Say Cheese! Hitching Post Tavern: a Must-Stop on Your Adirondack Food Journey
Visit Nettle Meadow Farm’s restaurant and retail shop near Lake Luzerne in the Southern Adirondacks.
Nettle Meadow’s Hitching Post & Tavern. All photos courtesy Nettle Meadow.
In the Lake George region, it’s easy to get swept up in the pull of the lake—its bustling villages, boat cruises, and family-friendly attractions. But just a short drive down the road in Lake Luzerne, there’s a culinary stop that locals and visitors rave about: Nettle Meadow’s Hitching Post Tavern and retail cheese shop.
If you’re hungry for rustic charm paired with award-winning cheese, this is one place you’ll want to linger.
A destination rooted in flavor and story.
Nettle Meadow Farm is best known for its artisan goat and cow’s milk cheeses, originally crafted with care at their farm in nearby Thurman. Their Kunik, a triple-cream goat’s milk cheese with cow cream, has become legendary across the country, winning several prestigious awards internationally.
Delicious cheeseboard.
The Hitching Post Tavern brings this same passion for small-batch, hand-crafted excellence into a warm, inviting dining space where food, drink, and storytelling intersect.
The tavern itself feels like a nod to Adirondack history, with its wood beams, stone accents, and a cozy aesthetic that invites you to settle in with friends. This is not a quick stop; it’s the type of place where you can explore, taste, and connect to the region’s agricultural heritage.
Fit for foodies.
The Hitching Post Tavern has carved out a niche in the Lake George dining scene by offering something refreshingly different: a menu that starts with cheese but goes far beyond it. Here are a few highlights you’ll want to sink your fork into:
Charcuterie and Cheese Boards – A showcase of Nettle Meadow’s best creations, often paired with local jams, mustards, and crackers. Each bite is a master class in flavor. We enjoyed one recently with friends from New York City, and they were wowed.
Mac and Cheese, Reinvented – Gooey, rich, and layered with their signature cheeses, this is comfort food with sophistication.
Burgers with a Twist – Juicy patties topped with cheeses like Kunik or Crane Mountain Blue, giving familiar fare an artisanal edge.
Seasonal Specialties – Expect soups, salads, and entrees that change with the seasons, often spotlighting farm partners from the Adirondacks and North Country. Don’t miss the pulled pork sliders if they are on the menu.
Decadent Desserts – Many feature Nettle Meadow’s chèvre, like cheesecakes with a tangy twist.
Brunch — The decadent brunch menu offers incredible options, ranging from sweet to savory, to suit every palate.
Sink your teeth into gourmet burgers.
The beverage menu doesn’t play second fiddle either. Local craft beers and excellent wines make it easy to pair beverages with whatever’s on your plate.
The cheese shop next door (and more).
While the tavern may keep you busy for hours, don’t skip the retail cheese shop. Here, you can browse Nettle Meadow’s award-winning wheels and seasonal specialties, perfect for bringing a taste of the Adirondacks home. Popular picks include:
Kunik – Creamy and decadent, it's their most famous cheese.
Sappy Ewe – A sheep and cow’s milk cheese washed in local maple whiskey.
Herbed Chèvres – Fresh goat’s milk cheeses blended with dill, garlic, or other garden flavors.
Adironjack – A triple crème cow's milk cheese. A local applejack brandy complements the unctuous crème line.
A trio of soups made with local ingredients.
Gift baskets, gourmet goodies, pottery, cheese boards, knives, jams and jellies, maple, honey, goat milk soaps, charcuterie, pickles, olive oils, vinegars, artisan chocolates, and anything else they can think of that might go well with their award-winning cheese.
And if you’ve fallen in love with something during your visit to the tavern, odds are you can grab it to go.
A Lake George region culinary standout.
Several things set the Hitching Post apart in a region packed with restaurants:
Farm-to-Table Authenticity – This isn’t just a trendy label. Nettle Meadow’s cheese comes directly from their animals and their farming partners, with a commitment to humane care and sustainable practices. Dining here is not just about the food; it's about supporting a mission rooted in compassion and care.
A Mission with Heart – The farm doubles as an animal sanctuary for retired, rescued, and differently-abled farm animals. Dining here supports not only a thriving local business but also a mission rooted in compassion and care. It's a cause worth supporting and feeling good about.
Experiential Dining – A visit to Nettle Meadow's Hitching Post Tavern is not just a meal, it's an experience. The tavern, the shop, and the connection to the farm all come together to create a unique and memorable culinary outing.
Classic Adirondack roadhouse.
What you need to know before you go.
Reservations Recommended – Especially during peak summer and fall foliage weekends.
Pair it with a Lake Day – Stop in after boating or hiking for a hearty, satisfying meal.
Don’t Rush – This is a place to savor. Plan time to browse the shop and chat with the friendly staff about their cheeses.
Bring a Cooler – If you’re traveling, pack one so you can bring cheeses home safely.
The Adirondack table, elevated
For food lovers exploring the Lake George area, Nettle Meadow’s Hitching Post Tavern is a reminder of what makes dining in the Adirondacks so memorable: authenticity, creativity, and a deep tie to the land and animals that sustain it.
Brunch at the Hitching Post is always a good idea.
Whether you come for a cheese-laden burger, a tasting board that rivals any wine country pairing, or just a wedge of Kunik to enjoy on your cabin porch, you’ll leave with a new favorite stop on your Adirondack itinerary.
This isn’t just a meal. It’s a celebration of craftsmanship, sustainability, and flavor—all tucked away in Lake Luzerne, waiting for you to discover.
The Hitching Post and Tavern are open Thursday through Sunday (although days may change depending on the season). The retail shop is open 7 days a week.
For more information, visit Nettle Meadow’s website and Facebook page.
Places to stay, shop, eat, and things to do near the Hitching Post.
Shop for unique Adirondack apparel, gifts and merchandise.
Looking for the best things to experience in the Adirondacks? Let ADK Taste be your guide.
Upcoming events in the Southern Adirondacks.
ADK Talks Podcast
Love the Adirondacks? You’ll love our podcast. We take listeners beyond the guidebooks and into the heart of the Adirondacks. We share stories from the people behind the best places to eat, shop, stay and explore in the ADK.
