Daniella A.
Yelp
The ambiance of this restaurant is great. It is right in the harbor with stunning views. It is very modern looking, with a nice bar area. There is a chalk wall with beautifully drawn sea life. Honestly, props to the artist because the drawings were awesome! We were seated at a 2 top right next to the window, which I was thrilled about because you could look over into the harbor. We were greeted by a hostess, and only had to wait a few minutes for a table. They do not take reservations for smaller groups under 10 I believe. The service was good. Our waitress was friendly and very efficient. The restaurant was fairly busy for a weeknight, and all the staff seemed to handle it very well.
The food though was just ok especially for the price. I know Seward and Alaska in general is somewhat more expensive. We had no problem paying a premium for a delicious meal. But, it's when the meal falls flat that it becomes somewhat disappointing. Chinooks seems to display itself as a more upscale, eclectic dining experience. Their Facebook page boasts some delicious looking dishes, but once inside the restaurant you realize that the selection is quite limited. The menu was disappointed. There were not many dishes to choose from, and no specials listed for the day we dined. It was a weekday so that may be why, but we were there during the end of August, which is still tourist season. They did have an ample craft beer selection with a lot of local flair so that was a plus.
For our meal, we started with a 1/2 lb of king crab. I understand that you still have to pay market price for the weight of the fish, but one measly crab leg with barely any meat in it was somewhat disappointing for the price of the appetizer. For entrees, I ordered the halibut BLT, and my husband ordered the maple sriracha salmon.
The halibut blt was just meh. It was boring, and really fell flat for such a delicious fish. The sandwich was edible, but really a let down. The fish was barely seasoned with even any salt or peper, and it was slightly overcooked. The only flair added to the sandwich was onion jam, and there was barely any present. It was also served on a standard hamburger bun, which is quite to boring bread choice for a fish sandwich. The salad was a nice accompaniment, but once again fell flat in the flavor department. My husband's entree was remarkably better than mine, but the fish was still overcooked. The highlight of his entree was the apple brussel slaw. For Alaska both of these seafood entrees really were just ok.
The highlight of the meal was dessert, the pot du creme. It was delectable.
All in all the restaurant has a lovely ambiance and a great view. Maybe we ordered wrong or maybe the kitchen was having an off day. I really do think the selection is overpriced for the quality that you get. I would come back to enjoy some cocktails, craft beer, and the view. But, the menu seems to need some expansion!