The Banks Alehouse — Restaurant in Fairbanks

I was very dissatisfied with my visit to The Banks. My girlfriend and I wanted to give the restaurant another try after a disappointing experience last time we ate. This time was bad enough it encouraged me to leave my first ever restaurant review. First issue is the prices for amount of food. I ordered the classic burger for over $15. If you want cheese on that burger, you have to pay extra. I really think a $15 burger should come with cheese. The burger tasted good, but for the price should have came with more fries. My girlfriend got the nachos, which she also wasn't happy with. The restaurant was out of guacamole for the nachos, which seems to be a common theme with The Banks. We decided to get a desert after our waitress asked us about it. I wanted the fried cheesecake chimichanga, but they were out. The waitress said they'd been out for about three months. So we decide to get the brownie, but they're out of the brownie also. At this point I'm done with the place, so my girlfriend asks for the cookie with ice cream to go. We pay for our meal and wait for our desert. A few minutes later our waitress bring us our cookie in a to go container and tells us "we're out of ice cream, but if you have some at home you can just put some on it." I had already paid, and now I don't even get my full desert. I'm just told to basically do it yourself. I came to a restaurant so I didn't have to make my own meal. Also, the Banks is right across the street from Fred Meyer. If they are having this serious of issues with their stocking, they should send someone over to get avocados and icecream so they can make the dishes that they are actually charging people for. This concludes my rant about The Banks. I might give it another shot in the future, but it will probably be a long time...

Food was quick, as well as the hostess. She was on it, always refilling drinks without having to wait, and was very pleasant.

Fried pickles for the app and the child who said she didn’t like or want any after the first bite started boarding and stockpiling them on her side because they were that good 🤦😂 almost ordered a second one but we had food right behind it.

We had the limited time drinks from the bar that I can’t remember the name of. It was a citrus coconut island 🏝️ style drink and it was delicious. I wasn’t feeling a beer that afternoon and my wife and I were really impressed with the fresh drinks being made at the bar. They came with fresh limes and thyme as well.

We opted for the loaded nachos and she recommended a half order due to the absurdly large portion, so we did and wow they really are massive! The nachos were delicious with pulled pork, steak cooked medium rare, and all the toppings you’d expect like jalepenos and cheese.

My wife got the cheesesteak and it was every bit as good as the best cheesesteak joints in Fairbanks, I will be back just to eat one for myself in the future.

My kiddo got the Mac and cheese pizza which is a very odd food gamble and she didn’t love it, which ended up being fine because dad did! Took it for a work lunch the next day. The white Alfredo sauce with the velveeta style shells and soft tender chicken and bacon ended up like a chicken bacon ranch with pasta and I was all for it!

Overall excellent experience and always like going here. My only gripe is they removed the smoked Gouda...

The gentleman serving us acted bothered that we were in his section. He walked off while my husband was deciding on drink without saying anything. Proceeded to bring out two beverages, a rag, and a cleaner to help with the table next to us. Proceeded to spray and wipe down a table while holding beverages for another table. Had they been my drinks he would have been asked to redo them as I wouldn't want chemicals possibly getting into my drinks. This must have upset the couple because they deliberated and ultimately left. All while this was happening, another waitress ( very friendly) came to help us. I thought maybe he sent her to assist but no.... He snaps at her and says she's in his section. I would have very much preferred her. She was so friendly to all her tables. My husband asked if certain plates were good and he basically had no feedback but to say everyone's taste is different. Our meals were good but it took forever to get and the main room cleared out pretty quickly after we were seated. All our dishes were served by the kitchen staff. I will admit my food could have been warmer. It makes me believe he just forgot about our table and it was probably sitting in the kitchen. I'm not sure if he was a manager working the floor or not as he didn't have the same red shirts on as the waitresses but he wore his sunglasses on top of his head. All in all unprofessional, unfriendly and impatient to all his tables. I hope they will see this feedback and use it to...