Josette's, Anchorage

The White Spot Cafe, which was established in 1946 and these days can be considered a throwback to the dying breed of old-fashioned diners, has maintained a loyal following with fresh Alaskan halibut fillets surrounded by crispy golden breading. The Alaskan halibut is filleted every day at the diner and served as a sandwich, but it's only one of the menu's winning fresh-ingredient offerings. Fries are handcut daily, juicy burger patties serve as vehicles for barbecue sauce, bacon, and onion rings, and old-fashioned milk shakes incite smiles with infusions of blueberry or Oreo. The dining room’s setup invites guest to sit beneath a mounted bear or pull up barstools and watch the chefs work, whether they’re flipping pancakes or using rolling pins to flatten eggs into omelets.