Great place with nice interior, our grip of 6 had raindeer, crab, elk meet loaf, halibut and all was amazingly good! This was a pleasant surprise to find a place like that in Fairbanks for a group of tourists that thought Alaska was a cold and abandoned place :)
(5)
Carla C.
Lovely spot for lunch or dinner. We've tried to perfect the art of a quick decision on the menu - so we won't have to wait for big groups to order and be served before us! It helps...a lot. So, our dinner was great. Seafood chowder warm and tasty. I had the Crab Cake Dinner which comes with house-made slaw. Crab cakes are moist - but I dipped them in the sauce anyway - and I squeezed lemon over them. The slaw's dressing is all on the bottom of the plate - so turn it over a few times to mix. My dinner companions were happy with their entrees - and one of them ordered wine - they've been here before and love it. We were satisfied!
(4)
Anastasia H.
i had the chowder which was a little small but had a lot of favor, with the Island salmon salad which had mandarin oranges, mango vinaigrette and tomatoes- good salad, which there were a few more of the pecans. niece had the kids fish and chips which was HUGE!!! totally worth it mom had the elk loaf with mash potatoes which she absolutely loved.
(4)
Marcus M.
Nice place. Good service, good food, even flight options. Fresh seafood. I regret that I didn't get to enjoy the beer flight, but I appreciate that they have flights of wine and beer. The ambience is very Alaska and outdoors oriented, which is cool but at times it can seem a bit much. You definitely want to be sure where you are going also, as the location might lead one to get lost. I had the fresh king salmon and it was tender and tasty. The crab cakes were also good albeit thinner than expected. But the presentation was excellent. It is definitely worth coming in if you find yourself visiting this lovely city of Fairbanks, AK.
(3)
Monica E.
We had limited choices on a Sunday evening, so drove out to the Pump House. The restaurant was not very busy, but we had a reservation and were seated promptly. The pace of service was quite variable. We were seated quickly with menus, but it took a long time for a server to approach us. She took our drink and dinner orders immediately, and we would have preferred to have been offered & served drinks before being pressured to pick a meal. Our drinks & salads arrived, and before we were quite finished with salad.....dinner arrived! The bread wasn't especially good, and the salads were OK. I had the halibut cheeks for dinner, and it was good. Our server was very pleasant. We ate inside, a desired choice during high mosquito season.
(3)
Kat O.
We went here with my sister and her two kids for dinner. I gave it 4 stars but it's really about a 3.5. It didn't quite live up to the hype I've heard throughout the years but overall it was pretty good. The bread they give you at the beginning could probably be eliminated; it wasn't very good. We ordered steaks, chicken alfredo, deep fried seafood, Caesars salad, bacon wrapped scallops and crab cakes. The deep fried seafood and steak was about a 3, but the crab cakes and chicken alfredo were rather good. For the price, I really expected it to be much better, so we probably won't go back next time we visit Fairbanks.
(4)
Ben L.
Very cool place. I was visiting Fairbanks for work, and The Pump House came highly recommended, and am now very glad to have chosen them for an evening of brews and eats. This establishment finds itself succeeding at the balance of providing a balanced yet comprehensive menu and a casual dining environment that is also of very high quality. The grounds and dining area are gorgeous. I chose to sit at their saloon, which was adorned with original (1930's) features and really cool touches. I had the salmon sandwich and Mother Ale(s) by Denali Brewing. Delicious. Prices are commensurate with the quality of food/environment and being in Fairbanks (notoriously spendy), but you can get out for less than $40/person, which seems like a deal for such a great place.
(5)
Ashley C.
The service was a little slow but was very professional. We had a large group and since it was available, they seated us in their banquet room without reservations. I had the tri tip steak, where the tips and squash slices were delicious, the potato hash was nothing special.
(4)
Chavan K.
We got the beer samplers and were very underwhelmed by it. The beer wasn't quite chilled, it was flat and lacked the punch the same beer would have in a bottle or at the brewery itself. The service was very terse. Will not be going back even if I do find myself in Fairbanks again.
(1)
Dom C.
Someone in our party visited the Pump House 20 years ago and recommended it again when we were back in Fairbanks. It was however not as they remembered it... I had the filet mignon which was gristly but cooked how I liked. The mashed potato side was lumpy and didn't have much flavour. Others in our party also found flaws in their food. The desserts were okay but oversized for just one person so we ended up sharing a single dessert which was also cheaper overall. Our server was also slow. For the price paid, I would've expected a better meal than what we received - a rip-off for sure. As another reviewer said - "It's not bad, but it's not great either..."
(2)
Terri B.
great food, wonderful service in the winter... and I used to say that the service in the summer is amazing! Sadly... no more. They don't open until 3 p.m. n the summer starting in 2013! It used to be a great place to put my kayak in the Chena River and paddle upstream until I was tired, the float back down. Then meet friends for drinks and lunch and/or dinner. Spent many many days and dollars there in the summer. Oh well. When i do go now, the food and drinks and service are still great!
(4)
Alan S.
Another Fairbanks restaurant that seeks to be classy and who's food is a little over priced. However, at least the atmosphere here feels classy and the prices are slightly better. I saw that they had reindeer tenderloin so I figured I had to try it. The waitress suggested rare or medium rare, so I said rare. It came with a hash and vegetables, and I asked to switch the veggies with mashed potatoes. When my food arrived, the meat was about medium and I got a ton of mashed potatoes (but no hash). Thankfully the potatoes were good and the reindeer was... an experience? The food was good, I'll give them that, but you would think they they could get my order right. I was with a bunch of people so I didn't want to complain or send it back. I'd still recommend this place to a tourist... but I can't imagine locals eating here on a regular basis. Seems a little "fancy" for that. I'd go back to try the Elk Meatloaf!
(3)
Matt H.
If it weren't for the premium 'Halibut" (cod), I would have been happy. I questioned the fish I was served and the waitress said she put in Halibut into the computer. Well, either they served me cod or it was really bad Halibut. Either way, the score is the same.
(2)
Tim J.
This past Sunday we decided to take advantage of the rare Sunny day/75° and eat brunch on the deck at pump house. Big mistake. Should have gone to Pikes. The manager refused to seat us outside and instead offered us a couch in the bar. Once in the bar area we watched 3 large tables cleaned and then have absolutely no one fill the seats. Meanwhile the deck and it's 20+ tables remained empty. The food at the brunch was OK, but far from noteworthy. The shrimp were overcooked with a mushy texture and the brunch options are limited. The desserts were suprisingly good and diverse. Overall as so many other posts have noted, the PUMP HOUSE is only AVERAGE with exceptionally POOR SERVICE.
(2)
Jack B.
The food was just nothing to say anything about. Atmosphere was beautiful but the mosquitoes were so big they could carry you off. Waiter was very professional but he didn't do the cooking. Just a bad meal. Wouldn't recommend this place to anyone.
(2)
De D.
The building is wonderful. Great vibes and decor. Super nice and helpful waitresses. We sat at the bar. The good was very...eh. Halibut nuggets were dry and chewy. Oysters were poorly shucked. We got another appetizer I can't remember what. That explains enough right there if I can't even remember what I ate!! Come in for a drink, some pool, shuffle board, and pass on the food.
(3)
Amanda M.
Came here for dinner during my first week in town. My food was good (crab mac and cheese), my friends got the salmon (DRY) and some kind of chicken marsala type thing (the sauce was weird tasting). The waitress was really rude, looking at me like I was an idiot and answering my very sarcastically when I asked what kind of sauce was on my friend's meal. Went back a few weeks ago, I can't believe I didn't notice the outrageous prices before. I must have been out of my mind to pay $26 for that crab mac and cheese. Tourist trap, overpriced, food is good but not outstanding.
(2)
April Q.
This is a great place to visit in the summer. Though the interior is beautiful and very historic, the patio is very welcoming during the summer with all the beautiful scenery and flowers and good tunes. Our server in the patio was a lackluster.. asked her questions about the food and she didn't seem to have any answers or knowledge. She was quick, though. Food was good - not stellar, but good. I had the reindeer meatball sandwich (lunch) and the others at our table had the salmon burger and artichoke dip. My meatballs were very tasty. None of the other dishes our party ordered really stood out, but they all good good and there were no complaints. The pour on my Jamo was good, though, so I enjoyed that at least a great deal.. that and all the beautiful photos I took outside. I agree with Maura S... I would return for drinks just to hang out on the patio!
(4)
Terissa L.
When I think of the nicest restaurant in Fairbanks, this place is on the top of the list. From the brunch on weekends to their main courses for dinner, be sure to bring enough money but it'll be worth it. Their desserts are magnificent I highly suggest the rhubarb tart if it's available it's literally to die for. My dad used to cook here for quite awhile and I will always love this place.
(5)
Wendi G.
Meh ,,, average and from the reviews we read we expected more. Salads - the Caesar was bland and the spinach salad was nothing to write about. Tried the Cioppino special and grilled salmon. Both were mediocre. The mango salsa tasted like dirt and the ratatouille was terrible and had no flavor. Service was friendly but a little annoying - you don't have to check back every five minutes. The restaurant has a nice outdoor deck with a view so I suggest asking for a table outside if weather permits.
(2)
David D.
Had the king crab legs, they were very expensive and very dried out. The service was fair. I spent too much for mediocre food.
(2)
Patrick L.
Awesome place to eat!!! Food was awesome!! Our server, Patience, was fantastic!! She was very helpful and knowledgeable. I had the rib eye and Jim had the burger. He said it was the best he's ever had. If you are unsure of a place to go, try this place out! They have seafood, elk, reindeer, beef, pasta, salads, soups, great deserts.
(5)
Leah C.
Their chicken wings are terrible and they won't comp you if you say so. Like I say, Alaska is where customer service comes to die.
(2)
Charlynne C.
On my last day in Alaska, my boo took me to The Pump House for Brunch. It was the perfect way to end my trip. We had seats over looking the river and waved to passing cruise ships. Mimosas, coffee, and juice were unlimited, the brunch buffet was delicious and service was prompt. What more can a girl ask for? Minus one star for the rude waitress who wouldn't give us the time of day when we asked if we could sit outside, "YOU HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE MAIN ENTRANCE BEFORE THEY CAN SEAT YOU OUT HERE". Thank gosh she didn't wait on us, I would've cut her tip in half.
(4)
Rich K.
Best restaurant in Fairbanks!! Unbelievably good venison! Wonderful strawberry rhubarb pie! Excellent service!
(5)
Jeannette G.
I didn't get the full experience as it was a winter afternoon and the restaurant did not open til 5pm. So, we settled on eating at the saloon. The food was OK; I ended up having a cup of their seafood chowder which was OK. I also had a fish taco plate which was OK too. Nothing spectacular. It was pretty dead; after we came in there were only two other parties in the eatery. Service was good.
(3)
Josh H.
The bar was fairly slow, 7 tables and the service was awful. The waitress spent more time flirting with obese cigar smoking misogynists than taking even our drink order. The 20$ filet burger tasted like wet meatloaf and fell apart before I could finish it (which was quickly since it took 40 minutes to arrive). On the plus side the waitress did eventually come back to fill our drinks 15 minutes after we finished and took another 20 to literally fling the check at our table. I don't know why I keep giving this tourist trap another shot
(1)
Travis W.
Great food. Great service. Great atmosphere (very clean and very Fairbanksian.) If I'm forced to find a complaint it would be that it is on the pricey side. But considerig most of the alternatives in Fairbanks it's worth it.
(5)
Deb G.
I took a big group for a meal there. The private dining room was nicely set away from the main dining, which allowed us privacy and quiet. That was a big plus. Our server was also friendly, although a bit lackluster-we had to wait a long time for water refills, etc. I didn't love the food, and thought the quality wasn't really commensurate with the price. We started with cups of soup, and i did enjoy my seafood chowder, especially with a piece of their house sourdough bread. for my entree, I got the grilled halibut, served with mango salsa, mashed potatoes, and veggies. The mashed potatoes were by far the best thing on the plate. The halibut was kind of tasteless, unfortunately, and the veggies had been cooked near unto death. For over 50 bucks a head, I guess I would have expected more. On a positive note, I tried my tablemate's alder-smoked steak, which had a great flavor!
(2)
Steven H.
Every time we go there it gets worse. Last time and I do mean the LAST time we will/went there with some friends from out of town all of the food was really salty so much that it was not edible, the only thing that was not were my over cooked vegetables that needed salt, my friends ribs were under done by about half a day, it was hard to tell by his sawing if he was cutting bone or meat, his wife could not eat hers and my wife could not eat hers either. I also did not Finnish mine and I don't know how my friend managed to get through his, the staff did take of 1 and a half meals from the bill and offered free desert, I declined, the time before it took two go's and still did not get right my wife's med rare fillet steak, such a shame as the atmosphere is very good even when the deck is closed. MaybeI will go there for the Sunday brunch but that's only a maybe.
(1)
Brian B.
OK serivice. OK Food. Good Beer.
(3)
Kim B.
Service was below substandard. One hour wait once orders taken. Once food was delivered, waiter disappeared. Halibut was over cooked. Terrible experience!
(1)
Haon Y.
Had the king crab and it was severly overcooked. Sides were good. Someone else in my party had the shrimp scampi and the asparagus pieces were only from the base of the stem and very tough. Seems to be very hit or miss. Some things taste great, some don't, and so the plates don't come together fully. Great rustic atmosphere though.
(2)
Sunil R.
I havent been to this but I wanted to give it a a 5 star because I had called and I was helped by the woman on the phone. She was very courteous and amazingly informative. Kudos!
(5)
Alicia F.
I went to the pump hoyse last night for dinner on recommendation from my new landlord. I found the actual decor and atmosphere appealing. I started with the seafood chowder and it was amazing. I was expecting the rest of the meal to go the same but found it bland. I tried the ribeye oscar style from a friends plate and the steak had smoke but no flavor. The chicken dish my roommate had had amazing sauce but the chicken was too chewy. I had bacon wrapped scallops and they were ok but the maple flavor was too overpowering. We thought our meals were a little overpriced, but i am comparing to the Midwest where the steaks are great. The chowder was worth every penny, however it would be nice to get a discounted rate if you add it to an entree.i would probably give it another try once more to see if i just picked the wrong menu item. I did get the beer taster, 4 beers for 6 dollars, and they were large servings and definitely a good way to try local beers.
(3)
Todd K.
The Pump House is located at the historic site of the original Chena Pump House and has a large deck overlooking the Chena River. They have a large gravel parking lot that can accommodate a lot of cars. The restaurant is interestingly decorated with stuffed animals (bears, etc.), an upside down dogsled and other Alaskan items. They have a fair selection of beers and offer a tasting of four 4 oz beers for $5.25. My beer tasting was composed of four Alaskan beers: Silver Gulch Axe Porter (very good), Glacier Blonde (didn't really like it), Glacier IPA (also, not so great) and Alaskan Summer Ale (okay). I ordered a side salad with cucumber vinaigrette for $4.50. The salad was good and about the right size for a side salad. The dress was too sweet but the waiter had warned me about it and served the dressing on the side. For the main entree, I tried the reindeer tenderloin grilled with raspberry orange cumberland sauce, braised red cabbage, and yukon gold au gratin potatoes. The reindeer was just okay with not much flavor, but the menu did say that it was low salt. The potatoes were not very warm and didn't taste that great. It seemed like they chose the wrong type of cheese for them. Others in our party tried the ribeye (bland) which was recommended by our waiter and the seafood chowder (very good). All in all, we thought it was a very mediocre meal given the amount of hype and advertisement for this restaurant. Plus, it was priced like a high quality restaurant and the food just didn't meet those standards.
(2)
Michael J.
The dessert tray was divine! So many choices that all looked amazing. I had a strawberry and rhubarb cobbler with ice cream. It was perfect. The entree choices feature typical upscale steakhouse cuisine and a few game choices for the adventurous. There's an elk meatloaf and a caribou tenderloin. I had the caribou and it was surprisingly tender and juicy.
(4)
Catharine W.
One of the best places to dine in Fairbanks. We usually do the bar menu, often sharing the Seafood Sampler. Huge pile of perfectly cooked seafood. You can dine in at the bar, or, in good weather, enjoy the patio. A fave of ours! Decent service, too.
(4)
Jasmine T.
Amazing. I had the elk meatloaf. Delicious. Potatoes were amazing and the Elk was awesome! Had a berry Martini, it had a very sweet strawberry on the bottom. Delicious! !!!!!!!
(5)
Michael S.
Great food, great ambiance and all around we enjoyed it very much. Service can be a bit slow on weekend evenings due to the volume of customers. Otherwise this is is one of my favorites.
(4)
Maura S.
I had a nice summertime dinner at The Pump House last week. We were able to sit in the glass enclosed patio that overlooks the river, and it was very pleasant. As far as restaurant views in Fairbanks go, this is one of the best! My food (a steak dinner) was pretty good, though for the price did not meet my expectations. I would return for drinks and appetizers on a nice evening, just to hang out on the patio!
