AJ's OldTown Steakhouse & Tavern

NY strip steak or Shrimp Alfredo…which is better? They are both awesome. Especially if you’d start with. Wedge salad so be we split it and it was a still a perfect size. The 3-olive martini was great and reasonably priced, as was the wine and beer selections. Our server, Kristen, was so great and nice! This is an old school place in terms of history and decor, but they make it interesting with live casual piano on Thursday and Saturday - so enjoyable! This is a great value as well as it’s off the spit, in the “old town” area, but that is only a short drive from the spit. Loved by locals but appreciated by everyone! VictorB

Totally worth it. The Ciopino was incredible, hubby’s steak was awesome. MAKE A RESERVATION or get there before 5pm, otherwise you’re waiting. I got blueberry lemon drop martini which was very tasty.

Our family and I went here at the end of last month and yesterday to celebrate my birthday and my father's birthday respectively; the first time coming here last month was amazing, both the food and staff were excellent, the staff were very well accommodating for our family with handicap needs. The last night we came here by reservation was also amazing, first time I've heard an on-going piano performance done by a well talented pianist, which adds more to the atmosphere during our dinner. Best make a reservation in advance, for the most optimal and enjoyable experience!! Both times going here I've had the prime filet, rare, the meat just melts as you chew on it, extremely delicious and savoury, no doubt AJ's has the best prime filets in Alaska so far!! And can't forget the potatoes and vegetables, both were also very filling and delicious! My family and I thank you for such an awesome experience and the food was by far very delicious!! If I could give a hundred stars, I would!! Definitely would come back the next time our family takes a trip down here in Homer!!! 😎👌 Thank you very much, staff was awesome and the food was delectable!!

We had a great meal after a day on the ocean. The food quality and flavor was amazing. The service was excellent. I'd highly recommend AJ's Old-time Steakhouse!

My husband and I came here for our wedding anniversary. Best meal we’ve had in a long time! We started with crusted mozzarella, tomatoes, basil, and a balsamic reduction. I got seared tuna with scallops and my husband got prime rib. Absolutely incredible.

The manager was playful and accommodating when we arrived without a reservation. We were seated immediately, and our server, Catherine, came to our table shortly thereafter. We received our drinks, and waited for our food. A table seated after us received their food while we still waited. Maybe ours was “forgotten” at the window. It finally arrived. Both of our meals had fish (mine in a delightful sauce), grilled asparagus, and lukewarm baked potatoes. Once the food was served, no one approached our table. I had to flag the manager down for additional butter and sour cream. I would have ordered another drink, my husband was never asked if he wanted a refill for his ice tea:; and when we were finally acknowledged, we just asked for the check. I typically tip 25% in cash, but not for poor service. When I told the manage how disappointed we were in our dining experience, I was told someone called out so they were short staffed? This is Wednesday night, not a Friday or Saturday even. There were young girls standing around who were running food and clearing tables. Since they probably want to eventually serve, why not utilize them? Either way, that’s a poor excuse for poor service. The manager who had been friendly when we entered the restaurant “apologized” although it was insincere and literally brushed me off. Would I return? Absolutely not! I’m paying for dinner out, and was made to feel that we weren’t valued as customers! The bill was $100 for the two of us. Rather pay more, and be treated as though we matter.

Wow. WOW. This is place is EXTRAORDINARY. Food like this should be criminal. My coworker and I both had the medium rare Roasted Prime Ribs with mashed potatoes and asparagus. We also had a cup each of the crab bisque along with calamari and blue cheese chips as appetizers. I cannot complain about one single dish. EVERY bite was decadent, melt in your mouth, amazing. Sincerely, this was one of the best dining experiences I’ve ever had. Please take a special someone here because this food is special.

Always amazing!!! I look forward to eating here every time I visit Homer. One of the only places I will order a steak.

Stopped into AJ's as I only had one night in Homer, AK and so glad I did. Super friendly folks and great food. I stopped in and they recommend I make a reservation if coming after 5:30 pm. I decided to just go to the bar and eat there and they weren't lying - this place fills up. Got the fish and chips because, well we're this close to the ocean, it just makes sense. Was delicious. Definitely recommend.

