Southside is one of my favorite dining spots in Anchorage! Don't be fooled by the strip-mall location - they really have the fine dining service thing down, and their specials are out of this world. Have a hankering for pheasant, sous vide? I've had it there. Halibut with a pineapple piccata-style sauce? Oh man. Their bartender is a total ham. Go in on a slow night and sit at the bar - you won't be disappointed. Possibly the most underrated dining spot in Anchorage, and I love having awesome food on the South side. read more

We had dinner at the bistro one evening last week. When we entered we had a very good impression and the smells were divine. The service was good and The waitress was helpful interpreting the menu. I felt the entrée was very good, however the side dish that came with the plate was a surprise. The mashed potato dish and the vegetables were substandard. They were both overcooked and dry. The salad was excellent. We will probably try again someday. read more

I had the pasta special with Angel hair and sausage and Penn cove mussels and garlic and Dijon cream sauce. With fresh herbs. And my starter, highly recommended was the scallops weathervane scallops. To die for! I couldn't put down my fork... The service here is impeccable and amazing.... I was impressed. My bartender john, i think was awesome and I will definitely be back. Check out this gem.. I am excited to try other menu items next time! read more

See all

Good service, overpriced and overhyped for sure. These trendy "bistros" are a dime a dozen these days. Nothing special, cooking at home is probably a better use of your time and money unless you realllllllly suck. Ordered a cappuccino and got an americano instead ‍ read more

Southside Bistro is part of the rare "fancy restaurants that aren't downtown" club. (other notables are Kinley's and Kincaid) It's also one of the few highly-reviewed restaurants in town that I have never been to, until a couple days ago. The interior is kind of odd. It's a bit dim and intimate, but mixed with some art motifs that remind of me of the mid-90's (grunge music, The Real World, etc.) It's a similar vibe to the excellent Turkey Red up in Palmer. I wouldn't be surprised if they have a redesign in their future. We came here after being wholly unsatisfied at the teeny tiny tapas portions at a nearby restaurant (which shall remain unnamed to protect the innocent). I got a Brussels sprout salad and some wine. The server was quirky and fun, and brought us some delicious, blackened spot-shrimp on the house! I'll definitely come back and have a full meal here in the future. read more

Great atmosphere, menu, and staff. It is for everyone from special occasions to casual food with friends!

I'm quite surprised with this place. On the outside, it doesn't look very spectacular. But once you walk in, you are blown away with the "fanciness" of the place. FYI: There are two parts to this restaurant. The "bistro" portion serves your full dining menu plus a few other items such as nachos, burgers, etc... The "dining room" is just your full dining menu. So if you're unsure which to go towards, I would recommend going towards the Bistro side so that you'll have the best of both worlds. Service: The service here is phenomenal. All of the staff is friendly, professional, and attentive. I've noticed that every time I have come here, my water cup never get completely emptied. Awesome work! Menu: I absolutely love their pastas. I have to admit that I haven't tried anything else but their pastas so this portion of my review is a little bias. They have homemade pasta that are to die for! And the sauce are always creamy and seasoned perfectly. My favorite pasta is the spaghetini so far, but their weekly pasta specials are always really good to! Overall: I would definitely recommend this place! read more

Solid great food every-time we have been there. A nice ambiance, very knowledgeable on wine offerings, and great specials. Everything is made to order, the atmosphere is relaxing, from the classic cloth napkins, to the menus. Sounds silly but nice menus make the food choices feel more relaxed. The seafood has always been fresh. Some great dishes are the filet, the pappardelle pasta is made fresh, and you can substitute any meats out for veggies. They've been extremely accommodating to food allergies & each order is made to order, fresh and delicious. Can't get that at home. No lies. read more

Food was so so and the prices were OK Loud atmosphere, and Not friendly to single diners.