(3)
Jeremiah S.
This is a place that I wish was better, cause it is just shy of five stars. I do not know what it is, but it just doesn't draw me the same way a five star place does. I lived maybe 3 min from the place, but I only went there after the hockey games to catch up with the players. It may have been the price... had I felt like I was getting a good bang for my buck I may have made it one of my primary places to eat, but as it stands it was to much work to enjoy my food. Its more classy... and I think that hurts my ability to just relax. I like a place that I can just eat, and not feel like someone might wonder why I am there. The food doesn't disappoint though, and that is what gives it 4 stars instead of 3.
(4)
Jennifer G.
The Pump House was a great surprise for me. I anticipated a standard steak-and-seafood menu, but the menu is more creative than you'd expect. I had the gnocchi in red sauce which was pretty tasty. The lavender martini was perfect--subtle, flowery, and with just enough kick. Definitely has one of the better sets of vegetarian options I've seen in Alaska, so it's great for a crowd with mixed food needs. If you're adventurous they also have a nice selection of game. Though the menu is more imaginative than I expected, the execution was perfectly adequate but not above-and-beyond. I think if they kept a smaller and more focused menu they might be able to do wonders. That said, the food was comforting and tasty, the drinks were excellent, and the carrot cake was the second best I've ever had.
(4)
Lard Belly E.
Enter this restaurant and you are either transported through a scene from Deadwood, or an old candy store from the old west. Lots of medium brown hues from antiques, stuffed animals, to would furnishings. We three came in and was seated next to a window with a view. There is a deck out back that sits on the river, but it was closed and too cold to sit there at 19.30. We ordered a couple pints of beer ($4.75 ea.) and a spinach dip appetizer ($9.95) to start. For dinner we ordered a bottle of Cabernet (Mount Veeder -Napa Valley $49), 2 ribeyes ($28.95 ea.), a beef medallions with proscuitto wrapped scallops (29.95). We also added a side of prosc. scallops ($10.95). And we rounded out our meal for dessert with the chocolate mousse ($5.50). The food, service, and wine was adequate, though not spectacular. We enjoyed the touristy feel of the place, and each others' company in this setting. The steak was cooked perfectly, though the fried onions and butter garnish was a little odd tasting. I would come here again to show out of towner's a Fairbanks good time.
(3)
Nels E.
holy shit! really good steaks. you can't go wrong with the smoked rib eye. if you need a steak and a good beer get in here!
(4)
Miss P.
I have always enjoyed The Pump House Sunday brunches in the summer on their large deck. Last night was the first time I enjoyed their dinner service. I must say their staff is very well versed on costumer service. I enjoyed a great meal of crab cake appetizers and their specialty of the night, ahi tuna. My date had the New York strip. The steak was cooked to perfection (medium rare). What made the evening so special, was not just the beautiful interior look of a old time mining saloon, but it was our waiter. He was so informative of the menu and he even comped our dessert. I must say I do not look at Fairbanks as a town of fine dining, but I think The Pump House comes damn close! I just really love the ambiance and high ceilings, unlike most restaurants in town that feel dusty and enclosed.
(5)
Jerry B.
One of my favorite stops for food during my last trip to AK. Wonderful Food! That's first. When I go to eat somewhere I like it to be attractive and I like the waiter to be friendly, but I'm really there for the food. And It did not disappoint. I'm sorry to read some of the reviews that had bad experiences with their waiter. Our waiter was an exchange student from Belgrade and he was great. Never rushed us. Was always nearby when we needed something. He even talked to us for about ten minutes about the exchange program and how he liked AK. While Eating here we noticed a banner for a float plane. We booked them too and will be leaving a glowing review on his page as well. Scenery Is beautiful also. Can't go wrong. Jerry Blackwell vendors.partyandeventgui…
(5)
Puregold S.
Great seafood chowder! Service was great and food was very good. If you want good seafood while in Fairbanks, definitely try this place. Historic decor and fun ambiance, bar looked fun (it was packed....kareoke night!). Only reason I gave it 4 stars was because most of the entrees are $25 and up but I guess if you want a good dining experience in Fairbanks that seems to be a going price. Might try them for lunch next time I'm in town. Definitely will be back :)
(4)
Tony U.
Hopefully my review is not obsolete. Let's just say "Beanie Babies" were popular the only time I came here. But the place left a very strong impression on me. After 500+ miles of driving from Anchorage, a nightcap here was a godsend. Best food in Fairbanks. But it's expensive, so save for a special occasion. I only spent one night in Fairbanks so I made that night a special occasion. Interior's warm and rustic, just what you want in one of America's coldest cities. The Seafood's fresh, service genuine, the atmosphere's perfect. Oyster's flown in from Nome. Nome's above the Artic circle. The only thing missing were the Northern Lights.
(5)
Jennie D.
Ambiance: Victorian decor meets hunting lodge...The building is in an old pump house building. It is both rustic and charming. Service: Was great...but I was there at 5:00pm for dinner and the place was empty. Price: It's Alaska...It's going to be expensive, so deal with it. Food: I had the bouillabaisse...It would have been perfect with a scoop of rice on the side. I also had the clam chowder. I have tried a lot of chowder that claims to be good. The best clam chowder I have ever had is my own, hands down. A close second is the clam chowder at the Tides Tavern in Gig Harbor, Washington. The chowder at The Pump House would not make my top ten. The bread was good, but it could have been warmer.
(4)
Stewart S.
I think one of the better places to eat in Fairbanks. We ate dinner here with a bunch of people from work tonight, if you are not in a hurry this place is wonderful. none of us was in a hurry but the wait staff was attentive and if we were they would have probably took our order quicker but we all were talking. I had the seafood chowder which was fantastic and also had the Reindeer tenderloin it was awesome. I recommend getting the balsamic glaze on the side because it does not need it and the glaze is a little over powering oh, and Don't get mad at me for eating Rudolph.
(4)
Kim C.
Great atmosphere! Gorgeous flowers going into the restaurant. Loved the enclosed patio area. I ordered the seafood sampler and a glass of wine and enjoyed both! The waiter was a bit slow and we had to ask for a to-go box as well as for the check.
(4)
Anita W.
No way is this a 4 star restaurant for food. View is great but don't order beef. I ordered medium rare and got medium well done. When I sent it back they said that was the rarest they had. The degree with over cooked was verified with the chefs at Cattleman's in Sacramento California, a restaurant known for their great prime rib. Either they lied to me or they don't know how to cook good prime rib.
(1)
B C.
My husband and I have visited this restaurant twice and both times were great! The last time we both ordered the seafood chowder in a bread bowl. After we got over the initial shock of the massive size of the bread bowl (they said they were out of their regular size bowl so they improvised with a half loaf of bread each! But he also said that their regular bowl is similar in size) we were amazed. The seafood chowder was the best chowder I and my husband have ever had! The bread bowl was divine. The staff is wonderful and the place is very clean.
(5)
Janet H.
The Pumphouse was Fair enough but the extra charge for a measly baked potatoe gave us a bad taste in our mouths. For Heavens sake raise the price of the prime rib if you have to but don't charge extra for something that should be a given with prime rib. Kind of a small money grab.
I have never been disappointed here. Fresh oysters are the best in town (compared to Lavelle's at least). I love their reindeer entree. The meat is tender and comes with yummy sweet potato puree and vegetables. And try the cucumber martini-yumm!
(4)
Phillip B.
This was a cool restaurant and would defiantly go back, the food and drinks were good and the people doing karaoke seemed to be having a great time.
(4)
Ian H.
Sucks......slow service, ignorant staff, and overall awful experience! Their food was very good however, but getting the food was a pain since we saw it sit there on the warmer for 15 minutes before it was brought.
(2)
Kenny C.
I went to The Pump House for dinner on a Tuesday night and I really enjoy my dinner. When you walk in your met by a 9 foot grizzly bear! The restaurant is really cozy, and has a bar/lounge in the back. After a long search in Fairbanks for some quality seafood I finally came across this place. I had a seafood platter and my friend had the crusted halibut. I also had a side of crab legs, and all the food was great. Prior to eating our main course we had seafood clam chowder, and that was by far some of the best chowder I have ever had, besides my grandmothers. We also had bread pudding which was very good, but I could barely eat it because I was full. The staff was very nice, as is most people in Alaska. If I am ever back in Fairbanks this will definitely be a spot I be eating at. Prices were fairly good for the amount of food you get.
(4)
Kimi N.
Came here on Friday, saloon side, for drinks, dinner, and to watch the olympic opening ceremony. I had the elk burger which was delicious. A thick, well-seasoned patty of tasty tasty elk ($13). Came with sweet potato fries which were tasty but not amazing. I've had the elk burger at Chair 5 in Girdwood which was decent, but this one blew it out of the water. Service was very attentive. Our waitress continued to fill our water glasses after we paid the bill and stayed around for about another 45 min watching the opening ceremony. Nice lady. The annoying thing about the place was the other patrons - a group of about 10 fratty young guys was being loud and obnoxious next to us as though they owned the place. Also, the views of the river are great!
(4)
Sarah B.
The Pump House is surrounded by beautiful scenery and offers fresh from the sea oyster shooters and great seafood chowder. The remaining food was OK and the service was lacking The ambiance was rustic and you're greated by a gigantic bear as you enter the restaurant. In the summer the patio on the back of the bar would be a great place to enjoy a drink or two. Over all a mediocre experience.
(3)
Dixie S.
Best spinach artichoke dip I have ever had. Seriously.
(4)
Kristi C.
This is by far one of my favorite restaurants in Fairbanks! The view is lovely, the food fantastic, the service is wonderful and the drinks are well made. A definite stop if you are visiting this charming town or just passing through!
(5)
Alaskafiregirl F.
Went to the Pumphouse for some pre-event cocktails and the chocolate martini was fabulous, the bartenders delightful and the ambiance lovely! As always, it's a great place to people watch in Fairbanks. The food in the restaurant is adequate (the bar menu is much much better) but the servers and atmosphere are what you come here for anyway, right? Like a few other yelpers have mentioned, the restaurant is not the "ohmygawdgreat" it once was but the bar portion is still a great place to catch up on the town gossip and hang out for hours on a cold winter night (or a warm summer night as the case may be). The bartenders are some of the best and heaviest pours in town. They know how to treat you right! Bonus points for an awesome view of the northern lights from the deck. Can't wait to come back in the summer for a float on the Chena... this is the best place for a cold frosty beverage after a beautiful river cruise under the midnight sun. Free wi-fi makes it a great place to plan an assault for those combat tourists out there or just hang out on the couch and internet shop. Good times!
(3)
Commodore E.
I didn't go here often, but I always liked it when I went. Nice location.
(4)
Good T.
best place in fairbanks
(5)
Jim J.
We had lunch here on the patio in June with very nice weather. Other than the patio seating along the river, I would not come here for the food. It was mediocre. The hamburger was average and the fish tacos were just OK. The service was inattentive and extremely casual. We had to wait seemingly forever for our food and rarely got a refill on our water. The waitperson refilled our iced tea with the wrong stuff--an awful-tasting fake raspberry sweet tea. Topping off the bad experience was the restaurant's policy of letting people smoke on the patio while others at tables nearby are eating. Just like in the 50's, but this is 2012, people! The smoke was highly irritating and we left. Try something else!
(2)
Rick C.
Good deck to enjoy the river view. 8-10 craft beers on tap and a nice bar menus. The steamers were very good.
(4)
David N.
I haven't came here in a few years, although it was very good! I had a Sunday brunch one time and it was very good for a $20 range.
(4)
J. D.
We were sat prior to two tables that were then served before we were even greeted. We were then told by the server it was because there was a mix-up with who was taking the table. I was okay with that, but then one of our two entrees (the $19 half chicken) came out completely cold. The server took it back and held it for 20 minutes prior to bringing the same chicken back out now rubbery and appearing to have been microwaved! We then sat for 30 minutes when done with our meal awaiting our server again. We were not offered dessert and were then rushed out. I guess no dessert for us, which we were planning on having. I filled out the comment card and handed it directly to the manager and explained nicely the issues, he said thanks for telling him and did not even offer any fix. Poor service, suboptimal food, and overall poor experience with high prices for food.
(1)
Chris C.
This a great place with great food and view!
(5)
Melissa P.
My husband & I had our 20th anniversary dinner here. I was a little apprehensive because of all the reviews about the bad service, but we threw caution to the wind & tried it on the recommendation of the proprietor of the B&B where we were staying. We were seated and greeted by our waitress quickly, our drinks were delicious and very reasonably priced. Hubby ordered the reindeer and it was delicious, I wasn't a huge fan of the reduction they had on it, but the meat was cooked perfectly. My Chicken Denali dish was also very good. The desserts were heavenly! Our waitress was very sweet, kept a good eye on us, but you could tell she was fairly new to waitressing (I've managed the front of house in many restaurants). Talking to the lady at our B&B she told us that during the busy season, they have a hard time keeping up with the onslaught of diners, which is why there are so many bad reviews about the service. I can totally see our sweet waitress getting frantic and "in the weeds" if the restaurant was packed. Overall we had an excellent dinner experience.
(4)
Pamm H.
The absolute best thing about the Pump House is the deck and outside seating. The food isn't memorable, the service is ok but the only reason to go is to sit outside on the deck during the summer. I've primarily eaten in the bar and find that the food is decent and the wine and bar list is ok. The menu isn't that big but that's ok with me. I admit I haven't eaten in the dining room so I can't say anything about that. I agree with the others that once you walk in, you're immediately greeted by a huge bear - that's The Pump House's thing I suppose. It IS very Alaska. One of my biggest problems with The Pump House is with the entire city of Fairbanks - you can still smoke inside the restaurant. The bar is where the majority of the smoking occurs which is pretty annoying when you just want to sit, have a drink and enjoy a low key night out. This is easily overcome during the summer by sitting outside but not an option during the winter which is why we hardly ever go then. Go during the summer when you can enjoy the water, the sun and a drink. They have karaoke during the winter months on Wednesday nights which I've never been to but hear good things about. The Pump House is worth a stop while in Fairbanks - just don't expect it to be amazing. It's decent.
(3)
Michael B.
Price-y but the seafood chowder is amazing and worth the trip in itself.
(5)
A S.
I heard they will be, or already have gotten rid of the smoking in the bar. If this is true, they get 4 stars. If not, it's more like 2.5 stars. The bar menu is better than the restaurant menu, but they allow smoking, which pretty much ruins it - unless it's the 2 months of summer and you can sit outside. Most of the food we had here has been pretty good. I had a really good salmon burger the first time I ever went there, and the sweet potato fries are pretty good, too. Will be looking forward to sitting out on the deck in the brief nice weather this summer.
(3)
Lisa Belle K.
This place is wonderful! It's seeping in historical charm and a western days-gone-by feel. From the exterior of the building to the old Victorian couches, when you stand amid it all there is a feeling of wonderment. I came to The Pump House with some colleagues after work and it was Karaoke night. It was so much fun to watch and listen to all the would-be singers. The drinks were strong and delicious and the crowd was hearty. We'd already had dinner so it was drinks only for us. I would highly recommend this spot as a must see while in Fairbanks.
(4)
debopriya b.
Our first time at the Pump House and I would say that the place is hospitality epitomized. Bill the owner met us once as soon as we arrived and also before we met and talked with us about his early years and Hyderabadi cook who left for his country for good. We tried reindeer tenderloin and bison satay...that was what our hostess Megan suggested. She was so graceful and knew her work so well. Both the dishes and the others tasted fresh and good. The ambience is really that of old times with a lot of antiques. Bill's baker is awesome. We had the Tiramisu and Belgian chocolate cake and they were MIND BLOWING!!!! Would definitely recommend to friends.
(4)
Chris C.
This place is pretty good. The dining room menu is on the expensive side, but the bar menu is quite reasonable. There's a shuffle board and a pair of pool tables to play in the bar. The food is good, the service is good.
(4)
Dave B.
