Restaurant recommendation for Anchorage

Old Jun 29th, 2005, 08:08 PM
  #1  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 1,581
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Restaurant recommendation for Anchorage

I'm looking for nice restaurant for dinner in Anchorage. I looked online and saw one named Marx Brothers Cafe. Has anyone been there? Not concerned about price -- will be on expense account and I don't drink alcohol. Not interested in steak houses. Thanks.
luvtotravel is offline  
Old Jun 29th, 2005, 08:21 PM
  #2  
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 8,296
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
We really liked the Glacier Brewhouse, downtown. Do a search here for "anchorage restaurants" for more great suggestions.
BayouGal is offline  
Old Jun 29th, 2005, 10:07 PM
  #3  
 
Join Date: Jul 2004
Posts: 1,853
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Year in and year out, Marx Bros. is perhaps the most consistent high-end dining in Anchorage. It's a pricier, more ambitious and more formal than Glacier Brewhouse with a much smaller room.

You can get a great meal at either. Both have menus online.


http://www.glacierbrewhouse.com/dinner.htm

http://www.marxcafe.com/Menus/Dinner_Menu.asp

Jen's and Orso are other possibilities and if you have a nice night and are after a killer view and high-end dining, then drive down the Seward Highway to 7 Glaciers.

repete is offline  
Old Jun 30th, 2005, 03:59 AM
  #4  
dcespedes
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
I had lunch at the Marx Brothers Cafe satelite restaurant at the Museum of Art and History--food was excellent. We also loved the Glacier Brewhouse and Moose's Tooth Pizza. We ate at Orsos one night but I wasn't as enamored with the food, however, their Toto heated toilet seat was a big hit!
 
Old Jun 30th, 2005, 05:35 AM
  #5  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 19,358
Received 79 Likes on 8 Posts
Marx Bros. also has legs - 25 years or more by now, which is saying something in the restaurant business.

In the category of off-the-beaten, if you like Middle Eastern food, Aladdin's, located in a strip mall off Old Seward Hwy (south end of town) is simply one of the best we've encountered in N. America.
Gardyloo is offline  
Old Jun 30th, 2005, 07:55 AM
  #6  
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I would have to say that the Crows Nest in the Hotel Captain Cook would be an excellent choice. Unlike the Glacier Brewhouse and Marx Bros, this is located 20 floors on the top of the hotel so the view was unbeatable. The food was fantastic and so was the service. On a side note I was told that the Hotel Captain Cook was built in the early 60's and is still owned by the same family, the restaurant has been there as well, so that says quite a bit about the hotel and the Crows Nest in a boom and bust town like Anchorage. It's on the higher end of price but worth it. The best place in my opinion.
elkedog is offline  
Old Jun 30th, 2005, 10:13 PM
  #7  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 1,581
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
So pleased to see the many suggestions. I plan to have dinner one evening at the Captain Cook as I'll be staying there. Also planning on stopping at the museum, so may check out the Marx Brothers Cafe there. Thanks much for the input.
luvtotravel is offline  
Old Jul 1st, 2005, 07:15 AM
  #8  
 
Join Date: Jul 2004
Posts: 1,853
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Just make sure you hit the Crow's Nest on a clear night, otherwise you'll get pricier food that's not as good as the Marx Bros. main room (not museum) and the only difference is the elevator ride.

The view is spectacular, however.
repete is offline  
Old Jul 1st, 2005, 05:07 PM
  #9  
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
These are all preferences, I think that the Crow's Nest is better than the Marx Bros.
elkedog is offline  
Old Jul 5th, 2005, 06:59 AM
  #10  
 
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 173
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Just got back last night. Simon and Siefert is very nice and terrific view of inlet. It is within walking distance from the Cook (2 or 3 blocks). It is more sophisticated and seems to have an upper class local crowd. At Glacier Brewhouse we were told it would be about 40 minutes and it turned into an hour and a half wait ...call for reservations first!! It was packed on Sunday night with the Cruise ship crowd. Loud and casual. The food was good, not spectacular. We had a wonderful lunch at the Marx Brothers Cafe at the Museum of History and Art. Food was very good and interesting - I had a polenta lasagna and salad for less than $10. Soup and Salads were also excellent. And such a nice quiet atmosphere. (Be sure to take the tour of the history part (2nd floor) with a guide - very interesting. Then go to the Native Heritage Center and get the "native" perspective with a guided tour there.

I know you did not ask about this but for campy/rustic surroundings and good food I recommend the Sourdough Mining Co. - but NOT Winnies - what a has been!
We seemed to spend $26 - $35 per entree everywhere - except at the Double Musky in Girdwood - which was $40 for an outrageous 20 oz steak, husband couldn't resist! I ordered the halibut stuffed with crab meat dressing. VERY Good, but who needs so much food? Couldn't use a doggie bag on vacation! For an upscale restaurant, the 7 Glaciers at the Alyeska Prince Hotel is much more refined than the New Orleans atmosphere of the cramped Double Musky. The drive to Girdwood/Alyeska is gorgeous and takes about a half an hour out of Anchorage.
Geckolips is offline  
Old Jul 5th, 2005, 09:29 AM
  #11  
 
Join Date: Jul 2004
Posts: 1,853
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
You hit some of my favorite places and most frequent recs. As you found out, Double Musky and 7 Glaciers are two very different places, which is why I didn't mention it to the OP. For our tastes, we'd go to the DM for fun, friends and celebration, while the Glaciers satisfies the formal fix.

Sorry, you didn't like Gwennies. I usually recommend that with a caveat that's it's an old-time Alaska hangout (kind of like the old Garden of Eatin' in the Quoinset).

The difference between that and Sourdough, which has better food outside of breakfast, is that the Sourdough tries to be campy and rustic while Gwennies is. It's truly an old-time Alaska place. Been there for ages. Despite its name, Sourdough is full of tourists and cheechakos.

If that distinction doesn't matter, visitors ought to skip it.
repete is offline  
Old Jul 5th, 2005, 09:42 AM
  #12  
 
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 173
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Yes, we knew going in that Soudoughs was campy, touristy, etc. But is was also clean and bright. Whennies (as of Sunday night at 7 pm) was dark, dirty and littered with old newspapers, etc. on the piano and tables upstairs, blinds that hung crooked, etc. Maybe breakfast was the meal we should have tried, because that is what they are known for I hear. The food was OK but we were a little disappointed. We had picked up a flyer and thought it would be a last hurrah for Alaska, but it wasn't a good choice for us. After dinner we did enjoy driving on around the bend on Spenard and watching the float planes take off and land on Lake Hood. But then, that isn't what the originator of this thread is asking about... We had a great trip and liked the variety of all of the above.
Geckolips is offline  
Old Jul 6th, 2005, 09:36 AM
  #13  
 
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 173
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
You know I meant Gwennies - even if I can't spell it! ;o( Sorry.
Geckolips is offline  
Old Jun 14th, 2006, 05:20 PM
  #14  
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 8,296
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
ttt
BayouGal is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Original Poster
Forum
Replies
Last Post
JANIELOU
United States
6
Mar 26th, 2008 06:28 AM
brewcrew2222
United States
17
Feb 28th, 2006 04:04 AM
callalilly
United States
7
Nov 3rd, 2004 07:47 AM
gabrielle
United States
14
Aug 16th, 2003 07:27 PM
Chloe
United States
6
Apr 6th, 2003 06:51 AM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are On


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information -