Pike's Landing

09 October 2017

Pike's Landing is a beautiful lodge with a stunning interior and a very rustic appeal.  It sits overlooking the Chena River and offers scenic views.  Their website boasts some pretty amazing amenities, from cabins to a steam room. They are most noted for being the alternate starting point for the Iditarod, having held the honour again this year [2017] - which marks the third time in its history.

Having listened to an advertisement on the tele about Pike's Landing Restaurant, we decided to try it out tonight.  The commercial ad showed scrumptious dishes plated by a chef passionate about culinary experiences.  By all appearances it seemed to be a really nice restaurant; but, by Fairbanks standards, "really nice" is a hell of a lot different than the "really nice" of a city, say, like New York or Denver, or even a lodge I remember from Breckenridge. 

Driving up, the entrance was welcoming and attractive, with the appearance of something you would find in Breckenridge or Aspen [Colorado].  Walking into the restaurant gave second thoughts.  We thought we were in the wrong place.  

It seemed like we had walked back in time and entered into an old vintage retro woodsman bar/pub.  It reminded me of The Woodlands Inn of Longlac, Ontario.  Old wood. VERY rustic. Racks on the walls.  Very dated. Old leather dining chairs & tables of the 60's & 70's.  

We actually walked back out of the foyer [having smelled cigarette smoke & having children with us] and walked across the expanse of the parking lot, to the lobby, and asked the front desk if there was another restaurant in the lodge.  "No", she said, that was definitely the restaurant.  I quieried her about the smoke, and she said there is definitely no smoking in the restaurant.  I asked her about the food. She said it was actually quite good.  We took a quick vote and in a few short minutes we were bundled up and once again headed out across the expanse of the parking lot, back to where we started.  

We were not terribly disappointed.  The interior was full of character and charm.  Very rustic. The food was fresh and tasty, but was not anything different or unusual from a typical roadhouse fare.  Would I go back again?  Yes, if only for the charm of the place and the beauty of the surrounding wilderness.... and to try something different off the menu.... who knows, perhaps the menu will have changed by my next visit.