I have been using the Totem Inn for a place to eat for over twenty years and have even stayed at the motel once or twice a year. The changes and grouth of this small family business is amazing. After reading some of these reviews, I thought I'd put in my two bits.
I live in Anchorage and travel the road to Fairbanks at least 4 times a year. The Totem is one of my favorate stops to eat and if its late to stay for the night. It's one of the only places that stay open all year long. Saying that, of course the prices in the cafe will be higher than Anchorage, but not by much. Just surviving in the winter can be a challange with the small amount of road traffic.
The food is great. There are some items on the menu I don't care for, such as the omelet with hollandase and tarragon. I thought this meal was nasty, my wife loves it.
Does this mean that that the food is bad just because I don't like something. How can someone leave a review after only one meal at any place. Seems a little arrogant. Most of the food is made at the cafe, french frires, onion rings, sauces, burger patties and pizza just to name a few and are much better than the commerical type.
Of all the food on the menu, I think the pizza is the best in the state. Just my apinion.
The waitstaff is excellent, I have never been treated badly. I've seen some of the customers treat them poorly but they still are professional. I usually gev them a larger tip when I see this.
The rooms are clean and well appointed. If you get one of the "one bed" rooms, they are on the small side , but are pretty good for one person, If there are two people ask for a double room because you both have to get into bed on the same side due to the fact that the bed is up against the wall. The double room is much larger with all the same stuff in it as the one bed room (microwave, fridge, coffee pot, Tv and large bath).
See their web site, they don't hide anything.
To answer some of these other reviews:
To the man who had to walk through the bar to get to the cafe....The cafe has a front door, it's now labled "Cafe".
How about the review that the cafe is to dark because on one window? What about the twenty lights? You can see a picture on the cafe at their web site.
To the stinky and smelly room guy. Did you get the right motel? The owners are about as honest as they come. You can always tell what the owners are like by talking to the employees. All the employees at like the owners not just some but all, and i've talked to pretty much everyone of them over the years.
My opinion is: Take all these reviews with a grain of salt, including mine. Some are honest and some have their own agenda. You need to check out the place for yourself and decide. If you are unsure, go in, be friendly and ask someone who is eating how the food is. This is a small town cafe thats been open for a long time, that says something. It's not fine dinning, if that is what you want the staff will tell you of some other places that would fit your needs.
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