Geraldo's - Fairbanks

While perusing the menu, we noticed the dishes being served to other tables. Our server was friendly and professional, ensuring we were well taken care of. Soup or salad was included with dinner, so I opted for the French Onion Soup, while my wife chose a salad. My soup was hot and flavorful, and the salad was excellent. The salad bar was well-stocked and presented, offering a fresh selection. For our main courses, I had the veal marsala, and my wife chose chicken but swapped the pasta for extra vegetables. We both found our meals to be delicious, with generous portions that clearly were freshly cooked. My only minor critique was that my pasta could have been served a bit hotter, but it didn’t impact our overall enjoyment. We would definitely consider dining at Geraldo's again. The ambiance is somewhat old-fashioned and has its quirks, but we were well looked after, and the food was quite good. While it is on the pricier side, which is understandable given the location in Fairbanks, I felt we received good value for our money and enjoyed a pleasant dinner.

The sign outside said the restaurant has been in business since 1984, but based on our experience, it won't be around much longer. Our first impressions were disappointing. The restaurant felt very outdated, and our table was extremely sticky. The service was incredibly slow—there seemed to be just one server on duty, and she was working hard. The pizza was mediocre and light on toppings. The chicken Marsala was served in a very small portion and was nothing like the traditional dish I've had before; the sauce was overly wine-flavored and not properly reduced. The noodles were oddly inconsistent in temperature, almost as if they had been mixed up with another dish. Overall, it was an expensive and disappointing meal, and we won’t be returning.

We ordered a pizza and spaghetti with meatballs. I was a bit anxious about the food, given the mixed reviews—especially since I have Italian heritage and usually make my own pasta from scratch. I could taste the wine in the sauce, which made me wonder if it hadn’t been cooked long enough to blend in properly. When it comes to sauces, flavors can vary significantly by region; for instance, Sicilian sauce often features sweet basil, while others might add sugar to mitigate the bitterness from tomato seeds. The sauce at this restaurant had a rich flavor that I wasn’t accustomed to, yet I still enjoyed it. As travelers, we should keep in mind that restaurants might adjust their recipes based on local ingredients. Was it fantastic? Nothing can compare to my aunt's sauce, but it certainly wasn’t bad either. The ambiance and the friendly staff contributed to a positive experience, and I’d definitely consider dining here again on our next visit. I finished my spaghetti, while my friend kept her pizza for a delicious late-night snack after our trip to Denali.

Great local Italian restaurant. Tasty pastas, pizzas, and breads, with a large salad bar and good service. Well worth it for a nice night out.

Place was about 1/2 full when we arrived. We were seated immediately but then nothing for 15 minutes. Server came over and apologized saying there was a miscommunication. Drink and dinner order placed immediately. Drinks arrived 10-15 minutes later as were the French Onion soup sides. 1 hour and 5 minutes later after ZERO updates we were headed for the door and our server came out and advised our food was being plated as we spoke. We waited 5 more minutes and voila out comes our food if you want to call it that. No sorry, no words and no dialogue took place. Now for the food. Chicken Picata was horrible and rubbery. Manicotti was microwaved at least 2x and was tasteless. Cajun Alfredo with Chicken was floating in an oily liquid and not edible. Never in 50+ years have I had an experience like this. Eat ANYWHERE in Fairbanks before you give this place a dime of your money. Too bad I cannot give ZERO stars.