229 Parks Restaurant and Tavern

"Laura Cole, the two-time James Beard-nominated chef who helms this log cabin eatery, does something most other restaurants in Alaska can’t. She prepares a nightly menu that consists of nearly all locally grown, harvested, or foraged ingredients. The menu constantly changes, depending on what is available, and might include dishes like reindeer liver pate with lingonberry shrub or Alaskan octopus with squid ink noodles, tomatoes, flat-leaf parsley, smoked ham broth, fresh watercress, and jalapenos. It’s a popular spot, so book in advance (though, if you forget, the bar seats are first-come, first-served)." - Bailey Berg

"There’s got to be something wrong with the judges of the James Beard Awards. They keep getting the chance to give the top nod to 229 Parks’ chef, Laura Cole (she’s been nominated for BestChef: Northwest twice), but they haven’t done it yet. Here’s your warning to get in there before they wise up and it becomes even harder to snag a reservation (definitely make a reservation). The restaurant sits just 11 miles south of Denali National Park, where there are loads of cabins and other touristy this and that in the area. There’s no reason why a restaurant this damn good should be exactly where this damn good restaurant sits. But chef Cole’s husband built it for her (with the help of a lot of friends) so she could have the kitchen of her dreams in the state he grew up in. It’s quite the Alaska love story. And though Cole grew up near Chicago , she is now one of the most devoted Alaskans around. And her food? Day-um!"

"229 Parks is an upscale, hyper-local eatery owned by Laura Cole, who has competed on Top Chef. It offers a unique dining experience in the Denali region."