Turkey Red
550 S Alaska St, Palmer, AK, 99645
Turkey Red Menu
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Address :
550 S Alaska St
Palmer, AK, 99645 - Phone (907) 746-5544
- Website https://www.turkeyredak.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :7:00 am - 9:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch, Dinner
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
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Marcy F.
My favorite restaurant in the Mat-Su Valley! I I've tried most of the items on the menu, which has a Greek influence. I highly recommend the Moussaka, which I think I've had at least 4 times in the year and a half that I've lived here. After a great meal, you'll have a difficult time choosing from a wonderful dessert menu. I often drop by just to pick up a bag of my favorite cookies, "Wonder Woman," or a loaf of their delicious bread.
(5)M E.
We've been wanting to try out this restaurant for a long time, so when we finally made it to Palmer last weekend we gave it a shot. We were seated quickly and received a menu and some water and then we waited. And waited. And waited some more... The waiter who was servicing the table right next to ours apparently wasn't interested in taking our order and completely ignored us in spite of several trips to the neighboring table. I might have understood if it would have been a busy day, but the restaurant was half empty. Most people working there seemed to be sorting and shelving things behind the counter and in the kitchen, not paying any attention to their customers. After waiting for a good 15-20 minutes without even getting our drink order (let alone a food order) in, we decided to leave. Ironically, the waiter who had ignored us the entire time we were inside, was cleaning the water glasses off our table within 10 seconds after we left. What a joke! Lousy customer service! Won't return here.
(1)Mary T.
If I could give a -5 I would. I will never eat there again, and I am always trying to find new places to eat. They are so proud of their food that you can't possibly not love it...well yes I can and no one (out of 4) at our table liked the food they were served. One was sent back because the pasta was not cooked properly. One was sent back because it tasted awful. Well, in their world that is not a reason to not eat it, simply because they like it everyone should. It was awful, I tasted it also and it was not at all edible. We were not charged for the under cooked pasta, but they saw no reason we shouldn't pay for the entree that we didn't like, even though we had ordered and gotten a replacement dish. They think so much of themselves that the customer is inconsequential. Well, they are inconsequential.
(1)Tito B.
SWEET MAGILLICUTTY. As i peruse the menu, the very friendly server brings some bread for the table. There were 3 kinds of breads, but I couldn't focus on anything after she said the words "chocolate bread and raspberry jam". I'm sorry. What did you just say? 'Chocolate bread and raspberry jam. It has a sourdough base, so it's not as sweet as you'd imagine." So I order the polenta, mozzarella, marinara sauce and poached eggs dish and begin shoving chocolate bread in my pie hole. The waitress notices I've eaten it all and, with a laugh, brings some more. I eat it all again. She soon brings out my order. This is not polenta. This is polenta on steroids. It was a giant portion of ridiculously delicious polenta, with a perfectly poached egg sitting atop a bunch of other delicious things. I busted that yolk, watched the magic of runny yolk melt into my steroid-laden dish. It was magical and gave me the fuel to hike for hours afterwards. Thanks, Turkey Red. You rock!
(5)Dan W.
Breakfast omelets are excellent. Lunch burgers are great. Decent pizza when it's not burnt. Chicken caper dinner thing is very good. Spirokopita is terrible. And the lamb is awful. The stew recipe changes each week which is kind of annoying. Overall better food than any of the other eateries in Palmer.
(4)Kevin D.
This is ostensibly the best sit-down restaurant in Palmer. Not only that, but it can really compete against any restaurant on a national scale. Largely local ingredients, delicious cooking techniques. The menu has quite a few options, and these options span from unhealthy to quite healthy. Try the Sun Salad. It's delicious. The bread is baked within Alaska's tradition of hearty styles that have something in common with denser, darker, European breads. It's just better than the "average white bread" found in the rest of the United States -- that is, you won't find anything you can squeeze into a white orb. The other day I went in for lunch, and there was an issue with my order. The wait was long but I wasn't in a rush -- and they made it up to me by offering coffee or extra bread on the house. That's classy, and that's the way to do it.
(4)Katie M.
I've tried this place twice now, and have tried to like it. The food both times was either salty or bland. I ordered a salad that was supposed to come with several ingredients, but it only had 2/5 things listed on the menu. When I asked the waiter, she said they were out of the ingredients listed. It is a very nice location, but I much prefer the restaurant next door, Palmer Deli. The price at Turkey Red just seems a little much for something I just haven't been wowed by.
(2)Claudia C.
At first I was a little iffy about the place. It looked expensive... And it was a mid price place. For 6 ppl the tab was about $220.. So about $36 a person.. Defiantly not a place I'd go if I were paying. But it was a holiday occasion that I didn't pay. On the plus side the food was great. I heard that everything is made fresh in house from the appetizer bread to the bread pudding desert. And I heard that, when able, all the ingredients are local to Alaska. Fantastic! Hope it's true. Because we were there at the end of the evening they even gave us some of the bread from the day that they don't keep. Everyone got a loaf of bread to take home. They were even very accommodating to a dairy allergy that I have that can make eating out hard when things are cooked in butter or with a lot of cheese usually
(5)Suzanne A.
Great place! Have been for brunch and the French toast was awesome! For lunch Had the half sandwich and salad with chowder! The food is fresh and delicious- only thing is they get busy and it maybe a wait. Also they struggled with refilling my tea and water- just got the drinks and food and bill- because it was so busy.
(4)Hazel S.
We were coming from the glaciers and needed somewhere to go for lunch on our way back to anchorage and found these place on yelp. So so glad we went! We had the stew of the day and it was hearty and yummy, pots of Moroccan mint tea, and half a ham and blue sandwich and everything was great. Really good food is one thing, but the service was perfect! The waitress was friendly, helpful, and attentive! I could not recommend more highly, especially if you're in the area. Plus, it was clean and bright inside! Haven't gotten to dessert yet, but we're thinking bread pudding is sounding pretty darn good.
(5)Brian O.
My wife and I stopped in Palmer for dinner tonight, after a day of driving from Tok. We started our meal with cups of delicious clam chowder. My wife had a portabella salad and I had gyrokopita, ground beef, raisins, and spices in a phyllo shell. It came with tzatziki sauce. Service was excellent. Atmosphere was nice.
(4)Sarah S.
If you are live in Palmer, or visiting Palmer or just driving up north....stop in and eat here. It's overall a top-notch place. Do yourself a favor and try their food.
(5)Grace L.
Best food in Alaska! Yes, it is tiny, so you have to make reservations or wait for a table, but SO GOOD! I tried hot tea (and they bring lemon and honey) and food that is health/homey/artsy all at the same time. It is special, and worth the drive. I asked for veggies without the hot spices they normally put on it, and they put it on anyway. So watch for this if you don't like spices on your veggies.
(5)Lorene L.
When Turkey Red came to Palmer, so did good food and drink. The food is consistently tasty and there are tons of meals that are both delicious and healthy (a rare find in Alaska). They have great options for both meat eaters and vegetarians. Some of my favorites include the BLCT salad (fresh, local greens with chicken, bacon and tomato), the steak salad, and their stews. I recommend asking for the salad dressing on the side, as the salads tend to be slightly over-dressed. Their burger is one of the best I've ever had, partly because of how it's prepared and partly because of the quality beef they use. The beer and wine selection are terrific and the service is super friendly. This may be one of the best restaurants in Alaska, especially for localvores.
(5)Noah O.
Simply the best salad I have had. Ever. Had the CBLT salad and it was a perfect mix of greens, chicken, bacon, bruschetta and dressing. When vacationing in Anchorage, I would definitely make this drive again for lunch! Service was good-prices are fair, and everyone's meals were off the charts.
(5)L M.
Sumptuous, fresh fare with great choices for breakfast & lunch good service, clean bright and friendly staff. I would definitely return.o
(5)Teresa N.
We enjoyed it. The food was good. I would like to see a larger menu with more options for diabetics, vegetarians, etc. My diabetic dad only had one dish that he could eat. Thankfully, he liked it. They really know how to brew a good cup of tea. It is difficult to find places in Alaska that know tea and Turkey Red does. The service was friendly & fast and the atmosphere pleasant. I would give it a better rating if the menu was a little more varied.
(3)Brenda M.
My son and I took a day to just chill and have mom/son time. We popped in to have lunch. We were seated quickly. Then waited, waited, waited, finally I got up to ask how we were suppose to order. I know some restaurants have you order at the counter. Well evidently the server was busy and would get to us. So, she finally took our order. The food took a long time. When we received it we were both bummed, neither order was correct. We ended up very unhappy with the service & the food. I won't return.
(1)Adam M.
One of the better places to eat in Palmer! Good food with local and organic ingredients, and a nice, classy ambiance. I usually get the steak salad- ask them to add blue cheese! The clams are delicious, and the baked brie is pretty tasty too. It is a bit expensive, and can come of pretentious as the reviews say. However, I've always had good food and good service here.
(4)Andrea G.
Fresh and fantastic! The menu is always changing and the vegetarian options are solid. Must try it if your by it.
(4)Lany Kay M.
We enjoyed our meal however the service was exceptionally slow an inattentive. I had to get up and fill my own water glass and ask for refills on family beverages. Hence a 4 star rating. My son had raved about this restaurant, so it was a disappointment when it came to service.
(4)Casey S.
Every time I visit home I inevitably end up eating at Turkey Red. It really is one of the only nice places in the valley that doesn't feel like they are defrosting your meal from the box in which it arrived the week before. My most recent experience was pleasant but missed the mark. The service was excellent and I really appreciated the suggestion that the server made. We were there for lunch and I couldn't decide between the Portabello sandwich or the fried polenta in marinara sauce. Our server suggested that I order the appetizer size of the polenta and then a half Mediterranean salad. I was a little disappointed in the food. I assumed that the fried polenta would be a little crispy on the outside, but mostly it was mushy all the way through. I liked the ingredients in the Mediterranean salad, it had Kalamata olives, feta and chickpeas, but the salad dressing was extremely bland and essentially just olive oil. It did nothing to enhance the flavors. My boyfriend got a cup of coffee and complained that it wasn't very good. So, as far as decent restaurants go, Turkey Red is great for Palmer. There isn't anywhere else that serves fresh food the way they do. The presentation is nice and the service is great. It's just when I am paying that much for a meal I really want it to taste excellent too!
(3)Caroline F.
Excellent food, excellent service. We tried the specials of the day which were wonderfully prepared. It's a great place to go for a relaxing meal as a couple or in a group. We went here on our last day in Alaska right before heading back to Anchorage for a late night flight. We ordered dessert to go to take with us for our trip. Not only was it delicious but it was packed up so well along with forks and napkins . We would eat there again in a heartbeat. (Props to our waitress Jennifer!)
(5)Vicki P.
Turkey Red is a relatively new restaurant in Palmer. And wow, did Palmer need a new restaurant. This place would be great anywhere, but in Palmer it's fabulous. I've eaten lunch here 3 times in the past 2 months and each time it was wonderful. I've had the hummus, Mediterranean Salad, Portobello Mushroom & Zucchini Sandwich and usually get the soups of the day. I have never been disappointed. The icing on the cake is the baked goods. Not only do they have fantastic desserts and savory foccacias, their baguettes and other breads are worthy of any big city bakery. I highly recommend this restaurant to anyone visiting Palmer, Alaska!
(5)Matthew R.
Well worth it. The food is flavorful and high quality ingedients. Everything from simple bread and ground beef to a superb clam chowder. It's a little on the expensive side. But that's because it's that good!
(4)Greg A.
What a great surprise 45 miles north of Anchorage in Palmer, Alaska. Great food, All prepared on site served in a very comfortable setting by a great staff.
(4)mike h.
It's gotta be the best restaurant in Palmer, Italian style cuisine including pizza (the chef is from Florence). I was a bit shocked by the prices, but food in Alaska is generally expensive. The beef stew was very tasty for 12 bucks, but the sausage stuffed chicken was too dry for twice the price. Flourless chocolate cake was excellent. Stylish interior, friendly staff, good service. Should be 4 star rating for the area, but only 3 in comparison to similar places in the lower 48.
