Marx Bros Cafe - Elegant Evening Dining

My wife and I like to go out for dinner on the eve of New Year's eve.  In doing so, we avoid the insanity of finding reservations at a nice restaurant.  This year we went to the Marx Bros. Cafe in downtown Anchorage.

The 46 seat restaurant was built by the Alaska Railroad in 1916 and is an original town site house.  It is quiet, simple, and elegant.  There is no better place to take a date in Anchorage, and maybe the world.  They have a simple and amazing menu, and a wine list to match.

My wife and I started with the King Crab and Crawfish Cake.  It is unlike the typical breaded and fried cake in that it mostly crab and crawfish with micro-greens on top and an herb hollandaise.  The crab and crawfish are forward on the palet with a bright, clean citrus finish.  I paired the appetizer with a glass of the Dog Point Sauvignon Blanc (Marlborough, New Zealand).

A "must have" at Marx Bros. is the Caesar Salad, which is prepared table side by Van Hale (General Manager and partner).  The garlic, anchovies, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and egg are expertly blended by Van, and then tossed with the cheese and croutons into the lettuce.  It is fresh and alive with flavor.  It is mouth-gasmic.  Salad is typically the part of my meal that I can do without.  At Marx Bros. I could have Van's Caesar and leave happy.  If you have nothing else, have the Caesar Salad!  It went well with the Melville Chardonay (Santa Rita Hills, CA).

For the main course, I had the Filet Mignon and my wife had the Pan Seared Duck Breast.  There is not much better eating than the pan seared duck.  I have had it before, but I was happy when my wife offered a couple of bites of her's.  It was tender, moist, and succulent.  My filet was served at a perfect medium rare, and perfectly cooked.  Marx Bros. is one of the only places I will order a steak.  I have been spoiled by my father's grilling (and I have learned well from him).  The cooks at Marx Bros. have respect for meat, and it shows.  I went with the Siduri Pinot Noir (Sonoma Valley, CA) for my main course pairing.

For dessert we shared Tiramisu.  You have not had a proper Tiramisu unless you have had it at Marx Bros.  The lady fingers are soaked in rum and coffee and layered with zabaglione and mascarpone.  It is a delicate treat that goes perfectly with a glass of port or madeira.  I paired it with the 10 Blandy's, Malmsey.

There are Caesar Salad and Food and Wine classes hosted by Van regularly.  My wife and I are looking forward to taking his Caesar Salad Class sometime this winter.  I can't wait to give it a try myself.  Hmmm, Marx Bros. Caesar Salad any time I want.  Pure bliss.


Marx Bros. Cafe:

Address - 627 W 3rd, Anchorage, AK 99501

Phone - 907.278.2133

Website - marxcafe.com

Reservations - Strongly recommended.  I used my iPhone Open Table app.

Overall Recommendation - The Marx Bros. Cafe is the gold standard for fine dining in Anchorage....and maybe all of Alaska.  I have had no better dining experience.

The Crow's Nest - The Crown Atop the Hotel Captain Cook

The Crow's Nest Restaurant offers much more than beautiful views of Downtown Anchorage, the Chugach, and Cook Inlet.  It is Anchorage's only AAA Four Diamond fine dining restaurant, and boasts a 10,000 bottle wine cellar.  I must say, that the food matches the view and the wine list...it is stunningly good.

Setting atop Tower 3 of the Hotel Captain Cook, it is no wonder that the Crow's Nest is so popular.  The hotel is right in the heart of Downtown Anchorage, and the restaurant pulls out all the stops to make your dining experience a great one.

On Halloween, my wife and I like to avoid the rush of trick-or-treaters by treating ourselves to dinner out. This year I pulled out my iPhone and activated my handy Open Table app.  There it was, the Crow's Nest, calling me.  On a nearly annual basis, I take my coaching staff for cocktails at the bar, but it has been quite a while since I have had a meal there, and it was about time my wife shared the experience.  By using the Open Table app, I was able to request a table with a view.  During the winter I prefer a view of Downtown, so I requested a table with a South/East view.  In the dark of night, and during this evening's snow storm, it is always beautiful.

