Very pleasing. The olive oil chocolate cake is to die for. Save room. The veggie wrap tacos are vegan and excellent. The baked pasta dish was almost perfect. The pasta itself was a little doughy. The hostess greeter took a little warming up to. Too much high end approach for Alaska even in a high end place like this.
(5)
Rebecca B.
FYI, the nice lady at Alyeska will tell you this is 1/2 mile walk. This is not true. It is over a mile. Once you get there, it is very good. We had a great server who totally understood that we had kids and needed to make it a quick meal. She brought out their food almost immediately, though ours was quick too. The vegan dish was the best food I have ever had, the other items ordered will also enjoyed. The vegan dessert ("cheesecake") was also great. The bill was a lot, but I think you come to expect it in Alaska. Worth it for sure.
(5)
Katy F.
I try to make it out here at least once a year just because of the commute but it's worth it! The food is made with care and expertise. My favorite appetizer is the yam fries (correctly named, not to be confused with sweet potato). They're large cut strips of sweet, salty and crunchy goodness served with a refreshing cilantro aioli. I did try the fresh rolls... While the sauce was absolutely delicious, the rolls themselves lacked substance and flavor. I think the rolls at legit Thai restaurants are better. While I have enjoyed a number of their entrees, I feel that potions are on the small side for the price tag. $8 for 5 shrimp? Really... Although perfectly cooked I could have used at least 2 more. The duck was lovely as well. My only complaint: the odd bed of arugula placed under with a strange circle of small diced veggies. For some reason this combo just appeared random. Ribeye here is huge. Like gigantic. Now why can't this portion size rub off on their other dishes? The jus was delicious especially drizzled over the broccoli and potatoes. So yes, this places is worth it. Make reservations if you don't want to have to wait a bajillion hours for a table!
(4)
Krista M.
Jack Sprat. Awesome place! After recommendations from the Yelp community, my friend and I decided to check this place out after hiking the Winner Creek Trail in Girdwood. I guess we got pretty lucky as there was absolutely no wait on a Sunday evening around 6pm. No complaints there. We were seated on the glass patio, not quite outside but still with beautiful views. Our waiter, Kyle T., was very professional and when he came over to tell us about the specials, I was sold at the Salmon Special. I can't give this dish the description it deserves but it was savory. The salmon completely melted in my mouth, the rice was cooked to perfection, and the vegetable medley was great. The presentation was phenomenal. My friend ordered the vegan taco wraps complete with heart of romaine, vegan cheese sauce, portabello and walnut taco meat, avocado, pico de gallo, and fresh lime. For $11 they were a generous size although I would probably recommend getting this as an appetizer, which is precisely where it is located on the menu. Jack Sprat is truly unique with their "Fat & Lean World Cuisine" slogan. They have healthy alternatives that encompass flavors from around the world. They have more information inside their menu but I wasn't able to read it in full... Just know they have meat, seafood, and tons of vegetarian dishes on their menu and I think all of it is local! If I ever find myself back in Alaska, I'd love to try more of Jack Sprat's dinner options in addition to checking them out for brunch!!! Again, great spot with beautiful views located right near the Alyeska Resort. My only complaint is the steep prices for pretty small portion sizes. While the food was great, I cleared my plate, and didn't have that feeling of being full (or even close to it).
(4)
Eric L.
Service was really good. I had the halibut and thought it was pretty good. Low key, family atmosphere. Alaskan crab legs were grab for a free surprise from waitress. Good experience.
(3)
C L.
Terrible experience. We waited 40 minutes for our food and when it arrived it was the wrong order. The waitress then asked what we ordered (again), didn't offer to refill our empty coffee mug and did not apologize. We saw people leaving that had arrived after us. We left cash for our coffee and left the place after an hour. Good luck.
Probably now one of my favorite restaurants across the globe. If your in Alaska then this place is surely a must try. They do an amazing job all around starting with your experience inside the dining area all the way to their impressive customer service, the European/ Asian American dish presentation, their high quality ingredients and of course the depth to the level of flavors in each of the dishes. This place is a gem and a must to try, you'll be nothing less than impressed by their small town gourmet excellence.
(5)
Brianna T.
Jack Sprat might be the best thing that's happened to Anchorage's culinary scene. Their chef is a James Beard nominee and everything I've had here, he's knocked out of the park. Come for the yam fries. Get extra aioli. It's jalapeno-arugula and will rock your world. Put it on other things or just spoon it into your mouth. Either way, do. not. skip. the yam fries. Their preparations rotate seasonally, but the proteins on the menu usually stay the same. I've had several preparations of lamb, all incredible. Same story with the duck. The vegetable curry is great and the upcharge for shrimp is reasonable. They also had a vegetarian (with vegan option) risotto on the menu over the winter. You could order it served either warm or cold and it's probably the best vegetarian dish I've ever had. Desserts rock here, too. Staff is pretty knowledgeable on wines and they have some unique bottles on the menu. Especially during the summer, call ahead! Their seating area is really small and they only have a four or five seat bar at which to wait. But not to fret... if you can find a seat, there's room for a plate of yam fries with your drink. Yam fries.
(5)
Kerri E.
Jack Sprat's menu hit the spot for a Sunday brunch. While I kept it low key and ordered The Usual - a bacon, eggs, taters and toast combo, I was quite pleased with my selection. Although, after the bite of a friends smoked salmon eggs Benedict creation, I find myself planning another trip. Plus, it was topped off by sharing a plate of crepe's, pre-meal. The chef's crepe of the day was comprised of a chocolate mousse ganache that had me craving more! Initially, it was only a debate between coffee and water or even a mimosa. However, after our waitress showed up to a neighboring table with a round of delicious looking Bloody Mary's, I knew what had to be done - order one for myself! It had the right amount of kick to it, while being topped off with a tasty garnish of lemon, bacon and the always present celery. Trip to Girdwood, anyone? :)
(5)
Paul A.
So I'm out in Anchorage on a family vacation from the East Coast (Philadelphia, PA suburb) and I figure I will review local restaurants I have tried so other tourists and/or locals can avoid the pitfalls of a bad meal/dining experience or find a local gem. Everything about this place is high end. My party arrived after a full day cruise (Phillips 26 Glacier tour). If I had the chance to shower and throw on nicer clothes I would. Not necessarily a hoodie, jeans, and mucked up timb's kind of place. Atmosphere was nice. Tons of local, Alaskan oil paintings on canvas and carved wood studded the walls. Service was outstanding. Appetizer (bacon wrapped dates- sweet and savory) and meal (baked Cavatelli w/ sausage) were top notch and proportions were adequate enough that you could finish your meal and still have room for dessert. Overall well worth the visit but very expensive.
(4)
Annie M.
==== Update on Friday July 3rd ==== I did some more research into Alaska alcohol laws following the comment from owner Frans below and found the following FAQ: commerce.state.ak.us/dnn… Quoting from the above site: "When should a licensee or licensee's
(1)
Crys A.
Thank God for this awesome restaurant in Girdwood. There are not a lot of options in terms of food -- and even less options for fresh and healthy food. Our app was probably the best thing ... or maybe the dessert. Hell, it was all just really really good. The app was the bacon wrapped dates which my husband initially wasn't interested in before proceeding to eat almost all of them. He followed that with the cioppino and loved it. I had the fish of the day and it was cooked to perfection. We both cleaned our plates. Then dessert! OMG, the chocolate olive oil cake. It was divine with a cup of cappuccino and is a must-try. Thank you Jack Sprat for taking pride in your food and service, and for being the shining culinary star of Girdwood!
(5)
Karthik R.
We were a party of six and they were not able to accomodate us as they were already booked. We asked for take out and the waitress checked with the chef and they were very accomodating. We had the baked ricotta cavatelli and it was awesome. It was baked right with the right flavors. It was neither very soupy nor as hard as a rock. Would love to get the complete dine in experience next time I m in Girdwood.
(4)
Andrew H.
Who knew the best dinner in Anchorage was in Girdwood? This is my favorite type of restaurant, one with good Omnivore AND vegetarian/vegan food. And by that latter, I don't mean "vegetables chopped up to look like meat" (thanks Jim Gaffigan), I mean thoughtful, tasty dishes that just happen to not have meat in them. Everything on this menu is delicious, and everything is fresh (there are alot of places in Alaska with tasty food...fresh...not so much). I usually get the lamb which is amazing (the portions are a bit on the small side though, so you better get an appetizer or a cheeseburger on the drive home to Anchorage). It comes with a house-made chimichurri sauce. I don't even know what that means, but it seems to be a trend in food now...one that I can get behind, because it is delicious. They also have pretty good beers here and I really nice glass-ceiling patio area to take in the views of the glaciated mountains surrounding Girdwood. If you are driving through this area, you MUST stop here. Try to call ahead though, the secret is out on this place and the space is not very big. You will likely have to wait a while to be seated. Only reason I'm not 5-starring it is that I cannot get behind the portion-sizes, just make them a little bigger guys...c'mon.
(4)
Bill K.
The soup of the day was mushroom and it was the best dish of all of them. We had the sourdough bread with peach and poblano jam. The had the yam fries with aoli. The bread and fries were memorable. We had the cavitelli which was very good and the curry with tofu was also excellent. We were so full we could not eat desert. This restaurant needs reservations. They have odd hours so make sure you call ahead. Recommended.
(5)
Christopher C.
There are both a lot and too few dining options in Girdwood. A surprising array of higher-end restaurants...which are almost always filled to capacity. Jack Sprat would be amazing if it didn't have competition. As its stands, though, it is still pretty darn good. I had dinner and brunch there. Both very good, and suitably complex, organic, local, and pricey. I was dining solo so waited for the bar to open up, which took a couple of hours. Reservations are a must at many times. Especially since there aren't that many alternatives and you won't want to go to bed unfed.
(4)
Ravi D.
Good food, great service and warm ambience. What more could you ask for! The seafood stew was awesome and so was the panna cotta.
(5)
Stephanie D.
The food was pretty good. We ordered the vegetarian curry which was too sweet for my preferences and the homemade pasta which was pretty delicious. All in all I enjoyed the food, service, and atmosphere. I thought the prices were a little high, but that may just be because it's good, homemade ingredients in rural Alaska. Anyway, the sunroom is gorgeous and I would go here again if given the chance.
(3)
Anna K.
Favorite dish...quinoa and veggies. Awesome food, people and really nice environment. winter rolls are good too.
(5)
Stephanie L.
Incredibly romantic:) Friendly service and tasty food! Would highly recommend this restaurant to anyone in the area!
(5)
Brandy B.
My bf and I decided to eat lunch here before our check in at Aly... I'd browsed through the yelp pics a few times and really wanted to try it! Plus it's locallllll! We arrived around 1:30pm or so - there wasn't a host or seat yourself sign but knowing how local spots in Girdwood are pretty laid back, I assumed it was seat yourself, so instead of awkwardly standing around like lost "tourists" we seated ourselves in the beautiful naturally lit add on section. A server brought menus and took our drink order shortly thereafter... we then realized they were serving brunch (which included typical breakfast items as well as lighter fare AND bibimbap). We were wanting lunch so we opted for the yam fries, halibut burrito, and bacon & blue burger. The yam fries had me at aioli... They're perfectly fried, fresh, and light - and served with a side of jalapeño arugula aioli! Although the aioli lacked the kick or tang I was expecting we enjoyed that app very much and would order it again in a heartbeat! The halibut burrito didn't knock my socks off (I dunno if it was the overpowering flavor of the black beans, or the fishy taste - yes it was halibut, but I didn't expect it to have that fishy smell/taste that you tend to encounter at restaurants farrrrrr from the coast). My bf liked his burger, it was nicely cooked and fresh. Glad I finally got to mark Jack Sprat off my list of places to try in Girdwood. Next time I'll be sure to come for dinner!
(3)
Heather S.
My husband and I ate here and loved it. Great yam fries - huge so you can share a portion! I got the veggy curry and it was so delicious. Get here early! Very popular. Cute ambiance and friendly service!
(5)
Doktrmom P.
Food was great service fantastic! They took wonderful care of us for our 40th Anniversary.
(5)
Jim T.
Amazing chef and unique food. We started with Caesar salads and the bacon wrapped dates in melted gorgonzola. Very good! For dinner I tried the Dol Sot Bibimbap which is rice, duroc pork, seaweed salad, sesame seeds, julienne vegetables, a fried egg on top, all served in a hot stone pot. The pot was a really neat touch and stayed steaming hot throughout our whole meal. The bacon wrapped dates and Dol Sot Bibimbap are items I've never had before and were great to try. For desert we had the chocolate olive oil cake and the raw cherry cheesecake. Fantastic! I was really amazed that this little place at a ski resort would have such an amazing chef and brilliant menu. Definitely give it a try! Note, this place is not inexpensive though (expect to pay around $30-40 per person for a complete meal with drinks). However, it doesn't not disappoint in the service, friendliness, food quality, and uniqueness of the prepared dishes. Also, it's a small place so better get a reservation if you can.
(5)
Molly K.
OMG! The food was AWESOME! Appetizers were delicious. Tried the yam fries, summer rolls, chips with hummus, bread plate. Loved all. Raw blueberry cheesecake, olive oil chocolate cake to die for. Ribeye melts in your mouth. Loved it!
(5)
Pooja B.
This is an amazing find - specially somewhere in the mountains. Being vegan, I was really concerned about finding veggie food around. But this restaurant saved my life! They have began, veggie options and it is delicious! The chef has lots of experience and knows what he is doing - this shows in the food served.
(5)
Joy G.
Jack Sprat gives me hope that Alaska isn't the culinary wasteland I thought it was. Jack Sprat is Girdwood's Spenard Roadhouse. If you like the one, you'll like the other. The menu is eclectic for sure and a bit pricey. But what made this such a breath of fresh air for me is that it was, well, FRESH. Omigawd in Alaska you don't know what a big deal that is, especially in winter. I'm a grazer, so rather than getting an entree, I opted for a series of smaller plates. I started with the soup of the day, Roasted Cauliflower soup that made me want to lick the freaking bowl. It was garnished with a little cream and chili oil that pushed this soup off the scales of the Flavormeter. Oh gawd I'm getting excited just recalling it. Heaven in a bowl, methinks. Then the bacon wrapped freaking dates. Oh. I tried not to moan too loud at my table in the lovely solarium, much less other diners suspect something indecent was going on at my table. The texture, the mouthfeel, the perfectly cooked buttery fat of the bacon was like sex on a plate. There. I said it. S.E.X. The dates and the bacon came together as one in a way that only grownups can understand. Flavorwise, something was missing I think though. I wish that the sauce, which was supposed to be Camembert based, would have been more robust. The dates were SO sweet they could have used a touch more blue cheese to enhance the flavor of the dish. But fugit, it was sex on a plate so I'm not gonna complain. The next dish, I could complain about a little though- Artisan Greens. It was a salad of greens, apples and walnuts and raisins and dijon dressing. One, for the price, it was disappointing. Two, it was slightly overdressed and a bit wilty. Three, the dressing wasn't quite right, it had a slightly rancid flavor that I tried to ignore. And Four, the apples, cheese and walnuts were cut so tiny and in such small portions that they were almost absent. It also needed some cheese or something. It was basically a plate of soggy greens. But hell, this i Alaska, and by Alaskan standards, it was a decent salad. If I was still on the East Coast, I would have sent the salad back though and made them fix it. The veggie spring rolls were perfect. But I was so stuffed from the Roasted Cauliflower soup at the start of my meal, I couldn't even finish. I will defintely be back to Jack Sprat to see whatelse magic they can conjure and to give them a chance to redeem the few missteps. BTW- great service and LOVELY vibe in this place. Love all the natural light and plants.
(5)
Antonio Z.
Drove here from Anchorage because the restaurant was highly rated by over 92 people. .. so I HAD to come. When I arrived, the establishment on the outside looks pretty crappy, however, when you go inside, the environment is a mix of a Cabin with a modern sit down feel. To make things short, ive lived in Anchorage for two years now and im addicted to steaks. ... ive never eaten a better steak in my life until I came here (correction, never eaten a better steak since I moved up here) In order to come here, make a day trip out of it. Grab your wife or husband and make sure it is a perfect weather day. Dress nice and simply enjoy the scenery on the drive here, arrive and truly treat your taste buds.
(5)
Leigh G.
Was really excited to try this place because of all the great reviews. Found it was very overpriced for small portions of mediocre food. The vegetable curry was bland, not spicy at all, and didn't come with rice but instead had a couple tablespoons worth of quinoa. The hummus nachos were yummy but such a small portion for the cost.
(3)
A B B.
Oh my is this place tasty. I received a gift card and was super excited to try it. Everything about this place screams my kind of eatery, from t the building outside to the decor inside. Not to mention the food. OH the food is to die for. I should probably mention I hate onions more than anything I can possibly think of and I NEVER eat them. They are the enemy. The bread I ordered came with this small dish of onion jelly and I was possessed by outside forces, tried it and freaking loved it. My mom would be so proud... Anyway that's how I felt about the onion dish. Everything was so freaking tasty that I wanted the power to go out so I could lick my plate shamelessly in the dark. The ingredients were fresh, the pomegranate sparkling wine drink was intoxicating and delicious. The service was outstanding. Probably the best I have had in anchorage. The salad with pickled pears was so good! The only thing weird was my glass of water had a funny taste and I wished I had saved room to try some dessert.
(5)
Anita B.
Very charming small restaurant with fresh food. We particularly loved the vegan cheesecake and tropical panna cotta.
(4)
Cristina P.
