Bobby's Downtown in Fairbanks, Alaska: Excellent Greek Food for a Price

Good food is a passion of mine, and I especially enjoy traveling for the opportunities it offers to enjoy exciting new cuisines. On a recent trip to Fairbanks, Alaska, my husband and I decided to look around for some exotic new restaurants to try.

After walking around part of the city, we stumbled upon a restaurant with large pillars outside. It was called Bobby's Downtown. The restaurant was not open when we walked by, but we later called to find out if it served Greek food, as the outdoor façade seemed to indicate. It did.

We walked into Bobby's Downtown on a Saturday evening. A sign had promised live jazz, but none was playing. I was disappointed by that fact, but it was eclipsed by the remainder of our experience. The host greeted us and asked if we had reservations. Quickly looking around the crowded restaurant, we were afraid we would miss out. The host said it would be fine as long as we were okay with sitting in the smoking bar. We agreed for the opportunity to dine at such a popular location.

Seating was definitely limited, but we had a small table near a window and the bar. Although the bar did allow smoking, no one was. We also had a fairly good view of the kitchen, where we were able to see busy chefs pulling together beautiful dishes.

The waiters and waitresses at Bobby's Downtown were very well-trained. They did not rush us, although we took a fairly long time to decide on drinks and entrees.

Bobby's Downtown has an extensive menu full of Greek-influenced dishes. We chose to begin our relaxed meal with saganaki. I've had this amazing appetizer in other Greek restaurants, and Bobby's Downtown was at the top of the list. It is made of a pan-fried cheese and is served with lemon juice. The lemon adds the perfect tartness to the strong cheese.

For our entrees, we chose the moussaka and gyro. These were both delicious. The tzatziki was especially excellent. However, even though I really enjoyed my gyro, looking around the restaurant as I held my foil-wrapped sandwich, it seemed a bit casual for such a fancy, upscale location. Although fitting with the cuisine and excellently prepared, it seemed slightly out of place in a nice, sit-down, knife and fork restaurant. The drinks were well-made.

Bobby's Downtown is not a restaurant for those on a budget. Appetizers run around $10, and entrees are $15 and up, most on the higher end of the spectrum. Still, if you are looking for a meal and venue that is well-thought out on every level, I would definitely recommend Bobby's Downtown. As a side note, the women's restroom is extremely beautiful. The white pedestal sinks and dramatic red walls are simply another testament to the owners' attention to detail.

The restaurant is located at 609 Second Avenue, in Fairbanks. Hours are Monday-Thursday 11 am - 10 pm, Friday 11 am - 11 pm, and Saturday 5 pm - 11 pm. For more information, call 907-456-3222.