I was visiting a good friend in Fairbanks, and it was my birthday. She's a poor graduate student, but we wanted to go somewhere nicer for my birthday. We considered a few options and chose the Pump House as a well-known Fairbanks establishment. As several people on Yelp have said, the dining room is fairly spendy, but the Senator Saloon (the bar part of the restaurant) has a different menu and is more reasonably priced. We chose to sit in the bar, partly for the cheaper menu, and partly because it's just such a great space. Dark, carved-wood walls and a copper/tin ceiling give it a great feel. The room is surrounded by wonderful antique sofas (or at least antique-looking) with regular four-top tables in the middle. There's also a huge outdoor patio, though they segregate the patio for the dining room menu and the bar menu, and only the dining room part of the patio was open when we were there. :( As I like to do, we shared everything. We picked out our food and decided to get white wine to drink. We got the flight of white wine, then a bottle of the wines in the flight--New Harbor Sauvignon Blanc. For food, we started with the Calamari Steak, which was strips of calamari rather than the usual rings and was really quite good--it was tender and flavorful. Eat it fast, though, as it cools down quickly. For the main meal, we got the fish tacos (which isn't on the online menu, but was on the menu at the place) and, at the recommendation of our server, also got the elk burger. Both were pretty good, though the flour tortilla used for the tacos (rather than corn) seemed odd to me. My friend thought it was normal, though, so maybe I've just never noticed before. For the elk, I normally get a burger cooked medium rare, but they wouldn't cook the elk anything less than medium well. When it came out, though, it was still a little pink in the middle, so I was happy, and it was delicious. Finally, for dessert, they brought out a tray of options. I love being SHOWN the dessert menu like that. We opted for the strawberry rhubarb crumble, which came with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. It. was. incredible. And, since it was my birthday, they gave us a free chocolate mousse as well! This was also pretty good, but paled in comparison to the superb crumble. All in all, an excellent meal and a great way to celebrate my birthday.
(4)
Stephanie M.
Was very disappointed with our trip here. The food was mediocre but expensive. I got the bacon wrapped prawns. The bacon wasn't crisped at all. It was greasy and flabby. The prawns on the otherhand were overdone and chewy. The flavor of the sauce was good though. I think with better execution the dish could have been great. My side dishes were a waste. Frozen veggie medley and gooey over mashed potatoes. My husband had a steak and ordered it rare. It came out medium well and cold. The servers were friendly initially but then we didnt see them again for almost an hour. When they did return it was very hurried and erratic. I dont see us going back again since the only saving factor was a decent ambiance which is easy to get just eating in your backyard around here.
(2)
Amanda P.
Similar experiences to Stephanie. I have been here 10+ times and I have never had a meal that matched its price tag, even for Fairbanks. The seafood chowder is the best thing on their menu. After trying burgers (super overcooked-twice!), salads, prawns, scallops, meatloaf, steaks (never cooked how you order them), caribou, and several appetizers, I can say with confidence that the food is pretty bad. Brunch buffet was OK, though most items were soggy/cold. Desserts are store bought. Service in the bar area is very good, but I almost never see my waitress when seated in the restaurant.
(2)
Nathan A.
Outside seating next to the river...more mature crowd. Bar menu good... took some time for the food, little portions, but well prepared.
(3)
Matt T.
Ambiance is perfect in summer. Outside dining deck overlooks river. Bar inside is steeped in history. Grounds are fun to explore. Seafood Chowder is best ever. Every single bit is OVERLOADED with seafood. Oysters were fresh and flown in from Seattle. I had the pistachio-crusted halibut. It was great. But the rice was dry and the broccoli was old or overcooked or both. Jules had the king crab legs. Good. But same deal with rice and broccoli. Martini was good sized. Olives were big. Ask for jalapeño-stuffed.
(4)
Terri W.
The Pump House was good. I wish I would have gone on a night that they did not have a buffet but at the end of the day the owner was EXTREMELY accommodating and the place was nice and the food was a very good buffet. We went on Christmas. We had a pretty swell time.
(3)
Christopher M.
Great patio on the river. Really liked the smoke salmon enchiladas. Solid choice for food.
(4)
Kelly T.
I am a bit torn on how to review the Pump House. I liked some things and disliked some other things. Let's start with the atmosphere. I really, really liked the decor and feel of the dining room. I am here in AK for business and this was the AK experience I was looking for. The service was also great. Warm, friendly, attentive, and funny. I was looking for the AK experience, so I went with the reindeer tenderloin. I expected it to taste like beef and it did. It was good, but didn't wow me. It looked like the tail end of the tenderlion, so one end was nice, thick, and juicy, but the other end was thin and got overcooked. It did have a yummy char on some pieces. It came with a potato gratin square. Some of the potatos were undercooked and crunchy. Amateur mistake. The haricot vert were nice, but were a little overcooked. The tenderloin came with a sauce that was good (tangy and fruity) and on a bed of braised red cabbage that had a funky off flavor. I also had a oyster shooter -- the flavor was great, but it was too big to "shoot" so I had to gag on the texture. Maybe just not my thing. i might go back, but have more realistic expectations for the food. It's just okay, but the grizzly bear that greets you is priceless!
(3)
Tee L.
yes I read and her personal reviews that this place was great,, sorry to disappoint you fans,but my food was not even close for the $$ paid. Granted I did not get the seafood,but my friend did and the halibut with mango viniegarette had a fishy taste(she had previous experienced a better meal last time,yrs ago)?? And my elk meatloaf,was just above cold,barely close to lukewarm, I figure I best not sent it back into kitchen, who knows what will happen to it and the mash potatoes were too salty,, the only thing that was decent was the green string beans.. That is bad for a semi -pricey meal, Yes the decor is clean and fits the place,but I am paying for the food,not all the atmosphere I do not have any plans to return,save your $$ and spend it elsewhere... No wonder it was no wait on a thursday nite to get in this place, the food is heading downhill??
(2)
Jesse C.
The Pump House is a perfect little slice of Alaskana. Perched on the bank of the Chena River the Pump House is stepped in history with a decidedly come-as-you-are atmosphere. The servers are generally attentive; the menu is somewhat limited but done with panache. The Sunday brunch is among the best in town. In the summer you can sit on the deck and watch the Riverboat Discovery go by and enjoy a drink (or two) or enjoy dinner in the dining room filled with antiques from the gold rush era. Bottom line... great service... great food. One of our favorite places in Fairbanks.
(5)
Daniel P.
I'm really torn on this review. I've been to the Pump House a ton of times and usually have had a great dinner. However, there's certainly been times where things have been "off", and I've walked away wondering what went wrong. If not for those, I would give this five stars without any hesitation. The menu can be a little limited (and it does change from time to time), but the seafood and meats are fantastic, and you can get some unique Alaskan entrees. The servers are knowledgeable about the menu and not afraid to make suggestions. I like the wine and beer list, and they have a full service bar. They offer a Sunday Brunch that I don't find to be great (like most brunches, it's expensive for what you end up with). However, it's a great place for Lunch, and in the summer you can eat outside next to the river. Overall, this is certainly one of the best restaurants in the Fairbanks area, hopefully they stay consistent.
(4)
Alan P.
Pump House Restaurant & Saloon is excellent! The food is very good, I especially recommend the seafood chowder. The staff very professional and courteous, always there for whatever we needed. The deck outside is very cool as it overlooks the river. A great place to sit and enjoy a beverage of choice while catching some fresh air. The bar area inside is ok, my only knock would be it's a cigar bar and if you don't like a lot of smoke, don't sit inside (not really sure how this is much of an option most of the year, but it is what it is). I didn't find it to be too expensive for the quality of food and service. I thought it was just about right. If you have the opportunity, I highly recommend spending an evening at the Pump House.
(4)
Pierre Trudeau I.
For a non-Alaskan like me, this place was a perfect delight. I highly recommend it to any visitor to Fairbanks looking for a good local dining experience. The food is excellent and made with fresh ingredients. As a lover of Alaskan salmon I of course ordered a salmon dish and it was delicious. The atmosphere is what I as a non-Alaskan would consider to be "typical Alaskan". I came here with my girlfriend at the time and her mother, a Fairbanks local. The service was, er... interesting. Our waiter was very friendly, make no mistake about it. But when my girlfriend tried to be nice and chat him up a little bit, he decided to subject the 3 of us to a 20 minute one-sided diatribe from him about every political issue you can think of. He wouldn't shut up! I was irritated by this but my gf and her mom just laughed it off. He did provide good service, in addition to the free "Vote for Dennis Kucinich" propaganda. Funnily enough a good friend of mine in Arizona is the niece of the owner, but I didn't get a chance to look for and say hello to the owner before we left.
(5)
Amikam R.
The Pump house is a very large restaurant in a huge building and an outdoor deck overlooking the Chena River. The menu is not large and the wine list small. They offer a tasting flight of beers, which is a nice touch. We were there for dinner on a Monday. The place was very noisy. The fish were overcooked and the desserts gloppy. The only redeeming feature was the flight of excellent Alaskan beers. The service was hurried and erratic. The two stars are strictly in comparison to other local venues.
(2)
J. G.
Ate here because of all the hype and was really looking forward to taking my wife. We drove all the way from Wasilla and part of our visit was specifically set aside for eating at the historic Pump House. We would have done better going to Taco King or Pizza Hut. We arrived a few minutes after they opened and it started off terrible right away when the little hostess wanted us to sit at the bar to wait for a table even though there were only two other couples and a family seated in the entire restaurant area. I pointed this out and the hostess said she didn't want to spread people out too much so early and that we could wait at the bar. I asked for a manager and she said, "FINE! I'll seat you now!" and grabbed meus and stomped her feet to a table like a 4-year old. It took another 30-minutes to see a waitress and about 45-minutes to get our food. We saw our waitress when we ordered and when we got our food and that was it. The dishes we both ordered was just "okay". The vegetables were kind of cold. I will never eat there again and I would steer anyone away that even brings up the name.
(1)
Brett R.
This is the perfect spot to spend an afternoon or evening during the amazing Alaskan summer. Sit out on the huge deck and watch the Chena River pass you by. Enjoy an Alaskan brew and order whatever looks good to you on the menu, I have never been disappointed. The Pump House is my favorite of the Chena River bar and grills (not that the others are bad in any respects) and I think it is a little more reasonably priced than the others for what is offered. Also, the waitresses are usually hotter than most other places which is really saying something in interior Alaska.
(5)
K. I. S.
This was a REALLY GREAT Sunday brunch! I started out by taking my desserts as we were passing by to be seated but was limited by the little dessert plates.... I should have gotten a dinner plate off the hot entree line because I had to leave the cream puff for my next trip to the dessert table. Did a look-see over the hot entree offerings to be selective and still ran out of room on the dinner plate and had to pass on the roast beef carving because I hate to do a high-rise meal....this place seriously needs to have dinner plates at the dessert table and platters at the entree line. Anyway, I THOUGHT I had planned out my eating strategy but when I saw our son's tasting platter, I knew that he had gone beyond his mother's expertise on pacing at buffets. Ah, so happy to see him appreciating his 2nd and 3d plates while I was trying to finish my first helping so I could proceed to the next. Warning: Peruse the entire offerings before making your choices. There are LOTS of GREAT food to be eaten here. Also, the orange juice is not canned (which our hotel uses for their complimentary breakfast) so that is a plus. It is not fresh-squeezed (hey, this is Fairbanks) but it is better than the canned stuff with the tinny after-taste. Don't usually make comments about atmosphere since when we eat we're not planning to buy the restaurant (as long as it is clean) but this is a really upscale place and we will definitely return for Sunday brunch before we leave for home on Monday. The bad news: I never had a chance to get a cream puff to eat but you always need to have a reason to return to a place like this and now I have it :)
(5)
Sandra S.
NIce atmosphere, lovely grizzly to greet you. I had the pinot by the glass, not bad. One companion had the rib-eye which looked great, he said it was great. Other companion had the filet, which was great, good sear and tender, decent flavor. I had the chicken with artichoke dish, the sauce had a weird, off, flavor. The sourdough bread was warm, but not crusty.
(3)
Jakkajan D.
Our first time in Fairbanks and our friends who live here introduced us to The Pump House. Great atmosphere. Located on the river and decorated with lots of Alaska memorabilia. We started off with a seafood appetizer for four. My wife had the king crab, and I had reindeer steak. Good food, good friends, wonderful evening.
(4)
Tourmaline T.
Gross. The food I mean. I have lived here for over 10 years and I can't get over how this place has such good reviews. In every experience I have had here the food has been disgusting. The atmosphere is great and the waitstaff has always been helpful but I am going out to eat, eat! During our last dinner experience the fish was dry and or meat was overcooked, again. However what was even worse was the Father's Day brunch buffet. We spent almost $300 to take out the dads and the grandpas-why we went here I still don't know. Everything was old, stale, soaked and dry. The biscuits and gravy were hard and flavorless. The waffles were soggy. The meat had been sitting under that light for God only knows how long. It was all in all very disappointing. I didn't enjoy one thing on my plate, and I had a whole buffet to choose from!!! Do not eat here. For this price there are other restaurants in town where you can go have a great meal and pay less. I don't think I would eat here again even if it was free.
(1)
CC W.
Overall, I enjoyed this restaurant because of it's location but mostly because of the good service and wonderful food. We came here with friends and our 8 year old son. It's right on the Chena River so you may have the opportunity, as we did, to see the big riverboat pass by! The restraunt itself consist of 3 separate areas (main dining area, the bar area and the patio option). The one thing I didn't like is the menu limitation depending on where you sit. When you go outside to the patio seating, you're limited to the bar menu, which is good as well, but I like having options. (Hence the 4 star). The service is great and they're known for their mojitos so I suggest you try one when you're there! I started with the oyster "shooters" that come prepared in a shot glass with all the fixings, minus the work. They were very fresh! My risotto was perfectly cheesy, the bacon wrapped scallops were amazing, and the pizza we ordered for our son was huge and delicious! Overall, I would definitely bring family here for a special treat or for an event but remember, you'll be paying for the great service, location and food so be prepared when the check comes :) Cheers!
(4)
Michelle S.
When we arrived at The Pump House, we were seated in the same place that we were seated over 15 years ago when we first came in. Funny how those things happen. We ordered the crab dip to start. It arrived piping hot with crostini. It was a bowl of cheesy, crabby goodness. For dinner we had the reindeer steak and a filet mignon. Both were good and we cleaned our plates. I didn't care for the bearnaise sauce but with the reduction, it didn't need it anyway. The steaks were good - not memorable but good. For dessert I got the banana, blueberry cheesecake which just had too much going on. Each thing was good on its own but not all together. We'll be back to try other items on the menu.
(3)
MaryCatherine P.
Great food, great beer, great service. Beautiful view of the Chena River
(5)
Amber X.
So far, this is the best American restaurant I tried in Fairbanks. I tried the Turtle Club, Lavette(in Marroit) and the restaurant in Chena Spring Resort. Few reasons: 1st: Clam Chowder-a must have! Creamy but not heavy. Lots of seafood. The taste is balanced really well! STRONGLY RECOMMEND 2st: Snow Crab-way much better than the crab dish in Turtle Club! You can tell the crab is really fresh based on its tenderness and a hint of sweetness. The crab is too salty and more expensive in Turtle Club. 3st: beer sample- you only need to spend $6 and try 4 beers! We tried all beer manufactured in Alaska and loved Amber Ale (fresh, clear) 4th: Interior Design- you can tell the owner spent lots time on the interior decoration. Just visit it, and prepare to be amazed.
(5)
Scott S.
Absolutely amazing food. We had ribs and tri-tip--great food. Bread was excellent. Service was pretty good--but not good enough to get 5th star.
(4)
Becky R.
We had dinner on Saturday night and then the Sunday Champagne brunch. Both meals were delicious! The filet mignon at dinner was melt in your mouth tender and I loved the French toast at brunch. The desserts are not to be missed, especially the chocolate mousse cake. My dad loved the crab cake dinner. Make sure to make reservations for brunch because the wait was over 2 hours at noon! Best restaurant in Fairbanks!
(5)
Darcie P.
Reservation Made for: Tues. Oct. 21 at 630pm Party: 5 (4 adults + 1 infant) As we arrived into the parking lot, the building looked pretty outdated and vintage. As soon as we entered the front door, theres a big bear in a glass case, hostess check in on the right. We were seated quickly on the far left under the moose. Our server was so sweet & kind. She was patient especially with the baby being squirmy. We ordered wine flights for $12.00 & beers We ate lite. crab stuffed portabillini caesar salad spinach & artichoke dip dungeness crab cakes Baked clams Desserts: Apple fritters with ice cream Creme brulee Total Bill: $109.00 The food was good, everything was delicioso so were the desserts. No complaints. Bathroom has koala care for all traveling mothers. Lol. The establishment is clean and the employees are nice. Service was great! *big taxidermy animals all over the walls. Very cool! Biggest moose Ive seen so far. Lol.
(4)
Jessica L.
We sat out in the outdoor area that was enclosed. Such a pretty view of the Chena River. Our food was great, we started off with the bacon wrapped scallops. The scallops were cooked perfectly and tasted very wonderful. I had the filet mignon and my husband had the reindeer tenderloin. Both were cooked perfect as well. I had the vegetable risotto and that was very good as well! The only problem we had was with our waiter. He just didn't seem to care too much. Slammed stuff on the table and just would disappear. We will definitely be going back though! Loved every bite!
(4)
Kim D.