Do your self a favor and go elsewhere. Server was so kind, and might I add that she was very frustrated with the place. I asked for medium rare and they severely overcooked my meat, not once but twice. Promised to take something off of the bill, but did not. In fact, they offered a free dessert to make up for the poor experience and even charged me for that. My dining guest had the same treatment. This is the second time that we experienced a bad Evening here. Never again!

We booked a reservation on Opentable (which requires cc information). This is a great steak and potatoes joint if you're looking for one. I was disappointed by the seafood, because you would think they would know how to bring out the best of their local seafood. The scallops and halibut tasted plain, and we've had better with how they were prepared in Seward. The steak was good but also plain. There was no creativity whatsoever with the food or flavors. They have many drink options, alcoholic and nonalcoholic (I saw a whole page of mocktails). The ambiance is warm and a feels a bit old fashioned. Tables are covered with black tablecloth. We had an attentive server, and service was quick.

I went here for my honey moon last June, and had to come back for my first year Anniversary! The food is spectacularly plated and delicious, and the staff were very attentive. Decorated and lit, to be an intimate atmosphere, perfect for a date or special occasion. I had; a honey and Brie appetizer, two great cocktails, steak, and added crab. Then some tiramisu cheesecake to top off

Great food and service, although we came in without a reservation in a Friday evening and were able to get seated at the bar. The order to food time is pretty long, almost an hour, so definitely order an appetizer if you're really hungry. Husband got the burger ( I didn't get a picture before he dug in) said it was very good! Great atmosphere. Not a pretentious 5 restaurant, casual friendly atmosphere, very good food, higher end prices, the chefs seem to deliver on the quality.

By splitting our meal, we both got choice of potatoes, vegetables of day, the ribeye smothered with mushrooms, was amazing and vegetables, homemade soup to start with, added scallops yum. Reservations and ask to be seated in new server "Lexie" she was the best!

We had reservations and got right in. Then the waiting started. We waited and waited. They were very slow to take our orders. After numerous promises that our meals would be out soon, we were still waiting. Suddenly the meals were ready (but not really) when I told them to cancel because we were leaving. The food finally started to trickle out. At that point we decided to stay because it was way too late to grab dinner anywhere else. The food was fine. But we won't be going back.

We to visit a Dear friend John Carlin & Melissa, who is ill & in that regard the trip was worth it... we knew it was off season but still wanted to partake in an Halibut dinner on some level several people including the Carlin's suggested AJ Steakhouse but they were closed up through the day we were to leave. The stars in a backwards way aligned themselves & our fight was delayed. We called made the reservations on the outside chance the would actually be opens we received a return call & we were Ecstatic that they were open & could take us & have us out in time to catch our new flight time! We arrived a little later than planned as the goodbye was a lil' more difficult than we expected. They called us from AJ's as we stood at their front door because he wanted to asure they could get us in & well on our way to the airport on time! This Place upon Entering & being escorted to our tables was Astounding!!! The seared halibut, mashed potatoes, asparagus & Margaritas were nothing short of decadent, SPECTACULAR & the crème brûlée most certainly did not disappoint!!! What a ~SUPERB~ experience as we make our exit from Homer, Alaska!!! We are Grateful for your attention to detail & for the care & respect you have for your clients!!!

Ordered 2 burgers: 1 medium rare, 1 rare... overcooked both to medium well/well done. they remade the burgers, both overcooked, no pink or red, all brown and grey. Not to mention I ordered an old fashioned and it was straight alcohol... Worst thing ever. It took 2 hours to get our messed up orders and drinks. I am highly disappointed.

We were really excited to have a nice dining experience for dinner on our visit to Homer. It was average at best. We both had steaks (different cuts), baked Brie for an appetizer and cheesecake for dessert. The steak wasn't worth the price you pay (and we're from Texas so we're not scared to pay for a good steak). The special was filet Oscar.. the crab was grainy and that matched the steak. Also there were about 3 employees that just walked around the tables and hovered, which was strange. I assumed they were picking up dishes but it was overwhelming lol Probably wouldn't return unless we weren't feeling fish or would find somewhere else first.

