Waldo's Restaurant and Hotel looks run-down and old on the outside, as most of the buildings here do, but it is colorful and cozy inside. There are shelves packed with books, couches centered around a TV in the front room, a room with a pool table, a back room with a long dining table where guests and residents eat...the walls are covered with maps, photographs, Inupiat art, whale baleen, etc. It is owned by Walt Audi, a retired legendary bush pilot who is known for bravely flying through thick fog even while other pilots would be reluctant and fearful to.Above Right Image: The menu at Waldo's. Notice that a hamburger (which is very thin and basic, comes with store-bought krinkle-cut fries) is 10 dollars. There is another restaurant in Kaktovic, called March Creek, and similar entrees range from 16 to 22 dollars. Nevertheless, a hamburger and fries is one of those simple pleasures that is worth a little splurging when there aren't many other options (especially for the teachers, I hear).
