Varly’s Swiftwater Seafood

I got the Halbut and the wife got the Shrimp platter.
My fish was fresh (duh), flaky and perfectly fried. The fries that came with it were excellent and complemented the fish.
The wife said the shrimp were some of the best she’s ever had, and they have an excellent beer selection.

Halibut and cod are amazing, clam chowder as well. You won’t find salmon in the menu though. Be sure to try carrot cake, it’s a star! Owner is a super nice lady who would make you feel like at home in no time.

Fried halibut was delicious! I loved the bread crumb type batter they used unlike some places where it’s really soggy. This halibut was very crispy on the outside and hot and flaky on the inside. Quick customer service the waiters took our baskets almost immediately after finishing.

Best fish and chips I’ve ever had and friendly service… what more is there? Delicious cod, halibut and shrimp.

A small hole-​in-​the-​wall that looked like a local favorite. Saw more people stop by for take-​out than came in to sit, but we enjoyed the harbor view. The fish ‘n chips and shrimp basket were served in a plastic basket with paper lining. Great batter, good oil used on french fries. Nothing fancy, but a tasty, quick meal with quaint, local flare.

Best fried halibut and shrimp in Alaska. Light and crispy. Simple and on point. This place is worth the trip to Whittier. Our family always feels welcomed every time we step in. Love the fact that the fish is caught right outside their window… literally.

When you think of the Alaskan frontier, you think of tough rugged, excitement, thrill seeking, open, but then exposed… cold…ice…no bathrooms… butthis place is the saving grace.
Varly’s Swiftwater Seafood Café is nestled on the outskirts of Anchorage. It is surrounded by huge mountain riffs and located in a tiny fishing village, called Whittier. It is far enough from Anchorage but close enough for comfort.
So you get to experience the Alaskan Frontier but yet stay within the safety of the village.
Yet, if you are tough and rugged and can handle the Frontier this place still should appeal to you.
I came here with my family to Anchorage to attend my cousin and friend’s wedding. They took us to this place. Awesome. About an hour from Anchorage we drove through mountain ranges and saw an American bald eagle, deer, people fishing in the rivers, a wolf in the mountain, and a truck stuck in the mud. Then to get to Whittier we had to drive through a mile-​long tunnel.
Secondly, the food at Varly’s is hearty seafood. Delicious because they only serve what the fisherman locally catch!
Sustainable and delicious. They also have a good selection of beer given their location.
There is plenty of seating and the staff is friendly.
I recommend the fried halibut with a squeeze of lemon and a blond beer!
Make sure to grab and send a post card!

Found this little place on Unilocal.Four of us ordered lunch — three in our party opted for the cheese burger/​fries and I had ceaser salad and clam chowder. While the food was not special, the place is cute in an eclectic way. We got lucky as this was the last day this place is open for the season. The food was okay, prices probably on par for this village. Enjoyed our meal, the staff is friendly and service was friendly and efficient. Three stars because of the food but defiantly would recommend.

Had the halibut sandwich with fries. It was a great sand which had two huge pieces of fish and was very flavorful. Kind of a out of the way place but if you find yourself in this town it is a must eat.

We had just arrived in town and walking around getting the lay of the land. Very small town but this is a great restaurant. It’s small but has great atmosphere. Order at the window and they bring it to you. We had crab cakes, cod fish and chips and I had a halibut sandwich. Oh my! It was huge filet of halibut. I ate every bite! Was cooked perfectly, not dry at all. Had big fresh piece of lettuce, good tomatoes and just the right amount of mayo. I was in heaven. My friends were very happy with their baskets also. The staff is friendly and courteous. It’s family style seating and we made friends with everyone around us who was traveling also. I highly recommend this place!

Loved this place! Super cute, awesome staff. Good prices and great views. The beer wasn’t very cold and the food wasn’t the best. But it worked for us. Would recommend this place.

Nice little sea-​shack with great fried fish and chips.
They’ve got a back patio where you can enjoy the seabreeze.
If it’s a nice day (rare), this is where you NEED to be.

Looking for something for dinner and this place had the best reviews. Wanted to add mine too. The Red Sea chowder was really good. My dad tried my bf’s bowl and had to go get his own. I only had the Caesar salad but still delicious with good chicken on top. Halibut and chips was better than the complimentary fish and chips on the 26 Glacier Tour. Highly recommend it. The service was great! Loved the lady there making sure we were good. And great to meet other locals/​tourists and talk.

Thank goodness we didn’t choose a restaurant using my wife’s «first impression» standard. We would have missed out on one of the best pub-​style meals we’ve had this summer. The haddock and fries is super-​fresh, made here and wonderfully delicious. We got a bottle of Cupcake Chardonnay for $ 21. $ 21! And the kids loved their meals too. We were served by Margaret, a service gem.
There isn’t much to do here in Whittier, but I’d recommend the trip here for dinner at Varly’s Swiftwater and the experience of going through the tunnel to Whittier. Would definitely recommend and repeat.

One of the best meals I’ve had my entire trip to Alaska!!! Peel and eat shrimp that had the best flavoring and a seafood chowder that left you wanting seconds… If you had the room after the first bowl

Happy to see this place was open. The last couple of times we came to Whittier this was closed. Recommend giving this place a try. Got the half n half and the fish an chips.

We ate here for lunch. The service was great and the staff was very friendly. The food was unbelievably good. The clam chowder was One of the best I’ve ever had. The place is small but has a very cool atmosphere. Everybody around us was talking about how good their food was including everybody at our table. I highly recommend this place if you are looking for great quick food.

Overpriced, and overrated.
$ 20 for fried fish & chips? Really? (And that doesn’t count the $ 12 tunnel fee.)
The staff is friendly, and the décor is authentic for what you’d expect of an Alaskan fishing town. But that’s about where the value ends. We sampled multiple dishes: half shrimp + half fish (both cod & halibut) dishes, each with fries. Problem is, the fish portion is scarce (couple small wedges), and everything comes fried, even the shrimp. Each dish was nearly $ 20. The fish was good, but nothing special — how can you tell when it’s all deep fried?
When I asked the staff about why they only deep fry fresh fish caught out their back door, they claimed «that’s just how we do it.» Ok… Also tried both the clam chowder and fish chowder. Again, nothing special — in fact, both were bland.
Sorry, but despite the friendly staff, this place just isn’t worth it. Why is fish served at the source in a small Alaskan fishing town more expensive and less tasty than fresh fish caught elsewhere?
Pass.

Came here and got the half and half shrimp and halibut. So delicious! How do they do that? Nice staff. Nice atmosphere! Balcony over looking the boats. A MUST GO!

Hungry and stuck for another 30 minutes behind the Whittier Tunnel, I headed here for some grub and refreshment.
First thing I noticed was the décor. Sea shells, maps, and other ocean themed items adorned the walls and ceilings of the restaurant. Unique and interesting!
Going with Unilocaler recommendations, I ordered the halibut and chips. Halibut was local caught Alaskan halibut. It came deep fried and crunchy, alongside a helping of skinny fries. The fries tasted average, nothing special, but I really enjoyed the crispy halibut pieces. Soft and tender fish.
I ordered my food to-​go and sat outside near the docks, people watching and enjoying the lake views. It was a nice meal to end my short trip to Whittier.
Price was fair. $ 18 for three good sized halibut chunks.