Red Lantern Steak & Spirits

Located in the Westmark Fairbanks Hotel, the Red Lantern restaurant serves one of the best steaks in town. And while you’ll find great lunch and dinner menus, don’t overlook the house-made pastries that come with the continental breakfast.

The light-filled dining room has a dog-mushing motif, with prints of sled dogs, a copper sculpture of a musher and dog team, and red lantern lights above the bar. Set downtown and a short walk from the river, this is a local favorite spot for both business lunches and special meals. It’s also a hit for travelers looking for a quick, hearty breakfast or an Alaskan seafood dinner.

Chef Mark prepares a specials menu daily, with four or five dishes highlighting fresh ingredients. Alaskan favorites are always on the menu, like Halibut Olympia—a fresh cut of Alaska halibut baked over a bed of Bermuda onions and cooked in a mayonnaise, white-wine sauce and topped with cheese.

Breakfast is continental (fresh-cut fruit, oatmeal, yogurt, house-baked Danishes, scones, and muffins), or you can order from a menu, which features create-your-own-omelets and French toast. One of two restaurants serving this 400-room hotel, the Red Lantern can dish out the meals, so you can start the day without a wait—even when it’s busy.

At lunch, you’ll find burgers, sandwiches, soups, and salads, along with French fries or their house-made potato chips. For something lighter, the shrimp salad is perfect—grilled shrimp served over a bed of mixed lettuce with the dressing of your choice.