The most incredible spot, we came here twice in a row and wanted to visit again for a third dinner,…read morebut they were closed for the day. Let me tell you something....... THE YUZU MISO COD!!! WOW! Easily one of the best things I've ever eaten. Cooked to actual perfection, the most delicate and soft flakes, infused with (not overly sweet) glaze. I'm like daydreaming just thinking about it. Every bite. I was floored. Even by the last few bites, I was still so impressed, it might as well have been the first. And that broccolini had phenomenal flavor/texture. Oh, and the savory butter board focaccia has ruined all other bread/butter for me. I fear I'll never be the same.
On par with the food, Beak is community-driven, centering people, values, and quality, locally sourced ingredients. It was awesome to see where the main dishes were sourced from, right there on the menu (all Alaskan groups or local Sitka cooperatives!). My gosh, it makes a difference, and each bite is even more special. If you have a moment, I'd really encourage checking out their website and reading through the 'About' section. You'll fall even more head-over-heels in love with this place. Beak is the model for the future we need.
Each staff member we interacted with was 10/10 stellar. They were beaming when talking about the owner/chef and how much they loved working there. Beak is gratuity-free (non-tipping), and any place that pays its staff a living wage gets extra points in my book! Any tips go to staff-selected charities/causes in the area.
I'll argue with anyone: the pricing is awesome. Like.. actually take a second and think about it:
- LOCAL ingredients.. that means great quality, AND you're supporting local communities (and they're *locally-run* ones too, I really can't emphasize this enough... **especially** if you're coming here as a tourist, you better be actively trying to find ways to support the community)
- Gratuity-free/included in pricing!!
- And, oh yeah, it's like the best bite of food I've had in my life.
We don't even need to compare on relativity because Beak speaks for itself, but if you really want to go there -- live in any other coastal city, and you'll realize that it's a steal. Like it's actually bonkers. No one's doing this.
I doubt anyone reads this far on a Yelp review, but even if I'm shouting into the void, it'll be in praise for Beak. Someone call the tire man, Chef Renee deserves her star!