This has been our go to place since moving to FAirbanks 4 years ago. We've had mostly good service and good food. We had friends from CO here for a visit and made reservations for 4 last night for the outside dining area. When we arrived they weren't busy. We added 1 more to our group, and told them when we arrived. We waited a couple minutes and then we were lead to a table in the main dining area. I reminded the hostess of our reservation etc. she said with our additional person they couldn't seat us outside for an hour. I looked at the outside dining area with 3 groups seated and asked for clarification, she spoke with the mgr. Who stuck to his story so we went to the deck and ordered off the bar menu, service great as was the food, we just wanted a better meal to treat our friends. When we left, I noted that their was now only 2 groups in the outside dining area, when I approached the mgr and verbalized my disappointment, I received the standard kiss off "I understand how you feel, blah blah, blah. We will be back but it will be awhile. So disappointed.
(3)
Sharon W.
Was so disappointed! Waited all day til 4pm because their website said that's when they opened. Big sign said open at 3, so website not current. Could not even sit at the bar as wooden backless stools were too uncomfortable. Then we were informed we could not order from their main menu for another hour! Ordered expensive zucchini sticks $11! And said forget this.
(1)
Lisa A.
My husband, 8 month old, and I came here tonight. Though they have high hairs they aren't very kid friendly. My son didn't make a peep or a mess and we felt very un welcomed :/ I got the fish and chips and the fries were amazing but the fish was chewy and the slaw was bland. My husband had the burger and he enjoyed it and the fries. Nothing to return back too.
(2)
Scott S.
Seafood chowder was great, service was good. All our plates were great. one of the nicer places in town.
(5)
Jeff E.
Please don't order the halibut. For Alaska I expected much better. The halibut was very bland.
(1)
Jim P.
Dinner at the Pump House was very good. We had been having a hard time putting a combination of good food and good service together. We finally found a location that put both together. The Halibut fish and chips was perfect. The Seafood Louie was also very well prepared. Service was attentive but just right. He was there when needed but no more which is spot on for us. An enjoyable evening.
(4)
Jeff T.
Meeeeh! Not to kid friendly. They set us by a high traffic area, I think because of our kids. It did have a nice big couch for the kids to sit on though. There was a great view of a bears behind from our table (you might its coordinates in your next geo cache adventure)! The food was good and the place was cool. Wish we would have asked to eat outside. This is a good place to impress your parents, clients, or any uptodo old people visiting from out of town.
(2)
Brad S.
I wasn't feeling too good about the prospects of the menu at the Pump House. Menu items featuring outdated preparations like crab Louie and steak Oscar are always red flags. There's a lot of trust that goes into ordering a $16. Gimmicky entrees like reindeer tenderloin and elk meatloaf didn't inspire confidence, either. Luckily, I decided to visit on a Sunday afternoon, when none of this was offered. While not explicitly mentioned on the website, Sundays is a brunch buffet. It didn't feature a lot of seafood, but there was certainly a lot of effort that went into the buffet, offering things like waffles with bourbon pecan syrup, eggs Benedict, and a carving station to get some generous slices of beef. It's still a buffet, though, so you're forgiving on the quality a little bit because you're too busy stuffing your face. I don't know how much of it I would have ordered on its own had I had to choose it from a menu, but taken as a whole, it's a Fairbanks bargain for $26.
(3)
Chris S.
As a local where the best place to eat in Fairbanks and you'll likely hear "Pump House" as the answer. We asked people at the airport, on our flight from Anchorage, at the hotel, etc, and all put this establishment in that category. After looking at their website and seeing all the seafood/game options we came for dinner on Saturday night and weren't thrilled, nor disappointed. The food, we tried, wasn't incredible, but did satisfy. Service was average, too. Meanwhile, with the price tag that comes with meals here, we did expect more, but have no complaints. We are in Fairbanks, where food costs more than it would if we were in the Lower 48. We get that. For out of towners, this is a huge location (for Fairbanks standards). It looks like a Cracker Barrel and is set on the river, although you can't see it from your table. I started with the small caesar, which unfortunately arrived 30 seconds before our meal. The greens were tasty, fresh and obviously locally grown. And, the presentation was good. We both ordered the elk meat loaf, which was solid, but didn't wow us. It look amazing, but a tremendous amount of what tasted like salt took away from the flavor. Still, if you are from out of town, Fairbanks isn't a great place for restaurants. A trip here will end up at one of your highlights, even if it cost more than you'd like to pay. It's one of, if not the best places to eat in the city. Even though that's not saying much, it's hard to believe anyone would be disappointed here. And, if you've been to Anchorage, this place would likely be situated near the Glacier Brewhouse and Orso, just a slight step below in quality and ambiance.
(3)
Jessie T.
Went for a drink with a friend and we chose the lavender martini. This drink was undrinkable!!! The lavender was waaaay too intense and when the bartender asked us how it was I told him the lavender was very overwhelming. I seriously do not think ANYONE would drink this drink! It tasted as if we were drinking lavender perfumed bath water. :( sadly the bartender didn't offer to make us another drink, he just made a "I'm sorry, my bad " face and gave us ICE to water down our drinks (seriously?) The ice didn't help at all and as we were wondering what to do, the bartender gave us our check like he just wanted us gone. I'm so disappointed with this service. I feel like in this situation, he should have AT LEAST offered to make us another drink. We left without another sip and 9 bucks down. Shame Pump House, shame.... :(
(1)
Amanda R.
Such a disappointment on so many levels. We were in town visiting family and wanted to have a nice dinner on our last night. We went on Saturday night and were surprised to find the restaurant relatively empty. Oh well we thought, better service for us! Boy were we wrong. Within 30 seconds of being seated, our server asked us what we wanted to drink. We asked for water to start while we read the drink menu. Things went wildly downhill from there. It took forever to get him back over to take our drink and food order. We had to ask the young man who clears tables for more water and if we could have some bread while we waited over an hour for our dinner. Dinner finally arrived: filet mignon = pretty decent, two crab cake dinners = not good, so salty they were nearly inedible, and grilled salmon wrapped in a leek = completely raw and ice cold in the middle. We sent the salmon back to be "grilled" and we waited over 40 minutes while other people were served the same dish all around us. We ended up pooling our leftovers so our 4th person could eat. At this point we had been at the restaurant over 2 hours and the server brought the salmon back. We just wanted to leave. Nobody was hungry anymore, our server was rude and condescending for no reason. We asked to just take the salmon back and remove it from the bill. We were so over it. His response, "really??" Yeah, really. We asked him why the attitude and he gave a half assed apology and blamed it on everything going wrong that night that possibly could. Then he walked by, didn't even stop at our table, and said over his shoulder, I assume you don't want dessert then, just the bill. So we paid $108 for 3 dinners, some of the poorest service we've ever experienced and food that was only half palatable. At least the fries and bread were good, I guess.
(1)
Roger M.
The location is right on the Chena River, and the outdoor seating and pleasant setting is quite enjoyable. The menu is reasonably diverse and the service okay. We enjoyed our meals, and the fried zucchini appetizer is terrific.
(3)
Janine P.
Love their Sunday brunch! Best place to go if that's what you're looking for. Very attentive staff and you're usually seated very quickly!
Hello, I ordered the surf and turf tonight at the pump house. I asked for my steak med it came super well done. The waitress took forever to check in on us. By the time she did I sent it back and asked again for it to be cooked med. we were pressed for time and had to get to the airport. As we were stepping to leave she brought me the steak were it was, which was raw. I don't recommend for dinner.
(1)
yingxiang c.
Food is ok beer is good and service is good. Would give 4 stars if it's not as over priced
(3)
Anny C.
The bar was open late and we had just enjoyed a trip to the hot springs and were hungry. We were anticipating marginal pub food but were pleasantly surprised! The food was great and tasted amazing! It was karaoke night so there was some entertainment as well! A must try if looking for late night eats!
(5)
Dana B.
The food was pretty pricey for what we were served. It risotto was luke warm and mushy. The reindeer tenderloin was ridiculously small for the price. The fresh seafood appetizer was very good but extremely pricey. Our server was very good with our large group. Mostly, the view is good but the food is over rated.
(3)
Robert P.
Solid 3.5 stars, but I don't have the option. We ordered the tuna appetizer and the crab cakes. The crab cakes were delicious but very small. BUT, it wasn't very expensive. I would pay a little more for bigger crab cakes. But then again, I don't know the market for that stuff here. The tuna was very, very meh. Or if you don't speak apathy, it means subpar. It seemed to me that the tuna was marinated in the sauce. I could think of one of two reasons for this: a) because they are afraid of the freshness of the fish, or what is more likely b) they wanted to have the flavor go throughout the fish. What happens when you do this is, it absorb the dark color of the marinade into the already dark tuna and makes it extremely salty. It was cubed and tossed with sesame seed, sashimi style. My recommendation, cube the tuna, add cube avocado, toss with sauce and sesame seeds, then topped with green onions. It will bring vibrant colors to the dish. But of course, it is just my opinion. My wife ordered the fish and chips, while I ordered the aged prime rib, seafood risotto, and Oscar style. I like to eat. Her meal was everything you would have expected for fish and chips. It was with the cod instead of the halibut. It was great. The fish was fried perfectly and was very flavorful and not too greasy. The Oscar style was pretty good. Basically, it was crabmeat, asparagus, and bearnaise sauce. I know produce is hard to get in Alaska, but I prefer thicker asparagus. Like what they sell at Sam's Club. I don't know if the bearnaise sauce is powder or fresh made, but I would recommend a little more lemon juice, salt, and tarragon. But again, just my opinion. Seafood risotto. Ah-mazing! A little creamier would be better. But nonetheless, must have. The aged ribeye was...mediocre. The flavor was decent, but the steak was kind of hard on the outside. I've had aged steaks before, but this one seemed a little tough. Usually, aging beef break apart the protein and connective tissue to make them tender. It was just okay. Dessert was awesome! The pastry chef here is fantastic, that is if they have one. Otherwise, do not change your distributor for desserts. Amaretto chocolate cake...freakin' yes! Our server was great! He was very knowledgeable, friendly, and attentive. He would appear exactly when I would need something. Sorry, man... I don't remember your name. Also, something odd. I ordered Oban 14, but tasted like Dewars White Label. Oban 14 is a single malt while the drink I had tasted like a blended. I hate blended. Sorry. I am difficult.
(3)
Kirsten B.
Service was ok. We went for dinner and it was mediocre. It tastes like everything is just thawed out and cooked, nothing fresh. I keep giving this restaurant a chance, but probably won't be going back.
(2)
Jamie A.
I am sure this place is nice and scenic in the spring and the decor is a winter cabiny-cool; however, service here was so atrociously slow that we were immediately put off. I appreciate them taking appetizers off our tab, but at close to $200, the meal was NOT worth it. Nice place, nice scenic spot, but the wait is all I can remember. They ran out of oysters and I had to order clams. They also ran out of HooDoo beer or their keg broke, Someeethinnng sounding like an excuse for not having another item on their menu. That rough start should have been a sign of bad things to come. :( The wait time here feels longer than an Alaskan December night! Ok, I exaggerate, but it was 15 mins for drinks, 45 mins for salty appetizers and after some some sour faces and speaking to the front of the house- another 45 mins later, we got our food. Which we subsequently swallowed due to hunger, so I can't tell you what I ate. Nor was I in the mood to take any photos. Everyone was in the same boat at us as the whole room was PACKED to capacity and diners were looking eagerly at dishes as they came out. Maybe they had a new chef? Someone in the back called in sick? I don't know, but for a weekend night, a veteran restaurant should handle a dinner rush with grace under pressure? Yelp disappointed me on this one! Boo on all those tourist guides telling me to eat here. Shame on Open Table! (I think this was the one and ONLY Fairbanks restaurant on Open Table BTW.) I felt bad for the server who in no way was at fault for the sluggish arrival of our dinner. She apologized and got me a pretty large firecracker for my birthday cake candle, but it was still a waste of hours. If I wanted a 3 hour meal I could eat fondue at the Melting Pot for less money. I guess if they gave us both our desserts for free (instead of making us pay for one), I prob would have been like 'okkk whatever', but the bill was way too high for the dawdling food service.
(2)
Josh B.
Awesome food and atmosphere. Reindeer tenderloins were amazing!! Outdoor seating also.
(5)
Omar B.
Don't get the king crab, way too over priced for the portion. The smoked rib eye was good. Always had a full glass of water.
(3)
Shawn Y.
Went for the buffet during Christmas. The roast beef, salmon, desserts, and other variety of choices were amazing.
(5)
Sunny C.
Waited for more than one hour, but the food is so not worth it. Very dry fish.. Also quite expensive. Do not recommend it.
(2)
Abe F.
A consistently good restaurant. We've eaten here a few times over the last two years and have experienced consistently good food & service. The restaurant advertises King, Snow, and Dungeness crab specials on the first page of the menu. I haven't had them yet, but I did have the Elk meatloaf, seafood risotto, and the crab cake app (Dungeness), and they were all excellent. Service is fast and efficient.
(4)
Adrienne G.
After plans to hit the Hot Springs fell through (due to icy roads) we ended up w/ a few extra hours in Fairbanks & trying to find things to keep our time occupied .....lucky for us Pump House opened at 4pm And I'd like to point out we were not the 1st people there at 4pm, looking to get their drink on....lovely establishment w/ a large deck & overlooking the water - or in this case, the frozen river. There were people braving the ice to slide across the way towards Pump House & it was indeed a wintry wonderland Entered the Bar & it was very lodge-like. Nice woods & brown tones all around & to add a bit of comfort, loveseats lined an entire wall & there were also nice-sized tables in the middle, so we grabbed a table to wait until the restaurant side opened for dinner Drinkys were off the charts delish! Sis got the Black Forest Hot Chocolate & really liked the Chambord / hot chocolate action going on.....although technically the name is misleading since raspberry & chocolate are *not* the traditional Black Forest.....it's cherry & chocolate. But whatever, right! The Mr got the Dream - which was sparkling wine & elderflower liqueur - he thought it was a bit girly but still delish I chose the Lavender Martini & I loved, loved, loved this! Nice & flowery but no soapy taste of lavender & just the right bite of vodka....rimmed w/ lavender sugar & you've got the perfect combo of sweet & bite! When we walked over at our rezzie time, the place was already packed - glad we had booked ahead for our rezzies! Appies included the Iceberg Wedge Salad (hold the meat) & Sis & the Mr really liked the nice abundance of Blue Cheese dressing Entrees for us all included the Gnocchi w/ mixed veggies in a garlic-tomato sauce. That tomato sauce was homemade & thick & extremely garlicky & that was fantastic w/ me. The gnocchi was not homemade & had a bit of chew like you'll find in frozen gnocchi. Not the creamy pillows we're used to getting but overall it was an a-ok dish Dessert was where we ran into a bit of a disappointment - my Chocolate Walnut Cake was more of a walnut cake w/ a thin layer of chocolate icing. No rich textures or complex flavor layers - just a light layer cake Mr & Sis split the Cheesecake Bites - reported to be homemade, they found them to be more meh but didn't hate them After-dinner cocktail included the Hot Apple Cider & sticking true to previous cocktails, it was again, out of this world delish. Cinnamon stick, Disaronno, & Cointreau w/ apple cider! Wished we'd had more time to try other drinkys on their cocktail menu & Pump House will definitely be a repeat visit when back in Faribanks
(4)
AT C.
Nice ambiance... but they managed to misplace our reservation. I had the reindeer, which was probably a tourist mistake as it was super lean... to the point of being almost dry - with little flavor (sauce was good... but mostly to make up for the fact of the bland meat). It's not bad... but it's not... great either.
(2)
Kanueng K.
Good food and reasonable pice!! I had seafood chowder in bread bowl. It was awesome!! Some staffs look less friendly than other places.
(4)
Karen W.
Trust me. If you come to Fairbanks before or after a cruise, eat here over the other choices. The food is far better than other restaurants and the atmosphere is perfect. We had the salmon, best halibut I've had in Alaska, elk meatloaf (yummy!), and seafood sampler. Wish I could comment on dessert but we were too full. Great place.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Dogs Allowed : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Aleksey F.
Great place with nice interior, our grip of 6 had raindeer, crab, elk meet loaf, halibut and all was amazingly good! This was a pleasant surprise to find a place like that in Fairbanks for a group of tourists that thought Alaska was a cold and abandoned place :)
(5)Carla C.
Lovely spot for lunch or dinner. We've tried to perfect the art of a quick decision on the menu - so we won't have to wait for big groups to order and be served before us! It helps...a lot. So, our dinner was great. Seafood chowder warm and tasty. I had the Crab Cake Dinner which comes with house-made slaw. Crab cakes are moist - but I dipped them in the sauce anyway - and I squeezed lemon over them. The slaw's dressing is all on the bottom of the plate - so turn it over a few times to mix. My dinner companions were happy with their entrees - and one of them ordered wine - they've been here before and love it. We were satisfied!