Customer service was aweful. I came with a family of 6. We did not get honey for our coffee, my plate never arrived; the people that did get their food said it was okay. Burritos we're great but don't get it vegetarian.
(2)
Heidi F.
The ricotta cavatelli is to die for. So so good. Best food I've eaten in AK. Definitely better than 7 Glaciers.
I've eaten at Jack Sprat's (breakfast, lunch and dinner) quite a few times over a several years period and I enjoyed it each and every time. Interesting menu with good variety. Fresh, healthy, delicious food. Good service. Relaxing and cheerful ambiance. Not cheap. but not outrageously expensive. Just the usual Alaska prices and fresh food in a tiny little town it costs more to get any food to, let alone fresh food.
(5)
Melanie F.
Should have written this a while back regardless... go here. Not only is it tucked amongst some seriously beautiful scenery, but the food is amazing. Wasn't feeling super hungry so my sister and I shared Butternut Squash Soup and the Pasta Carbonara... This was 3 years ago and I haven't stopped thinking about their food since. Their newsletter still comes to me and makes me super sad I'm not an Alaska local. So again, Go there.
(4)
Elle S.
I drove in from Anchorage for brunch on a Sunday. When I first walked in, I was told that there was a wait, even though half the tables were empty, and one waitress wrote my name on a list. Five minutes later, a guy walks in and immediately gets seated by another waiter. Few more minutes, a couple walk in and grab seats at the bar. This didn't set a good tone for me. If you're going to do a waiting list, do a waiting list. But don't have me sitting in a chair in the entry, waiting and very visible, then seat everybody else that comes in. Service was overall lacking for me. I sat at the table for almost ten minutes before I got a drink. More people were seated around me, which I hoped would improve how often I saw my waitress. She was around more, but she wouldn't make eye contact with me. It was odd. I had the smoked salmon eggs bendict. The eggs were cooked perfectly, but the my crumpet was a little soggy. The purple potatoes made me giggle. Not sure where those are from. They were nicely seasoned, but slightly undercooked. I also had the apple juice. It comes in a cute little plastic bottle. I've had this before in other states in glass bottles. It's good. I'm walking out of the restaurant and see that somebody is getting coffee. I'm so used to waitresses asking me if I want coffee that I assumed they didn't have any and had gone without. The waitress near the bar was much nicer than my table waitress and quickly got me a to go cup of coffee. I happily wandered around Alyeska with my massive coffee. I'd be interested in checking this place out another time of day for the dinner menu. I did enjopy sitting in the front room.
(3)
Kellie O.
Definitely the best restaurant in Girdwood - great ambiance, fresh ingredients, and specials to mix it up ... I miss the days of the burger on the dinner menu but otherwise no complaints :). Oh, and the deck on a sunny day is not to be missed!
(5)
Colin M.
First night in Girdwood and we decided to stop here for dinner based on the Yelp reviews. I had the ribeye with broccolini and potatoes and my wife had the salmon special. Both were very good as was the chocolate cake dessert. We sat outside and it was fairly hot but the cucumber water was a nice touch even though it's not really my thing.
(4)
Beth S.
Oh my goodness was this place AH-MAZING!! Worth every penny for the fantastic service of the lovely hostess to the waitstaff and the food was a party for my taste buds. The duck was cooked to perfection! Almost made me want too be to Alaska.
(5)
Chelsea G.
Huevos Rancheros - Amazing!
(5)
Samantha C.
Love this place. They serve a great cup of coffee, and I love the black and blue burger with the giant steak sweet potato fries with aoli. They do serve the cokes in the little aluminum bottles, which I don't care for. The other down side is that if you get there after 2pm and before 5pm, you are on a very limited menu. This only stinks if you forget and don't get there early/late enough. We now look at the time before heading to Girdwood, where this is our main destination. There is parking around which is adequate, and the place is family friendly. Prices are good for the amount and quality. The service is always friendly and fairly prompt.
Excellent food with a unique twist! Drove all the way from Eagle River for brunch with my wife and had the challah bread french toast...I think delicious would be an understatement. They also have very good mimosa's! Will be back!
(5)
Leigh P.
My favorite Alaskan restaurant. I was granted the opportunity to meet with Frans (the owner) some years back and learn a little about the passion he and his wife and team put into the food, service and ambiance. I moved away from Alaska nearly two years ago and have many several return trips up since then. I do not miss out on a dinner at Jack Sprats. Tonight I enjoyed the yam fries for an app (as did every table around me), the rock fish special which was flavorful and light when combined with the puree it was served with. And for dessert, as always, I had the vegan cheesecake with decaf. I have been to Jack Sprats probably a dozen times and have never been less than happily full and completely satisfied when I leave.
(5)
Loren R.
The spouse and I had yam fries , the best I've ever had, and I've eaten a lot of them even previously at spratt's We had rockfish and lamb The rockfish was fresh and fell apart with a nudge of the fork, the bed of polenta complimented the fish without masking the flavor. The best ever. The lamb was juicy , cooked medium , with lots of natural juices resting on a cucumber? Couscous bed. It was seasoned with a spice sauce that I licked off the plate when no one was looking. Our server was a five star server , Kelsia, her descriptions of the food made me want to order everything. , very knowledgeable about the food. Friendly!
(5)
M S.
This was an excellent little restaurant and the bottom of the ski slopes. The food was awesome. We had the salmon special and the halibut, which were both well cooked and great presentation. It's a cute building as well, we went during the spring, but would be excellent after going skiing all day.
(5)
Julie J.
Couldn't be more disappointed. We made reservations at the recommendation of the hostess. We arrived 10 minutes early and were told our table was just finishing up and we would be seated in a few minutes. We stood (one of us on crutches) for 20 min before a seat in the small waiting area even opened up and after waiting for another 25 minutes the hostess offered us a drink while we waited. She had no idea when her servers would be able to handle more guests. We decided it would be better to leave than wonder if we would ever be seated...questions abound... Why would you take a reservation that your servers can't handle? Why would you seat walk-in guests if your servers can't handle the guests with reservations? Why would you tell walk-in guests that they could be seated in 15-20min when you have guests with reservations that have been waiting for 45 min? I have been to jack sprat a few times and the food is decent though nothing to write home about. There is nothing at this establishment that can or should excuse the behavior the staff exhibited tonight. There is nothing on the menu that could make me forget the treatment we received before we even were seated. We were disappointed, to say the least...we won't be back!
(1)
Polly W.
Brunch was disappointing, not bad, but based on reviews and recommendations, not nearly what we expected. Mimosa was OK, bloodymary, with piece of bacon on top, was good. We had the Red Flannel hash entre & The Usual with a side of hollandaise. The hash was simply over cooked burnt dark potatoes, some pieces of bacon, with a few beet curlicues, topped with sour cream and cilantro. It came with 2 cooked to order eggs. No toast. The Usual, potatoes, bacon, 2 eggs cooked to order and toast. Toast, one slice, hardly buttered came with a wonderful berry jam. Was very good. But ONE slice? Same overdone potatoes, not even crispy or even very warm! Eggs from both entres were ordered fried over easy and over medium. All looked poached, one set more so. Mushy like poached eggs. If I had wanted eggs Benedict, I would have ordered it! Sorry I like my eggs fried. Which brings to the side of hollandaise. It was the best! So was the bacon! If you go for brunch, order a side of bacon, a side order of hollandaise (bargain at $1.50) to dip the bacon in and 2 pieces of toast - and ask for your check sooner than later.
(3)
Shaun R.
Our experience here was fabulous. Though a bit pricy, the ribeye steak and appetizers were perfectly cooked. Minimal gristle, juicy texture, and great seasoning. The ambience and servers were also great. Overall, this restaurant was an Alaskan must for any foodies stopping in Girdwood!!
(4)
Sara K.
Everything we ordered was delicious. .. ate the risotto as an appetizer (cold) and it had wonderful flavor. If you are looking for a spicy dish the bi bim bap was amazing. . Served in a hot pot. The homemade pasta was like a gnocchi.. we added sausage and it was yummy. The ribeye was cooked perfectly. The kids enjoyed their selections from the appropriate kids menu. This place is a must visit if you are in Girdwood.
(5)
Chelsea D.
We ate here for my 'uncle's' birthday. There were three of us, on a Sunday, and I made a reservation a few hours prior. I was glad I did, as the place was rather crowded when we arrived. The concept of this place is exceptional: fresh, local, sustainable, seasonal foods, prepared delectably and for a decent price. The solarium is gorgeous, and a little bit of happy in my life. I had a hearty eggplant and sausage baked pasta that was pretty phenomenal. My uncle and his guest both had steaks, which were perfectly cooked, tasted like butter (in a good, melt in your mouth way), and served with the most tender broccolini I've ever eaten (though admittedly, I haven't eaten a lot of broccolini). The only reason I didn't give this place 4 or 5 stars, was the absolute abysmal service. Our waitress was not only slow, but considering I took special pains to let her know it was a birthday, and brought a cake to be served, her lack of attention to our table's needs was not just annoying, it was insulting. I haven't returned since April, but more due to moving out of Girdwood than feeling miffed at the service. I would go back, as the food certainly stood out, but I would either sit at the bar or hope for a different server.
(3)
Kirsten R.
The food was great. Somewhat of a selective menu but a lot of organic choices. This was our first time trying out this restaurant. We had horrible service, Lance, an older waiter. He carded us and found out we were in our younger twenties and immediately treated us like garbage. He never told us about the specials, checked back on us, never offered a second order of drinks, never refilled our water or a dessert menu. A dessert menu had to be requested from the hostess and Lance, our server still never checked back. The food was pleasant but the service was so poor we will not be returning because of this. I found the profiling that was done by our server, Lance, to be very insulting and unprofessional, he ruined our entire experience with his pompous judgmental attitude.
(1)
Melissa W.
Such a cute place! Went for breakfast and had the eggs Benedict. So delicious! A little spendy but expected for the area. Yum!
(4)
Joseph M.
Cioppino = to die for. Perfect mix of Alaskan seafood and Italian seasonings
(4)
luc d.
First review ever for me. Just had to let any Girdwood visitor know how much this place stands out compared to anything in the area. On the evening of our last stay in Alaska we even changed to a Girdwood hotel instead of staying in Anchorage so we could come back here. Everything we had was great (yes, those ribeyes ! and the halibuts, and whatever else we tried on the menu). Also all staff was super friendly and efficient. Only point of improvement I might add is that the 'indoor patio area' could use some 'dimming' at night ; it remains very bright under the daylight Alaska evenings
(4)
Kelly T.
Here is my experience as true and as kind as I can make it. I've been sitting on this review for about 6 weeks now and haven't forgotten or changed my mind about expressing my dissatisfaction with Jack Sprat. I made reservations about 2 weeks prior to Halloween for that evening. I had a birthday boy in our party and had arranged for a friend to bring gifts as a surprise during dinner. When we arrived by shuttle to Jack Sprat we were told by the hostess that I had no reservation. I asked her if she could check again and told her of the importance of the table. And she said it was not there and said she would get the owner to come talk to me. I said great cause I thought for sure he would remedy the situation. His name is Frans. He comes out and I kid you not says to my face....We do not make mistakes. We are very good at our jobs. As you can imagine we were all in shock. He was basically calling me a liar. Saying I never made a reservation. Cause there was no way they could have lost anything. I responded by saying, wow. I told him if there wasn't an important birthday among us we would be leaving but I didn't want to ruin that. I said we still need to wait for a table. When we finally get a table our server had been clued in to the whole fiasco because he was literally the most curt server I've ever had. Example..when he brought my friends jasmine rice bowl out to her he very rudely told her to move the things infront of her cause the bowl was hot for his hands. The jasmine rice bowl was quite fishy and my friend told me not to try it cause I wouldn't like it so I never did. (Later at the party she threw up three times from that very bowl. And had to leave the party early.) When the bill arrived it was 180 dollars and we collectively decided to leave 10 percent and wrote a note on the receipt saying that we would be calling to explain our disappointment. While waiting for the shuttle to come pick us up the server came over to me and asked me why we only left 10 present. I was again in shock. I said I'm sure you are well aware of the reasons and please don't make me go into them again. I was trying to salvage our evening at that point. We finally left and the following day I recovered a voicemail from Lydia @ Jack Sprat confirming my reservation for the 1st of November. I really wished that I had remember that I had the voicemail at the time I was insulted by Owner of Jack Sprat. since then I went to the website of the restaurant and Frans has a bio that talks about himself and the sort of culinary mission instilled in him by his parents. Part of that mission is the GLORY OF SERVICE. I was quite surprised to read that. He and several staff members are so far off track. Never have I been to a more pretentious establishment. And never have I been treated so poorly. I choose never to return and encourage the same.
(1)
Steve S.
My family of 5 went to have dessert. It was packed like I expected and we did not have reservations. I was told here would be a 20 min wait. After 50 min we finally got seated and immediately ordered desserts. We've been waiting for 25 min and still haven't recd them. Wait staff very nice, but systematically doesn't work.
(2)
Frederick K.
Well, I and my wife spent our first anniversary in Girdwood. My fav town in Alaska and stayed at the Alyaska. I've heard a lot about Jack Sprats and was impressed by their ambitious menu and most of their reviews were positive. My wife had the ribeye. Came medium as requested by lacking the promised horseradish demi. Topped with caramelized onions. Decent. But cold and unseasoned potatoes and broccoli rabe (?). Ah. The cioppino. Well, very different. 3 farm raised shrimp that I couldn't eat. Total rubber. 2 rubber bay scallops. 3 farm raised mussels. Rubber. Supposed to have king crab. It was snow crab or the very tips. Split but very minimal portion. The sauce. It was either a very undeveloped red sauce and reminded me of pizza sauce. Supposed to have fish (halibut and salmon I was sold) but wasn't there or dissolved. Best part of the meal was a generous slice of bread. Sigh. It was a Monday night and chef was probably off. Btw. I've been an executive chef for 25 years and felt sad that 36 bucks was wasted on something I was looking forward to. Our wait staff was professional and attentive but she knew my dinner was less than stellar. I left most of my pretend dinner un-eaten. Hate to be so critical but I was hungry and left disappointed.
(2)
Matthew M.
This is a cant miss dinner spot for visiting Girdwood. They have great food!!! Many choices for the carnivores and vegetarians in your group. Sit and enjoy viewing Alyeska mountain as you eat dinner. The restaurant has a european feel, make sure to order a mass of beer for the full effect. The raw cheese cake and yam fries are not to miss also.
(5)
Rachel N.
Am possibly considering moving to Girdwood solely to eat here as frequently as possible. Trained at The French Laundry, the chef somehow ended up in Girdwood- and thank goodness he did - set in a quaint home, you immediately feel at ease - started w sweet potato steam fries (eff yes), spring rolls, dates wrapped in bacon, and these homemade chips covered in arugula, olives, hummy, etc - the fries were the home run - crispy w/ being heavy. Entrees are unreal - my cioppino was packed w crab, shrimp, clams, scallops, and halibut -all tenderly caressed by a thick tomato sauce - the special salmon was perfectly cooked and on an ample bed of beluga lentils - protein me. The veggie option (quinoa curry w veg) was light and tasty. Dessert was a super star - raw, chocolate avocado mousse torte - so rich, so smooth, amazing. Dn will run abt $60/pp. Worth a trip.
(5)
Thomas C.
My experience here, although just once, was not congruent with the consensus. We went here for lunch on Saturday, and only brunch was available, mostly consisting of breakfast type stuff: egg based or cake based (a very sweet sounding crepe was the special. Having already a good sized breakfast of eggs etc, and NOT wanting to go throught the Bake Shop *not again*. It was a bit of a late but not too late lunch just after 1PM and there were quite a few empty tables. That should have been warning #1, I suppose. No sooner than being sat, and given menus, which we just started to read, the waitress asked if we ready to order. Huh? Not yet. Well then would you like something to drink? So ok, waitress needs some more training, or a refresher on timing and procedure. She was nice enough and congenial and for the record we did tip a reasonable 17%. The water was delivered in glasses without ice- good, like that, and a whole carafe which looked refrigerated with a slice of lemon was set on the table. The water was literally undrinkable. It left a filmy almost soapy dry taste in our mouths. I thought it might be the lemon rind at first maybe some residual malathion or something, but trying to figure it out, we thought perhaps something dripped into the water, like a perfume or something not suppose to be there. Yikes. Warning #2: the water tastes horrible and undrinkble. Maybe the water in Girdwood is just not good. (But in that case, a restaurant like this serving carafs of water tableside might want to use different water, or filter it, or RO it, etc. ) Onto the order: we (two of us) wanted to stay simple, and stay around 20 for lunch and not spend $40, which was actually really tough to do with this menu. Ceasar Salad $7.5 Cauliflower Soup $7 Yam fries w/ jalapeno aioili.$9 The Ceaser was average, but reasonably priced. The lettuce a bit on the wilted side not extremely fresh, like it had sat in dressing too long or something and a bit overdressed. Not a lot crunch. Very few croutons, the few that were there seemed homemade, bit crunchy though. Not much for parmesian, just a couple of small slivers as garnish, not very garlicy, no hint of chovie. But this isn't a $10-12 salad The soup was served in this big ol bowl (not comensurate with soup volume though), no garnish, just a plain white creamy soup. Cream soup is probably what they should have called it, because I'll tell you, there was not a lot of caulflower in this pup. Real high quality cream though it seemed. Yam fries: far as I could tell actually yam, not the usual sweet potato - not I don't eat these a lot at home or in restaurants, but sounded like a good filler. These were pretty good. Dip them in the jalapeno aioli though and they tasted like slimy grass, and gross. I can't not imagine what the heck they put in their aioli, but it was NOT jalapeno. Could not have been. My suspicion, and granted, I'm a suspicious one, was that they ran out of jalapeno, and substituted whatever else green was in arms' reach, maybe some leaves from the indoor plants, I don't know but it was f'ing gross. Either that or they used some real heavy duty EVOO and spinkle some lawn clippings in for good measure. So very sorry other reviewers, but this was my experience. Personally I would be very very hesitant to go here again, but if so only because I feel horribly cheated. Not too many places get such a high overwhelming rating (4+ stars!). So I really do want to like this place, but right now, I just can't. I still had that awful slimy grassy taste in my mouth by dinner time. I think the Sat Brunch (til 2:30 then no service till dinner time) kills the business too, Sundays are the standard brunch day anyway, and in a resort town, during summer, where tourists whether domesic or foreign or the primary customers. No, I sure wouldn't. . A party of 4, foreigners, were obviously a little dismayed as I heard them ask the waitress, "do you have a menu with lunch-type items, and "we are looking for Alaska flavors". Sorry maam, the halibut burrito, and the smoke salmon eggs benedict are your ONLY choices. It seemed they (like us) considered moving on, but hunger, and expedition kept them on course through the choppy sea.
