There have only been two times where I have been charged to enter a place to eat & both times here in Anchorage. Once at Blues Central (original closed & now ironically replicated at Willawaw) & now Willawaw this past Saturday night. There was a group of us wanting some food & drinks after an event downtown..we strolled into Willawaw at 8.30pm & according to the ticket I was forced to purchase, the band wasn't set to start till 10. I bought the ticket, sat down, ordered a drink with our table, waited about 25 minutes for those drinks to arrive (it was busy but not packed - our server seemed a bit overwhelmed...completely forgot our drinks at the bar station), had some apps, had some lovely conversations with the people I was there with & managed to leave around 9.45. Guess what?? The band never played. So, essentially, I payed to enter a place to eat food & have a drink. It worked out OK considering I gave my ticket to someone else & nobody seemed to police it whatsoever, however I will say this....... I have been to high-end, low-end, hole in the wall, wait-list for a month restaurants..HK, LA, NYC, Paris....etc.etc. Not once have I been charged to enter an establishment to eat. Until the old Blues Central...& now Willawaw. read more

I don't know where the other reviewers went, I definitely had a different experience. Servers were friendly and gave great recommendations. I went with a big group for dinner and I had one of the yakisoba bowls with steak and some of the spicy sauce on the side - it was legit spicy and so so tasty! One of my friends had the rib special and they were falling off the bone and delicious. We finished the meal by roasting our own s'mores at the table. We had a great time and if we were in Anchorage longer we would go back. Maybe next time :-) read more

Spent a delightful afternoon here with my boyfriend, drinking several of bartender David's amazing concoctions... I'd throw an "I'm in the mood for ______" and/or liquor of choice at him and he would come up with something amazing! Good drinks, yummy parm fries, and great company! David gave us all the anchorage insider info :) highly recommended, whether you want to sit out on the sunny roof or escape it downstairs. read more

Not really impressed with the customer service. We got there around 5:00 pm and was not acknowledged when we entered although there was 3 females at the desk. We asked if we had to sit ourselves and then waited for 5 minutes before we got any assistance and then waited for the waitress another 5-8 minutes. Granted it was not busy at all. Thankfully we ordered sandwiches that came quickly but we're salty tasting. Very disappointed and will probably not patronize the establishment again. read more

Trash. Bouncers suck at their job due to ignorance and kitchen staff suck due to just being poor at their job. I'd recommend going somewhere else. read more

Horrible customer service! Did not receive drinks or food in a timely manner. Had to constantly remind staff to fill drink orders, refill drinks and provide prompt service. Food was cold. Server was extremely rude and not accommodating at all. Charged wrong amount for ticket and it was a mess trying to get it corrected. Manager did try his best to end our dining experience well by apologizing and discounting our bill, but unfortunately we will not be returning to Williwaw despite his efforts. read more

The most exciting part of Williwaw is what it could be. It is a well-designed, modern, and versatile space. It features a spectacular sound system, with high-powered line array speaker mains and Bose fills in the main dining area. The kitchen is massive. The lighting is bright; the booths are comfortable, and the variety of other seating available gives patrons ample choices to best suit their fancies. But despite the space's potential, we can't forget that Williwaw is supposed to serve food and drink. My server was awkward, polite, forgetful and uninformed. After sipping on a Manhattan, which took about 10 minutes to arrive after being ordered, I chose to order the salmon, one of the three entrees on offer. As I wait patiently sipping my drink, I can't help but feel that this interpretation of a Manhattan is at least twice as sweet as it should be. Twenty minutes later, a disheveled employee--not my server--bumbles out of the back corridor, only to inform me that they have "just run out of salmon." Fascinating--given the restaurant only had six tables, none of whom had recently ordered. I requested the pork chop instead, which took about thirty minutes more to arrive. It was presented on a bed of quinoa and spinach, which became the highlight of my dining experience. That isn't to say the quinoa was good--it was just relatively so much better than the pork chop. As I cut into the pork chop with a butter knife--they'd forgotten to include a steak knife--I realized that the piece of meat was dry, overcooked, flavorless, and exceptionally greasy. The kitchen clearly hadn't trimmed the sides of the cut. For a $24 piece of meat, I was hoping to receive something at least one step above "marginally edible." The quinoa, fortunately, was cooked properly. It was just bland. After receiving a proper knife, I decided to take a few more bites of the pork before giving up entirely. It didn't get any better. There isn't much going for this place right now, which explains why it was so empty. read more