This last time every one of us had something wrong with the meal, which is a super bummer. I got the ribeye and the sauce that came on it was cold. My sister ordered a ribeye and they gave her a sirloin. My buddy ordered halibut and they gave him rockfish. We weren't too thrilled and have nixed this off our list for a while, which is a shame since I used to love coming here. Oh well. There are a lot of great restaurants in Anchorage to take it's place. read more

Southside Bistro - How are you supposed to eat this? - New American Near Me - Anchorage, Alaska

Service was great! I liked walking in and seeing the chefs at work. Food was good as well. The place needs a deco update - a bit dated and plates were plastic! read more

I LOVE this place. I think most locals with good taste do! Amazing chef, feels fancy for Alaska but is cozy and warm too. The food is top notch, you will not be disappointed...unless you have bad judgement. We started with a lovely bottle of wine. You get hot, fresh sourdough bread to start which was very good. We ordered the clams and fried cauliflower as appetizers. The cauliflower dish is outstanding, especially if you like garlic. We ordered the pasta special, the pasta on the menu (forgot the name), the filet, and the special filet. Everything was a 5 out of 5. Then we ordered the cobbler and the terrine for dessert. Both slap your mama worthy!! Excellent meal and experience. Easily one of the beat places for dinner in Anchorage! read more

I've yet to have a bad meal at this place. I think the only thing thus far that has slightly bothered me is the decor. The overall design and wall decorations just doesn't sit right with me - it's a hodgepodge that's trying to be SOMETHING but I can't put my finger on it. Other than that though, it's a little fancier than your other sit-ins and the food does live up to that. From the seafood appetizers to the steaks to the desserts and specials and wine - we've had a good amount of it and are always pleased and scraping every last bit off the plate. One thing we've noticed is that the sides can be pretty standard vegetables, nothing fancy. But what's great about it is that the main stars of the dishes stay just that and don't need to be accentuated by a fancy side. I feel like it rounds out perfectly that way. Like a casual fancy vibe which sometimes is all you really want. The staff is always friendly and attentive, and you just feel good when you come here. read more

See all

Hands down the best restaurant in the city of Anchorage for many, many reasons: 5 out of 5 for service 5 out of 5 for wine selection 5 out of 5 for general restaurant ambiance 5 out of 5 for menu, especially the always interesting specials 5 out of 5 for beer menu, and 6 out of 5 for the desserts (the sorbets & crème brûlée are THAT good) Don't let the people who live south of Dimond keep this place a secret from the rest of us: make a reservation to go there as soon as possible. In the 13 or 14+ years that I've been going to the Bistro, it has never once let me down. read more

Southside Bistro - Table top view of the Southside Bistro - New American Near Me - Anchorage, Alaska

Food is Amazing & service is excellent! Staff is very friendly and environment is wonderful! 5 stars!

The food is great except the side veggies seem to be cooked from frozen - think semi-rubbery carrot slices and green beans. Service was good. Atmosphere is lovely. read more

I've come here a few times over the past 5 years. It's about time for a review! My latest visit was on a Friday night about 8:15pm. We had a reservation and were promptly seated, this was quite nice! No waiting. After looking over the menu and fresh sheet, I decided on the seafood appetizer and soup, my dad on the special halibut (the waiter then informed us that the halibut was sold out, so dad ordered the other fish special) and my mom on the ribs. The food took a little longer to come out but perfection isn't quick. My scallops were cooked perfectly and paired with the carrot mousse... It was great! The soup was fabulous, it was a sweet and sour seafood bowl of deliciousness. My dad's fish was equally as good and came in a broth of tomatoes and spices that enhanced the fishes natural flavor quite well. Mom's ribs were melt in your mouth amazing! The sauce, horseradish and spinach were all appropriate accompaniments to the hearty meat. Dessert was great too! The cobbler was my favorite of the three we ordered. Next was the chocolate tartine, it was very rich but excellent. I did not like the creme brûlée because I felt that the vanilla was too mild, there should have been a vanilla bean used in the recipe to really enhanced the vanilla flavor! The atmosphere is jovial and fun. The decor is funky but comfortable. Overall Southside bistro continues to please! Enjoy your meal here. read more

We always get the best service every time we come and always try to get something different since it is all fantastic. Hard to go wrong just getting the Bistro burger though! read more

