This place is special! We live out on the Aleutians so we don’t make it to Hope as often as we’d like, but the amazing food, the atmosphere, and - if you are very lucky - maybe Saturday Cinders is performing, all combine to make this maybe our favorite place to eat in Alaska. They are closed for the season now, but do yourself a favor and give them a try in 2026!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Travel R
Warm atmosphere, friendly staff, great food, good beer
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Jon Pickerill
Lovely niche restaurant and bar. They had live music coming and a scenic lake and cabins to look at from their cute fireside tables. Foods a touch on the pricy side but is so worth it. Portions are large and flavor is massive! Very friendly staff as well. Would return if I was in the area again.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Burger and Fries
Lainey Pettit
I came here this summer and was so excited. I liked the atmosphere and the fires on the tables were fun. But the table seated next to me ordered a Key lime pie and there were flowers on the dessert. This couple ended up having a worm on their flower which got onto the key lime pie. They keep these flowers outdoors which I don’t think is hygienic. I don’t think people consent to having something from the outdoors put on their food.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Katie D.
I've been coming back to Dirty Skillet again and again over the years and honestly? It’s just that good. Every visit is a whole vibe — I’m obsessed with their cozy outdoor seating and the little table fires (so cute and toasty!). The food? Always fresh, full of flavor, and totally delish. 😋 I especially love when there's live music outside on certain days— it just adds that extra magic. If you're in the area, this spot is an absolute must. I always get excited for my next visit!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Charlie Berkhous
Excellent little restaurant, a must try if you're ever in the area!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Hannah Mountain
Our waitress Rachel was really sweet!! The front porch is really cute and the food is yummy and the portion of the veggies was amazing!! The prices are little pricey but totally understand why!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Andrea Danziger
Summary: Good food and atmosphere, but rude management ruined the experience. They should clearly post any time limits for Saturday nights upfront.
We were really looking forward to our evening at The Dirty Skillet—great setting, live music, and a rare night out with my mom in Hope. Unfortunately, the management completely soured the experience.
We arrived around 4:50pm and were seated in the bar area. There were no posted signs or mentions of a two-hour table limit, which we would’ve absolutely understood and respected if communicated upfront—especially on a Saturday with live music starting at 6.
We ordered wine and two appetizers around 5:00pm, settled in, and began a quiet card game while waiting to order mains after enjoying our starters. Midway through, the manager abruptly approached and, with a surprisingly rude tone, told us that because there was a wait and we were at a four-top (a table we were seated at, not one we requested), we needed to either order more food immediately or relocate. We explained that we were planning to order mains right after our game, had already ordered appetizers, and were on our second round of drinks—but he seemed unaware of that. We felt pressured into ordering our entrees early, just to appease him.
Then—while eating our mains—a second manager came over and told us we’d need to clear out in 15 minutes due to a two-hour limit. Again, there was no signage and no prior communication, and she didn’t even seem to know that her colleague had already approached us and pushed us to order more or move.
The whole evening felt tense and uncomfortable after that, even though we came specifically to enjoy the live music and would have happily abided by any seating limits if they’d been communicated respectfully. Instead, both managers delivered the message with a bluntness and lack of grace that made us feel unwelcome and rushed.
It’s a shame, because the food was good and the atmosphere had real potential. But the poor handling by management completely ruined what should have been a lovely night out. We won’t be returning—and I can’t in good conscience recommend this place to others unless the management seriously rethinks how they treat paying guests.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 4
Service: 2
Sawyer Henshaw
What a gem! The salmon burger was unreal. A great spot and super kind service. We went twice :) highly recommend!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Elizabeth Prescott
Absolutely phenomenal, best restaurant in Hope. The staff is incredibly kind, and the food is amazing. Love it!!
Service was friendly and quick despite how busy they were. The crab cakes were great. My daughter devoured her grilled cheese and fries. The ahi bowl was a little plain but that might be fine, depending on your palate. The beet salad was great. Good selection of tap beer and wine.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Amanda Scott
Food and atmosphere are great. Definitely will eat there again
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Katelynn B
Awesome little restaurant in Hope, AK. Cool atmosphere (fire pits in tables) and vibes. Nice employees. Poke bowl is fire. 5/5 stars. Also fries with aioli were solid too. Definitely worth a detour on the Kenai peninsula to stop here just to go to this restaurant! Thanks for having us 🤙🏼
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Nooshin Yousefi
Best food in alaska
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Bonnie Lambert
Excellent place to relax after playing. Good selection of beer and wine. Burger and fries were spot on. Live music, which was relaxing and not so loud that you can’t hear at your table.