The waitress that served my group is awesome. However, our main complaint is about the food. We had the mac and cheese, the shoestring fries, and the tacos. The food came out cold and the dishes barely had any flavor to it. The worst part was a couple of my friends ordered their special, the seafood boil. The seafood was undercooked and cold, including the sides. We alerted the waitress about this and brought the dishes back, also, another table had the same issue. Second time around, the food was still cold, and the seafood was still the same. We had to return it and decided not to request anything else. We hope you pay some serious attention to how your kitchen staff is doing their job. read more

This place is alright. Even though it's open for lunch, I don't think it's quick enough to be a lunch hour spot, which is too bad given the apparent simplicity of the meals. I've had their stir-fry wok bowl and every time my first choice is out of stock. Same goes for cider or wine orders. If you want, they can get the stir-fry quite spicy, which I know folks in this town are searching for. I'm looking forward to having drinks on the rooftop during the summer, but from what I've experienced in the restaurant I'm not holding my breath on quick service time. read more

Food was fantastic. I had the Alaskan Rockfish. Service was super!! :-) Our waitress took great care of us and provided great suggestions!! The smores dessert was the perfect ending to a great evening!! Really enjoyed the fun, relaxed atmosphere!! read more

I do enjoy Williwaw, especially on their new movie nights! However during a show the drinks are pretty over priced. 12$ for a well gin & tonic is highway robbery. I think they charge a fair amount to see the entertainment though. Definitely check out the roof top and if you're into well done cocktails I highly recommend Blues Central- just remember the password. read more

Worst place downtown. We spent at least $70 dollars their and we're not allowed to use the bathroom when we were headed back to our vehicle.

Despite the bad reviews I decided to come to williwaw to give it the benefit of the doubt, and I'm sure glad I did! I had the French dip and omg it was amazing. My husband had the Kobe sliders and he absolutely loved them! Our waitress named MaryJane was the sweetest and most attentive, not to mention CUTE! Definitely recommend this place!!! read more

Do not make the mistake of asking the bartender for a glass of wine at the Williwaw. They will b___ you out and belittle you. Awful, humiliating experience. Another bartender explained afterwards that they "don't like to serve wine" and that the behavior was typical of a couple of the women bartenders. read more

I've been a fan of Williwaw since they opened. So imagine my disappointment watching the quality of their establishment go downhill over the last year and a half or so. The drinks are poor. The food is bland. Security is bigoted and rude and short with customers. And their events have gotten lazier and lazier. Aside from being a nice building with a rooftop bar in a great location, it's a poor excuse for a good time and I will be happy to never return. read more

Williwaw is a great place to dance on the weekend, and the bartender on the weekdays, David, is super adorable. Great dimples, and a decent pour. read more

Got a burger today and it was way overcooked and dry. Probably the worst burger I have ever had. Won't be back here again.

Went for Saturday breakfast. Service was horrible. Food was edible but without much flavor or style. I call these places Tabasco restaurants because without the hot sauce you're screwed. And the attached SteamDot coffee is laughable... Really bad coffee, with pretty milk, WAY too much attitude from little barista boys with dirty shoes. Gross. I could not even eat their chocolate chip cookie... And that never happens. There is not much worse than wannabe hipsters. read more

Painful. The service was exceptionally slow despite hardly any customers. The food was well below average and despite being owned by one of the coffee places they couldn't find a way to get a cup of coffee. Avoid-avoid-avoid. The highlight is that it is located near the PAC. Perhaps when this place goes under the next business can do something that is more focused on a good customer experience. read more

It took 45 minutes to get a salad with a grand total of two other parties in the entire place. Salad was mediocre and not worth the waste of a lunch hour. read more

This place is crap! Service is bad. Under staffed; never had a chance to try anything in here because of poor service. Won't be going back.

Great location! but the food was awful. Don't order the woks or oysters. One of the sauces that came with my meal was still frozen. It is extremely expensive too! felt robbed after eating here. I may come back for a drink or concerts (again, this is a fantastic location & the guys working in the speakeasy are fantastic) but stay away from the food. read more

Great atmosphere, food was fun, great service. Looking forward to coming in the summer when the patio is open.