So just got into town today to visit family with my mom. We went here after a friend recommended it. Gotta say it was fantastic, the Scandinavian duck was surberbly cooked(it's hard to find good duck in LA), the Berkshire pork roast was tender and delicious, the dark chocolate taurine was decadent and perfectly accentuated by roasted salted pistachios, and the tiramisu according to my brother in law was phenomenal. Special shout out to our waitress Alison as she was a delight. Will be back again on future visits read more

See all

Southside is one of the best and most consistent fine dining experiences with a great Pizza or burger option in Anchorage. You just can't say enough good things about this place. Great people, excellent service, innovative and dynamic menu, great lasting favorites, quiet elegance or upscale bistro seating and active involved ownership management. It's a 'both/and' kind of place. Been a favorite for mNh years and will be for many more. read more

Great food and service! Ambiance in this place is fantastic! Highly recommend this place!

What a great first experience. I tend to not weigh ,very much ,service in my reviews. But today I am. My wife and I were served by Linda. She was positive, attentive, gave good recommendations , she didn't waste time trying to be our friend but was there the appropriate amount. I never had to wait for a new glass of wine. She stopped by once per orderve and once per entree. The food. At least tied for anchorages best. The veggies weren't cooked to death. They had crispness left in them. I had lamb. I confess I love lamb and have a hard time getting good lamb. It was....Just o k. I found it noticeably gamey. My wife had rockfish. After having one too many tough rockfish experiences at orso's It was nice to have a fresh fish. She did say she wished it came with more sauce and was going to ask for more sauce next time. We liked all four glasses of wine. We got dessert to go and enjoyed it at home. We are going to go again soon. The price before tip was 135.00 For one One salad Two entrees Four glasses of wine Two desserts So a little spendy yet it was good quality. read more

I completely and truly have love for this establishment!! With that said I will specify from the beginning as to why they did not receive 5 stars. It's the parking. There's not a huge lot, but it really isn't big enough to accommodate the business they bring in. It's technically a strip mall, but don't let that steer you away. This is not your typical Alaskan weighed down heavy dinner spot that you're used to. It's quality food that's light on the guts and moderately heavy on the wallet. I made a reservation, through yelp, for dinner here on the weekend of my anniversary. I stated I wanted an intimate table for this wonderful occasion and was very pleased I did. Upon arrival, there were at least two or three parties waiting to be seated and the restaurant was packed!! We were 15 minutes early and they still sat us. We had a very nice intimate and private table for our celebration. The service here is top notch. They use your name when they speak to you. Our glasses were never empty. Our waiter was very attentive and the food came out at just the right pace for how full the restaurant was. The food was fresh and very tasty! If there was any one word I could use to describe it, that word would be simple. They take simple things that normally go well together and layer the flavors in so well that you just can't describe how good it is. Our appetizer was fried calamari topped with garlic and herbs. It was cooked perfectly. It wasn't soggy or heavy. It was delicate and flavorful and surprisingly light. The entrees we chose were the ribeye with a tomato salad and spiced fries and rigatoni that came in a fontina cream with ham and peas, topped with bread crumbs. It was basically Mac and cheese on steroids made from unicorn horns. I don't know how Mac and cheese or anything drenched in fontina cream can be light, but I swear I feel like I lost a pound eating it. The steak my husband ordered was cooked to his specifications exactly! It was topped with a divine blue cheese butter. The fries were so good I had to steal a few with my fork. Personally I feel like it's bad taste to lick my fingers in such a nice restaurant. Yes, they were that good! For dessert we chose the caramel banana something or other. It rounded out the meal perfectly. I won't describe it. Just get it!! It's a small, light, perfectly sweet treat to finish off your dinner. We got out for 100$ even including tip and a beer. This is the go to spot for date night or any special occasion. Trying to impress someone? Come here. Trying to woo someone? Come here! It's Thursday and you're feeling like treating yourself? This is the place to be! I have found my new favorite date night spot. If you haven't been, you definitely should come here. Be sure to make a reservation! read more

Probably my favorite fine dining restaurant in Anchorage. The food is amazing and the service is always great.