(4)Anastasia H.
i had the chowder which was a little small but had a lot of favor, with the Island salmon salad which had mandarin oranges, mango vinaigrette and tomatoes- good salad, which there were a few more of the pecans. niece had the kids fish and chips which was HUGE!!! totally worth it mom had the elk loaf with mash potatoes which she absolutely loved.
(4)Marcus M.
Nice place. Good service, good food, even flight options. Fresh seafood. I regret that I didn't get to enjoy the beer flight, but I appreciate that they have flights of wine and beer. The ambience is very Alaska and outdoors oriented, which is cool but at times it can seem a bit much. You definitely want to be sure where you are going also, as the location might lead one to get lost. I had the fresh king salmon and it was tender and tasty. The crab cakes were also good albeit thinner than expected. But the presentation was excellent. It is definitely worth coming in if you find yourself visiting this lovely city of Fairbanks, AK.
(3)Monica E.
We had limited choices on a Sunday evening, so drove out to the Pump House. The restaurant was not very busy, but we had a reservation and were seated promptly. The pace of service was quite variable. We were seated quickly with menus, but it took a long time for a server to approach us. She took our drink and dinner orders immediately, and we would have preferred to have been offered & served drinks before being pressured to pick a meal. Our drinks & salads arrived, and before we were quite finished with salad.....dinner arrived! The bread wasn't especially good, and the salads were OK. I had the halibut cheeks for dinner, and it was good. Our server was very pleasant. We ate inside, a desired choice during high mosquito season.
(3)Kat O.
We went here with my sister and her two kids for dinner. I gave it 4 stars but it's really about a 3.5. It didn't quite live up to the hype I've heard throughout the years but overall it was pretty good. The bread they give you at the beginning could probably be eliminated; it wasn't very good. We ordered steaks, chicken alfredo, deep fried seafood, Caesars salad, bacon wrapped scallops and crab cakes. The deep fried seafood and steak was about a 3, but the crab cakes and chicken alfredo were rather good. For the price, I really expected it to be much better, so we probably won't go back next time we visit Fairbanks.
(4)Ben L.
Very cool place. I was visiting Fairbanks for work, and The Pump House came highly recommended, and am now very glad to have chosen them for an evening of brews and eats. This establishment finds itself succeeding at the balance of providing a balanced yet comprehensive menu and a casual dining environment that is also of very high quality. The grounds and dining area are gorgeous. I chose to sit at their saloon, which was adorned with original (1930's) features and really cool touches. I had the salmon sandwich and Mother Ale(s) by Denali Brewing. Delicious. Prices are commensurate with the quality of food/environment and being in Fairbanks (notoriously spendy), but you can get out for less than $40/person, which seems like a deal for such a great place.
(5)Ashley C.
The service was a little slow but was very professional. We had a large group and since it was available, they seated us in their banquet room without reservations. I had the tri tip steak, where the tips and squash slices were delicious, the potato hash was nothing special.
(4)Chavan K.
We got the beer samplers and were very underwhelmed by it. The beer wasn't quite chilled, it was flat and lacked the punch the same beer would have in a bottle or at the brewery itself. The service was very terse. Will not be going back even if I do find myself in Fairbanks again.
(1)Dom C.
Someone in our party visited the Pump House 20 years ago and recommended it again when we were back in Fairbanks. It was however not as they remembered it... I had the filet mignon which was gristly but cooked how I liked. The mashed potato side was lumpy and didn't have much flavour. Others in our party also found flaws in their food. The desserts were okay but oversized for just one person so we ended up sharing a single dessert which was also cheaper overall. Our server was also slow. For the price paid, I would've expected a better meal than what we received - a rip-off for sure. As another reviewer said - "It's not bad, but it's not great either..."
(2)Terri B.
great food, wonderful service in the winter... and I used to say that the service in the summer is amazing! Sadly... no more. They don't open until 3 p.m. n the summer starting in 2013! It used to be a great place to put my kayak in the Chena River and paddle upstream until I was tired, the float back down. Then meet friends for drinks and lunch and/or dinner. Spent many many days and dollars there in the summer. Oh well. When i do go now, the food and drinks and service are still great!
(4)Alan S.
Another Fairbanks restaurant that seeks to be classy and who's food is a little over priced. However, at least the atmosphere here feels classy and the prices are slightly better. I saw that they had reindeer tenderloin so I figured I had to try it. The waitress suggested rare or medium rare, so I said rare. It came with a hash and vegetables, and I asked to switch the veggies with mashed potatoes. When my food arrived, the meat was about medium and I got a ton of mashed potatoes (but no hash). Thankfully the potatoes were good and the reindeer was... an experience? The food was good, I'll give them that, but you would think they they could get my order right. I was with a bunch of people so I didn't want to complain or send it back. I'd still recommend this place to a tourist... but I can't imagine locals eating here on a regular basis. Seems a little "fancy" for that. I'd go back to try the Elk Meatloaf!
(3)Matt H.
If it weren't for the premium 'Halibut" (cod), I would have been happy. I questioned the fish I was served and the waitress said she put in Halibut into the computer. Well, either they served me cod or it was really bad Halibut. Either way, the score is the same.
(2)Tim J.
This past Sunday we decided to take advantage of the rare Sunny day/75° and eat brunch on the deck at pump house. Big mistake. Should have gone to Pikes. The manager refused to seat us outside and instead offered us a couch in the bar. Once in the bar area we watched 3 large tables cleaned and then have absolutely no one fill the seats. Meanwhile the deck and it's 20+ tables remained empty. The food at the brunch was OK, but far from noteworthy. The shrimp were overcooked with a mushy texture and the brunch options are limited. The desserts were suprisingly good and diverse. Overall as so many other posts have noted, the PUMP HOUSE is only AVERAGE with exceptionally POOR SERVICE.
(2)Jack B.
The food was just nothing to say anything about. Atmosphere was beautiful but the mosquitoes were so big they could carry you off. Waiter was very professional but he didn't do the cooking. Just a bad meal. Wouldn't recommend this place to anyone.
(2)De D.
The building is wonderful. Great vibes and decor. Super nice and helpful waitresses. We sat at the bar. The good was very...eh. Halibut nuggets were dry and chewy. Oysters were poorly shucked. We got another appetizer I can't remember what. That explains enough right there if I can't even remember what I ate!! Come in for a drink, some pool, shuffle board, and pass on the food.
(3)Amanda M.
Came here for dinner during my first week in town. My food was good (crab mac and cheese), my friends got the salmon (DRY) and some kind of chicken marsala type thing (the sauce was weird tasting). The waitress was really rude, looking at me like I was an idiot and answering my very sarcastically when I asked what kind of sauce was on my friend's meal. Went back a few weeks ago, I can't believe I didn't notice the outrageous prices before. I must have been out of my mind to pay $26 for that crab mac and cheese. Tourist trap, overpriced, food is good but not outstanding.
(2)April Q.
This is a great place to visit in the summer. Though the interior is beautiful and very historic, the patio is very welcoming during the summer with all the beautiful scenery and flowers and good tunes. Our server in the patio was a lackluster.. asked her questions about the food and she didn't seem to have any answers or knowledge. She was quick, though. Food was good - not stellar, but good. I had the reindeer meatball sandwich (lunch) and the others at our table had the salmon burger and artichoke dip. My meatballs were very tasty. None of the other dishes our party ordered really stood out, but they all good good and there were no complaints. The pour on my Jamo was good, though, so I enjoyed that at least a great deal.. that and all the beautiful photos I took outside. I agree with Maura S... I would return for drinks just to hang out on the patio!
(4)Terissa L.
When I think of the nicest restaurant in Fairbanks, this place is on the top of the list. From the brunch on weekends to their main courses for dinner, be sure to bring enough money but it'll be worth it. Their desserts are magnificent I highly suggest the rhubarb tart if it's available it's literally to die for. My dad used to cook here for quite awhile and I will always love this place.
(5)Wendi G.
Meh ,,, average and from the reviews we read we expected more. Salads - the Caesar was bland and the spinach salad was nothing to write about. Tried the Cioppino special and grilled salmon. Both were mediocre. The mango salsa tasted like dirt and the ratatouille was terrible and had no flavor. Service was friendly but a little annoying - you don't have to check back every five minutes. The restaurant has a nice outdoor deck with a view so I suggest asking for a table outside if weather permits.
(2)David D.
Had the king crab legs, they were very expensive and very dried out. The service was fair. I spent too much for mediocre food.
(2)Patrick L.
Awesome place to eat!!! Food was awesome!! Our server, Patience, was fantastic!! She was very helpful and knowledgeable. I had the rib eye and Jim had the burger. He said it was the best he's ever had. If you are unsure of a place to go, try this place out! They have seafood, elk, reindeer, beef, pasta, salads, soups, great deserts.
(5)Leah C.
Their chicken wings are terrible and they won't comp you if you say so. Like I say, Alaska is where customer service comes to die.
(2)Charlynne C.
On my last day in Alaska, my boo took me to The Pump House for Brunch. It was the perfect way to end my trip. We had seats over looking the river and waved to passing cruise ships. Mimosas, coffee, and juice were unlimited, the brunch buffet was delicious and service was prompt. What more can a girl ask for? Minus one star for the rude waitress who wouldn't give us the time of day when we asked if we could sit outside, "YOU HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE MAIN ENTRANCE BEFORE THEY CAN SEAT YOU OUT HERE". Thank gosh she didn't wait on us, I would've cut her tip in half.
(4)Rich K.
Best restaurant in Fairbanks!! Unbelievably good venison! Wonderful strawberry rhubarb pie! Excellent service!
(5)Jeannette G.
I didn't get the full experience as it was a winter afternoon and the restaurant did not open til 5pm. So, we settled on eating at the saloon. The food was OK; I ended up having a cup of their seafood chowder which was OK. I also had a fish taco plate which was OK too. Nothing spectacular. It was pretty dead; after we came in there were only two other parties in the eatery. Service was good.
(3)Josh H.
The bar was fairly slow, 7 tables and the service was awful. The waitress spent more time flirting with obese cigar smoking misogynists than taking even our drink order. The 20$ filet burger tasted like wet meatloaf and fell apart before I could finish it (which was quickly since it took 40 minutes to arrive). On the plus side the waitress did eventually come back to fill our drinks 15 minutes after we finished and took another 20 to literally fling the check at our table. I don't know why I keep giving this tourist trap another shot
(1)Travis W.
Great food. Great service. Great atmosphere (very clean and very Fairbanksian.) If I'm forced to find a complaint it would be that it is on the pricey side. But considerig most of the alternatives in Fairbanks it's worth it.
(5)Deb G.
I took a big group for a meal there. The private dining room was nicely set away from the main dining, which allowed us privacy and quiet. That was a big plus. Our server was also friendly, although a bit lackluster-we had to wait a long time for water refills, etc. I didn't love the food, and thought the quality wasn't really commensurate with the price. We started with cups of soup, and i did enjoy my seafood chowder, especially with a piece of their house sourdough bread. for my entree, I got the grilled halibut, served with mango salsa, mashed potatoes, and veggies. The mashed potatoes were by far the best thing on the plate. The halibut was kind of tasteless, unfortunately, and the veggies had been cooked near unto death. For over 50 bucks a head, I guess I would have expected more. On a positive note, I tried my tablemate's alder-smoked steak, which had a great flavor!
(2)Steven H.
Every time we go there it gets worse. Last time and I do mean the LAST time we will/went there with some friends from out of town all of the food was really salty so much that it was not edible, the only thing that was not were my over cooked vegetables that needed salt, my friends ribs were under done by about half a day, it was hard to tell by his sawing if he was cutting bone or meat, his wife could not eat hers and my wife could not eat hers either. I also did not Finnish mine and I don't know how my friend managed to get through his, the staff did take of 1 and a half meals from the bill and offered free desert, I declined, the time before it took two go's and still did not get right my wife's med rare fillet steak, such a shame as the atmosphere is very good even when the deck is closed. MaybeI will go there for the Sunday brunch but that's only a maybe.
(1)Brian B.
OK serivice. OK Food. Good Beer.
(3)Kim B.
Service was below substandard. One hour wait once orders taken. Once food was delivered, waiter disappeared. Halibut was over cooked. Terrible experience!
(1)Haon Y.
Had the king crab and it was severly overcooked. Sides were good. Someone else in my party had the shrimp scampi and the asparagus pieces were only from the base of the stem and very tough. Seems to be very hit or miss. Some things taste great, some don't, and so the plates don't come together fully. Great rustic atmosphere though.
(2)Sunil R.
I havent been to this but I wanted to give it a a 5 star because I had called and I was helped by the woman on the phone. She was very courteous and amazingly informative. Kudos!
(5)Alicia F.
I went to the pump hoyse last night for dinner on recommendation from my new landlord. I found the actual decor and atmosphere appealing. I started with the seafood chowder and it was amazing. I was expecting the rest of the meal to go the same but found it bland. I tried the ribeye oscar style from a friends plate and the steak had smoke but no flavor. The chicken dish my roommate had had amazing sauce but the chicken was too chewy. I had bacon wrapped scallops and they were ok but the maple flavor was too overpowering. We thought our meals were a little overpriced, but i am comparing to the Midwest where the steaks are great. The chowder was worth every penny, however it would be nice to get a discounted rate if you add it to an entree.i would probably give it another try once more to see if i just picked the wrong menu item. I did get the beer taster, 4 beers for 6 dollars, and they were large servings and definitely a good way to try local beers.
(3)Todd K.
The Pump House is located at the historic site of the original Chena Pump House and has a large deck overlooking the Chena River. They have a large gravel parking lot that can accommodate a lot of cars. The restaurant is interestingly decorated with stuffed animals (bears, etc.), an upside down dogsled and other Alaskan items. They have a fair selection of beers and offer a tasting of four 4 oz beers for $5.25. My beer tasting was composed of four Alaskan beers: Silver Gulch Axe Porter (very good), Glacier Blonde (didn't really like it), Glacier IPA (also, not so great) and Alaskan Summer Ale (okay). I ordered a side salad with cucumber vinaigrette for $4.50. The salad was good and about the right size for a side salad. The dress was too sweet but the waiter had warned me about it and served the dressing on the side. For the main entree, I tried the reindeer tenderloin grilled with raspberry orange cumberland sauce, braised red cabbage, and yukon gold au gratin potatoes. The reindeer was just okay with not much flavor, but the menu did say that it was low salt. The potatoes were not very warm and didn't taste that great. It seemed like they chose the wrong type of cheese for them. Others in our party tried the ribeye (bland) which was recommended by our waiter and the seafood chowder (very good). All in all, we thought it was a very mediocre meal given the amount of hype and advertisement for this restaurant. Plus, it was priced like a high quality restaurant and the food just didn't meet those standards.
(2)Michael J.
The dessert tray was divine! So many choices that all looked amazing. I had a strawberry and rhubarb cobbler with ice cream. It was perfect. The entree choices feature typical upscale steakhouse cuisine and a few game choices for the adventurous. There's an elk meatloaf and a caribou tenderloin. I had the caribou and it was surprisingly tender and juicy.
(4)Catharine W.
One of the best places to dine in Fairbanks. We usually do the bar menu, often sharing the Seafood Sampler. Huge pile of perfectly cooked seafood. You can dine in at the bar, or, in good weather, enjoy the patio. A fave of ours! Decent service, too.
(4)Jasmine T.
Amazing. I had the elk meatloaf. Delicious. Potatoes were amazing and the Elk was awesome! Had a berry Martini, it had a very sweet strawberry on the bottom. Delicious! !!!!!!!
(5)Michael S.
Great food, great ambiance and all around we enjoyed it very much. Service can be a bit slow on weekend evenings due to the volume of customers. Otherwise this is is one of my favorites.
(4)Maura S.
I had a nice summertime dinner at The Pump House last week. We were able to sit in the glass enclosed patio that overlooks the river, and it was very pleasant. As far as restaurant views in Fairbanks go, this is one of the best! My food (a steak dinner) was pretty good, though for the price did not meet my expectations. I would return for drinks and appetizers on a nice evening, just to hang out on the patio!
(3)Jeremiah S.
This is a place that I wish was better, cause it is just shy of five stars. I do not know what it is, but it just doesn't draw me the same way a five star place does. I lived maybe 3 min from the place, but I only went there after the hockey games to catch up with the players. It may have been the price... had I felt like I was getting a good bang for my buck I may have made it one of my primary places to eat, but as it stands it was to much work to enjoy my food. Its more classy... and I think that hurts my ability to just relax. I like a place that I can just eat, and not feel like someone might wonder why I am there. The food doesn't disappoint though, and that is what gives it 4 stars instead of 3.
(4)Jennifer G.
