The Pump House Restaurant Fairbanks

This was a great meal and the staff were friendly too. The restaurant is right on the water and has some great scenery on the outside. They have great Alaska style dishes and the inside of the facility is reminiscent of a 1900s upscale eatery. It was a little bit pricey, but I would come here again. The place is pretty busy so I would encourage reservations.

Beautiful views of the river and a historic place. We were a large group and ordered many different items. Pictured are the blackened halibut, bourbon street shrimp, oyster plate, coconut shrimp, Parmesan crusted zucchini strips, crème brûlée and pear blossom martini. All the food was exceptional and the service was excellent! They were able to accommodate our large group of 11 last minutes which was great special also. Highly recommend!

On June 28, 2025, We had a delicious meal at the Pump House (Fairbanks, Alaska). Sterling was our waiter, and even though it was a busy night, he was on top of everything and so great and attentive. The clam chowder was best I've ever had. We also ordered the Alaska King Crab dinner, and it was delicious. It was expensive as we knew it was going to be ($58 a half pound) we had never had King Crab before, so I ordered a pound, and it was more than enough. The deserts were also very good. Even though we were so full, my husband and I split the black bottom chocolate cake.

Heard such great things, was massively disappointed. Service was awful. We had a reservation for 2, sat down and were ignored by the waiter for 10 min even after making eye contact with him multiple times. He was only working 2 other tables. Finally came over and he took drink orders. Took a other 10 minutes for 1 beer and a tea to come out. Every other table around us got bread, but we were never offered. We could see the waiter had no interest in talking with us, so we stopped to ask him if we could order food now. I ordered a small Caesar salad ($12.50) and it was fine. I saw Buttermilk Fried Chicken Mac and Cheese and thought it sounded great... It was terrible. I was expecting creamy Cheddar and Gouda, but instead got some awful take on Alfredo?? It was greasy and tasted old. The chicken was burnt on the bottom, why send it out like that? I mean bitter burnt taste was overwhelming. I took a few bites and stopped. You'd think $30 Mac and Cheese would be fresh and delicious, but instead I got nasty overcooked pasta drenched in what tasted like a boxed sauce. Waiter came back and saw I only ate a bit. He asked if I wanted a box and I said no, he goes "okay" and walks away. Didn't even bother to ask if anything was wrong. The building is cool and has nice decor, but everything else was awful. Service and food were embarrassing, no idea how this place is so highly rated. Banks Ale house in Fairbanks was much better, I'd recommend that.

Wonderful fish (HALIBUT) and chips. I loved the outdoor seating by the river. The apple pie is the best I've ever eaten. Service worked their tails off. This is a very popular place because of their delicious local favorites. Paddleboat went by while I was there. Before dinner time, they serve a limited menu on the patio, so don't be surprised if you get fewer choices before 6. I wanted halibut, and halibut was served when I went. Lots of Diet Coke refills that were like mana after working on a fire for a week.

Took 13 people here. Had our own private room with an excellent waiter. It took 3 hours for the entirety of our meal but the food was delicious. The oysters and ribeye steak are delicious. The blackened halibut was equally delicious. All the desserts are homemade. This place is fantastic. Def recommend eating here. There was no reindeer but it was replaced by elk which was equally fantastic.

This place is seriously awesome. Do not come without a reservation though! We loaded the mistake of that- they offer a bar seating area but it’s super packed. They accommodated us earlier than our reservation which was really nice of them. Wesley was our server, he was really well spoken and kind. He also was running around his section and still stayed consistently on top of our table. We had the salmon & meatloaf the only complaint we had was the temp of our food was a little less warm than we would have liked. Other then that it was fantastic

Great place to eat. I've eaten there several times and have never been disappointed. This trip was the Sunday brunch buffet. It was awesome. Fantastic spread of food, great service and mimosas were included. Very reasonably priced for all the delicious food options. Highly recommend the Sunday brunch

I can here on vacation in November. It was so cold! That being said, have pretty much only good things to say. First of all, Joshua was our server and super friendly and helpful! He recommended some dishes which was great. Highly recommend following recommendations. We had the grilled salmon which hwas delicious. The maple syrup and black berry glaze on the salmon ended up on the potato wedges which elevated them to a whole other degree. My partner was absolutely in love with it. I personally loved the seafood chowder because it was thick and perfect. The bread was delicious and complex in flavor without being too much. The only thing that wasn't absolutely amazing was the crab mac. We also had the elk meatloaf which my partner loved. I personally found it too salty but that is more because I don't put a lot of salt in my food. The decor was SO cute. I loved that they say us on a couch which just made the dinner that much more cozy. I certainly recommend and, having seen reviews, would love to come back in good weather too!

