Page 248 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide 2017 - Alaska

246  TR A VELERS ’ NEEDS

WHERE TO EAT AND DRINK

Most of the larger cities in Alaska have a food restaurants, and even the smallest bush
variety of eateries serving better-than- community will usually have a basic eatery, a
average fare that spans a range of cuisines coffee shop, super market, food stalls, or a
reflecting the many immigrant communities cannery canteen. Mobile or static lunch
that are part of the Alaskan population. wagons provide welcome pitstops in many
Anchorage provides the widest selection, remote areas. Alaskan cuisine includes hearty,
including Indian, Japanese, Vietnamese, and filling dishes, featuring well-prepared steak
Greek restaurants. Fairbanks, Juneau, Homer, and a range of seafood. Portions are generous
and some of the smaller towns also present a and may come with large starters, and as
number of fine choices. Nearly all mid-sized many baskets of bread or tortilla chips as are
communities have Chinese, Mexican, and fast requested by the diners.

Types of Restaurants
delis, noodle bars, sushi bars, and
The most expensive options cafés for quick and filling fare.
are the true gourmet Towns of all sizes have at
restaurants, which are found least one fast food joint serving
only around Anchorage or in up the usual range of burgers,
larger towns, but many mid- fried chicken, sub sandwiches,
range restaurants in other areas pizzas, or tacos.
offer dishes that approximate
gourmet standards. Reservations and
The majority of Alaskan
restaurants are individual and Dress Codes
family-run and range from While dining in Alaska is most
satisfying to superb. In small often casual and informal, The Exit Glacier Salmon Bake in Seward
highway towns and along the advance dinner reservations knows how to reel in a crowd
road system, roadhouses are recommended for upscale
provide excellent breakfasts, places, and in the case of first meal of the day can be
lunches with homemade soups, popular restaurants that don’t anything from fruit, toast, and
and a variety of filling dinners. accept bookings, it pays to coffee to a hearty spread that
The larger hotels usually have arrive as early as possible. When includes juice, eggs cooked
their own restaurants, which in it comes to dress, Alaska is to order, ham, steak, bacon, or
wilderness areas may be the possibly the most relaxed state sausage. Fried potatoes, biscuits
only places to eat in the vicinity. in the country, and only a few and gravy, pancakes, and several
The larger towns have chain of the finest restaurants request Mexican possibilities involving
restaurants that offer decent jackets and ties. eggs, beans, vegetables, salsa,
food at good prices and in tortillas, and cheese may also
very generous portions that be on the menu.
few people can finish. The When to Eat Lunch, therefore, can often
assumption is that most diners In Alaska, breakfast is often be a lighter meal than breakfast,
will pack up the leftovers in a served as early as 6am to allow especially when there are so
doggy bag to eat later. Many guests to eat and get a good many daytime activities to
supermarkets have bakeries, start on the day’s activities. The choose from. Staples include
appetizing soups – often fish
chowder – and salads, burgers,
or sandwiches.
Dinner is the main meal of
the day, and is usually eaten
between 5 and 9pm. In the
long daylight hours of summer,
Alaskans tend to eat late, after
recreational activities are finished
for the day, and outdoor evening
barbecues are very popular.
Dinner usually includes fish or
meat – beef, pork, chicken, and
occasionally moose or even
reindeer – as well as a vegetable
A converted railway tram car houses Smoke Shack in Seward dish, a salad, and potatoes.

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