Double Musky Inn — Restaurant in Alaska

April 2023: Got to spend time talking with JP, about his folks, his training at Le Cordon Bleu in Portland and his love for the restaurant where he was raised. He has been in charge and running the show for around four years now and has worked every shift, every job…and still does. He helps serve and visits with diners and he will lend a hand in the kitchen when things get busy. If you have the chance to talk to him, which might be hard because there is rarely a lull here, ask him about the history of the restaurant…he’s a great storyteller!

Original review… The Double Musky is an Alaskan Institution. Folks from the MatSu Valley to the Kenai Peninsula travel here to celebrate every type of special occasion. The owners, Bob and Deanna Persons, have owned the restaurant since 1979 and they have been recognized with high accolades around the globe. This is fine dining, meets Cajun cuisine, done Alaska style...and it is phenomenal.

This restaurant does not take reservations, no matter what the size of your group. During the height of tourist season, people start to line up at around 4:00. Know that you may have to wait for a table but that their bar area is a great place to do that. There are quite a few tables and seats at the bar, but there are always some folks standing. It doesn’t seem to take too long to find a seat though. They serve an extensive appetizer menu or you can order from the regular menu. The Halibut Ceviche is a tasty local starter that is on the lighter side. The mixed drinks offered are always creative and delicious. Additionally, they boast one of the more extensive wine lists in Alaska as well.

Their Pepper Steak is a signature dish and it lives up to the hype. Be sure to share or have a fridge for the leftovers because the portion is mammoth. The Jambalaya and Shrimp Étouffée are personal favorites. The spice is just the right amount of heat for all palates but they’ll kick it up for you if you’re daring.

Be sure to leave room for dessert. They bring a tray out loaded with all of their specialties. I’m a sucker for the Cajun Delight, because who doesn’t like layers of cream and chocolate? If you don’t, no worries, their berry options and the creme brûlée are equally decadent.

The Double Musky is known for their eclectic atmosphere. The paraphernalia and collectibles on display are distracting in the best of ways. Every inch is crammed with conversation starters and it is all great fun to take in.

Beyond excellent food, what makes the Double Musky so special is people who work there. Most have been there for a very long time. Tara was my server during my last visit and she is a very familiar face. Professional, courteous and friendly, it is always a pleasure to be seated in her section.

Make the trip to Girdwood and visit the Double Musky. You won’t be disappointed.

Update June 2021: Now that Covid restrictions have been lifted and everyone is vaccinated we ventured out to the Double Musky for dinner. To say they were slammed is an understatement. Crazy busy, which makes me so happy...I am glad to know that folks are heading out again to support local businesses! Of course this means everyone needs to roll with the bumps. It’s been a year and a half since they’ve contended with a full house and I know several businesses in town have been short staffed recently. So when an incredible looking vegetarian pasta showed up instead of the vegetarian jambalaya I ordered, they offered to remake it but I was thrilled to keep it. Extremely delicious!

The table ordered so much food it was embarrassing. They raved about the Pepper Steak (no surprise), Scallop Mushrooms. They loved the Crab Stuffed Halibut. I have one that craves sauce and another that prefers next to none. Thankfully they serve it light on sauce, so ask for extra if you like to indulge.

This is my first time back since eating vegetarian and the dish I missed most, that was devoured almost as soon as it was set on the table, was the Coconut Salmon appetizer.

Honestly, you won’t regret any choice...

FIRST OF ALL, MS. MANAGER, how on earth have you held your job for ANY length of time? 1st rule in customer service: The customer is ALWAYS RIGHT. So what if they have "negative" vibes, and they tell you they will never return. No matter how rude they themselves are, smile and reply positively, that you hope their evening/day gets better. Or just thank them for stopping in. DON'T TELL THEM SOMETHING SNARLY LIKE " THAT'S ALL RIGHT BUY ME, OR THAT WOULD BE FOR THE BEST! You don't know everything that happened prior to this very public display. Do you realize the whole place heard how rude you were? Second, one of our party can not digest meat proteins. Not everyone is a vegetarian by choice. There isn't anything on your menu for her. She asked if she could order a dish without meat. Well yes Dan said, but it would still be $32. He suggested a salad. REALLY? A SALAD? Next, I was invited to your establishment by friends, not knowing of your spicy cuisine. I asked Dan the waiter if I were to order a dish, could the cook go very light on the cayenne pepper. He said they could but that I would enjoy the spicy dish. I DID NOT!!! AND THEY DID NOT REDUCE THE SPICE. I told a young waitress I could not eat it, and to return it to the kitchen. Then you, miss MANAGER came to the table to see what my issue was. Then what did you tell me??? Well we are a cajun restaurant!? What the heck! Yes I discovered that after looking through the menu, and thought I made myself clear to Dan I didn't like spicy food. Yes, you did offer to have it remade without the cayenne. But I would have had to take it to go because the rest of our group was leaving. Then, and I'm sure you'll remember this part. My daughter-in-law jumped you for BREAKING DOWN the bathroom door on her when she had taken my granddaughter to the bathroom. Unbelievable! Breaking the locked door? Because another guest had to potty??? AND YOU TOLD HER YOU HAVE DONE THIS BEFORE TO OTHER PATRONS? Why do you still have a job??? Wouldn't it have been easier on your door and the other guest, to have her use the men's bathroom while you stood guard outside that door? Now, you tell us the restaurant has been in business for over 40 years. Well honey, you didn't build that reputation on your own, and at this rate with your managing skills it shouldn't last many more years.

Listen up Mr. Owner. We were a party of 14, if each of us told 10 people of your smug wait staff, horrid manager, and doors that shouldn't have locks because of fire codes, how long will it take before you don't have ANY customers. You can bet your liquor license we'll be telling way more that 10 folks to stay away from your business.

Very disgusted from...

I’ll preface this by saying that my family and I are long time customers of this restaurant and we have enjoyed every visit…until this last one. Absolutely no hard feelings towards the owner or the establishment.

Family came here for our mom’s birthday on 7/12. We got in right at 5 but our party was staggered throughout the line you have to stand in outside. My mother was given a hard time about the party not being present to be seated but (again) we were standing in a different part of the line. In any case, we were all seated at 5, we immediately order drinks when asked and then put in our appetizer orders as soon as the server asked. The appetizers took about 40-45 min to come out and we were told that the kitchen was backed up(all good, no worries). Then we ordered entrees and dessert. When the check came, we paid. And then the hostess that gave mom a hard time when seated came over and berated and raised her voice at my mom from across the restaurant that we had out stayed our welcome and that she needed us to surrender the table. She yelled and repeated her displeasure multiple times and other tables began to look over and make faces. She basically said that she had lost her patience with us and can no longer accommodate us as if we were causing trouble. We immediately vacated the restaurant as she disrespected and embarrassed us in front of everyone. As we were leaving, we noticed that there were many empty tables and there was no one waiting in line nor was there anyone waiting for a table in the lounge. As my mom was gathering her things, she overheard the hostess muttering under her breath that we shouldn’t have stayed for 3 hours but the only reason we were there that long was because it took an hour to get our food.

I have no issue being asked to release a table when our meal is finished but I don’t think we deserve to be publicly disrespected. She could have come over to my mom and quietly and politely explained that she needed the table(she didn’t need the table, I’d never seen it that dead)

The whole encounter was very disappointing and not at all the stellar service that we’re...