This is it. Best upscale restaurant I've been to in Anchorage. Leaps and bounds ahead of the one at the top of the hotel downtown. I'm so impressed with the creativity and execution of their dishes, and the service was top notch! I got the seasonal special with Kodiak scallops that were cooked to perfection! So many times scallops are over cooked, but these were Goldilocks perfect. I loved the pairing with the extra crispy brussel sprouts and the pops of flavor from the pomegranate. And the CALAMARI y'all. Lightly breaded and sautéed in a sauce from the gods. Capers accented the dish wonderfully. If I die and wake up at Jen's Restaurant, I'll know I made it to heaven! read more

Jens' Restaurant - Sauteed strips of Calamari a la Piccata - New American Near Me - Anchorage, Alaska

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We have been vacationing in Alaska for about a week now and our dinner here was, by far, the best meal we have had. There were six in our party including one vegan with a dairy allergy. Even she, was able to get a delicious dinner. Though they don't have a printed vegan menu, our waitress was able to offer multiple choices for her! Amazing. I had a very rich lunch so I wasn't super hungry. I had the Caesar salad and added salmon to it. The salad was delicious with a good amount of dressing and the salmon was flavorful and cooked correctly. The only thing about the dish that I would have changed and made it perfection, would be, to have crisped the salmon skin. Other than our resident vegan, the others had the salmon special and the halibut. Both were very good but I would say the biggest hit was the halibut. Our server was wonderful. She was super careful with the vegan food, which was important to us. Warning, they do have a cheesy tradition of blasting the song "Love and Marriage" when you are celebrating an anniversary and they bring out the desserts. But then they took a nice photo of us and gave it to us in card! Great memory for us! read more

We eat out a lot so only read on if this is the case for you as well. We ordered salmon, halibut, and the herring appetizer. The salmon and halibut were drier than we were used to. The accompaniments didn't taste good. The herring appetizer came two different ways, both had an offensive smell and tasted like vinegar. This review is not to offend the chef or the type of food served as this is a really upscale restaurant. However, we ordered the same entrees at Glacier Brewhouse and they were much more tasty and memorable read more

I thought I'd be writing a glowing review of this place, unfortunately my wife got food poisoning and was sick for a day and a half after eating here. She had the scallops and woke up a few hours later throwing up and all the other bad signs of food poisoning. First and last time at this place. read more

I eat out a lot, and I was not expecting to be completely blown away tonight... but here I am. Earlier this evening I finished up my meal at Jens' Restaurant and I can't stop thinking about it. My appetizer, the soup of the day Mushroom Tarragon, was one of the most delicious soups I've ever had... and I don't even like mushrooms!? The most perfectly cooked and flavorful salmon fillet, and a light but decadent dessert. I'm still trying to decide which part of my meal I enjoyed the most. I will be back, and soon. This was the absolute perfect celebratory dinner in a quiet, classy setting with friendly (but not fake or overbearing) waitstaff. Try this one if you've been putting it off... you won't regret it. read more

Jens' Restaurant - Sockeye Salmon special - New American Near Me - Anchorage, Alaska

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My husband and I were in town for vacation, and we took a chance on this place after seeing the reviews. We are SO glad we did! Everything from the appetizers to the wine to the dessert was fresh and absolutely delicious. read more

We came here for my husband's birthday last night. We had been about 10 years ago before we moved out of Alaska for my birthday and we both remember it being so memorable. To start, our service was terrible. Our appetizer plates and initial drink glasses with a cider can and tiny Prosecco bottle sat on the table empty for the entirety of our meal even after we ordered wine. It's a 2 person table so it's not like there is a lot of room on the table to begin with. And the couple times our server came to check on us she could have walked away with something. I can't express enough how terrible the service was. It did take a very long time for food to come out, but we noticed it was like that for all the tables. When the food did come out I have to admit it wasn't anything to write home about and honestly not worth the price. We got two appetizers; the crab cakes were good, but the ravioli was bland and the vegetable chunks mixed in were huge. The ceaser salad was by far my favorite item. My husband said his steak was okay and my Gorgonzola pasta unfortunately was exactly like the appetizer. A bland cream sauce not even tasting of Gorgonzola and huge chunks of barely cooked vegetables. When you go to a restaurant of this caliber you expect the service to be attentive and the food to be better than what you could make at home. It was a fail. And sadly not a great birthday dinner for the hubby. I know it's hard when you compare an experience to a previous one, but I have to admit we won't be going back. read more