Restaurant had a Sunday buffet and so we made reservations to try it. The restaurant was beautiful and we got to sit on the deck which was fantastic. Our waitress was very kind and did a great job! However, the buffet was a hot mess! It offered prime rib (when it was available or not coming out rare) and we waited over 25 min for the peel and eat shrimp to be replenished. They had a small salad bar and again, you were scrapping the bottom of the containers for scraps to make a salad. The food was also very bland. A family called the manager over to complain and she made the comment "let me walk around and see what's needed", question is why wasn't someone monitoring this before all the food was empty. I overheard several people leaving that were upset for what was offered and the price.

Food was excellent The service is dependent on your server The menu is five star The bar- It has lost its ambience a long time ago When sitting at the bar, in the bar area; you feel like you are at a service station. Dirty glassware throughout the bar I believe it is their washing station for the entire restaurant. Left side of the bar has been turned into an oyster bar with cheap marker board and fried food to go containers clustering bar. Long lost are the days of sitting at an old Alaskan bar. Now you will be tripping over one and two year olds with other kids sitting throughout the tables in the bar area with their questionably parental skilled parents in attendance More mid class to lower class. Long gone are the days of exclusivity here. Good family dining, with an above average dining pricing. Bar tables were dirty when I sat down. Never cleaned. Live Piano music a +

The staff were friendly and .food was great! The place is beautiful, ally to see and look at while waiting for your table.

Impressed! I understand that they got the head chef from Lavelle's and they've upped their game! We started with Alaska Scallops wrapped in Maple Bacon they were excellent!. Our friend who with my wife and I got the Halibut Fish and Chips and we both got the Blackened Halibut. So tasty! What a great head chef can bring to an establishment is truly edible art! We decided to split a desert a lava brownie cake A'la Mode. It was good but not great. I'd work on some better deserts. Main courses are fantastic!

My server was Kendal and my root beer was on draft. Both were sweet and bubbly. My grilled halibut plate looked small didn't think I'd get full but the potatoes were a nice touch. Hold the cheese please. Wish I had more veggies but at least the fish was good. I had the scallops wrapped a bacon as an appetizer. These are a must, I like that they were not too sweet. And my dessert was a Rhubarb cobbler, nice and hot with cold vanilla ice cream on top. So good!

We've been here for over an hour and have had two drinks...still waiting for food. We see many tables in the same boat. We're sitting on the deck where we only have access to the bar menu, so you'd think that service would be faster. The restaurant side of the deck...where they've made reservations, isn't faring any better. Very disappointed. It's a very nice day on a deck on the river, and had great potential, but it's turned into a very frustrating experience.

This place is very popular and make sure you have advance reservations. And if u aren't prepared, like us, you can show up at 4pm to be seated at the bar. First come first serve at the bar. And honestly, their bar seating actually has a lot of regular tables/chairs, not at the actual bar. They have many food selections but all taste average. We ordered a lot of different dishes to try, and our favorite is actually the seafood pasta! Lamb racks are a little too burnt and nothing too impressive Strawberry cobbler is super sour, make sure you like the sour jam before u order Seafood chowder is okay. Steamed clams and reindeer sausage is really good!! Highly recommend! They no longer have reindeer medallions but they offer elk medallions if you wanna give it a try Bacon wrapped scallop, not my favorite.

The steaks were great, and a larger portion than I expected! I actually couldn't finish mine. Loved the antiques on the walls and the service was very good, considering how busy they were.

Literally the best meal I've ever had in my life! (I ordered the halibut) Awesome atmosphere channeling old Alaska. Loved the whole experience.

The Elk medallions and the halibut were great. The salads, both Caesar and the mixed greens were also good. The salmon was overcooked and the desert was dry.

