Inn At Pleasant Lake – Restaurant

Another 5 star dinner and breakfasts at this wonderful inn!!! The breakfasts are varied and filling — a great way to start the day! Dinner is an experience (and how many times can you say that these days?) From a cozy happy hour by the fire, Brian’s introduction to the meal, which is funny and informative and previews the creative and tantalizing feast to come. Every course brings together many different flavors and textures and leaves you wanting more! But then the next course comes and more scrumptious tastes to come!!! 5 courses of goodness, and perfectly portioned so you are never left hungry OR too stuffed! Highlight of the weekend stay at the inn!

Exquisite carefully made meal we had was one of our best. Chef Brian has leaded us into the wonderful world of fine cuisine. He has spent time explain how each course was constructed, how his Salmon was ordered and flown in and delivery directly to his restaurant. Next, he explained his idea behind each course and how it will affect next one.
If you are in town, I would recommend to have a meal or two at his Inn. We are so delightful that we have a chance and we will be back for more.

The style of this restaurant is really unmatched by any we have ever been to. We arrived for the cocktail hour and sat down in the cozy living room and sipped cocktails by the fire place. The chef then presented what he would be serving us that night which was a treat because it got us excited for what was to come (a fantastic meal). Everything he served us was excellent and each dish had unique and wonderful flavors. The overall dining experience was perfect, so much so that I can’t wait to bring my family back here!

My daughter and I visited the Inn at Pleasant Lake for the first time for our Father’s Day celebration. The restaurant came highly recommended by friends and associates and did not disappoint. We enjoyed pre-​dinner drinks and conversation on the patio overlooking the absolutely beautiful lake and then were greeted by Chef Brian, who called us into the living room for a fun description of the evening’s menu offerings. He kept it light, folksy and short, and especially as first-​timers, it was a positive experience, offering a brief glimpse into the chef’s culinary philosophy and work ethic.
We were then escorted into the dining room, which was lovely with a nice view of the lake. Tables were generously spaced with white tablecloths and fresh flowers. The prix fixe entrée’ items were beef tenderloin and sea scallops and were accompanied by four other courses including a creamy tomato bisque, a fresh green salad with nuts, cheese and chiffonade of smoked duck breast, a passion fruit sorbet with blueberries to cleanse the palate followed by a dessert of mousse duet napoleon and hand made after dinner chocolates.
The friendly and competent wait staff, personable and accessible chef, beautiful setting and wonderful food, skillful preparation and artful presentation guaranteed us a memorable Father’s Day experience.

We enjoyed a wonderful dinner at the Inn. Chef Brian is down to earth, funny and very willing to share information about cooking skills and tips.
The food was simply amazing from beginning to end. The only thing holding it back from 5 stars was the wine list which could use some upgrading.
Top notch food and service. One of our top spots when we’re in the area.

Amazing. I would be wrong to simply call this the best dining in New London… it’s the best dining experience on Earth!

We have lived in this area for over 13 years and The Inn at Pleasant Lake is without a doubt the best restaurant here and certainly one of the best in New Hampshire. Chef Brian MacKenzie always prepares an amazing meal and the atmosphere at the Inn, including views of nearby Pleasant Lake, is fantastic. If you’re in our area, don’t miss an opportunity to dine here.
I should also mention that our daughter had her reception here and it was beautifully planned and executed by Chef MacKenzie, wedding coordinator Jessica Bray, and the entire staff. If you want to have a special event such as a wedding in the Lake Sunapee area, definitely consider the Inn at Pleasant Lake.

We have been many times over the years for dinner and went again this past week. Menus are more or less set but you can choose your entrée usually from two. There was a amuse-​bouche (sp?) of smoked duck on a cracker sized crostini (divine), roasted vegetable soup (divine), salad with a too-​sticky sweet dressing (meh) with homemade bread (divine) entrée of either swordfish (sticky spicy sweet glaze meh) or crusted roast tenderloin (divine– by far the better choice) both served with risotto (divine) veggies (arugula and asparagus– just meh) and some frozen chocolate mousse type thing for dessert (not for me, below meh)
Great bottle of wine (all kinds/​ranges of price choices), built in tip of 18% (this bugs me when the wine is automatically included) really really liked dinner but in the past I have always LOVED it. Could’ve just been my mood. There were over 50 diners (big crowd for this place) and it was actually very loud with one table in particular having a couple boisterous 20/30-somethings…Price fix $ 58 b4 extras (wine tax tip)
The chef does a pre-​dinner talk which is engaging but a bit kitschy and promises seconds on anything you want. This sounds like a good idea at the time but really you fill up quite quickly on the courses so we have never taken him up on it.
View of Pleasant Lake is beautiful — ask for a table near the window.

Wow! I can’t begin to describe just how wonderful our dinner was on Thursday evening. We had cocktails by the fire. We met chef MacKenzie as he was stoking the fire… a very warm and gracious host. He later came out and explained the dinner menu. We started off as the only dinner guests and were later joined by two diners. We sat on the sunporch. It was a romantic setting bathed in candlelight. The amuse bouche set the tone for the evening. Each course had us torn… from enjoying and savoring the present course to anticipating what would be next and would we enjoy it as much. Each course was absolutely delectable. We started off with a roasted vegetable bisque, velvet bliss. The salad had baby greens with a lemon caper dressing, smoked Gouda, toasted cashews, and marinated cucumbers. I can’t remember the last time I enjoyed a salad so much. The entrees were a roasted tenderloin of veal with a Madeira sauce or a seared yellowfin Tuna with a sherry mango vinaigrette. Because my husband and I picked both entrees and wanted to share, the chef split the entrees on both plates. Both entrees were delicious. The flavors were layered and were well seasoned without being overly salted. The dessert was a chambord cheesecake with a dark chocolate sauce and blackberry coulis. The cheesecake was rich so the individual sized portion was the perfect way to end a special evening. Our bill came with homemade chocolates. We were told that this inn is often reserved for special occasions because of the price of the fixed price menu. The quality, quantity, care, and expertise that went into out meal makes this establishment superior to anything in the Upper Valley. We most certainly will return!

Have never stayed overnight here… but we’ve dined quite a few times. this is as good as it gets in the lake Sunapee area. Inn at pleasant lake is a MUST on your dining list in the region. Its a 5 course elegant dining experience without any of the pretention you might expect. chef brian McKenzie is a down to earth guy. who seems to really love cooking and mingling with his diners. Its $ 55…a bargain for what you get. chef mckenzie starts the evening off with a 10 minute or so discussion of what we’re going to eat. he than goes into the kitchen but emerges after dinner to personally chat with each person. a few fridays ago we had bisque of roasted vegetables… a salad filled with all sorts of local healthy options… a choice of either rack of lamb or imported from hawaii swordfish and a amaretto mousse for desert. as you leave after dinner. you sense you have dined at the best restaurants in the largest cities of the world. Its that good! to have this available in a small college town in new hampshire makes it all the more enjoyable. Bön Appetit!

The most delicious food you will ever had. An absolute must for anyone who loves good food and a cozy atmosphere.

I have been frequenting the Inn for more than 10 years and I have never been disappointed. Each and every time I enjoy dinner here, it is an experience rather than just dinner out. While the ambiance is spectacular, the food is dream worthy. Recently, I treated my staff to dinner to celebrate a milestone, and all agreed it was the best meal they had ever had. They consistently earn 5 stars in all areas and earned a review from me.