Upon being seated, we were treated to an amuse consisting of a butternut squash soup, and a kalamata olive dinner roll.  The soup was rich and full of flavor.  The two or three spoonfuls were perfect and wett the appetite.  The olive roll was the perfect compliment to the soup; fresh, and with just the right amount of olives.

We chose to start with the Sweet and Spicy Sausage Stuffed Quail and the Tabby's Crabby Patties.  The quail was succulent in and of itself, but it was also stuffed with sautéd grapes and wild mushrooms, and served on a bed of fresh greens that had a delightful porcini vinaigrette and saffron pear reduction.  The crab cakes were a combination of King and Dungeness and were served over a citrus and horseradish vinaigrette.  The crab cake was delicious, but the stuffed quail was superb.

It was tough to choose, but my wife chose the Duck Two Ways A'Lorange and I chose the Ras el Hanout Rubbed Lamb Loin.  My wife loved the duck, her first ever duck as it turns out.  I tried a bite, and it was very tender and moist.  It was served with a croissant bread pudding over a berry gastrique and Grand Marnier jus.  The gastrique is what brought the dish from the merely good to great.

Before tonight, I did not know what Ras el Hanout meant, but Wikipedia has a great explanation, and now I know that it is a Moroccan blend of spices that means "top of the shop", or the best the shop has to offer.  My lamb loin was perfectly seasons, and I supplemented the flavor by ordering it with foie gras.  The flavors blended just as I had hoped.  The savory flavors of the Ras el Hanout and the richness of the foie gras made my taste buds dance and swoon.  The lamb was served over a lemon verbena jus, and accompanied by port poached cherries, root vegetables, crispy sweet potatoes.  A truly satisfying dish.

For desert, I went with the crème brûlée and a glass of Blandy's Alvada Medeira.  It may have been a decadent choice, but I was already having a decadent meal, it needed the right finish.  The crème brûlée was served with some fresh berries and white chocolate.  It paired perfectly with the Blandy's.  My wife chose the carmel apple tart.  I tried it, and it too was delicious.  The apples were fresh and tangy.

The Crow's Nest is a place to treat yourself.  Don't be tricked into going somewhere else.


Crow's Nest:

Address - 939 W. 5th Avenue, Anchorage, 20th Floor of Tower 3

Phone - 907.276.6000 or 800.843.1950

Website - captaincook.com/dining/crows-nest

Reservations - Make them.  I like using my Open Table app on my iPhone.  I recommend the Southeast corner of the dining room.  Dress is casual smart.  Don't go looking like a rugby hooligan.

Overall Recommendation - The food is very good, and the waitstaff is courteous and professional.  You will not find a finer wine cellar in all of Alaska.

Open Table - The must have foodie app

Ever say to yourself, your spouse, or your group of friends, "Where are we going for dinner?"  Well I have a foolproof way to not only narrow your search, but to also make your reservations.  Get on your smart phone and use your OpenTable app or go online to opentable.com.

OpenTable can bring up a list of restaurants in your area with available seating for your party.  You can read reviews, view menus, and get directions.  You can make your reservation, along with any special notes/requests you have for the restaurant, and then later on leave a review for others to read.  You can do all of this from your phone.

The great thing about OpenTable is the selection of restaurants.  The OpenTable affiliates are all great restaurants.  These restaurants are fit for foodies.  Each one is a standout with outstanding food, service, etc.  You can't go wrong!  Give it a try the next time you go out for a night on the town.

Sack's Cafe & Restaurant

Sack's is a shining star on the Anchorage fine dining scene.  With fresh local produce and seafood Sack's is a standout with a necessarily changing menu and creative choices.

This weekend my wife and I enjoyed date night by starting with the olive sampler and the Alaska Crab & Scallop cakes.  We also treated ourselves to the Joseph Drouhin Cote De Beaune 2008 Pinot Noir.  What a stunning way to start a meal.  The olives played off the sweet and savory crab/scallop cakes and the bright Pinot Noir.  The olives are served warm which brings out the flavor in each savory bight.  The crab/scallop cakes are served with an incredibly light honey chipotle aioli.  I made sure to alternate between the Pinot, olives, and cakes.  My palate was positively dancing.