The best food we had in Homer by far! We had the house cheese curd special, filet with baked potato and veggies, and the cowboy burger. That with some Bold Old Fashioneds and Mules still totaled less than $130, and we took some of the food to go. Service was friendly and frequent, even when it was very busy. We loved this part of town as it wasn't overly touristy or showy. Perfect spot for good food and a walk down to the beach or to a local book store :)

Food was terrible and cold. Too expensive for crappy food. Waitress tried to apologize

Really enjoyed this place. Service excellent. People in our group said it was the best steak they had eaten in a long time. My fish was gently cooked...perfect. Casual atmosphere. Water glass was never empty.

Darrel and the rockfish make it all worth it. He's known me since I was small and is friendly to everyone he meets. The blackened rockfish is to die for and they make a delicious steak. With the low lights and the candle lit tables it makes it a go to spot for all special occasions.

Local character & charm! Can be considered reasonable for AK! Was recommended to us by a local and tuned out good!

AJ's steakhouse's food was fantastic. Everyone in our party enjoyed their meal other than a steak that was supposed to be medium. It came out well done. Our server apologized and actually comped the $59 meal. We really appreciated that. Our waitress was great along with the support staff. 4/5

Well, sadly I have to report that tonight's experience at AJs was the low point of my Homer food tour. My expectations were very high based on what I'd heard. The bar service was super slow. Like really really slow. And it wasn't that busy. Service, and the kitchen was super slow and disjointed. One of our party of 6 was nearly finished with her meal when by the time the last person was served. Not good. I will say the drunken clams were delicious , but everything else was lackluster and my rock fish was overcooked. Our server was new, so I'm giving her a bit of a break... she was pleasant and continued to apologize. Overall, I'd be unlikely to return or to recommend this place when soooo many other, better options exist in Homer.

I thought over all the whole experience at AJs Steakhouse was good. Food was delicious, service was great considering how many establishments are still understaffed in Homer, it tells you a little about the management! We even had entertainment a gentleman who was James Taylorish. We came with out of town guests from Las Vegas and they too were very pleased with the quality of food. Salmon spread was super!!!

Probably a good idea to get a reservation on Saturday, even though their website requires you to scroll all the way to the very bottom to know they even offer reservations. And DO NOT trust when it says "no waitlist" on their OpenTable. Front area staff isn't very friendly unless you have a reservation. (As witnessed by the way the front area staff changed their tone when they talked to the people who had walked in behind us). Also, we had to awkwardly wait for several minutes at the front before we were acknowledged. Bar had an equal number of seats open to those occupied, but no seats were available for 30 minutes. The bartender was having a "rough night." Which also apparently means their bar is not "open seating." Good to know. Didn't get to try the food. Let it be shown that I am strictly reviewing front house administration and website woes.

Came to Homer for some Halibut fishing with my family. Our first night in, we came here for dinner. Two of us ordered the 1lb of crab legs, one of us the halibut and chips, another the shrimp Alfredo and the last a chicken Alfredo. We had cocktails, a beer, and a bottle of wine. Short story, we're made reservations two nights later. The service was very good, the food even better! Everyone was friendly, knew the menu, and offered some great suggestions. Everything came out on time, was hot, and well seasoned. Highlights - friendly atmosphere and welcoming. Crab legs and halibut/chips were amazing, off the charts! Finally, because I forgot to mention it above, the deserts!! Apple pie, chocolate cake, and espresso brûlée. The best is a toss up between the apple pie and the chocolate cake. Again, this place was so good we immediately made reservations for a second night.

Loved the halibut, and the Tanner crab in the Caesar salad. The vegetables were also fabulously prepared. The server was knowledgeable, friendly, and helped us make our selection. Great location for the restaurant also, and depicts old Homer/original bistro for the locals. It reminds me of what a steakhouse use to look like back in the day, with the dark wood and heavy upholstery.