(2)
Kent H.
Loved it! As other reviewers have expressed, service was hit or miss. Our server could have played "Sleepy" in Snow White, but the one at the other tables in our area would easily be describe as "Happy". No matter, the food was good. I tried the yam fries since they seemed so popular, but I couldn't quite put my finger on them. They either needed more sweet or more salt. Probably won't get them again. Bacon wrapped dates were very good! I had the ribeye on the rare side of medium rare, and it was perhaps the best restaurant ribeye steak I've ever had. Melt in your mouth tender with just a small "gut pile" of fat and gristle left over. The chocolate cake dessert made me loosen up my belt a bit, but well worth it.
(4)
Lori S.
I'd been looking forward to eating at this establishment for some time. I am here from out of state and heard good things about this place from my gf who lives here. We called and made reservations day of and arrived a little early. Patiently waiting in their Very cramped doorway. Standing behind patrons already seated and eating at bar. Assured we would be seated promptly 10-15 min. We waited and waited. Other couples arrived and where told the same. We waited patiently as those couples were seated! 45 min. passed then we where asked if we would like a drink? Tables sat empty - my partner asked about being seated they said no... that they were under staffed and would not seat us til they could take our order ! At this point we decided to just leave, it was almost 9:00 pm and the folks who just seem to walk in and be seated hadn't even given there orders ! Needless to say ... I don't Care how good the food seems to be ! Its not worth it if the rest of the experience is So far off the mark ! Good Service is a huge part of the Experience. Gladly took my $$$ elsewhere. Not to return until I see better Yelp reviews !! Thanks Yelp :) 1/2 Star
(1)
Martin D.
Not only because they have original beer from Germany ( try the Radler - shandy ) but even more because of the high quality food! jack sprat is a must if you are in the area.
(5)
Charlotte C.
Amazing! You must get yam fries as an appetizer any time of day and for breakfast get the french toast fluffy and huge with mango sauce also red flannel hash is amazing with scrambled eggs and hot sauce.
(5)
Brian T.
Went to Aleyeka back in March. Went to dinner (late) by accident on a Saturday night. Sat at the bar, had a great meal (Alaskan cod). The wait staff, chef and bartender treated me like I was a "rock star". I ended up eating here three out of the last five days I was in Aleyeska. It is a bit pricy, but worth it. The chef when I was there was from San Francisco and you could tell that he "got it". PS: try the olive oil chocolate cake. it's incredible
(4)
Meghna S.
This place is totally fantastic!! On our trip to Alaska, we foodies happened to visit this place the night we were in Girdwood. Absolutely loved it! Towards the end of trip, on our way to Anchorage we made a little diversion just to visit this place once again for brunch. The Yam fries, sweet potato soup and the Chocolate Olive Oil Cake is to die for. Jack Sprat definitely made Alaska memorable!
(5)
Penny K.
Very good lunch spot at the Alyaska Ski Resort in Girdwood. The menu has many choices of natural items-- wonderful sandwiches, vegetarian dishes. Highly recommend this spot.
(4)
Richard N.
Went for a special occasion and we'll it was good and from all the reviews here we we're like we got to try it. We got the hoisin glazed babyback ribs and bacon wrapped dates as starters both okay. Bacon over crisp in my opinion. Oldest daughter got the baked ricotta cavatelli with chicken added. She liked it but we liked the dol sol bibimbap out of everything. The crunchy rice seared to the pot is delicious. That was the 5 in the bunch. We all tasted it and agreed it was the best thing we ordered. I did a scallop special. It was good too. It just didn't hit our palates as great. I guess it was the variety. If they added maybe a lamb, veal or a goose dish we would be enticed with more unique entrees. Steak and King Crab yes, it's standard fare, then 4 other entrees and a special or 2. Oh, I will also highly commend them on the Raspberry beer they served it was very refreshing the wife liked that a lot too. Just a little under impressed.
(3)
brandi g.
Delicious and inexpensive. We had a great brunch for 2 1/2 for under 30. That's pretty impressive. The gluten free crepe of the day was good, rich, but didn't "taste" gluten free. They were cinnamon roll crepes with pecan and cream cheese filling. Hubby had reindeer sausage and wild mushroom omelette. It was quite tasty. The peanut had scrambled eggs. The coffee was not bad, it was that steam drop stuff and it was pretty good. Overall, very nice people, service and ambience. I wish we had a breakfast place like this at home.
(5)
Chris S.
In three weeks I've been to five. Major cities from Anchorage to Baltimore. This is by far the best restaurant I've been to. Amazing!
(5)
Letitia S.
Exceptional cuisine! Really tasty fresh fish, excellent presentation. Combination of fresh ingredients was refreshing and impressive.
(5)
Saghar H.
the tea cups are huge. I tried crepe and smoked salmon omelet they're good. Their food are different and interesting. their french toast looked awesome. I have to try it next time.
(4)
laurie s.
I never expected to have some of the best food of my life in small town Alaska! Eat here if you care where your food comes from and you love food prepared well and uniquely. Kids loved the chicken, rice, and broccolini. Adults tried the homemade pasta and the pork/rice/veggie bowl with a crazy name. Both were perfect; served piping hot and seasoned well. Can't wait to try more menu items!!!
(5)
Beth S.
The food here was the best I've had since I've been in Anchorage and the surrounding areas. It's outside of Anchorage but well worth the drive. The decor is a warm retro cabin feel. Highly recommend.
Can I give this place ten stars? Please? They are very much deserving of it. Jack Sprat is now my favorite place to eat in all of Alaska. I've been here three times in the last couple of months, and each time has been just wonderful. I went there for dinner and breakfast one weekend while on the MS bike fundraiser, and all of my friends and I couldn't wait until we found another reason to come back to Girdwood to come to Sprat again. We're even talking about doing a cabin rental one weekend, and I know we will have to choose a place that's within walking distance of Sprat. There is something for everyone. I have never once been disappointed with a meal here. The service is incredible, which is a lot to say, considering I like to think I have really good "annoyed server radar." The waitstaff are friendly, helpful and personable. The food is made fresh and with great presentation. Their breakfast, which I had just tried for the first time (I usually make it out for just dinner), should not be missed. Their flannel hash was popular with my friends, and I became so obsessed with their chia-seed porridge that I've tried to emulate it (and failing to do so) at home. I didn't try it, but the crepes looked like angel dust and unicorns on a plate (I bet it tasted like rainbows). I'm salivating now just thinking of their yam fries and their house-made almond milk that is like heaven when made with their spicy mocha mix. They have a great wine selection, and I've never been disappointed in all my years of coming here.
(5)
John A.
Really wonderful ambiance made even better by enthusiastic and friendly servers. The atmosphere reminded me of a fine lodge and the food is what you'd expect in a top-rated restaurant anywhere in the world. The pasta entree was excellent, and the salmon special was incredibly fresh and delicious. Worth coming from near and far to enjoy!
(5)
Tamar F.
On our way back from Cooper's Landing our Anchorage friends suggested that we stop in Girdwood to check out Alyeska. We decided to go to Jack Sprat, which they have been to before. We got there early-ish for dinner (around 4:30/5pm) and were promptly seated in the enclosed porch area. Seats were comfortable and there was good natural lighting where we were sitting. Our server was pretty friendly and had high energy. We were promptly offered drinks - I opted for one of the craft root beers, while the others chose beer. It seems like there's a pretty good selection of drinks. For food I split the cheese course with my friend and ordered the Nicoise Salad for myself. She got the mixed greens salad. J ordered the steak (medium rare), and our other friend the risotto. I have to say that I was pretty disappointed with the cheese course. I love ordering cheese plates because you can sample a variety of textures and flavors - most cheese plates I've ordered have a mix of mild and pungent cheeses, and both the smooth and creamy ones, crumblier ones, and hard cheeses. Unfortunately, this plate was very one-note. There was tiny chunks of cheddar (weird presentation), gruyere, and manchego. It was accompanied by some fruits, but no crackers nor bread. You'd like bread with that? Well, it will cost you $5. Considering that gruyere and cheddar sometimes get subbed for one another in recipes, they're far too similar to be sitting side by side on a cheese plate, and the manchego only packed a little less punch. For the price, I'd pass on this in the future. The upside to the Nicoise Salad was the freshness of the tuna and the perfect sear on it. I found the salad itself to be too overwhelming - way too many capers and lots and lots of dressing - but I can find no fault in the tuna (which I gobbled up while pushing some of the greens aside). My friend's mixed salad looked delicious - I have to say that I wish I ordered that instead! J's steak he said was tasty, although it was in the medium well to well done category. Our Anchorage friends have said that in Alaska you can't get a medium/medium-rare burger, but I didn't realize that this would also be the case with steak. The risotto got positive reviews. I did like the ambiance and service, but I thought that the food was expensive for the level of enjoyment we got from it. I think that they use quality ingredients, but it's how you use those ingredients that determine whether it's "meh" or "knock your socks off" and I think that our dishes could have been improved. I'd definitely try Jack Sprat again if I come back to visit, but it's not particularly high on my list of places to repeat.
(3)
Reed H.
Jack Sprat is the restaurant that competes with Seven Glaciers here in the resort town of Girdwood. I haven't yet reviewed Seven Glaciers, but it is a restaurant that I am a huge fan of. That being said, Jack Sprat was something new. First, the atmosphere was actually much nicer than the other place, especially if you get lucky and are seated in the conservatory area. Soft light and lots of windows. The wait staff is very professional and very excited about the menu. They really want to educate you about what the chef is up to and what the food is all about. Also the menu itself, while small, seems a lot more varied than the other place and more reasonably priced. Appetizers were inspired, and my dish was spectacular. Go to Seven Glaciers for that something that you can't get anywhere else (in Alaska), and of course be ready to pay for it. Go to Jack's for something just as special and much more cozy and down to earth.
(4)
Keshar N.
You leave Anchorage and you suddenly come to the realization that you are going to be in a car for 4 hours before you reach Homer. Don't fret! Approximately 1 hour into your drive you will happen upon a lovely mountain/ski town called Girdwood. And in that tiny little town there is a welcome oasis of delicious food at a restaurant called Jack Sprat. The restaurant itself looks like it was outfitted inside of small house and there is not a ton of seating. I would HIGHLY recommend reservations. We arrived at approximately 5:45pm and were seated immediately in the patio area. The ambiance is that of a modern farm-to-table restaurant without any of the pretentiousness. There were all kinds of clientele there ranging from small families to fancy hikers with their Arc'Teryx packs. Bob and I ended up ordering the two specials one was salmon the other was steak and both were absolutely fantastic! My salmon had a wonderful tomato salad and fried green tomatoes that were not soggy at all, but instead crunchy and flavorful. And my salmon was cooked to perfection! Now Bob's steak tasted really good, but it was a bit overdone. Nevertheless, we ate everything. We then ended with the absolutely fantastic chocolate cake. I usually am not a huge fan of chocolate desserts since they usually are too sweet, but this was really nice. It was bittersweet chocolate that was cut nicely with an unsweetened mascarpone filling. The coffee left much to be desired, but the entire meal (service and all) was very good. So, if you find yourself driving to Homer and need to eat some food to sustain you on your journey, look no further than this place!
(5)
Karen S.
Went for dinner while in Girdwood. Very cute little place. Great service. The bacon wrapped dates were amazing! Had a salad and the fresh rolls for entrees. Wish we had time to visit for brunch, maybe next time.
(4)
Jimberly W.
Yam fries and bacon wrapped dates started the meal off strong. Impressive wine list, great local beers on tap. Cavatelli pasta was to die for from a taste standpoint, but was lacking of actual pasta. Where did all the pasta go? Apparently to the table next to ours - by the looks of it their cavatelli was overflowing with the house made dough goodies. Ours? Not so much. Probably eigh pieces totally. Did the chef forget to add the actual pasta pieces to the dish before cooking? Really, really strange. If not for that would have been a 5 star experience.
(4)
Amanda C.
I can understand why people have inconsistent experiences here. My first visit was 5 stars, second visit was 3 at best. Some of the servers are really competent, others seem like they just moved to Earth last week. Oddly enough, I recommend the 5 stool bar for a better experience. The food is almost always good, but that appears to be the one consistent element. Here are the caveats: 1) let's hope you order the right thing and 2) let's hope they didn't run out of what you wanted. This is what I like to call a "slot machine" restaurant. Pray you're there at the right time to get the good service, good food, enjoyable atmosphere. Otherwise, you'll feel like it's a loser.
(4)
Stacy H.
We had an excellent dinner at Jack Spratt. The menu is a vegetarian asian fusion with seafood and meat options. We ordered the BLT salad which was a big serving and the Scallops Special. All the ingredients were very fresh and tasty. It's a small restaurant that gets very busy. The service was quick, efficient and friendly.
(4)
Kimi N.
Jack Sprat is a great California style restaurant that uses locally gown ingredients and happy animal meat. Since I've lived in the Bay Area for the past 8 years, it was nice to come to a place that reminded me of there. We were seated in the sunroom area which was really nice. It was a Tuesday in October, so there weren't many people. Food was great although pricey. Yam fries ($8) are so crunchy but soft on the inside and very tasty. They give you a nice refreshing dipping sauce and a huge portion of fries. I got the Special ($27) - Pork loin wrapped in pork belly with white beans and swiss chard in romesco sauce. They made sure this was all non-dairy. I was exceptionally pleased that the chef was so willing to make literally anything on the menu nondairy. My bf got the organic chicken ($24) with eggplant, tomato and "green stuff" which I think was arugula. He seemed to enjoy that. I was also super excited to learn this place has vegan desserts! We had a vegan and raw "cheesecake" - chocolate and cashew blended together to make a mousse with pecans on top and a pecan-date crust that was drizzled with yucca syrup (which I didn't like). Overall very tasty but it should have been called mousse cake since there was no sour cheesy flavor. But still, for Alaska, I was impressed. Service was great. Attentive and kept the cucumber-infused water going. Very accommodating with my dairy allergy and super pleasant. I think the prices are a little high but the food is super tasty.
(4)
Rachel G.
very cute, ski resort area restaurant. felt very fresh/healthy. we visited some friends who rented a cottage in the ski resort area and stopped here for dinner. we were treated great by the staff, and the place filled up quickly once we sat down but still got very detailed service. we had the hummus nachos which were ok bacon wrapped dates really good soup of the day- i believe it was a roasted pepper soup but it was pretty good and i hate peppers. and the hoisin glazed ribs, good. for entrees we had, the rib eye, ricotta cavatelli, and they had a special with rock fish everything was very good. would def return if ever in the area.
(4)
Martha V.
Went on the recommendation of a local. WOW! One of the better meals we have had. The wine selection, although on smaller side, was very good. Started out with hummus with crispy fried chickpeas. I have eaten a lot of hummus and this was gooood hummus!!! Then onto the main course. I had vegetable tangine with a chicken breast. The Moroccan spices - Ras El Hanout - were dead on. Personal preference would have had the vegetables splightly bigger but the size served worked with the Isreali couscous. The chicken breast was an add on and it was surprisingly tasty and moist. The star course was my BF's- Pan seared Halibut in a brown butter hollandaise sauce. The fish was done perfectly and wonderfully fresh. The sauce? One of the best sauces I have ever had. Not too rich - and the brown butter made it outstanding!. The service (Selena) was 10 stars!!!! We will return before our departure from this lovely area!!!
(5)
Tony M.
Fantastic find in Girdwood. Skip Seven Glaciers and eat here. Chef has worked at French Laundry, prepared to be surprised.
(5)
James V.
Jack Sprat = 5 for food, and "take a chance" on service! We ate there two times on our trip to Alaska this week. The first time, the food was amazing and the service outstanding. So why not go back, right? OH so wrong! The second time we ate there we were "served" by this sort of over-the-hill hippy wanna-be lady who was OH so blase about whether or not we ever got anything we asked for!! And with a 4-year-old in tow, this is a royal pain in the bo-bo (as my 4-year-old calls it). I actually had to tell her "hey my kid is hungry and you need to bring something!" She was shocked and denied we'd been there for 45 minutes. I didn't bother showing her my Yelp check-in time. Her service just ruined my dinner, which would have been great. I still can't believe I left her 5%! Still I'm giving this place 4 stars based on the first meal, and another experience last year. It's worth a shot and pretty much the only other place to eat in Girdwood outside of the resort. But it's definitely AYOR based on the other reviews and my personal experience
(4)
John G.
