Are restaurants in Alaska hard to get into with out a reservation specifically on some of the land destinations

[smilejesuslovesu]

We are trying to decide if the escorted tour is worth the price difference, I read before that it does come with guaranteed reservations.

 

We are looking at one that will go to Mt. McKinley, Denali, Copper River and Anchorage.

 

Thank you for any help you can give.

[diesel1973]

In Anchorage Glacier Brewhouse is very popular and needs reservations. Mooses Toothe for pizza is another one. Most restaurants in Anchorage are very busy on the weekends and I would consider reservations. Sorry I can't help you out with the other locations.

[wolfie11]

At Mt. McKinley, Denali, and Copper River, you will likely eat in the designated tour restaurant at the lodge.  I don't think they let you go free range and Mt. McKinley and Copper River have few other dining facilites.  Even in Anchorage, you will probably have limited choices with the escorted tour.  If you are talking about doing it on your own, there are dining choices, especially in Anchorage.  As noted above, weekends are busy at the popular restaurants and you might need reservations.

[Coral]

I would probably say Glacier Brewhouse in Anchorage also. I like the restaurant quite a bit.

[Northern Aurora]

5 hours ago, smilejesuslovesu said:

We are trying to decide if the escorted tour is worth the price difference, I read before that it does come with guaranteed reservations.

 

We are looking at one that will go to Mt. McKinley, Denali, Copper River and Anchorage.

 

Thank you for any help you can give.

 

Are you trying to decide to take a cruise line sponsored land tour or are you trying to decide whether to add a meal package to a cruise line sponsored land tour?

 

At Denali there are both cruise line hotels and some other options such as a pizza place and food trucks.  No one from Fairbanks will drive to Denali to dine at the Denali Princess.

 

At the Mt. McKinley View Princess no one from Anchorage will drive there to dine.  There is no place within walking distance to the McKinley View Princess.

 

At Copper River no one from Valdez will have driven to the hotel for a meal.   Again there is no restaurant within walking distance to the Copper River Princess.

 

Alaska is anticipating a strong tourist season this upcoming summer.  In Anchorage expect to need reservations at popular restaurants even on week days.

 

 

[oaktreerb]

On 4/24/2023 at 3:30 PM, diesel1973 said:

In Anchorage Glacier Brewhouse is very popular and needs reservations. Mooses Toothe for pizza is another one. Most restaurants in Anchorage are very busy on the weekends and I would consider reservations. Sorry I can't help you out with the other locations.

Glacier Brewhouse in Anchorage is very busy and you need reservations for a table, but if you don’t plan ahead you can eat at the bar and the bar has a lot of shared seating (extra  bar height tables near the bar).  Just tell the hostess you will eat at the bar and find empty seats (or someone ready to leave).  The halibut fish and chips was sooooo good!

[oaktreerb]

On 4/24/2023 at 1:12 PM, smilejesuslovesu said:

We are trying to decide if the escorted tour is worth the price difference, I read before that it does come with guaranteed reservations.

 

We are looking at one that will go to Mt. McKinley, Denali, Copper River and Anchorage.

 

Thank you for any help you can give.

Are you talking about room reservations or dining reservations?  You would only have dining reservations if you are eating with your tour group.  Denali has a variety of places to eat as does Anchorage.  

[fishiecrackers]

As others have said, most of the popular places in Anchorage get pretty busy, and reservations are helpful. But I wouldn't hinge an entire guided tour on just Anchorage meal reservations. If you decide to do it on your own, it would be pretty easy just to get restaurant recommendations and make the reservation ahead of time online on your own.