"An Anchorage landmark since 1978 with Cook Inlet at the window — book a sunset table for a birthday."
The windows face Cook Inlet, and on a clear evening Mount Susitna and the Alaska Range sit across the water while the dining room fills for sunset. Simon & Seafort's has run at 420 L Street in downtown Anchorage since 1978, long enough to count as a local institution. The kitchen builds on Alaskan seafood and USDA prime beef: slow-roasted prime rib from $49, Norton Sound king crab, and the dishes chef James Shepherd has made his own.
Chef James Shepherd has won awards for the crab-stuffed macadamia halibut, the dish most regulars name first, and his Asiago-almond crusted scallops are close behind. The backbone of the menu is straightforward and done well: slow-roasted herb-crusted prime rib at $49 for twelve ounces and $55 for sixteen, and Alaskan golden king crab legs at $130. This is not fine dining in the tasting-menu sense; it is a confident American grill working with some of the best cold-water seafood in the country.
The bar is part of the appeal, a proper saloon with a deep whisky selection, and the kitchen sources king crab and halibut close to the port. For the wider field, see the best seafood restaurants and the top restaurants in Anchorage.
The room is built around the view: large windows over Cook Inlet, tables angled to catch the water, and warm low light as the long Alaskan dusk sets in. It is comfortable rather than formal, with banquettes, dark wood and a busy saloon bar, and a sound level that runs to a cheerful hum on a full night. Dress is smart-casual; Anchorage does not stand on ceremony. Ask for a window table when you book.
Book Simon & Seafort's for a birthday because the Cook Inlet sunset does the celebrating for you, the menu has crowd-pleasers from king crab to prime rib, and the saloon bar keeps a group going before and after dinner. A window table at dusk is the move. See more birthday restaurants and the full Anchorage dining guide for the rest of the city.
Not for a quiet tasting-menu evening — this is a busy, view-driven landmark grill, and at peak hours the dining room and bar run loud and full.
Yes — for Alaskan seafood with a view, it is the Anchorage classic for good reason. The Cook Inlet outlook is the best of any downtown dining room, the prime rib and king crab are reliably good, and chef James Shepherd's crab-stuffed macadamia halibut is genuinely distinctive. It is not cheap, with crab legs at $130, but for a celebration or a visitor's first Alaskan dinner it delivers exactly what it promises.
Moderately, and harder in summer — the cruise and tourist season fills the dining room, and window tables at sunset are the first to go. Book a few days ahead through OpenTable or the restaurant, and ask specifically for a window seat. It sits at 420 L Street in downtown Anchorage. Winter weeknights are far easier, and the bar takes walk-ins when the dining room is full.
Smart-casual — Anchorage is a relaxed city and there is no jacket requirement. Most diners arrive in neat casual or business-casual clothes, and you will not feel out of place in either. Given the views and the celebratory crowd, some guests dress up a little for a birthday or anniversary, but clean casual is entirely acceptable in both the dining room and the saloon bar.
Slow-roasted prime rib starts at $49 for the twelve-ounce cut and $55 for sixteen ounces, while Alaskan golden king crab legs are $130. With a starter and a drink, plan for roughly $60 to $130 per person depending on whether you order crab. Dinner for two with wine commonly lands between $150 and $250. The bar menu and happy hour offer cheaper ways to enjoy the view.
Order chef James Shepherd's crab-stuffed macadamia halibut or the Asiago-almond crusted scallops if you want the kitchen's signatures, or the slow-roasted prime rib for the steakhouse classic. The Norton Sound king crab legs are the splurge. Pair it with a window table at sunset. For more local options see the top restaurants in Anchorage.
Via OpenTable · ask for a window table
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Simon & Seafort's has poured Alaskan king crab and Cook Inlet sunsets since 1978. See how Anchorage's landmark grill compares with the world's best seafood rooms.
See the seafood guide →