This place had a real old timey feel, dim lights, and a piano being played in the back. It was charming. The food was delicious and we all really enjoyed our steaks and halibut. The salads were really good too and were a large portion. We made a reservation and were seated as soon as we got there. All around, things were top notch.

Shrimp fettuccine was over the top. The service was second to none. The bartender was really on her game. You might want to get reservations as the word is out on this restaurant. If you want great food in Homer AJS is a must do.

Birthday dinner and we arrived to live piano music. We had the porterhouse special with peppercorn sauce on the side. It is no doubt the best steak I've had in Alaska! Sorry we devoured the steak before getting a pic but snapped the dessert before it was gone. It was a perfectly balanced tart berry with sweet ice cream.

This was by far the best food we had on our entire trip! We didn't have a reservation but they were accommodating to that and sat us at the bar. The service was excellent Catherine( hope I spelled it correctly) was absolutely amazing she was working like crazy but definitely made us feel like a priority. The vibes were awesome.

One of the best steaks I have had in a while. Cook was perfect and so flavorful. Excellent sides as well.

Great food, great service, nice people. Try the halibut, Homer is kind of famous for it.

We ordered 2 steak dinners medium temp and received both well done no pink at all. For the prices they charge they need a cook that knows how to cook a steak properly.

We had a lovely dinner at AJ's Steakhouse. My friend had a Broken Birch Bitter beer to drink and said it was the best Bitter beer he's ever had. The food was really tasty as well. The service was friendly and attentive. My favorite part about it was the live Pianist. In anchorage you never see that and it made the dinner special. We will be going back next time we are in homer!

3 years later..even better. I have loved this place for a long time but it's like a fine wine that's Kees getting better. We didn't have reservations and they were full. They found space for us and the service was quick and fantastic! I got the ribeye and it was perfectly cooked and seasoned at medium rare, bursting with flavor, and I devoured it. Husband got the scallops and they were delish, also cooked to perfection. Scallops are one of those things that you can so easily overcook but they nailed it. Just to put the icing on the cake we ordered a "nightcap" martini and let me tell you, slap yer mama good. Wonderful experience all around!

Enjoyed a birthday dinner at AJ's, which was my first dinner selection in the Homer area but coincidentally really turned out to be one of the ONLY places even open and serving dinner on a Monday evening this time of year. We arrived about an hour before the reservation I had made which wasn't a problem at all and were seated at a great table with nice lighting right in the front window which I liked. I ordered the halibut and enjoyed it. I skipped on wine which is really unlike me especially on my birthday but I just wasn't feeling it, I suppose. My starter salad with their homemade dressing was delish. I tried the balsamic vinaigrette and their bleu cheese (not together, just did one then the other ;) I also liked the roasted red peppers they added to their dinner salad, it's really what made it good in addition to the dressing options. They presented me with a little birthday card which was the only birthday card I received on my actual birthday so I really appreciated the kind and thoughtful sentiment of it. They also compt'd a dessert and I chose the raspberry crème brûlée- not my standard dessert choice but I wasn't sure what have so I asked our server for her recommendation. It was good. I enjoyed dinner but nothing really stood out or was over the top exceptional, but I'm really grateful they were open while so many other businesses were closed for the season or closed on Monday evenings. Great service! I'd definitely recommend eating here this time of the year if you're looking for a nice, sit down meal. I suppose had i known everything in town would be closed I could have went grocery shopping and cooked a birthday dinner for myself since we stayed at a place with a great kitchen but dining out was a nice experience here.

Excellent steak and king crab! One crab leg weighed 1lb. It was expensive but you get what you pay for here.

Great spot in Homer. Went there on a Wednesday with a 5pm reservation. We started with truffle fries, then had the prime fillet steak and halibut for our main course. Everything was so good! My favorite was the halibut--melt in your mouth delicious, and the sides were also amazing (mashed potatoes and bok choi). Highly recommend for dinner! I've heard they also have live music on the weekends.

Amazing food here!! I ordered the scallops for dinner and it didn't disappoint. They were seared perfectly and also seasoned perfectly. The sauce that came on the bottom of the plate went perfectly with the scallops, and even the mashed potatoes and zucchini. I had a bite of the NY steak as well and it was seasoned well and cooked exactly the way you ask for it to be done. I can't wait to be back to try the other things on the menu. They have a lot of seafood options and different cuts of meat as well. Service is amazing - everyone is super friendly.

