Originally built in 1921, the Pump House Restaurant & Saloon stands today as a historical landmark renovated in 1978 to depict what it was like in Fairbanks during the gold rush era of the 1890s. You walk in on an old hardwood floor and can feel the history as though you are walking into a mountain lodge particularly with the high wood-beamed ceiling. All of the antique relics are original, with some dating back over 150 years. Included in the collection of antiques from that period is a Brunswick Union League Pool Table, built in 1898. Adding to the "lodge" feeling was a number of mounted animal heads. The view overlooking the Chena River is magnificent, even if on my visit it was completely frozen over. I can only imagine what it would be like dining here during the summer, tipping back a brewski watching the Discovery Riverboat pass by and the float planes land out on the river.
Their menu was largely what you would expect to find in an area rich in seafood (halibut, shrimp, salmon and king crab legs) and land delights (steaks, chicken, ribs and wild game such as reindeer). For dinner I had the bacon wrapped crab stuffed jumbo shrimp which came with mixed vegetables plus a wild rice dish. I subbed the au gratin potatoes for the rice, which made for a perfect accompaniment for my entrée. I could have added a baked potato for another $3.50 surcharge, but didn’t feel it was worth that much for a baker.
The shrimp were about the size of my thumb and were very tender and delicious. I thought the bacon was a bit overwhelming for this seafood delight, so I only ate a small amount of that. Salad or soup came with the meal, so I started with the garden dinner salad, which was topped with what tasted like a homemade Russian dressing. I had the perfect end to my meal after reviewing the beautiful dessert tray featuring a number of made-on-the-premises delights. I chose the non-flour chocolate torte which had a chocolate mousse-like dome top, covered with strawberries.
My complete meal, which did not include alcohol, was just over $40 including tip. Admittedly, the Pump House Restaurant & Saloon is pricey even by Alaskan standards and may not be appropriate for families traveling with children. It’s just not someplace I would come back to multiple times during a week’s visit, primarily due to the high prices. With that being said, I enjoyed an outstanding meal with great atmosphere and ambience and am happy that I had the experience! The staff and my server in particular were very friendly and welcoming to me, as someone dining alone on a Friday evening.
Additional information may be obtained on their website:
www.pumphouse.com .