This is a gem! The servers were wonderful, food outstanding. I can't imagine what else you would want or expect in a restaurant. Great selection of first class appetizers, descent wine list, and my dinner was outstanding. The other dinners I saw were also presented well. The owner and chef both visited me during dinner, they care and it shows! You won't be disappointed.
(4)
Rob S.
This place is top notch in my book, consistently good food. The only con is the wait staff in the atrium generally consists of one person which results in a bit of a delay in ordering. But overall very good!
(4)
Natalie L.
Another convert! Fantastic meal, great service. We will be back. The summer roll , rib eye steak and chocolate olive oil cake were my favorites!
(4)
Jill M.
One of the best meals of my life. I had the salmon and it was the best Salmon ever. It was cooked to order and the sauce brought out the best flavors in both the fish and the sides of fingerling potatoes, and veggies. If I didn't live in MI, I would return to Jack Sprat often. Great for a date. I was a bit under dressed in my old college sweatshirt, but it wasn't a problem. A very casual atmosphere. The soup was a smoked tomato with goat cheese and basil. Yum yum. The dessert menu was great too. You could just go for dessert and coffee, or wine and appetizers. This a a great place to visit on an empty stomach if you a near Girdwood, AK. Our bill was about $130.00 for three people. This included soups, main meals, desserts and tip.
(5)
Victor B.
Absolutely fantastic. Wonderful contemporary cuisine. Excellent blend of flavors. A taste bud extravaganza.
(5)
Scott T.
We were blown away by Jack Sprat!!! The food was EXCELLENT. The service was wonderful as well (and some good eye candy, too)! I don't know if it is still hit or miss for service there - those reviews are kind of old - but it was certainly a big hit for us - a grand slam in fact. We were originally going to go somewhere else for dinner that night about two weeks ago, but I read a couple of positive comments about Jack Sprat and talked everyone into changing our plans to try it out. The group was so glad we did! Everything we had was outstanding. Basically you had 4 people that really like their food, and are accustomed to eating at high-end restaurants fairly regularly....and we couldn't believe this gem of a find in small town Alaska! Wow. I literally had one of the best Rib-eye steaks I have EVER had....and I am quite the carnivore. Seriously. One other person in my group got the Rib-eye and felt exactly same way. I even had a few more Rib-eyes at some very upscale restaurants in the weeks since and while they were excellent, they weren't even in the same class. Different planets altogether. For a place that says they are known for their seafood, they sure do some crazy-good red meat! We talked about those rib-eyes at almost every meal for the rest of the trip - another 10 days....and I am still thinking about it now that I am home. I want to marry their rib-eye. No pre-nup required. Are you getting the picture yet? The other main courses were reported by our companions to be awesome as well - the fresh salmon dish and something else. I hardly remember what anyone else was eating, I was so involved with my own food. The apps - Yam fries - and soups / salads...were all wonderful....great presentation - as were the sides. We even got desserts because we didn't want the experience to end - the bread pudding was fantastic. Recommended wine pairing was nice also. The waitresses were super-easy on the eyes (our girlfriends even agreed with that assessment) - and were very attentive and knew what they were doing. I don't give 5 stars unless it was insanely good...and by that token, I can tell you that Jack Sprat provided a culinary experience that can be committed to an asylum! If you get a chance, don't pass this place up! Thank you Jack Sprat. For the record - I believe we went there on Saturday, July 2nd, 2011. If they opened a Jack Sprat here in San Diego, it would be an instant hit if they could duplicate the experience we had!
(5)
Natalie P.
We were on a cycling trip with Backroads and this was the best restaurant at which we ate. I had the vegetable curry with the halibut on top. It was anything that I expected, but delicious. My husband got the sirloin served over an orzo risotto with a chimichurri sauce. It was equally as good. The group shared a few desserts which were all outstanding. Olive oil chocolate cake, orange creamcicle custard and the vanilla ice cream with a cinnamon caramel sauce. If I could stay here a week, I would eat here every night and try a different entree each night.
(5)
Ron R.
Amazing food all across the board. Great ambiance and service. Love the huevos for brunch too. Can't praise it enough, one of my all time favorite dining experiences
(5)
Charissa F.
Love it, I'll definitely be back. My squash soup and flat iron steak with chimichuri sauce were beyond excellent!
(5)
Travis S.
I came up to Anchorage for work and this was the best place I found for food in the area. Definitely worth the drive. Service & ambience were great. We didn't have a reservation and so got a seat at the little bar in front of the kitchen. We ordered the cioppino to split as a starter, and then shared braised short ribs with risotto. Both dishes were very good. The seafood in the cioppino was super fresh and delicious. Best king crab I think I've ever had thanks to the way they prepared them--baked. Excellent cioppino broth is hard to find, and while this one is more along the lines of a typical marinara it was tasty and hit the spot. The ribs were really terrific & expertly cooked, along with a very buttery risotto packed with chunks of vegetables that made for a nice, hearty side. The wine selection isn't sophisticated but it's fairly priced and relatively adventurous. We had a rhone blend that was very decent. I'll definitely go back next time I'm through the area.
(4)
John P.
Awesome dinner at Jack Sprat in Girdwood. Everything fresh, natural, well-prepared, nicely presented. One of the best restaurants in Alaska.
(5)
Marnie H.
Fantastic service, our waitress was attentive and courteous. The architecture of the lodge is inspiring and the interior, sundeck, and patio create three cozy separate areas. The menu is brief and specialized. My favorite is the halibut at the top of the menu. Absolutely a "must eat"!
(4)
Antonio C.
Fantastic brunch, even better dinner. Two completely different menus but off the wall for both meals. Great for kids as well.
(5)
Kristen B.
Went in today, new years day for brunch with a party of 7. Worst mistake ever!!! We were told it would b a wait of 20-30 min for a table, not horrible but, we should have just walked up to the bake shop. Three other groups were seated before us (groups of 5) we finally got seated and weren't even served water for another 15 min. Needless to say, we got there at 12:10 and didn't walk out the door until 2:15...for undercooked burgers, cold eggs, and our waitress came by once to give us water. I wish gratuity wasnt included cause I didn't want to tip for such poor service. I don't care if it's new years day and your busy, it's a business and jack sprat has horrible servers and overpriced food.
(1)
Lauren G.
Absolutely fantastic ! The halibut with the paprika polenta was the freshest piece of fish I have ever had. Everyone in my group enjoyed the yam fries, hummus, and bacon wrapped dates were unbelievable. The laid back atmosphere with a five star menu made the experience truly enjoyable :)
(5)
Bryan E.
Always clean. Never heavy. Perfect portion sizes. A changing menu keeps it fresh. The yam fries rock. Try the deck on a warm summer afternoon with a cold beer after mountain biking.
(5)
M.E. M.
Thank you Yelp for recommending this place. Food was great and well worth the extra 10 miles off Hwy 1. I had the Vegie Curry which was superb and my friend had the pasta which was also good. MMMMMMM! Also very good service.
(5)
Jenny T.
Okay, I hate to admit this, but I have lived in Alaska all my life and have never been to Jack Sprat until my recent trip to Girdwood with my dear friend Nicole for Forest Fair. I have so many friends that are trusted foodies that love Jack Sprat- so Nicole and I figure, hey, first Forest Fair, first trip to Jack Sprat. Well, it may be my last, unless a foodie friend wants to foot the bill. It was July 4th morning. I call to make sure Jack Sprat is open. They are, and the assure me that they will have seating without a wait at least until 11am. Perfect- we were going to get there at about 10am. We arrive. Adorable, quaint, and not busy at all. I would like to emphasize how not busy they were. Anyway, we get seated and get water . . . then we wait, and wait and wait. We finally get coffee and order just in case we have to, and we do, wait and wait and wait. We finally get breakfast- no coffee warm-ups. Nicole gets eggs benedict. Sauce was straight up COLD. Now cool, COLD. I get eggs over medium (and believe me, I know how to order eggs- my brother works at the best breakfast joint in Alaska, I'll review it later) and that shit was cooked all the way through. My yoke was like chalk. So much for dipping my toast. So, basically, huge let down. And you know the worst part? My foodie friends happen to go there the next day and had AMAZING meals. I am just confused. I keep trying to figure it out- why was it not good that morning? Can't figure it out. If my foodie friends want me to get on the Jack Sprat wagon, they better load me up in their car and take me there and buy me food!!! That is the only way I will give Jack Sprat a second shot.
(3)
Mario B.
Top notch, one the best meals ever, Valentine' s menu was superb, for few hours I forgot we were in Alaska. Great composition, presentation, awesome service. Can't get much better than this.
(5)
Jonathan Y.
Fantastic food! Can't go wrong here. Love the raw apple pie.
(5)
e J.
I haven't been here in awhile. Apparently they changed chefs and our server gushed over how cool the new chef is and that he's from California and is an avid mt. biker. OK...thats cool and all but the kitchen seemed way overstaffed and I noticed everyone calling him "Chef" as in "Chef says he can make that substitution." I find this all somewhat pretentious and unnecessary. The food prices have gone up and everything on the menu seems to have blue cheese in it now. Hmmm, maybe its a California thing. The Thai noodle dish I ordered was kind of bland but the seafood jambalaya special was amazing.
(3)
Jason M.
It was small but the sweet potato fries are like nothing else..
(4)
Corey P.
The bacon wrapped Gorgonzola dates are out of this world. For an entree I had the chicken with sweet pea risotto, best chicken ever, and the risotto was delicious. The table water has lemon and cucumber, very refreshing. Best restaurant near anchorage, nice ambiance, kind of loud, like most restaurants, but I would definitely go here again, and highly recommend this place. It was a nice mix of people, old, young, people on dates and families. Go here, you will not regret it!
(5)
Patience F.
Just had dinner at Jack Sprat in Girdwood, my first time at this restaurant. It was a fine meal on a Friday evening with friends in a dining room that was busy, but not so loud we had to yell across the table to be heard. The young woman serving us was outgoing and informative about the specials. She did not hover around the table, but provided good, unobtrusive service. My type of server! We started with an appetizer of fried yams, which were served piping hot. I had a few of the yams, but chose to concentrate on the mixed field greens salad. I especially like the goat cheese in the salad, which complemented the candied nuts and bits of beet. I had the chicken breast in a reduction sauce for dinner. It was tender and juicy. One of my friends had the special fish for the evening, but thought there were too many flavors. He said the fish was great, but what it was served on was a bit busy. My other two friends had the lamb (only the bones went back to the kitchen) and the rib eye steak, which looked huge to me. She said it was good and they would eat it again tomorrow as leftovers. We were all pretty full, but the uncooked apple pie sounded too interesting to ignore, so we split a piece. The pie was chilled and had thinly sliced apples marinated in orange juice. Cinnamon and raisins were layered with the apples - it was a truly outstanding dessert. My friends all drank wine and beer and I had ice tea. The ice tea was weak, but that is a minor issue in a restaurant that presented us with a fine meal and great memories. Thanks, Jack!
(4)
Jilly j.
Jack Sprat is dee-lish!! There were six of us for dinner on a Sat night. We were sat right away and told to take our time, which we did. Service was excellent. Food was fresh and the desserts... let's just say we all got something...yummy! I hope to visit again the next time I'm back in town!
(5)
Rob C.
Maybe it was having just hiked 25 miles in a day and a half, but this now ranks as my favorite restaurant in Alaska. Between the three of us there wasn't a miss on the table, the feel of the place is both quintessentially Alaska without being chintzy or tacky, the service was polite, efficient, and unobtrusive, and the value was stellar. I cannot recommend highly enough.
(5)
Jamie B.
Jack Spratt is a fantastic find near the Alyeska Resort in Girdwood, AK, just outside of Anchorage. We ordered the bruscetta special appetizer, with amazingly soft, fresh ricotta cheese and some kind of infused olive oil (see pics). For entrees, we ordered the burger with yam fries, the thai spring wrap, and the portabello mushroom with jasmine rice. They were all extremely enjoyable and very good sized portions. We ordered a liter of Alaskan beer which we unfortunately could not split but instead took turns lifting to our mouths using both hands. The beer list was impressive (as I have noticed is the case in most Alaskan restaurants worth visiting). The place was beautifully and cleanly decorated and the staff was on its toes. The head chef (who happens to be a raw foodist himself) even took the time to chat with us afterwards and answer our questions about the menu. Jack Sprat will give you only the freshest ingedients, some of which are grown on-site, and will take the time to ensure your food is prepared with great care and artistry. The sugar-free apple pie was a winner along with the creme brulee, both of which rounded off a perfectly decadent meal. if you find yourself passing through Girdwood or anywhere remotely near the area, this is definitely a stop worth making. But call in advance, as they are not open for lunch during the off-season except on weekends.
(5)
Charles M.
The name is odd - but just ignore it. It's the food that's important and this place has excellent food. The restaurant is small and charming in the way "Northern Exposure" was charming. The items on the menu are inventive and fresh and very good. This restaurant could reinvent itself in a number of more "sophisticated" locales and do very very well (the name might have to change). The prices are not cheap (vis a vis local standards) and the portions are very reasonable - but the food is so tasty it's all good. We are from Dallas and were staying at the resort - we went to the restaurant two times in a week. It is that good.
(4)
Hari N.
Walked in about 7:30 on a Wednesday summer evening and there was no wait. Yam fries were terrific, but very filling! Don't eat them all! Great service, good food and desserts, and a nice setting.
(4)
Trav S.
Great food just be warned that the bleu cheese burger while tasting great left a smelly breath that my spouse found quite terrible and asparagus like. Also someone raved about the yam fries but I found those only above average and only for being a little healthier than reg fries. Would be so much better if they cut them thinner and baked in some olive oil with some spices. Other than that it's a great place in this tourist trap town full of hippies for the forest fair. Excellent service and staff too btw.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Accepts Bitcoin : No Good For : Dinner Parking : Street, Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : No Dogs Allowed : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
nathan w.
Very pleasing. The olive oil chocolate cake is to die for. Save room. The veggie wrap tacos are vegan and excellent. The baked pasta dish was almost perfect. The pasta itself was a little doughy. The hostess greeter took a little warming up to. Too much high end approach for Alaska even in a high end place like this.
(5)Rebecca B.
FYI, the nice lady at Alyeska will tell you this is 1/2 mile walk. This is not true. It is over a mile. Once you get there, it is very good. We had a great server who totally understood that we had kids and needed to make it a quick meal. She brought out their food almost immediately, though ours was quick too. The vegan dish was the best food I have ever had, the other items ordered will also enjoyed. The vegan dessert ("cheesecake") was also great. The bill was a lot, but I think you come to expect it in Alaska. Worth it for sure.
(5)Katy F.
I try to make it out here at least once a year just because of the commute but it's worth it! The food is made with care and expertise. My favorite appetizer is the yam fries (correctly named, not to be confused with sweet potato). They're large cut strips of sweet, salty and crunchy goodness served with a refreshing cilantro aioli. I did try the fresh rolls... While the sauce was absolutely delicious, the rolls themselves lacked substance and flavor. I think the rolls at legit Thai restaurants are better. While I have enjoyed a number of their entrees, I feel that potions are on the small side for the price tag. $8 for 5 shrimp? Really... Although perfectly cooked I could have used at least 2 more. The duck was lovely as well. My only complaint: the odd bed of arugula placed under with a strange circle of small diced veggies. For some reason this combo just appeared random. Ribeye here is huge. Like gigantic. Now why can't this portion size rub off on their other dishes? The jus was delicious especially drizzled over the broccoli and potatoes. So yes, this places is worth it. Make reservations if you don't want to have to wait a bajillion hours for a table!
(4)Krista M.
Jack Sprat. Awesome place! After recommendations from the Yelp community, my friend and I decided to check this place out after hiking the Winner Creek Trail in Girdwood. I guess we got pretty lucky as there was absolutely no wait on a Sunday evening around 6pm. No complaints there. We were seated on the glass patio, not quite outside but still with beautiful views. Our waiter, Kyle T., was very professional and when he came over to tell us about the specials, I was sold at the Salmon Special. I can't give this dish the description it deserves but it was savory. The salmon completely melted in my mouth, the rice was cooked to perfection, and the vegetable medley was great. The presentation was phenomenal. My friend ordered the vegan taco wraps complete with heart of romaine, vegan cheese sauce, portabello and walnut taco meat, avocado, pico de gallo, and fresh lime. For $11 they were a generous size although I would probably recommend getting this as an appetizer, which is precisely where it is located on the menu. Jack Sprat is truly unique with their "Fat & Lean World Cuisine" slogan. They have healthy alternatives that encompass flavors from around the world. They have more information inside their menu but I wasn't able to read it in full... Just know they have meat, seafood, and tons of vegetarian dishes on their menu and I think all of it is local! If I ever find myself back in Alaska, I'd love to try more of Jack Sprat's dinner options in addition to checking them out for brunch!!! Again, great spot with beautiful views located right near the Alyeska Resort. My only complaint is the steep prices for pretty small portion sizes. While the food was great, I cleared my plate, and didn't have that feeling of being full (or even close to it).
(4)Eric L.
Service was really good. I had the halibut and thought it was pretty good. Low key, family atmosphere. Alaskan crab legs were grab for a free surprise from waitress. Good experience.
(3)C L.
Terrible experience. We waited 40 minutes for our food and when it arrived it was the wrong order. The waitress then asked what we ordered (again), didn't offer to refill our empty coffee mug and did not apologize. We saw people leaving that had arrived after us. We left cash for our coffee and left the place after an hour. Good luck.