(3)Michael M.
I've travelled a bit, and I enjoy eating out. I can honestly say I've never been in any restaurants that are much better. Oh, there are fancier ones, and more inventive ones, sure. But Turkey Red focuses on providing quality food made from high quality ingredients and prepared with care. Some dishes are just good, nothing to blow your mind. Some absolutely will blow your mind. The food isn't expensive, if anything, for the quality of what you are receiving, it's absurdly cheap. If you are looking for steak and burgers, look elsewhere. If you are looking for fancy and posh, look elsewhere. If you are looking for flavorful, straight up good food that tastes delicious and will do a body good, come here.
(5)Marie Z.
Very pleasant lunch experience. Creative sandwiches, great soup. Enjoyed the entire experience. Only feedback - it would be great if breakfast was served later than 10:30 am and 11 am on Saturdays. Losing business with those restricted hours.
(4)Bonny S.
Wow, once again Turkey Red was subperb. For those who think the service is slow or bad i have the solution, just ask for Anna, she is very professional and effecient. Perfect timing and great food couldn't be happier
(5)Kimberley B.
Went to this little place for lunch two days ago. Food was good, staff friendly. Would go there again if I am in the area again.
(3)Thomas C.
I've been here about a dozen times and this latest visit was as close to perfect yet. I had the braised lamb shank with couscous eggplant fiddleheads in a creamy but not heavy pan sauce. The waitress recommended a perfectly pairing red wine. Other had the perfect moussaka and a flavorful tomato soup for starters and we spit a green salad which was limited in item but top quality local fresh organic. It was indeed the best meal here or any where I've had on a long time. Turkey Red could easily get a five star from me, if only they would get their act completely together on the service and food prep. They too often get the order wrong, take forever, or the food comes out tepid and has to go back. Hit it when they're great, and they're great. Miss, and they are a huge disappointment. And they need to cycle some new stuff into the menu. They try hard though, and they are very nice people.
(4)Erick H.
Delicious food and great sized portions. I like the hometown atmosphere and their baked goods are wonderful. I'll be coming back next time I'm in town!
(5)April E.
Went here because of the suggestion of a friend. The baked goods looked great. Wish I had tried them. I think the menu is just so busy. Maybe they should focus on making fewer dishes great. The ambiance is nice. I had a chicken dish and it just wasn't very flavorful. My boyfriend had a pasta dish and once again just blah. Service was slow as well and it was odd that after quite a while she came back to confirm what we ordered. Was really pricey for the quality. If the food had been better prepared would have totally been worth the price.
(2)Heather T.
It was a rainy day when we drove up north from Anchorage. We got hungry and thanks to Yelp, found Turkey Red. It's an adorable place, very cozy. What struck me though, was the desserts they had displayed at the counter. I'm not a dessert person and neither is my friend. For some reason we both REALLY wanted dessert after lunch after seeing the massive cakes at the counter. Anyway, service is a tad slow but all is forgiven when the food came! I had the daily soup special, cream of chicken with the lentil burger. OH. MY. GOD. I wish I had a huge bowl of that soup! It had chunks of meat in it and they added cilantro to the soup that brought a whole new dimension to the flavor! It's not thick like what you picture cream of whatever soup to be like. It was more brothy but still rich. It was like they roasted a chicken and then cooked the meat and bones to create this beauty! It was magnificent! I liked my lentil burger fine, but the soup was what really killed me! My friend and I shared a piece of chocolate cake. It had a rich chocolate fudge surrounding it. I asked the server if they could possibly heat it up in the microwave for a few seconds to melt the chocolate and she said that they didn't have a microwave. That made me love the restaurant even MORE. The chef put it in the oven for a minute and that was just perfect! They even made us fresh whipped cream to go along with it. Lovely lovely place! I would go back if I lived closer!
(4)Aimee R.
I've only been here a few times, but the food has been great! Once I had a ling cod/coconut/blueberry dish that still makes my mouth water. It wasn't anything shocking or flashy-- just an amazing dish with well-thought-out ingredients.
(4)Peter C.
I've had a few meals here. Not really my kind of ambiance or menu but that's just a personal preference. The food was good, but not exceptional. I really liked the turkey-cran sandwich I had on one occasion. Not quite hearty enough for me but I'm sure others will find it to their liking.
(3)Susan B.
Have been here a time or two before tonight's visit. Took the in-laws there for a nice dinner in Palmer. I can honestly say all 4 in our party were blown away by how amazing our dinners were! I had pasta magnifico (an unbelievable orange cream sauce w/fresh mint - sounds odd, but so so good) and a mixed greens salad w/house dressing (balsamic). DH had another pasta dish w/spinach, chicken & cream parm sauce. In-laws had chicken w/figs & an oriental chicken salad. All 4 were rave reviews. Toward the end of our meal the chef came out (he's from Florence, Italy) and told us that the family at the next table over supply all of the salad greens. Nice to know they really do use local. Great attentive (but not bothersome) waitstaff. Reasonable wait for our food to arrive. Loved my dinner and will definitely go there again. Highly recommended for a very nice dinner in Palmer.
(5)K. L.
In all fairness this is a review from a few months after opening. I ordered a salad, not only did they forget to cook the meat on it, I also found a gray hair and a twig in my salad. They offered to make me another, but I had lost my appetite. My mom tried to order a soda, to which the snooty server said "Oh, we don't serve that kind of thing here". I understand that you don't serve something, but you don't have to be rude about it.
(1)Sarah A.
I'm torn on my review for this place. My husband was in love with his mushroom burger, which I did taste and it was good. I really liked my red pepper/tomato soup - very creamy. My sandwich was great on paper but didn't come together. It was a turkey sand with roasted zucchini, feta, roasted red pepper, and spinach. The turkey was thick sliced from a processed loaf which is a big turn off for me. At least try to hide the identity of the bad stuff. I expected the sandwich to be heated so the flavors meshed together. They didn't list it that way so it's not their fault but that was what was in my head. The end result was a sandwich that had ingredients that did not quite come together at the end. The inside of the restaurant was very.. well.. non-Alaska which was nice. Very classy and refined. Its an oasis of refinement in a state that does not focus on that. The servers were nice but I don't think they really knew what was on the menu. I had a question about the Portabello Sandwich and she didn't seem to understand how it was prepared.
(4)J.J. P.
Very hit or miss, both on the service and the food. I think for some, it probably is great, for others not so much. I am in the not so much category, but I continue to go once in a while with my wife. Each time we question our choice of going there and opposed to the other guy's review about salty food; this is the running joke at our house. WE DON'T LEAVE THE HOUSE HEADED FOR TURKEY RED WITHOUT THE SALT! So, like I said, will continue to go, hit or miss. One hit: Spanakopita is awesome.
(3)Bill B.
As visitors from Portland Oregon, we googled and yelped for a spot for lunch. Turkey Red came up and had high ratings. We can see why. We were welcomed at the door and were shown promptly to our seats. The soup of the day was an excellent homemade clam chowder. The roast beef sandwich was to die for. Nearly an inch of thin sliced roast beef, cold caramelized onions, horseradish on fresh focaccia bread made a half sandwich a full meal. At least 6 local Beers were on draft too. Other items on the menu looked good too.
(5)Jason R.
This is not your typical Alaskan restaurant. Reminded us of something we'd see in Portland. Organic, local when at all possible, and excellent. Great, attentive service. Subtle flavors and wonderful ideas. My organic burger and potato salad was amazing, and my wife's turkey san with grilled zucchini was perfect. Not to mention the jalapeño feta spread which was the BOMB! I wish I could take a jar home. I heartily recommend Turkey Red.
(5)Patrick S.
One word... Amazing! Wait... Two more words... come here!
(4)Geordie B C.
Whoa! This place for lunch is really not me. I took my daughter along with a Groupon and was amazed that we were the youngest people there. Oh wait, a middle aged woman with her two kids (and requisite Land Rover) were also there...Everyone looked mega wealthy - at least for the valley. All, including our waitress had this "air" about themselves. I know that air..."are you cool enough to be here?" We ordered the spanakopita appetizer and salads and soups and sandwiches. We tried to order something to drink -my daughter ordered lemonade and got something pretty dry and sour. I stuck with water. All the salads come pre-dressed and all were some sort of vinaigrette dressing. My daughter asked if she could get ranch dressing instead and the waitress sniffed snobbishly and said, "I think once we made our own...at one time maybe once...but not now..." COME ON!! One of my favorite places to eat is Saks in downtown Anchorage, which this place sort of reminded me due to the creative menu, but even Saks isn't so fucking pretentious as to be a snob about salad dressing!!! She's a KID, she wants RANCH. OHMYGOD!!! How dare she????!!! LOL!!! We were both pretty turned off...watching the old ladies whispering, watching the greenie mom talk to her children like they are adults, ("Brighton, is the pizza as delicious as you expected?" to a 4 year old). Then....the spanakopita came. Surely I thought it would be pre-made...it wasn't. I could tell it had been made just for us. The fillo was really crispy and had just been baked - not a lot of layers but you could tell it was fresh. And the filling wasn't sour - it had enough feta to make it sweet and creamy with just a tiny touch of lemon...Best of all it came with a huge scoop of homemade tzaziki!! My daughter and I pigged out. It was way worth the wait and the snobby air of the place. Hell, I'd even go back for it. As for the rest....my sandwich - turkey and provolone was very good and fresh and my daughter's garlic potato soup was swimming in garlic, but she loved it. My potato salad was nothing but olive oil and herbs and it was really, really bland. Even the waitress said, "hmmm, I need to try it then." Still, everything after the spanakopita was nice. We quit bitching and ordered the chocolate flourless cake and the lemon tarte and shared back and forth for dessert. Yum! It was good. I will have to be in the right mood to go back though. One of those places where you go with a girlfriend...I'd never take my husband to such a "froo-froo" place.
(3)John M.
Wow! What a pleasant surprise! After visiting a wine making establishment in the same complex, we decided to grab a bite to eat at Turkey Red. The menu has some great items on the menu like baked organic chicken in figs along with other fish and pork entrees. All five of us tried something different and none was found to be anything less than excellent. It is a bit pricey, but then this is not your average sodium infused greasy spoon... Far from it if anything! This is a must try! This is a gem that Palmer and nearby Wasilla should treasure.
(5)Mary L.
Great place to eat in Palmer. Good food & breads. Service can be slow but worth the wait
(5)Julie P.
I love this place. I've been many times over the years. I have gluten sensitivity (yes, it's a real problem) and the staff here is so helpful in helping me select something safe to eat. I love the staff and the atmosphere. I bring my summer visitors here, meet girlfriends for lunch here, and even coax my husband here (he knows I love it so much.) We've taken another local couple here, too. To die for is the flourless chocolate cake with fresh whipped cream and raspberries. So good, I only let myself eat this once a year (okay, maybe twice!). I go here alone to eat, too, (a special treat when my husband is traveling) and really always enjoy my meal. Turkey Red's...one of the best things about living in the valley. It's my secret happy place!
(4)Inga B.
Wow, what a treat! Palmer doesn't have very many places to eat, and what is available I wouldn't call "healthy". We ate here 3 times while visiting for 4 days...that's how much I liked it! Organic, healthy and mmmmmmmmmm good! I had the ham and cheese breakfast omlet, the side was roasted veggies and bread for breakfast one day. The chicken sesame salad for lunch another day and mixed green salad, and greek beef dish with a side of steamed kale on the last day. All was incredibly good and healthy.
(5)Glenn E.
Great staff and warm atmosphere. Great appetizers, sandwiches, and Greek dishes.
(4)Cakerella A.