The Pump House was a great surprise for me. I anticipated a standard steak-and-seafood menu, but the menu is more creative than you'd expect. I had the gnocchi in red sauce which was pretty tasty. The lavender martini was perfect--subtle, flowery, and with just enough kick. Definitely has one of the better sets of vegetarian options I've seen in Alaska, so it's great for a crowd with mixed food needs. If you're adventurous they also have a nice selection of game. Though the menu is more imaginative than I expected, the execution was perfectly adequate but not above-and-beyond. I think if they kept a smaller and more focused menu they might be able to do wonders. That said, the food was comforting and tasty, the drinks were excellent, and the carrot cake was the second best I've ever had.
(4)Lard Belly E.
Enter this restaurant and you are either transported through a scene from Deadwood, or an old candy store from the old west. Lots of medium brown hues from antiques, stuffed animals, to would furnishings. We three came in and was seated next to a window with a view. There is a deck out back that sits on the river, but it was closed and too cold to sit there at 19.30. We ordered a couple pints of beer ($4.75 ea.) and a spinach dip appetizer ($9.95) to start. For dinner we ordered a bottle of Cabernet (Mount Veeder -Napa Valley $49), 2 ribeyes ($28.95 ea.), a beef medallions with proscuitto wrapped scallops (29.95). We also added a side of prosc. scallops ($10.95). And we rounded out our meal for dessert with the chocolate mousse ($5.50). The food, service, and wine was adequate, though not spectacular. We enjoyed the touristy feel of the place, and each others' company in this setting. The steak was cooked perfectly, though the fried onions and butter garnish was a little odd tasting. I would come here again to show out of towner's a Fairbanks good time.
(3)Nels E.
holy shit! really good steaks. you can't go wrong with the smoked rib eye. if you need a steak and a good beer get in here!
(4)Miss P.
I have always enjoyed The Pump House Sunday brunches in the summer on their large deck. Last night was the first time I enjoyed their dinner service. I must say their staff is very well versed on costumer service. I enjoyed a great meal of crab cake appetizers and their specialty of the night, ahi tuna. My date had the New York strip. The steak was cooked to perfection (medium rare). What made the evening so special, was not just the beautiful interior look of a old time mining saloon, but it was our waiter. He was so informative of the menu and he even comped our dessert. I must say I do not look at Fairbanks as a town of fine dining, but I think The Pump House comes damn close! I just really love the ambiance and high ceilings, unlike most restaurants in town that feel dusty and enclosed.
(5)Jerry B.
One of my favorite stops for food during my last trip to AK. Wonderful Food! That's first. When I go to eat somewhere I like it to be attractive and I like the waiter to be friendly, but I'm really there for the food. And It did not disappoint. I'm sorry to read some of the reviews that had bad experiences with their waiter. Our waiter was an exchange student from Belgrade and he was great. Never rushed us. Was always nearby when we needed something. He even talked to us for about ten minutes about the exchange program and how he liked AK. While Eating here we noticed a banner for a float plane. We booked them too and will be leaving a glowing review on his page as well. Scenery Is beautiful also. Can't go wrong. Jerry Blackwell vendors.partyandeventgui…
(5)Puregold S.
Great seafood chowder! Service was great and food was very good. If you want good seafood while in Fairbanks, definitely try this place. Historic decor and fun ambiance, bar looked fun (it was packed....kareoke night!). Only reason I gave it 4 stars was because most of the entrees are $25 and up but I guess if you want a good dining experience in Fairbanks that seems to be a going price. Might try them for lunch next time I'm in town. Definitely will be back :)
(4)Tony U.
Hopefully my review is not obsolete. Let's just say "Beanie Babies" were popular the only time I came here. But the place left a very strong impression on me. After 500+ miles of driving from Anchorage, a nightcap here was a godsend. Best food in Fairbanks. But it's expensive, so save for a special occasion. I only spent one night in Fairbanks so I made that night a special occasion. Interior's warm and rustic, just what you want in one of America's coldest cities. The Seafood's fresh, service genuine, the atmosphere's perfect. Oyster's flown in from Nome. Nome's above the Artic circle. The only thing missing were the Northern Lights.
(5)Jennie D.
Ambiance: Victorian decor meets hunting lodge...The building is in an old pump house building. It is both rustic and charming. Service: Was great...but I was there at 5:00pm for dinner and the place was empty. Price: It's Alaska...It's going to be expensive, so deal with it. Food: I had the bouillabaisse...It would have been perfect with a scoop of rice on the side. I also had the clam chowder. I have tried a lot of chowder that claims to be good. The best clam chowder I have ever had is my own, hands down. A close second is the clam chowder at the Tides Tavern in Gig Harbor, Washington. The chowder at The Pump House would not make my top ten. The bread was good, but it could have been warmer.
(4)Stewart S.
I think one of the better places to eat in Fairbanks. We ate dinner here with a bunch of people from work tonight, if you are not in a hurry this place is wonderful. none of us was in a hurry but the wait staff was attentive and if we were they would have probably took our order quicker but we all were talking. I had the seafood chowder which was fantastic and also had the Reindeer tenderloin it was awesome. I recommend getting the balsamic glaze on the side because it does not need it and the glaze is a little over powering oh, and Don't get mad at me for eating Rudolph.
(4)Kim C.
Great atmosphere! Gorgeous flowers going into the restaurant. Loved the enclosed patio area. I ordered the seafood sampler and a glass of wine and enjoyed both! The waiter was a bit slow and we had to ask for a to-go box as well as for the check.
(4)Anita W.
No way is this a 4 star restaurant for food. View is great but don't order beef. I ordered medium rare and got medium well done. When I sent it back they said that was the rarest they had. The degree with over cooked was verified with the chefs at Cattleman's in Sacramento California, a restaurant known for their great prime rib. Either they lied to me or they don't know how to cook good prime rib.
(1)B C.
My husband and I have visited this restaurant twice and both times were great! The last time we both ordered the seafood chowder in a bread bowl. After we got over the initial shock of the massive size of the bread bowl (they said they were out of their regular size bowl so they improvised with a half loaf of bread each! But he also said that their regular bowl is similar in size) we were amazed. The seafood chowder was the best chowder I and my husband have ever had! The bread bowl was divine. The staff is wonderful and the place is very clean.
(5)Janet H.
The Pumphouse was Fair enough but the extra charge for a measly baked potatoe gave us a bad taste in our mouths. For Heavens sake raise the price of the prime rib if you have to but don't charge extra for something that should be a given with prime rib. Kind of a small money grab.
(3)My N.
First off, even though they were nearly empty, they sat us right next to the kitchen door. Not the quietest spot, I would say. We ordered the smoked fish sampler appetizer. We waited at least 20 minutes before it finally showed up. Average quality. They served a loaf of "fresh" bread. The bread had obviously been reheated in an oven. It was totally tasteless and in need of salt. My fiancé had steak and I had fish and chips. The steak was supposed to be rare and it showed up medium to medium well. The sweet potato hash was more like mashed sweet potato with a very funky taste. After the meal we asked for coffee. I asked if it was fresh and the waitress said they make a new pot every 30 minutes. We had noticed that the half pot that had been sitting on the burner was there when we walked in, well over an hour earlier. She served it to us anyway. The real kicker was when we watched the waiter come out of the kitchen with somebody's meal and he was chewing a mouthful of it. For the money, about 70 bucks, we felt like we have been overcharged by about $60. We felt like we paid a high price just for the ambience.
(1)Jasmine A.
I have never been disappointed here. Fresh oysters are the best in town (compared to Lavelle's at least). I love their reindeer entree. The meat is tender and comes with yummy sweet potato puree and vegetables. And try the cucumber martini-yumm!
(4)Phillip B.
This was a cool restaurant and would defiantly go back, the food and drinks were good and the people doing karaoke seemed to be having a great time.
(4)Ian H.
Sucks......slow service, ignorant staff, and overall awful experience! Their food was very good however, but getting the food was a pain since we saw it sit there on the warmer for 15 minutes before it was brought.
(2)Kenny C.
I went to The Pump House for dinner on a Tuesday night and I really enjoy my dinner. When you walk in your met by a 9 foot grizzly bear! The restaurant is really cozy, and has a bar/lounge in the back. After a long search in Fairbanks for some quality seafood I finally came across this place. I had a seafood platter and my friend had the crusted halibut. I also had a side of crab legs, and all the food was great. Prior to eating our main course we had seafood clam chowder, and that was by far some of the best chowder I have ever had, besides my grandmothers. We also had bread pudding which was very good, but I could barely eat it because I was full. The staff was very nice, as is most people in Alaska. If I am ever back in Fairbanks this will definitely be a spot I be eating at. Prices were fairly good for the amount of food you get.
(4)Kimi N.
Came here on Friday, saloon side, for drinks, dinner, and to watch the olympic opening ceremony. I had the elk burger which was delicious. A thick, well-seasoned patty of tasty tasty elk ($13). Came with sweet potato fries which were tasty but not amazing. I've had the elk burger at Chair 5 in Girdwood which was decent, but this one blew it out of the water. Service was very attentive. Our waitress continued to fill our water glasses after we paid the bill and stayed around for about another 45 min watching the opening ceremony. Nice lady. The annoying thing about the place was the other patrons - a group of about 10 fratty young guys was being loud and obnoxious next to us as though they owned the place. Also, the views of the river are great!
(4)Sarah B.
The Pump House is surrounded by beautiful scenery and offers fresh from the sea oyster shooters and great seafood chowder. The remaining food was OK and the service was lacking The ambiance was rustic and you're greated by a gigantic bear as you enter the restaurant. In the summer the patio on the back of the bar would be a great place to enjoy a drink or two. Over all a mediocre experience.
(3)Dixie S.
Best spinach artichoke dip I have ever had. Seriously.
(4)Kristi C.
This is by far one of my favorite restaurants in Fairbanks! The view is lovely, the food fantastic, the service is wonderful and the drinks are well made. A definite stop if you are visiting this charming town or just passing through!
(5)Alaskafiregirl F.
Went to the Pumphouse for some pre-event cocktails and the chocolate martini was fabulous, the bartenders delightful and the ambiance lovely! As always, it's a great place to people watch in Fairbanks. The food in the restaurant is adequate (the bar menu is much much better) but the servers and atmosphere are what you come here for anyway, right? Like a few other yelpers have mentioned, the restaurant is not the "ohmygawdgreat" it once was but the bar portion is still a great place to catch up on the town gossip and hang out for hours on a cold winter night (or a warm summer night as the case may be). The bartenders are some of the best and heaviest pours in town. They know how to treat you right! Bonus points for an awesome view of the northern lights from the deck. Can't wait to come back in the summer for a float on the Chena... this is the best place for a cold frosty beverage after a beautiful river cruise under the midnight sun. Free wi-fi makes it a great place to plan an assault for those combat tourists out there or just hang out on the couch and internet shop. Good times!
(3)Commodore E.
I didn't go here often, but I always liked it when I went. Nice location.
(4)Good T.
best place in fairbanks
(5)Jim J.
We had lunch here on the patio in June with very nice weather. Other than the patio seating along the river, I would not come here for the food. It was mediocre. The hamburger was average and the fish tacos were just OK. The service was inattentive and extremely casual. We had to wait seemingly forever for our food and rarely got a refill on our water. The waitperson refilled our iced tea with the wrong stuff--an awful-tasting fake raspberry sweet tea. Topping off the bad experience was the restaurant's policy of letting people smoke on the patio while others at tables nearby are eating. Just like in the 50's, but this is 2012, people! The smoke was highly irritating and we left. Try something else!
(2)Rick C.
Good deck to enjoy the river view. 8-10 craft beers on tap and a nice bar menus. The steamers were very good.
(4)David N.
I haven't came here in a few years, although it was very good! I had a Sunday brunch one time and it was very good for a $20 range.
(4)J. D.
We were sat prior to two tables that were then served before we were even greeted. We were then told by the server it was because there was a mix-up with who was taking the table. I was okay with that, but then one of our two entrees (the $19 half chicken) came out completely cold. The server took it back and held it for 20 minutes prior to bringing the same chicken back out now rubbery and appearing to have been microwaved! We then sat for 30 minutes when done with our meal awaiting our server again. We were not offered dessert and were then rushed out. I guess no dessert for us, which we were planning on having. I filled out the comment card and handed it directly to the manager and explained nicely the issues, he said thanks for telling him and did not even offer any fix. Poor service, suboptimal food, and overall poor experience with high prices for food.
(1)Chris C.
This a great place with great food and view!
(5)Melissa P.
My husband & I had our 20th anniversary dinner here. I was a little apprehensive because of all the reviews about the bad service, but we threw caution to the wind & tried it on the recommendation of the proprietor of the B&B where we were staying. We were seated and greeted by our waitress quickly, our drinks were delicious and very reasonably priced. Hubby ordered the reindeer and it was delicious, I wasn't a huge fan of the reduction they had on it, but the meat was cooked perfectly. My Chicken Denali dish was also very good. The desserts were heavenly! Our waitress was very sweet, kept a good eye on us, but you could tell she was fairly new to waitressing (I've managed the front of house in many restaurants). Talking to the lady at our B&B she told us that during the busy season, they have a hard time keeping up with the onslaught of diners, which is why there are so many bad reviews about the service. I can totally see our sweet waitress getting frantic and "in the weeds" if the restaurant was packed. Overall we had an excellent dinner experience.
(4)Pamm H.
The absolute best thing about the Pump House is the deck and outside seating. The food isn't memorable, the service is ok but the only reason to go is to sit outside on the deck during the summer. I've primarily eaten in the bar and find that the food is decent and the wine and bar list is ok. The menu isn't that big but that's ok with me. I admit I haven't eaten in the dining room so I can't say anything about that. I agree with the others that once you walk in, you're immediately greeted by a huge bear - that's The Pump House's thing I suppose. It IS very Alaska. One of my biggest problems with The Pump House is with the entire city of Fairbanks - you can still smoke inside the restaurant. The bar is where the majority of the smoking occurs which is pretty annoying when you just want to sit, have a drink and enjoy a low key night out. This is easily overcome during the summer by sitting outside but not an option during the winter which is why we hardly ever go then. Go during the summer when you can enjoy the water, the sun and a drink. They have karaoke during the winter months on Wednesday nights which I've never been to but hear good things about. The Pump House is worth a stop while in Fairbanks - just don't expect it to be amazing. It's decent.
(3)Michael B.
Price-y but the seafood chowder is amazing and worth the trip in itself.
(5)A S.
I heard they will be, or already have gotten rid of the smoking in the bar. If this is true, they get 4 stars. If not, it's more like 2.5 stars. The bar menu is better than the restaurant menu, but they allow smoking, which pretty much ruins it - unless it's the 2 months of summer and you can sit outside. Most of the food we had here has been pretty good. I had a really good salmon burger the first time I ever went there, and the sweet potato fries are pretty good, too. Will be looking forward to sitting out on the deck in the brief nice weather this summer.
(3)Lisa Belle K.
This place is wonderful! It's seeping in historical charm and a western days-gone-by feel. From the exterior of the building to the old Victorian couches, when you stand amid it all there is a feeling of wonderment. I came to The Pump House with some colleagues after work and it was Karaoke night. It was so much fun to watch and listen to all the would-be singers. The drinks were strong and delicious and the crowd was hearty. We'd already had dinner so it was drinks only for us. I would highly recommend this spot as a must see while in Fairbanks.
(4)debopriya b.
Our first time at the Pump House and I would say that the place is hospitality epitomized. Bill the owner met us once as soon as we arrived and also before we met and talked with us about his early years and Hyderabadi cook who left for his country for good. We tried reindeer tenderloin and bison satay...that was what our hostess Megan suggested. She was so graceful and knew her work so well. Both the dishes and the others tasted fresh and good. The ambience is really that of old times with a lot of antiques. Bill's baker is awesome. We had the Tiramisu and Belgian chocolate cake and they were MIND BLOWING!!!! Would definitely recommend to friends.
(4)Chris C.
This place is pretty good. The dining room menu is on the expensive side, but the bar menu is quite reasonable. There's a shuffle board and a pair of pool tables to play in the bar. The food is good, the service is good.
(4)Dave B.
