I love barbeque ribs! I love finding little out of the way rib places. So I was excited as we were coming into the area and I saw the billboard advertising Tail O’ The Pup and their BBQ. I had to try it. They are located on Route 86, halfway between Lake Placid & Saranac Lake in Plattsburgh, NY 12901 (518-891-0777).
My wife and I had just finished climbing Cascade Mountain (I climbed, she only made it a half mile in), and were on our way back to the campground near Tupper Lake. We wanted to find a restroom and something to eat. As we passed Tail O’f The Pup, I said let’s go there. I had originally thought dinner would be good, but since we were here at lunch time, what the heck!
We took turns using the restrooms, while the other stayed at a table with our eye on our dog in the car. Be aware that the lock on the men’s room doesn’t seem to work, and you need to use the latch. I found this when the door came flying open as I was sitting on the john.
Then we prepared to order. The signature dish seemed to be the King Eddie’s Crown Rack Ribs (serves 2). So we ordered it, and a couple soft drinks. The servers were all cute girls, and the service was very good. The food came pretty fast. The rack of ribs came rolled into a tight circle pinned together with skewers. It was filled with, and surrounded by cross-cut fries. It also came with a couple ears of corn on the cob, and a couple plastic cups of cole slaw. It was an interesting presentation.
I tried the ribs. The first thing I noticed was a burnt taste. There was a sub-flavor of burned grease. Yuck! There was a bottle of the BBQ sauce on the table, and this helped. But that burning grease taste was always there. The fries were okay. Having braces, I had to slice the corn off of the cob to eat it which was slow and messy, but I thought the corn was okay. My wife didn’t care for the corn though. She ate some of the cole slaw (I don’t like cole slaw) and said it was just okay.
The whole meal cost over $30 with tip. Kind of expensive for what we got. I was kind of disappointed by the ribs. Maybe the burned grease taste was unusual. Maybe they had a small flare up on the grill as they were preparing them. I don’t know. But I probably won’t eat eat there again.
Wow. This place is great and I am from the South, BBQ land and seafood heaven. Both were top notch and we make it a special 300 mile trip on the bike just to eat their steamers. Infact going in the AM. Maybe after putting your wife down, she only made it a half mile in, and this place, you might get a taste of class.
Comment by horse — August 5, 2006 @ 6:48 pm
This place got raving reviews on a TV show a few years back. We went there expecting wonderful ribs and chicken. Our meals were less than impressive. The meat was very dry and not very flavorful. The bathrooms were rather disgusting. We certainly will not return.
Comment by Susan Gray — January 1, 2007 @ 2:04 am
I absolutely love going to Tail o’ the Pup! We have family up in the area (Malone) and every year we visit, we always make at least one stop for a meal at Tail. Just went yesterday in fact - my sister and I split a rack of ribs and a plate of wings. The ribs were a bit on the fatty side, but nonetheless tasty as can be. We should have sprang for “hot” on the wings, but even mild wings were well worth it - just the right crispness on the outside and full of flavor. We all look forward to this trip every year, and Tail o’ the Pup (and Donnely’s icecream) is definitely the icing on the cake! I don’t think I’ve ever had a bad meal there.
Comment by Elizabeth — June 10, 2007 @ 9:37 pm
I am VERY surprised. I have grown up around here and the Tail ‘o’ the pup is one of my families favorite places to go. We go for overnights and stay at the cabins they have on site. It is a wonderful experience with great food.
Comment by Heather — July 18, 2007 @ 9:59 am
My husband took me to Tail today as a birthday present (and presented me with an IPod while we were sitting down!) It was a 100 mile trip, but worth the drive. The food was EXCELLENT! Our only objection was that the portions for the sides were not that big, and corn bread was considered a side, not something that we think should always be served. We had a ribs appetizer and shared pulled pork and bar-b-que chicken. We bought a bottle of sauce to take home. The sauce is the absolute best. For all you central New Yorkers - it’s better than Dinosaur.
Comment by Maresa — July 27, 2007 @ 10:08 pm
Just came from there today; had so looked forward to trying them out. What a HUGE disappointment.
Our order came to $80 for 3 adults; none of the food was hot; my “I want it all” dinner was tough, dry, and relatively tasteless. The cornbread was hard, the chicken was burnt, and the ribs were inedible.
And to top it off we had to wait an hour to get our meal after ordering. The waitress was too busy taking orders to pick them up and deliver them I guess.