My two cents (in agreement with everyone else's): Healthful, exceedingly delicious, good value. Simply put, this restaurant is worth the drive from Anchorage. I don't know where, outside of California, a restaurant can remain committed to local and sustainably produced ingredients; be absolutely delicious, creative, simple a la Alice Waters and wholesome; maintain a bright, clean, and relaxed atmosphere; and be relatively inexpensive. Turkey Red is the best restaurant I've found in the state. It markets itself as a bakery/cafe, but the food is elegant enough for me to put it in the fancy restaurant category. I made the mistake of dragging a friend to Turkey Red the day we declared "healthy eating" would start (it had been a big week of sweets, beer, and Moose's Tooth). But rather than hurl our healthy intentions to the curb, we found a dozen things on Turkey Red's menu that suited our requirements of high protein, low fat, not a ton of carbs. Cioppino, on the specials menu the last time I was there, was packed with halibut, mussels, and clams floating in flavorful garlicky caper-spiked broth. We also had the Yogurt Cheesecake, which was so good it made me go track down similar recipes on 101 cookbooks and epicurious. Yes, it is a healthy (and the way TR makes it, decadent) dessert. After a few months of eating at the Bear Tooth and the downtown Anchorage lunch establishments (Snow City, Muffin Man, Urban Greens, Sack's Cafe - Sack's is the best of those four), Turkey Red surpassed all my expectations for Alaskan Dining. I suppose there are some fancy places in Girdwood that might match up, but for what you get for the money, Turkey Red is amazing. I only wish I had more occasions to go to Palmer during mealtimes.
(5)M S.
First time at Turkey Red and it was a hit. I was helped out by Josh and he was great. Top notch waiter. I am from Philadelphia so I am used to sitting on top of people when I go out to eat, plenty of room all around and really comfortable. Food was great, the fiancé got salmon perfectly cooked and I got a seafood soup that was delicious. I am new to Palmer and I will be back again for sure. Two thumbs up.
(5)Sofyan S.
If you care about great food and best service, almost zero waiting time, you MUST come here, it is awesome restaurant: Lentils hamburger, special turkey sandwich, white beans and ham soup, YOU WILL NEVER FORGET THE TASTE
(5)Margaret N.
Lovely place for a leisure lunch. Salad very good, with a glass of wine made our day. Enjoy!
(5)Nathan S.
Simply the best food in Palmer. If you are looking for typical American fried fast food you are in the wrong place. I often bring my wife here on dinner dates and we have yet to be disappointed. Baked Brie with berries as an appetizer is amazing! Chicken I've had is cooked on the bone, and the sauces and spices compliment each meal perfectly. Food seems to be prepared traditionally and in a healthy manner vs current American restaurant people pleaser style of slap it together and get it out as soon as possible. Servers are always polite and courteous. It is a place to relax and slow down with friends. Don't rush it. Always my first choice for a date with my bride!
(5)Ashish K.
This place is awesome!! We were new to this place and someone suggested turkey red. We were amazed with the service moreover food was very fresh and good in quality. There are lots of option vegetarian and vegans. Spinach crespelle is my favorite here!!
(5)Gina B.
Disappointed with the service and we haven't even been seated yet. Came in for lunch with a party of four (all adults in our early 50s). We had no idea that we needed reservations for lunch..... Our bad. We were told it would be about 5 minutes. About 5 minutes later, another party of four came in (2 parents with 2 kids about 8-10), did not have reservations (we heard them say this when asked). The hostess told them it would be about 10 minutes, "unless we put two high tops together, would that be ok?" We were never offered this. 15 minutes later, the hostess tells us it should only be a few more minutes, and tells us that others seated before us had reservations. We reminded her about the high top family. "Oh, we normally don't offer that to 'older folks' because they'd rather wait for a regular table." Um, no. We're hungry, not ancient, we have obey and usually tip well.
(2)Ralph C.
Not overly impressed. Service was very average. Food took a while and my sandwich was wrong. They have fresh ingredients and their homemade greats are yummy.
(3)Stephanie M.
We were driving through Palmer and decided to stop here for lunch. It's a charming stop, as soon as you walk in there is a display case of their desserts and some bagged goodies. Be sure to pay attention to their board of specials too! I got a steak sandwich with bleu cheese and caramelized onions, with salad. The portion was great, the steak itself was flavorful and had a good cook to it. The only thing I would mention is that it had that trim of fat along the back of it. To some that's flavor, to others it's a no-no. I didn't mind most of it, but I did have to cut some off. My boyfriend got the beef stew- incredibly tender beef and vegetables rounded out a thick and flavorful stew. There is also bread served with it which is great for scraping up every last bit from the bowl, which we did. He said it's the best stew he'd ever had; the way a stew should be. The staff is friendly and courteous, the menu is homey and filling, and don't skip out on dessert!
(4)Rebecca D.
I love this place. Everything I have had, from the herbal teas to the salads and hummus have been super good! My favorite place in the valley for sure. Favorite dishes so far: blct salad, beef steak salad, tomato feta soup, hummus
(5)LouLou P.
I was unimpressed with this place. Even though my friends here raved about it. The food was decent but overpriced I thought and the atmosphere is lacking. It's like they took an old shoe store and turned it into a fancy upscale restaurant... But didn't execute it very well. Staff seems to be friendly. Wouldn't recommend.
(3)Andrew H.
WHOA. WHOA. Sorry to sound like K. Reeves, but that's the first thing I think of when I remember my food here. This place would be notable in ANY city in 'Merica, let alone one in Alaska, let alone PALMER, Alaska. I was in the area, feeling dreadfully hangry, and hurriedly browsing the mobile app for a solution to my condition. I'll admit. I was skeptical of this place, despite the positive Yelp reviews. I am not a big fan of some "bakeries". You know the setup. They have coffee and cookies and bread and scones and maybe they'll toast or microwave something small for you...which is fine..but it's not something I want to eat when I'm hungry. I am a real man that requires real food. A scone is tasty but it is like shooting the T-Rex that is my hunger with a BB gun. It may feel better for a couple seconds, but in the end it's just gonna make things worse. Anyway, this place. I went here for lunch and it was one of the best lunches I have ever had in my stupid little life. I had the brisket sandwich special. It's probably the best brisket sandwich I have ever had. The meat was melt-in-your-mouth tender. This brisket puts about 99% of dedicated BBQ eateries to SHAME. And it's just a "bakery" (which would explain why the bread bookending the meat was so crusty-tasty). The soup was some sort of turkey pesto and it was nearly a meal in itself, not just some cheap, throw-away item as soup so often is. The service was also prompt and snappy, I was in and out in no time. This place is so good I would make a special trip up to Palmer to visit it. (and apparently so would many others, as "Anchorage" is one of the keywords for this place) If I happen to be in Palmer, I will ALWAYS go here. It would be criminal not to.
(5)kelly m.
Polenta for breakfast? It was wonderful! Served with a tomato sauce and poached eggs. Yum. The service was lovely as well.
(5)Taryn S.
Upon walking in we were told there would be a 10 minute wait. We came right in the middle of lunch hour, and had to wait closer to 20 minutes which was fine. The place was really nice, but kind of loud. They have awesome tea blends. I got what I think was called the "power house" tea. Very good. I got the special and they actually substituted chicken breast for the deli turkey. I don't eat deli meats, and the waitress nicely asked if I'd like to substitute it (which was free of charge I think). We will be back.
(4)Susan L.
This place was amazing! We were looking for fresh delicious food and they delivered. Their customer service was also excellent. We mentioned we only had 45 minutes and they were able to get our food to us quickly. The marinara sauce that comes with the amazing breakfast dishes is the best I've had at any restaurant! This place is a must!
(5)Diane L.
Menu a little outdated, and not much variety. Prices are a little high for a local restaurant like this one...I would expect to see these prices in more of a big city metro environment such as San Fran. It is always clean. And, there usually is a selection for the vegetarian lovers to choose from.
(3)Jim C.
I ate there a long long time ago and didn't like it. Too flavorless and healthy for me. I think I ate something with grass that first time, anyways, it wasn't a place I wanted to go back too. Fast forward two years and they have a sandwich there called the Bald Bill that is fantastic. The service is a little slow, but If you're looking for some different unusual fare at a reasonable price, its a good place to go.
(4)Gary M.
Excellent baked goods made there or the lamb shank last night. Or the baked Brie with toasted walnuts after a green salad of locally harvested greens. Attentive server. A treat visually too. Art & spacious surriundings
(5)Helen Z.
Excellent food. Great tasting, beautiful presentation. Delicious hot teas. Fresh daily baked bread. Great place away from home.
(5)Jon A.
Decent food but not special. Slow service. Pretentious atmosphere. Portion size does not equate to pricing in this type of atmosphere. Not a fan.
(2)Marlene S.
Awesome made from scratch food. Not fast, but a great place to go with friends and eat something healthy.
(4)Dan W.
Breakfast omelets are excellent. Lunch burgers are great. Decent pizza when it's not burnt. Chicken caper dinner thing is very good. Spirokopita is terrible. And the lamb is awful. The stew recipe changes each week which is kind of annoying. Overall better food than any of the other eateries in Palmer.
(4)Mary L.
Great place to eat in Palmer. Good food & breads. Service can be slow but worth the wait
(5)M E.
We've been wanting to try out this restaurant for a long time, so when we finally made it to Palmer last weekend we gave it a shot. We were seated quickly and received a menu and some water and then we waited. And waited. And waited some more... The waiter who was servicing the table right next to ours apparently wasn't interested in taking our order and completely ignored us in spite of several trips to the neighboring table. I might have understood if it would have been a busy day, but the restaurant was half empty. Most people working there seemed to be sorting and shelving things behind the counter and in the kitchen, not paying any attention to their customers. After waiting for a good 15-20 minutes without even getting our drink order (let alone a food order) in, we decided to leave. Ironically, the waiter who had ignored us the entire time we were inside, was cleaning the water glasses off our table within 10 seconds after we left. What a joke! Lousy customer service! Won't return here.
(1)Marcy F.
My favorite restaurant in the Mat-Su Valley! I I've tried most of the items on the menu, which has a Greek influence. I highly recommend the Moussaka, which I think I've had at least 4 times in the year and a half that I've lived here. After a great meal, you'll have a difficult time choosing from a wonderful dessert menu. I often drop by just to pick up a bag of my favorite cookies, "Wonder Woman," or a loaf of their delicious bread.
(5)Mary T.
If I could give a -5 I would. I will never eat there again, and I am always trying to find new places to eat. They are so proud of their food that you can't possibly not love it...well yes I can and no one (out of 4) at our table liked the food they were served. One was sent back because the pasta was not cooked properly. One was sent back because it tasted awful. Well, in their world that is not a reason to not eat it, simply because they like it everyone should. It was awful, I tasted it also and it was not at all edible. We were not charged for the under cooked pasta, but they saw no reason we shouldn't pay for the entree that we didn't like, even though we had ordered and gotten a replacement dish. They think so much of themselves that the customer is inconsequential. Well, they are inconsequential.
(1)Tito B.
SWEET MAGILLICUTTY. As i peruse the menu, the very friendly server brings some bread for the table. There were 3 kinds of breads, but I couldn't focus on anything after she said the words "chocolate bread and raspberry jam". I'm sorry. What did you just say? 'Chocolate bread and raspberry jam. It has a sourdough base, so it's not as sweet as you'd imagine." So I order the polenta, mozzarella, marinara sauce and poached eggs dish and begin shoving chocolate bread in my pie hole. The waitress notices I've eaten it all and, with a laugh, brings some more. I eat it all again. She soon brings out my order. This is not polenta. This is polenta on steroids. It was a giant portion of ridiculously delicious polenta, with a perfectly poached egg sitting atop a bunch of other delicious things. I busted that yolk, watched the magic of runny yolk melt into my steroid-laden dish. It was magical and gave me the fuel to hike for hours afterwards. Thanks, Turkey Red. You rock!
(5)Kevin D.
This is ostensibly the best sit-down restaurant in Palmer. Not only that, but it can really compete against any restaurant on a national scale. Largely local ingredients, delicious cooking techniques. The menu has quite a few options, and these options span from unhealthy to quite healthy. Try the Sun Salad. It's delicious. The bread is baked within Alaska's tradition of hearty styles that have something in common with denser, darker, European breads. It's just better than the "average white bread" found in the rest of the United States -- that is, you won't find anything you can squeeze into a white orb. The other day I went in for lunch, and there was an issue with my order. The wait was long but I wasn't in a rush -- and they made it up to me by offering coffee or extra bread on the house. That's classy, and that's the way to do it.