I went in for dinner on Sept. 15th - my first visit - around 4:45p.m. I expected that Southside Bistro would be a bit pricey but hoping that the food would be worth it. I understand there are good/great reviews for Southside Bistro but this was simply not my experience. The food was below par. I started with the nachos, added 'grilled chicken' from the Bistro menu - over $20. The chicken was very sparse, seemingly not grilled (no grill marks) and no seasoning whatsoever. Almost as if it was boiled/baked/bland . Definitely not a repeat. I then had the Pork Schnitzel. It was overcooked. How do I know? The breading was overly dark and the pork itself wasn't very moist. Then, the simple matter of having a Coke. No free refills for a regular soda. And, no mention of such by the wait staff. Finally, I had the Raspberry/Peach Cobbler for desert. Lordy, what a mushy mess. Very little crust. Raspberry tartness overly dominant. And, I'm quite sure the preparer put more time into the fancy design on the plate surrounding the small cup of desert in the middle then the product itself. Yes, presentation is important, but the food itself should leave a much better/higher mark. The establishment did seem clean, but a little dark for my taste, even if this was part of the aesthetic that the place was going for. My waitress was friendly, but not very attentive. I would not recommend Southside Bistro on any level. Even if you are well heeled (which I'm not, struggling to be employed actually right now), there are better options in Anchorage. For example, the nachos at Bear Paw are less expensive and much better tasting. read more

Outstanding!!! Had the same dish down the street that was terrible ! This place has it going on!!! Thank you for a great exoerience read more

The food is consistently delicious and the bartenders are very kind. I would highly recommend Southside bistro if you're looking for a romantic dinner or to share a bottle of wine with friends! read more

I took my wife here for our 14th wedding anniversary. We are locals, (I've lived in Anchorage since 86) Neither one of us had ever eaten here so we were excited to try something new... it was a evening of good food and poor service. We were seated quickly, my wife elected to drink water and I asked for a Coke to go with the calamari appetizer we ordered. The Coke came out, the waiter seemed put out and "threw" the drink in the glass. It was flat the carafe of soda provided was also flat. I took one drink and pushed it aside. The calamari was good (standard) nothing special. The waiter stated on two separate occasions, "I'll be back with some bread"... I'm still waiting, it never came. My wife and I both had the New York Strip special for 52.00 dollars a plate. It consisted of a 12 oz New York Strip, mushroom sauce and Mashed potatoes and mixed vegetables. The steak and sauce were absolutely delicious. Looking at the dish, I honestly felt it was priced way too high for what was served. At the end of the evening I hated tipping the waiter 15% but did so begrudgingly given it's the holidays and 15% is the least I'd tip normally. Afterward reflecting on the service I was even more disappointed. So it's hit and miss and I sure like most places these days it's consistency that is lacking. read more

Had an excellent dinner tonight with my friends Danny and Jackie and my lovely wife Lynn, the food was exceptional the company was great but it is so wonderful to see a restaurant where they are operating at full speed and making all the great dishes that you expect to have. I would recommend highly to anyone who is heading out for the Earth's crust from experience after covid-19 go to Southside Bistro. read more

Went there for a friends birthday dinner. Great service. Good vibes. Delicious desserts.

Relaxed atmosphere. I was hungry coming here but was not completely impressed with the food. I did enjoy the weathervane scallops and the risotto cake was delicious but everything else seemed lacking in taste. Tuna tartare was overly light. The duck was good but the portion was too small. Lamb fell of the bone but the sauce was a bit unimaginative. For a $130 dinner, I was expecting more flavor. Overall experience was satisfactory. Service was ok. read more

See all

Amazing how they can change the menu and still produce tasty food. Two couples that I went to dinner with have been unhappy because they have been loyal supporters and have been eating the same entrees for a long time. I have only sporadically eat there and I thought the rack of lamb was tasty but prepared differently. read more

Ate here on Tuesday the 30th. Food was underwhelming and not seasoned well at all. No cocktails, tap beer limited and bottle selection was so-so. If you're a wine drinker this is for you. 4 pages of wines. read more