I chose the Chicken and Alaska Sea Scallop for my main course.  The chicken medallions are lightly breaded, and the scallops gently seared.  They are served on a bed of udon noodles along with snow peas, mushrooms and black bean salsa.  The star of the meal, however, is the ginger cream sauce.  It continued the symphony that the appetizers began.  So light, tangy, and creamy it actually made me want to slow down and savor the experience.  I think I paired the wine perfectly for this main course.

My wife loved her Mariscada.  I tried a bite, and the flavor was amazing.  Fresh sockeye, tiger prawns, and clams in a coconut tomato broth.  Sweet yellow corn, butternut squash, rice, basil and lime round out the dish.  The broth is outstanding.  The Sack's saucier is a genius.

After the main course we both decided to have some desert.  I had a decadent spiced apple cake and my wife had the beautiful Russian creme with pineapple and strawberries.  Both were wonderful and balanced out our meals perfectly.

I honestly don't know if you can go wrong at Sack's.


Sack's Cafe & Restaurant:

Address - 328 G Street

Phone - 907.276.3546 or 907.274.4022

Website - www.sackscafe.com

Reservations - I use my OpenTable app on my iPhone.  I would recommend making reservations, so call ahead or use your smartphone.

Overall Recommendation - The freshest ingredients and a creative flair make Sack's one of the top restaurants in Anchorage.  Don't pass up the opportunity to have a great meal!

The Channel Club - A Sitka Landmark

Every year I get to go and do a "man camp" weekend with a few friends in Sitka.  We spend the weekend fishing, drinking cocktails and beer, and eating lots of camping types of food.  At the end of these trips we usually have some down time in Sitka before heading home.  We usually cap off the trip with a meal at one of Sitka's premier restaurants...The Channel Club.

The Channel Club is a has has modern feel with a beautiful view of Sitka Sound.  The restaurant has a reputation for being a fine dining establishment, and I have known people who have flown from as far as Juneau for a dinner at the Channel Club.  While it is an above average restaurant, I must say I would go mostly for the view.

With a modest wine list, and a small but more than adequate menu, the Channel Club does satisfy.  The steaks are what are always recommended, but after a weekend of eating nothing but red meat, I usually need something a little lighter.  On this trip I had the Ceasar Salad with the asian inspired Black Cod dish.  The salad really hit the spot, especially since the only vegetables I had had for the last few days were pickled beans and olives.  The Black Cod was served with bokchoy and rice, with a savory soy/teriyaki and sesame sauce.  The cod was cooked perfectly and was just what I needed.

For dessert I had the Strawberry New York cheesecake.  I have had better, in fact, I wonder how many days old this particular cheesecake was.  Don't despair on the dessert front though, as I did try the peach cobbler and it was very good.

All in all our group enjoyed the food, wine, and dessert and I look forward to another man camp trip capped off with a visit to the Channel Club.

The Channel Club:

Address - 2906 Halibut Point Road, Sitka, AK

Phone - 907-747-7440

Website - www.sitkachannelclub.com

Reservations:  I recommend calling ahead and making reservations.  I have been to the Channel Club twice, and the first time it was very full.  If you are visiting Sitka, and would like to be picked up, the Channel Club has it's own shuttle...give them a call.

Overall Recommendation:  The food and service are good.  I don't think you will be disappointed with anything on the menu.  With that said, it seems that the view, in combination with the food, is what really sells this place.  The views of Sitka Sound are great...and the food is pretty good too.

Simon & Seafort's - "A View to a Grill"

The view from the restaurant window, on a sunny spring evening, is stunning, so please pardon the pun in the title of this post. Sipping a martinis and partaking of tasty appetizers and entrees, all the while the sun gleams off Cook Inlet and hovers over Sleeping Lady....it is a great setting.

Sitting with a small group, I was able to partake of a variety of appetizers. We had the Classic Sampler, comprising chili smoked tiger prawns, teriyaki tenderloin, and king crab artichoke dip. I have had the teriyaki tenderloin before, and if you have to choose just one appetizer, this is it. The prawns are great, and quite delicious. The dip is good, but typical.

Next we had the Kobe meatloaf sliders. Mmmmm. Each slider has a tangy sweet/hot mustard and a spicy jalapeno stuffed olive garnish. Just have one, or you will ruin your appetite.

