Story and photos by: Krystle Morey
Multimedia by: David Beirne

An employee prepares for a busy day.

Upon pulling into the parking lot, the intoxicating aroma of fresh-boiled maple syrup permeates the air. The owner greets customers at the door with a smile and a back-country style. The scenic country location amidst the Adirondack Mountains and fields of farmland allow for a country-neighborhood breakfast location. On the way there, diners are directed on scenic back roads with signs to the restaurant, located in the middle of fields and farmland. This helps to emphasize the country feel, but makes it a little hard to find Rathbun’s Maple Sugar House Restaurant. This eatery, which began its maple endeavors as a family sugaring business, is now part of the New York State Maple Producers Association. Bill Rathbun began his business tapping trees and hanging sap buckets with his children. When the sugar house was built, they began serving homemade breakfast along with their New York maple syrup.

Whether they’re serving a table for two or 12, Rathbun’s ensures a satisfying breakfast experience for all maple lovers. Diners have a choice of three dining areas with traditional table or wooden booth seating. “The average time from when you are seated to when you get your food is about 20 minutes,” says owner Wendy Rathbun. “And we can serve about 200 people at once.”

Maple syrup is a staple at this establishment.

Whether they’re serving a table for two or 12, Rathbun’s ensures a satisfying breakfast experience for all maple lovers. Diners have a choice of three dining areas with traditional table or wooden booth seating. “The average time from when you are seated to when you get your food is about 20 minutes,” says owner Wendy Rathbun. “And we can serve about 200 people at once.”

Best known for their maple syrup, homemade pancakes, French toast, and waffles, Rathbun’s is busy serving up breakfast every weekend. They are the only boil-and-serve breakfast in the area. – the syrup is tapped, boiled, and evaporated on the premises.

Their tasty menu is displayed on the walls of the dining areas, uniquely hand-painted on slate, which helps to highlight the sap house’s local origin. “I love the atmosphere and the home-cooked food served with their own maple syrup,” says Kerri Thomas, a frequent diner at the sap house.

“I love the atmosphere and the home-cooked food served with their own maple syrup."

Their made-from-scratch pancakes come in many flavors. Special ingredients such as blueberries and strawberries are offered depending on the season. Home-baked Belgian waffles and French toast lathered in cinnamon harmonize with local eggs that are cooked to customers’ preferences. Their seasoned homefries and crispy bacon complement their signature Sugarhouse Special meals. Each savory meal comes with a wide range of beverages that accompany their breakfast items without the daunting prices of any average breakfast bistro. A complete breakfast costs about $8 a person.

The outside of the restaurant has a country-style look.

“My favorite meal would have to be the whole wheat pancakes with lots of syrup,” Thomas says.

Vaulted ceilings and decorative wall accents, from tin signs to rustic farm equipment, are complemented by a fireplace and scenic mountain views. The natural lighting from the windows helps to build a neighborhood vibe and create a relaxed environment for the whole family. Their breakfast selection and home-style atmosphere welcome guests and keep them coming back for more.

 “We are the busiest during the six weeks in spring and the six weeks in the fall,” Rathbun says. “Everybody wants to get out of the house after winter and before school starts.”

“I like to go during the fall when they have pumpkins and mums.”

Rathbun’s also offers seasonal events such as “pick your own fruits,” fall pumpkin picking, Clydesdale-drawn wagon rides, and more. Guests can also take a self-guided tour through the woods to watch the taps in motion. Trees line the gravel pathway, offering a charming country-side vision and a first-class view of sap lines leading to the boiler behind the restaurant. “I like to go during the fall when they have pumpkins and mums,” Thomas says.

Their quality staff and high-chairs help to make this family-based business child-friendly. Rathbun’s is often crowded, busy, and in high demand, but reservations are usually available.

Customers can always head out to the barn while they wait to watch the maple-sugaring process and explore the gift shop, which comes complete with maple syrup (of course), assortments of maple candies, spreadable cream, homemade pancake mix, candles, sugar house shirts of all colors and sizes, and more. Gift shop items are also easy-to-order online.

The sap house continues to carry on their ancestors’ practice and serves up its maple menu treats every weekend.

Which delicious breakfast would you choose?