To make matters worse, the couple flies we saw when we first came in turned into dozens by the time our meal was served. It was a LOAD of fun trying to eat while swatting flies away. I think I would have been better off letting them have the meal, then they could have paid for it too.
Horrible!
Comment by Debs — September 1, 2007 @ 4:33 pm
visted the “tail” on Sunday 9/2/07,… took 15 minutes to get waited on, meal was poor at best, staff was stupid at best, live music was okay (better than the food),… afer comments to the owner, it is clear he is a jackass and is only interested in in turning customers and $$$,.. damn the food and service, he basically said who cares, look at all of these people. I’ve been to the tail 3 times,… 3 strikes,… I would not recommmend this to anyone. real bbq is complex and interesting,… the tail serves alpo with kraft sauce. tickityboo-bbq
Comment by all knowing bbq — September 4, 2007 @ 8:01 pm
During the week of September 17th, 2007, my Union, CSEA, was at Lake Placid for our yearly convention. On Tuesday, September 18, 2007, we hosted a barbecue at the TOP for over 300 of our members. An “all you can eat” fest with chicken,ribs,slaw, beans and corbread were offered. In addition a live band was provided as were “smores” and a bonfire. The “Host Committee” from Region IV set out to bring a piece of our beloved Adirondacks from our members from other parts of the state. Responses from the members that attended overwhelmingly indicated that our party was a huge success. Thanks to “Dr. Y” and his entire staff for their service during this party. This event would not have been successful without their efforts. Joseph F. Musso, Chair Region IV Host Committee.
Comment by Joseph F. Musso — September 23, 2007 @ 11:54 am
You people who are moaning are all planks, this is the greatest steak house i have been to. I am from Scotland and know my food. The legend that is the Tail!!
Comment by Lee — October 30, 2007 @ 8:01 pm
Lee, if this was the greatest steak house you have ever been to, I am very sorry for you. Are the steak houses in Scotland really that bad?
Comment by RJ — October 31, 2007 @ 11:13 am
took my family to the Tail o Pup while on vacation July 2005 waited for over 1 hour to be waited on then after ordering the food waited another 45 minutes, watched as other people who had arrived after us got their food. I went and asked for the owner told to go in the kitchen. I told him this was damn poor service he said dont talk like that in front of my wife as he was holding a meat cleaver, said he was going to kick my ass. We didnt even wait for our food got in car and left would never go back
Comment by richard stevens — November 8, 2007 @ 4:16 pm
All I can say is wow! The service was alittle slow but it was packed there. When we put our order in it came quickly. Wow there was alot of food too. Overall it was very nice. Kind of like camping out w/freinds. We ate and drank and listned to live music. We’ll be back next year for sure. A plus food and service.
Comment by Crag Maccue — December 30, 2007 @ 5:03 pm
I am working at Tail o’the pup for the past 3-4 summers. All i can say is that we are doing our best!I cannot understand people who are coming there when it’s packed, and expect to get fast and good service! That’s impossible even when we are over 20 servers there! I can say that there are flies, dirty dishes, disgusting restrooms and the boss is an asshole. Who has ever worked there can confirm that there is not such a thing like “human rights” in this restaurant. The only reason for the staff to be there is that you can make good money, working almost without a break!
It’s not like the waitresses are stupid-they are just foreigners and that explains that sometimes they cannot understand something you say and they are not used to the American culture, food and lifestyle.
I can say that i met wonderfull people there, but the most awful customers ever are the BIKERS!Everybody hates them! They are just rude, noisy, mean. And do not leave good tips! And at Tail we are working mostly for tips!
If it was up to me-I would never eat there, but you can find something good and tasty. I am one of these european waitresses and I have completely different idea for good food, nice restaurant and attitude from the boss.
Comment by Lin-Lin — February 17, 2008 @ 12:50 pm
My family eats at the Tail every summer. Each year it gets bigger and better. I remember when it had seating for about 100, now it’s up to 600 and they pack them in. The staff, a mix of American and European students add to the experience. You can eat ribs and learn about life in the Czech Republic all at once. Our kids love the playground and my wife and I love the live music. We are planning on returning again this summer.
Comment by Freddy — April 17, 2008 @ 11:16 am
As a local, I’m anxiously awaiting the seasonal opening of the Tail O’ the Pup next week. My family loves the food and the kids especially love the nightly bonfire and smores.
Comment by tom — April 17, 2008 @ 3:12 pm