Chair 5 - Go ahead, take a seat

One of my hobbies is scuba diving.  Most diving enthusiasts from Anchorage do a majority of their local dives in Whittier, AK.  There are a couple of good eateries between Whittier and Anchorage and one of the best is Chair 5 Restaurant in Girdwood, AK.

Girdwood sits at the bottom of the slopes of Alyeska, a world class ski resort.  Whether you are driving back from a day of diving in Whittier, fishing in Seward, or skiing in Girdwood, Chair 5 can satisfy your appetite with a variety of burgers, pizzas, salads, and appetizers.

I have enjoyed several of their pizzas, which are prepared on a tasty crust, but most recently I went with a calamari appetizer and a Kodiak burger.

The calamari wasn't flashy, but it was great.  It was served with the classic marinara dipping sauce, and each piece was lightly breaded and perfectly fried.  It was tender and delicious.

The Kodiak burger features elk meat (ground nearby at Indian Valley meats).  I honestly could not detect a major difference in the flavor profile between elk and buffalo.  It is lean, but was still moist when served.  It can be tricky to cook lean game meat without drying it out.  The Chair 5 cooks did a great job.

About the only problem I have with Chair 5, is that it has a great menu of beers, wines, single malt scotches, and over 50 tequilas.  I happen to appreciate all of these, but I always have to drive home!  I guess I will just have to plan to spend the night in Girdwood at some point.


Chair 5 Restaurant:

Address - 5 Lindblad Ave, Girdwood, AK 99587

Phone - 907.783.2500

Website - www.chairfive.com

Overall Recommendation:  Hearty food with a creative flair.  Great place to satisfy your appetite after a day of recreation.

Ivory Jacks - The Goldstream Hangout

I am in the Fairbanks area visiting my family for the holidays.  I also had some time to visit with some close friends.  One of our friends that we wanted to see works at Ivory Jacks, so we went their so that we could see her and her family.  The food and libations have always been good, so nobody had to twist my arm to go.

Ivory Jacks is the Cheers of the Goldstream Valley, just outside of Fairbanks.  The weather is cold, but Ivory Jacks is warm, comfortable, and the kind of place where there is no pretense.  In other words, this is my kind of place.

There is Yankees baseball memorabilia all over the bar/restaurant.  There  is darts, shuffle board, and even a pac-man game.  There are even photographs of the greatest Ivory Jacks drinkers.  This place is great!

The menu is a great blend of fine dining and pub style food.  I was in the mood for martinis and pub grub, so I opted away from the fine dining part of the menu.  We started with some nice crab stuffed mushrooms.  They were delectable and really whet my appetite.  Next was pizza loaded with meat and pepperoncinis.  It was great, and a perfect pairing for my dirty martinis.

At some point during the meal, a Christmas carol started up in the bar.  I would like to think that it was the spirit of the bar and season that made me join in....but maybe it was the martinis.

Ivory Jacks:

Address - 2581 Goldstream Road, Fairbanks, AK 99709

Phone - 907.455.6665

Website - ivoryjacks.alaskansavvy.com/

Reservations - I have been to Ivory Jacks for dates, wakes, and just dropped in.  You can make a reservation, but usually a table is open.


Overall Recommendation - This is a wonderful place to go when you visit (or live in) Fairbanks.  I love the atmosphere and the people.  Give it a try!

Humpy's Great Alaskan Alehouse

Humpy's Great Alaskan Alehouse is a downtown institution.  It is the brew pub that all other brew pubs want to be someday.  The combination of food and beer offerings make it one of Anchorage's top choices for a night out with your friends.

As a former downtown resident, I have to admit to that I have probably been to Humpy's at least 100 times over the years.  I can always find a beer that suits my "needs" and the hot wings are a staple...and maybe the best hot wings I have ever had (sorry Anchor Bar of Buffalo).

While I have gotten by on just the hot wings, I have to say that the rest of the menu is also quite good.  On the top of my list of menu favorite are:

• Halibut and Chips
• Smoked Salmon Caesar Salad
• Portobello Mushroom Burger
• Garden Burger
• Humpy Burger
• Halibut Tacos
• Italian Fetuccini
• Almost any of the Gourmet Pizzas (avoid the smoke salmon pizza)
• ...and for dessert, the Berry Crisp

Humpy's is a social hotspot with great food and beer on the evenings.  Check out the Bloody Mary bar on the weekends.  With televisions throughout the bar, it is not a bad place to watch the college or NFL games during football season.  All in all, a great place to go with your friends.

Humpy's:

Address - 610 W 6th Avenue, Anchorage

Phone - 907.276.BEER

Website - www.humpys.com/anc

Reservations - none taken.

Overall Recommendation:  Humpy's can be very crowded and loud, but the pub food is almost always very good, the beer selection is phenomenal, and you will almost always see a friend or two while you are there.