Wonderful atmosphere inside & out. Great food and excellent service. We had an amazing server, Kendall I believe. Celebrated our anniversary while there on vacation and it did not disappoint

Great NYE date-night place located on the frozen banks of the Chena River in Fairbanks, Alaska. Our server, Blaine, was very attentive and friendly and did a sensational job taking care of our table and the others around us. The food was delicious and i highly recommend their seafood chowder and shrimp and crab rangoons! Best I've ever had!

Recommended by a local and the menu solidified our dinner decision. A short drive past the Fairbanks airport is an incredible location, even in the winter. The dining room and bar have so much character that they have a pamphlet to tell you about it. The food was delicious!! I had the salmon with a blueberry syrup glaze (not too sweet) and my mom had the seafood risotto. She had pre than she could eat, so she picked out the good stuff to save room for the massive dessert options. We split the chocolate mousse pie with Oreo crust and nothing was left... Great spot for family, date night, summer on the patio overlooking the river, good food. All of the staff was great making sure we had what we needed without being overwhelming.

Best entree crab spinach mushroom chicken. Great service by Kendal. Sat on the covered deck. Also had Ceasar salad, just order the regular the large is huge, enough for 3-4 people

We were asked to give the pump a second chance. We arrived. 3 rd customers there. Otherwise dead. Tried to order halibut tenders. The waitress had to ask if we were allowed to order them from the kitchen.... It's a bar item on the bar menu...?? We were outside. Then when she'd returned I asked if we could substitute sweet potato fries. She waked off a second time to talk to the kitchen. Then. A family sat next to us. When she returned. Said then sheCould do sweet potato fries. Then She walked off without giving us a chance to finish ordering food!?!?! Rather than finish our order. She starts to accommodate the next table.. We paid for our unfinished drinks and drove off. What a service disgrace. Come here to experience the new low standard. Btw I called the couple who told us we should try pump again. They were aghast as well.

It's highly recommended on several places. We came in when there aren't too many people inside. We ordered the seafood combo, scallops, salmon, and the chocolate cake. They are all delicious. My favorite was the chocolate cake and ice cream. The combination of hot fudge and cold ice cream really made my tongue happy. The seafood plate is not cheap, but I would say it's worthy it. You can taste the freshness of them, and the delicious sauces. The scallops wrapped with bacon are also so flavorful. The grilled sensation and soft texture is scoliosis are the truly winner. I liked this place a lot.

The brunch buffet is fresh and delicious. They keep it covered and heated to retain the moisture and flavor keep it delicious throughout the entire brunch service. It's the cleanest buffet I've ever experienced. Every item tastes personally made fresh and served at the correct temperature. The staff is spot on attentive and courteous. The place has museum quality decor that is cozy, and elegant at the same time. Definitely a must visit if you are in the area.

The service was minimal and the food was disappointing. The soup and the halibut basket were cold.

Delicious dinner at the Pump House to end our Fairbanks trip. The service was very good, our waitress was very attentive. The kitchen was backed up, and she apologized multiple times and even offered us a complimentary soup or salad while we waited. There was plenty to look at around the restaurant to keep us busy while waiting. The decorations are a uniquely Alaskan! We started with the Alaskan bacon wrapped scallops, you could taste the wood fire char, they were delicious. The coleslaw and rice was a pass. I had the blackened halibut which was the highlight of the meal! The risotto paired perfectly with the slightly spicy halibut. The balsamic glaze was a very nice compliment. My wife ordered the ribeye, which was slightly over the medium she ordered, but still tender. The Demi glaze was very good.

I had the New York strip it was a nice size portion and the potatoes tasted good The bad was the sauce that they had on the steak it tasted like it came from a jar I would recommend not having the sauce Food 3 stars Services 3.5 stars Ambiance 4 stars

Make sure you get reservations if you want to eat in the actual restaurant otherwise there is just the bar area with only the bar menu we got reservations and aren't big seafood eaters so we ended up getting burgers I'm unsure of how it happened but my burger was only half cooked one side was completely raw our waiter left something to be desired he wasn't very kind and rarely checked on us I don't know if we just came in on a bad night or what

Beautiful, warm Alaska interior with a large, inviting bar area with tons of activity and energy, along with a cozy game room area with pool, darts and bar shuffle board at $8/hr and traditional dining area space as well. The property also has a very nice, expansive deck open in the summer. Don't bring your dog to the deck though, your dog will not be welcome. Food is good, for what it is. The highlight of this destination is the lovely interior for sure!

