The back dining room at Pearl Restaurant, located at 417 D St. in Anchorage. (Photo by Mara Severin)
While the names of many of my favorite local culinary haunts include the words truck, cart, stand, hut and even the occasional shack, I do occasionally like to polish up my favorite monocle, extend a pinky finger, and enjoy something a little more swanky. And while Anchorage has a few excellent upscale dining options, many of them are tried-and-true stalwarts. So, I was excited when Pearl Restaurant opened up downtown in the space where the late, lamented, and occasionally controversial, Bubbly Mermaid used to shuck oysters and pop Champagne corks.
While Pearl is decidedly more sophisticated than the location’s predecessor, it still maintains a bit of the whimsy that is the hallmark of Alaska’s best dining. The dining room, which manages to be both cozy and sleek with its salmon-tinted walls, high-backed booths, gleaming bar and art-deco-esque decor, evokes a vintage, speakeasyish mood. And while a flapper dress would not be out of place here, neither will Xtratufs, flannels, Carhartts or any other brand of Alaska couture…