Anchorage has a plethora of restaurants, which vary in atmosphere, culture, language and most significantly, the food and drink. Dimond High School students have traveled to the Anchorage city limits, with their family and/or friends, in search of a delectable bite to eat, regardless of breakfast, lunch or dinner. Mckenzie Karjala, a junior at Dimond, likes going to Red Robin, Acai Alaska, The Italian Market and Village Inn. Karjala enjoys going to Red Robin, for its “amazing atmosphere,” Acai Alaska, because “the people are really cool there and the food is really good.” The Italian Market is “sooo good,” according to Karjala, and Village Inn is home to a favorite waitress of hers. “I love Flo,” she say… “The waiters are so cool.” Anchorage restaurants range from fancy and formal to casual and cool. It depends on the taste and desires of the restaurant goers as to which they choose. Various aspects make up the allure and appeal of Anchorage restaurants, drawing in the diverse peoples of the city. Formal restaurants (due to chain-restaurants, or origin) are very popular; however, it is the atmosphere of a dining place that tends to draw in the greatest number of people. Aside from atmosphere, the most important part of the dining out experience, is the food. Chefs across Anchorage have concocted many different recipes to attract people. However, it’s not just the new recipes that are the best. Food that has been around for decades are still some of the most popular in some restaurants, like hamburgers or pizza. Another advantage and reason that many go out to restaurants is simply because it requires no cooking skills, or mess to clean up, and is thus very popular among moms and dads. The price of a restaurant meal is also a big factor in where people choose to go. While more expensive restaurants have the reputation of delicious food, people should remember that there are a large variety of places where they can get a good meal for a reasonable price. Austin Hummel, a junior at Dimond, enjoys the Italian restaurant Romano’s. “The atmosphere is pretty,” Hummel says. He also likes to go to Kansha “sushi and Hawaiian restaurant.” Hummel points out that, “the food is good.” German exchange student, Benedikt Engel, a junior, enjoys Moose’s Tooth for its “good pizza,” Red Robin for its “cool restaurant, nice servers and free ice cream” and Chile’s, for its “mango tea.” Alexa Perry, also a junior at Dimond, commented, “I love Bear Tooth—absolute favorite [place] –a good place to end up.” Perry also likes Anchorage restaurants Village Inn, because “lots of my friends end up going there” and Moose’s Tooth. Stanford Liaga, a sophomore, enjoys going to IHOP with family and friends. Liaga says, “I like their pancakes.” Ariela Lewis, also a sophomore, likes Glacier Brewhouse– “I like the service, it’s really nice. The food is really good. The crème brulee is really good.” Lewis also enjoys the restaurant, Hula Hands, which has “really good island food.” Even though Anchorage is home to an abundance of differing places to eat, they do lack a few chain-restaurants/types of food, which people often crave. Perry wishes there were more “legitimate Asian restaurants,” due to her Korean heritage. Hummel longs for the endless bread sticks and salads offered at the not-so-local Olive Garden. Star Paraoan, a senior at Dimond, comments about her favorite restaurants, which include Red Robin, Thai Town, City Diner and The Lucky Wishbone. Paraoan enjoys Red Robin’s “atmosphere and food and them singing happy birthday,” Thai Town’s “pad Thai and everything [else],” City Diner’s “chicken-fried steak” and Lucky Wishbone’s “malts.” As most are able to realize, Dimond students share a love for food and the restaurants that provide them with it. There is a vast selection of diverse restaurants in the Anchorage area that will satisfy any hungry Alaskan’s rumbling tummy and pining-for-food emotions.