By Carly Horton
Alaska Journal of Commerce

I'm always searching for good places to eat in Downtown Anchorage. Although my office is on the opposite side of town, it seems more often than not I'm conducting an interview or sitting in on a meeting near the Downtown area when lunchtime rolls around.

And sometimes an uninspired deli sandwich or greasy burger just won't cut it - sometimes the occasion calls for a sit-down meal in a restaurant with ambiance, an extensive wine list (to peruse for a future dinner, of course) and proper cloth napkins.

I had patronized Ginger for dinner on several occasions and it seemed like just the place for a relaxing lunch with business associates or friends. On this particular afternoon I brought along my sister Angela and a co-worker to help me determine if the restaurant really was, in fact, the perfect place for such a lunch.

Angela and I arrived just before noon and were seated immediately. Ginger is usually packed on the weekends for dinner, but there were plenty of empty tables in the spacious, softly lit dining area. A hostess filled our water glasses, and a waitress greeted us almost immediately to take our drink and appetizer orders.

My co-worker arrived soon and didn't have to wait long for the waitress to reappear.

Because we're both sushi lovers, Angela and I opted for the spicy tuna tower: Marinated ahi tuna topped with avocado salad, XO sauce (a spicy Cantonese seafood sauce) and served with thin, crisp wonton triangles. The ahi was rich and velvety with no fishy aftertaste. The avocado salad was a nice complement, but Angela said she wished there had been more of it. The wontons had a light, crisp texture without being too greasy, but they were served at room temperature and I would have preferred that they be served warm. The tuna had a definite kick, but I wouldn't call it “spicy.”

We ordered a cup of soup too. Angela chose the banana and lemongrass soup for $5. She proclaimed it excellent. The bits of crabmeat add a nice textural contrast, she said.

I opted for the soup du jour, a miso broth with tofu, carrots and spinach, for $4 for a cup. It had less miso flavor than I would have preferred, but it was still good and filling.

My co-worker ordered the ceviche appetizer: Fresh halibut and tropical fruit with wonton crackers. Attractive presentation and good flavor, he said. And the wontons are a nice touch.

It was time to order our main courses. My sister tends toward lighter plant-based fare, and my co-worker is an unabashed carnivore. We were happy to discover that the menu had something for everyone. Angela said there were plenty of vegetarian dishes to choose from, including a stir-fry with tofu, peanut noodles, a tofu burger and grilled tofu and quinoa, as well as a variety of salads. She finally settled on the pad thai with shrimp for $14. My co-worker ordered the Panang beef curry - beef tips in coconut curry with onions and eggplant, served over jasmine rice and topped with chopped peanuts - for $12. I opted for the steak sandwich with shitake mushrooms and caramelized onions and a side of frites (a fancy word for french fries) for $14.

Angela described her choice as good, but not great. It was a typical pad thai, but a little too salty for her taste. She gave it three stars out of five.

My co-worker, on the other hand, was thrilled with the Panang beef. The sauce was magnificent - hot, spicy and very tasty, he said. The presentation was artful, and there was the perfect mix of beef and vegetables. The rice was moist and light. He gave it five out of five stars, and said he'd come back just to have this dish again.

My sandwich was only so-so. The bread was warm and wonderfully chewy, but the beef was a bit tough. The frites, on the other hand, were some of the best I've ever had: Fresh-cut, hot and crisp, and perfect ly salted.

Angela had to get back to the office, but my co-worker and I were in the mood for dessert. We ordered the bread pudding with bourbon en glace. He'd order it again, but said it's not what you'd expect. We were both used to British-style bread pudding with nuts and raisins, but this was chocolately without being too sweet. It hit the spot, and I appreciated the savory as opposed to sticky-sweet blend of flavors.

Ginger

(907) 929-3680

425 W. Fifth Ave.

Anchorage

Bottom line:

Ginger is a good place if you're looking for a relaxed, upscale lunch experience. The dining area is decked out with a warm color palette and interesting artwork, so it's a nice change of pace from the deli or drive-thru scene. Searching for parking in Downtown Anchorage means it's not the best place for a fast-paced lunch, but don't hesitate to go if you have some time to linger over your meal. My dining companions and I agreed it would be a great place to go after work to have drinks and appetizers with business associates or friends.

Overall ***

Service ***

Atmosphere ****

Food ***

Price **

(Out of a 4-asterick system, the paper uses a check mark system)

Carly Horton can be reached at carly.horton@alaskajournal.com.