(1)Al P.
As if there weren't already enough to like about Girdwood--the lush mountain air and plush greenery, the laid-back atmosphere that always makes me want to shed my absurd lifestyle and hole up in an A-frame with a big garden and take hikes all day, the friendly folk--there's also an excellent restaurant. Jack Sprat actually makes it worth driving in summer traffic behind clueless drivers who refuse to go the speed limit or use passing lanes properly. The atmosphere combines a rustic, homey feel with a unique artistic and even modern styling. The colors are bright and airy. The glassed-in porch is comfortable and just begging for a warm breeze, so the windows can be opened. It's intimate without being cramped or too closed in. They have a nice porch for the long, sunny summer days and a front yard set up for live music and drinking around a fire pit. The food was excellent. The menu is small, with a limited option of appetizers, entrees, desserts, and wine/beer, but the offerings are varied and perfectly flavored, cooked, and presented. For starters, we shared the bacon wrapped dates and the steam pot mussels, which was perfect for our four party group. Can't go wrong with bacon dates, little slivers of deliciousness. The mussels broth was so good we ate it like soup after we'd devoured the meat. I thoroughly enjoyed the duck. So many places don't do duck well, meaning cooking it to just the right temperature where the meat melts in your mouth and the skin is crunchy and bursting with fat flavor. This was not the case at Jack Sprat. The duck size was perfect for the three course meal I enjoyed with friends, with just the right amount of meat, served with local root veggies and arugula to add a bit of sharp, cleansing flavor to the savory duck. My partner in food appreciation had the ricotta cavatelli, with the house-made sausage added of course! It was tasty tasty, even though it had eggplant which I don't really like. The mix of the sauce with the veggies, cheese, fresh pasta,and meat was nicely balanced. A friend had the bi bim bap, which I didn't try, but I did snag a taste of the chili sauce for it, and it was the best I've ever tasted. Just the right amount of heat and gingery goodness. We each had a different dessert:one crème brûlée (dark chocolate and tangerine, best I've ever had!), one chocolate olive oil cake (so good fluffy and good with the ganache icing, I didn't even mind the heavy-handed marscapone, which isn't my favorite), one panna colada (which I didn't try except for the lime bar on top, which was sweet and crumbly), and my own berry bread pudding made with challah (bread pudding perfection, plenty big for sharing). Their wine list was good, with a myriad of varietals, and the server proved to be very familiar with the wine, enough to recommend pairings based on my preferences (and overall, she was excellent, being knowledgeable, friendly, and just attentive enough). I was disappointed to see the CodornÃu on the menu because it's such a mediocre option for a lower-priced sparkling. Why is everyone around here selling it? The distributor must have given a hell of a deal, probably because it's so blah. You'll see this beef on other reviews. It's not going to lower my rating, but it does bum me out. I ended up splurging on a Nicolas Feuillatte brut that was much more than I usually spend on a glass but so vivacious! Overall, the experience was fantastic. I only wish we had stayed the night there last night, so we could wake up and go eat brunch there today.
(5)Rosie V.
TLDR Note: you can only make reservations for 8 or more people, FYI. Excellent place! Very busy which I guess is a good sign... Had to wait 25 minutes to get seated, but when we did it was great! I ordered the vegan scramble and added eggs with a side of bacon. I also started with the chia muesli. My BF ordered the French toast. Together we shared a wonderful "brunch" (it was 1:00 in the afternoon, it seems much more accurate to say lunch) The chia muesli was delicious, almond milk, shaved coconut with walnuts and raisins. It was my favorite part of the meal. The french toast was AMAZING! The mango purée was the perfect balance of sweet and tart. I will return to try their infamous sweet potato fries and bacon wrapped dates. It's a must visit and end it with a nice walk around the Alyeska Hotel.
(4)Andrea J.
The boy wants to give 5 stars but we are settling for 4 stars for the following reasons: 1. No free bread (it was 6 bucks) 2. Portions were small. The food was so AMAZING that we wanted more. 3. It's pricey but the quality is worth it I had the halibut which was light, flaky and buttery in other words perfect. The boy had the fish of the day which was king salmon with the perfect crusted skin, purée pea sauce which he literally licked off the plate. Great place for occasional dinning (due to the cost) but otherwise recommend without reservations :)
(4)Kseniya S.
Probably now one of my favorite restaurants across the globe. If your in Alaska then this place is surely a must try. They do an amazing job all around starting with your experience inside the dining area all the way to their impressive customer service, the European/ Asian American dish presentation, their high quality ingredients and of course the depth to the level of flavors in each of the dishes. This place is a gem and a must to try, you'll be nothing less than impressed by their small town gourmet excellence.
(5)Brianna T.
Jack Sprat might be the best thing that's happened to Anchorage's culinary scene. Their chef is a James Beard nominee and everything I've had here, he's knocked out of the park. Come for the yam fries. Get extra aioli. It's jalapeno-arugula and will rock your world. Put it on other things or just spoon it into your mouth. Either way, do. not. skip. the yam fries. Their preparations rotate seasonally, but the proteins on the menu usually stay the same. I've had several preparations of lamb, all incredible. Same story with the duck. The vegetable curry is great and the upcharge for shrimp is reasonable. They also had a vegetarian (with vegan option) risotto on the menu over the winter. You could order it served either warm or cold and it's probably the best vegetarian dish I've ever had. Desserts rock here, too. Staff is pretty knowledgeable on wines and they have some unique bottles on the menu. Especially during the summer, call ahead! Their seating area is really small and they only have a four or five seat bar at which to wait. But not to fret... if you can find a seat, there's room for a plate of yam fries with your drink. Yam fries.
(5)Kerri E.
Jack Sprat's menu hit the spot for a Sunday brunch. While I kept it low key and ordered The Usual - a bacon, eggs, taters and toast combo, I was quite pleased with my selection. Although, after the bite of a friends smoked salmon eggs Benedict creation, I find myself planning another trip. Plus, it was topped off by sharing a plate of crepe's, pre-meal. The chef's crepe of the day was comprised of a chocolate mousse ganache that had me craving more! Initially, it was only a debate between coffee and water or even a mimosa. However, after our waitress showed up to a neighboring table with a round of delicious looking Bloody Mary's, I knew what had to be done - order one for myself! It had the right amount of kick to it, while being topped off with a tasty garnish of lemon, bacon and the always present celery. Trip to Girdwood, anyone? :)
(5)Paul A.
So I'm out in Anchorage on a family vacation from the East Coast (Philadelphia, PA suburb) and I figure I will review local restaurants I have tried so other tourists and/or locals can avoid the pitfalls of a bad meal/dining experience or find a local gem. Everything about this place is high end. My party arrived after a full day cruise (Phillips 26 Glacier tour). If I had the chance to shower and throw on nicer clothes I would. Not necessarily a hoodie, jeans, and mucked up timb's kind of place. Atmosphere was nice. Tons of local, Alaskan oil paintings on canvas and carved wood studded the walls. Service was outstanding. Appetizer (bacon wrapped dates- sweet and savory) and meal (baked Cavatelli w/ sausage) were top notch and proportions were adequate enough that you could finish your meal and still have room for dessert. Overall well worth the visit but very expensive.
(4)Annie M.
==== Update on Friday July 3rd ==== I did some more research into Alaska alcohol laws following the comment from owner Frans below and found the following FAQ: commerce.state.ak.us/dnn… Quoting from the above site: "When should a licensee or licensee's
(1)Crys A.
Thank God for this awesome restaurant in Girdwood. There are not a lot of options in terms of food -- and even less options for fresh and healthy food. Our app was probably the best thing ... or maybe the dessert. Hell, it was all just really really good. The app was the bacon wrapped dates which my husband initially wasn't interested in before proceeding to eat almost all of them. He followed that with the cioppino and loved it. I had the fish of the day and it was cooked to perfection. We both cleaned our plates. Then dessert! OMG, the chocolate olive oil cake. It was divine with a cup of cappuccino and is a must-try. Thank you Jack Sprat for taking pride in your food and service, and for being the shining culinary star of Girdwood!
(5)Karthik R.
We were a party of six and they were not able to accomodate us as they were already booked. We asked for take out and the waitress checked with the chef and they were very accomodating. We had the baked ricotta cavatelli and it was awesome. It was baked right with the right flavors. It was neither very soupy nor as hard as a rock. Would love to get the complete dine in experience next time I m in Girdwood.
(4)Andrew H.
Who knew the best dinner in Anchorage was in Girdwood? This is my favorite type of restaurant, one with good Omnivore AND vegetarian/vegan food. And by that latter, I don't mean "vegetables chopped up to look like meat" (thanks Jim Gaffigan), I mean thoughtful, tasty dishes that just happen to not have meat in them. Everything on this menu is delicious, and everything is fresh (there are alot of places in Alaska with tasty food...fresh...not so much). I usually get the lamb which is amazing (the portions are a bit on the small side though, so you better get an appetizer or a cheeseburger on the drive home to Anchorage). It comes with a house-made chimichurri sauce. I don't even know what that means, but it seems to be a trend in food now...one that I can get behind, because it is delicious. They also have pretty good beers here and I really nice glass-ceiling patio area to take in the views of the glaciated mountains surrounding Girdwood. If you are driving through this area, you MUST stop here. Try to call ahead though, the secret is out on this place and the space is not very big. You will likely have to wait a while to be seated. Only reason I'm not 5-starring it is that I cannot get behind the portion-sizes, just make them a little bigger guys...c'mon.
(4)Bill K.
The soup of the day was mushroom and it was the best dish of all of them. We had the sourdough bread with peach and poblano jam. The had the yam fries with aoli. The bread and fries were memorable. We had the cavitelli which was very good and the curry with tofu was also excellent. We were so full we could not eat desert. This restaurant needs reservations. They have odd hours so make sure you call ahead. Recommended.
(5)Christopher C.
There are both a lot and too few dining options in Girdwood. A surprising array of higher-end restaurants...which are almost always filled to capacity. Jack Sprat would be amazing if it didn't have competition. As its stands, though, it is still pretty darn good. I had dinner and brunch there. Both very good, and suitably complex, organic, local, and pricey. I was dining solo so waited for the bar to open up, which took a couple of hours. Reservations are a must at many times. Especially since there aren't that many alternatives and you won't want to go to bed unfed.
(4)Ravi D.
Good food, great service and warm ambience. What more could you ask for! The seafood stew was awesome and so was the panna cotta.
(5)Stephanie D.
The food was pretty good. We ordered the vegetarian curry which was too sweet for my preferences and the homemade pasta which was pretty delicious. All in all I enjoyed the food, service, and atmosphere. I thought the prices were a little high, but that may just be because it's good, homemade ingredients in rural Alaska. Anyway, the sunroom is gorgeous and I would go here again if given the chance.
(3)Anna K.
Favorite dish...quinoa and veggies. Awesome food, people and really nice environment. winter rolls are good too.
(5)Stephanie L.
Incredibly romantic:) Friendly service and tasty food! Would highly recommend this restaurant to anyone in the area!
(5)Brandy B.
My bf and I decided to eat lunch here before our check in at Aly... I'd browsed through the yelp pics a few times and really wanted to try it! Plus it's locallllll! We arrived around 1:30pm or so - there wasn't a host or seat yourself sign but knowing how local spots in Girdwood are pretty laid back, I assumed it was seat yourself, so instead of awkwardly standing around like lost "tourists" we seated ourselves in the beautiful naturally lit add on section. A server brought menus and took our drink order shortly thereafter... we then realized they were serving brunch (which included typical breakfast items as well as lighter fare AND bibimbap). We were wanting lunch so we opted for the yam fries, halibut burrito, and bacon & blue burger. The yam fries had me at aioli... They're perfectly fried, fresh, and light - and served with a side of jalapeño arugula aioli! Although the aioli lacked the kick or tang I was expecting we enjoyed that app very much and would order it again in a heartbeat! The halibut burrito didn't knock my socks off (I dunno if it was the overpowering flavor of the black beans, or the fishy taste - yes it was halibut, but I didn't expect it to have that fishy smell/taste that you tend to encounter at restaurants farrrrrr from the coast). My bf liked his burger, it was nicely cooked and fresh. Glad I finally got to mark Jack Sprat off my list of places to try in Girdwood. Next time I'll be sure to come for dinner!
(3)Heather S.
My husband and I ate here and loved it. Great yam fries - huge so you can share a portion! I got the veggy curry and it was so delicious. Get here early! Very popular. Cute ambiance and friendly service!
(5)Doktrmom P.
Food was great service fantastic! They took wonderful care of us for our 40th Anniversary.
(5)Jim T.
Amazing chef and unique food. We started with Caesar salads and the bacon wrapped dates in melted gorgonzola. Very good! For dinner I tried the Dol Sot Bibimbap which is rice, duroc pork, seaweed salad, sesame seeds, julienne vegetables, a fried egg on top, all served in a hot stone pot. The pot was a really neat touch and stayed steaming hot throughout our whole meal. The bacon wrapped dates and Dol Sot Bibimbap are items I've never had before and were great to try. For desert we had the chocolate olive oil cake and the raw cherry cheesecake. Fantastic! I was really amazed that this little place at a ski resort would have such an amazing chef and brilliant menu. Definitely give it a try! Note, this place is not inexpensive though (expect to pay around $30-40 per person for a complete meal with drinks). However, it doesn't not disappoint in the service, friendliness, food quality, and uniqueness of the prepared dishes. Also, it's a small place so better get a reservation if you can.
(5)Molly K.
OMG! The food was AWESOME! Appetizers were delicious. Tried the yam fries, summer rolls, chips with hummus, bread plate. Loved all. Raw blueberry cheesecake, olive oil chocolate cake to die for. Ribeye melts in your mouth. Loved it!
(5)Pooja B.
This is an amazing find - specially somewhere in the mountains. Being vegan, I was really concerned about finding veggie food around. But this restaurant saved my life! They have began, veggie options and it is delicious! The chef has lots of experience and knows what he is doing - this shows in the food served.
(5)Joy G.
Jack Sprat gives me hope that Alaska isn't the culinary wasteland I thought it was. Jack Sprat is Girdwood's Spenard Roadhouse. If you like the one, you'll like the other. The menu is eclectic for sure and a bit pricey. But what made this such a breath of fresh air for me is that it was, well, FRESH. Omigawd in Alaska you don't know what a big deal that is, especially in winter. I'm a grazer, so rather than getting an entree, I opted for a series of smaller plates. I started with the soup of the day, Roasted Cauliflower soup that made me want to lick the freaking bowl. It was garnished with a little cream and chili oil that pushed this soup off the scales of the Flavormeter. Oh gawd I'm getting excited just recalling it. Heaven in a bowl, methinks. Then the bacon wrapped freaking dates. Oh. I tried not to moan too loud at my table in the lovely solarium, much less other diners suspect something indecent was going on at my table. The texture, the mouthfeel, the perfectly cooked buttery fat of the bacon was like sex on a plate. There. I said it. S.E.X. The dates and the bacon came together as one in a way that only grownups can understand. Flavorwise, something was missing I think though. I wish that the sauce, which was supposed to be Camembert based, would have been more robust. The dates were SO sweet they could have used a touch more blue cheese to enhance the flavor of the dish. But fugit, it was sex on a plate so I'm not gonna complain. The next dish, I could complain about a little though- Artisan Greens. It was a salad of greens, apples and walnuts and raisins and dijon dressing. One, for the price, it was disappointing. Two, it was slightly overdressed and a bit wilty. Three, the dressing wasn't quite right, it had a slightly rancid flavor that I tried to ignore. And Four, the apples, cheese and walnuts were cut so tiny and in such small portions that they were almost absent. It also needed some cheese or something. It was basically a plate of soggy greens. But hell, this i Alaska, and by Alaskan standards, it was a decent salad. If I was still on the East Coast, I would have sent the salad back though and made them fix it. The veggie spring rolls were perfect. But I was so stuffed from the Roasted Cauliflower soup at the start of my meal, I couldn't even finish. I will defintely be back to Jack Sprat to see whatelse magic they can conjure and to give them a chance to redeem the few missteps. BTW- great service and LOVELY vibe in this place. Love all the natural light and plants.
(5)Antonio Z.
Drove here from Anchorage because the restaurant was highly rated by over 92 people. .. so I HAD to come. When I arrived, the establishment on the outside looks pretty crappy, however, when you go inside, the environment is a mix of a Cabin with a modern sit down feel. To make things short, ive lived in Anchorage for two years now and im addicted to steaks. ... ive never eaten a better steak in my life until I came here (correction, never eaten a better steak since I moved up here) In order to come here, make a day trip out of it. Grab your wife or husband and make sure it is a perfect weather day. Dress nice and simply enjoy the scenery on the drive here, arrive and truly treat your taste buds.
(5)Leigh G.
Was really excited to try this place because of all the great reviews. Found it was very overpriced for small portions of mediocre food. The vegetable curry was bland, not spicy at all, and didn't come with rice but instead had a couple tablespoons worth of quinoa. The hummus nachos were yummy but such a small portion for the cost.
(3)A B B.