This is an awesome place so nice inside like going to someone old house. The witness was so kind and helpful. I was told by 2 different uber driver to order this dish. So I did order this very delicious dish Blackened Alaskas Halibut with Truffle Risotto and roasted tomatoes. Now I usually don't eat tomatoes but this was delicious so sweet it reminded me of the tomatoes preserves my Mother used to make. My husband ordered the Seafood Pasta and he also loved it. If I ever come back to Fairbanks I will come back to this restaurant.

Not the place it used to be. I ordered fish and chips. There were 3 golf ball sized pieces of fish and lukewarm fries. One of the pieces of fish was raw although the breading was cooked. I mentioned the raw fish to the server and she replaced it with another piece in my to-go box. When I was eating the leftovers the replacement piece was also raw. The prices have gone up a lot as well. More reasonably priced alternatives: Silver Gulch, Brewsters

The Pump House just served me the best ribeye steak I've ever had. The atmosphere is wonderful and the service is extremely friendly, this is definitely a place you need to visit when you come to Fairbanks Alaska!

So the Airbnb owner recommended The Pump House and reservations were hard to come by. Nothing was available yesterday and we could only get an 8:30 pm for today so we took it. The staff are really good and the grounds are pretty as it sits right in front of the Chena River. By all means, have a drink and enjoy the scenery. However the food is lackluster. We ordered half a dozen oysters and they were OK, but the person who shucked them didn't release them from the shell. I suppose that's not horrible but I can't remember the last time that happened to me. Their seafood chowder was really good. Lots of salmon and other seafood bits. However the salmon main was over done. We ordered the reindeer tenderloin and they substituted it with elk. This was fine but we asked for medium and it was a bit under. Neither of the entrees were particularly hot and tasted just ok. The veggies needed more cook time. You needed the serrated knife to cut the broccolini although the carrots were tender. A bit of a mixed bag with this one. I eyed other food that came out and some looked good (might have been steak and/or meatloaf and definitely the Mac and cheese looked good). Probably wouldn't come back again. I'm rating them a 3 but I'd lean more towards a 2.5.

Came in at 9pm, an hour before closing we know, but we had just finished our schedules for the day and wanted a good meal. The hosts were less than excited to see us and took their time to even acknowledge us but it was late so benefit of the doubt. They don't seat anyone in the main dinning area after 9 so they directed us to the pub area which is first come first serve with a smaller menu. The food is always reliable here. The calamari was delicious with the tartar sauce. The chowder is on the saltier side that would be perfect with a side of bread but alas it only comes with soup, and the burger and fries were excellent. Lovely ambience, they even have billiards, shuffleboard, and darts. Would recommend!

Food: phenomenal (when it finally arrived) Service: the worst I've had possibly ever at a restaurant. Our reservation was at 6:30, and we were seated at 6:40. Our waitress didn't arrive until about 30 minutes later and after taking our drink orders (only an ice tea and root beer) we were still without any drinks or food AN HOUR after being seated. It took an hour and 20 minutes to get our food and we got zero drink refills and our waitress never checked on us. Definitely won't be returning after this

Leaving this review from a visitor's perspective, so I can't speak on how this restaurant compares to other fine dining in the area. We're glad we had a dinner reservation since it seemed pretty crowded. My partner and I arrived early and enjoyed the rustic ambiance. We spent our time at the separate bar area enjoying drinks until our reservation time. I recommend the Strawberry Lemon Drop Martini if you're craving a sweet, fruity cocktail (that is, if you're typically a fan of strawberry lemonade.) Foodwise, we opted for the Seafood Sampler for Two to be able to get a taste of different foods. The portion was in fact enough for two people. The great service was the highlight of our experience! We were on a time crunch due to our flight later that evening, and the staff was able to get our food out extremely quickly for us. Our server was so friendly, and we're really appreciative of them being able to accommodate us.