(4)Katie M.
I've tried this place twice now, and have tried to like it. The food both times was either salty or bland. I ordered a salad that was supposed to come with several ingredients, but it only had 2/5 things listed on the menu. When I asked the waiter, she said they were out of the ingredients listed. It is a very nice location, but I much prefer the restaurant next door, Palmer Deli. The price at Turkey Red just seems a little much for something I just haven't been wowed by.
(2)Claudia C.
At first I was a little iffy about the place. It looked expensive... And it was a mid price place. For 6 ppl the tab was about $220.. So about $36 a person.. Defiantly not a place I'd go if I were paying. But it was a holiday occasion that I didn't pay. On the plus side the food was great. I heard that everything is made fresh in house from the appetizer bread to the bread pudding desert. And I heard that, when able, all the ingredients are local to Alaska. Fantastic! Hope it's true. Because we were there at the end of the evening they even gave us some of the bread from the day that they don't keep. Everyone got a loaf of bread to take home. They were even very accommodating to a dairy allergy that I have that can make eating out hard when things are cooked in butter or with a lot of cheese usually
(5)Suzanne A.
Great place! Have been for brunch and the French toast was awesome! For lunch Had the half sandwich and salad with chowder! The food is fresh and delicious- only thing is they get busy and it maybe a wait. Also they struggled with refilling my tea and water- just got the drinks and food and bill- because it was so busy.
(4)Hazel S.
We were coming from the glaciers and needed somewhere to go for lunch on our way back to anchorage and found these place on yelp. So so glad we went! We had the stew of the day and it was hearty and yummy, pots of Moroccan mint tea, and half a ham and blue sandwich and everything was great. Really good food is one thing, but the service was perfect! The waitress was friendly, helpful, and attentive! I could not recommend more highly, especially if you're in the area. Plus, it was clean and bright inside! Haven't gotten to dessert yet, but we're thinking bread pudding is sounding pretty darn good.
(5)Brian O.
My wife and I stopped in Palmer for dinner tonight, after a day of driving from Tok. We started our meal with cups of delicious clam chowder. My wife had a portabella salad and I had gyrokopita, ground beef, raisins, and spices in a phyllo shell. It came with tzatziki sauce. Service was excellent. Atmosphere was nice.
(4)Sarah S.
If you are live in Palmer, or visiting Palmer or just driving up north....stop in and eat here. It's overall a top-notch place. Do yourself a favor and try their food.
(5)Grace L.
Best food in Alaska! Yes, it is tiny, so you have to make reservations or wait for a table, but SO GOOD! I tried hot tea (and they bring lemon and honey) and food that is health/homey/artsy all at the same time. It is special, and worth the drive. I asked for veggies without the hot spices they normally put on it, and they put it on anyway. So watch for this if you don't like spices on your veggies.
(5)Lorene L.
When Turkey Red came to Palmer, so did good food and drink. The food is consistently tasty and there are tons of meals that are both delicious and healthy (a rare find in Alaska). They have great options for both meat eaters and vegetarians. Some of my favorites include the BLCT salad (fresh, local greens with chicken, bacon and tomato), the steak salad, and their stews. I recommend asking for the salad dressing on the side, as the salads tend to be slightly over-dressed. Their burger is one of the best I've ever had, partly because of how it's prepared and partly because of the quality beef they use. The beer and wine selection are terrific and the service is super friendly. This may be one of the best restaurants in Alaska, especially for localvores.
(5)Noah O.
Simply the best salad I have had. Ever. Had the CBLT salad and it was a perfect mix of greens, chicken, bacon, bruschetta and dressing. When vacationing in Anchorage, I would definitely make this drive again for lunch! Service was good-prices are fair, and everyone's meals were off the charts.
(5)L M.
Sumptuous, fresh fare with great choices for breakfast & lunch good service, clean bright and friendly staff. I would definitely return.o
(5)Teresa N.
We enjoyed it. The food was good. I would like to see a larger menu with more options for diabetics, vegetarians, etc. My diabetic dad only had one dish that he could eat. Thankfully, he liked it. They really know how to brew a good cup of tea. It is difficult to find places in Alaska that know tea and Turkey Red does. The service was friendly & fast and the atmosphere pleasant. I would give it a better rating if the menu was a little more varied.
(3)Brenda M.
My son and I took a day to just chill and have mom/son time. We popped in to have lunch. We were seated quickly. Then waited, waited, waited, finally I got up to ask how we were suppose to order. I know some restaurants have you order at the counter. Well evidently the server was busy and would get to us. So, she finally took our order. The food took a long time. When we received it we were both bummed, neither order was correct. We ended up very unhappy with the service & the food. I won't return.
(1)Adam M.
One of the better places to eat in Palmer! Good food with local and organic ingredients, and a nice, classy ambiance. I usually get the steak salad- ask them to add blue cheese! The clams are delicious, and the baked brie is pretty tasty too. It is a bit expensive, and can come of pretentious as the reviews say. However, I've always had good food and good service here.
(4)Andrea G.
Fresh and fantastic! The menu is always changing and the vegetarian options are solid. Must try it if your by it.
(4)Lany Kay M.
We enjoyed our meal however the service was exceptionally slow an inattentive. I had to get up and fill my own water glass and ask for refills on family beverages. Hence a 4 star rating. My son had raved about this restaurant, so it was a disappointment when it came to service.
(4)Casey S.
Every time I visit home I inevitably end up eating at Turkey Red. It really is one of the only nice places in the valley that doesn't feel like they are defrosting your meal from the box in which it arrived the week before. My most recent experience was pleasant but missed the mark. The service was excellent and I really appreciated the suggestion that the server made. We were there for lunch and I couldn't decide between the Portabello sandwich or the fried polenta in marinara sauce. Our server suggested that I order the appetizer size of the polenta and then a half Mediterranean salad. I was a little disappointed in the food. I assumed that the fried polenta would be a little crispy on the outside, but mostly it was mushy all the way through. I liked the ingredients in the Mediterranean salad, it had Kalamata olives, feta and chickpeas, but the salad dressing was extremely bland and essentially just olive oil. It did nothing to enhance the flavors. My boyfriend got a cup of coffee and complained that it wasn't very good. So, as far as decent restaurants go, Turkey Red is great for Palmer. There isn't anywhere else that serves fresh food the way they do. The presentation is nice and the service is great. It's just when I am paying that much for a meal I really want it to taste excellent too!
(3)Michael M.
I've travelled a bit, and I enjoy eating out. I can honestly say I've never been in any restaurants that are much better. Oh, there are fancier ones, and more inventive ones, sure. But Turkey Red focuses on providing quality food made from high quality ingredients and prepared with care. Some dishes are just good, nothing to blow your mind. Some absolutely will blow your mind. The food isn't expensive, if anything, for the quality of what you are receiving, it's absurdly cheap. If you are looking for steak and burgers, look elsewhere. If you are looking for fancy and posh, look elsewhere. If you are looking for flavorful, straight up good food that tastes delicious and will do a body good, come here.
(5)Marie Z.
Very pleasant lunch experience. Creative sandwiches, great soup. Enjoyed the entire experience. Only feedback - it would be great if breakfast was served later than 10:30 am and 11 am on Saturdays. Losing business with those restricted hours.
(4)Bonny S.
Wow, once again Turkey Red was subperb. For those who think the service is slow or bad i have the solution, just ask for Anna, she is very professional and effecient. Perfect timing and great food couldn't be happier
(5)Kimberley B.
Went to this little place for lunch two days ago. Food was good, staff friendly. Would go there again if I am in the area again.
(3)Peter C.
I've had a few meals here. Not really my kind of ambiance or menu but that's just a personal preference. The food was good, but not exceptional. I really liked the turkey-cran sandwich I had on one occasion. Not quite hearty enough for me but I'm sure others will find it to their liking.
(3)Thomas C.
I've been here about a dozen times and this latest visit was as close to perfect yet. I had the braised lamb shank with couscous eggplant fiddleheads in a creamy but not heavy pan sauce. The waitress recommended a perfectly pairing red wine. Other had the perfect moussaka and a flavorful tomato soup for starters and we spit a green salad which was limited in item but top quality local fresh organic. It was indeed the best meal here or any where I've had on a long time. Turkey Red could easily get a five star from me, if only they would get their act completely together on the service and food prep. They too often get the order wrong, take forever, or the food comes out tepid and has to go back. Hit it when they're great, and they're great. Miss, and they are a huge disappointment. And they need to cycle some new stuff into the menu. They try hard though, and they are very nice people.
(4)Erick H.
Delicious food and great sized portions. I like the hometown atmosphere and their baked goods are wonderful. I'll be coming back next time I'm in town!
(5)Heather T.
It was a rainy day when we drove up north from Anchorage. We got hungry and thanks to Yelp, found Turkey Red. It's an adorable place, very cozy. What struck me though, was the desserts they had displayed at the counter. I'm not a dessert person and neither is my friend. For some reason we both REALLY wanted dessert after lunch after seeing the massive cakes at the counter. Anyway, service is a tad slow but all is forgiven when the food came! I had the daily soup special, cream of chicken with the lentil burger. OH. MY. GOD. I wish I had a huge bowl of that soup! It had chunks of meat in it and they added cilantro to the soup that brought a whole new dimension to the flavor! It's not thick like what you picture cream of whatever soup to be like. It was more brothy but still rich. It was like they roasted a chicken and then cooked the meat and bones to create this beauty! It was magnificent! I liked my lentil burger fine, but the soup was what really killed me! My friend and I shared a piece of chocolate cake. It had a rich chocolate fudge surrounding it. I asked the server if they could possibly heat it up in the microwave for a few seconds to melt the chocolate and she said that they didn't have a microwave. That made me love the restaurant even MORE. The chef put it in the oven for a minute and that was just perfect! They even made us fresh whipped cream to go along with it. Lovely lovely place! I would go back if I lived closer!
(4)April E.
Went here because of the suggestion of a friend. The baked goods looked great. Wish I had tried them. I think the menu is just so busy. Maybe they should focus on making fewer dishes great. The ambiance is nice. I had a chicken dish and it just wasn't very flavorful. My boyfriend had a pasta dish and once again just blah. Service was slow as well and it was odd that after quite a while she came back to confirm what we ordered. Was really pricey for the quality. If the food had been better prepared would have totally been worth the price.
(2)Aimee R.
I've only been here a few times, but the food has been great! Once I had a ling cod/coconut/blueberry dish that still makes my mouth water. It wasn't anything shocking or flashy-- just an amazing dish with well-thought-out ingredients.
(4)Susan B.
Have been here a time or two before tonight's visit. Took the in-laws there for a nice dinner in Palmer. I can honestly say all 4 in our party were blown away by how amazing our dinners were! I had pasta magnifico (an unbelievable orange cream sauce w/fresh mint - sounds odd, but so so good) and a mixed greens salad w/house dressing (balsamic). DH had another pasta dish w/spinach, chicken & cream parm sauce. In-laws had chicken w/figs & an oriental chicken salad. All 4 were rave reviews. Toward the end of our meal the chef came out (he's from Florence, Italy) and told us that the family at the next table over supply all of the salad greens. Nice to know they really do use local. Great attentive (but not bothersome) waitstaff. Reasonable wait for our food to arrive. Loved my dinner and will definitely go there again. Highly recommended for a very nice dinner in Palmer.
(5)K. L.
In all fairness this is a review from a few months after opening. I ordered a salad, not only did they forget to cook the meat on it, I also found a gray hair and a twig in my salad. They offered to make me another, but I had lost my appetite. My mom tried to order a soda, to which the snooty server said "Oh, we don't serve that kind of thing here". I understand that you don't serve something, but you don't have to be rude about it.
(1)Caroline F.
