Mountain View Diner - Revitalizing Cuisine

I had just finished up practice and I was famished!  I needed a breakfast...emphasis on the FAST!  I opened up my Yelp! app on my iPhone and up came the Mt View Diner.  What the heck, it looks like it is worth a try.  I am really glad I went.

Now Mt. View is a neighborhood that has a bit of a bad reputation.  That said, the local businesses and community council are working hard to turn that reputation around.  I think the Mountain View Diner is helping out...in a big way.

The diner fresh, clean, and bright with tons of natural light.   There is a lot of seating and a very friendly staff.  I went for breakfast and went with an order of grits, biscuits and gravy, and an omelete (hey, I said I was famished).  Everything needed just a bit more salt, but I would rather have it a little under salted than over salted.

The grits were prepared just like my dad does them.  Add a pad of butter and


Mountain View Diner:

Address - 4133 Mountain View Dr, Anchorage

Phone - 907.277.0553

Website - www.mountainviewdineralaska.com


Overall Recommendation:  This diner is a bright spot in a neighborhood that is working hard to change it's reputation.  Clean, comfortable, bright, and inviting.  Worth a visit.

China Lights - Oriental Cuisine

My review of China Lights Restaurant is my 3rd of three reviews for Mongolian BBQ/Chinese buffets.  While China Lights does not offer a Mongolian BBQ, I am including it in the series because of it's vast buffet.

There is a menu at China Lights, but I have never looked at it.  There is no need to look at a menu when there is such a large buffet with such a huge selection.  There is sushi, kimchi, soup, seafood, and all of the Chinese dishes you would expect in this buffet.  It is vast, and all encompassing.  If you don't see something that appeals to you, just wait!  The staff is constantly bringing out new dishes and refreshing the selection.  They even have a decent selection of desserts...including soft serve ice cream!

I am not suggesting that China Lights offers the best versions of the dishes offered in their buffet, but I have not been disappointed by any of their offerings.  Sometimes quantity and selection is important.  When you are in this situation, go to China Lights!

China Lights:

Address - 9220 Old Seward Hwy, Anchorage and 12110 Business Blvd, Eagle River

Phone - 907.522.5888 (Anchorage) and 907.694.8060 (Eagle River)

Website - www.chinalightsak.com

Overall Recommendation:  I have only ever been to the Anchorage location, but I have to say that it is the best buffet featuring Chinese, Japanese, and Korean dishes.  You can't find a larger selection and variety than China Lights.

Ding How Mongolian BBQ

The Ding How Mongolian BBQ review is the 2nd of my three part series of Mongolian BBQ and Chinese buffets.  The Ding How is a very clean, bright restaurant with a kind of upscale feel.  There is a buffet and a Mongolian BBQ.

I think that restaurants that feature a Mongolian BBQ offer Chinese buffets for people that don't like vegetables (LOL).  There are some good things in the buffet, like broccoli beef, but your best bet is the Mongolian BBQ.  

The Mongolian BBQ offers all of the fresh vegetables, pork, beef, chicken that you come to expect from a good Mongolian BBQ.  The service is friendly, but I have sometimes run into a language barrier.  That said, when you are on the east side of Anchorage, and feeling like some asian cuisine, there isn't too much better.  I say give it a try.

Ding How Mongolian BBQ:

Address - 1241 Muldoon Road, Anchorage 99504

Phone - 907.345.0033

Overall Recommendation:  Very good Mongolian BBQ.  Fairly typical, so-so Chinese buffet.

Twin Dragon Mongolian BBQ

This is my first entry in a series of Chinese food reviews.  The chinese buffet is a ubiquitous thing in Anchorage, and there are a few Mongolian BBQ's in town as well.  I thought I would go ahead and review them in a quick series for comparison.

One of my favorite places to go for a quick, healthy, and tasty meal is Twin Dragon.  They are located near downtown, but they don't seem to be too long of  drive from most of Anchorage.  The inside is a bit drab and aged, but it is clean and casual, and with a friendly staff.

Twin Dragon features not only a Mongolian BBQ, but a Chinese buffet with a limited number of offerings.  In my opinion, it is not worth filling up on the average buffet.  On the other hand, the Mongolian BBQ is quite good.

The BBQ offers the usual beef, pork, and chicken, as well as all of the fresh veggies that you normally  associate with a Mongolian BBQ.  There is no secret formula that I am aware of, just fresh food that is cooked fast and healthy.

Twin Dragon Mongolian BBQ:

Address - 615 E 15th Ave, Anchorage 99501

Phone - 907.276.7535

Overall Recommendation:  Go for the BBQ, leave the buffet.

Nino's Italian Eatery - The best ziti this side of New York

I was recently talking with a New York native, and she was raving about the baked ziti at Nino's.  She claimed that Nino's baked ziti was better than any she had tasted back east.  I was intrigued, and it wasn't long before I found myself seated in the Nino's dining room.

I had heard about the Garlic Knots and how great they were.  I was a bit disappointed, as I was hoping for a bit more garlic flavor from the knots, however the marinara dipping sauce was outstanding!  The sauce was bright and flavorful.  All in all good.

I also tried the sautéed spinach with garlic and oil.  The balance of garlic and spinach flavors was spot on.  I enjoyed the fresh flavor of the spinach cutting through the appetizer.  It would be easy for the garlic to overwhelm the delicate flavor of the spinach.

I love eggplant, so I went with the Baked Ziti with eggplant.  I was served a generous dish of gooey, cheesy, and delicious pasta.  The eggplant had been thinly sliced, breaded, and cooked perfectly.  The pasta was just a touch overcooked, but the cheese and marinara helped overcome that slight error.  I could have easily eaten the entire dish, but I knew if I ate all of the dish, as rich as it was, I would pay later.  I also knew I would enjoy it just as much as a leftover at home...little did I know that my wife would finish it for me :)

I have to say I really enjoyed the contrast in textures between the pasta, cheese, and eggplant.  They came together very well, and I have not had any other pasta dish like it in Anchorage.  I can imagine being served this dish in New York City's Little Italy.

