Howard Johnson's Restaurant

CLOSED on 3/31/15, forever. This leaves only Bangor, which is rumored to be closing shortly, and the very very newly reopened Lake George HoJo's -- which under new management but the old licensee is trying to do a full-on revival and reopened in February after doing a major restoration of the interior.

RIP Lake Placid HoJo's. You couldn't quite tap that nostalgia market and I guess the regulars couldn't keep you open. Actuarial tables are ruthless.

Did you know this is one of only three HoJo restaurants still in existence? Remember when they were on practically every street corner across the country? And at every highway exit?

When I was younger my family traveled a lot. I remember always begging to stop in a Howard Johnson's so I could have fried clams. No place served fried clams like Howard Johnson's. I'm not sure I ever ate anything else in a HoJo Restaurant. Fried Clams and a coke. Died and gone to heaven was the feeling.

And now HoJo's are becoming extinct. What a shame. They are part of our history. This one opened in 1956 and has been serving my heavenly fried clams ever since. A lot of clams gave their lives to accompany my Coke-a-Cola.

If you are ever in Lake Placid (a beautiful spot in northern NY) be sure to stop in for a traditional meal of fried clams. . . . and soak up some 60-year restaurant history.

I'm laughing as I write this because, believe it or not, we had a very decent experience here.

Our party of four (2 adults and 2 kids) stopped by for lunch on saturday, the day before Easter. Not much else is open in the area this time of year so....Hojos won.

We were seated fairly quickly, and the older lady waitress was very sweet and patient.

The food was actually good! We didn't get anything too difficult: I got a dill chicken sandwich- the chicken had been seasoned nicely and cooked on a grill, served with lettuce, tomato and onion on a yummy bun, with pretty decent fries and a dill mayo. He got a steak and mushroom hero, which was equally yummy. The picky kid didn't get anything but the French fries were apparently up to snuff because she ate off of everyone's plate. The other kid got a cheeseburger and it was much better than the weird meat she got the previous night at the wilderness inn.

So, although we didn't order anything very inventive, I would say it was good enough that we would return.

As the only surviving HoJo in the United States (or so I'm told), this venerable Lake Placid restaurant is still cranking out breakfasts, burgers, and ice cream amidst the orange booths ... doing their bit to keep up the kitch factor in Lake Placid. A more modern addition to this particular location is the "Food Bar." (You can only imagine.) For a mere $8.95, you too can sample the pleasures of HoJo's bargain smorgasbord.

My advice ... stick with breakfast. One can only eat a limited amount of refried beans and canned chocolate pudding. Check out the walking trails that begin at the back of the parking lot.

Simple diner food, wonderful atmosphere, breakfast spot for early morning hikers.
Locals get together here for breakfast and you can listen to them talk, which is cool and entertaining.
Menu consists of diner classics.
Clean place, nice staff, good food.

Service is below average. Wait time for food also bad. Price is good. "Locals" hang out.

Ha! Let me tell you my service I received was bad tonight we came in a little near closing time our waitress who seemed nice at first told us it was no big deal they were serving us and treated us so well at first,then they dropped the ball at the end. I was more than willing to give a $20 tip because she was doing that good. But then, It took her a while to fill up our water and we thought maybe she was busy cleaning up trying to finish up closing so we understood, we waited 10 minutes patiently and while were here the wait staff was with the cooks giggling and chuckling about boyfriends and other things. By the time she came back to ask us about water she said "O let me get a pitcher" she grabs a pitcher feels it up with water and then puts it on the table implying us to serve ourselves so she could go back to her conversation. I couldn't believe what I was seeing my mother was stunned by her actions and proceed to pour the water for us so the big tip she would have gotten I gave to my mother for being our sub-waitress, worst customer service I had at Howard Johnson, after I have been a loyal customer after the rumors I have heard about roaches and the way they handle food I still show my support for a timeless classic and this is what I received I'm unimpressed by what I witnessed last night at 8:50

This had to be the worst food that I have ever had. Further, hold onto your stomach when you walk in. The smell of puke that lingers inside the front door should have been our first hint to run the other direction. Lastly, the food bar that is this supposed deal at 9.95, we had to run the other direction. I wouldn't have fed that crap to my dog. This restaurant is beyond it's years and while it's the only surviving HoJo in the country needs to be put out of its misery. It's old, decrepit, and beyond it's years.

Went for breakfast and ordered off the menu (they also had a buffet). Great blueberry pancakes with real maple syrup (extra charge). One of 2 remaining HOJO's in the country. Very nostalgic!

HoJo's remains a cut behind IHOP across the board. Still, when you need pancakes, you need pancakes.