Williwaw Social — Restaurant in Alaska

I really enjoy Williwaw as a bar and venue-- for other people's events. However, after my experience attempting to hold my wedding reception here, I would recommend that others steer clear from Williwaw as an event venue.

In March, I contacted Susynn, the general manager, by phone to discuss the possibility of hosting a catered wedding reception for 40-50 people with an open bar at Williwaw in early June. She seemed hugely competent, and assured me that a June event would be doable. I gave her my payment information over the phone, and she stated that she would charge me for a deposit and send me the contract right away. More than a week later, after I had yet to be charged for the deposit and had not received the contract, I sent her a follow-up email. Four days later, Susynn got back to me saying that she had finally run my card, and purporting to send me a contract through an online portal. Apparently, my payment information had simply been floating around in her office for close to two weeks before she remembered to charge me. My fiance's name was misspelled in the "online portal," and no contract was attached.

After two-month series of emails and phone calls, I finally received a contract and confirmation that the event would be taking place, and was allowed to go in and view the event space. However, I was told that it would be a little bit longer before a menu would be ready because of Williwaw's new arrangement with El Green-Gos. Susynn assured me that she would prioritize getting me a menu by the following Monday. Needless to say, that didn't happen, and when I texted her on Thursday to follow up, she responded that they "still didn't have anything" but that she would "keep asking every day until [she got] it lol." At that point, my wedding was 30 days out, and that was the last day under the contract when I could cancel and get a full refund of the deposit. In light of the poor communication history, and the flippant response to my attempt to finalize the plans for the event, I let her know that we would be cancelling the event and requested a refund. I had to plan my own wedding reception, from scratch, in only 30 days.

Amusingly, although Susynn indicated that she would issue the refund immediately, a week later, I hadn't received a check, and had to send her yet...

Go here if you want fraudulent charges on your "lost" card. I had a highly unprofessional experience on 5/3/25 while trying to get tacos for Cinco De Mayo celebration. "Mimi" was our server. She started with a great personality that quickly dwindled. She made us wait 40 min and then told us not to order the tacos because of time. She was very grabby on my best friends husband and then she takes our drink order and doesn't bring my debit card back. When I asked for my card back, she said she needed to go find it and look in the trash for it. I let her know things happen and if she can't find it she needs to communicate that to me so I can protect my finances and cancel my card immediately. She gave her "manager" a terrible attitude in front of us and it was highly unprofessional. "Mimi" also claimed to be the manager. I then asked for the real managers phone number for complaints. Mimi said she could not find my card and stated she never charged the card. 30 minutes later she comes to another part of the bar and hands me my card saying "if you would have given me 3 seconds I would have found it". Very rude, unprofessional. Again, stated she had not charged my card. I then woke up to find that Ms Mimi charged my card $180! Fraud. I called the "manager" and left a voicemail as well as a text message. Patrons should be aware that their staff are fraudulently charging cards and I'd like to know if anyone else has had this experience. I'm sure she thinks she can get away with activities like this because she serves alcohol and deals with intoxicated persons. What the staff here need to remember is that even in alcohol industries,...

What happened to this place?

It must be under new management; a few weeks ago, the menu was great, and the staff, while young and inexperienced, were fun and helpful. Yesterday while out with three friends I insisted we visit Blues Central because "they have amazing cocktails and food." Part of the experience of a "speakeasy" includes knocking on the door and communicating the password through a slot. We arrived upstairs to find the door wide open. The curtains were also drawn open, which sucked for the atmosphere. We were not greeted by anyone, after standing in the entry we eventually chose a table and passed around the new menu....what the hell is with your menu? What could have led you to believe that egg whites are what make you a good bar? The menu is tiny, the cocktails all contain sugar and egg whites, and there is no food. The waiter/bartender was a total douche. He approached our table and told us all that they were slammed tonight, and we probably wouldn't be seeing our server very often (there were plenty of empty tables and this place is tiny to begin with). My friend asked three different times for a suggestion/recommendation and the guy kept telling him to look at the menu and decide for himself, before walking away in frustration. I think he wants to be a director or something, because he clearly doesn't enjoy his current line of work.

We walked out after that. I was so pissed, slightly at the egg whites, mostly at how far the place had fallen in such a short time.

Blues central used to be a unique experience, a place I would take someone in Anchorage to show off in a classy cocktail bar; no longer. I won't...