El Rodeo Mexican Restaurant - Muldoon Royalty

Just three blocks from the Glen Hwy, on Muldoon Road, is a nice little Mexican restaurant perfect for my trips home after a day of coaching at Bartlett Pool.  El Rodeo is not unlike many of the Mexican Restaurants in Anchorage, good food, good value, and a friendly staff.  The Muldoon area of Anchorage is lucky to have one of these gems.

I have probably driven past El Rodeo thousands of times.  Countless times I have told myself to go in, but today was my first time...it really hit the spot.  The menu has all of the greats:  enchiladas, tacos, burritos, chimichangas....huevos rancheros.  I love huevos rancheros, and when I see it on the menu, it is hard for me to resist ordering...this time I did not even try.

One of the great things about Mexican cuisine is that it does not take long to prepare.  Less than five minutes after placing my order, out came my 3 huevos.  They came with sides of refried beans and rice and several "supplemental" corn tortillas.  Now I am a bit of a ranchero sauce snob, and I was not too impressed with El Rodeo's version, but the dish was pretty good despite that one handicap.  One thing I really appreciated were the extra tortillas.  Most times I have had huevos rancheros, I have wished I had some extra to help collect the extra yolk, beans, and rice.

Needless to say, I am just moments from a food coma.  Why do I have such a weakness for tortillas?  ¡Ay, caramba! 


El Rodeo Mexican Restaurant:

Address - 385 Muldoon Rd., Anchorage, AK 99504

Phone -  907-338-5393

Website - www.elrodeoak.com

Reservations - Not sure if any are needed.  There are two dining areas with plenty of seating.

Overall Recommendation:  I nice option for those on the east side of Anchorage.  Good flavors, friendly service.

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.

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.