Oh my is this place tasty. I received a gift card and was super excited to try it. Everything about this place screams my kind of eatery, from t the building outside to the decor inside. Not to mention the food. OH the food is to die for. I should probably mention I hate onions more than anything I can possibly think of and I NEVER eat them. They are the enemy. The bread I ordered came with this small dish of onion jelly and I was possessed by outside forces, tried it and freaking loved it. My mom would be so proud... Anyway that's how I felt about the onion dish. Everything was so freaking tasty that I wanted the power to go out so I could lick my plate shamelessly in the dark. The ingredients were fresh, the pomegranate sparkling wine drink was intoxicating and delicious. The service was outstanding. Probably the best I have had in anchorage. The salad with pickled pears was so good! The only thing weird was my glass of water had a funny taste and I wished I had saved room to try some dessert.
(5)Anita B.
Very charming small restaurant with fresh food. We particularly loved the vegan cheesecake and tropical panna cotta.
(4)Cristina P.
Customer service was aweful. I came with a family of 6. We did not get honey for our coffee, my plate never arrived; the people that did get their food said it was okay. Burritos we're great but don't get it vegetarian.
(2)Heidi F.
The ricotta cavatelli is to die for. So so good. Best food I've eaten in AK. Definitely better than 7 Glaciers.
(5)Monica R.
Poor service. Cannot emphasize this enough. I flagged two other servers to get silverware and refills on drinks. No idea why this place is recommended highly. I had canned artichoke in my sautéed dish that ruined the flavor of the fish. No fresh veggies, then skip it! No bueno. Go somewhere else.
(1)A S.
I've eaten at Jack Sprat's (breakfast, lunch and dinner) quite a few times over a several years period and I enjoyed it each and every time. Interesting menu with good variety. Fresh, healthy, delicious food. Good service. Relaxing and cheerful ambiance. Not cheap. but not outrageously expensive. Just the usual Alaska prices and fresh food in a tiny little town it costs more to get any food to, let alone fresh food.
(5)Melanie F.
Should have written this a while back regardless... go here. Not only is it tucked amongst some seriously beautiful scenery, but the food is amazing. Wasn't feeling super hungry so my sister and I shared Butternut Squash Soup and the Pasta Carbonara... This was 3 years ago and I haven't stopped thinking about their food since. Their newsletter still comes to me and makes me super sad I'm not an Alaska local. So again, Go there.
(4)Elle S.
I drove in from Anchorage for brunch on a Sunday. When I first walked in, I was told that there was a wait, even though half the tables were empty, and one waitress wrote my name on a list. Five minutes later, a guy walks in and immediately gets seated by another waiter. Few more minutes, a couple walk in and grab seats at the bar. This didn't set a good tone for me. If you're going to do a waiting list, do a waiting list. But don't have me sitting in a chair in the entry, waiting and very visible, then seat everybody else that comes in. Service was overall lacking for me. I sat at the table for almost ten minutes before I got a drink. More people were seated around me, which I hoped would improve how often I saw my waitress. She was around more, but she wouldn't make eye contact with me. It was odd. I had the smoked salmon eggs bendict. The eggs were cooked perfectly, but the my crumpet was a little soggy. The purple potatoes made me giggle. Not sure where those are from. They were nicely seasoned, but slightly undercooked. I also had the apple juice. It comes in a cute little plastic bottle. I've had this before in other states in glass bottles. It's good. I'm walking out of the restaurant and see that somebody is getting coffee. I'm so used to waitresses asking me if I want coffee that I assumed they didn't have any and had gone without. The waitress near the bar was much nicer than my table waitress and quickly got me a to go cup of coffee. I happily wandered around Alyeska with my massive coffee. I'd be interested in checking this place out another time of day for the dinner menu. I did enjopy sitting in the front room.
(3)Kellie O.
Definitely the best restaurant in Girdwood - great ambiance, fresh ingredients, and specials to mix it up ... I miss the days of the burger on the dinner menu but otherwise no complaints :). Oh, and the deck on a sunny day is not to be missed!
(5)Colin M.
First night in Girdwood and we decided to stop here for dinner based on the Yelp reviews. I had the ribeye with broccolini and potatoes and my wife had the salmon special. Both were very good as was the chocolate cake dessert. We sat outside and it was fairly hot but the cucumber water was a nice touch even though it's not really my thing.
(4)Beth S.
Oh my goodness was this place AH-MAZING!! Worth every penny for the fantastic service of the lovely hostess to the waitstaff and the food was a party for my taste buds. The duck was cooked to perfection! Almost made me want too be to Alaska.
(5)Chelsea G.
Huevos Rancheros - Amazing!
(5)Samantha C.
Love this place. They serve a great cup of coffee, and I love the black and blue burger with the giant steak sweet potato fries with aoli. They do serve the cokes in the little aluminum bottles, which I don't care for. The other down side is that if you get there after 2pm and before 5pm, you are on a very limited menu. This only stinks if you forget and don't get there early/late enough. We now look at the time before heading to Girdwood, where this is our main destination. There is parking around which is adequate, and the place is family friendly. Prices are good for the amount and quality. The service is always friendly and fairly prompt.
(4)Jason G.
My partner and I went to Jack Sprat one Friday evening while we are staying at the Alyeska Resort in Girdwood. We are looking for place to eat and saw that it was #1 on TripAdvisor, and we decided to try it out. It definitely is the best place to eat in Girdwood. We were able to get a reservation the day-of, and when we got there at around 8:30, the place was packed. We're lucky to have gotten a reservation. The decor is kind of like an old lodge, and it was very homey with lots of wood everywhere. We ate in the sunroom area, and it was very airy and bright while the sun was up. I would describe the menu at Jack Sprat as rather eclectic. There is Asian food and American fare, but I couldn't really pin it down. I will say that the menu is not very expansive - just five entrée selections, and they were all a bit pricey. Everyone around us seemed to order the Korean bibimbap, but we did not get that. For appetizer, we got the spring rolls, which were very fresh in taste as well as a good palate starter. I ordered the Alaskan halibut, which was cooked perfectly. The bacon in the greens really combined to make this a successful dish. (I mean, I didn't travel all the way to Alaska from Washington DC to eat food that was imported from where I just came.) The best course was dessert - the panna cotta. Actually, when we told one of the workers of the Alyeska Resort that we are going to Jack Sprat, she recommended we order the panna cotta, and she definitely was right. One of the best examples of this dish that I've ever eaten! Overall, we had a very delightful and tasty meal at Jack's Sprat, and I would definitely recommend it. I will say, though, the waitress said that the chef was preparing to go back to California at the end of September 2013. Clearly the chef is the main attraction at this restaurant, so I don't really know how things will change at Jack Sprat once he leaves.
(5)Scott M.
Excellent food with a unique twist! Drove all the way from Eagle River for brunch with my wife and had the challah bread french toast...I think delicious would be an understatement. They also have very good mimosa's! Will be back!
(5)Leigh P.
My favorite Alaskan restaurant. I was granted the opportunity to meet with Frans (the owner) some years back and learn a little about the passion he and his wife and team put into the food, service and ambiance. I moved away from Alaska nearly two years ago and have many several return trips up since then. I do not miss out on a dinner at Jack Sprats. Tonight I enjoyed the yam fries for an app (as did every table around me), the rock fish special which was flavorful and light when combined with the puree it was served with. And for dessert, as always, I had the vegan cheesecake with decaf. I have been to Jack Sprats probably a dozen times and have never been less than happily full and completely satisfied when I leave.
(5)Loren R.
The spouse and I had yam fries , the best I've ever had, and I've eaten a lot of them even previously at spratt's We had rockfish and lamb The rockfish was fresh and fell apart with a nudge of the fork, the bed of polenta complimented the fish without masking the flavor. The best ever. The lamb was juicy , cooked medium , with lots of natural juices resting on a cucumber? Couscous bed. It was seasoned with a spice sauce that I licked off the plate when no one was looking. Our server was a five star server , Kelsia, her descriptions of the food made me want to order everything. , very knowledgeable about the food. Friendly!
(5)M S.
This was an excellent little restaurant and the bottom of the ski slopes. The food was awesome. We had the salmon special and the halibut, which were both well cooked and great presentation. It's a cute building as well, we went during the spring, but would be excellent after going skiing all day.
(5)Julie J.
Couldn't be more disappointed. We made reservations at the recommendation of the hostess. We arrived 10 minutes early and were told our table was just finishing up and we would be seated in a few minutes. We stood (one of us on crutches) for 20 min before a seat in the small waiting area even opened up and after waiting for another 25 minutes the hostess offered us a drink while we waited. She had no idea when her servers would be able to handle more guests. We decided it would be better to leave than wonder if we would ever be seated...questions abound... Why would you take a reservation that your servers can't handle? Why would you seat walk-in guests if your servers can't handle the guests with reservations? Why would you tell walk-in guests that they could be seated in 15-20min when you have guests with reservations that have been waiting for 45 min? I have been to jack sprat a few times and the food is decent though nothing to write home about. There is nothing at this establishment that can or should excuse the behavior the staff exhibited tonight. There is nothing on the menu that could make me forget the treatment we received before we even were seated. We were disappointed, to say the least...we won't be back!
(1)Polly W.
Brunch was disappointing, not bad, but based on reviews and recommendations, not nearly what we expected. Mimosa was OK, bloodymary, with piece of bacon on top, was good. We had the Red Flannel hash entre & The Usual with a side of hollandaise. The hash was simply over cooked burnt dark potatoes, some pieces of bacon, with a few beet curlicues, topped with sour cream and cilantro. It came with 2 cooked to order eggs. No toast. The Usual, potatoes, bacon, 2 eggs cooked to order and toast. Toast, one slice, hardly buttered came with a wonderful berry jam. Was very good. But ONE slice? Same overdone potatoes, not even crispy or even very warm! Eggs from both entres were ordered fried over easy and over medium. All looked poached, one set more so. Mushy like poached eggs. If I had wanted eggs Benedict, I would have ordered it! Sorry I like my eggs fried. Which brings to the side of hollandaise. It was the best! So was the bacon! If you go for brunch, order a side of bacon, a side order of hollandaise (bargain at $1.50) to dip the bacon in and 2 pieces of toast - and ask for your check sooner than later.
(3)Shaun R.
Our experience here was fabulous. Though a bit pricy, the ribeye steak and appetizers were perfectly cooked. Minimal gristle, juicy texture, and great seasoning. The ambience and servers were also great. Overall, this restaurant was an Alaskan must for any foodies stopping in Girdwood!!
(4)Sara K.
Everything we ordered was delicious. .. ate the risotto as an appetizer (cold) and it had wonderful flavor. If you are looking for a spicy dish the bi bim bap was amazing. . Served in a hot pot. The homemade pasta was like a gnocchi.. we added sausage and it was yummy. The ribeye was cooked perfectly. The kids enjoyed their selections from the appropriate kids menu. This place is a must visit if you are in Girdwood.
(5)Chelsea D.
We ate here for my 'uncle's' birthday. There were three of us, on a Sunday, and I made a reservation a few hours prior. I was glad I did, as the place was rather crowded when we arrived. The concept of this place is exceptional: fresh, local, sustainable, seasonal foods, prepared delectably and for a decent price. The solarium is gorgeous, and a little bit of happy in my life. I had a hearty eggplant and sausage baked pasta that was pretty phenomenal. My uncle and his guest both had steaks, which were perfectly cooked, tasted like butter (in a good, melt in your mouth way), and served with the most tender broccolini I've ever eaten (though admittedly, I haven't eaten a lot of broccolini). The only reason I didn't give this place 4 or 5 stars, was the absolute abysmal service. Our waitress was not only slow, but considering I took special pains to let her know it was a birthday, and brought a cake to be served, her lack of attention to our table's needs was not just annoying, it was insulting. I haven't returned since April, but more due to moving out of Girdwood than feeling miffed at the service. I would go back, as the food certainly stood out, but I would either sit at the bar or hope for a different server.
(3)Kirsten R.
The food was great. Somewhat of a selective menu but a lot of organic choices. This was our first time trying out this restaurant. We had horrible service, Lance, an older waiter. He carded us and found out we were in our younger twenties and immediately treated us like garbage. He never told us about the specials, checked back on us, never offered a second order of drinks, never refilled our water or a dessert menu. A dessert menu had to be requested from the hostess and Lance, our server still never checked back. The food was pleasant but the service was so poor we will not be returning because of this. I found the profiling that was done by our server, Lance, to be very insulting and unprofessional, he ruined our entire experience with his pompous judgmental attitude.
(1)Melissa W.
Such a cute place! Went for breakfast and had the eggs Benedict. So delicious! A little spendy but expected for the area. Yum!
(4)Joseph M.
Cioppino = to die for. Perfect mix of Alaskan seafood and Italian seasonings
(4)luc d.
First review ever for me. Just had to let any Girdwood visitor know how much this place stands out compared to anything in the area. On the evening of our last stay in Alaska we even changed to a Girdwood hotel instead of staying in Anchorage so we could come back here. Everything we had was great (yes, those ribeyes ! and the halibuts, and whatever else we tried on the menu). Also all staff was super friendly and efficient. Only point of improvement I might add is that the 'indoor patio area' could use some 'dimming' at night ; it remains very bright under the daylight Alaska evenings
(4)Kelly T.
Here is my experience as true and as kind as I can make it. I've been sitting on this review for about 6 weeks now and haven't forgotten or changed my mind about expressing my dissatisfaction with Jack Sprat. I made reservations about 2 weeks prior to Halloween for that evening. I had a birthday boy in our party and had arranged for a friend to bring gifts as a surprise during dinner. When we arrived by shuttle to Jack Sprat we were told by the hostess that I had no reservation. I asked her if she could check again and told her of the importance of the table. And she said it was not there and said she would get the owner to come talk to me. I said great cause I thought for sure he would remedy the situation. His name is Frans. He comes out and I kid you not says to my face....We do not make mistakes. We are very good at our jobs. As you can imagine we were all in shock. He was basically calling me a liar. Saying I never made a reservation. Cause there was no way they could have lost anything. I responded by saying, wow. I told him if there wasn't an important birthday among us we would be leaving but I didn't want to ruin that. I said we still need to wait for a table. When we finally get a table our server had been clued in to the whole fiasco because he was literally the most curt server I've ever had. Example..when he brought my friends jasmine rice bowl out to her he very rudely told her to move the things infront of her cause the bowl was hot for his hands. The jasmine rice bowl was quite fishy and my friend told me not to try it cause I wouldn't like it so I never did. (Later at the party she threw up three times from that very bowl. And had to leave the party early.) When the bill arrived it was 180 dollars and we collectively decided to leave 10 percent and wrote a note on the receipt saying that we would be calling to explain our disappointment. While waiting for the shuttle to come pick us up the server came over to me and asked me why we only left 10 present. I was again in shock. I said I'm sure you are well aware of the reasons and please don't make me go into them again. I was trying to salvage our evening at that point. We finally left and the following day I recovered a voicemail from Lydia @ Jack Sprat confirming my reservation for the 1st of November. I really wished that I had remember that I had the voicemail at the time I was insulted by Owner of Jack Sprat. since then I went to the website of the restaurant and Frans has a bio that talks about himself and the sort of culinary mission instilled in him by his parents. Part of that mission is the GLORY OF SERVICE. I was quite surprised to read that. He and several staff members are so far off track. Never have I been to a more pretentious establishment. And never have I been treated so poorly. I choose never to return and encourage the same.
(1)Steve S.
My family of 5 went to have dessert. It was packed like I expected and we did not have reservations. I was told here would be a 20 min wait. After 50 min we finally got seated and immediately ordered desserts. We've been waiting for 25 min and still haven't recd them. Wait staff very nice, but systematically doesn't work.
(2)Frederick K.
Well, I and my wife spent our first anniversary in Girdwood. My fav town in Alaska and stayed at the Alyaska. I've heard a lot about Jack Sprats and was impressed by their ambitious menu and most of their reviews were positive. My wife had the ribeye. Came medium as requested by lacking the promised horseradish demi. Topped with caramelized onions. Decent. But cold and unseasoned potatoes and broccoli rabe (?). Ah. The cioppino. Well, very different. 3 farm raised shrimp that I couldn't eat. Total rubber. 2 rubber bay scallops. 3 farm raised mussels. Rubber. Supposed to have king crab. It was snow crab or the very tips. Split but very minimal portion. The sauce. It was either a very undeveloped red sauce and reminded me of pizza sauce. Supposed to have fish (halibut and salmon I was sold) but wasn't there or dissolved. Best part of the meal was a generous slice of bread. Sigh. It was a Monday night and chef was probably off. Btw. I've been an executive chef for 25 years and felt sad that 36 bucks was wasted on something I was looking forward to. Our wait staff was professional and attentive but she knew my dinner was less than stellar. I left most of my pretend dinner un-eaten. Hate to be so critical but I was hungry and left disappointed.
(2)Matthew M.
This is a cant miss dinner spot for visiting Girdwood. They have great food!!! Many choices for the carnivores and vegetarians in your group. Sit and enjoy viewing Alyeska mountain as you eat dinner. The restaurant has a european feel, make sure to order a mass of beer for the full effect. The raw cheese cake and yam fries are not to miss also.
(5)Rachel N.
Am possibly considering moving to Girdwood solely to eat here as frequently as possible. Trained at The French Laundry, the chef somehow ended up in Girdwood- and thank goodness he did - set in a quaint home, you immediately feel at ease - started w sweet potato steam fries (eff yes), spring rolls, dates wrapped in bacon, and these homemade chips covered in arugula, olives, hummy, etc - the fries were the home run - crispy w/ being heavy. Entrees are unreal - my cioppino was packed w crab, shrimp, clams, scallops, and halibut -all tenderly caressed by a thick tomato sauce - the special salmon was perfectly cooked and on an ample bed of beluga lentils - protein me. The veggie option (quinoa curry w veg) was light and tasty. Dessert was a super star - raw, chocolate avocado mousse torte - so rich, so smooth, amazing. Dn will run abt $60/pp. Worth a trip.
