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.

Donna's Restaurant - Oh, Donna!

It's a beautiful day in Juneau, AK and the wife and I just worked up an appetite hiking up Mt. Roberts.  We need some good food and we are in the valley...got it...let's go to Donna's.  I have never been disappointed, and today is no different.

In the past I have had breakfasts, grilled ham & cheese sandwiches, soup, etc.  Today, however, I feel like a burger and when in Donna's eat Donna's Burger.  Her signature burger is an incredibly juicy quarter pound patty with salami, ham, cheese, and all the fixings.  Pow!  What a great burger...and perfectly prepared.  I wolfed it down in no time flat.  I love the way the salami, ham, and the beef play off each other and taste perfect.

You don't need to climb a mountain to go...you will be happy either way.

Donna's Restaurant:

Address - 9131 Glacier Highway, Juneau, AK 99801

Phone - 907-789-1470

Website -  www.donnasrestaurant.com

Reservations - none needed, but you could call ahead to see if they are busy.

Overall Recommendation:  This is a very good little diner with good breakfasts and good burgers, if you are out near the airport, give it a try.

Tommy's Burger Stop & Po Boy Shoppe

Friends have been recommending that I give Tommy's Burger Stop & Po Boy Shoppe a try for years now.  For some reason, I have never taken the opportunity to stop by.  It is located kitty-corner to REI on the southeast corner of Benson and Spenard.

I am a bit of a burger snob, and I think a lot of people rave about burgers that are pretty mediocre.  Tommy's Burger Stop burgers are pretty darn good!  You may want to wear a bib since the 5 ounce burgers are cooked perfectly and are very juicy.

I had the Stella Bleu Burger and my wife had the Bacon Cheeseburger.  They were brought to us at our outdoor table, and we immediately dove in.  The Stella had a generous amount of blue cheese crumbles and mozzarella.  My wife loved the crispy bacon.  Both burgers were juicy as can be.

We each had a side of fries (they were out of onion rings) and we were less than impressed.  They were cooked well, but the seasoning didn't really do much for us.  I would have like them to be a little more savory.

However, the fries won't keep me from going back.  I already have my eyes on the Sweet Charlotte, the RLE Hello Burger, and maybe a Po-Boy.


Tommy's Burger Stop & Po Boy Shoppe:

Address - 1106 West 29th Place (Benson & Spenard), Anchorage, 99503

Phone - 907-561-5696

Facebook Page

Reservations - None.  There is very limited seating inside the restaurant, which means on a busy weekday, the lunch crowd might have to dine out.  During the summer there is some outdoor seating.

Overall Recommendation:  Tasty burgers with ok fries.  STOP by and give it a try.

Arctic Roadrunner - Local Burgerman...an Anchorage institution

I have been to the Arctic Roadrunner a handful of times since I moved down from Fairbanks in 1998. The burgers are of good quality and the fixings are fresh, but I don't think people frequent it just because of the burgers.

The Arctic Roadrunner has been around since 1964, and framed in virtually every nook and cranny are photographs of loyal clients. The walls are filled with frames, in fact, they have begun creepy up to the ceiling. Each photograph has a little tidbit of information, including where that person came from, when they moved to Alaska (Anchorage), and when they became an Arctic Roadrunner customer.

If you are looking for a huge selection in burgers, then you need to go to one of those crimson bird burger places. This menu is simple and straight forward, and you are bound to find a burger to satisfy your cravings.

I had the Arctic Cheese on a wheat bun. It is simply a cheeseburger. It does not overwhelm the palette with fancy spices or exotic toppings, but it is simply delicious....in a way I think we sometimes forget how good food at it's simplest can be. Now, don't get me wrong, I could have had the Kodiak Islander with it's mild green pepper, bologna, salami, ham, two cheeses, and an onion ring, but today I wanted the simple life.

The Seward Highway restaurant has a great wood burning fireplace with well lit booths and tables. You get the feeling that you are sitting in an old Alaskan roadhouse. Part of the restaurant looks over Cambell Creek and even has a summer patio with a few tables. Sitting at a booth brings a sense of connection with the heritage of the restaurant and the community.

Arctic Roadrunner:

Address & Phone - 2 locations

5300 Old Seward Highway, Anchorage, AK 99518; 907 561-1245

2477 Arctic Blvd, Anchorage, AK 99503; 907 279-7311

Reservations - none needed, but be sure to bring cash, as it is a cash only establishment.

Overall Recommendation: Try it, and then don't forget to come back for a visit. It is like going home.