These are some of our favorite restaurants; see the Visitors Guide for more selections.

In the Hotel Alyeska the Pond Cafe ($–$$; right) serves breakfast, lunch and dinner with a California-Alaskan menu—try the caribou stew with a big sourdough cheese roll and lots of vegetables. Elegant dinners are the Hotel's forté. We heartily recommend the Katsura Teppanyaki ($$$), open for dinner five nights a week. It seats about 20 diners around a U-shaped table facing the chefs who prepare the meals in front of you. Make plans for dinner at the four-diamond Seven Glaciers Restaurant and Lounge ($$$) on the second level of the Glacier Terminal at 2,300 feet. The view is beyond belief and the gourmet meals are excellent. Call 754-2237 for reservations at all three.The Bake Shop (783-2831; $) in the ski area base lodge has superb soups, sandwiches, and energy-filled, buttered sticky buns. Lots of locals, ski instructors and patrollers here.

Alyeska vicinity:
Perhaps the best restaurant in the area is the Double Musky Inn (783-2822; $$$), a mile from the lifts on Crow Creek Road. It's mind-boggling to find great Cajun food in Alaska (go for the French Pepper Steak). Service is excellent and the decor is a delight—Mardi Gras beads everywhere and posters on the ceiling. Dress is casual—some Alaskans wear muddy boots to dinner. Busy nights may require a two-hour wait, but it's worth it. No reservations, opens at 5 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, 4:30 p.m. Friday through Sunday; closed Mondays.

Chair Five (783-0933; $–$$) is casual and big on burgers and pizza, but also offers an interesting and changing menu of pasta, meats and fresh pasta. A favorite is pasta primavera with sundried tomatoes. It’s in Girdwood business district next to the Post Office. Turnagain House (653-7500; $$–$$$), a white-tablecloth restaurant looking out on Turnagain Arm halfway to Anchorage, has a reputation for fine seafood and other dishes with excellent service.

Anchorage:
A special-occasion restaurant for local is Simon & Seafort’s Saloon & Grill (274-3502; $$–$$$). It specializes in seafood and steak. Take a walk through the bar and try to find the on-purpose errors in the paintings. Ask for a table next to the large picture window, and get there before dark so you can admire the view across Knik Arm. Marx Brothers Cafe (278-2133, reservations required; $$–$$$) is known for inventive continental cuisine, a notable wine list and impeccable service in a cozy frame-house setting that reminds us of a small New England inn. Southside Bistro (348-0888, reservations recommended; $$–$$$), with its highly inventive Italian and fusion cuisine, has frequent menu changes, a huge wine list, a bright and open atmosphere, excellent service and white tablecloths (but wear whatever you want).

For great views, especially at cocktail time, try the top-floor Crow’s Nest (276-6000; $$$) at the Hotel Captain Cook, or Top of the World (265-7111; $$$) in the Hilton. Josephine’s (276-8700; $$$) in the Sheraton also has a view, and is a good choice for Sunday brunch. Make reservations if dining at any of these restaurants.

Many Japanese have settled in Anchorage, and restaurants such as Akaihana (276-2215; $$) and Tempura Kitchen (277-2741; $$) are among the Asian eateries. They offer tempura, sukiyaki and other cooked dishes as well as sushi and sashimi. Anchorage also has Thai, Chinese and Korean restaurants.

For moderately priced, delicious food—and great beer—head to The Glacier Brew House Restaurant (274-2739; $$) on Fifth Avenue.

Families should head to Sourdough Mining Co. (563-2272; $) for great ribs and corn fritters; Hogg Brothers Cafe (276-9649; $) for wow omelets; the Royal Fork Buffet (276-0089; $) or Lucky Wishbone (272-3454; $) for the best fried chicken. Gwennie’s Old Alaska Restaurant’s (243-2090; $) costumed staff serves big breakfasts and sandwiches midst historic photos.

Dining Legend: $$$–Entrees $20+; $$–$10–20; $–less than $10