Where to eat dinner in Anchorage?

[iujen94]

We are cruising in Alaska in June, ending up in Seward.  We've got a rental car and are driving from Seward to Anchorage before we fly out (at 6am - UGH) the next morning.  Looking for a restaurant for our "grand finale" dinner that Friday night.  We'll have our teen boys with us, so we are looking for good food (they are pretty adventurous eaters), but not "fine dining" (they will be happy if they don't have to dress up).  Looking for great food (we love steaks and seafood, but will eat just about anything), and a good view, or a unique atmosphere, or something generally very "Alaska-y."   Thanks for any suggestions!

 

Edited to add:  just realized we may make it to Anchorage in time for lunch, so lunch suggestions would be great too!

Edited May 11, 2019 by iujen94

[SuperCrewBear]

My favorite place to eat in Anchorage is downtown: Club Paris.  It's an old fashioned steakhouse that is very cool.  It's a small place so reservations are needed.  They have the most tender steaks I've ever had.  The best way I can describe the interior is that I think Tony Soprano would have ate there regularly.  They are also open for lunch with a slightly different menu but the same cool atmosphere.  It's slightly upscale but jeans and sneakers are totally acceptable.  Below is a pic of my 16 oz filet plus an order of their Cajun stuffed mushrooms.

 

A place your boys might be more happy with is Moose's Tooth Pizza. They have some of the best pizza I've ever had. My last trip to Anchorage we ate there two different nights because it's just that good. Some pizza pics below too - the first is a Chicken Bacon Ranch pie, next is an all meat "Carnivore", the last is a "Call of the Wild" with reindeer sausage.  They are all excellent!

Edited May 12, 2019 by SuperCrewBear

[mapleleaves]

It's only 130 miles from Seward to Anchorage, but please take your time and enjoy sights along the way, starting with Exit Glacier as you  leave Seward.   The drive can be done in 3 hrs, but some people have taken 12 hrs!

The Turnagain Arm starting about an hr south of Anchorage, is especially scenic and interesting;  Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, short hike to play in the snow at Byron Glacier,  Alyeska Resort, gold panning, salmon viewing platforms at Williwaw, watch for Dall sheep on the ridges by the hwy,....

 

These 2 links provide suggested stopping points: 

http://www.alaska.org/guide/turnagain-arm-drive

http://www.alaska.org/guide/portage-valley

[Gardyloo]

Club Paris is a sort of place where "I'll have the sirloin and a flashlight" fits.  It's pretty great but I don't know about taking teens there.

 

I would pick an old standby, Simon and Seafort's, for your last night in Alaska.  The food's good, there's good choice, and the view from the dining room - the Sleeping Lady (Mt. Susitna) in the distance - is terrific.  Very nice.  If you want, it's an easy stroll down to Bootlegger's Cove and Elderberry Park right below the restaurant.  In it is the Oscar Anderson House, one of the oldest houses in town, currently a small museum.  The views are very nice on a summer evening.

 

https://simonandseaforts.com/

Edited May 12, 2019 by Gardyloo

[rkacruiser]

I'd recommend Glacier Brewhouse Restaurant.  It's located downtown, no special view, but it does have an Alaska "feel" and "vibe" to it.  If you don't have a reservation for dinner, expect to have a wait if dining at prime dinner time.  Don't know about the situation during luncheon hours.

[rkacruiser]

4 hours ago, mapleleaves said:

It's only 130 miles from Seward to Anchorage, but please take your time and enjoy sights along the way, starting with Exit Glacier as you  leave Seward.   The drive can be done in 3 hrs, but some people have taken 12 hrs!

The Turnagain Arm starting about an hr south of Anchorage, is especially scenic and interesting;  Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, short hike to play in the snow at Byron Glacier,  Alyeska Resort, gold panning, salmon viewing platforms at Williwaw, watch for Dall sheep on the ridges by the hwy,....

 

These 2 links provide suggested stopping points: 

http://www.alaska.org/guide/turnagain-arm-drive

http://www.alaska.org/guide/portage-valley

 

I also suggest that you take your time in driving to Anchorage.  The Begich-Boggs Visitor Center for Portage Glacier is not far off the highway to Anchorage.  It has interesting displays and video presentations.  One hour tours to Portage Glacier can be arranged from there as well, if my memory is correct.

[kennicott]

Most of the places already mentioned on this thread are my choices too. Our favorite of all of them is the Kincaid Grill just south of the airport on Jewel Lake Road, Chef Al owns it and is one of Alaska's top Chefs, it is a high quality cuisine restaurant, not cheap. Don't be fooled by the "Grill" word.

 

The big Museum in downtown Anchorage contains the Muse Restaurant, which was recently taken over by another top Alaskan Chef, I love to go down there for lunch and with her in charge would like to find an excuse to eat dinner there.

 

With the possible exception of the chain but excellent food, Simons and Seafort's, none of these have views "to write home about" though, and you did mention that you would like a great view. In that case, the "Crows Nest" on top the Captain Cook Hotel is for you. Great cuisine too. Not cheap either.  https://captaincook.com/dining/

 

But, considering the boys are with you I would take a close look at "The 49th State Brewing Company" (Top place to eat for lunch as well.) This restaurant has quite a menu with some domesticated wild game including Elk, Reindeer (caribou), Buffalo and Yak as well as many varieties of Alaska Seafood. Their restaurant is located on the bluff in the middle of downtown less than a block away from the big Anchorage Hilton high rise (high rise for Alaska that is) and two blocks away from the Captain Cook Hotel complex "The Cook". A few of their pizzas even include all of those items and are very good and highly rated. My favorite though is their seafood chowder.

 

https://www.49statebrewing.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/49th-ANC-menu2018.pdf

https://www.49statebrewing.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/2018-49th-State-Denali-menu-full.pdf

[Mountaineer0313]

I agree with everyone else, since you're renting a car, please take your time and enjoy the drive from Seward to Anchorage. Stop at the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center for sure. We loved it. Lunch at the Double Musky in Girdwood. The views during the drive are spectacular. The only place we ate in Anchorage was the Glacier Brewhouse, and it was very good. We didn't spend any time in Anchorage though, just long enough to eat lunch, return the rental and go to the airport.