Excellent food, excellent service. We tried the specials of the day which were wonderfully prepared. It's a great place to go for a relaxing meal as a couple or in a group. We went here on our last day in Alaska right before heading back to Anchorage for a late night flight. We ordered dessert to go to take with us for our trip. Not only was it delicious but it was packed up so well along with forks and napkins . We would eat there again in a heartbeat. (Props to our waitress Jennifer!)
(5)Sarah A.
I'm torn on my review for this place. My husband was in love with his mushroom burger, which I did taste and it was good. I really liked my red pepper/tomato soup - very creamy. My sandwich was great on paper but didn't come together. It was a turkey sand with roasted zucchini, feta, roasted red pepper, and spinach. The turkey was thick sliced from a processed loaf which is a big turn off for me. At least try to hide the identity of the bad stuff. I expected the sandwich to be heated so the flavors meshed together. They didn't list it that way so it's not their fault but that was what was in my head. The end result was a sandwich that had ingredients that did not quite come together at the end. The inside of the restaurant was very.. well.. non-Alaska which was nice. Very classy and refined. Its an oasis of refinement in a state that does not focus on that. The servers were nice but I don't think they really knew what was on the menu. I had a question about the Portabello Sandwich and she didn't seem to understand how it was prepared.
(4)J.J. P.
Very hit or miss, both on the service and the food. I think for some, it probably is great, for others not so much. I am in the not so much category, but I continue to go once in a while with my wife. Each time we question our choice of going there and opposed to the other guy's review about salty food; this is the running joke at our house. WE DON'T LEAVE THE HOUSE HEADED FOR TURKEY RED WITHOUT THE SALT! So, like I said, will continue to go, hit or miss. One hit: Spanakopita is awesome.
(3)Julie P.
I love this place. I've been many times over the years. I have gluten sensitivity (yes, it's a real problem) and the staff here is so helpful in helping me select something safe to eat. I love the staff and the atmosphere. I bring my summer visitors here, meet girlfriends for lunch here, and even coax my husband here (he knows I love it so much.) We've taken another local couple here, too. To die for is the flourless chocolate cake with fresh whipped cream and raspberries. So good, I only let myself eat this once a year (okay, maybe twice!). I go here alone to eat, too, (a special treat when my husband is traveling) and really always enjoy my meal. Turkey Red's...one of the best things about living in the valley. It's my secret happy place!
(4)Inga B.
Wow, what a treat! Palmer doesn't have very many places to eat, and what is available I wouldn't call "healthy". We ate here 3 times while visiting for 4 days...that's how much I liked it! Organic, healthy and mmmmmmmmmm good! I had the ham and cheese breakfast omlet, the side was roasted veggies and bread for breakfast one day. The chicken sesame salad for lunch another day and mixed green salad, and greek beef dish with a side of steamed kale on the last day. All was incredibly good and healthy.
(5)Glenn E.
Great staff and warm atmosphere. Great appetizers, sandwiches, and Greek dishes.
(4)Cakerella A.
My two cents (in agreement with everyone else's): Healthful, exceedingly delicious, good value. Simply put, this restaurant is worth the drive from Anchorage. I don't know where, outside of California, a restaurant can remain committed to local and sustainably produced ingredients; be absolutely delicious, creative, simple a la Alice Waters and wholesome; maintain a bright, clean, and relaxed atmosphere; and be relatively inexpensive. Turkey Red is the best restaurant I've found in the state. It markets itself as a bakery/cafe, but the food is elegant enough for me to put it in the fancy restaurant category. I made the mistake of dragging a friend to Turkey Red the day we declared "healthy eating" would start (it had been a big week of sweets, beer, and Moose's Tooth). But rather than hurl our healthy intentions to the curb, we found a dozen things on Turkey Red's menu that suited our requirements of high protein, low fat, not a ton of carbs. Cioppino, on the specials menu the last time I was there, was packed with halibut, mussels, and clams floating in flavorful garlicky caper-spiked broth. We also had the Yogurt Cheesecake, which was so good it made me go track down similar recipes on 101 cookbooks and epicurious. Yes, it is a healthy (and the way TR makes it, decadent) dessert. After a few months of eating at the Bear Tooth and the downtown Anchorage lunch establishments (Snow City, Muffin Man, Urban Greens, Sack's Cafe - Sack's is the best of those four), Turkey Red surpassed all my expectations for Alaskan Dining. I suppose there are some fancy places in Girdwood that might match up, but for what you get for the money, Turkey Red is amazing. I only wish I had more occasions to go to Palmer during mealtimes.
(5)Geordie B C.
Whoa! This place for lunch is really not me. I took my daughter along with a Groupon and was amazed that we were the youngest people there. Oh wait, a middle aged woman with her two kids (and requisite Land Rover) were also there...Everyone looked mega wealthy - at least for the valley. All, including our waitress had this "air" about themselves. I know that air..."are you cool enough to be here?" We ordered the spanakopita appetizer and salads and soups and sandwiches. We tried to order something to drink -my daughter ordered lemonade and got something pretty dry and sour. I stuck with water. All the salads come pre-dressed and all were some sort of vinaigrette dressing. My daughter asked if she could get ranch dressing instead and the waitress sniffed snobbishly and said, "I think once we made our own...at one time maybe once...but not now..." COME ON!! One of my favorite places to eat is Saks in downtown Anchorage, which this place sort of reminded me due to the creative menu, but even Saks isn't so fucking pretentious as to be a snob about salad dressing!!! She's a KID, she wants RANCH. OHMYGOD!!! How dare she????!!! LOL!!! We were both pretty turned off...watching the old ladies whispering, watching the greenie mom talk to her children like they are adults, ("Brighton, is the pizza as delicious as you expected?" to a 4 year old). Then....the spanakopita came. Surely I thought it would be pre-made...it wasn't. I could tell it had been made just for us. The fillo was really crispy and had just been baked - not a lot of layers but you could tell it was fresh. And the filling wasn't sour - it had enough feta to make it sweet and creamy with just a tiny touch of lemon...Best of all it came with a huge scoop of homemade tzaziki!! My daughter and I pigged out. It was way worth the wait and the snobby air of the place. Hell, I'd even go back for it. As for the rest....my sandwich - turkey and provolone was very good and fresh and my daughter's garlic potato soup was swimming in garlic, but she loved it. My potato salad was nothing but olive oil and herbs and it was really, really bland. Even the waitress said, "hmmm, I need to try it then." Still, everything after the spanakopita was nice. We quit bitching and ordered the chocolate flourless cake and the lemon tarte and shared back and forth for dessert. Yum! It was good. I will have to be in the right mood to go back though. One of those places where you go with a girlfriend...I'd never take my husband to such a "froo-froo" place.
(3)John M.
Wow! What a pleasant surprise! After visiting a wine making establishment in the same complex, we decided to grab a bite to eat at Turkey Red. The menu has some great items on the menu like baked organic chicken in figs along with other fish and pork entrees. All five of us tried something different and none was found to be anything less than excellent. It is a bit pricey, but then this is not your average sodium infused greasy spoon... Far from it if anything! This is a must try! This is a gem that Palmer and nearby Wasilla should treasure.
(5)Bill B.
As visitors from Portland Oregon, we googled and yelped for a spot for lunch. Turkey Red came up and had high ratings. We can see why. We were welcomed at the door and were shown promptly to our seats. The soup of the day was an excellent homemade clam chowder. The roast beef sandwich was to die for. Nearly an inch of thin sliced roast beef, cold caramelized onions, horseradish on fresh focaccia bread made a half sandwich a full meal. At least 6 local Beers were on draft too. Other items on the menu looked good too.
(5)Jason R.
This is not your typical Alaskan restaurant. Reminded us of something we'd see in Portland. Organic, local when at all possible, and excellent. Great, attentive service. Subtle flavors and wonderful ideas. My organic burger and potato salad was amazing, and my wife's turkey san with grilled zucchini was perfect. Not to mention the jalapeño feta spread which was the BOMB! I wish I could take a jar home. I heartily recommend Turkey Red.
(5)Patrick S.
One word... Amazing! Wait... Two more words... come here!
(4)Vicki P.
Turkey Red is a relatively new restaurant in Palmer. And wow, did Palmer need a new restaurant. This place would be great anywhere, but in Palmer it's fabulous. I've eaten lunch here 3 times in the past 2 months and each time it was wonderful. I've had the hummus, Mediterranean Salad, Portobello Mushroom & Zucchini Sandwich and usually get the soups of the day. I have never been disappointed. The icing on the cake is the baked goods. Not only do they have fantastic desserts and savory foccacias, their baguettes and other breads are worthy of any big city bakery. I highly recommend this restaurant to anyone visiting Palmer, Alaska!
(5)Matthew R.
Well worth it. The food is flavorful and high quality ingedients. Everything from simple bread and ground beef to a superb clam chowder. It's a little on the expensive side. But that's because it's that good!
(4)Greg A.
What a great surprise 45 miles north of Anchorage in Palmer, Alaska. Great food, All prepared on site served in a very comfortable setting by a great staff.
(4)mike h.
It's gotta be the best restaurant in Palmer, Italian style cuisine including pizza (the chef is from Florence). I was a bit shocked by the prices, but food in Alaska is generally expensive. The beef stew was very tasty for 12 bucks, but the sausage stuffed chicken was too dry for twice the price. Flourless chocolate cake was excellent. Stylish interior, friendly staff, good service. Should be 4 star rating for the area, but only 3 in comparison to similar places in the lower 48.
(3)M E.
We've been wanting to try out this restaurant for a long time, so when we finally made it to Palmer last weekend we gave it a shot. We were seated quickly and received a menu and some water and then we waited. And waited. And waited some more... The waiter who was servicing the table right next to ours apparently wasn't interested in taking our order and completely ignored us in spite of several trips to the neighboring table. I might have understood if it would have been a busy day, but the restaurant was half empty. Most people working there seemed to be sorting and shelving things behind the counter and in the kitchen, not paying any attention to their customers. After waiting for a good 15-20 minutes without even getting our drink order (let alone a food order) in, we decided to leave. Ironically, the waiter who had ignored us the entire time we were inside, was cleaning the water glasses off our table within 10 seconds after we left. What a joke! Lousy customer service! Won't return here.
(1)Mary T.
If I could give a -5 I would. I will never eat there again, and I am always trying to find new places to eat. They are so proud of their food that you can't possibly not love it...well yes I can and no one (out of 4) at our table liked the food they were served. One was sent back because the pasta was not cooked properly. One was sent back because it tasted awful. Well, in their world that is not a reason to not eat it, simply because they like it everyone should. It was awful, I tasted it also and it was not at all edible. We were not charged for the under cooked pasta, but they saw no reason we shouldn't pay for the entree that we didn't like, even though we had ordered and gotten a replacement dish. They think so much of themselves that the customer is inconsequential. Well, they are inconsequential.
(1)Tito B.
SWEET MAGILLICUTTY. As i peruse the menu, the very friendly server brings some bread for the table. There were 3 kinds of breads, but I couldn't focus on anything after she said the words "chocolate bread and raspberry jam". I'm sorry. What did you just say? 'Chocolate bread and raspberry jam. It has a sourdough base, so it's not as sweet as you'd imagine." So I order the polenta, mozzarella, marinara sauce and poached eggs dish and begin shoving chocolate bread in my pie hole. The waitress notices I've eaten it all and, with a laugh, brings some more. I eat it all again. She soon brings out my order. This is not polenta. This is polenta on steroids. It was a giant portion of ridiculously delicious polenta, with a perfectly poached egg sitting atop a bunch of other delicious things. I busted that yolk, watched the magic of runny yolk melt into my steroid-laden dish. It was magical and gave me the fuel to hike for hours afterwards. Thanks, Turkey Red. You rock!
(5)Dan W.
Breakfast omelets are excellent. Lunch burgers are great. Decent pizza when it's not burnt. Chicken caper dinner thing is very good. Spirokopita is terrible. And the lamb is awful. The stew recipe changes each week which is kind of annoying. Overall better food than any of the other eateries in Palmer.
(4)Ashish K.
