18/08/2026
Tug Hill Rules! Today we ventured out on the For Sale (see pics) “General Lee”, our Polaris side-by-side, to one of our favorite locations on “The Hill”. This ATV/ Snowmobile stop is also accessible by car or truck, although you may need a car wash after you leave.
The duck wontons are a long-time local favorite. This Asian dish is made with duck breasts, minced ginger, chopped garlic, eggs, green onions, and more, wrapped in Wonton Wrappers. We had ours today with Sweet Baby Ray's sweet red chili, which complemented them perfectly.
The freshly sliced hot roast beef sandwich was the perfect trail-stop meal. Piled high and served on white bread (I had mine toasted), then smothered in a rich-tasting brown gravy with a hint of butter. What further enhanced the meal were the “potato flats”. It’s a crispy flattened (smashed) potato cooked to perfection. This thinly pressed potato dish is commonly called “potato pave~” (pronounced Pa-Vay).
They are known for their desserts made in Watertown by the pastry chefs (or pâtissier) at “Whipped Desserts and Catering”. Today they had from chocolate cream cheesecake to Snickers cheesecake. Lowville is the home of Kraft, makers of Philadelphia Cream Cheese, and home of the World's Largest Cheesecake.
The BLT (from a previous visit) was served on a butter-grilled dark rye with a respectable amount of marbling. Served crisp and hot, the sandwich was excellent.
Our bartender/server today was the multi-talented and always cheerful Kris. The place was packed, yet she still managed brief conversations while never missing a beat. The kitchen staff (your secret strength in the restaurant business) was terrific, too. While not on the front line, they deserve recognition too. Today the masters of the kitchen were the owner, Juanita, and her trustworthy sidekick, Randy.
The Tug Hill Inn (Hook and Ladder) is located at 6253 Salmon River Rd in Lowville (Montague). Call them at 315-376-4299 for hours and specials, or visit them on Facebook. They are open Wednesday – Sunday at 11. Kitchen closes at 9. On Friday and Saturday, the bar menu (fryer food) runs from 9 pm to midnight, and the bar stays open until 12:45 am. On weekdays, they close at 10 pm. See FB for their current hours.
I am Lee Hinkleman, your local Foodie Extraordinaire. My goal is to promote local family-owned restaurants. I will never write a negative review; everyone has a bad day. Please help me support local by sharing and promoting this page. Let's eat!
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