Jack Sprat could eat no fat. His wife, Joan, could eat “no lean.” But, between them both, well, they licked their plates clean. I’m paraphrasing, but that’s the message behind the old “Jack Sprat” nursery rhyme, the inspiration behind the Girdwood, Alaska, eatery of the same name.
About a 50-minute drive from Anchorage en route to the Kenai Peninsula on the scenic Turnagain Arm drive, Jack Sprat was my first stop on a recent trip to Alaska — and my partner and I liked it so much that we returned a week later on our drive back to Anchorage.
Serving “fat and lean world cuisine,” Jack Sprat can satisfy the full spectrum of food cravings and dietary restrictions. In the mood for healthy, we inhaled fresh green salads, hominy and red bean chili, Alaskan salmon and a light vegetable coconut curry with tofu. When we needed a different kind of pick-me-up, we sampled a Girdwood Brewing Company IPA and a latte doused with homemade almond milk.
I watched as fellow eaters ordered foods that are more novel for Alaska — Korean bibimbap served on a hot stone plate and vegan nachos, for example — and wished I had saved room for dessert, such as the berry bread pudding topped with caramel cinnamon sauce and the Cashew Dream Cake, a raw dessert with an almond-date-cinnamon crust.
The restaurant also has a great vibe. Sit around the fire on the front patio and enjoy the prime mountain view, or head inside the Swiss-chalet-like building, which offers an indoor-outdoor kind of experience thanks to ample windows. But this is not your usual Alaskan cabin aesthetic. Funky art prevails here; we were smitten with a painting of smiling moose sporting a pink flower crown.
This is a lively spot, and it’s popular with locals and visitors of nearby Alyeska Resort. Reservations are recommended, especially if coming for dinner with a large group.
The Details
Jack Sprat
www.jacksprat.net
