Castle In The Clouds - Open for lunch

[Lucky2Bhere]

The food at the Castle is good to very good. Better than it has to be for the location and view. The price is also a very good value. We brought friends up the other day and they were wowed by the experience even after world class travel to Alaska, the Galopagos Islands, Ireland, Hong Kong, etc. It's simply amazing and we're lucky to have it. Don't eat inside (even though the booths are converted horse stables and really neat). You don't have to visit the castle to go to the cafe.....no entry fee has to be paid.

[ApS]

Originally Posted by Lucky2Bhere

"...The food at the Castle is good to very good. Better than it has to be for the location and view..."

Well said: It is good.

Originally Posted by luvmypups

"...To top it off, the view is priceless and you don't have to pay the castle admission fee just to go eat lunch..."

Website and more information from last season's success here:
http://www.winnipesaukee.com/forums/...ghlight=castle

Originally Posted by patman

"...it's faster to go up the bottling plant route to the parking area if you want to skip that bit..."

You can drive speedier, but you'll miss two turnoffs for viewing the Lake and visiting the waterfall. (That waterfall once drove the Castle's generator).

Even though "speedier", a one-way road at the end means you have to stop well-short of the restaurant. A longish uphill hike remains to get to the restaurant. ("Longish" as restaurant parking access usually goes).

When departing, don't miss the restaurant's gift shop—also worth a stop: Then don't forget to feed the rainbow trout. Food pellets for the trout are provided in small bubblegum-style dispensers at the fish pond.

For some harmless fun, aim the pellets between the oversized trout that cruise just below the surface and those mallard-opportunists that elbow their way in ahead of the trout. (Mallards have this embarrassed way of expressing "Ooops!" )

Originally Posted by Lucky2Bhere

"...Don't eat inside (even though the booths are converted horse stables and really neat)..."

We had the weather change on us: sunny for lunch, then light rain during dessert—with no clouds in sight! After advising our waitress, we moved inside—and inside is neat. It helps to know horse behavior as to why each stall is built the way it is. (Note the location and design of the windows, for example).

The relatively high elevation can make its own weather.

Like boating on the lake, I'd select a visiting day for fair weather and to bring clothing for possible changes in the weather.

[ronc4424]

HI Ron,
Thank you for your recent inquiry regarding the Castle in the Clouds
No, there is no fee if you are dinning at the Castle Café
When you arrive at the Front Gate House let them know that you are coming up
for lunch.
It is possible to purchase a Castle tour ticket at the Bar if you happen to
change your mind once you arrive at the Carriage House
Thanks
Jess


Here's some info I recieved from the Castle in the Clouds this morning. After reading this forum I thought what a great treat to take the wife for lunch there, but didn't want to pay an entrance fee. I sent them a email last night and they quick to respond. We are going to try it out if and when the sun comes out longer than 2 hours.

[patman]

Originally Posted by Acres per Second

You can drive speedier, but you'll miss two turnoffs for viewing the Lake and visiting the waterfall. (That waterfall once drove the Castle's generator).

Even though "speedier", a one-way road at the end means you have to stop well-short of the restaurant. A longish uphill hike remains to get to the restaurant. ("Longish" as restaurant parking access usually goes).

Yes, going the bottling plant route skips all the vistas, definitely something to take into consideration. If you *really* want to see waterfalls though, park at the carriage house dirt lot and walk towards the fields, then catch the Falls Trail from there. (Technically you should park outside the gate if you're only there for hiking though.) The trail goes down along the stream, and there are 6 (?) falls along the way, finishing up with the big one as a finale.

The road between the bottling plant and the carriage house is not one-way AFAIK. Or at least I've seen a LOT of cars driving that stretch. (It *is* one way between the carriage house and the main gate however.)

[hazelnut]

Once again thanks to this forum I had very good information and used it wisely yesterday.

My family went to the Classic Car Show at the Castle yesterday. It was AWESOME! The only down side was the lack of ample porta potties and the long line at the food tent.