One of the best meals we've ever had. My husband got the filet minon, medium rare, and it was perfection. The seafood fettuccine almost made me cry, it was so good. Everything was made from scratch, including the salt dressings (I had the strawberry vinegarette and it was phenomenal). Prices are on the high end, but for good reason. High quality food and atmosphere. Our server and the overall service were incredibly professional, accommodating, and friendly. Make this a mandatory stop on your next visit to Homer, you won't regret it.

Best meal we've had in Alaska yet! My husband doesn't eat seafood but this place has not only perfected steaks but the Cioppino here was the finest I've ever had and I order it lots of places. It's the first one I've ever had where the fish part was perfectly cooked (usually it's over done). Even the onion rings were the best we'd ever had!! So crazy good.They only thing that could be better was more house made deserts. My husband is not a foodie but when he left he asked if they had reservations available for tonight too! Seriously don't miss this place. But you 100% need reservations

We brought the two kids here for a nice night out. We had reservations right at open, knowing we had plans later in the evening and it's easier to have kids there early ;). The service was fantastic, and they were aware of our youngest kiddo's allergies from our Open Table reservation notes. They went above and beyond to verify ingredients for us! The meal was perfectly paced, and we all had a great time. It can get a bit noisy and we were right next to the piano so I'm glad we ended up being done right before the playing started. We started with the calamari and drunken clams. The clams were great, but could have used a bit more acidity and salt. The calamari wasn't my favorite as it was very very dark/crispy and some parts were rubbery, but my partner enjoyed it. They didn't have a ton of flavor but the dip was awesome. We all had salads and they were fresh and well done. We had one Cranberry Walnut salad as an entree, and we also ordered the Chicken Alfredo, Ribeye with Scallops, and Sirloin with Shrimp. The steaks were cooked perfectly, and the mashed potatoes weee delicious. I found the shrimp a bit sweet but they were cooked perfectly and my partner and kiddo loved them as is. The scallops were done perfectly. The asparagus with the steaks was cooked perfectly and fantastically seasoned. The pasta went over well and the chicken breast on top was great. We were too full for dessert but the options sounded great! Next time :) Great visit, great service, and the food was great. It's not a cheap option but it's worth every penny in quality, portions and service.

Made a reservation on the Open Table app. Went for an early dinner at 4:45. Was seated promptly. The waiter was friendly. No complaints about the food. Everything was yummy and fresh. There was also live piano music around 6pm which was a nice touch. Will be back next time I'm in Homer.

Great service, fabulous atmosphere and delicious food. Clams small plate 10/10 - great portion and delicious broth/bread combo. Good to share with a group of 2-4 or as your own meal with another side. House rockfish 9/10 - fish was cooked to perfection and paired with broccolini and mashed potatoes. Only reason for 9 instead of 10/10 was that the broccolini was slightly undercooked (to my liking) Cioppino 10/10 - impressively cooked to perfection despite the array of seafood included in the dish. The broth was well spiced and accompanied by wonderfully absorbent bread. Had cioppino while in Seward and this was much better! Steak special 10/10 - NY strip with peppercorn and bleu cheese whipped topping. Cooked to perfection and melt in your mouth. Overall a LOVELY experience while in Homer. The prices were appropriate for the level of food prepared. Local beer on tap to round out your tasting experience. Highly recommend planning in advance with reservations to avoid a long wait.

Although we didn't have reservations they were extremely accommodating. We had the steak and shrimp and it was amazing. The service was exceptional. Would definitely recommend!

2 because the staff were nice. I'm astonished that this is considered a steakhouse when my steak was cooked so poorly...twice. We ended up leaving without eating any steak, just the sides and 3 small scallops. Maybe it was an off night, but I don't really think so.

