I didn't look that carefully at the Simon & Seaforts early bird menu because they had 1 salmon dish and 1 halibut dish, so it was obvious that my wife and I were going to order each and split them. I don't think it was exactly the dish you described, but it was quite tasty. If you don't drink, the meal for two is 50 bucks (no tax in Anchorage, which is nice if you've just been in Seward), and one of the better deals in Alaska.

I was similarly amazed that Aramark could do fish, but they can. I'd been to that Cabin Nite show a couple of years ago (also with the toursaver coupon) and I remembered it being about the best meal in "Glitter Gulch," at least for the money. The fish was even better this time, and the cobbler for desert wasn't bad either. Impossible to do better there, and a nice reward if you've spent the day on a bus in Denali park.

I agree that the salmon bake is a must-do when in Fairbanks, at least on a nice warm (or at least dry) night, as you can sit outside. I doubt I'd frequent it often if I lived there because it's pretty much a pig-fest (fish fest? ), but for the visitor it's unmissible. I also don't understand why the best fish in Alaska is in the most unusual places. I was down on the Copper River chatting with the salmon wheel fishermen (I use that term loosely, as using a wheel doesn't seem much like "fishing" to me!), and there's no place there to get a piece of fresh salmon, even though you can see the fishermen fillet it in front of you. They told me that an Alaskan can lose their permit to fish if they do anything with the fish other than eat it themselves. Hence no guy on the side of the road with a grill -- which would be a huge tourist attraction!