Oh dear. What's happened to West Rib? I used to LOVE coming here, when i was a mere stripling of a…read moretourist way back in 2010, and i have returned many times. I organized an overnight camping trip JUST so i could have dinner at West Rib again, man, what a disappointment. Was the place always this run down, and shabby? Did the sun get in my eyes and blind me? Well anyway, so after me demanding we go to West Rib, yet seeing most other eateries in town absolutely BULGING with tourists, i was a little taken aback by the solo diner in the outside space at West Rib. Gamely i ploughed on with my choice, thinking "maybe i should have gone somewhere else" The server was a nice enough young girl, and she bowed each time she visited the table, and i have absolutely no issues with her - very polite and nice. When she brought the menu, i was shocked. I am sure, i am positive it used to be fatter, had many more choices, every other time I've been here. I distinctly remember a certain sauce or dip i used to order that had a funky name, and was sort of like a schmear but runnier. Now there's only a single page to order from. I wanted to leave. I honestly was on the verge of getting up and going. Anyway, I ordered the Stubbs Burger - hadn't realized he was the Mayor Cat dude, nor that the burger was named after him. Husband ordered the special which was a Brisket Sandwich, and some Jalapeno Poppers to start. The food was fairly fast to come out, and the Poppers were hot, and came with a cool, creamy sauce, maybe ranch? They were ok, taste like every other Jalapeno Popper I've had, I'm not that keen on them to be honest. Then the entrees came out very quickly after that, so i just got started on my burger. Well - see I've been off potatoes in all their glorious forms since February, but these beer-battered fries looked so appetizing, that i grabbed a handful and distributed them evenly across my burger. And i must say - the burger was perfect. I like a well-done, no-pink burger. This was absolutely exactly how i would have asked for it to be cooked if given the choice, i had to take off the onion and the tomato off (they give me stomachache) but of course the 10 fries i put in there filled the gap nicely. And the cheese was oozing very beautifully and dripping out of the bottom. It was gorgeous. He said his Brisket Sandwich was really good too, so despite the place's shabby, and rundown appearance, and slimmer menu - what they cook, they do it very well. I did hear disquieting rumours regarding West Rib, from people around town when i said i was going there for dinner, so whatever they've done, has gotten them a bad reputation in town, which is quite sad really. It holds fond memories for me, due to it being one of the first places my husband took me when we weren't married yet, and i hadn't moved here.

I can't recommend this place anymore. They say they will be open when you talk to them (in person-…read morethey also run tbe grocery store), then they aren't. They told me they are having a hard time finding staff this year. Every time I've stayed in Talkeetna they've been closed, even when they told me they planned to be open. They aren't updating their website or voice-mail either. The place is dilapidated and run down as well. Such a shame.

A must visit if you are in Talkeetna! The food is terrific and the staff exceptional!read more

These pastas were some of the best ones I've had in Alaska. I like the old school bar ambiance as…read morewell. Definitely took me back to the early 2000's.

Best dinner we've had in Alaska so far. Most places in Talkeetna seem to be bar/pub type…read morerestaurants. Kahiltna Bistro does have a bar, but lends itself more to a local, quieter restaurant. From the moment we walked in, we felt a friendly vibe. Our beautiful waitress, Rae-Janell, was helpful, attentive and her lovely smile made our delicious dinner even more enjoyable. While there, we watched locals stop in for a drink or to get their "oyster fix". They have a menu that is available all day and a dinner menu that begins at 5:00. Patrons talk to one another & we chatted with a gentleman who was from our home state of West Virginia (even though he was a Pitt fan). I splurged on the King Crab and it was worth every penny. My husband had the filet steak and said it was juicy and tender. If we are ever back in Talkeetna, we would definitely have a meal here again.

This was a respite spot as we awaited a wonderful afternoon session on mushing and dog care…read more We had a big lunch before and, even three hours later, were too full to eat. But as we waited for a bus back to our lodge, we had time for ciders (rhubarb and apple). Both were great. Even better: the ambience. This place is tiny, filled with locals and tourists, and just somewhere you could spend an Alaskan summer. The mostly seafood entrees smelled great. The staff were professional and friendly. We hope to return for a meal, the cider and the ambiance.