I was so excited to finally get Alaskan salmon, but was sad it was overcooked. The flavor and sauce preparation were great, and I would have really enjoyed had it not been dry and overcooked. Husband had the elk meatloaf and it was great. We were seated for 9 people in a back room and it was so nice to have the private space. The historic ambience of the environment was on point.

My family and I had dinner reservations on a Friday night. When we arrived we got seated immediately, the restaurant was very busy and we still got great service! The restaurant was clean and felt cozy, decor was a representation of Alaska for sure. The food was delicious, fresh and high quality. My husband ordered the seafood risotto, he loved it. My daughter got the calamari and the filet mignon, the meat was tender and she loved the airy mashed potatoes that is paired with the filet, the calamari was fresh and the breading was crispy, my daughter didn't like the strong Parmesan after taste but I loved it. I had the Alaskan scallops wrapped in bacon, best scallops I've ever eaten, you can taste the freshness and quality, I recommend them if you love scallops!

It has been years since i have been to the pump house. We were under the impression that Lavelle's was closed, although it was not and we needed an upscale place to entertain clients after a long business meeting. We chose the Pump house and it did not disappoint. it was much better than I remember it. Many in our party ordered the scallop entree, seafood risotto, lamb, halibut - broiled and Cajun spiced. We had appetizers of shrimp, scallops, zucchini sticks. The table had both white and red wine - so we were happy to say the least. Deserts, all fresh made and shareable...crème brûlée, peanut butter cheesecake, dark chocolate with raspberry torte, berry cheesecake (the best)....I. Personally didn't order dessert, but was so tempted i had to taste a bit of each one. It is refreshing to have another choice in Fairbanks, with high quality service and food. I hear that the new owner is none other than Benny Lin, owner of Pagoda in North Pole. Not sure if that is true but I did hear it from a local....maybe that is why the food was better than in years past. Everyone in our party of about 10 or 11, were very pleased and this is now on our list when in Fairbanks.

The food and services were amazing. We has a seafood sampler and elk tenderloin. And created our own version of surf and turf. The decor and ambiance were so cool.

- loved the interior - rly felt like we were in ALASKA! - the chemical scent of some cleaner was really strong throughout our time here - food was good, but def didn't blow me away IMO ;-; - service was great - we had an attentive and friendly server! - my fav was the seafood risotto, while my fam liked the seafood pasta the most - creme brûlée was disappointing and a little bland :( but i love the dessert flight and being able to see all the options!

We came in as it opened up and found the service to be first rate. Our dinner of a bowl of seafood chowder, a garden salad, and blackened halibut was delicious. The halibut was served with risotto and blistered cherry tomatoes with fennel and arugula. Delicious. The portion size was perfect c

Everything about this place is great. The drinks, food, ambiance, and the staff. Bartenders were in point!

Walked into restaurant and at the front desk a small bucket and a cleaning rag are sitting out right there and the smell was terrible. The rack of lamb was delicious, but my $21 burger was pretty terrible. It was overcooked and lacked seasoning. Didn't finish. Service incredibly slow. Lots of people appear to work there but didn't seem in sync.

I have to said make a reservation! Really and they have to change store hour it said open at 4 on website but they open at 5. I was there at 3:30 too early, okay I wait! Until they open. Guess what they have no open tables for us since we are the first person come in but they don't take because they table all being reservations. They should leave 5 table out for those did not make reservations! Since they was excited eating here and wait outside 30 mins it's was negative degree !. And spend time to come here. Overall, I ask her I make a reservation right now for today she said it will be 7:30, I was shocked , it's 4 that mean I have to wait 3 hours 30 min, and in negative temperature. Absolutely no, I tell there I will come back tmr, make tmr reservations . After all and all I feel sad not worth, food is not good and overpriced. Paid almost 400 dollars, but I went home eat again.

There are a variety of choices for food. We had Salmon, Halibut and more. Desserts are huge so worth the 10 dollars. Service was great there when you needed and otherwise left you alone. Didn't push desserts we asked for them. Ambiance is a cool Alaskan vibe. We arrived around 4 had a round of drinks and an order of hot pretzels in the bar and so we didn't need reservations as we just stayed in the bar for dinner where full menu is available and seating is first come first serve.

