Tito's is considered to be one of the better restaurants in Hope, not that there are that many choices. Still, this simple diner serves up very good burgers, sandwiches, and a variety of other down-home favorites. All of the soups, chili, and pies are homemade daily. The restaurant is a true landmark in Hope, and one of this friendly little town's favorite gathering places. Discovery Cafe is so well loved by the area residents that after a fire completely destroyed the uninsured restaurant on January 31, 1999, residents donated their time, money, and building skills to rebuild the place from the ground up, allowing it to reopen a couple of years later.

I stopped in at Tito's for lunch and found the quaint little restaurant to be a great choice. The employees are very friendly, and know the regular customers well enough that when several walked through the door and sat down, the waitress just said "The usual?" and after the party responded "yes" she wrote out an order and turned it into the kitchen. Another regular customer walked in, and seeing the lone waitress busy, walked behind the counter to help himself to a large glass of iced tea. We out-of-towners still get great service too, although the only people using the menu to order while I was having lunch were the tourists (myself included). Tito's is unbelievably affordable for Alaska, especially considering the large portions. My cheeseburger was quite large, and served with a fresh slices of lettuce, tomato, and red onion. A side of fries or onion rings was included, and I opted for the onion rings, which were quite good. The very filling meal, including a glass of iced tea and tip for the waitress, set me back only $11. Not bad, especially considering the much higher prices I paid the rest of the trip.

When you visit Hope (which you must certainly do!), if it's meal time, don't miss Tito's Discovery Cafe. It's a great experience, and will be a very enjoyable meal.

Hours of Operation:

• Breakfast, lunch, and dinner served year-round.
• These hours are subject to change; call the restaurant to confirm, especially during the winter.
• Summers, M-Th, 7:00 AM-7:00 PM; F-Su, 7:00 AM-8:00 PM
• Winters, M-Th, 8:00 AM-6:00 PM; F-Su, 8:00 AM-7:00 PM