I was visiting a good friend in Fairbanks, and it was my birthday. She's a poor graduate student, but we wanted to go somewhere nicer for my birthday. We considered a few options and chose the Pump House as a well-known Fairbanks establishment. As several people on Yelp have said, the dining room is fairly spendy, but the Senator Saloon (the bar part of the restaurant) has a different menu and is more reasonably priced. We chose to sit in the bar, partly for the cheaper menu, and partly because it's just such a great space. Dark, carved-wood walls and a copper/tin ceiling give it a great feel. The room is surrounded by wonderful antique sofas (or at least antique-looking) with regular four-top tables in the middle. There's also a huge outdoor patio, though they segregate the patio for the dining room menu and the bar menu, and only the dining room part of the patio was open when we were there. :( As I like to do, we shared everything. We picked out our food and decided to get white wine to drink. We got the flight of white wine, then a bottle of the wines in the flight--New Harbor Sauvignon Blanc. For food, we started with the Calamari Steak, which was strips of calamari rather than the usual rings and was really quite good--it was tender and flavorful. Eat it fast, though, as it cools down quickly. For the main meal, we got the fish tacos (which isn't on the online menu, but was on the menu at the place) and, at the recommendation of our server, also got the elk burger. Both were pretty good, though the flour tortilla used for the tacos (rather than corn) seemed odd to me. My friend thought it was normal, though, so maybe I've just never noticed before. For the elk, I normally get a burger cooked medium rare, but they wouldn't cook the elk anything less than medium well. When it came out, though, it was still a little pink in the middle, so I was happy, and it was delicious. Finally, for dessert, they brought out a tray of options. I love being SHOWN the dessert menu like that. We opted for the strawberry rhubarb crumble, which came with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. It. was. incredible. And, since it was my birthday, they gave us a free chocolate mousse as well! This was also pretty good, but paled in comparison to the superb crumble. All in all, an excellent meal and a great way to celebrate my birthday.
(4)Stephanie M.
Was very disappointed with our trip here. The food was mediocre but expensive. I got the bacon wrapped prawns. The bacon wasn't crisped at all. It was greasy and flabby. The prawns on the otherhand were overdone and chewy. The flavor of the sauce was good though. I think with better execution the dish could have been great. My side dishes were a waste. Frozen veggie medley and gooey over mashed potatoes. My husband had a steak and ordered it rare. It came out medium well and cold. The servers were friendly initially but then we didnt see them again for almost an hour. When they did return it was very hurried and erratic. I dont see us going back again since the only saving factor was a decent ambiance which is easy to get just eating in your backyard around here.
(2)Amanda P.
Similar experiences to Stephanie. I have been here 10+ times and I have never had a meal that matched its price tag, even for Fairbanks. The seafood chowder is the best thing on their menu. After trying burgers (super overcooked-twice!), salads, prawns, scallops, meatloaf, steaks (never cooked how you order them), caribou, and several appetizers, I can say with confidence that the food is pretty bad. Brunch buffet was OK, though most items were soggy/cold. Desserts are store bought. Service in the bar area is very good, but I almost never see my waitress when seated in the restaurant.
(2)Nathan A.
Outside seating next to the river...more mature crowd. Bar menu good... took some time for the food, little portions, but well prepared.
(3)Matt T.
Ambiance is perfect in summer. Outside dining deck overlooks river. Bar inside is steeped in history. Grounds are fun to explore. Seafood Chowder is best ever. Every single bit is OVERLOADED with seafood. Oysters were fresh and flown in from Seattle. I had the pistachio-crusted halibut. It was great. But the rice was dry and the broccoli was old or overcooked or both. Jules had the king crab legs. Good. But same deal with rice and broccoli. Martini was good sized. Olives were big. Ask for jalapeño-stuffed.
(4)Terri W.
The Pump House was good. I wish I would have gone on a night that they did not have a buffet but at the end of the day the owner was EXTREMELY accommodating and the place was nice and the food was a very good buffet. We went on Christmas. We had a pretty swell time.
(3)Christopher M.
Great patio on the river. Really liked the smoke salmon enchiladas. Solid choice for food.
(4)Kelly T.
I am a bit torn on how to review the Pump House. I liked some things and disliked some other things. Let's start with the atmosphere. I really, really liked the decor and feel of the dining room. I am here in AK for business and this was the AK experience I was looking for. The service was also great. Warm, friendly, attentive, and funny. I was looking for the AK experience, so I went with the reindeer tenderloin. I expected it to taste like beef and it did. It was good, but didn't wow me. It looked like the tail end of the tenderlion, so one end was nice, thick, and juicy, but the other end was thin and got overcooked. It did have a yummy char on some pieces. It came with a potato gratin square. Some of the potatos were undercooked and crunchy. Amateur mistake. The haricot vert were nice, but were a little overcooked. The tenderloin came with a sauce that was good (tangy and fruity) and on a bed of braised red cabbage that had a funky off flavor. I also had a oyster shooter -- the flavor was great, but it was too big to "shoot" so I had to gag on the texture. Maybe just not my thing. i might go back, but have more realistic expectations for the food. It's just okay, but the grizzly bear that greets you is priceless!
(3)Tee L.
yes I read and her personal reviews that this place was great,, sorry to disappoint you fans,but my food was not even close for the $$ paid. Granted I did not get the seafood,but my friend did and the halibut with mango viniegarette had a fishy taste(she had previous experienced a better meal last time,yrs ago)?? And my elk meatloaf,was just above cold,barely close to lukewarm, I figure I best not sent it back into kitchen, who knows what will happen to it and the mash potatoes were too salty,, the only thing that was decent was the green string beans.. That is bad for a semi -pricey meal, Yes the decor is clean and fits the place,but I am paying for the food,not all the atmosphere I do not have any plans to return,save your $$ and spend it elsewhere... No wonder it was no wait on a thursday nite to get in this place, the food is heading downhill??
(2)Jesse C.
The Pump House is a perfect little slice of Alaskana. Perched on the bank of the Chena River the Pump House is stepped in history with a decidedly come-as-you-are atmosphere. The servers are generally attentive; the menu is somewhat limited but done with panache. The Sunday brunch is among the best in town. In the summer you can sit on the deck and watch the Riverboat Discovery go by and enjoy a drink (or two) or enjoy dinner in the dining room filled with antiques from the gold rush era. Bottom line... great service... great food. One of our favorite places in Fairbanks.
(5)Daniel P.
I'm really torn on this review. I've been to the Pump House a ton of times and usually have had a great dinner. However, there's certainly been times where things have been "off", and I've walked away wondering what went wrong. If not for those, I would give this five stars without any hesitation. The menu can be a little limited (and it does change from time to time), but the seafood and meats are fantastic, and you can get some unique Alaskan entrees. The servers are knowledgeable about the menu and not afraid to make suggestions. I like the wine and beer list, and they have a full service bar. They offer a Sunday Brunch that I don't find to be great (like most brunches, it's expensive for what you end up with). However, it's a great place for Lunch, and in the summer you can eat outside next to the river. Overall, this is certainly one of the best restaurants in the Fairbanks area, hopefully they stay consistent.
(4)Alan P.
Pump House Restaurant & Saloon is excellent! The food is very good, I especially recommend the seafood chowder. The staff very professional and courteous, always there for whatever we needed. The deck outside is very cool as it overlooks the river. A great place to sit and enjoy a beverage of choice while catching some fresh air. The bar area inside is ok, my only knock would be it's a cigar bar and if you don't like a lot of smoke, don't sit inside (not really sure how this is much of an option most of the year, but it is what it is). I didn't find it to be too expensive for the quality of food and service. I thought it was just about right. If you have the opportunity, I highly recommend spending an evening at the Pump House.
(4)Pierre Trudeau I.
For a non-Alaskan like me, this place was a perfect delight. I highly recommend it to any visitor to Fairbanks looking for a good local dining experience. The food is excellent and made with fresh ingredients. As a lover of Alaskan salmon I of course ordered a salmon dish and it was delicious. The atmosphere is what I as a non-Alaskan would consider to be "typical Alaskan". I came here with my girlfriend at the time and her mother, a Fairbanks local. The service was, er... interesting. Our waiter was very friendly, make no mistake about it. But when my girlfriend tried to be nice and chat him up a little bit, he decided to subject the 3 of us to a 20 minute one-sided diatribe from him about every political issue you can think of. He wouldn't shut up! I was irritated by this but my gf and her mom just laughed it off. He did provide good service, in addition to the free "Vote for Dennis Kucinich" propaganda. Funnily enough a good friend of mine in Arizona is the niece of the owner, but I didn't get a chance to look for and say hello to the owner before we left.
(5)Amikam R.
The Pump house is a very large restaurant in a huge building and an outdoor deck overlooking the Chena River. The menu is not large and the wine list small. They offer a tasting flight of beers, which is a nice touch. We were there for dinner on a Monday. The place was very noisy. The fish were overcooked and the desserts gloppy. The only redeeming feature was the flight of excellent Alaskan beers. The service was hurried and erratic. The two stars are strictly in comparison to other local venues.
(2)J. G.
Ate here because of all the hype and was really looking forward to taking my wife. We drove all the way from Wasilla and part of our visit was specifically set aside for eating at the historic Pump House. We would have done better going to Taco King or Pizza Hut. We arrived a few minutes after they opened and it started off terrible right away when the little hostess wanted us to sit at the bar to wait for a table even though there were only two other couples and a family seated in the entire restaurant area. I pointed this out and the hostess said she didn't want to spread people out too much so early and that we could wait at the bar. I asked for a manager and she said, "FINE! I'll seat you now!" and grabbed meus and stomped her feet to a table like a 4-year old. It took another 30-minutes to see a waitress and about 45-minutes to get our food. We saw our waitress when we ordered and when we got our food and that was it. The dishes we both ordered was just "okay". The vegetables were kind of cold. I will never eat there again and I would steer anyone away that even brings up the name.
(1)Brett R.
This is the perfect spot to spend an afternoon or evening during the amazing Alaskan summer. Sit out on the huge deck and watch the Chena River pass you by. Enjoy an Alaskan brew and order whatever looks good to you on the menu, I have never been disappointed. The Pump House is my favorite of the Chena River bar and grills (not that the others are bad in any respects) and I think it is a little more reasonably priced than the others for what is offered. Also, the waitresses are usually hotter than most other places which is really saying something in interior Alaska.
(5)K. I. S.
This was a REALLY GREAT Sunday brunch! I started out by taking my desserts as we were passing by to be seated but was limited by the little dessert plates.... I should have gotten a dinner plate off the hot entree line because I had to leave the cream puff for my next trip to the dessert table. Did a look-see over the hot entree offerings to be selective and still ran out of room on the dinner plate and had to pass on the roast beef carving because I hate to do a high-rise meal....this place seriously needs to have dinner plates at the dessert table and platters at the entree line. Anyway, I THOUGHT I had planned out my eating strategy but when I saw our son's tasting platter, I knew that he had gone beyond his mother's expertise on pacing at buffets. Ah, so happy to see him appreciating his 2nd and 3d plates while I was trying to finish my first helping so I could proceed to the next. Warning: Peruse the entire offerings before making your choices. There are LOTS of GREAT food to be eaten here. Also, the orange juice is not canned (which our hotel uses for their complimentary breakfast) so that is a plus. It is not fresh-squeezed (hey, this is Fairbanks) but it is better than the canned stuff with the tinny after-taste. Don't usually make comments about atmosphere since when we eat we're not planning to buy the restaurant (as long as it is clean) but this is a really upscale place and we will definitely return for Sunday brunch before we leave for home on Monday. The bad news: I never had a chance to get a cream puff to eat but you always need to have a reason to return to a place like this and now I have it :)
(5)Sandra S.
NIce atmosphere, lovely grizzly to greet you. I had the pinot by the glass, not bad. One companion had the rib-eye which looked great, he said it was great. Other companion had the filet, which was great, good sear and tender, decent flavor. I had the chicken with artichoke dish, the sauce had a weird, off, flavor. The sourdough bread was warm, but not crusty.
(3)Jakkajan D.
Our first time in Fairbanks and our friends who live here introduced us to The Pump House. Great atmosphere. Located on the river and decorated with lots of Alaska memorabilia. We started off with a seafood appetizer for four. My wife had the king crab, and I had reindeer steak. Good food, good friends, wonderful evening.
(4)Tourmaline T.
Gross. The food I mean. I have lived here for over 10 years and I can't get over how this place has such good reviews. In every experience I have had here the food has been disgusting. The atmosphere is great and the waitstaff has always been helpful but I am going out to eat, eat! During our last dinner experience the fish was dry and or meat was overcooked, again. However what was even worse was the Father's Day brunch buffet. We spent almost $300 to take out the dads and the grandpas-why we went here I still don't know. Everything was old, stale, soaked and dry. The biscuits and gravy were hard and flavorless. The waffles were soggy. The meat had been sitting under that light for God only knows how long. It was all in all very disappointing. I didn't enjoy one thing on my plate, and I had a whole buffet to choose from!!! Do not eat here. For this price there are other restaurants in town where you can go have a great meal and pay less. I don't think I would eat here again even if it was free.
(1)CC W.
Overall, I enjoyed this restaurant because of it's location but mostly because of the good service and wonderful food. We came here with friends and our 8 year old son. It's right on the Chena River so you may have the opportunity, as we did, to see the big riverboat pass by! The restraunt itself consist of 3 separate areas (main dining area, the bar area and the patio option). The one thing I didn't like is the menu limitation depending on where you sit. When you go outside to the patio seating, you're limited to the bar menu, which is good as well, but I like having options. (Hence the 4 star). The service is great and they're known for their mojitos so I suggest you try one when you're there! I started with the oyster "shooters" that come prepared in a shot glass with all the fixings, minus the work. They were very fresh! My risotto was perfectly cheesy, the bacon wrapped scallops were amazing, and the pizza we ordered for our son was huge and delicious! Overall, I would definitely bring family here for a special treat or for an event but remember, you'll be paying for the great service, location and food so be prepared when the check comes :) Cheers!
(4)Michelle S.
When we arrived at The Pump House, we were seated in the same place that we were seated over 15 years ago when we first came in. Funny how those things happen. We ordered the crab dip to start. It arrived piping hot with crostini. It was a bowl of cheesy, crabby goodness. For dinner we had the reindeer steak and a filet mignon. Both were good and we cleaned our plates. I didn't care for the bearnaise sauce but with the reduction, it didn't need it anyway. The steaks were good - not memorable but good. For dessert I got the banana, blueberry cheesecake which just had too much going on. Each thing was good on its own but not all together. We'll be back to try other items on the menu.
(3)MaryCatherine P.
Great food, great beer, great service. Beautiful view of the Chena River
(5)Amber X.
So far, this is the best American restaurant I tried in Fairbanks. I tried the Turtle Club, Lavette(in Marroit) and the restaurant in Chena Spring Resort. Few reasons: 1st: Clam Chowder-a must have! Creamy but not heavy. Lots of seafood. The taste is balanced really well! STRONGLY RECOMMEND 2st: Snow Crab-way much better than the crab dish in Turtle Club! You can tell the crab is really fresh based on its tenderness and a hint of sweetness. The crab is too salty and more expensive in Turtle Club. 3st: beer sample- you only need to spend $6 and try 4 beers! We tried all beer manufactured in Alaska and loved Amber Ale (fresh, clear) 4th: Interior Design- you can tell the owner spent lots time on the interior decoration. Just visit it, and prepare to be amazed.
(5)Scott S.
Absolutely amazing food. We had ribs and tri-tip--great food. Bread was excellent. Service was pretty good--but not good enough to get 5th star.
(4)Becky R.
We had dinner on Saturday night and then the Sunday Champagne brunch. Both meals were delicious! The filet mignon at dinner was melt in your mouth tender and I loved the French toast at brunch. The desserts are not to be missed, especially the chocolate mousse cake. My dad loved the crab cake dinner. Make sure to make reservations for brunch because the wait was over 2 hours at noon! Best restaurant in Fairbanks!
(5)Darcie P.
Reservation Made for: Tues. Oct. 21 at 630pm Party: 5 (4 adults + 1 infant) As we arrived into the parking lot, the building looked pretty outdated and vintage. As soon as we entered the front door, theres a big bear in a glass case, hostess check in on the right. We were seated quickly on the far left under the moose. Our server was so sweet & kind. She was patient especially with the baby being squirmy. We ordered wine flights for $12.00 & beers We ate lite. crab stuffed portabillini caesar salad spinach & artichoke dip dungeness crab cakes Baked clams Desserts: Apple fritters with ice cream Creme brulee Total Bill: $109.00 The food was good, everything was delicioso so were the desserts. No complaints. Bathroom has koala care for all traveling mothers. Lol. The establishment is clean and the employees are nice. Service was great! *big taxidermy animals all over the walls. Very cool! Biggest moose Ive seen so far. Lol.
(4)Jessica L.
We sat out in the outdoor area that was enclosed. Such a pretty view of the Chena River. Our food was great, we started off with the bacon wrapped scallops. The scallops were cooked perfectly and tasted very wonderful. I had the filet mignon and my husband had the reindeer tenderloin. Both were cooked perfect as well. I had the vegetable risotto and that was very good as well! The only problem we had was with our waiter. He just didn't seem to care too much. Slammed stuff on the table and just would disappear. We will definitely be going back though! Loved every bite!
(4)Kim D.
