- Adelaide
- First Reviewer
- 4 out of 5
- Avg. Member Rating
- 3
- Reviews
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7
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Editor Pick
The Pump House
- March 22, 2008
- Rated 4 of 5 by
MilwVon from Milwaukee, Wisconsin
The Pump House provided such a marvelous dining experience last year, that I wanted to be sure that we got out at least one night for a special fine dining experience. While more your Alaskan saloon and seafood house, The Pump House has been delighting locals and tourists alike for decades. Our night out, our last in Fairbanks, did not disappoint.
The atmosphere is outstanding, with the hundreds of antiques and items reflective of the Yukon Gold Rush era in Fairbanks. Hanging directly overhead, was an old native sled used around the turn of the century by a local Alaskan hunter. While the wooden structure seemed to be in decent repair, it was difficult for me to imagine a team of dogs pulling this sled down the Chena River seemed impossible.
For dinner we collectively had quite the representation of Alaskan delights. OK - Cathy and Jon did while I stayed with a more "lower 48" favorite - the NY strip steak. Cathy ordered the Alaskan king crab legs. You really have to look at the photo attached to this review. Yes, that is TWO legs for one pound! The crab meat she pulled out of those legs were huge lumps. At $36, they had better delight . . . and by all accounts, she was very pleased with her choice.
Jon went a bit more adventurous, choosing the reindeer tenderloin. Good for the young man, willing to take a risk with dinner entrees. We all sampled his meat, agreeing that it was very good and not gamey at all. All entrees included soup or salad and a basket of warm sourdough bread.
After dinner, we asked to see the dessert tray. OH MY GOODNESS! It was better than I recalled it from a year ago. The theme of the night, however, was clearly chocolate. Jon did the chocolate éclair, Cathy the chocolate mousse and I did the chocolate cheesecake creation. They were all outstanding!
If you decide to partake in the Pump House, plan to have a leisurely dining experience. While the service is very attentive and good, the meal will progress at a pace that will allow for good conversation and full enjoyment of the company of your dining companions. For us, it was the perfect night out for our last night in Fairbanks.
From journal Back to Nature - Fairbanks, AK
Editor Pick
Pump House Restaurant & Saloon
- March 20, 2007
- Rated 4 of 5 by
MilwVon from Milwaukee, Wisconsin
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 .
From journal Indoors in Fairbanks
The Pump House
- December 3, 2000
- Rated 3 of 5 by
Adelaide from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Considered the best salmon restaurant in Alaska, the Pump House was reconstructed in 1978 and designated at the National Register of Historic Places. It is decorated with authentic gold rush era relics. It recreates the atmosphere of gold fever that drew prospectors from the Klondike to the rich gold fields of Interior Alaska.
From journal Fairbanks and the Arctic Circle