Do not judge a book by its cover..it looks like a strip mall from the outside but once you walk inside it is a fine dining 5 star restaurant. The food was amazing, the salad was a perfect combination of flavors. I had the pasta and it was the best I've ever had and that says a lot because I travel across the US trying many Italian restaurants. My daughter had the "almost world famous" steak and she really enjoyed it. I highly recommend this restaurant for fine dining. read more

It's been 8 years and Jen's doesn't disappoint. Changed but not changed. Definitely on my must go list for Anchorage. read more

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I've gone here for lunch a couple times and it was very good. I also got the impression that the lunch and the dinner are quite a bit different. I sat at the bar and the bartender was dialed at the perfect level of chattiness. The food was what I'd describe as "Danish comfort food". I got a hash with scrambled eggs and some soup. Great food for a dark winter day. I need to come back and check out dinner. read more

Jens' Restaurant - Hash for lunch - New American Near Me - Anchorage, Alaska

I'll admit to a moment of trepidation when we parked our car in front of a nail shop in a strip mall before going into the restaurant. It was also like an adventure going into such an unassuming place to find what was inside. Restaurant is gorgeous and elegant. We were there for lunch and my only mistake was thinking that it wouldn't be as dressy at that hour. It was power lunch central of suits and dresses. Oh well.... As for the food - wow. Just wow. Caesar was the best we had in Anchorage and my gravad lax and scallops were sublime. I was expecting nice - but they did knock it out of the park. Service was good - server was great too. Yeah next time I'll just go more Hugo Boss and less Carthartt... lol read more

Our meal was full of rich and savory flavors and perfectly charming service. My favorite place to go for a "fancy and casual" meal with a friend. It was a little hard to find the first time because it's tucked away in an unassuming strip mall. read more

While in Anchorage we came here for foie gras since we can't get it in California. We started off with seared foie gras and beet salad. The foie gras was very good but small amount hiding under a pastry. The mushroom sauce around it was very tasty. Beet salad was good but did not have much beets in it. We also had Sashimi napoleon, more like an ahi poke with crunch wonton skin in between. It was okay. And the pork chop as our main course. I hardly ever order pork chop in any restaurant but the description of this entree, grilled with a blueberry bourbon glaze served with a fresh cherry-rhubarb and bacon compote, looked interesting. To my surprise, it was very delicious. I would order it again. Overall, we enjoyed the meal. It was worth taking a bus to get here. Great service. read more

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Had a great experience here last month for a birthday dinner. We started off with some appetizers. The oysters were very small for $3 a piece, but definitely tasted fresh. We also had this interesting appetizer which the server brought out to the table and later crushed it down with a plate. It's like a salad with tuna, seaweed, and fried wonton wrapper. For my entree, I had the linguine. The serving was huge and the noodles tasted freshly made. I also tried some of my fiance's duck over some squash raviolis and that was pretty good too. The flavors meshed together very well. Service was great. The old man was my fave. So cheery and happy! He was prancing down the dining area when bringing out the birthday cake. His service definitely made the whole experience at Jens' much more memorable! read more

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Very good food! Nice service and ambiance. The only reason took 1 star off is kind pricy. One main dish cost $45. read more

Though it appears that Jens sold this place in 2016, it doesn't seem like it has changed since 1987. It's located in a shopping center with a patio in the parking lot. The decor is very dated and it felt like a funeral parlor from the 80s. It was clean and everything was nice, but it was just not modern or hip. No one was in the restaurant on a Thursday night except for two other tables. Our server was excellent and knowledgable. The menu is upscale New American, but with a somewhat dated feel as well. It didn't have the excitement of some modern menus, but instead had dishes that I've seen a lot of. Everything was good, but it just didn't feel that special. There are a lot of restaurants at this price point in Anchorage but this wouldn't be my first choice. However, there was nothing wrong with this restaurant. Everything was delicious and the service was great. I think if this was in a different location and renovated, it would a great place. read more

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Cesar Salad without dressing and a lot of regular oil... I can't believe it, seriously read more

Jens' Restaurant - Cesar Salad with no Cesar dressing just a cup of the oil... Seriously ? - New American Near Me - Anchorage, Alaska