Nino's Italian Eatery:

Address - 831 E 36th, Anchorage, 99503

Phone - 907.336.NINO

Website - ninositalianeatery.com

Reservations - None.  They do cater and you can call in for carry out.

Overall Recommendation:  There are some good Italian restaurants in Anchorage.  Nino's lacks a bit in ambiance, as it reminds me a bit of a cafeteria.  However, I think that Nino's is among the best when it comes to pasta dishes.  Come with an appetite!

Turnagain Arm Pit BBQ - Southern Style in Indian

It is a beautiful Easter day in Anchorage.  The sun is shining, and the weather is supposed to be sunny and warm, despite our record setting snow day (yesterday).  We decided to pack up the dogs, grab the camera, and walk the dogs on the crust at Placer River.

On our way out we see Dahl Sheep (this is why we brought the camera, just in case) and then pass by this building (see picture to the right).  I told my wife that we would have to stop on the way back home...boy am I glad we did.

The Turnagain Arm Pit BBQ is just outside Anchorage, in a place called Indian.  It has a drive thru window, and about 7 or so tables for inside dining.  That said, it looks like there will be plenty of outside seating once summer hits.  The menu offers pulled pork, brisket, baby back ribs, St. Louis ribs, and a variety of sides.  Every order comes with sides of very tasty baked beans and a vinegar based slaw.

I have actually been craving brisket, so I ordered some sliced brisket, while my wife ordered a brisket sandwich.  We ordered fried pickles and fried okra to round out our meal.

The pickles and okra came first.  The pickles are thin sliced, battered and then fried.  The okra is cut in about 1/4 inch slices, battered and fried.  They both come with a tasty dipping sauce that seems to be the perfect compliment.  I had to hold myself back a bit, so that I could enjoy my brisket.

The brisket was delivered sliced, juicy, and delicious to our table.  I can honestly say, that I have never had a better brisket.  Words can not describe how tender each slice was, or just how juicy.  I was over whelmed.  It would have been perfect without any BBQ sauce, but the Turnagain Arm Pit has three house sauces: their original house BBQ sauce (excellent), a tangy Mustard Sauce (even better), and their new spicy BBQ sauce (perfect).  I tried each sauce 2-3 times, and I was please with each, although the new spicy sauce was my favorite.

I have to say, that I was also very impressed with the beans and slaw that was served with the brisket.  The beans are a special 6 bean recipe, packed with plenty of flavor.  The slaw is a vinegar based slaw (no mayonaise), which is a perfect accent to what could be a heavy meal.  I think both compliment the BBQ very well.  The beans deepen your BBQ flavor experience, while the slaw is light, and serves to cleanse your palate.  These sides are perfect.

My hat is off to Pit Master Jack Goodsell (aka Goodsmell).  I will be back.

Turnagain Arm Pit BBQ:

Location - Milepost 103.5 Seward Hwy, Indian Alaska.  About 17 miles south of Anchorage and 12 miles north of Girdwood.

Phone - 907.653.1953

Website - www.turnagainarmpit.com

Reservations - None.  But they do cater.

Overall Recommendation:  I can't believe you are still sitting there reading this review.  Go!  Now!

Bear Tooth Grill - Tex-Mex in Spenard

The Bear Tooth Grill is the restaurant on the other end of the Bear Tooth Theatre Pub building, but don't be fooled, it offers a completely different menu than the theatre pub.  Think of Tex-Mex meets gourmet pub grub, meets tequila bar.  This is one of the hot spots in the Spenard dining scene, and it has yet to disappoint.

I recently made it in for brunch.  I didn't even now they had a brunch, but boy do they ever.  I was looking for comfort food, and I got it...with a kick.  

I am a biscuit and gravy snob.  A good biscuit and gravy has a special biscuit and a gravy with layers of complex flavors.  The Bear Tooth Grill's biscuit is house made and fluffy.  The sausage gravy has a hint of smoked paprika and, what I suspect is, a pinch of cayenne.  The flavors are subtle, and I would recommend the dish, however, it was just an appetizer for me.

For my brunch main course, I ordered the Spenard Starter.  It is a huge meal served in an oversized bowl.  The polenta is cut in about 1.5" cubes and drenched in a lightly spices shrimp and chorizo cream sauce.  On top of it all are two over easy eggs.  It is massive, and very satisfying.  The cream sauce is light and not too rich.  The shrimp and chorizo give just the right amount of kick to the bowl, and the polenta makes it filling.  Just cutting into the eggs, and letting that yolk run over the rest of the ingredients...it just gives the meal that wholesome mouth feel.

The flavors were all spot on, although the polenta was a little tough, and some of the shrimp were a little gritty.  That said, this is a dynamite dish!  There is so much, that combined with my "appetizer", I had to get a to go box.  In case you are wondering, the Spenard Starter, when reheated at home, makes a great dinner too.

Bear Tooth Grill :

Address - 1230 West 27th Avenue


Phone - 907.276.4200


Website - beartooththeatre.net

Reservations - Walk-ins only.  It can get busy on Friday and Saturday nights.  If you show up for brunch, around 10a, you should get seated pretty quickly (if not immediately).


Overall Recommendation:  The Bear Tooth Grill fills a special niche in Anchorage.  It's menu is unique, and it is one of the nicest casual dining restaurants in town.  It is a great compliment to their theatre pub.  The Bear Tooth Grill is part of the Spenard Renaissance, check it out!