This has been our go to place since moving to FAirbanks 4 years ago. We've had mostly good service and good food. We had friends from CO here for a visit and made reservations for 4 last night for the outside dining area. When we arrived they weren't busy. We added 1 more to our group, and told them when we arrived. We waited a couple minutes and then we were lead to a table in the main dining area. I reminded the hostess of our reservation etc. she said with our additional person they couldn't seat us outside for an hour. I looked at the outside dining area with 3 groups seated and asked for clarification, she spoke with the mgr. Who stuck to his story so we went to the deck and ordered off the bar menu, service great as was the food, we just wanted a better meal to treat our friends. When we left, I noted that their was now only 2 groups in the outside dining area, when I approached the mgr and verbalized my disappointment, I received the standard kiss off "I understand how you feel, blah blah, blah. We will be back but it will be awhile. So disappointed.
(3)Sharon W.
Was so disappointed! Waited all day til 4pm because their website said that's when they opened. Big sign said open at 3, so website not current. Could not even sit at the bar as wooden backless stools were too uncomfortable. Then we were informed we could not order from their main menu for another hour! Ordered expensive zucchini sticks $11! And said forget this.
(1)Lisa A.
My husband, 8 month old, and I came here tonight. Though they have high hairs they aren't very kid friendly. My son didn't make a peep or a mess and we felt very un welcomed :/ I got the fish and chips and the fries were amazing but the fish was chewy and the slaw was bland. My husband had the burger and he enjoyed it and the fries. Nothing to return back too.
(2)Scott S.
Seafood chowder was great, service was good. All our plates were great. one of the nicer places in town.
(5)Jeff E.
Please don't order the halibut. For Alaska I expected much better. The halibut was very bland.
(1)Jim P.
Dinner at the Pump House was very good. We had been having a hard time putting a combination of good food and good service together. We finally found a location that put both together. The Halibut fish and chips was perfect. The Seafood Louie was also very well prepared. Service was attentive but just right. He was there when needed but no more which is spot on for us. An enjoyable evening.
(4)Jeff T.
Meeeeh! Not to kid friendly. They set us by a high traffic area, I think because of our kids. It did have a nice big couch for the kids to sit on though. There was a great view of a bears behind from our table (you might its coordinates in your next geo cache adventure)! The food was good and the place was cool. Wish we would have asked to eat outside. This is a good place to impress your parents, clients, or any uptodo old people visiting from out of town.
(2)Brad S.
I wasn't feeling too good about the prospects of the menu at the Pump House. Menu items featuring outdated preparations like crab Louie and steak Oscar are always red flags. There's a lot of trust that goes into ordering a $16. Gimmicky entrees like reindeer tenderloin and elk meatloaf didn't inspire confidence, either. Luckily, I decided to visit on a Sunday afternoon, when none of this was offered. While not explicitly mentioned on the website, Sundays is a brunch buffet. It didn't feature a lot of seafood, but there was certainly a lot of effort that went into the buffet, offering things like waffles with bourbon pecan syrup, eggs Benedict, and a carving station to get some generous slices of beef. It's still a buffet, though, so you're forgiving on the quality a little bit because you're too busy stuffing your face. I don't know how much of it I would have ordered on its own had I had to choose it from a menu, but taken as a whole, it's a Fairbanks bargain for $26.
(3)Chris S.
As a local where the best place to eat in Fairbanks and you'll likely hear "Pump House" as the answer. We asked people at the airport, on our flight from Anchorage, at the hotel, etc, and all put this establishment in that category. After looking at their website and seeing all the seafood/game options we came for dinner on Saturday night and weren't thrilled, nor disappointed. The food, we tried, wasn't incredible, but did satisfy. Service was average, too. Meanwhile, with the price tag that comes with meals here, we did expect more, but have no complaints. We are in Fairbanks, where food costs more than it would if we were in the Lower 48. We get that. For out of towners, this is a huge location (for Fairbanks standards). It looks like a Cracker Barrel and is set on the river, although you can't see it from your table. I started with the small caesar, which unfortunately arrived 30 seconds before our meal. The greens were tasty, fresh and obviously locally grown. And, the presentation was good. We both ordered the elk meat loaf, which was solid, but didn't wow us. It look amazing, but a tremendous amount of what tasted like salt took away from the flavor. Still, if you are from out of town, Fairbanks isn't a great place for restaurants. A trip here will end up at one of your highlights, even if it cost more than you'd like to pay. It's one of, if not the best places to eat in the city. Even though that's not saying much, it's hard to believe anyone would be disappointed here. And, if you've been to Anchorage, this place would likely be situated near the Glacier Brewhouse and Orso, just a slight step below in quality and ambiance.
(3)Jessie T.
Went for a drink with a friend and we chose the lavender martini. This drink was undrinkable!!! The lavender was waaaay too intense and when the bartender asked us how it was I told him the lavender was very overwhelming. I seriously do not think ANYONE would drink this drink! It tasted as if we were drinking lavender perfumed bath water. :( sadly the bartender didn't offer to make us another drink, he just made a "I'm sorry, my bad " face and gave us ICE to water down our drinks (seriously?) The ice didn't help at all and as we were wondering what to do, the bartender gave us our check like he just wanted us gone. I'm so disappointed with this service. I feel like in this situation, he should have AT LEAST offered to make us another drink. We left without another sip and 9 bucks down. Shame Pump House, shame.... :(
(1)Amanda R.
Such a disappointment on so many levels. We were in town visiting family and wanted to have a nice dinner on our last night. We went on Saturday night and were surprised to find the restaurant relatively empty. Oh well we thought, better service for us! Boy were we wrong. Within 30 seconds of being seated, our server asked us what we wanted to drink. We asked for water to start while we read the drink menu. Things went wildly downhill from there. It took forever to get him back over to take our drink and food order. We had to ask the young man who clears tables for more water and if we could have some bread while we waited over an hour for our dinner. Dinner finally arrived: filet mignon = pretty decent, two crab cake dinners = not good, so salty they were nearly inedible, and grilled salmon wrapped in a leek = completely raw and ice cold in the middle. We sent the salmon back to be "grilled" and we waited over 40 minutes while other people were served the same dish all around us. We ended up pooling our leftovers so our 4th person could eat. At this point we had been at the restaurant over 2 hours and the server brought the salmon back. We just wanted to leave. Nobody was hungry anymore, our server was rude and condescending for no reason. We asked to just take the salmon back and remove it from the bill. We were so over it. His response, "really??" Yeah, really. We asked him why the attitude and he gave a half assed apology and blamed it on everything going wrong that night that possibly could. Then he walked by, didn't even stop at our table, and said over his shoulder, I assume you don't want dessert then, just the bill. So we paid $108 for 3 dinners, some of the poorest service we've ever experienced and food that was only half palatable. At least the fries and bread were good, I guess.
(1)Roger M.
The location is right on the Chena River, and the outdoor seating and pleasant setting is quite enjoyable. The menu is reasonably diverse and the service okay. We enjoyed our meals, and the fried zucchini appetizer is terrific.
(3)Janine P.
Love their Sunday brunch! Best place to go if that's what you're looking for. Very attentive staff and you're usually seated very quickly!
(4)Bo C.
When my wife and I lived in Fairbanks in the early 1980's, we regularly visited The Pump House. We enjoyed the food and atmosphere, and we have since recommend it to our family and friends, when they visit Fairbanks. A couple of years ago on a visit to the Golden Heart City, we stopped by for a drink and a light snack. Our server delivered our drinks but blew off our food order, and she spent the remainder of the time, while we were there gabbing with the bar staff. We assumed this was an anomaly and again decided to visit with friends from out of town. At the onset, I told the server I was not very hungry and wished a light meal. When the server took our order, both my wife pointed to items on the appetizer menu (crab cakes and scallops). When our orders arrived, I commented on the size and asked if it was the appetizer portion, to which the server said yes. Maybe the food seemed only just palatable because we were not very hungry, but we gave up after eating less than half our meals. When the bill arrived, we were charged for the entrée size. We were not even aware that our appetizers even came in entrée sizes and certainly never indicated that was our order. When we drew the servers attention to the mistake, she lied and said we had pointed to the entrées and said there was nothing she could do. Suffice it to say, we will never again visit The Pump House or encourage anyone else to, when visiting Fairbanks.
(1)James M.
Hello, I ordered the surf and turf tonight at the pump house. I asked for my steak med it came super well done. The waitress took forever to check in on us. By the time she did I sent it back and asked again for it to be cooked med. we were pressed for time and had to get to the airport. As we were stepping to leave she brought me the steak were it was, which was raw. I don't recommend for dinner.
(1)yingxiang c.
Food is ok beer is good and service is good. Would give 4 stars if it's not as over priced
(3)Anny C.
The bar was open late and we had just enjoyed a trip to the hot springs and were hungry. We were anticipating marginal pub food but were pleasantly surprised! The food was great and tasted amazing! It was karaoke night so there was some entertainment as well! A must try if looking for late night eats!
(5)Dana B.
The food was pretty pricey for what we were served. It risotto was luke warm and mushy. The reindeer tenderloin was ridiculously small for the price. The fresh seafood appetizer was very good but extremely pricey. Our server was very good with our large group. Mostly, the view is good but the food is over rated.
(3)Robert P.
Solid 3.5 stars, but I don't have the option. We ordered the tuna appetizer and the crab cakes. The crab cakes were delicious but very small. BUT, it wasn't very expensive. I would pay a little more for bigger crab cakes. But then again, I don't know the market for that stuff here. The tuna was very, very meh. Or if you don't speak apathy, it means subpar. It seemed to me that the tuna was marinated in the sauce. I could think of one of two reasons for this: a) because they are afraid of the freshness of the fish, or what is more likely b) they wanted to have the flavor go throughout the fish. What happens when you do this is, it absorb the dark color of the marinade into the already dark tuna and makes it extremely salty. It was cubed and tossed with sesame seed, sashimi style. My recommendation, cube the tuna, add cube avocado, toss with sauce and sesame seeds, then topped with green onions. It will bring vibrant colors to the dish. But of course, it is just my opinion. My wife ordered the fish and chips, while I ordered the aged prime rib, seafood risotto, and Oscar style. I like to eat. Her meal was everything you would have expected for fish and chips. It was with the cod instead of the halibut. It was great. The fish was fried perfectly and was very flavorful and not too greasy. The Oscar style was pretty good. Basically, it was crabmeat, asparagus, and bearnaise sauce. I know produce is hard to get in Alaska, but I prefer thicker asparagus. Like what they sell at Sam's Club. I don't know if the bearnaise sauce is powder or fresh made, but I would recommend a little more lemon juice, salt, and tarragon. But again, just my opinion. Seafood risotto. Ah-mazing! A little creamier would be better. But nonetheless, must have. The aged ribeye was...mediocre. The flavor was decent, but the steak was kind of hard on the outside. I've had aged steaks before, but this one seemed a little tough. Usually, aging beef break apart the protein and connective tissue to make them tender. It was just okay. Dessert was awesome! The pastry chef here is fantastic, that is if they have one. Otherwise, do not change your distributor for desserts. Amaretto chocolate cake...freakin' yes! Our server was great! He was very knowledgeable, friendly, and attentive. He would appear exactly when I would need something. Sorry, man... I don't remember your name. Also, something odd. I ordered Oban 14, but tasted like Dewars White Label. Oban 14 is a single malt while the drink I had tasted like a blended. I hate blended. Sorry. I am difficult.
(3)Kirsten B.
Service was ok. We went for dinner and it was mediocre. It tastes like everything is just thawed out and cooked, nothing fresh. I keep giving this restaurant a chance, but probably won't be going back.
(2)Jamie A.
I am sure this place is nice and scenic in the spring and the decor is a winter cabiny-cool; however, service here was so atrociously slow that we were immediately put off. I appreciate them taking appetizers off our tab, but at close to $200, the meal was NOT worth it. Nice place, nice scenic spot, but the wait is all I can remember. They ran out of oysters and I had to order clams. They also ran out of HooDoo beer or their keg broke, Someeethinnng sounding like an excuse for not having another item on their menu. That rough start should have been a sign of bad things to come. :( The wait time here feels longer than an Alaskan December night! Ok, I exaggerate, but it was 15 mins for drinks, 45 mins for salty appetizers and after some some sour faces and speaking to the front of the house- another 45 mins later, we got our food. Which we subsequently swallowed due to hunger, so I can't tell you what I ate. Nor was I in the mood to take any photos. Everyone was in the same boat at us as the whole room was PACKED to capacity and diners were looking eagerly at dishes as they came out. Maybe they had a new chef? Someone in the back called in sick? I don't know, but for a weekend night, a veteran restaurant should handle a dinner rush with grace under pressure? Yelp disappointed me on this one! Boo on all those tourist guides telling me to eat here. Shame on Open Table! (I think this was the one and ONLY Fairbanks restaurant on Open Table BTW.) I felt bad for the server who in no way was at fault for the sluggish arrival of our dinner. She apologized and got me a pretty large firecracker for my birthday cake candle, but it was still a waste of hours. If I wanted a 3 hour meal I could eat fondue at the Melting Pot for less money. I guess if they gave us both our desserts for free (instead of making us pay for one), I prob would have been like 'okkk whatever', but the bill was way too high for the dawdling food service.
(2)Josh B.
Awesome food and atmosphere. Reindeer tenderloins were amazing!! Outdoor seating also.
(5)Omar B.
Don't get the king crab, way too over priced for the portion. The smoked rib eye was good. Always had a full glass of water.
(3)Shawn Y.
Went for the buffet during Christmas. The roast beef, salmon, desserts, and other variety of choices were amazing.
(5)Sunny C.
Waited for more than one hour, but the food is so not worth it. Very dry fish.. Also quite expensive. Do not recommend it.
(2)Abe F.
A consistently good restaurant. We've eaten here a few times over the last two years and have experienced consistently good food & service. The restaurant advertises King, Snow, and Dungeness crab specials on the first page of the menu. I haven't had them yet, but I did have the Elk meatloaf, seafood risotto, and the crab cake app (Dungeness), and they were all excellent. Service is fast and efficient.
(4)Adrienne G.
After plans to hit the Hot Springs fell through (due to icy roads) we ended up w/ a few extra hours in Fairbanks & trying to find things to keep our time occupied .....lucky for us Pump House opened at 4pm And I'd like to point out we were not the 1st people there at 4pm, looking to get their drink on....lovely establishment w/ a large deck & overlooking the water - or in this case, the frozen river. There were people braving the ice to slide across the way towards Pump House & it was indeed a wintry wonderland Entered the Bar & it was very lodge-like. Nice woods & brown tones all around & to add a bit of comfort, loveseats lined an entire wall & there were also nice-sized tables in the middle, so we grabbed a table to wait until the restaurant side opened for dinner Drinkys were off the charts delish! Sis got the Black Forest Hot Chocolate & really liked the Chambord / hot chocolate action going on.....although technically the name is misleading since raspberry & chocolate are *not* the traditional Black Forest.....it's cherry & chocolate. But whatever, right! The Mr got the Dream - which was sparkling wine & elderflower liqueur - he thought it was a bit girly but still delish I chose the Lavender Martini & I loved, loved, loved this! Nice & flowery but no soapy taste of lavender & just the right bite of vodka....rimmed w/ lavender sugar & you've got the perfect combo of sweet & bite! When we walked over at our rezzie time, the place was already packed - glad we had booked ahead for our rezzies! Appies included the Iceberg Wedge Salad (hold the meat) & Sis & the Mr really liked the nice abundance of Blue Cheese dressing Entrees for us all included the Gnocchi w/ mixed veggies in a garlic-tomato sauce. That tomato sauce was homemade & thick & extremely garlicky & that was fantastic w/ me. The gnocchi was not homemade & had a bit of chew like you'll find in frozen gnocchi. Not the creamy pillows we're used to getting but overall it was an a-ok dish Dessert was where we ran into a bit of a disappointment - my Chocolate Walnut Cake was more of a walnut cake w/ a thin layer of chocolate icing. No rich textures or complex flavor layers - just a light layer cake Mr & Sis split the Cheesecake Bites - reported to be homemade, they found them to be more meh but didn't hate them After-dinner cocktail included the Hot Apple Cider & sticking true to previous cocktails, it was again, out of this world delish. Cinnamon stick, Disaronno, & Cointreau w/ apple cider! Wished we'd had more time to try other drinkys on their cocktail menu & Pump House will definitely be a repeat visit when back in Faribanks
(4)AT C.
Nice ambiance... but they managed to misplace our reservation. I had the reindeer, which was probably a tourist mistake as it was super lean... to the point of being almost dry - with little flavor (sauce was good... but mostly to make up for the fact of the bland meat). It's not bad... but it's not... great either.
(2)Kanueng K.
Good food and reasonable pice!! I had seafood chowder in bread bowl. It was awesome!! Some staffs look less friendly than other places.
(4)Karen W.
Trust me. If you come to Fairbanks before or after a cruise, eat here over the other choices. The food is far better than other restaurants and the atmosphere is perfect. We had the salmon, best halibut I've had in Alaska, elk meatloaf (yummy!), and seafood sampler. Wish I could comment on dessert but we were too full. Great place.
(5)