We went to AJ's for diner. The local establishment is in the old town section of Homer. We were greeted by a very polite & friendly host. He was warm & welcoming. We ordered the French Dip & the Halibut. The French dip was excellent and the Halibut was great. The sides we had were the string beans & mashed potatoes. The green beans were cooked to perfection and were the best. For desert we had the Crème Brûlée & the cheese cake. Both of these deserts were excellent. The ambiance was nice and comfortable. The service was attentive & efficient.

When they're busy they'll do call in orders before 6PM or after 8PM. I got the cowboy burger and it was huge! Nicely grilled bun to keep it from getting soggy. Big beef patty was cooked perfectly! Red onion, tomato, lettuce, two onion rings on the burger. Amazing! The fries were thin shoestrings and crispy. The onion rings were crispy and hot. Yum! I loved the thin crisp coating! I'm sad it was our last night bc I'd dine in and get a steak! Make a reservation. They're busy for a reason!

Very good food and very good service. Someone purchased a glass of wine for me and they said they would save it for me for next time. They put my name on a piece of paper in the cash drawer and said it would be there. Well a week goes by and I go in and it's gone. So make them give you a gift card when someone buys something for you. Otherwise good.

We made reservations on open table so we got right in. They were also servicing a to go window so we waited at least an hour and a half for our meals. We finally ordered some calamari (which was pretty good and came out quick). We weren't informed of the kitchen being backed up until we asked why t was taking so long. I ordered the sautéed Halibut per recommendations from other reviews. Sadly mine was over cooked and the bottom was very chewy. The last thing I wanted to do was request a new one as we were about 2 hours in. My dads steak and shrimp looked great but steak was also over cooked. The fish and chips meal was the best at the table. Also our sides of mashed potatoes and broccoli was really good as well. Service was decent but not the level you would expect for the prices they charge.

Every time we visit Homer, we check in early to try and get a reservation for AJ's because the whole experience is not to be missed. From the moment you're greeted at the host stand, be prepared for first class dining. In Homer, AK you may ask?!? One of my favorite things about Alaska is the unexpected treasures like AJ's you can find at any turn. We made online reservations, then got a text about 30 minutes prior to our appointed time letting us know that they could seat us early - perfect! We arrived and were promptly seated in a booth in the back dining room, next to a wall of bookshelves with an eclectic mix of titles. We enjoyed speculating where they all came from, whether they were a consolidated collection or a rag tag mix of favorites from the staff. After introductions and hearing the specials, we ordered a couple champagne cocktails from the bar to enjoy while we perused the menu. My French 75 was perfect, crisp and well-balanced, with obviously fresh squeezed lemon and a solid house sparkling. From there, it was one decadent dish after another - highlights included the blue cheese topped house made potato chips, which if you're a fan of blue cheese you cannot miss. We also couldn't pass up the calamari, fried crisp and served with a slightly spicy mayo that I would love to be able to replicate at home. Next, I enjoyed a cup of the barley and bacon soup of the day, which needed a hint of salt but otherwise was the warm and filling goodness you would expect. Finally, we got to the main course - a beautiful medium rare filet topped with scallops, served with a side of summer squash and mashed potatoes. The steak was cooked to perfect, slightly red and warn all the way through, and I could have cut it with a butter knife it was so tender. The scallops were crisp on the outside, flash pan friend and succulent on the inside (TBH I prefer a steak & scallops to a steak & crab), and I added a side of blue cheese fondue to accompany both steak and scallops. This was an excellent choice. At this point, we were absolutely too stuffed to order dessert, and we were kindly able to pack up a few opened bottles of wine to take home and enjoy by the campfire with s'mores. Another wonderful Alaska note: at a LOT of wonderful, fancy places you can open a bottle and cork the rest to take home. This is especially fantastic when you can't necessarily find that bottle retail in town. I've been known to open a new bottle with every course at Marx Bros. in Anchorage, then take home 6 bottles of half opened wine. But that's just me... Cheers!

Always choose AJS. Best food and service. We always feel treated like family when we go.

I think I just had the best ribeye steak I ever had. Done to perfection. The Manhattan cocktail up was perfection. *****

Come for the food, stay for the people. If you're staying in spit definitely make the drive! Great food, great beer, great history