(5)Thomas C.
My experience here, although just once, was not congruent with the consensus. We went here for lunch on Saturday, and only brunch was available, mostly consisting of breakfast type stuff: egg based or cake based (a very sweet sounding crepe was the special. Having already a good sized breakfast of eggs etc, and NOT wanting to go throught the Bake Shop *not again*. It was a bit of a late but not too late lunch just after 1PM and there were quite a few empty tables. That should have been warning #1, I suppose. No sooner than being sat, and given menus, which we just started to read, the waitress asked if we ready to order. Huh? Not yet. Well then would you like something to drink? So ok, waitress needs some more training, or a refresher on timing and procedure. She was nice enough and congenial and for the record we did tip a reasonable 17%. The water was delivered in glasses without ice- good, like that, and a whole carafe which looked refrigerated with a slice of lemon was set on the table. The water was literally undrinkable. It left a filmy almost soapy dry taste in our mouths. I thought it might be the lemon rind at first maybe some residual malathion or something, but trying to figure it out, we thought perhaps something dripped into the water, like a perfume or something not suppose to be there. Yikes. Warning #2: the water tastes horrible and undrinkble. Maybe the water in Girdwood is just not good. (But in that case, a restaurant like this serving carafs of water tableside might want to use different water, or filter it, or RO it, etc. ) Onto the order: we (two of us) wanted to stay simple, and stay around 20 for lunch and not spend $40, which was actually really tough to do with this menu. Ceasar Salad $7.5 Cauliflower Soup $7 Yam fries w/ jalapeno aioili.$9 The Ceaser was average, but reasonably priced. The lettuce a bit on the wilted side not extremely fresh, like it had sat in dressing too long or something and a bit overdressed. Not a lot crunch. Very few croutons, the few that were there seemed homemade, bit crunchy though. Not much for parmesian, just a couple of small slivers as garnish, not very garlicy, no hint of chovie. But this isn't a $10-12 salad The soup was served in this big ol bowl (not comensurate with soup volume though), no garnish, just a plain white creamy soup. Cream soup is probably what they should have called it, because I'll tell you, there was not a lot of caulflower in this pup. Real high quality cream though it seemed. Yam fries: far as I could tell actually yam, not the usual sweet potato - not I don't eat these a lot at home or in restaurants, but sounded like a good filler. These were pretty good. Dip them in the jalapeno aioli though and they tasted like slimy grass, and gross. I can't not imagine what the heck they put in their aioli, but it was NOT jalapeno. Could not have been. My suspicion, and granted, I'm a suspicious one, was that they ran out of jalapeno, and substituted whatever else green was in arms' reach, maybe some leaves from the indoor plants, I don't know but it was f'ing gross. Either that or they used some real heavy duty EVOO and spinkle some lawn clippings in for good measure. So very sorry other reviewers, but this was my experience. Personally I would be very very hesitant to go here again, but if so only because I feel horribly cheated. Not too many places get such a high overwhelming rating (4+ stars!). So I really do want to like this place, but right now, I just can't. I still had that awful slimy grassy taste in my mouth by dinner time. I think the Sat Brunch (til 2:30 then no service till dinner time) kills the business too, Sundays are the standard brunch day anyway, and in a resort town, during summer, where tourists whether domesic or foreign or the primary customers. No, I sure wouldn't. . A party of 4, foreigners, were obviously a little dismayed as I heard them ask the waitress, "do you have a menu with lunch-type items, and "we are looking for Alaska flavors". Sorry maam, the halibut burrito, and the smoke salmon eggs benedict are your ONLY choices. It seemed they (like us) considered moving on, but hunger, and expedition kept them on course through the choppy sea.
(2)Kent H.
Loved it! As other reviewers have expressed, service was hit or miss. Our server could have played "Sleepy" in Snow White, but the one at the other tables in our area would easily be describe as "Happy". No matter, the food was good. I tried the yam fries since they seemed so popular, but I couldn't quite put my finger on them. They either needed more sweet or more salt. Probably won't get them again. Bacon wrapped dates were very good! I had the ribeye on the rare side of medium rare, and it was perhaps the best restaurant ribeye steak I've ever had. Melt in your mouth tender with just a small "gut pile" of fat and gristle left over. The chocolate cake dessert made me loosen up my belt a bit, but well worth it.
(4)Lori S.
I'd been looking forward to eating at this establishment for some time. I am here from out of state and heard good things about this place from my gf who lives here. We called and made reservations day of and arrived a little early. Patiently waiting in their Very cramped doorway. Standing behind patrons already seated and eating at bar. Assured we would be seated promptly 10-15 min. We waited and waited. Other couples arrived and where told the same. We waited patiently as those couples were seated! 45 min. passed then we where asked if we would like a drink? Tables sat empty - my partner asked about being seated they said no... that they were under staffed and would not seat us til they could take our order ! At this point we decided to just leave, it was almost 9:00 pm and the folks who just seem to walk in and be seated hadn't even given there orders ! Needless to say ... I don't Care how good the food seems to be ! Its not worth it if the rest of the experience is So far off the mark ! Good Service is a huge part of the Experience. Gladly took my $$$ elsewhere. Not to return until I see better Yelp reviews !! Thanks Yelp :) 1/2 Star
(1)Martin D.
Not only because they have original beer from Germany ( try the Radler - shandy ) but even more because of the high quality food! jack sprat is a must if you are in the area.
(5)Charlotte C.
Amazing! You must get yam fries as an appetizer any time of day and for breakfast get the french toast fluffy and huge with mango sauce also red flannel hash is amazing with scrambled eggs and hot sauce.
(5)Brian T.
Went to Aleyeka back in March. Went to dinner (late) by accident on a Saturday night. Sat at the bar, had a great meal (Alaskan cod). The wait staff, chef and bartender treated me like I was a "rock star". I ended up eating here three out of the last five days I was in Aleyeska. It is a bit pricy, but worth it. The chef when I was there was from San Francisco and you could tell that he "got it". PS: try the olive oil chocolate cake. it's incredible
(4)Meghna S.
This place is totally fantastic!! On our trip to Alaska, we foodies happened to visit this place the night we were in Girdwood. Absolutely loved it! Towards the end of trip, on our way to Anchorage we made a little diversion just to visit this place once again for brunch. The Yam fries, sweet potato soup and the Chocolate Olive Oil Cake is to die for. Jack Sprat definitely made Alaska memorable!
(5)Penny K.
Very good lunch spot at the Alyaska Ski Resort in Girdwood. The menu has many choices of natural items-- wonderful sandwiches, vegetarian dishes. Highly recommend this spot.
(4)Richard N.
Went for a special occasion and we'll it was good and from all the reviews here we we're like we got to try it. We got the hoisin glazed babyback ribs and bacon wrapped dates as starters both okay. Bacon over crisp in my opinion. Oldest daughter got the baked ricotta cavatelli with chicken added. She liked it but we liked the dol sol bibimbap out of everything. The crunchy rice seared to the pot is delicious. That was the 5 in the bunch. We all tasted it and agreed it was the best thing we ordered. I did a scallop special. It was good too. It just didn't hit our palates as great. I guess it was the variety. If they added maybe a lamb, veal or a goose dish we would be enticed with more unique entrees. Steak and King Crab yes, it's standard fare, then 4 other entrees and a special or 2. Oh, I will also highly commend them on the Raspberry beer they served it was very refreshing the wife liked that a lot too. Just a little under impressed.
(3)brandi g.
Delicious and inexpensive. We had a great brunch for 2 1/2 for under 30. That's pretty impressive. The gluten free crepe of the day was good, rich, but didn't "taste" gluten free. They were cinnamon roll crepes with pecan and cream cheese filling. Hubby had reindeer sausage and wild mushroom omelette. It was quite tasty. The peanut had scrambled eggs. The coffee was not bad, it was that steam drop stuff and it was pretty good. Overall, very nice people, service and ambience. I wish we had a breakfast place like this at home.
(5)Chris S.
In three weeks I've been to five. Major cities from Anchorage to Baltimore. This is by far the best restaurant I've been to. Amazing!
(5)Letitia S.
Exceptional cuisine! Really tasty fresh fish, excellent presentation. Combination of fresh ingredients was refreshing and impressive.
(5)Saghar H.
the tea cups are huge. I tried crepe and smoked salmon omelet they're good. Their food are different and interesting. their french toast looked awesome. I have to try it next time.
(4)laurie s.
I never expected to have some of the best food of my life in small town Alaska! Eat here if you care where your food comes from and you love food prepared well and uniquely. Kids loved the chicken, rice, and broccolini. Adults tried the homemade pasta and the pork/rice/veggie bowl with a crazy name. Both were perfect; served piping hot and seasoned well. Can't wait to try more menu items!!!
(5)Beth S.
The food here was the best I've had since I've been in Anchorage and the surrounding areas. It's outside of Anchorage but well worth the drive. The decor is a warm retro cabin feel. Highly recommend.
(5)Dave C.
What a gem the town of Girdwood has in this restaurant! We based our decision to eat at Jack Sprat on several reviews we read here and I'm glad we chose this over the old traditional town favorite. Each dish was well thought out and included some interesting surprise. We started with bacon wrapped dates and yam fries. Lest you think you will be getting soggy sweet dates or sweet potatoes, I assure you that is not the case. The yams are savory, crisp, and only slightly sweet. The accompanying sauce was a perfect compliment proving a creamy cool partner to the thick nicely spiced fries. I don't know what they did with the dates, but they were nothing like the same dish you find at the company Christmas party. For my entrée, I had Alaskan Cioppina, which included king crab, halibut, scallops and muscles in a thick, mild Italian red gravy. I cannot describe how good this is except to say that I did not participate in table talk until this dish was disposed of properly. One dinner companion commented that I seemed pleased with my choice to which I replied 'umm, hmm' and kept eating. Every one of the dinner party enjoyed their entrées as well and I suspect that any choice on the menu is going to be top notch. I only wish I didn't have to come back to Alaska to have such a fine meal again. Jack Sprat has a fine wine menu, some interesting local beers and specialty cocktails. I chose a liter glass of Spaten lager and followed dinner with a thick double espresso. I couldn't find room for dessert, but the menu looked interesting. If you find yourself in Girdwood, you would be foolish not to go to Jack Sprat.
(5)T C.
Can I give this place ten stars? Please? They are very much deserving of it. Jack Sprat is now my favorite place to eat in all of Alaska. I've been here three times in the last couple of months, and each time has been just wonderful. I went there for dinner and breakfast one weekend while on the MS bike fundraiser, and all of my friends and I couldn't wait until we found another reason to come back to Girdwood to come to Sprat again. We're even talking about doing a cabin rental one weekend, and I know we will have to choose a place that's within walking distance of Sprat. There is something for everyone. I have never once been disappointed with a meal here. The service is incredible, which is a lot to say, considering I like to think I have really good "annoyed server radar." The waitstaff are friendly, helpful and personable. The food is made fresh and with great presentation. Their breakfast, which I had just tried for the first time (I usually make it out for just dinner), should not be missed. Their flannel hash was popular with my friends, and I became so obsessed with their chia-seed porridge that I've tried to emulate it (and failing to do so) at home. I didn't try it, but the crepes looked like angel dust and unicorns on a plate (I bet it tasted like rainbows). I'm salivating now just thinking of their yam fries and their house-made almond milk that is like heaven when made with their spicy mocha mix. They have a great wine selection, and I've never been disappointed in all my years of coming here.
(5)John A.
Really wonderful ambiance made even better by enthusiastic and friendly servers. The atmosphere reminded me of a fine lodge and the food is what you'd expect in a top-rated restaurant anywhere in the world. The pasta entree was excellent, and the salmon special was incredibly fresh and delicious. Worth coming from near and far to enjoy!
(5)Tamar F.
On our way back from Cooper's Landing our Anchorage friends suggested that we stop in Girdwood to check out Alyeska. We decided to go to Jack Sprat, which they have been to before. We got there early-ish for dinner (around 4:30/5pm) and were promptly seated in the enclosed porch area. Seats were comfortable and there was good natural lighting where we were sitting. Our server was pretty friendly and had high energy. We were promptly offered drinks - I opted for one of the craft root beers, while the others chose beer. It seems like there's a pretty good selection of drinks. For food I split the cheese course with my friend and ordered the Nicoise Salad for myself. She got the mixed greens salad. J ordered the steak (medium rare), and our other friend the risotto. I have to say that I was pretty disappointed with the cheese course. I love ordering cheese plates because you can sample a variety of textures and flavors - most cheese plates I've ordered have a mix of mild and pungent cheeses, and both the smooth and creamy ones, crumblier ones, and hard cheeses. Unfortunately, this plate was very one-note. There was tiny chunks of cheddar (weird presentation), gruyere, and manchego. It was accompanied by some fruits, but no crackers nor bread. You'd like bread with that? Well, it will cost you $5. Considering that gruyere and cheddar sometimes get subbed for one another in recipes, they're far too similar to be sitting side by side on a cheese plate, and the manchego only packed a little less punch. For the price, I'd pass on this in the future. The upside to the Nicoise Salad was the freshness of the tuna and the perfect sear on it. I found the salad itself to be too overwhelming - way too many capers and lots and lots of dressing - but I can find no fault in the tuna (which I gobbled up while pushing some of the greens aside). My friend's mixed salad looked delicious - I have to say that I wish I ordered that instead! J's steak he said was tasty, although it was in the medium well to well done category. Our Anchorage friends have said that in Alaska you can't get a medium/medium-rare burger, but I didn't realize that this would also be the case with steak. The risotto got positive reviews. I did like the ambiance and service, but I thought that the food was expensive for the level of enjoyment we got from it. I think that they use quality ingredients, but it's how you use those ingredients that determine whether it's "meh" or "knock your socks off" and I think that our dishes could have been improved. I'd definitely try Jack Sprat again if I come back to visit, but it's not particularly high on my list of places to repeat.
(3)Reed H.
Jack Sprat is the restaurant that competes with Seven Glaciers here in the resort town of Girdwood. I haven't yet reviewed Seven Glaciers, but it is a restaurant that I am a huge fan of. That being said, Jack Sprat was something new. First, the atmosphere was actually much nicer than the other place, especially if you get lucky and are seated in the conservatory area. Soft light and lots of windows. The wait staff is very professional and very excited about the menu. They really want to educate you about what the chef is up to and what the food is all about. Also the menu itself, while small, seems a lot more varied than the other place and more reasonably priced. Appetizers were inspired, and my dish was spectacular. Go to Seven Glaciers for that something that you can't get anywhere else (in Alaska), and of course be ready to pay for it. Go to Jack's for something just as special and much more cozy and down to earth.
(4)Keshar N.
You leave Anchorage and you suddenly come to the realization that you are going to be in a car for 4 hours before you reach Homer. Don't fret! Approximately 1 hour into your drive you will happen upon a lovely mountain/ski town called Girdwood. And in that tiny little town there is a welcome oasis of delicious food at a restaurant called Jack Sprat. The restaurant itself looks like it was outfitted inside of small house and there is not a ton of seating. I would HIGHLY recommend reservations. We arrived at approximately 5:45pm and were seated immediately in the patio area. The ambiance is that of a modern farm-to-table restaurant without any of the pretentiousness. There were all kinds of clientele there ranging from small families to fancy hikers with their Arc'Teryx packs. Bob and I ended up ordering the two specials one was salmon the other was steak and both were absolutely fantastic! My salmon had a wonderful tomato salad and fried green tomatoes that were not soggy at all, but instead crunchy and flavorful. And my salmon was cooked to perfection! Now Bob's steak tasted really good, but it was a bit overdone. Nevertheless, we ate everything. We then ended with the absolutely fantastic chocolate cake. I usually am not a huge fan of chocolate desserts since they usually are too sweet, but this was really nice. It was bittersweet chocolate that was cut nicely with an unsweetened mascarpone filling. The coffee left much to be desired, but the entire meal (service and all) was very good. So, if you find yourself driving to Homer and need to eat some food to sustain you on your journey, look no further than this place!
(5)Karen S.
Went for dinner while in Girdwood. Very cute little place. Great service. The bacon wrapped dates were amazing! Had a salad and the fresh rolls for entrees. Wish we had time to visit for brunch, maybe next time.
(4)Jimberly W.
Yam fries and bacon wrapped dates started the meal off strong. Impressive wine list, great local beers on tap. Cavatelli pasta was to die for from a taste standpoint, but was lacking of actual pasta. Where did all the pasta go? Apparently to the table next to ours - by the looks of it their cavatelli was overflowing with the house made dough goodies. Ours? Not so much. Probably eigh pieces totally. Did the chef forget to add the actual pasta pieces to the dish before cooking? Really, really strange. If not for that would have been a 5 star experience.
(4)Amanda C.
I can understand why people have inconsistent experiences here. My first visit was 5 stars, second visit was 3 at best. Some of the servers are really competent, others seem like they just moved to Earth last week. Oddly enough, I recommend the 5 stool bar for a better experience. The food is almost always good, but that appears to be the one consistent element. Here are the caveats: 1) let's hope you order the right thing and 2) let's hope they didn't run out of what you wanted. This is what I like to call a "slot machine" restaurant. Pray you're there at the right time to get the good service, good food, enjoyable atmosphere. Otherwise, you'll feel like it's a loser.
(4)Stacy H.
