Alaska's Diner News & Reviews
GOOD VALUE ON HOME-STYLE GOURMET COOKING IN FRIENDLY AMBIANCE
(from Bay Vallarta)
Cute, casual, laid-back, and its servers' smiles geniune, this is one those eateries you are likely to return to again and again - and you can even bring your dog if it's well behaved! Read More...
Seating 40 or so in a comfy ambiance with lots of fans, pool table, jukebox, and detailed maps of the 49th state on cheery butter-colored walls, its definitely the kind of place folks develop a loyalty to. Customers pop in now and then just to say hi to the staff, and every ninth meal is free, visits tracked on a client appreciation card.
Aiming to please, the dinner menu offers comfort food like shepherd's pie a bowl of piping hot chili, and a big juicy steak with baked potato, as well as aromatic fusion plates reflecting Alaska's facinating culinary heritage. Thanks to Russia's influence, which spans both Europe and Asia with their exotic cuisines, fresh fish with citrus caper sauce, Thai curry chcken with jasmine rice, and Philippine chicken adabo are among the intriguing offerings. While plates designated as "Trailer Food" top out at 50 pesos, macaroni and cheese just $20 and chili cheese fries $25, the priciest entree here is $100 pesos. For lunch, the menu is more concise, offering thick deli sandwiches with chips on the side for $40 pesos, and salads, the $50-peso chef salad abundant with cheese and meat, and chicken optional on the Ceasar.
And no need to be least bit hesitant about digging in, since the upbear owner-chef, Alaskan Roger Wark, was formerly an instructor of the food service health, hygiene and safety in the U.S. And he truly seems to enjoy engaging his customers in converstaions about food, music the beach - his attitude very positive and helpful. And the waitresses here really go out of their way, asking if I'd like more ice in my waterand if my steak was cooked just right. As it turned out, it was a bit rare for my liking, so it was promptly returned to the kitchen for another minute or two on the grill.
Proud of his wine and beer lists, Wark offers vintages by the glass at $35-$50 pesos, a bottle of La Cetto Cabernet $150, with premium wines up to $350. And he's a stickler about serving the nectar of the gods at the right temperature, presenting his whites at 35 degrees and reds at 60. On the other hand, you can always opt for a good old root beer float!
On Saturday nights, rock 'n' roll DVDs are projected onto a centrally located screen, the music starting off mellow with, say, a little Crosby, Stills and Nash and woeking up to Jimmy Hendrix or whomever the mood dictates.
By The Candid Connoisseur gourmet@bayvallarta.com
From Vallarta Tribune (http://www.vallartatribune.com/)
Dear Editor,
I just wanted to share with your readers information about Alaska’s Diner, a small restaurant located at 515 Lazaro Cardenas, which offers delicious food at such reasonable prices and a great family atmosphere. Roger the owner, is there personally preparing the food and visiting with his guests.
He is a former instructor of food service health, hygiene and safety in the U.S. and guarantees quality, wholesome food.
They have two menus - one with chili hotdogs, chili cheese fries, stuffed baked potato, shepherd's pie and more, all for 55 pesos or less. Delicious cole slaw is 10 pesos.
Another menu offers dinners such as fresh fish in a citrus caper sauce, Philippine Chicken Adobo, rib steak, Thai beef curry etc. for $100 pesos. There is a special lunch menu on Mon. through Fri. 12 to 4 p.m. with special salads or sandwiches from 35 to 60 pesos.
There is a pool table, a vintage juke box, and a screen for videos. Since you may not have heard of this restaurant, please drop by and try their delicious food and have a fun time.
Barbara Peters