ORSO

11/20/08

Anchorage by Mauricio R. at InsiderPages

Contributor at Insider Pages

We ate lunch here while passing through Anchorage. The atmosphere was chic and the restaurant seemed trendy; it would have been at home in New York or Philadelphia. Prices were reasonable (as compared to those cities just mentioned) and there was a unique twist to all the dishes (different ingredients, etc.).

01/26/09

Best place to eat in Anchorage

by krys29 at Citysearch

It's a great place to eat at, would recommend reservations though mainly on a weekend evening. WAit staff are great, the bar is great, the food is the best we have found so far in Anchorage as far as a nice restuarant. We have eaten there quite a few times and have been impressed every time. I look foward to another dinner out!

• Pros: very relaxing and pleasant
• Cons: parking

12/24/08

Eat the food, feel the love!

by gwaltney53 at Citysearch

This is a great place for people who care about food. The decor is interesting. The staff is knowledgeable but pleasantly unpretentious. The menu is full of fresh seafood prepared in interesting ways. I frequently get the fish special. There are only a few places in Anchorage that show the same level of respect for ingredients as Orso. Fresh fish is usually cooked with very simple preparation and the true flavors are there to enjoy. Don't miss the King salmon when it is in season. Pasta and a very nice steak are also available. As far as I?m concerned however, the fish is the star here. This would be a good place for a birthday or other special event. Expensive but good value for the money. Good wine and bar too.

11/15/08

Great atmosphere, mostly very tasty

by olioli at Citysearch

Things I love about this place:

- you can almost always get a seat in the bar area at night and have a good meal

- funky orange chandeliers, posters, other neat decor. Hip and understated.

- polenta and beef tips, as well as their smoked salmon chowder = best comfort food in town

- decent wines, good dessert wines.

- seasonally changing menu with some local ingredients (! - a feat for Alaska) :)

- friendly and professional waiters. There were some drunk people in there on Sat. night and they offered them to leave in such a charmingly unobtrusive, yet firm way :) Love Orso.

Things I am not that into:

- wild mushroom ravioli leave something to be desired. Chewy, too salty, not very flavorful

- sometimes they are out of a particular wine, with no apologies or offer to substitute much. I think both times this happened, it was late at night, and the waitress was tired.

All in all, not flawless but one of our favorite places. You actually forget it's winter outside when you are in there :D

08/06/08

Amazing food, beer, atmosphere, location, price

by scottieb3 at Citysearch

We went for lunch one summer Friday, expecting crowds and high prices. We got a tad lost and some locals helped us, approving of our choice. When we walked in near the end of lunch, the place was mostly empty. The staff was extremely polite and prompt in seating us and getting our orders. Though they could've insisted it was late enough for dinner, they were accommodating to our taste. My friend and I ordered some of their beers and were blown away with how good they were, I had a pleasant raspberry wheat which more than held it's own against other standard wheats (Blue Moon, Hefeweizen) as a beer, not just a gimmick. For food, we were even more impressed. The Alaskan Salmon Po'boy had the perfect seasoning, which also allowed the fish's flavor to come forth. Again, the staff was great here; recommendations, the right amount of attention, and friendly. The settings and decoration were refined and muted, beautiful interior. We went in tshirts and jeans and felt comfortable, but would've been just at home in suits like the party behind us. And in the end, the bill was what we would've expected at some lower-quality chain or mediocre hotel restaurant: $10-15 lunch entrees, $3-5 beers. No tourist-gouging like other places.

If you're in Anchorage for even a single meal, call on this place.

• Pros: Food, Beers (taste and selection), service, atmosphere, wait time, location
• Cons: Absolutely nothing, wish I had it in my town

10/23/07

Happy Birthday Dinner!

by sm5201992 at Citysearch

I just came back from dinner with a few friends.....order the Seafood gemellini you will be very pleased. Blueberry-Pomegranate Sangria was wonderful also!

07/30/06

Well......They try.

by fritzvon at Citysearch

The decor is excellent, as are the wait staff. Unfortunately the food leaves something to be desired, as does the beer which is from the "Glacier Brewhouse", with which "Orso" is apparently affiliated. If you really like salt, and O.K., not good, homebrew, this is your place.

• Pros: Decor and wait staff.
• Cons: Food and drink.

06/15/06

best seafood pasta in Anchorage

by kimijune at Citysearch

Ever since I got the citrus salad and seafood gemelli I've craved it. The BEST meal I've had in Anchorage

• Cons: pricey