I was a first-time visitor at this restaurant and will attempt to eat here most any time that I return to anchorage. The food was excellent, very well prepared and reasonably priced. Service was very friendly no, new the menu well and was attentive to the table. We had appetizer, salad, soup, entrees and dessert. Everything was excellent. I read several reviews before deciding to eat here and I'm a little surprised by the lower ratings. I would strongly recommend giving this place is a shot!! read more

See all

I ordered the prawns and scallops for takeout and got home to find that the scallops were pretty overcooked. I called back and they re-made the scallops for no cost and no trouble and the meal was amazing! Great customer service and you can tell they care about their customers. read more

The best place I've ever eaten at I got there a lot and I decided I should make a 5 star review if I could though I would of made a 6 star review but I can't oh well. Their Bistro burger is the best no cap . read more

From the outside it looks simple, you might drive past without knowing that it's a hidden gem. Inside are warm colors, cool decor, nice hostess, and you look over and can see the busy chefs preparing food. We were a party of 2 without reservations but were happy to sit at the bar. The bartender/waiter we got was named Jonny I believe, he is the best. What a character, had us laughing and smiling the whole time. We started off with 4pc oysters half shell (you can choose the exact # of oysters you'd like). They were perfect. Also enjoyed a local draft beer called King Street IPA. Other things ordered were equally impressive: blue cheese steak, tiger shrimps & scallops (sub mashed potatoes for rice!) we ate every bite on our plates and we were having such a nice time we stayed for dessert, creme brûlée. Jonny suggested a port alongside which was so delicious. I usually don't opt for desserts or dessert wine but I have to admit it was a pretty amazing experience. We stayed longer and kept ordering because we really liked Jonny, the food was really yummy, and we felt so comfortable there. What more can you ask? With all the great places to dine in Anchorage, don't sleep on Southside Bistro! Can't wait to go back again next time we are in town. read more

Southside Bistro - Classic Vanilla Creme Brulee - New American Near Me - Anchorage, Alaska

The BEST meal I've had in a long time! My daughter and I had lunch here. We started with two orders of raw oysters. OMG...Absolutely delicious! There was a hint of garlic, a little bit of spice, and with a squeeze of lemon, they were sublime! We finished them off in no time and told the waiter that we might want some for dessert! (They were that fresh and delicious!) My goodness...I want some right now! We then shared an order of calamari. Perfection! The batter was light, and they were sprinkled with bits of roasted garlic and parsley; they were cooked perfectly! (I prefer them with lemon, while my love prefers their wonderful marinara.) We polished off every tasty tentacle! We then shared a caesar salad with bay shrimp. It was dressed perfectly and the bay shrimp were big and plentiful! We've had their caesar with the grilled prawns before, but we both agree that adding the bay shrimp is the way to go. I was starting to feel a little full when they brought our 1/2 lb. bistro burger to share. Thank heavens we were splitting this because there was no way I could have eaten a whole one. The burger was a perfect medium. It was juicy and covered in gruyere and wild mushrooms. Yes...wild mushrooms... Heaven in every juicy, meaty, delicious bite! We were stuffed but we wanted to end the meal with a dessert. More oysters perhaps??? ;-) Our lovely waiter suggested the dessert of the day which we decided to try. Wow! We sure were glad we tried it! I'm afraid I don't recall the name of the dessert. It was poached pears with a hint of red wine in a ramekin, and the topping was cake-like. It was a light and delightful dessert that complemented and ended our perfect meal, perfectly! We cannot wait to have another wonderful meal here! read more

A fun and somewhat trendy place for lunch or dinner. I hear the pizzas are really good. My pasta lunch was very good and the service was just right also. While we didn't have wine for our business lunch, I did notice a table with alot of wine being tasted so it must have been the wine rep in to update the wine list. That's a good sign for the wine dept of Southside. I would go back when in Anchorage again. read more

The food is good, I will give them that. But that does not excuse the rudeness of the head chef and hostess. Being told a 25 min wait is one thing, but after 1 hour, I lost faith. When asking about the numerous vacant table we were told they were not for us and very rudely told we could wait quietly or leave. The food is good. But the attitude of the head chef was deplorable. read more