Slickers

Old Forge, New York

The lit oval Slickers sign at dusk in front of the yellow clapboard tavern on Route 28, reading "An Adirondack Tavern — Outstanding Food since 1984"

Slickers Adirondack Tavern

French dips, Bushwhackers, and pizza in the bright yellow tavern on Old Forge Pond. In the heart of town, right on Route 28.

3132 State Route 28
Old Forge, NY 13420

Call the tavern

This week at Slickers

Mon & Tue
Kitchen and bar open for the evening
4-10 PM
Wed-Sun
Open from midday straight through
12-10 PM
Happy hour, daily
Peel-and-eat shrimp, spicy or garlic, 29 cents each
3-5 PM
Summer music
One act at a time, afternoons and evenings, May through Labor Day
1-4 & 6-9 PM
Large parties
Otherwise first come, first served — call ahead for a group or for catering
315-369-3002

These are the summer 2026 hours as published by Old Forge Tourism; the tavern's own events page says fall and winter events are still to be announced, so the off-season program may differ. Call to confirm the day you are driving up.

On the calendar

  • Sun 30 AugMark Macri6-9 PM
  • Fall & winterOff-season billTo be announced

The bright yellow place on the beach.

Forty years of the same sandwich, in the same yellow building, on the same stretch of Route 28. What has changed is who is behind the bar and what is on the board.

1984
Slickers opens in Old Forge. The oval sign hung out over Route 28 has read "An Adirondack Tavern — Outstanding Food since 1984" ever since, and every page of the tavern's own site is still signed "Slickers INC EST. 1984".
The sandwich
The French dip is the tavern's own words for what it does: fresh sliced top round roast, melted provolone, garlic grilled french bread, jus on the side. Two of the three customer comments the tavern chose to print on its own front page are about that sandwich — "best French Dip ever!"
Every summer
A live-music bill runs from late May to Labor Day in two slots — afternoons one to four, evenings six to nine — with the same names coming back year after year: Mark Macri, Alisha Kay Carstens, Rebecca Miner, Above The Dam, Midnight Mike, Beth & Fritz, Matt Grainger, Tim Herron, J. Schnitt.
2021
A TripAdvisor Travelers' Choice badge for 2021 goes up on the tavern's own menu page, where it still sits.
Today
Elise Rioux runs the bar — a craft list that keeps changing, an assembly of wines, and new frozen drinks turning up through the season. Chef Jen Rice writes the daily specials and keeps the kitchen moving, seeing to it, as the tavern puts it, that the French dips have a crunch and the pizza crust has a crisp.
A Bushwhacker in a tall glass with whipped cream and a cherry, on the bar in front of glass-fronted oak back-bar cabinets
A Bushwhacker at the oak back bar
The French dip on a diner plate — sliced top round and melted provolone on garlic-grilled french bread, with a cup of au jus and a pickle spear
The French dip, with the jus

At the bar

In the tavern's own words: drop on by and see what Elise has found on the cutting edge of the friendly spirits world this week.

The Bushwhacker
  • The frozen drink the menu page shares its billing with — "Famous for French Dips & Bushwhackers"
  • Poured at the glass-fronted oak back bar, served tall with whipped cream and a cherry
  • New frozen drinks turn up through the season
  • No price is published; ask at the bar
On draft
  • A craft beer selection Elise Rioux keeps interesting and diverse, in the tavern's phrasing
  • Draft selections are constantly changing — ask what is on tonight
  • "Good selection of beers" is one of the three customer lines the tavern prints on its own front page
Wine
  • An assembly of nice wines, chosen alongside the beer list
  • By the glass and by the bottle — the list is not published online
Happy hour
  • Peel-and-eat shrimp at 29 cents each, spicy or garlic
  • Three to five, every day the tavern is open
  • The same shrimp is on the seafood menu by the half pound and the pound

Large parties and catering

Dining is first come, first served — there is no reservation book. But if you are bringing a large party, planning an event, or need catering, the tavern asks you to drop them a line and they will, in their words, hook you up.

Call about a party
Guests at tables under red umbrellas on the deck in front of Slickers, with the oval sign overhead
The deck under the sign

Practical details for the drive up.

No reservations — walk in. There is no private room advertised, so call the tavern for a large party, an event, or catering, and call to check the hours outside the summer season.

Phone
315-369-3002
Hours
Mon & Tue 4-10 PM
Wed-Sun 12-10 PM
Happy hour
Peel-and-eat shrimp, 29 cents each
3-5 PM
Live music
Summer afternoons 1-4 PM and evenings 6-9 PM
Fall and winter bill to be announced
Seating
First come, first served. Deck tables out front under the sign in good weather.
Take-out
By phone. No online ordering or delivery.
Address
3132 State Route 28
Old Forge, NY 13420
Mail
Slickers INC
P.O. Box 607
Old Forge, NY 13420
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