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I really wanted to love this restaurant and I will give it another chance and try a pasta dish, but I was not as pleased as I thought I would be. The Calamari was the absolute best thing we tried. The steak meals were tasty, but it did not scream "fine dining" to me. We were patient, but the service was very slow and took such a long time to get drinks, bread, apps and our meal. They also bring cold bread to the table and It does seem like it should be served warmed. I would give the food more of a 3.5-4 stars if I was rating it, by itself. read more

Jens' Restaurant - 14 oz Ribeye ($47) - New American Near Me - Anchorage, Alaska

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Awesome service and food! We eat here frequently and it doesn't disappoint! Highly recommended! read more

Jen's has been a family favorite for years now. It maintains its charm even if it is a little dated. Service is professional and courteous. I'm always impressed by the food. It is prepared to near perfection and presented well. You can tell the chefs care about the food they are serving their customers. With that being said, it is quite a wait to get to taste these delicious entrees. It took nearly and hour to get appetizer salads and then another 30 minutes for the entrees all for a decent sized party of 8. While I like to say that is very European, we are not in Europe and as Americans, we like our food pronto. Plan accordingly if you are dining here. The reason why I chose 3 stars is mainly for the classy ambiance and well prepared food. I am removing 2 starts because I do think that it is very expensive for what you get especially for the amount of time you have to wait, the portion size of protein and the choice of accompaniments (roasted veggies and potatoes or rice they were awfully plain and so-so). read more

Great food and perfect date nights for couples . I took my wife here for our anniversary and she loved it

I came here for a lunch work meeting. First thing that struck me was the odd location the host/hostess stand was. It's located towards the back of the restaurant past the wine bar, which was awkward since it was my first time there and unsure of where to go. I can't decide if I like the decor or not. There are some beautiful paintings throughout the restaurant, but all the color clashes with the red paint on the walls. One of the ceiling light had some colorful glass decorations, which didn't seem to fit with the other decor. Service was adequate. The waiter was polite and decent enough, but not especially warm or friendly. The food was underwhelming. I ordered the basil linguine, which was a good portion size for lunch. Given the name I expected more basil flavor, but really it was just pieces of basil and garlic in a generic tomato sauce over pasta. The tomatoes and basil were fresh, but the dish as a whole lacked flavor. The noodles were a tad softer than I prefer. It tasted something like I could have easily made at home for a fraction of the price. It would have been much better if it came with chicken, fish, and/or more vegetables. The bread served in a basket was pretty bland too. Now that I think about it, the most flavorful most of my meal was my iced tea, which I liked very much. I did see other items on the menu that interested me, so I would like to come back and try something else. Skip the pasta here and order something else. read more

I don't do 5 stars but Jen's deserves it. Unpretentious but classy. Call it Alaska class which is unique and special. Nancy, new owner, has done a great job is maintaining Chef Jen's traditions and adding her spin. Staff always attentive and friendly. read more

Delightful, fancy, expensive, delicious! It has limited seating so definitely get a reservation so you have a table. The atmosphere is artistic and high top with art on the walls and white tablecloths and napkins. The food was sooooo delicious I over ate and didn't have room for any of their mouth smacking sweets. read more

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Still a MUST GO!!! So many times when a small cafe changes ownership there is a distinct change - for better or for worse. This time this little perfect cafe had little change and even that change was a move toward a higher level of perfection. The ambiance is simple linen table cloths, small tables, petite decorations that do not block views or eye contact for the patron. A few paintings decorate the walls. There is usually only a quiet hum of conversation, (occasionally a loud larger party, having a great time, ignore all others to let their voices dominate the entire cafe). Menu changes are frequent but the favorites seem to always be there. I am constantly impressed by the cleverness of the dishes. Of course like bread, there is a basic formula. The chef sticks to the formula, but always finds a unique twist. All ingredients are of the highest quality, so the taste explodes in your mouth. This is one of those stable, reliable places in our community always pleasing and impressive to those we bring here and yet we also can look forward to a unique and pleasurable dining experience. read more

5 star rating. The service was excellent, very professional. The atmosphere was great for a date night. The wine delish. And the food was unbelievably amazing. This was my third time here and i still give it 5 stars. We had the deer and cod. Both cooked perfectly, my deer rare and cod was flaky and moist. Definitely a must try place. read more