The view is the #1 reason to come here. Service was good, food was ok. We split the halibut Reuben…read more It was exceptionally bland. Truffle fries and tots were good and raspberry rhubarb martini was pretty good. Would return for a drink and the view. No need to revisit the food.

We stayed at the Talkeetna Alaskan Lodge as part of a tour. Base Camp Bistro is a restaurant inside…read morethe hotel. We went there for a bite after our arrival. Because of many tour groups in the hotel it was very busy. We shared an Alaskan salmon burger and it was very good. The waiter payed attention and brought it out on 2 plates, already split in half. Breakfast was served there the next morning, buffet style. But first you have to get in! We waited about 10 minutes (and we were 2nd in line!) to get a table. They might have been understaffed, but the hostess did not show any confidence in what she was doing. The waiting line behind us was growing and growing. The buffet food was hmmm, let's say okay. Scrambled eggs, potatoes and pancakes. The pancakes were luke warm and a bit rubbery. The fruit bowl was already empty and nobody seemed to make an effort to refill things. I waited for about 10 minutes and finally decided to wave a waiter to finally get some coffee. The breakfast experience was kinda disappointing after last night.

How awesome is it to be able to get delicious fresh Thai food in the middle of Alaska!?…read more We enjoyed our Panama curry shrimp, pork pad kee Mao, chicken fried rice, and beef yakisoba. It came out fast and every dish had quality protein and fresh veggies. We enjoyed the shaded porch and the cool fresh air. Check it out!

The food was fine, but the hospitality was nonexistent…read more We prepaid a 15% tip when ordering, yet the only service we received was having the food brought to our table. We got our own water, cleaned up our own table. What's more ridiculous is the service we got. Our 5 ppl group was only offered 4 forks and spoons. When we asked for an extra fork, the server reluctantly brought one. We then asked for sharing plates and were told we'd be charged $1 for a Costco paper bowl. Asking for ice to put in our water? Another $2. And the server said she already offered us 1 more free fork, which should have been charged as well. Excuse me??? It's not about the few dollars--it's the attitude. Charging customers for basic hospitality while providing virtually none is a terrible experience. Future diners should know what to expect. It might bring unpleasantness to your Denali trip.

Perfect stop after a day at Denali. The place is huge with indoor and outdoor seating. It was big…read moretime raining when we were there so the outdoor area was shutdown. They have about 20 beers on tap from IPAs, lagers, sours, ciders and everything in between. We all ordered flights to try as many as possible. There's a giant pizza oven and the pizzas were really good. They are personal pizzas and I honestly wish they were classic small, medium, large options. The merch section is huge and honestly for Alaska it will be the cheapest shirt you find. I love my new shirt for $25. The whole place is fun and clean and again the perfect place for a long day outside. And great for big groups too

Was fun to come out on a day trip from Anchorage…read more Bartender was a blast happy to try some great new beers. Food was great we got a pickle yes pickle pizza!!! So freaking good. - Side not we love pickles. They had highchairs for the kiddo and some amazing outdoor seating in the summer. Place was clean and amazing to be in.

A tasty halibut fish fry. I love coarse chopped slaw with a vinegar dressing; I just wish there…read morewas more than two bites. The fries were good and not salted, thank you very much. The tartar sauce was made with dill - no, thank you. Zoey was our server. She is a bit demure, but is attentive and knows her craft. We ate outside on the deck. It was a nice day, low 60's, made better by the heaters.

Located in a super small town in AK. There were super friendly host and hostess that were greeting…read morepeople on the street. They lured us in. They were great. Very passionate about this place for sure. Service was good. Very attentive and helpful. We only stopped in for drinks. Had a party of 7 so tried lots of different things. Lots were canned and some handmade. They were okay. It was the vibes and sitting out on the deck that was nice. Menu not big at all.

Some of the best ice cream I have had…read more All of the ice cream is made by Shirley. There are some outside seats.

We really wanted to try fireweed ice cream while we were in the Denali area. Just down the block…read morefrom Salmon Spot in Downtown Talkeetna was Shirley's, know for their fireweed ice cream. Fireweed are those magenta blooms along the drive to and from Denali during the mid-summer months but unlike rose or lavender, fireweed tastes more like berries than floral. They have a variety of other flavors for those less adventurous but if you want something you wouldn't get anywhere else, go for that fireweed.