Crow's Nest — Restaurant in Alaska

We flew out of state for a romantic evening at The Crows Nest followed by a special event in town to celebrate Valentine’s Day. We had made reservations nearly 2 months in advance, and received a call letting us know there would be a prix-fixe menu on Valentine’s Day. At no point was the menu shared in advance or available online, nor was pricing discussed. We arrived at the restaurant, and to our surprise there was no price on the menu either. Unfortunately, what was supposed to be a memorable evening quickly turned into a frustrating and disappointing experience.

While most of the dishes were decent, one of the fish entrées arrived significantly undercooked. The inside was still raw, with bloody veins running through it—far from the standard we expected at a fine dining restaurant. When I brought it to the waiter’s attention, he insisted that “fine dining restaurants cook fish to medium rare,” which felt like an excuse rather than an explanation. After asking for a properly cooked replacement, I was told that my original piece— including a piece I had spat out—would simply be reheated in the oven. This was deeply concerning, as it showed a lack of care or regard for proper food safety.

To make matters worse, after this interaction, the waiter all but disappeared. We struggled to get his attention and were left waiting an uncomfortably long time just to receive our check. The situation went from bad to worse, as hours later, on the plane ride home, I became ill with food poisoning.

This was truly a miserable experience, especially considering the price of more than $125/ person (and no, that doesn’t include the non alcoholic drinks we ordered). What should have been a romantic and memorable evening turned into an ordeal. Unfortunately, The Crows Nest failed to meet expectations, and it’s not a place we’ll be returning to...

This place is awesome! It appears all tables have a spectacular view of the water front. Our server was Logan, and he was knowledgeable about the menu, and helped guide us through the various options. We started our meal with a couple of cocktails that were very delicious. I tend to favor complex drinks that have different notes, and this Manhattan derivation (can't remember its name) had this in spades! It was so good I had two! For our starters, we had the oysters and the beef shank! The oysters were great, but for me the star was the beef shank! Who would have known that baked bone marrow could be so good! This was followed by spinach and beet salad for me, and my wife had the King crab bisque. Both were great. The presentation for the bisque was clever! For her birthday, my wife had the King crab! Best part of this fir is it comes already cracked open! No fuss and no mess, just enjoying the best crab ever! I had the black cod, although very tasty and served with nice crunchy skin, it is not King crab! The king crab won that round hands down! Also if they are in season, you must get the fennel head ferns.They are so good! And they grow here in Alaska! Finish off the meal with coffee and dessert! I had the passion fruit tart with a berry sorbet, and my wife had the chamomile Creme Brule with the dark chocolate sorbet! What a great way to finish a great dining experience! Logan was an awesome server, not intrusive and very witty! Kudos to his team as well! Water and drinks never went dry, and I drink like a camel! Criws nest is truly very fine dining in Anchorage! Sorry that my photos don't do true justice...

My recent dining experience at Crow's Nest, situated within Captain Cook's hotel, left me with mixed feelings. As a hotel guest, I decided to make a last-minute reservation, and despite being advised of a 45-minute wait for a table, upon arrival, I was informed that there were no tables available. It wasn't until I requested to speak with the manager that miraculously, a booth for six suddenly became available, despite smaller tables being unoccupied throughout my visit.

While the initial hiccup with seating left me somewhat disheartened, the waiter's friendly demeanor helped alleviate some of the frustration. However, my disappointment resurfaced when I found the broccoli side dish to be excessively salted (and I do like my salt!). Although the waiter offered to replace it, I declined, yet no alternative or adjustment to the bill was provided.

On the brighter side, the steak I ordered was truly delightful, perfectly cooked to my liking. The potatoes, albeit slightly overseasoned, were still enjoyable compared to the unfortunate fate of the broccoli. As for the soup, it lacked the desired flavor punch, but the addition of pickled cauliflower provided a much-needed burst of tanginess.

In summary, while the overall dining experience at Crow's Nest had its ups and downs, with notable highlights like the savory steak and the stunning view, it was marred by inconsistencies in service and seasoning. There's potential for improvement, particularly in ensuring a smoother reservation process and addressing customer...