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Lets set some expectations from the start. I know nothing about their Lunch offerings, as I consider this a special dinner destination. So, mileage may vary with Lunch as I understand it is a different experience. Despite the strip mall location (this IS Alaska .. so.. ), this is a very classy place. This is definitely Fine Dining and shouldn't be entered with the expectation that you are coming into a fast food, or even "Bistro" experience. One look at the menu and for those of us that enjoy food for the experience as much as the fuel - we know we are in something that needs to be experienced and not just consumed. The Staff is incredible. Informative without being "chatty", knows when to "drop in" on a conversation that might be going on with a tidbit, history or answer to a question about an ingredient, preparation or even just a question about the restaurant. To make the best of things, bring people that enjoy eating in "courses". Though not marketed that way, there is a natural flow to things at Jen's that leads itself to conversation, relaxed drinking and savoring food. I know I haven't spoken directly of dishes - I think I'll save that for another time. The menu here has something for almost everyone but those that are looking "just for meat and potatoes". If you don't want a good balanced mix of sauces, proteins, vegetables and/or fruits - don't stop at Jen's. Some of my favorites though: Calamari a la Piccata. Fillet a la Wellington (Not what some might expect at all), Ravioli (Spinach and Cheese) with mushrooms and a wine sauce and Deer Loin, crusted with juniper berries and sage I believe. Entree's can be split, with a plate charge. Oh. I suggest Reservations. read more

1st time to Jens', but can guarantee it won't be the last. Onion crusted Rockfish and the Pepper Steak were fantastic. read more

I had heard good things about Jen's, and had wanted to try it for a while. I was uninspired by it being in a little strip mall, and didn't see how it could be as good as people said. Tonight was my first visit, and as i'm pretty hard to please, and quite picky, me giving it the full five stars is an outstanding compliment. I only ever leave reviews when things are really bad, or really good. Firstly, the ambience is so much better on the inside, than it would appear from the outside, and the tables are set properly, with linen cloths, linen napkins, and proper flatware. This matters to me - a lot. Like i said, i'm picky. We don't do alcohol, but being English, i always get hot tea wherever i go, and not everywhere is able to accomodate an English person's desire for it to be "just so" However, the water was hot enough, and came in a little teapot, i did not have to ask for milk, it was offered, as well as a box with the choice of bags. Very nice We got the Charcuterie appetizer between us, mainly because my husband loves a meat and cheese platter, i'm not such a fan of it, but i didn't want a whole appetizer, as my stomach isn't big enough. The Prosciutto was beautiful, and he was very happy with the whole plate. The Brie was buttery creamy - just how i like it. I got the Linguine with Grilled Chicken Breast, he got the Pepper Steak. I have to say, i may have to move this restaurant up into my top one or two. The vegetables - asparagus, sweet potato, absolutely melt in the mouth beautiful. That was the first time i'd eaten asparagus, and i loved it. I do love sweet potato though, and they made a masterful job of it. There was some artichoke too, which i normally hate, but as everything else tasted so good, i gave it a try, and it was a pure delight too. There were some different types of mushrooms in there, and i love mushrooms so i nommed them down pretty quick. The chicken was perfectly cooked, not at all over, or under. Just right. And the pasta and the sauce, oh my! Such creamy goodness, such perfect pasta, i was busting a gut trying to cram it in, but couldn't quite do it. His steak was outrageous! Superbly pink, soft, flavourful, and the sauce. Goodness. I wanted it. His potato, i think it was a scalloped dish, but it was buttery deliciousness, i just had to have a bite. Both of our dishes were crazy good. I would have had a dessert too, but had no room. They sounded mighty. We will definitely be going back to Jen's. Totally a full five stars. And our server was lovely, super helpful. Thanks so much read more

Best in Anchorage. If you live in Anchorage or are visiting this restaurant will wow you with great food

This is the best restaurant we have experienced since we arrived in Alaska 2 weeks ago. The herring appetizer and onion tart was amazing!! My entire family loved the entree they ordered. We tried the pastas, the halibut and salmon and the filet. Everything was cooked to perfection and delicious. We highly recommend the amazing restaurant. Make a reservation for sure. read more

Take-out Thanksgiving dinner - with the Smoked Turkey, Traditional sides: green been casserole, glazed carrots, et cetera. Smoked Turkey was firm and tender - new style to me, more like a smoked ham - very good. Also got the apple pie and the adventurous Bouzeron wine. Excellent mac and cheese. I picked it up the day before, it was in containers to oven-warm, served it that way. Plenty leftovers. Overall a big dining success. They do TAKE-OUT, but not THIRD-Party DELIVERY (doordash etc). I would do this again, just to have a refrigerator full of tasty cooked food. read more

