Romano's Italian & Seafood Restaurant

The first time I went to Romano's, I was with a group of swimmers, traveling from Fairbanks.  We enjoyed the escargot that night, and since then I have always had a special place in my heart for the place.

Most recently I took my wife for a Friday "date night".  We had a very friendly waiter who made us both smile and put us in a great mood.  Despite the fact that we heard a lot of noise from a birthday group in the same room, we were able to have a nice dinner for two.

I started with the minestrone which was very hearty and quite good.  We then enjoyed the stuffed mushrooms.  The fresh mushrooms were stuffed with a seafood dressing and then covered with light seafood cream sauce.  I would have preferred them to be cooked a little longer to blend the flavor of the stuffing and the mushrooms a bit, but they were still tasty.

My wife had the chicken fettuccini and she said it was one of the best in town.  I had one of the specials for the day, the Seafood Lasagna.  With shrimp, crab, and scallops that had first been sauteed with onions and red peppers, this version of Lasagna is outstanding.  The flavor and texture of the seafood shines through and blends perfectly with pasta, cheese, and sauce.  If I was not so full from my serving, I would love to have had a second serving.

While there are quieter, more intimate Italian restaurants in Anchorage, there are not any that show any more talent in blending seafood into their dishes.  The prices are primarily in the $15-$20 range and well worth the cost.  Give it a try.

Romano's Italian & Seafood Restaurant:

Address - 2415 C Street, Anchorage, AK 99503

Phone - 907-276-0888

Website - www.romanosak.net

Reservations - Reservations are not accepted.  First come, first serve.  There are a lot of tables, so I can't imagine having to wait, but there is a bar if you need to wait for a table to open up.

Overall Recommendation:  This is a good restaurant with friendly waitstaff.  This is not a quiet, intimate restaurant.  There can be quite a bit of noise with voices carrying, but if you go on a slow night and are seated away from others, it can be a nice romantic dinner.  Having said that, the food is good and worth a try.

Joe's Crab Schack - A Good Case of Crabs

My advice? Definitely wear the bib!

Joe's Crab Schack is chain restaurant that got it's start in Houston, Texas in 1981. Lucky for me that is where I got my first taste of this seafood extravaganza. The restaurant features friendly servers who tie your bib on for you and sing birthday songs for guests celebrating. It is entertaining watching them all dance to "Cotton Eyed Joe", although I am sure they are less than thrilled with the routine by the end of the night.

Joe's features, what I would call, gulf style seafood. The featured meals are crab, shrimp, crawfish, clams, etc. are place in a steampot and steam cooked. There are several different seasonings that are used in multiple preparations and choices. Each one sounds equally delicious and I was pleased with my meal.

My friend and I started with pound of crawfish and the classic sampler. The crawfish were delicious and spicy. I admit to being very bad at getting the meat of the crawfish out to eat it, but what I could get out...dynamite! The classic sampler did not disappoint either. Calamari, crab dip, and most of all "Great Balls of Fire". All were good, but the great balls of fire really stood out. Fried balls of jalepeno, shrimp, and crab, all blended with cheese. It is the perfect combination of flavors taking your taste buds on a roller coaster ride of deliciousness. DO IT!

Whenever I am eating at a place for the first time, I always try the house special. In Joe's case, it is Joe's Classic Steampot. Dungeness crab, Snow crab, boiled shrimp, smoked sausage, corn and potatoes all brought to the table in a steampot and smelling scrumptious. The crab meat was delicious, but like most crab meals, it is a lot of work for that great flavor. The sausage, corn and potatoes definitely help fill your belly in this festive meal. My friend had the Samuel Adams Steampot and was very satisfied as well.

If you are watching your sodium cholesterol intake, beware! Otherwise, enjoy!

Joe's Crab Shack:

Address - check website for a location near you

Website - www.joescrabshack.com

Phone - 877 599-9330

Reservations - no reservations needed

Overall Recommendation: gulf style seafood in a fun atmosphere, everyone should go once for the experience.