My friend and I have discovered a new low in Anchorage brunch locations. We arrived with the first morning patrons when Williwaw opened at ten. Set up of the brunch buffet was still underway. The young man at the omelet station was untrained on how to turn on his burners. He did, however, prepare a nice omelet. The fruit station included a variety including blueberries, yogurt and granola; however, no spoons were provided to serve the berries, only toothpicks! Tableware included a knife and fork - how were we supposed to eat said granola, yogurt, and berries? The coffee, which was seriously bitter, came with only three mini cream servings. We waited. No one came near us that we could ask for additional cream. My friend got up to find some. Our server then said she'd bring us creamer. It did not arrive. When she next walked by I waved the empty dish at her. She asked if we needed something. Ten minutes later four more creamers arrived. With all that, the coffee was marginally palatable. We were not asked if we wanted refills until after our check was paid! The breakfast potatoes were cold and tough. We were among the first patrons. How is this possible? Our waitress couldn't make change. For an $18 breakfast buffet, this was pathetic. read more

This place is one of only 2-3 rooftop options in Anchorage. Great music and atmosphere- but the food- very disappointing! Nachos had white cheese whiz, about a tablespoon of guac and black beans. No flavor at all no tomato no lettuce or cilantro or real cheese- yet cost $14. Tacos- again no lettuce or cheese or tomatoes- also asked for corn and got flour tortillas. So- A for atmosphere, but eat elsewhere. read more

This review is about Blues Central within Williwaw. We were there tonight when they opened at 5 (though the phone to get in wasn't ready until about 5:20. No matter. It was worth the wait. The drinks are generally $12 but very well made and very interesting. This is an excellent place to catch a few great cocktails on a nice date night. read more

I used to love this place and it's food. and just had the stuffed pork loin while at the beyond borders event. Food was tough and basically tasteless. read more

It is bull$hit that you have call the number to get in. We we waiting 20 min to get in tonight and they let in their friends before they let us in. I'll never give the humpies/Williwaw another $. read more

This restaurant/speakeasy/rooftop bar is a great new venue! The food is great, restaurant theme and coffee bar make it a awesome new place in town. The service is a little slow but the food makes up for it. The speakeasy is a great take on the old school one's and has good drinks. They are a bit pricey but well worth it. The rooftop during the summer is a lot of fun. Great for a group to enjoy the evening. read more

Delicious Alaska salmon and portabella pasta, accompanied by some good live music. Followed up with a tasty cocktail upstairs. Made for a really fun evening. read more

I stopped in at Williwaw for Taco Tuesday, which I've enjoyed many times at Midnight Sun's The Loft, and which was offered, until recently, at Williwaw. (Williwaw has a contractual arrangement with Midnight Sun.) To my disappointment, Williwaw no longer offers Taco Tuesday, and possibly not the other daily specials that draw crowds to the southside Loft. But this is not the reason for my 1-star rating. I was 1 of only 5 customers in Williwaw at 7:00 PM. Only 3 of us appeared to be eating. The other 2 were at the bar. I waited 5 minutes to receive a menu. My waiter then disappeared. (Wait staff walked in and out of the room frequently. Plenty of staff on hand, but none of it attentive.) After 15 minutes, I left my table and placed my order at the bar. At about 20 minutes in, I was offered a glass of water. My Mediterranean Melt arrived 30 minutes after I sat down. The side salad, for $4 extra, was small and old. I picked slimy pieces of lettuces off before eating it. Why dine out when I can find mixed greens just as old in my own refrigerator at home! The sandwich had great flavor, with pesto, tomato, arugula and other ingredients, but they skimped on the amount of each ingredient. The sandwich was made on the thickest focaccia I've ever attempted to bite into. Most of the flavor was lost to the huge amount of bread in the sandwich. I dismantled my sandwich and scraped all the ingredients onto one piece of bread, open-faced style. Also, both times I've eaten at Williwaw this winter, I've worn my winter coat at the table. It's freezing inside. The beer (Dark Night winter warmer) was outstanding and represents the Midnight Sun label well. However, Midnight Sun beer is sold at most venues around town. Enjoy your beer elsewhere! Mark and Barb, owners of Midnight Sun, would be wise to end their contract with Williwaw to protect the Midnight Sun brand's stellar reputation. Williwaw still suffers from the poor quality and poor service that plagued them before entering into a business agreement with Midnight Sun Brewing. (See the many negative Yelp reviews of Williwaw in past years.) Do continue to travel south to The Loft to enjoy phenomenal food, unparalleled beer and professional service offered by Midnight Sun Brewing. Don't expect the same if you venture into Williwaw, however. ~T. Pease read more

