Little Richard's Family Diner - Timeless North Pole Classic

My latest swim meet road trip was great for three reasons: my swimmers did well, I got to visit my parents, and I got to eat breakfast Little Richard's Family Diner.

Just off the Richardson Highway, in North Pole, is a great little restaurant that harkens back to what I think of as the classic american diner.  Stainless steel and chrome fixtures, a black and white tile floor, table seating, counter seating, period decor, super friendly service, and most of all really good food!  I love this place.

I took a seat at the counter and ordered the Meat Lover's Omelette with hash browns and sourdough toast.  It was fun to watch from the counter as my breakfast was prepared.  The counter is all that separates the kitchen from the dining area, which is great because the cooks are amiable guys and fun to watch as they work smoothly with each other and the wait staff.

The omelette was stuffed (and I mean stuffed) with bacon, ham, reindeer sausage, buffalo sausage, hot links, and cheese.  The hash browns are great, and can be ordered extra crispy.  The portions are so generous, that it would be easy to share a breakfast like this...I could only eat about two thirds of what was served.  

I loved breakfast, but I think that the charm of the restaurant augments the overall experience.  As I mentioned, the decor and service is great, there is something more.  Maybe it is the music that is being piped in (Roger Miller, Glen Campbell, etc).  Maybe it is the small town clientele.  Whatever it is, it just seems like the perfect place to take the family, or just belly up to the counter.  I look forward to going back soon.

Little Richard's Family Diner:

Address - 2698 Hurst Rd, North Pole, AK 99705

Phone - 907.488.2117

Overall Recommendation:  If you are down with a classic diner and classic diner food, then you have to give Little Richard's a try.  If you are in the greater Fairbanks/North Pole area, then this is well worth the stop.

Southside Grill Restaurant - My Neighborhood Diner

If you have read through my blog, you know that I enjoy breakfast...a lot!  To my dismay, I have been unable to find a breakfast joint (that I can stomach) on the south side of Anchorage.  Either the food is bad, the service horrible, or both.  No more!  I have finally found the Southside Grill Restaurant.

Not to be confused with the Southside Bistro (read my review from December 2011), the Southside Grill Restaurant serves breakfast and lunch diner style meals.  My wife and I went for breakfast recently, and the food was very good and service was fast and friendly.

I went with the Hungry Man Breakfast featuring: ham, bacon, or sausage, 3 eggs served to order, choice of potatoes or pancakes, and biscuits and gravy.  They had me at the biscuits and gravy :)

I went with the sausage, eggs over easy, and hash-browns.  The sausage and hash-browns were typical, and the eggs cooked correctly (something that seems to be difficult for some cooks), and the biscuits and gravy were better pretty good.

What makes me happiest, is that I no longer have to drive across town to any of my other favorite breakfast eateries.  Southside Grill is just a short drive for those of us who live south of Dimond.  Spacious, clean, and friendly...our little south side gem!

Southside Grill Restaurant:

Address - 12870 Old Seward Hwy Anchorage, AK 99515

Phone - 907.297.0597

Overall Recommendation:  Good diner food and friendly service.  I have finally found a breakfast place on the south side of Anchorage that I can enjoy.

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.

Granny B's Cafe - Hole in the wall that fills hole in stomach

I drove past this hole in the wall, old time strip mall, full parking lot, and made a mental note..."Gotta give Granny B's a try".  Today I did, and I am really glad I finally did.  Granny B's is a little gem on the south edge of Spenard, on Tudor.

Granny B's offers up a small menu with breakfast and lunch.  They serve it up fresh, fast, and friendly...with generous portions.  I am a breakfast lover, and I was famished, so I ordered up Nat's Omelet: grilled turkey, crispy bacon, and swiss cheese.  For an extra $1 I traded up my toast for a biscuit, and then ordered a side of gravy.

The omelet was above average, but filled with a hearty blend of turkey, bacon, and swiss, and then topped with more swiss and more bacon.  With the side of crispy hash browns (just the way I like them) it would have been more than enough.  But wait!  Don't forget that biscuit and gravy!

In my opinion there is only one place in Anchorage with a better biscuit and gravy (my beloved Spenard Roadhouse).  These are fresh and piping hot, and the gravy has a nice sausage/gravy ratio.

Granny's is not going to blow you away with fancy culinary offerings like the Spenard Roadhouse, but it is perfect for what it has to offer.  This is a cozy little place with great historical photos and blue collar dishes.  I doubt you will be disappointed, and hey, any place that actually has a condiment table with a variety of hot sauces from which to choose is pretty great in my book.

Granny B's Cafe:

Address - 1201 W Tudor Road, Suite 2, Anchorage, AK 99503

Phone - 907.563.0476

Overall Recommendation:  This cozy little place is worth a try.  Cash Only!  They don't accept credit or debit cards!