This place is special! We live out on the Aleutians so we don’t make it to Hope as often as we’d like, but the amazing food, the atmosphere, and - if you are very lucky - maybe Saturday Cinders is performing, all combine to make this maybe our favorite place to eat in Alaska. They are closed for the season now, but do yourself a favor and give them a try in 2026!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Warm atmosphere, friendly staff, great food, good beer
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Lovely niche restaurant and bar. They had live music coming and a scenic lake and cabins to look at from their cute fireside tables. Foods a touch on the pricy side but is so worth it. Portions are large and flavor is massive! Very friendly staff as well. Would return if I was in the area again.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Burger and Fries
I came here this summer and was so excited. I liked the atmosphere and the fires on the tables were fun. But the table seated next to me ordered a Key lime pie and there were flowers on the dessert. This couple ended up having a worm on their flower which got onto the key lime pie. They keep these flowers outdoors which I don’t think is hygienic. I don’t think people consent to having something from the outdoors put on their food.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
I've been coming back to Dirty Skillet again and again over the years and honestly? It’s just that good. Every visit is a whole vibe — I’m obsessed with their cozy outdoor seating and the little table fires (so cute and toasty!). The food? Always fresh, full of flavor, and totally delish. 😋 I especially love when there's live music outside on certain days— it just adds that extra magic. If you're in the area, this spot is an absolute must. I always get excited for my next visit!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Excellent little restaurant, a must try if you're ever in the area!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Our waitress Rachel was really sweet!! The front porch is really cute and the food is yummy and the portion of the veggies was amazing!! The prices are little pricey but totally understand why!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Summary: Good food and atmosphere, but rude management ruined the experience. They should clearly post any time limits for Saturday nights upfront.
We were really looking forward to our evening at The Dirty Skillet—great setting, live music, and a rare night out with my mom in Hope. Unfortunately, the management completely soured the experience.
We arrived around 4:50pm and were seated in the bar area. There were no posted signs or mentions of a two-hour table limit, which we would’ve absolutely understood and respected if communicated upfront—especially on a Saturday with live music starting at 6.
We ordered wine and two appetizers around 5:00pm, settled in, and began a quiet card game while waiting to order mains after enjoying our starters. Midway through, the manager abruptly approached and, with a surprisingly rude tone, told us that because there was a wait and we were at a four-top (a table we were seated at, not one we requested), we needed to either order more food immediately or relocate. We explained that we were planning to order mains right after our game, had already ordered appetizers, and were on our second round of drinks—but he seemed unaware of that. We felt pressured into ordering our entrees early, just to appease him.
Then—while eating our mains—a second manager came over and told us we’d need to clear out in 15 minutes due to a two-hour limit. Again, there was no signage and no prior communication, and she didn’t even seem to know that her colleague had already approached us and pushed us to order more or move.
The whole evening felt tense and uncomfortable after that, even though we came specifically to enjoy the live music and would have happily abided by any seating limits if they’d been communicated respectfully. Instead, both managers delivered the message with a bluntness and lack of grace that made us feel unwelcome and rushed.
It’s a shame, because the food was good and the atmosphere had real potential. But the poor handling by management completely ruined what should have been a lovely night out. We won’t be returning—and I can’t in good conscience recommend this place to others unless the management seriously rethinks how they treat paying guests.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 4
Service: 2
What a gem! The salmon burger was unreal. A great spot and super kind service. We went twice :) highly recommend!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Absolutely phenomenal, best restaurant in Hope. The staff is incredibly kind, and the food is amazing. Love it!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
Service was friendly and quick despite how busy they were. The crab cakes were great. My daughter devoured her grilled cheese and fries. The ahi bowl was a little plain but that might be fine, depending on your palate. The beet salad was great. Good selection of tap beer and wine.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Food and atmosphere are great. Definitely will eat there again
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Awesome little restaurant in Hope, AK. Cool atmosphere (fire pits in tables) and vibes. Nice employees.
Poke bowl is fire. 5/5 stars. Also fries with aioli were solid too.
Definitely worth a detour on the Kenai peninsula to stop here just to go to this restaurant!
Thanks for having us 🤙🏼
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Best food in alaska
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Excellent place to relax after playing. Good selection of beer and wine. Burger and fries were spot on. Live music, which was relaxing and not so loud that you can’t hear at your table.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
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