Corks & Hops

Corks and Hops in Eagle River, Alaska, offers a stylish, contemporary dining space, perfect for a relaxed night out. The restaurant has a cozy yet modern atmosphere that makes it stand out in the area. I recently visited and had the opportunity to try several dishes from their menu, which features a variety of well-thought-out items. I ordered the filet steak, requesting it to be cooked medium, but it arrived closer to medium-well. Despite this, the steak was still quite flavorful, though the dish was overwhelmed by a heavy-handed amount of sauce. It drowned out the natural flavors of the meat, which was disappointing. I had also opted for the "Oscar Style" preparation, expecting fresh, succulent king crab lump meat. However, it was served with a mediocre crab cake on top, which fell short of the experience I was hoping for. The accompanying potato lacked seasoning, and with no salt or pepper on the table, it felt like the final touches were missing. My partner tried the Fig, Goat Cheese and caramelized onion pizza. While the flavors were intriguing, the sweetness of the fig dominated the dish, similar to the sauce issue with my steak. We found that the balance of flavors could have been improved to enhance the overall enjoyment. Unfortunately, service didn’t help redeem the meal. Our server didn’t check on us after delivering our dishes, nor did they come back to take another drink order. The inattentive service paired with the imbalance in flavors left us with an overall experience that was decent, but far from stellar. For those seeking a trendy spot to enjoy a meal and drinks, Corks and Hops has a nice ambiance, but the attention to detail—both in service and execution of the dishes—could use some improvement.