They were running the trolley from the field for Castle Tours. I asked the driver if he'd drop us off at the restaurant. He did and WOW what a great lunch!!!!! Thank you to those who posted the information here. I saw the restaurant last year when we did the Castle Tour and I thought "how good could it be?" Well thanks to the forum we knew better. My lunch was awesome as was my wife 3 kids and in-laws. I had a Grilled Chicken Cesar salad. The Chicken was two large chicken tenderloins wrapped in BACON!!! My wife had some crazy sandwich with ham turkey swiss and dill sauce. Mother in law had huge seafood stuffed mushrooms. Two of the kids had the requisite Grilled Cheese/hot dog but the more adventurous one had the Fishamjig. I tasted this and it was AWESOME! I was jealous of my 5 year olds lunch! It was basically fried haddock but the batter was the best I've ever tasted, no kidding! The food was great and the view was FANTASTIC!!!!! We sat on the patio enjoying our Corona's with the absolute best view, hands down in the lakes region, or New Hampshire, for that matter. What restaurant can boast a view of practically the whole lake? Well worth the trip and well worth the price!

[ApS]

While out searching for some sailing wind—and based on an extended four-hour morning sail—the haze was not going to dissipate and was going to interfere with the great view at the Castle restaurant. Along about 1 PM, we decided to have a late lunch at Castle in The Clouds anyway. We were seated right away and the service continued to be tops.

Like our final trip there last year, we'd hoped to see Vermont's mountains from there.

As it was still hazy, viewers could only discern Rattlesnake Island as the "furtherest" point on the horizon. Even at that altitude, the weather turned very calm, increased to hot—then much later, drizzly—then thundery. We were fortunate in having been seated at a table with ample shade from some nearby tall pines. At the next hot day there, we'll definitely be looking for that shade.

The side dish of onion rings weren't hot, weren't home-made, and weren't particularly tasty: While they were otherwise "acceptable", I'd opt for something else as a side dish.

A meal of grilled shrimp, scallops (plus potatoes, asparagus, peppers), arrived on a sizzling platter that—anywhere else—would have been regarded as a fire hazard. It was definitely the "star attraction" of that lunch.

As the self-appointed and resident-expert on the Lakes Region's baked haddock meal, I tried Castle-in-the-Clouds entree of baked haddock for the first time.

It was delicious, and I'm calling it 5-stars—the best in the Lakes Region—Eastern Division. (Trumping the Lakeview Inn [4½-stars], and even Johnson's [4½-stars]—though Johnson's have their usual-best in quantity).

My raves didn't go unnoticed by my table partner, and the following day she prepared an even better serving of baked haddock, based on what we learned (and copied) from our Castle in the Clouds lunch.

Our fresh haddock was found—very late in the day—at Wolfeboro's "Mill Street Meat Market" which, surprisingly, stays open most days until 7PM.

[ApS]

Medium-Hazy view from the Castle with Rattlesnake Island in the distance:

[Rag Top Daze]

Originally Posted by Acres per Second

My raves didn't go unnoticed by my table partner, and the following day she prepared an even better serving of baked haddock, based on what we learned (and copied) from our Castle in the Clouds lunch.

I'm a sucker for good haddock. Will you share what you learned at your Castle in the Clouds lunch? I'm always looking for ways to improve my methods of preparing haddock.

[ApS]

Originally Posted by Rag Top Daze

I'm a sucker for good haddock. Will you share what you learned at your Castle in the Clouds lunch? I'm always looking for ways to improve my methods of preparing haddock.

Thanks go to Susan (07/30/2009), and here it goes:

Grease baking pan with butter
Cover bottom with minced onion
Place white fish filets in pan
Spread butter on fish
Sprinkle with paprika
Pour ½-1 cup of milk into pan
Top with crushed corn flakes
Bake at 325° until fish flakes and is no longer translucent
20 minutes for 1" thick
30 minutes for 2" thick
35 minutes for 3" thick

Enjoy!!!

[riverat]

Could this be the beginnings of a "Lake Winni" favorite Recipe Thread?
I think it would be a delicious idea!

[joann721]

Yesterday we were out for a motorcycle ride when we approached the Castle in the Clouds. I wanted to go up for lunch on the patio but my husband said that we would have to buy tickets to go up the road. "I" from reading the forum knew that we did not have to buy tickets ... we bet lunch on it... I won. View was gorgeous - lunch was reasonable and delicious... I think I just found a new favorite place...

[VitaBene]

We are going to jump on the bikes and have lunch up there in a few minutes.... will report back later!

[riverat]

We also went up on the bike yesterday for lunch on the last minute idea only to find we were 5 minutes too late, oh well it was a nice day for a ride.

[VitaBene]

We had a great meal up there. The only problem was that the bees were just as hungry! So we enjoyed drinks on the patio and enjoyed the stunning views then ate in the converted stables (somewhat fitting for me).

