Lautrec at Nemacolin

Verdict: The Right Choice for a Special-Occasion Dinner at Nemacolin — With One Major Caveat

Lautrec at Nemacolin is temporarily closed for renovations. Before you plan around it, confirm directly with Nemacolin that it has reopened. Everything below applies to the restaurant as it has operated, and will again when it does.

When Lautrec is open, the most common misconception is that it functions like a standard resort restaurant — reliable, forgettable, priced for captive diners. It does not. Lautrec is a genuinely ambitious French kitchen operating inside a Pennsylvania resort, and it has earned placement on the La Liste Leading Restaurants ranking in both 2025 (86 points) and 2026 (79 points). For the Laurel Highlands, that is a meaningful credential. The question is not whether the cooking is serious , it is , but whether the resort-hotel requirement and the booking logistics work for your trip.

The Room

The visual impression lands immediately: dim lighting, bold red décor, and a curved bar that anchors the room. The design references Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec's Parisian world directly, and the effect is deliberate , this reads as a formal dining room dressed for romance rather than a casual resort bistro. The main dining room suits couples and small parties leading. A separate Bistro Room at the rear, with kitchen views, accommodates groups of up to 32. Two private dining options exist: a round table for up to six guests, and a long table for up to twelve. If you are bringing a larger group, request the Bistro Room when you reserve.

The Food

Chef Kristin Butterworth runs a seasonal, produce-forward kitchen that reaches beyond what most resort restaurants attempt. The menu changes regularly, but the style of cooking is consistent: French technique applied to locally sourced ingredients, with dishes such as rabbit lasagna with beech mushrooms and sherry cream, and wood-oven roasted ribeye with creamed spinach and mushroom bread pudding. The kitchen uses herbs, fruits, and vegetables that are seasonal, sustainable, and locally sourced where possible. For food and travel enthusiasts, this is not a menu you will predict in advance, which is part of the point.

One genuinely useful detail: a dessert tasting menu with champagne is available at the bar for around $15. If you are staying at Nemacolin and want a lighter evening, this is a low-commitment way to experience the kitchen without committing to a full dinner reservation. It is also the only food you can order from the bar , dinner service is dining-room only.

Booking and Logistics

Lautrec is open nightly for dinner except Monday, when the kitchen closes. Book ahead, particularly for weekends , the restaurant fills, and walk-ins are not a reliable strategy. Booking difficulty is rated easy, but that is relative to fine dining generally; do not leave it to the night before on a Saturday stay. Call Nemacolin directly to reserve, as booking access is tied to resort guest status.

One firm requirement: you must be a staying guest at one of Nemacolin's resort properties to dine here. If you are not already planning an overnight stay, factor that into the total cost calculation. The dress code is business casual.

For a broader look at dining, drinking, and staying in the area, see our full Laurel Highlands restaurants guide, our Laurel Highlands hotels guide, our bars guide, our wineries guide, and our experiences guide. If you are eating at Nemacolin during your stay, also consider Aqueous at Nemacolin for a different register , American cuisine with its own kitchen identity.

Quick reference: Dinner nightly except Monday; business casual dress code; resort guest access required; Bistro Room seats up to 32; private rooms for 6 or 12; dessert tasting menu with champagne available at the bar (~$15); La Liste Leading Restaurants 2025 (86 pts) and 2026 (79 pts).

How It Compares