Not yet satisfied we had the sweet potato fries, which are served with a coconut BBQ sauce dip and a mustard aioli. I am a huge fan of aioli, and love sauces. Even though I am not a huge sweet potato fan, I liked this appetizer. If you love sweet potatoes, give it a try.

We also tried the blue cheese & bacon chips. Dress with blue cheese, bacon, chipotle ranch dressing, and tomatos. It is like a party in your mouth, but save room for an entree!

I managed to avoid going overboard on appetizers enough to enjoy a meal of the Tableside Seafood Etoufee. A blend of scallops, black tiger prawns, mussels, clams, and andouilla sausage, all served over cheese grits and a side of braised greens. My favorite part of the meal was the cheese grits. The cheesy flavor and texture of the grits balanced the spice of the etoufee and the buttery greens perfectly. It is a tantric experience on a plate.

Simon & Seafort's:

Address-

420 L Street

Anchorage, AK 99501

Website - www.simonandseaforts.com

Phone - 907-274-3502

Reservations - a must for the main dining room, however the bar, while a bit louder, has a large menu, the same view, and is does not require reservation.

Overall Recommendation: An Anchorage landmarks with a great waitstaff and food.

Kinley's Restaurant and Bar - A Midtown Gem

Wednesday evening, and we needed good meal...and soon. I also had a craving to go someplace new, so I jumped on my iPhone Open Table app and discovered that Kinley's had some room available at a 6:30p seating. Perfect! I had heard good things and was very excited.

I had been to the building before when it was a loud dining experience and a different restaurant. I was pleased to see major renovations had been undertaken to reduce the noise and create a more sophisticated dining experience. The bar was beautiful, and the main dining room very nice. Major efforts have been made to create a more intimate feel throughout the large dining room.

We did have to wait about 10 minutes before we met our server, but from that moment forward we were waited on diligently by an attentive staff.

We started with an olive plate and bacon wrapped dates. What a combination! I love olives anyway, but when combined with the savory/sweet combination of the dates I was overwhelmed. Bacon with dates...don't pass it up!

I enjoyed the Caprese salad, but it was large enough I could have shared it with my wife. As a member of the clean plate club, I was, unfortunately, getting pretty full by the end of the salad. Be sure to leave room for the main dish next time!

I had the Filet Mignon. I normally avoid any sort of steak in restaurants because I am spoiled by my own steak grilling skills (if I do say so myself). But, I had a feeling I would enjoy this preparation, I mean hey it was topped with crispy prosciutto and bleu cheese. How could that go wrong. Let's just say that I am glad I had the Filet Mignon!

My wife had the pasta dish. It was also very tasty with great Asparagus Alfredo and sauteed zucchini, winter greens, & roasted garlic.

I could barely move after such a large feast. Again, I need to watch the appetizer and salad courses. I probably would have had a desert otherwise.

Kinley's Restaurant and Bar:

Address -

3230 Seward Highway

Anchorage, AK 99503

Website - www.kinleysrestaurant.com

Phone - 907 644-8953

Reservations - weekdays may not be necessary, but Friday & Saturday night recommended

Overall Recommendation - definitely worth a try, I plan on going back.

Jens' Restaurant an Anchorage Landmark

Take my advice guys, if you want to make your wife/girlfriend happy, take her to Jens' Restaurant for your anniversary.

I have been to Jens' many times but never for an anniversary dinner. Jens' has an extensive wine selection and a wonderful menu. It is a perfect blend of classic and cutting edge. The menu does tend to change over time, due primarily to what Jens' can get his hands on. The variety on the menu is always fresh.

I had the pan seared Kodiak Scallops. They were served over a roasted garlic cream with truffle oil, pink peppercorns. The scallops were done to perfection...sweet and tender. The presentation was perfect served on a large shell.

My wife had rack of lamb. Crusted with herbs and cooked just right. The flavor of the lamb was balanced perfectly with the herbs and spices.

Toward the end of the evening a special song came over the house stereo, and a sparkler was brought to us and a commemorative photo was taken. Later we were given a card with that photo. The smile on my wife's face said it all.


Jens' Restaurant:

Address -
701 West 36th Avenue
Anchorage, AK 99503

Website - www.jensrestaurant.com

Phone - 907 561-5367

Reservations - recommended

Overall Recommendation - eat there, today if possible!