There were raves about the tomato and mozzarella sandwich. I had a burger, cooked as ordered and very good. The service was fast and efficient too.

For those riding their bikes, the truck road is freshly paved and could be used to go up as well I would think.

[Winnicandle]

I had their salad recently (cranberry, walnut, etc..)

Very Good!

We love visiting there often. Always such friendly people.

Kids love feeding the fish also...

[dpg]

Originally Posted by joann721

Yesterday we were out for a motorcycle ride when we approached the Castle in the Clouds. I wanted to go up for lunch on the patio but my husband said that we would have to buy tickets to go up the road. "I" from reading the forum knew that we did not have to buy tickets ... we bet lunch on it... I won. View was gorgeous - lunch was reasonable and delicious... I think I just found a new favorite place...

You cheated.

[joann721]

Originally Posted by dpg

You cheated.

I didnt cheat... I just used knowledge to my strategic advantage.

[Cristen]

Had a great lunch at Castle in the Clouds on Monday. The food was excellent (and reasonably priced), and of course the view is spectacular. Wish I had tried it sooner!

[martbri7]

Took my Mom up to Castle in Clouds for a pre birthday lunch for her. What a great experience it was, the food was great the service was pleasant and went out of there way to take pictures for our "out of stater friends" some as far as Montana. We strolled through the gift shop which was small and relaxing no pressure here, we then drove to the trout pond and were blown away at the size of the Rainbows in this pond "they were easily 7+ pounders just staring at us as we threw some food for them." BTW there are gumball machines with trout food for them just be careful there is no closing on the machines so make sure your hand in under the tray and turn slowly and bring quarters. I splurged and took 3 quarters worth of food and threw it at one time, talk about hungry.... these trout looked like those pirahanas the way they rolled over the water attacking the poor ducks that were hanging out trying to get the scraps. It was a great day for Mom to spend time with her first born Happy Birthday Mom I Love You.

Oh yeah we did hit the Old Country Store and the pickles are now in barrels rather than the big glass container like back in the days.

[tis]

Without rereading this whole thread, has anyone said how long they will be open? Or does anyone know?

[tis]

Well, we went there yesterday for lunch for the first time and all I can say it WOW! It was fabulous. It was a spectacular day, we dressed warm and ate outside and the sun felt so good. The views of course were awesome and the food was teriffic! We were all very pleased, can't say enough good about it. And the funniest thing was our neighbors were also there and we didn't know they were going!
And I promise I won't keep posting over and over on almost every thread about how wonderful it was.

[Lakepilot]

We took the motorcycle for a ride today and stopped at Castle in the Clouds for a late lunch. What a beautiful day - you could see forever from the restaurant. I had the fish and chips and my wife had one of the daily specials -bacon wrapped scallops. The fish and chips was served english style with vinegar on the side. The fish was fresh and cooked perfect. The three large bacon wrapped scallops were awesome.

[ApS]

Today, we followed three motorcycles up the carriage road in a huge (to me) RV! The gate recommended RVs of 24' go the other way to the restaurant.

Like Lakepilot, we had a perfectly clear day—but with no wind! (It was actually hot with no tree shade like back in July). It was so clear, it might have been possible to see someone on the Sandy Island beach!

Mountains, said to be in Vermont, were clearly visible.

The fish and chips was raved-about by a person who has had that meal all over the world. The jumbo shrimp were declared delicious and, at $13—tied with the scallops/bacon—were the most expensive thing on the menu.

The baked haddock, I'd previously left out, has much melted butter, a Ritz cracker breading, and arrived with a mixed leafy salad, balsamic dressing, walnuts, blue cheese, and some kind of sweet and tasty red raisins.

(Lunch is served 11:30 to 3:00).

[hazelnut]

Originally Posted by Acres per Second

As the self-appointed and resident-expert on the Lakes Region's baked haddock meal, I tried Castle-in-the-Clouds entree of baked haddock for the first time.

It was delicious, and I'm calling it 5-stars—the best in the Lakes Region—Eastern Division. (Trumping the Lakeview Inn [4½-stars], and even Johnson's [4½-stars]—though Johnson's have their usual-best in quantity).

Seriously agree! My son had it when we were there as I said and I was shocked at how good it was. Our day up there featured a much less hazy atmosphere and allowed a spectacular view. Your view wasn't half bad though.

[Bluebell]

Thank you, forum members, for all of the reviews. We are having friends visit tomorrow afternoon and want to take them out to lunch. This sounds great. Good food, great view . . . . life is good.