This place is awesome!! We were new to this place and someone suggested turkey red. We were amazed with the service moreover food was very fresh and good in quality. There are lots of option vegetarian and vegans. Spinach crespelle is my favorite here!!
(5)Gina B.
Disappointed with the service and we haven't even been seated yet. Came in for lunch with a party of four (all adults in our early 50s). We had no idea that we needed reservations for lunch..... Our bad. We were told it would be about 5 minutes. About 5 minutes later, another party of four came in (2 parents with 2 kids about 8-10), did not have reservations (we heard them say this when asked). The hostess told them it would be about 10 minutes, "unless we put two high tops together, would that be ok?" We were never offered this. 15 minutes later, the hostess tells us it should only be a few more minutes, and tells us that others seated before us had reservations. We reminded her about the high top family. "Oh, we normally don't offer that to 'older folks' because they'd rather wait for a regular table." Um, no. We're hungry, not ancient, we have obey and usually tip well.
(2)Ralph C.
Not overly impressed. Service was very average. Food took a while and my sandwich was wrong. They have fresh ingredients and their homemade greats are yummy.
(3)Sofyan S.
If you care about great food and best service, almost zero waiting time, you MUST come here, it is awesome restaurant: Lentils hamburger, special turkey sandwich, white beans and ham soup, YOU WILL NEVER FORGET THE TASTE
(5)Margaret N.
Lovely place for a leisure lunch. Salad very good, with a glass of wine made our day. Enjoy!
(5)Stephanie M.
We were driving through Palmer and decided to stop here for lunch. It's a charming stop, as soon as you walk in there is a display case of their desserts and some bagged goodies. Be sure to pay attention to their board of specials too! I got a steak sandwich with bleu cheese and caramelized onions, with salad. The portion was great, the steak itself was flavorful and had a good cook to it. The only thing I would mention is that it had that trim of fat along the back of it. To some that's flavor, to others it's a no-no. I didn't mind most of it, but I did have to cut some off. My boyfriend got the beef stew- incredibly tender beef and vegetables rounded out a thick and flavorful stew. There is also bread served with it which is great for scraping up every last bit from the bowl, which we did. He said it's the best stew he'd ever had; the way a stew should be. The staff is friendly and courteous, the menu is homey and filling, and don't skip out on dessert!
(4)Rebecca D.
I love this place. Everything I have had, from the herbal teas to the salads and hummus have been super good! My favorite place in the valley for sure. Favorite dishes so far: blct salad, beef steak salad, tomato feta soup, hummus
(5)LouLou P.
I was unimpressed with this place. Even though my friends here raved about it. The food was decent but overpriced I thought and the atmosphere is lacking. It's like they took an old shoe store and turned it into a fancy upscale restaurant... But didn't execute it very well. Staff seems to be friendly. Wouldn't recommend.
(3)Andrew H.
WHOA. WHOA. Sorry to sound like K. Reeves, but that's the first thing I think of when I remember my food here. This place would be notable in ANY city in 'Merica, let alone one in Alaska, let alone PALMER, Alaska. I was in the area, feeling dreadfully hangry, and hurriedly browsing the mobile app for a solution to my condition. I'll admit. I was skeptical of this place, despite the positive Yelp reviews. I am not a big fan of some "bakeries". You know the setup. They have coffee and cookies and bread and scones and maybe they'll toast or microwave something small for you...which is fine..but it's not something I want to eat when I'm hungry. I am a real man that requires real food. A scone is tasty but it is like shooting the T-Rex that is my hunger with a BB gun. It may feel better for a couple seconds, but in the end it's just gonna make things worse. Anyway, this place. I went here for lunch and it was one of the best lunches I have ever had in my stupid little life. I had the brisket sandwich special. It's probably the best brisket sandwich I have ever had. The meat was melt-in-your-mouth tender. This brisket puts about 99% of dedicated BBQ eateries to SHAME. And it's just a "bakery" (which would explain why the bread bookending the meat was so crusty-tasty). The soup was some sort of turkey pesto and it was nearly a meal in itself, not just some cheap, throw-away item as soup so often is. The service was also prompt and snappy, I was in and out in no time. This place is so good I would make a special trip up to Palmer to visit it. (and apparently so would many others, as "Anchorage" is one of the keywords for this place) If I happen to be in Palmer, I will ALWAYS go here. It would be criminal not to.
(5)kelly m.
Polenta for breakfast? It was wonderful! Served with a tomato sauce and poached eggs. Yum. The service was lovely as well.
(5)Nathan S.
Simply the best food in Palmer. If you are looking for typical American fried fast food you are in the wrong place. I often bring my wife here on dinner dates and we have yet to be disappointed. Baked Brie with berries as an appetizer is amazing! Chicken I've had is cooked on the bone, and the sauces and spices compliment each meal perfectly. Food seems to be prepared traditionally and in a healthy manner vs current American restaurant people pleaser style of slap it together and get it out as soon as possible. Servers are always polite and courteous. It is a place to relax and slow down with friends. Don't rush it. Always my first choice for a date with my bride!
(5)Taryn S.
Upon walking in we were told there would be a 10 minute wait. We came right in the middle of lunch hour, and had to wait closer to 20 minutes which was fine. The place was really nice, but kind of loud. They have awesome tea blends. I got what I think was called the "power house" tea. Very good. I got the special and they actually substituted chicken breast for the deli turkey. I don't eat deli meats, and the waitress nicely asked if I'd like to substitute it (which was free of charge I think). We will be back.
(4)Susan L.
This place was amazing! We were looking for fresh delicious food and they delivered. Their customer service was also excellent. We mentioned we only had 45 minutes and they were able to get our food to us quickly. The marinara sauce that comes with the amazing breakfast dishes is the best I've had at any restaurant! This place is a must!
(5)Diane L.
Menu a little outdated, and not much variety. Prices are a little high for a local restaurant like this one...I would expect to see these prices in more of a big city metro environment such as San Fran. It is always clean. And, there usually is a selection for the vegetarian lovers to choose from.
(3)Jim C.
I ate there a long long time ago and didn't like it. Too flavorless and healthy for me. I think I ate something with grass that first time, anyways, it wasn't a place I wanted to go back too. Fast forward two years and they have a sandwich there called the Bald Bill that is fantastic. The service is a little slow, but If you're looking for some different unusual fare at a reasonable price, its a good place to go.
(4)Gary M.
Excellent baked goods made there or the lamb shank last night. Or the baked Brie with toasted walnuts after a green salad of locally harvested greens. Attentive server. A treat visually too. Art & spacious surriundings
(5)Helen Z.
Excellent food. Great tasting, beautiful presentation. Delicious hot teas. Fresh daily baked bread. Great place away from home.
(5)Jon A.
Decent food but not special. Slow service. Pretentious atmosphere. Portion size does not equate to pricing in this type of atmosphere. Not a fan.
(2)Marlene S.
Awesome made from scratch food. Not fast, but a great place to go with friends and eat something healthy.
(4)Marcy F.
My favorite restaurant in the Mat-Su Valley! I I've tried most of the items on the menu, which has a Greek influence. I highly recommend the Moussaka, which I think I've had at least 4 times in the year and a half that I've lived here. After a great meal, you'll have a difficult time choosing from a wonderful dessert menu. I often drop by just to pick up a bag of my favorite cookies, "Wonder Woman," or a loaf of their delicious bread.
(5)Brian O.
My wife and I stopped in Palmer for dinner tonight, after a day of driving from Tok. We started our meal with cups of delicious clam chowder. My wife had a portabella salad and I had gyrokopita, ground beef, raisins, and spices in a phyllo shell. It came with tzatziki sauce. Service was excellent. Atmosphere was nice.
(4)Sarah S.
If you are live in Palmer, or visiting Palmer or just driving up north....stop in and eat here. It's overall a top-notch place. Do yourself a favor and try their food.
(5)Kevin D.
This is ostensibly the best sit-down restaurant in Palmer. Not only that, but it can really compete against any restaurant on a national scale. Largely local ingredients, delicious cooking techniques. The menu has quite a few options, and these options span from unhealthy to quite healthy. Try the Sun Salad. It's delicious. The bread is baked within Alaska's tradition of hearty styles that have something in common with denser, darker, European breads. It's just better than the "average white bread" found in the rest of the United States -- that is, you won't find anything you can squeeze into a white orb. The other day I went in for lunch, and there was an issue with my order. The wait was long but I wasn't in a rush -- and they made it up to me by offering coffee or extra bread on the house. That's classy, and that's the way to do it.
(4)Katie M.
I've tried this place twice now, and have tried to like it. The food both times was either salty or bland. I ordered a salad that was supposed to come with several ingredients, but it only had 2/5 things listed on the menu. When I asked the waiter, she said they were out of the ingredients listed. It is a very nice location, but I much prefer the restaurant next door, Palmer Deli. The price at Turkey Red just seems a little much for something I just haven't been wowed by.
(2)Claudia C.
At first I was a little iffy about the place. It looked expensive... And it was a mid price place. For 6 ppl the tab was about $220.. So about $36 a person.. Defiantly not a place I'd go if I were paying. But it was a holiday occasion that I didn't pay. On the plus side the food was great. I heard that everything is made fresh in house from the appetizer bread to the bread pudding desert. And I heard that, when able, all the ingredients are local to Alaska. Fantastic! Hope it's true. Because we were there at the end of the evening they even gave us some of the bread from the day that they don't keep. Everyone got a loaf of bread to take home. They were even very accommodating to a dairy allergy that I have that can make eating out hard when things are cooked in butter or with a lot of cheese usually
(5)Suzanne A.
Great place! Have been for brunch and the French toast was awesome! For lunch Had the half sandwich and salad with chowder! The food is fresh and delicious- only thing is they get busy and it maybe a wait. Also they struggled with refilling my tea and water- just got the drinks and food and bill- because it was so busy.
(4)Hazel S.
We were coming from the glaciers and needed somewhere to go for lunch on our way back to anchorage and found these place on yelp. So so glad we went! We had the stew of the day and it was hearty and yummy, pots of Moroccan mint tea, and half a ham and blue sandwich and everything was great. Really good food is one thing, but the service was perfect! The waitress was friendly, helpful, and attentive! I could not recommend more highly, especially if you're in the area. Plus, it was clean and bright inside! Haven't gotten to dessert yet, but we're thinking bread pudding is sounding pretty darn good.
(5)Grace L.
Best food in Alaska! Yes, it is tiny, so you have to make reservations or wait for a table, but SO GOOD! I tried hot tea (and they bring lemon and honey) and food that is health/homey/artsy all at the same time. It is special, and worth the drive. I asked for veggies without the hot spices they normally put on it, and they put it on anyway. So watch for this if you don't like spices on your veggies.
(5)Lorene L.
When Turkey Red came to Palmer, so did good food and drink. The food is consistently tasty and there are tons of meals that are both delicious and healthy (a rare find in Alaska). They have great options for both meat eaters and vegetarians. Some of my favorites include the BLCT salad (fresh, local greens with chicken, bacon and tomato), the steak salad, and their stews. I recommend asking for the salad dressing on the side, as the salads tend to be slightly over-dressed. Their burger is one of the best I've ever had, partly because of how it's prepared and partly because of the quality beef they use. The beer and wine selection are terrific and the service is super friendly. This may be one of the best restaurants in Alaska, especially for localvores.
(5)Noah O.
Simply the best salad I have had. Ever. Had the CBLT salad and it was a perfect mix of greens, chicken, bacon, bruschetta and dressing. When vacationing in Anchorage, I would definitely make this drive again for lunch! Service was good-prices are fair, and everyone's meals were off the charts.
(5)L M.
Sumptuous, fresh fare with great choices for breakfast & lunch good service, clean bright and friendly staff. I would definitely return.o
(5)Teresa N.
We enjoyed it. The food was good. I would like to see a larger menu with more options for diabetics, vegetarians, etc. My diabetic dad only had one dish that he could eat. Thankfully, he liked it. They really know how to brew a good cup of tea. It is difficult to find places in Alaska that know tea and Turkey Red does. The service was friendly & fast and the atmosphere pleasant. I would give it a better rating if the menu was a little more varied.
