Summit Lake Lodge is the only business along the Seward Highway between Portage and Moose Pass. This roadhouse is set on the banks of scenic Summit Lake and surrounded by mountains. In addition to the restaurant, the lodge offers six guestrooms, available for about $80 per night, a bar, and a gift shop with an espresso bar and ice cream.
I stopped at Summit Lake Lodge for dinner on my way back to Anchorage. Service was friendly, although a little slow. The hostess was a little annoyed by my request for a larger water glass and said "we can only serve water in the small glasses" but did bring me a pitcher of water. Having just finished several hours of hiking, I was a little dry, and a small six-ounce glass wasn't going to cut it! Shortly my waitress arrived and I ordered the stuffed halibut, which was served with a salad, potatoes, and steamed vegetables. The salad (as I've mentioned in other Alaska dining entries) was not spoiled or browned but not at the peak of freshness either. I found this to be the norm in Alaska though, mainly because of the long distance vegetables are shipped to get here. My entree was a large filet of halibut, folded over a stuffing of shrimp and crab. The whole thing was topped with a mushroom sauce and was pretty tasty. The vegetables left a lot to be desired. The broccoli was bland and limp; I suspect it was frozen and just heated up. The potatoes were slices of cooked potatoes and were a little bland as well, but the flavorful halibut made up for these shortcomings. For dessert I had a slice of cherry pie topped with a little whipped cream and a cup of coffee.
Price-wise, the Summit Lake Lodge restaurant has a wide variety of selections at different price points. Burgers and sandwiches are under $10, while most dinner entrees are $15-25. My dinner, including entree, dessert, coffee, and gratuity, came in right at $30, but I could have eaten for half that price.
Overall, Summit Lake Lodge is not a bad choice for dinner. The restaurant's food has a few shortcomings, but I suspect these are mainly due to the remote location. The view of the lake from the dining room is very nice, and the small gift shop across the parking lot has a nice selection of Alaskan gifts. Inside the gift shop there is also an espresso bar and ice cream shop, making this a good stop for a snack and to get out of the car and stretch your legs. Also, be sure to check out the intricate carvings all around the lodge buildings and grounds. The door of the gift shop is especially impressive, with a scene of a bear and the lake and mountains carved into it.
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