Restaurants

Quick Treats Unique to Fairbanks

A shop that makes its own delicious natural ice cream started near the University and now sells its creations in good restaurants all over Alaska. Hot Licks Homemade Ice Cream, at 3453 College Rd. and 1521 S. Cushman St. (tel. 907/479-7813; www.hotlicks.net), has all the standard flavors, plus some of their own, including blueberry and cranberry made in season with local wild berries. If you have children, their joy will be completed by a visit to the playground behind the Radio Shack next door to the College Road location. Right across from Hot Licks on College Road, summer only, a travel trailer in the parking lot of a sporting goods store contains a bakery called Bun on the Run, which turns out fantastic cinnamon rolls and other baked treats, as well as hearty sandwiches.

Within Driving Distance

Besides the restaurants listed here, there's the salmon bake at Pioneer Park, and the buffet at Ester Gold Camp, below. Also consider the excellent restaurant at Sophie Station Hotel.

Fairbanks has every flavor of fast food, many of them along the commercial strip of Airport Way, and many a greasy spoon diner as well. Among the best burgers and shakes can be had two Brewsters restaurants: 3574 Airport Way (tel. 907/456-2538) and 354 Old Steese Hwy. (tel. 907/374-9663).

Some of the best pizza in town comes from College Town Pizzeria, near the intersection of College and University roads (tel. 907/457-2200), an East Coast, order-at-the-counter, family place. The crust is wonderful -- crisp yet chewy -- and they prepare it either in the American style or as Italian gourmet pizza with pesto, spinach, and the like, and without tomato sauce. A large combo is $23. They are closed Sunday.