(3)Brenda M.
My son and I took a day to just chill and have mom/son time. We popped in to have lunch. We were seated quickly. Then waited, waited, waited, finally I got up to ask how we were suppose to order. I know some restaurants have you order at the counter. Well evidently the server was busy and would get to us. So, she finally took our order. The food took a long time. When we received it we were both bummed, neither order was correct. We ended up very unhappy with the service & the food. I won't return.
(1)Adam M.
One of the better places to eat in Palmer! Good food with local and organic ingredients, and a nice, classy ambiance. I usually get the steak salad- ask them to add blue cheese! The clams are delicious, and the baked brie is pretty tasty too. It is a bit expensive, and can come of pretentious as the reviews say. However, I've always had good food and good service here.
(4)Andrea G.
Fresh and fantastic! The menu is always changing and the vegetarian options are solid. Must try it if your by it.
(4)Lany Kay M.
We enjoyed our meal however the service was exceptionally slow an inattentive. I had to get up and fill my own water glass and ask for refills on family beverages. Hence a 4 star rating. My son had raved about this restaurant, so it was a disappointment when it came to service.
(4)Casey S.
Every time I visit home I inevitably end up eating at Turkey Red. It really is one of the only nice places in the valley that doesn't feel like they are defrosting your meal from the box in which it arrived the week before. My most recent experience was pleasant but missed the mark. The service was excellent and I really appreciated the suggestion that the server made. We were there for lunch and I couldn't decide between the Portabello sandwich or the fried polenta in marinara sauce. Our server suggested that I order the appetizer size of the polenta and then a half Mediterranean salad. I was a little disappointed in the food. I assumed that the fried polenta would be a little crispy on the outside, but mostly it was mushy all the way through. I liked the ingredients in the Mediterranean salad, it had Kalamata olives, feta and chickpeas, but the salad dressing was extremely bland and essentially just olive oil. It did nothing to enhance the flavors. My boyfriend got a cup of coffee and complained that it wasn't very good. So, as far as decent restaurants go, Turkey Red is great for Palmer. There isn't anywhere else that serves fresh food the way they do. The presentation is nice and the service is great. It's just when I am paying that much for a meal I really want it to taste excellent too!
(3)Caroline F.
Excellent food, excellent service. We tried the specials of the day which were wonderfully prepared. It's a great place to go for a relaxing meal as a couple or in a group. We went here on our last day in Alaska right before heading back to Anchorage for a late night flight. We ordered dessert to go to take with us for our trip. Not only was it delicious but it was packed up so well along with forks and napkins . We would eat there again in a heartbeat. (Props to our waitress Jennifer!)
(5)Sarah A.
I'm torn on my review for this place. My husband was in love with his mushroom burger, which I did taste and it was good. I really liked my red pepper/tomato soup - very creamy. My sandwich was great on paper but didn't come together. It was a turkey sand with roasted zucchini, feta, roasted red pepper, and spinach. The turkey was thick sliced from a processed loaf which is a big turn off for me. At least try to hide the identity of the bad stuff. I expected the sandwich to be heated so the flavors meshed together. They didn't list it that way so it's not their fault but that was what was in my head. The end result was a sandwich that had ingredients that did not quite come together at the end. The inside of the restaurant was very.. well.. non-Alaska which was nice. Very classy and refined. Its an oasis of refinement in a state that does not focus on that. The servers were nice but I don't think they really knew what was on the menu. I had a question about the Portabello Sandwich and she didn't seem to understand how it was prepared.
(4)J.J. P.
Very hit or miss, both on the service and the food. I think for some, it probably is great, for others not so much. I am in the not so much category, but I continue to go once in a while with my wife. Each time we question our choice of going there and opposed to the other guy's review about salty food; this is the running joke at our house. WE DON'T LEAVE THE HOUSE HEADED FOR TURKEY RED WITHOUT THE SALT! So, like I said, will continue to go, hit or miss. One hit: Spanakopita is awesome.
(3)Bill B.
As visitors from Portland Oregon, we googled and yelped for a spot for lunch. Turkey Red came up and had high ratings. We can see why. We were welcomed at the door and were shown promptly to our seats. The soup of the day was an excellent homemade clam chowder. The roast beef sandwich was to die for. Nearly an inch of thin sliced roast beef, cold caramelized onions, horseradish on fresh focaccia bread made a half sandwich a full meal. At least 6 local Beers were on draft too. Other items on the menu looked good too.
(5)Jason R.
This is not your typical Alaskan restaurant. Reminded us of something we'd see in Portland. Organic, local when at all possible, and excellent. Great, attentive service. Subtle flavors and wonderful ideas. My organic burger and potato salad was amazing, and my wife's turkey san with grilled zucchini was perfect. Not to mention the jalapeño feta spread which was the BOMB! I wish I could take a jar home. I heartily recommend Turkey Red.
(5)Patrick S.
One word... Amazing! Wait... Two more words... come here!
(4)Ashish K.
This place is awesome!! We were new to this place and someone suggested turkey red. We were amazed with the service moreover food was very fresh and good in quality. There are lots of option vegetarian and vegans. Spinach crespelle is my favorite here!!
(5)Gina B.
Disappointed with the service and we haven't even been seated yet. Came in for lunch with a party of four (all adults in our early 50s). We had no idea that we needed reservations for lunch..... Our bad. We were told it would be about 5 minutes. About 5 minutes later, another party of four came in (2 parents with 2 kids about 8-10), did not have reservations (we heard them say this when asked). The hostess told them it would be about 10 minutes, "unless we put two high tops together, would that be ok?" We were never offered this. 15 minutes later, the hostess tells us it should only be a few more minutes, and tells us that others seated before us had reservations. We reminded her about the high top family. "Oh, we normally don't offer that to 'older folks' because they'd rather wait for a regular table." Um, no. We're hungry, not ancient, we have obey and usually tip well.
(2)Michael M.
I've travelled a bit, and I enjoy eating out. I can honestly say I've never been in any restaurants that are much better. Oh, there are fancier ones, and more inventive ones, sure. But Turkey Red focuses on providing quality food made from high quality ingredients and prepared with care. Some dishes are just good, nothing to blow your mind. Some absolutely will blow your mind. The food isn't expensive, if anything, for the quality of what you are receiving, it's absurdly cheap. If you are looking for steak and burgers, look elsewhere. If you are looking for fancy and posh, look elsewhere. If you are looking for flavorful, straight up good food that tastes delicious and will do a body good, come here.
(5)Marie Z.
Very pleasant lunch experience. Creative sandwiches, great soup. Enjoyed the entire experience. Only feedback - it would be great if breakfast was served later than 10:30 am and 11 am on Saturdays. Losing business with those restricted hours.
(4)Bonny S.
Wow, once again Turkey Red was subperb. For those who think the service is slow or bad i have the solution, just ask for Anna, she is very professional and effecient. Perfect timing and great food couldn't be happier
(5)Kimberley B.
Went to this little place for lunch two days ago. Food was good, staff friendly. Would go there again if I am in the area again.
(3)Mary L.
Great place to eat in Palmer. Good food & breads. Service can be slow but worth the wait
(5)Thomas C.
I've been here about a dozen times and this latest visit was as close to perfect yet. I had the braised lamb shank with couscous eggplant fiddleheads in a creamy but not heavy pan sauce. The waitress recommended a perfectly pairing red wine. Other had the perfect moussaka and a flavorful tomato soup for starters and we spit a green salad which was limited in item but top quality local fresh organic. It was indeed the best meal here or any where I've had on a long time. Turkey Red could easily get a five star from me, if only they would get their act completely together on the service and food prep. They too often get the order wrong, take forever, or the food comes out tepid and has to go back. Hit it when they're great, and they're great. Miss, and they are a huge disappointment. And they need to cycle some new stuff into the menu. They try hard though, and they are very nice people.
(4)Erick H.
Delicious food and great sized portions. I like the hometown atmosphere and their baked goods are wonderful. I'll be coming back next time I'm in town!
(5)April E.
Went here because of the suggestion of a friend. The baked goods looked great. Wish I had tried them. I think the menu is just so busy. Maybe they should focus on making fewer dishes great. The ambiance is nice. I had a chicken dish and it just wasn't very flavorful. My boyfriend had a pasta dish and once again just blah. Service was slow as well and it was odd that after quite a while she came back to confirm what we ordered. Was really pricey for the quality. If the food had been better prepared would have totally been worth the price.
(2)Heather T.
It was a rainy day when we drove up north from Anchorage. We got hungry and thanks to Yelp, found Turkey Red. It's an adorable place, very cozy. What struck me though, was the desserts they had displayed at the counter. I'm not a dessert person and neither is my friend. For some reason we both REALLY wanted dessert after lunch after seeing the massive cakes at the counter. Anyway, service is a tad slow but all is forgiven when the food came! I had the daily soup special, cream of chicken with the lentil burger. OH. MY. GOD. I wish I had a huge bowl of that soup! It had chunks of meat in it and they added cilantro to the soup that brought a whole new dimension to the flavor! It's not thick like what you picture cream of whatever soup to be like. It was more brothy but still rich. It was like they roasted a chicken and then cooked the meat and bones to create this beauty! It was magnificent! I liked my lentil burger fine, but the soup was what really killed me! My friend and I shared a piece of chocolate cake. It had a rich chocolate fudge surrounding it. I asked the server if they could possibly heat it up in the microwave for a few seconds to melt the chocolate and she said that they didn't have a microwave. That made me love the restaurant even MORE. The chef put it in the oven for a minute and that was just perfect! They even made us fresh whipped cream to go along with it. Lovely lovely place! I would go back if I lived closer!
(4)Aimee R.
I've only been here a few times, but the food has been great! Once I had a ling cod/coconut/blueberry dish that still makes my mouth water. It wasn't anything shocking or flashy-- just an amazing dish with well-thought-out ingredients.
(4)Peter C.
I've had a few meals here. Not really my kind of ambiance or menu but that's just a personal preference. The food was good, but not exceptional. I really liked the turkey-cran sandwich I had on one occasion. Not quite hearty enough for me but I'm sure others will find it to their liking.
(3)Susan B.
Have been here a time or two before tonight's visit. Took the in-laws there for a nice dinner in Palmer. I can honestly say all 4 in our party were blown away by how amazing our dinners were! I had pasta magnifico (an unbelievable orange cream sauce w/fresh mint - sounds odd, but so so good) and a mixed greens salad w/house dressing (balsamic). DH had another pasta dish w/spinach, chicken & cream parm sauce. In-laws had chicken w/figs & an oriental chicken salad. All 4 were rave reviews. Toward the end of our meal the chef came out (he's from Florence, Italy) and told us that the family at the next table over supply all of the salad greens. Nice to know they really do use local. Great attentive (but not bothersome) waitstaff. Reasonable wait for our food to arrive. Loved my dinner and will definitely go there again. Highly recommended for a very nice dinner in Palmer.
(5)K. L.
In all fairness this is a review from a few months after opening. I ordered a salad, not only did they forget to cook the meat on it, I also found a gray hair and a twig in my salad. They offered to make me another, but I had lost my appetite. My mom tried to order a soda, to which the snooty server said "Oh, we don't serve that kind of thing here". I understand that you don't serve something, but you don't have to be rude about it.
(1)Julie P.
I love this place. I've been many times over the years. I have gluten sensitivity (yes, it's a real problem) and the staff here is so helpful in helping me select something safe to eat. I love the staff and the atmosphere. I bring my summer visitors here, meet girlfriends for lunch here, and even coax my husband here (he knows I love it so much.) We've taken another local couple here, too. To die for is the flourless chocolate cake with fresh whipped cream and raspberries. So good, I only let myself eat this once a year (okay, maybe twice!). I go here alone to eat, too, (a special treat when my husband is traveling) and really always enjoy my meal. Turkey Red's...one of the best things about living in the valley. It's my secret happy place!
(4)Inga B.