Scenic location but sad to think that this is considered fine dining in Fairbanks. Ambiance is old and dated. Service staff could use some polishing in customer service. Waited 38minutes for food to come out....they could have sent out our salad and bread first but they didn't. Now onto the foods. Crab legs were good and sweet Grilled halibut with pesto and truffle risotto was the best dish Their "world famous" seafood chowder is not good at all. Much too salty, thick and served lukewarm. Deep fried seafood combination platter was ok, batter too thick Crab cakes were cold and gummy, don't recommend at all. Crab Cobb salad was just okay as there was barely any crab and much too many thick sliced red onions. Based on how every dish tasted we opted to skip desserts.

This is a great spot in the summertime, when the deck is open and you can watch the river and have an excellent burger or salmon. In the winter, both times I went I had to sit in the bar which was crowded and only had one server, but the food was very good. I got the smash burger and sweet potato fries, delicious! Desserts are always amazing too, but take a long time to come out.

Wow! We found the perfect Sunday brunch spot! My sister called for reservations on the deck, closest to the river. Our table was ready and we were seated immediately. After coffees and conversation. We cruised the brunch offerings to find my favorite foods: two kinds of smoked salmon, grilled vegetables and perfectly prepared halibut. Honestly, everything looked good from the French toast and whipped cream and fresh berries to the many styles of eggs and sausages to the charcuterie board. This is a special place, and my family had much to celebrate. I'm so glad we gathered here on a stunning July morning.

Fun place more comfortable family friendly wait staff with good food (King Crab) and it's right on the river.

Loved the food. We had expresso martinis, an elk burger, seafood chowder and creme brûlée. Allllll delicious. The staff was so sweet. Of course that matters when your somewhere you've never been. Because we arrived at 4pm we ate in the bar area. They still serve you the same menu that the dining area gets. So that was cool with us.

As first time visitors, this restaurant/saloon was highly recommended by a local. From the decor, service and food, our experience was excellent and exactly what we were looking for in an Alaskan experience. If only the weather were nicer, the outside deck next to the river, it would have been perfect

We came on a Sunday, this place was a buffet style brunch and it was delicious to say the least. Great atmosphere! Would definitely return next time I'm in Fairbanks!

***** I am rating our dining experience (as tourists) at the Pump House last night 5 stars and this is why: our needs were met 100% with no complaints. We were seated at the time of our restoration, 5pm, greeted immediately by our very pleasant server that brought us water and after ordering, brought us 2 perfect martinis- basic gin & vodka. I came specifically for Alaskan Crab Claws, they were delicious and came out of the shells easily. They were $125 for about 1.5lbs, that may seem pricey but I checked other places and they ranged from $99 (Lavelle's) -$140 (Chowder House) so they are in range. The chowder was delicious, we ordered fish and chips as an appetizer to share for the 4 of us and I would return just for those two items alone! Besides my Alaskan Crab entree, we had the Maple Glazed Salmon, Chicken Parmesan and the Cobb salad with crab meat. Everyone was happy with their meal, but the salad was just okay and light on the crab meat. The Bread & Butter was fresh and hot. Service was excellent throughout with waters being refilled and plates cleared as needed. We almost didn't go based on recent reviews but I am so glad we went ahead and gave it a try. Great location on the river too!

Our waitress was nice and the food was great however The restaurant is very cluttered with decor and antiques. It was cozy and they had a full bar however 2 of us felt a bit of a bait and switch with some of our food. I ordered the grilled salmon that was wonderful; also tried the lavender orange cocktail (I like lavender) drinks that was overpowering and needed something sweet or less lavender so you could actually taste the orange. The reindeer sausage was really good, lean and the most flavorful thing ive had in the last few days. After dinner our waitress brought a dessert platter to look at and the creme brûlée was covered in berries that included strawberries, blackberries and blueberries so I got it thinking im getting a good serving of fresh fruit too. When I got my desert there was only 3 tiny slices of strawberries for garnish and whip cream that wasn't on the display desert. When I asked for what I was 'advertised', I was told it would cost extra. It didn't end up on the bill because I protested and one of our party took a picture of the desert display showing more than what I was given. There still wasn't any blackberries either but I was tired and just wanted to go. One of our party got charged an extra $15 on a dish that they asked for as is but they just didn't want to stress over that too and just go.