We had an excellent dinner at Jack Spratt. The menu is a vegetarian asian fusion with seafood and meat options. We ordered the BLT salad which was a big serving and the Scallops Special. All the ingredients were very fresh and tasty. It's a small restaurant that gets very busy. The service was quick, efficient and friendly.
(4)Kimi N.
Jack Sprat is a great California style restaurant that uses locally gown ingredients and happy animal meat. Since I've lived in the Bay Area for the past 8 years, it was nice to come to a place that reminded me of there. We were seated in the sunroom area which was really nice. It was a Tuesday in October, so there weren't many people. Food was great although pricey. Yam fries ($8) are so crunchy but soft on the inside and very tasty. They give you a nice refreshing dipping sauce and a huge portion of fries. I got the Special ($27) - Pork loin wrapped in pork belly with white beans and swiss chard in romesco sauce. They made sure this was all non-dairy. I was exceptionally pleased that the chef was so willing to make literally anything on the menu nondairy. My bf got the organic chicken ($24) with eggplant, tomato and "green stuff" which I think was arugula. He seemed to enjoy that. I was also super excited to learn this place has vegan desserts! We had a vegan and raw "cheesecake" - chocolate and cashew blended together to make a mousse with pecans on top and a pecan-date crust that was drizzled with yucca syrup (which I didn't like). Overall very tasty but it should have been called mousse cake since there was no sour cheesy flavor. But still, for Alaska, I was impressed. Service was great. Attentive and kept the cucumber-infused water going. Very accommodating with my dairy allergy and super pleasant. I think the prices are a little high but the food is super tasty.
(4)Rachel G.
very cute, ski resort area restaurant. felt very fresh/healthy. we visited some friends who rented a cottage in the ski resort area and stopped here for dinner. we were treated great by the staff, and the place filled up quickly once we sat down but still got very detailed service. we had the hummus nachos which were ok bacon wrapped dates really good soup of the day- i believe it was a roasted pepper soup but it was pretty good and i hate peppers. and the hoisin glazed ribs, good. for entrees we had, the rib eye, ricotta cavatelli, and they had a special with rock fish everything was very good. would def return if ever in the area.
(4)Martha V.
Went on the recommendation of a local. WOW! One of the better meals we have had. The wine selection, although on smaller side, was very good. Started out with hummus with crispy fried chickpeas. I have eaten a lot of hummus and this was gooood hummus!!! Then onto the main course. I had vegetable tangine with a chicken breast. The Moroccan spices - Ras El Hanout - were dead on. Personal preference would have had the vegetables splightly bigger but the size served worked with the Isreali couscous. The chicken breast was an add on and it was surprisingly tasty and moist. The star course was my BF's- Pan seared Halibut in a brown butter hollandaise sauce. The fish was done perfectly and wonderfully fresh. The sauce? One of the best sauces I have ever had. Not too rich - and the brown butter made it outstanding!. The service (Selena) was 10 stars!!!! We will return before our departure from this lovely area!!!
(5)Tony M.
Fantastic find in Girdwood. Skip Seven Glaciers and eat here. Chef has worked at French Laundry, prepared to be surprised.
(5)James V.
Jack Sprat = 5 for food, and "take a chance" on service! We ate there two times on our trip to Alaska this week. The first time, the food was amazing and the service outstanding. So why not go back, right? OH so wrong! The second time we ate there we were "served" by this sort of over-the-hill hippy wanna-be lady who was OH so blase about whether or not we ever got anything we asked for!! And with a 4-year-old in tow, this is a royal pain in the bo-bo (as my 4-year-old calls it). I actually had to tell her "hey my kid is hungry and you need to bring something!" She was shocked and denied we'd been there for 45 minutes. I didn't bother showing her my Yelp check-in time. Her service just ruined my dinner, which would have been great. I still can't believe I left her 5%! Still I'm giving this place 4 stars based on the first meal, and another experience last year. It's worth a shot and pretty much the only other place to eat in Girdwood outside of the resort. But it's definitely AYOR based on the other reviews and my personal experience
(4)John G.
This is a gem! The servers were wonderful, food outstanding. I can't imagine what else you would want or expect in a restaurant. Great selection of first class appetizers, descent wine list, and my dinner was outstanding. The other dinners I saw were also presented well. The owner and chef both visited me during dinner, they care and it shows! You won't be disappointed.
(4)Rob S.
This place is top notch in my book, consistently good food. The only con is the wait staff in the atrium generally consists of one person which results in a bit of a delay in ordering. But overall very good!
(4)Natalie L.
Another convert! Fantastic meal, great service. We will be back. The summer roll , rib eye steak and chocolate olive oil cake were my favorites!
(4)Jill M.
One of the best meals of my life. I had the salmon and it was the best Salmon ever. It was cooked to order and the sauce brought out the best flavors in both the fish and the sides of fingerling potatoes, and veggies. If I didn't live in MI, I would return to Jack Sprat often. Great for a date. I was a bit under dressed in my old college sweatshirt, but it wasn't a problem. A very casual atmosphere. The soup was a smoked tomato with goat cheese and basil. Yum yum. The dessert menu was great too. You could just go for dessert and coffee, or wine and appetizers. This a a great place to visit on an empty stomach if you a near Girdwood, AK. Our bill was about $130.00 for three people. This included soups, main meals, desserts and tip.
(5)Victor B.
Absolutely fantastic. Wonderful contemporary cuisine. Excellent blend of flavors. A taste bud extravaganza.
(5)Scott T.
We were blown away by Jack Sprat!!! The food was EXCELLENT. The service was wonderful as well (and some good eye candy, too)! I don't know if it is still hit or miss for service there - those reviews are kind of old - but it was certainly a big hit for us - a grand slam in fact. We were originally going to go somewhere else for dinner that night about two weeks ago, but I read a couple of positive comments about Jack Sprat and talked everyone into changing our plans to try it out. The group was so glad we did! Everything we had was outstanding. Basically you had 4 people that really like their food, and are accustomed to eating at high-end restaurants fairly regularly....and we couldn't believe this gem of a find in small town Alaska! Wow. I literally had one of the best Rib-eye steaks I have EVER had....and I am quite the carnivore. Seriously. One other person in my group got the Rib-eye and felt exactly same way. I even had a few more Rib-eyes at some very upscale restaurants in the weeks since and while they were excellent, they weren't even in the same class. Different planets altogether. For a place that says they are known for their seafood, they sure do some crazy-good red meat! We talked about those rib-eyes at almost every meal for the rest of the trip - another 10 days....and I am still thinking about it now that I am home. I want to marry their rib-eye. No pre-nup required. Are you getting the picture yet? The other main courses were reported by our companions to be awesome as well - the fresh salmon dish and something else. I hardly remember what anyone else was eating, I was so involved with my own food. The apps - Yam fries - and soups / salads...were all wonderful....great presentation - as were the sides. We even got desserts because we didn't want the experience to end - the bread pudding was fantastic. Recommended wine pairing was nice also. The waitresses were super-easy on the eyes (our girlfriends even agreed with that assessment) - and were very attentive and knew what they were doing. I don't give 5 stars unless it was insanely good...and by that token, I can tell you that Jack Sprat provided a culinary experience that can be committed to an asylum! If you get a chance, don't pass this place up! Thank you Jack Sprat. For the record - I believe we went there on Saturday, July 2nd, 2011. If they opened a Jack Sprat here in San Diego, it would be an instant hit if they could duplicate the experience we had!
(5)Natalie P.
We were on a cycling trip with Backroads and this was the best restaurant at which we ate. I had the vegetable curry with the halibut on top. It was anything that I expected, but delicious. My husband got the sirloin served over an orzo risotto with a chimichurri sauce. It was equally as good. The group shared a few desserts which were all outstanding. Olive oil chocolate cake, orange creamcicle custard and the vanilla ice cream with a cinnamon caramel sauce. If I could stay here a week, I would eat here every night and try a different entree each night.
(5)Ron R.
Amazing food all across the board. Great ambiance and service. Love the huevos for brunch too. Can't praise it enough, one of my all time favorite dining experiences
(5)Charissa F.
Love it, I'll definitely be back. My squash soup and flat iron steak with chimichuri sauce were beyond excellent!
(5)Travis S.
I came up to Anchorage for work and this was the best place I found for food in the area. Definitely worth the drive. Service & ambience were great. We didn't have a reservation and so got a seat at the little bar in front of the kitchen. We ordered the cioppino to split as a starter, and then shared braised short ribs with risotto. Both dishes were very good. The seafood in the cioppino was super fresh and delicious. Best king crab I think I've ever had thanks to the way they prepared them--baked. Excellent cioppino broth is hard to find, and while this one is more along the lines of a typical marinara it was tasty and hit the spot. The ribs were really terrific & expertly cooked, along with a very buttery risotto packed with chunks of vegetables that made for a nice, hearty side. The wine selection isn't sophisticated but it's fairly priced and relatively adventurous. We had a rhone blend that was very decent. I'll definitely go back next time I'm through the area.
(4)John P.
Awesome dinner at Jack Sprat in Girdwood. Everything fresh, natural, well-prepared, nicely presented. One of the best restaurants in Alaska.
(5)Marnie H.
Fantastic service, our waitress was attentive and courteous. The architecture of the lodge is inspiring and the interior, sundeck, and patio create three cozy separate areas. The menu is brief and specialized. My favorite is the halibut at the top of the menu. Absolutely a "must eat"!
(4)Antonio C.
Fantastic brunch, even better dinner. Two completely different menus but off the wall for both meals. Great for kids as well.
(5)Kristen B.
Went in today, new years day for brunch with a party of 7. Worst mistake ever!!! We were told it would b a wait of 20-30 min for a table, not horrible but, we should have just walked up to the bake shop. Three other groups were seated before us (groups of 5) we finally got seated and weren't even served water for another 15 min. Needless to say, we got there at 12:10 and didn't walk out the door until 2:15...for undercooked burgers, cold eggs, and our waitress came by once to give us water. I wish gratuity wasnt included cause I didn't want to tip for such poor service. I don't care if it's new years day and your busy, it's a business and jack sprat has horrible servers and overpriced food.
(1)Lauren G.
Absolutely fantastic ! The halibut with the paprika polenta was the freshest piece of fish I have ever had. Everyone in my group enjoyed the yam fries, hummus, and bacon wrapped dates were unbelievable. The laid back atmosphere with a five star menu made the experience truly enjoyable :)
(5)Bryan E.
Always clean. Never heavy. Perfect portion sizes. A changing menu keeps it fresh. The yam fries rock. Try the deck on a warm summer afternoon with a cold beer after mountain biking.
(5)M.E. M.
Thank you Yelp for recommending this place. Food was great and well worth the extra 10 miles off Hwy 1. I had the Vegie Curry which was superb and my friend had the pasta which was also good. MMMMMMM! Also very good service.
(5)Jenny T.
Okay, I hate to admit this, but I have lived in Alaska all my life and have never been to Jack Sprat until my recent trip to Girdwood with my dear friend Nicole for Forest Fair. I have so many friends that are trusted foodies that love Jack Sprat- so Nicole and I figure, hey, first Forest Fair, first trip to Jack Sprat. Well, it may be my last, unless a foodie friend wants to foot the bill. It was July 4th morning. I call to make sure Jack Sprat is open. They are, and the assure me that they will have seating without a wait at least until 11am. Perfect- we were going to get there at about 10am. We arrive. Adorable, quaint, and not busy at all. I would like to emphasize how not busy they were. Anyway, we get seated and get water . . . then we wait, and wait and wait. We finally get coffee and order just in case we have to, and we do, wait and wait and wait. We finally get breakfast- no coffee warm-ups. Nicole gets eggs benedict. Sauce was straight up COLD. Now cool, COLD. I get eggs over medium (and believe me, I know how to order eggs- my brother works at the best breakfast joint in Alaska, I'll review it later) and that shit was cooked all the way through. My yoke was like chalk. So much for dipping my toast. So, basically, huge let down. And you know the worst part? My foodie friends happen to go there the next day and had AMAZING meals. I am just confused. I keep trying to figure it out- why was it not good that morning? Can't figure it out. If my foodie friends want me to get on the Jack Sprat wagon, they better load me up in their car and take me there and buy me food!!! That is the only way I will give Jack Sprat a second shot.
(3)Mario B.
Top notch, one the best meals ever, Valentine' s menu was superb, for few hours I forgot we were in Alaska. Great composition, presentation, awesome service. Can't get much better than this.
(5)Jonathan Y.
Fantastic food! Can't go wrong here. Love the raw apple pie.
(5)e J.
I haven't been here in awhile. Apparently they changed chefs and our server gushed over how cool the new chef is and that he's from California and is an avid mt. biker. OK...thats cool and all but the kitchen seemed way overstaffed and I noticed everyone calling him "Chef" as in "Chef says he can make that substitution." I find this all somewhat pretentious and unnecessary. The food prices have gone up and everything on the menu seems to have blue cheese in it now. Hmmm, maybe its a California thing. The Thai noodle dish I ordered was kind of bland but the seafood jambalaya special was amazing.
(3)Jason M.
It was small but the sweet potato fries are like nothing else..
(4)Corey P.
The bacon wrapped Gorgonzola dates are out of this world. For an entree I had the chicken with sweet pea risotto, best chicken ever, and the risotto was delicious. The table water has lemon and cucumber, very refreshing. Best restaurant near anchorage, nice ambiance, kind of loud, like most restaurants, but I would definitely go here again, and highly recommend this place. It was a nice mix of people, old, young, people on dates and families. Go here, you will not regret it!
(5)Patience F.
Just had dinner at Jack Sprat in Girdwood, my first time at this restaurant. It was a fine meal on a Friday evening with friends in a dining room that was busy, but not so loud we had to yell across the table to be heard. The young woman serving us was outgoing and informative about the specials. She did not hover around the table, but provided good, unobtrusive service. My type of server! We started with an appetizer of fried yams, which were served piping hot. I had a few of the yams, but chose to concentrate on the mixed field greens salad. I especially like the goat cheese in the salad, which complemented the candied nuts and bits of beet. I had the chicken breast in a reduction sauce for dinner. It was tender and juicy. One of my friends had the special fish for the evening, but thought there were too many flavors. He said the fish was great, but what it was served on was a bit busy. My other two friends had the lamb (only the bones went back to the kitchen) and the rib eye steak, which looked huge to me. She said it was good and they would eat it again tomorrow as leftovers. We were all pretty full, but the uncooked apple pie sounded too interesting to ignore, so we split a piece. The pie was chilled and had thinly sliced apples marinated in orange juice. Cinnamon and raisins were layered with the apples - it was a truly outstanding dessert. My friends all drank wine and beer and I had ice tea. The ice tea was weak, but that is a minor issue in a restaurant that presented us with a fine meal and great memories. Thanks, Jack!
(4)Jilly j.
Jack Sprat is dee-lish!! There were six of us for dinner on a Sat night. We were sat right away and told to take our time, which we did. Service was excellent. Food was fresh and the desserts... let's just say we all got something...yummy! I hope to visit again the next time I'm back in town!
(5)Rob C.
Maybe it was having just hiked 25 miles in a day and a half, but this now ranks as my favorite restaurant in Alaska. Between the three of us there wasn't a miss on the table, the feel of the place is both quintessentially Alaska without being chintzy or tacky, the service was polite, efficient, and unobtrusive, and the value was stellar. I cannot recommend highly enough.
(5)Jamie B.
Jack Spratt is a fantastic find near the Alyeska Resort in Girdwood, AK, just outside of Anchorage. We ordered the bruscetta special appetizer, with amazingly soft, fresh ricotta cheese and some kind of infused olive oil (see pics). For entrees, we ordered the burger with yam fries, the thai spring wrap, and the portabello mushroom with jasmine rice. They were all extremely enjoyable and very good sized portions. We ordered a liter of Alaskan beer which we unfortunately could not split but instead took turns lifting to our mouths using both hands. The beer list was impressive (as I have noticed is the case in most Alaskan restaurants worth visiting). The place was beautifully and cleanly decorated and the staff was on its toes. The head chef (who happens to be a raw foodist himself) even took the time to chat with us afterwards and answer our questions about the menu. Jack Sprat will give you only the freshest ingedients, some of which are grown on-site, and will take the time to ensure your food is prepared with great care and artistry. The sugar-free apple pie was a winner along with the creme brulee, both of which rounded off a perfectly decadent meal. if you find yourself passing through Girdwood or anywhere remotely near the area, this is definitely a stop worth making. But call in advance, as they are not open for lunch during the off-season except on weekends.
(5)Charles M.
The name is odd - but just ignore it. It's the food that's important and this place has excellent food. The restaurant is small and charming in the way "Northern Exposure" was charming. The items on the menu are inventive and fresh and very good. This restaurant could reinvent itself in a number of more "sophisticated" locales and do very very well (the name might have to change). The prices are not cheap (vis a vis local standards) and the portions are very reasonable - but the food is so tasty it's all good. We are from Dallas and were staying at the resort - we went to the restaurant two times in a week. It is that good.
(4)Hari N.
Walked in about 7:30 on a Wednesday summer evening and there was no wait. Yam fries were terrific, but very filling! Don't eat them all! Great service, good food and desserts, and a nice setting.
(4)Trav S.
Great food just be warned that the bleu cheese burger while tasting great left a smelly breath that my spouse found quite terrible and asparagus like. Also someone raved about the yam fries but I found those only above average and only for being a little healthier than reg fries. Would be so much better if they cut them thinner and baked in some olive oil with some spices. Other than that it's a great place in this tourist trap town full of hippies for the forest fair. Excellent service and staff too btw.
(4)