Food

The restaurant at Kennicott Glacier Lodge (907/258-2350 or 800/582-5128, www.kennicottlodge.com [1]) serves excellent “wilderness gourmet” meals three times a day, including a breakfast buffet (7–10 a.m., $10–16), lunch specials (noon–3 p.m.), and filling family-style dinners (7 p.m. seating, $35–45). It’s open to both lodge guests and the general public, but dinner reservations are required if you aren’t staying here.

McCarthy Lodge (907/554-4402, www.mccarthylodge.com [2]) is open for breakfast (7–10 a.m.) and dinner (5:30–10 p.m.) mid-May–mid-September. Dinners typically feature Copper River red salmon, New York steaks, and elk; entrées are $14–45. There’s an extensive wine list. Adjacent is New Golden Saloon, with a lighter bar menu of buffalo burgers, pizzas, fish-and-chips, salads, and similar fare for $10–15. You’ll find occasional bands at the saloon in the summer. In 2010 the hotel also opened a new gourmet restaurant with multicourse offerings. If you’re staying at Kennicott [3], the lodge provides a free evening shuttle to McCarthy [4].

Glacier View Campground (907/554-4490, www.glacierviewcampground.com [5], daily noon–9 p.m. late May–early Sept., $10–15), near the end of the McCarthy Road [6], has a barbecue menu for lunch and dinner, plus their famous half-pound Glacier Burgers, and even barbecue-grilled pizzas.

For tasty and inexpensive meals in downtown McCarthy, head to The Potato (907/554-1100, Mon.–Wed. 10 a.m.–7 p.m., Fri.–Sun. 9 a.m.–7 p.m. late May–mid-Sept.). It’s locally famous for potato and egg burritos, Philly cheese sandwiches, and fresh-cut curly fries, but also serves healthier fare such as falafels, wraps, and salmon burgers, plus the only espresso in McCarthy. Most items run around $9–10.

The McCarthy Mercantile (907/554-4506, daily 9 a.m.–7 p.m. late May–early Sept.) has a fair selection of groceries and meats, plus homemade bread (they mill their own wheat), a deli, fresh pastries, soups, chili, and ice cream. Get a picnic lunch for $12. Fresh produce arrives Thursday evenings.