Our dinner experience at the Kenai Princess Lodge

[cruisequeen4ever]

My hubby and I were camping in Cooper Landing, AK where the Kenai Princess Lodge is located. We decided to have dinner there because it’s the #1 rated restaurant in the area and to get a slice of our beloved Princess cruise experience.  We had had the #2 restaurant for lunch and had eaten at the #3 years ago, so this would be a good comparison. Spoiler alert, the Kenai Princess Lodge is definitely the #1 restaurant in the area!

 

Just arriving is exciting because of the beautifully maintained and decorated property, very Alaskan with the flowers and the cabins. It was so fun seeing cruise pax and experiencing the typical friendly nature. The decor of the restaurant is cozy and well-themed for Alaska. When we arrived, it was peak dinner time and packed, yet we only waited a few minutes to be seated. You can either eat in the dining room, bar, or out on the patio. The hostess seats you in the dining room, but if you want to sit in the bar or out on the patio, it’s open seating. If you eat in the dining room, you order from the dining room menu. If you eat in the bar or on the patio, you are able to order from the dining room menu and/or the bar menu, almost doubling your food options. 

 

We opted for the cool, fresh air as the dining room is set to super warm for guests not used to the cooler air. Now if you can deal with the cooler air, you’ll be treated to a gorgeous view of the Kenai River below. Aim for a table right on the railing for the best views. There are pretty flowers along the railing, too. They do have multiple heat lamps going to help you stay warm. There were plenty of servers, and the service was great. 

 

We ordered the Kenai River and Fireweed Lemonade cocktails, which were both delicious. We shared the salmon chowder and the KPL salad; both were awesome, and the chowder really warmed us up after starting to get cold outside. We then split 2 entrees, the Steak Frites and Halibut Tacos. The halibut tacos were ok to us, though since we routinely eat halibut, we may be a bit jaded in our opinion. The pink and green peppercorn sauce on the steak gave a fantastic peppery flavor to the steak, and the fries were yummy. My hubby did consider the meat quality to be less than what he’d expect there, though. We finished dinner by sharing the berry cobbler and adding vanilla ice cream, which is a must add to us. It was sooooo yummy!! 

 

In terms of Covid, the employees all wore masks. There was an air purifier running in the bathroom. Very few guests wore masks. A few were coughing.

 

We returned the next day for a brief visit, and they had live music going in the bar area. Some guests were lounging in the tour desk area on comfy chairs. There are rocking chairs out on the patio to take in the beautiful mountains and river scenery. It all makes for a relaxing and fun atmosphere. 

 

If your cruisetour includes Kenai, or if you’re considering this itin for next year, I hope this info helps, and I’d be happy to try to answer any questions you may have. 

[Cali Viajera]

You perfectly described the ambiance at the Kenai Princess lodge. Both nights we opted to eat dinner on the deck with the beautiful view of the mountains. The rooms have a rustic flair and are quite comfortable with good sized decks. Cozy and quaint. Perfect way to end a land tour before boarding the ship. Remember to take their Kenai Fjords tour!