Wow, what a treat! Palmer doesn't have very many places to eat, and what is available I wouldn't call "healthy". We ate here 3 times while visiting for 4 days...that's how much I liked it! Organic, healthy and mmmmmmmmmm good! I had the ham and cheese breakfast omlet, the side was roasted veggies and bread for breakfast one day. The chicken sesame salad for lunch another day and mixed green salad, and greek beef dish with a side of steamed kale on the last day. All was incredibly good and healthy.
(5)Glenn E.
Great staff and warm atmosphere. Great appetizers, sandwiches, and Greek dishes.
(4)Geordie B C.
Whoa! This place for lunch is really not me. I took my daughter along with a Groupon and was amazed that we were the youngest people there. Oh wait, a middle aged woman with her two kids (and requisite Land Rover) were also there...Everyone looked mega wealthy - at least for the valley. All, including our waitress had this "air" about themselves. I know that air..."are you cool enough to be here?" We ordered the spanakopita appetizer and salads and soups and sandwiches. We tried to order something to drink -my daughter ordered lemonade and got something pretty dry and sour. I stuck with water. All the salads come pre-dressed and all were some sort of vinaigrette dressing. My daughter asked if she could get ranch dressing instead and the waitress sniffed snobbishly and said, "I think once we made our own...at one time maybe once...but not now..." COME ON!! One of my favorite places to eat is Saks in downtown Anchorage, which this place sort of reminded me due to the creative menu, but even Saks isn't so fucking pretentious as to be a snob about salad dressing!!! She's a KID, she wants RANCH. OHMYGOD!!! How dare she????!!! LOL!!! We were both pretty turned off...watching the old ladies whispering, watching the greenie mom talk to her children like they are adults, ("Brighton, is the pizza as delicious as you expected?" to a 4 year old). Then....the spanakopita came. Surely I thought it would be pre-made...it wasn't. I could tell it had been made just for us. The fillo was really crispy and had just been baked - not a lot of layers but you could tell it was fresh. And the filling wasn't sour - it had enough feta to make it sweet and creamy with just a tiny touch of lemon...Best of all it came with a huge scoop of homemade tzaziki!! My daughter and I pigged out. It was way worth the wait and the snobby air of the place. Hell, I'd even go back for it. As for the rest....my sandwich - turkey and provolone was very good and fresh and my daughter's garlic potato soup was swimming in garlic, but she loved it. My potato salad was nothing but olive oil and herbs and it was really, really bland. Even the waitress said, "hmmm, I need to try it then." Still, everything after the spanakopita was nice. We quit bitching and ordered the chocolate flourless cake and the lemon tarte and shared back and forth for dessert. Yum! It was good. I will have to be in the right mood to go back though. One of those places where you go with a girlfriend...I'd never take my husband to such a "froo-froo" place.
(3)John M.
Wow! What a pleasant surprise! After visiting a wine making establishment in the same complex, we decided to grab a bite to eat at Turkey Red. The menu has some great items on the menu like baked organic chicken in figs along with other fish and pork entrees. All five of us tried something different and none was found to be anything less than excellent. It is a bit pricey, but then this is not your average sodium infused greasy spoon... Far from it if anything! This is a must try! This is a gem that Palmer and nearby Wasilla should treasure.
(5)Cakerella A.
My two cents (in agreement with everyone else's): Healthful, exceedingly delicious, good value. Simply put, this restaurant is worth the drive from Anchorage. I don't know where, outside of California, a restaurant can remain committed to local and sustainably produced ingredients; be absolutely delicious, creative, simple a la Alice Waters and wholesome; maintain a bright, clean, and relaxed atmosphere; and be relatively inexpensive. Turkey Red is the best restaurant I've found in the state. It markets itself as a bakery/cafe, but the food is elegant enough for me to put it in the fancy restaurant category. I made the mistake of dragging a friend to Turkey Red the day we declared "healthy eating" would start (it had been a big week of sweets, beer, and Moose's Tooth). But rather than hurl our healthy intentions to the curb, we found a dozen things on Turkey Red's menu that suited our requirements of high protein, low fat, not a ton of carbs. Cioppino, on the specials menu the last time I was there, was packed with halibut, mussels, and clams floating in flavorful garlicky caper-spiked broth. We also had the Yogurt Cheesecake, which was so good it made me go track down similar recipes on 101 cookbooks and epicurious. Yes, it is a healthy (and the way TR makes it, decadent) dessert. After a few months of eating at the Bear Tooth and the downtown Anchorage lunch establishments (Snow City, Muffin Man, Urban Greens, Sack's Cafe - Sack's is the best of those four), Turkey Red surpassed all my expectations for Alaskan Dining. I suppose there are some fancy places in Girdwood that might match up, but for what you get for the money, Turkey Red is amazing. I only wish I had more occasions to go to Palmer during mealtimes.
(5)Vicki P.
Turkey Red is a relatively new restaurant in Palmer. And wow, did Palmer need a new restaurant. This place would be great anywhere, but in Palmer it's fabulous. I've eaten lunch here 3 times in the past 2 months and each time it was wonderful. I've had the hummus, Mediterranean Salad, Portobello Mushroom & Zucchini Sandwich and usually get the soups of the day. I have never been disappointed. The icing on the cake is the baked goods. Not only do they have fantastic desserts and savory foccacias, their baguettes and other breads are worthy of any big city bakery. I highly recommend this restaurant to anyone visiting Palmer, Alaska!
(5)Matthew R.
Well worth it. The food is flavorful and high quality ingedients. Everything from simple bread and ground beef to a superb clam chowder. It's a little on the expensive side. But that's because it's that good!
(4)Greg A.
What a great surprise 45 miles north of Anchorage in Palmer, Alaska. Great food, All prepared on site served in a very comfortable setting by a great staff.
(4)mike h.
It's gotta be the best restaurant in Palmer, Italian style cuisine including pizza (the chef is from Florence). I was a bit shocked by the prices, but food in Alaska is generally expensive. The beef stew was very tasty for 12 bucks, but the sausage stuffed chicken was too dry for twice the price. Flourless chocolate cake was excellent. Stylish interior, friendly staff, good service. Should be 4 star rating for the area, but only 3 in comparison to similar places in the lower 48.
(3)Gary M.
Excellent baked goods made there or the lamb shank last night. Or the baked Brie with toasted walnuts after a green salad of locally harvested greens. Attentive server. A treat visually too. Art & spacious surriundings
(5)Helen Z.
Excellent food. Great tasting, beautiful presentation. Delicious hot teas. Fresh daily baked bread. Great place away from home.
(5)Jon A.
Decent food but not special. Slow service. Pretentious atmosphere. Portion size does not equate to pricing in this type of atmosphere. Not a fan.
(2)Marlene S.
Awesome made from scratch food. Not fast, but a great place to go with friends and eat something healthy.
(4)Diane L.
Menu a little outdated, and not much variety. Prices are a little high for a local restaurant like this one...I would expect to see these prices in more of a big city metro environment such as San Fran. It is always clean. And, there usually is a selection for the vegetarian lovers to choose from.
(3)Jim C.
I ate there a long long time ago and didn't like it. Too flavorless and healthy for me. I think I ate something with grass that first time, anyways, it wasn't a place I wanted to go back too. Fast forward two years and they have a sandwich there called the Bald Bill that is fantastic. The service is a little slow, but If you're looking for some different unusual fare at a reasonable price, its a good place to go.
(4)Nathan S.
Simply the best food in Palmer. If you are looking for typical American fried fast food you are in the wrong place. I often bring my wife here on dinner dates and we have yet to be disappointed. Baked Brie with berries as an appetizer is amazing! Chicken I've had is cooked on the bone, and the sauces and spices compliment each meal perfectly. Food seems to be prepared traditionally and in a healthy manner vs current American restaurant people pleaser style of slap it together and get it out as soon as possible. Servers are always polite and courteous. It is a place to relax and slow down with friends. Don't rush it. Always my first choice for a date with my bride!
(5)Taryn S.
Upon walking in we were told there would be a 10 minute wait. We came right in the middle of lunch hour, and had to wait closer to 20 minutes which was fine. The place was really nice, but kind of loud. They have awesome tea blends. I got what I think was called the "power house" tea. Very good. I got the special and they actually substituted chicken breast for the deli turkey. I don't eat deli meats, and the waitress nicely asked if I'd like to substitute it (which was free of charge I think). We will be back.
(4)Susan L.
This place was amazing! We were looking for fresh delicious food and they delivered. Their customer service was also excellent. We mentioned we only had 45 minutes and they were able to get our food to us quickly. The marinara sauce that comes with the amazing breakfast dishes is the best I've had at any restaurant! This place is a must!
(5)Ralph C.
Not overly impressed. Service was very average. Food took a while and my sandwich was wrong. They have fresh ingredients and their homemade greats are yummy.
(3)Sofyan S.
If you care about great food and best service, almost zero waiting time, you MUST come here, it is awesome restaurant: Lentils hamburger, special turkey sandwich, white beans and ham soup, YOU WILL NEVER FORGET THE TASTE
(5)Margaret N.
Lovely place for a leisure lunch. Salad very good, with a glass of wine made our day. Enjoy!
(5)Stephanie M.
We were driving through Palmer and decided to stop here for lunch. It's a charming stop, as soon as you walk in there is a display case of their desserts and some bagged goodies. Be sure to pay attention to their board of specials too! I got a steak sandwich with bleu cheese and caramelized onions, with salad. The portion was great, the steak itself was flavorful and had a good cook to it. The only thing I would mention is that it had that trim of fat along the back of it. To some that's flavor, to others it's a no-no. I didn't mind most of it, but I did have to cut some off. My boyfriend got the beef stew- incredibly tender beef and vegetables rounded out a thick and flavorful stew. There is also bread served with it which is great for scraping up every last bit from the bowl, which we did. He said it's the best stew he'd ever had; the way a stew should be. The staff is friendly and courteous, the menu is homey and filling, and don't skip out on dessert!
(4)Rebecca D.
I love this place. Everything I have had, from the herbal teas to the salads and hummus have been super good! My favorite place in the valley for sure. Favorite dishes so far: blct salad, beef steak salad, tomato feta soup, hummus
(5)LouLou P.
I was unimpressed with this place. Even though my friends here raved about it. The food was decent but overpriced I thought and the atmosphere is lacking. It's like they took an old shoe store and turned it into a fancy upscale restaurant... But didn't execute it very well. Staff seems to be friendly. Wouldn't recommend.
(3)Andrew H.
WHOA. WHOA. Sorry to sound like K. Reeves, but that's the first thing I think of when I remember my food here. This place would be notable in ANY city in 'Merica, let alone one in Alaska, let alone PALMER, Alaska. I was in the area, feeling dreadfully hangry, and hurriedly browsing the mobile app for a solution to my condition. I'll admit. I was skeptical of this place, despite the positive Yelp reviews. I am not a big fan of some "bakeries". You know the setup. They have coffee and cookies and bread and scones and maybe they'll toast or microwave something small for you...which is fine..but it's not something I want to eat when I'm hungry. I am a real man that requires real food. A scone is tasty but it is like shooting the T-Rex that is my hunger with a BB gun. It may feel better for a couple seconds, but in the end it's just gonna make things worse. Anyway, this place. I went here for lunch and it was one of the best lunches I have ever had in my stupid little life. I had the brisket sandwich special. It's probably the best brisket sandwich I have ever had. The meat was melt-in-your-mouth tender. This brisket puts about 99% of dedicated BBQ eateries to SHAME. And it's just a "bakery" (which would explain why the bread bookending the meat was so crusty-tasty). The soup was some sort of turkey pesto and it was nearly a meal in itself, not just some cheap, throw-away item as soup so often is. The service was also prompt and snappy, I was in and out in no time. This place is so good I would make a special trip up to Palmer to visit it. (and apparently so would many others, as "Anchorage" is one of the keywords for this place) If I happen to be in Palmer, I will ALWAYS go here. It would be criminal not to.
(5)kelly m.
Polenta for breakfast? It was wonderful! Served with a tomato sauce and poached eggs. Yum. The service was lovely as well.
(5)