McKinley Creekside Café & Bakery — Restaurant in Alaska

I've been here in 2022 when it was a tiny cafe, and then again in 2023 and today after the remodel. They seem to change their menu every season, and the breakfast abd lunch menus are better than the dinner (imo).

However, today 5/25, had something happen by the manager (white man, brown hair, working the front.) Came in and asked to be seated. He offered me outside and I said I'd like inside since it was raining. There was an open table but he told me there would be a 15-20 minute wait so I waited. No lie, a white couple walks in maybe 5 minutes after me, point out the open table to the waiter saying they wanted to sit there AND GET SEATED IMMEDIATELY at that same table, which was unreserved. The manager comes back out, and I ask why did they get seated at the same table immediately versus me. He literally lied, pulling something out of thin air about efficiency, making excuses and that two people get preference over one?? If that's so, why offer me a four seater outside when I first walked in? How is sitting inside as 1 personess efficient when its the same waiters serving in and out.

And the waiter who sat the white couple apologized (unlike the manager) because she didn't know where he came up with his reasoning. Again, clearly not a policy, just something he made up? While this may not seem discriminatory, the manager lacks spatial awareness of how this whole situation came off. A Black person told to wait, and then 2 white people get serviced immediately.

I hope this doesn't happen to anyone else because it left a bad taste of an establishment, I usually have had a decent experience at. If you're non-white and you see an empty table with enough seats, ask them to sit there, and hopefully they don't give you a...

Earlier this week, my wife and I went to McKinley Creekside Cafe and Bakery because we had heard that the baked halibut and rhubarb cake were very good. Unfortunately, I fell in the gravel parking lot ( entirely my fault) and smashed my face in the gravel, breaking my nose and pouring out blood everywhere. I was unable to get off the ground myself, so, after calling 911, the owner of the cafe and a couple of Staff members came out and helped apply pressure to my wounds. I started to get cold while we waited for the ambulance and she had someone bring out a very nice warm comforter to keep me warm on the ground. After assistance from the local fire department, ambulance crew and the emergency department of Fairbanks Hospital, I am fine now, despite looking like Frankenstein.

I never did get the halibut, so I can't comment on that, but they did send us away with the comforter and some of their rhubarb cake and other assorted goodies, which my wife tells me were excellent. (She didn't leave any for me. Humph!) I certainly can comment on the hospitality which was over and above the call of duty. Thank you very much to the owner and staff of the McKinley Creekside Cafe and Bakery! I give this...

Came across the place as I needed coffee badly and we ended up coming back for three more meals over the course of the trip.

It surprised me that Alaska does coffee right. Not a single cup disappointed the entire trip and McKinley Creekside Cafe was no different.

The breakfast was great, very filling. The biscuits were buttery and fluffy and the sausage gravy was amazing. Their pancakes were also excellent.

Dinner was likewise great. Everything tasted fresh, was appropriately temped and seasoned. The burger came with a mustard bbq sauce that was as amazing as the sausage gravy was. The halibut tacos were also fantastic.

Pastries were impressive and the giant cinnamon roll didn't skimp on cinnamon or frosting or calories. The peanut butter chocolate bar was another one not to miss.

I'd definitely recommend a reservation. It's a small place and limited in their options and we heard a few people turned away due to a long wait.

Staff were efficient, not chit-chatty. They served you well, but didn't seem to want to talk. But they were also super busy. I can see how some would find this off-putting, but it was just...