funky atmosphere, interesting food? i'm sold.. ilovethe spenard roadhouse. it was the very first restaurant my boyfriend took me when i drove into town (phew, what a drive from michigan!), and it continues to be our regular 'fall back' place. though we always want to try out restaurants we haven't tried before, we always seem to fall back on spenard when we head out with friends or just for a drink.
the roadhouse has a definite 'hipster' vibe to it. it's a re-purposed pizza hut (or something) right on 'fast food row', with fantastically funky, tacky, gaudy, awesome decor. the parking lot is always packed, and sometimes difficult to get into and out of (especially in the winter). there is typically a wait for a table (sometimes even at lunch), but there's a really comfortable lounge area with couches and magazines.
the waitstaff have been nothing but attentive and pleasant when i have eaten there (numerous times). they're young, hip, and seem tolovetheir jobs. one time, when i didn'tlovemy soup (i only ate about 3 bites), the server noticed and asked about it (i said it was a little to acid-y for my tastes), he insisted on taking it off the bill. also, the staff are very knowledgeable about their bar and menu.
the menu would definitely be called a fusion. it's interesting and fun, but also includes favorites like tater tots (their specialty!) and bacon. the menu seems to change a lot, but i've never been disappointed. also, the drinks list is extensive and fair-priced.
i'm very happy the spenard roadhouse is here in anchorage, and very close to my apartment. it's a great fall-back, or just if it's a 'i don't feel like cooking let's hit spenard' kind of night. i never regret going to the roadhouse.