Randi Gause

Before visiting Zorba's Gyros, my sentiment on drive-through cuisine was this: If you want fast food, visit a drive-through. If you want fresh, thoughtfully prepared food, opt for a sit-down restaurant instead. Luckily, at Zorba's Gyros, you don't have to choose between the two.

Despite little advertising beyond word of mouth, diners are already spreading the word about Grape Leaf Mediterranean Cafe and Restaurant. The restaurant brings refreshingly authentic elements to its international cuisine, from hand-crafted mozzarella and blue cheese to European-imported oil and vinegar, oven-baked bread and hormone-free beef.

It doesn't get much better than authentic Mexican food. Except for, of course, even more authentic Mexican food. At Vallarta's Mexican Restaurant, lunch patrons are offered the chance to feast at an all-you-can-eat Mexican buffet.

A Cajun-flavored member of the Anchorage dining scene, Alligator Wharf sometimes flies under diners' radar because of its low key location and non-traditional hours.

In a dining community saturated with chain restaurants, it can be challenging to find authentic "mom and pop" restaurants.

Unlike other sushi spots tucked away in strip malls and hidden from view, Sushi Ya has been a fixture on the Dimond Boulevard landscape since 2002.

A loyal pizza fan, I am of the sentiment that pizza restaurants are like coffee shops -- there is no such thing as too many. Diners can now add Portobello to the list of places to satisfy a craving for Italian food and pizza. Owner Antonio Ochoa opened the restaurant in June to fill the shoes of the location's previous restaurant, Hot Mama's.

New Cauldron is a hidden constant in Anchorage's restaurant community: older, reliable, traditional and straight-to-the-point. Opened in 1977, the restaurant earned a reputation with classic American dishes.

Thanks to antioxidant powers, the acai berry caught a ride on the healthy eating wave. Discovered in Brazil and adopted by the surfing community in Hawaii, the berry is sold in Anchorage at Acai (pronounced ah-sigh-e) Alaska. Restaurant owners CJ and Julia Von Imhof, along with business partners Mike and Sharlene Wheeler, are focused on more than just a trend.

The Greek Corner has been around for 28 years, and as with all things Greek, the restaurant has a proud history. The restaurant was adopted from its original founders by owner Jose Herrera and manager Vesta Herrick nearly 24 years ago.

Just one short month after storied Anchorage restaurant Wings n' Things reopened a downtown location in November 2009, franchisee Alex Vargas severed ties with the business and changed the restaurant's name to Downtown Wings.

To bridge the divide between the fast food drive-through and the sushi bar, Dimond restaurant Haru Sushi serves up dishes styled after popular American chain restaurants. Guests can order rolls themed after Taco Bell, Red Lobster and pizza.

Gelato ("frozen" in Italian) is often confused with its more commonly known counterpart, ice cream. But try one spoonful at Gelato Kudrino in Wasilla and you'll instantly taste the difference.

When I first heard sushi and Eagle River paired in the same sentence, I was skeptical. Raised in Eagle River, I had sampled enough local cuisine to know that sushi had never been one of its strong suits. But that culinary void laid the foundation for Wasabi Garden founder John Lee.