Delicious shrimp and grits, Greek salad and oysters. It's been a very long time since I've visited Jens and I had great food, drink and service. read more

Jens' Restaurant - Shrimp and grits. - New American Near Me - Anchorage, Alaska

We LOVED our meal at Jens. The staff was very attentive - and best yet - didn't give us any attitude because we didn't order alcohol. We were there for our first anniversary and were surprised by the fuss they made over it, but it was good fun (and a cute photo to remember it by). Our dishes were wonderful, the sauces sublime. The server and bussers were on top of their game. And you can beat the warmth from Jens. Our favorite meal in Anchorage. read more

For a long time I had heard Alaskans foam at the mouth when discussing Jen's (pronounced like "yens"). My date and I were seated in the main restaurant. I can't help but feel like the colors felt like something out of the 80's or 90's. The walls are a bright red color -- which I prefer more of a dark when going to fine dining. Are we at a children's party? I opened the menu and it looked like standard Alaskan fare (halibut, salmon, steak, etc.) and commensurate prices for fine dining ($25 to $40). Since we were planning on sampling the food, we opted for appetizers and a bottle of wine. The wine list is fairly extensive and, as a result, expect to pay approximately 2-3 the price of the equivalent bottle you could buy in the store. We ordered the ahi tuni appetizer, the ravioli, and one more dish. The presentation was great and the service was even better. The food was good -- I wouldn't say mind blowing, but then again, what in Alaska is? All in all, be prepared to drop coin at Jens. I acknowledge that this place is an icon and dear to many Alaskans hearts, and I appreciate that. Personally, being from Los Angeles, I have experienced amazing restaurants and the bar is quite high. Would I come back here again? I personally wouldn't , but, if a date really wanted to go, I would oblige. read more

ANCHORAGE, AK: What a delight to eat today at Jens! Ambience was welcoming and lovely, with lots of original, whimsical artwork. The service was spot on with handsome and attentive waitstaff. Five stars for service and charm. FOOD: The menu hearkens to Danish recipes and is apparently quite authentic (I am not a judge of authenticity). I was there for lunch and tried the Calamari and Pepper Steak. Calamari Appetizer (5 stars/~$12): Outstanding dish. The calamari is cooked in a skillet instead of a fryer, with peppercorns and an amazing sauce, like a béarnaise. I loved it. Pepper Steak (4 stars/~$24): This steak is their most famous dish, but it was a little uninspired. Wonderful steak in brown gravy with steamed vegetables. No surprises, no seasoning on the vegetables, and the brown gravy was exactly like I might make at home. read more

Jens' Restaurant - Calamari Appetizer (5 stars): Wonderful; how rare to see amazing calamari prepared without breading and frying it? - New American Near Me - Anchorage, Alaska

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Amazing 20th wedding anniversary dinner. Service was great and the food was exquisite. Served piping hot and so fresh and flavorful. Jen's has a clean and inviting atmosphere as well, with tasteful art and decor...very smart and pleasant. It was the perfect experience and may just become one of my new favorite restaurants. They also gave us a personal card and picture to make the evening special. The kitchen staff noticed us and others leaving and popped out to thank us and say good evening. This is a class act, and very talented chef and management. Highly recommended. read more

So I take my girl out for birthday dinner every year and we usually come here. Why? Because food and service is impeccable. I must say, I really like it when the older gentleman takes my dining napkin and places it on my lap. It makes me feel catered to, which isn't necessary but I really enjoy it. Every thing on the menu is really good. When I lived in the area I used to spend the day walking around and I walked by this place. It was summer time and I noticed there was outdoor seating. I walked over with my pup and I was able to indulge in a few glasses of wine while she sat with me in the sun. It was the perfect lunch that I have been unable to replicate. I hope to come here again in the summer, but I recommend this place for any dining time. read more

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We have dinned and lunched here four times now. Enjoyed the Filet Mignon and the pepper steak. Had the Pheasant saugage and Spinach Ricotta Ravioli. They are hands down our favorite place. The service is outstanding. read more

The bread was simple and tasty. The salads were fresh and flavorful. The steak dish had some interesting seasonings. The ravioli was so, so, so good! Great service and food! read more

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