The new Windmill Grill is opening this week. When you walk into the restaurant, you’re sure to meet Bob Mirenda. He's running the New Windmill Grill. Or to be more specific, its full title:
"Mama Mia's Pizza and Pasta, located at the new Windmill Grill," said Mirenda.
Mirenda worked at Peter Pan for the past 12 years. This spring he was in Southern California.
"It was time to go back to Alaska, but I didn't have anything to come back to. So I took the leap of faith, bought a one way ticket, and came up here and said, I'm going to do something ," said Mirenda.
And just in time for the busy summer season, Mirenda went to work sprucing up the Windmill Grill. With a culinary school background and experience with Italian food, Mirenda crafted a menu that takes advantage of a newly tuned up super hot pizza oven.
"We want to focus on good, New York style pizza, calzones. Keep it a little different, but traditional. We're going to do my mom's lasagna, spaghetti and meatballs. We're going to keep it traditional, but..." said Mirenda.
BUT. Bristol Bay’s famous sockeye salmon will be running soon.
"There are chefs all over the world who want to work with this great salmon we have. I've been fortunate over the years to be able to work with this product. Hopefully we can promote that. We have so many people who come through town, but there's no place to eat it. Now they know, it's here," said Mirenda.
Mirenda hopes to bring another one of his passions into the restaurant. He’s a musician and plans to have locals fill up the space with fresh live music.
"There are a lot of great musicians in town. We want people to come out and support it, come out have a good time with it," said Mirenda.
Mirenda plans to be open 11 am to 10 p.m. 7 days a week. He’s open until November 1st, but hopes to extend beyond that.