The speakeasy bar is fun. Nice drinks and the French dip is good (slightly overpriced tho). But it's about the only part of this massive establishment done right. Despite the many different areas in this place, nothing else is cozy. I don't understand the layout of the first and second floors. Is it a cafe? Is it a restaurant? Is it both? Why? Whichever way, it's always empty and the staff looks bored every time I walk by, on both levels. And unfortunately the sound quality in the venue is really in need of work. I saw the everclear concert here and it was pretty bad. Install some sound padding! I hope you guys can figure it out! Anchorage needs good venues! read more

Sunday December 20, 2015 Third time here and food service is sloooow. Few customers, one server. Food was good and reasonably priced. Train your servers to be more attentive please! read more

First experience at the Williwaw could have been better. I didn't have food so I can't comment on that but the bar service was not good and some beer was being served in plastic cups. read more

Went to a concert and it was terrible. The sound for the lead vocalist was so quiet I never herd him say a word. I would ask for my money back but I would rather have you spend it on a new employee who knows how to set up sound for a show. I feel bad for the artists that have to preform here. read more

We made reservations for dinner at Williwaw almost a month in advance. It was for my 25th birthday party and some friends and I were going to be driving 6 hours to make our reservation. When we arrived the reservations had not only got lost but there was no kitchen staff to be found since they were setting up for a concert. In all honesty I was devastated, but upon talking to the manager, we were quickly seated in Blues Central and the fun quickly began. I must say, although the night started off very rough the staff and bar tenders at Blues Central made the night entirely magical. I was blown away but not only the quality but also the creativity of the drinks. I was even more surprised when my sober friends drinks, that were completely alcohol free tasted just as good as my own. We never ordered a drink off the menu after our first one, we continually said make me something fun, something custom, something with "so and so". I was never once dissatisfied by the taste, entertainment, or staff the rest of the night. They even went so far as to make us sandwiches for dinner. This is now my favorite place, the standard I have for all other establishments. They will not disappoint you in service or drinks- no matter what you are drinking Thank you for making my Birthday so incredible! And for any 1920s themed event- this is place to be- especially when you throw in the absinthe tasting! read more

After many disappointing experiences at Williwa I was excited to hear that Midnight Sun was moving in so today my co-worker and I gave it a try with extreme excitement! Boy we're we let down HARD. This place SUCKS! It's as if they kept their same crappy cooks and just changed the menu. We ordered a B.L.T and the sliders, the B.L.T was nothing to write home about, little flavor and the bread over toasted. The sliders were the most disappointing. The meat was over cooked and it was topped with only ketchup and cheese. Honestly Wee-Bees would have tasted better. My 12 year old son could have cooked a better meal. They also gave us warm sodas which we thought was very odd. The prices are extremely high for food that lacks taste and the portions are SO SMALL. This place is going to give Midnight Sun a really bad rep. So sad that Midnight Sun couldn't better this establishment. read more

I wasn't impressed. Dry meat on tacos, wine in cans, service was either too absent or too hovering.

Probably the worst place in Anchorage. The only thing worse than the food was the service. We tried to have dinner here but they brought the wrong food to our table 3 times. We never really got what we ordered but what they did bring was inedible. read more

I went to the Hopsin concert on 3/11 and the feedback was so bad the my friends and I left. I asked for my money back and I was given the promoters number so I think we all know how that's going to go. I digress, the sound was so bad that Hopsin stopped performing a bunch of times. At one point he asked is williwaw bought their sound equipment from walmart! Williwaw should feel embarrassed for how that show went. They say they have one of the best sound systems in the state for a venue of their size but it sure wasn't last night! So if your interested in seeing a show there ask which sound system they plan on bringing and using. Your concert experience will depend on it. piss poor williwaw. piss poor. read more