flavor was good, the bisque was on the watery side and I only found 2 little chunks of actual lobster in it. I think it was around $ 12 (sidenote: the next day I went to Saltwater Cowboy and had lobster bisque again for $ 4.50 and it was far superior).
For my entrée I ordered the chicken saltimbocca, which was supposed to be pounded thin chicken breast wrapped in prosciutto and fried sage. First of all, there was no sage to be found; it was definitely baby spinach. The chicken also wasn’t pounded thin, as you can see in my picture. The potatoes, marsala sauce, and forest mushrooms were all very good. However, the dish overall lacked salt and was a little bland.
My boyfriend had the wedge salad which traditionally comes with a lot of bacon and bleu cheese, right? There was a small disc of bacon (yes, a disc) on top of the wedge and he said it was underdressed. Other people in our party ordered $ 12 salads that were the smallest salads I’ve ever seen. Just a handful of greens, if that. His veal parmesan suffered the same fate as my chicken saltimbocca… it wasn’t pounded thin whatsoever. I think the kitchen may have lost the meat pounder. And the salt. But other than that… the flavors were pretty good, ambiance was nice, and service was pretty on-​point.
I don’t know about dessert here, we skipped it in favor of Ben & Jerry’s down the street. How could you not?