WHERE TO EAT

A select list of the best restaurants in Utah, curated and edited by Salt Lake magazine Listings

SALT LAKE CITY & THE WASATCH FRONT

American Fine Dining

Arlo – 271 N. Center St., SLC, 385-266-8845. arlorestaurant.com. Chef Milo Carrier has created a destination in a small, charming house at the top of the Marmalade neighborhood. A fresh approach and locally sourced ingredients are the root of a menu that bridges fine and cas ual dining, at once sophisticated and homey.

Bambara – 202 S. Main St., SLC, 801-3635454. bambara-slc.com. The menu reflects food based on sustainability and the belief that good food should be available to everybody. Prizing seasonally driven dishes sourced from local farmers, he turns out dishes with a community-minded sensibility.

The Charleston –1229 E. Pioneer Rd., Draper, 801-550-9348. thecharlestondraper.com difference between “fine” and “casual” dining; the innovative food is excellent and the atmosphere is casually convivial. The menu is unique—just trust this chef. It’s all excellent. nelini beans) bread and butter are made in-house and ingredients are the best (Solstice chocolate cake). Expect surprises.

Offering gracious dining in Draper, Chef Marco Silva draws from many culinary traditions to compose his classic and exciting menu—artichoke souffle, braised halibut, ratatouille. The setting, in a historic home surrounded by gardens, is lovely and we love his high standards: No kids under 11 Friday and Saturday evenings and an indoor dress code.

Grand America – 555 S. Main St., SLC, 801-258-6708. grandamerica.com, laurelslc.com. Grand America Hotel’s Laurel Brasserie & Bar is one of the dinner/nightlife stars of the city, and the kitchen makes sure other meals here are up to the same standard. The setting here is traditionally elegant but don’t be intimidated. The food shows sophisticated invention, but you can also get a great sandwich or burger.

La Caille – 9565 Wasatch Blvd., Sandy, 801942-1751. lacaille.com. Utah’s original glamour girl has regained her luster. The grounds are as beautiful as ever; additions are functional, like a greenhouse, grapevines and vegetable gardens, all supplying the kitchen and cellar. The interior has been refreshed and the menu by Chef Billy Sotelo has today’s tastes in mind. Treat yourself.

American Casual

Blue Lemon – 55 W. South Temple, SLC, 801-328-2583. bluelemon.com. Blue Lemon’s sleek interior and high-concept food have city style. Informal but chic, many-flavored but healthy, Blue Lemon’s unique take on food is a happy change from downtown’s food-as-usual.

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HSL – 418 E. 200 South, SLC, 801539-9999. hslrestaurant.com. The initials stand for “Handle Salt Lake”—Chef Briar Handly made his name with his Park city restaurant, Handle, and now he’s opened a second restaurant down the hill. The place splits the

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Log Haven – 6451 E. Mill CreekCanyon Road, SLC, 801-272-8255. loghaven.com. Certainly Salt Lake’s most picturesque restaurant, the old log cabin is pretty in every season. Chef Dave Jones has a sure hand with American vernacular and is not afraid of frying, although he also has a way with healthy, low-calorie, high-energy food. And he’s an expert with local and foraged foods.

Pago – 878 S. 900 East, SLC, 801-532-0777. 341 S. Main St., SLC, 801-441-2955. pagoslc. com. Tiny, dynamic and food-driven, Pago’s ingredients are locally sourced and reimagined regularly. That’s why it’s often so crowded and that’s what makes it one of the best restaurants in the state. The list of wines by the glass is great, but the artisanal cocktails are also a treat.

Provisions – 3 364 S. 2300 East, SLC, 801410-4046. slcprovisions.com. With Chef Tyler Stokes’ bright, fresh approach to American craft cuisine (and a bright, fresh atmosphere to eat it in), Provision strives for handmade and local ideals executed with style and a little humor.

Brick & Mortar – 228 S. Edison Street, SLC, 801-419-0871. brickmortarslc.com. Brick & Mortar is a bar and restaurant in the heart of downtown (where Campos Coffee used to be). It’s a gastro pub with a mean brunch game, but the lunch and dinner (and after-dinner drinks) won’t disappoint.

Cafe Niche –779 E. 300 South, SLC, 801433-3380. caffeniche.com. The food comes from farms all over northern Utah, and the patio is a local favorite when the weather is fine.

Citris Grill – 3977 S. Wasatch Blvd., SLC, 801-466-1202. citrisgrill.com. Most dishes come in either “hearty” or “petite” portion sizes. This means you can enjoy a smoked salmon pizzetta or fried rock shrimp appetizer and then a petite order of fire-roasted pork chops with adobo rub and black bean-corn salsa. Expect crowds.

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SLC Eatery–1017 S. Main St., SLC, 801-355-7952. slceatery.com. The SLC Eatery offers culinary adventure. Expect equally mysterious and delightful entrees and exciting takes on traditional dishes.

Central 9th Market 161 W. 900 South, SLC, 385-332-3240. central9th.com. More bodega than restaurant, Central 9th’s breakfast sandwich is probably the best you’ll have outside of New York City. You can also grab a sandwich from the morethan-just-breakfast deli menu and head next door to Scion or Water Witch to eat up.

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Table X –1457 E. 3350 South, SLC, 385-528-3712. tablexrestaurant.com. A trio of chefs collaborate on a forwardthinking thoroughly artisanal menu—vegetables are treated as creatively as proteins (smoked sunchoke, chile-cured pumpkin, barbecued can -

Copper Onion –111 E. Broadway, Ste. 170, SLC, 801-355-3282. thecopperonion.com. An instant hit when it opened, constant crowds attest to the continuing popularity of Ryan Lowder’s Copper Onion. Though the hearty, flavorful menu changes regularly, some favorites never leave: the mussels, the burger, the ricotta dumplings. Bank on the specials.

(A SIDE-BY-SIDE COMPARISON)

CEVICHE VS. AGUACHILE

What is the difference between Ceviche and Aguachile? They are both raw seafood dishes mixed with acid to flavor the fish, but the similarities end there. Miguel walked us through the difference at La Cevicheria.

CEVICHE:

• Generally contains more ingredients, including vegetables.

• The seafood is commonly chopped or cubed into smaller pieces.

• It is marinated for longer—generally 20 minutes or more before serving.

• Contrary to popular belief, the acid (generally lime juice) doesn’t “cook” the fish, but rather the citric acid present in the juices alters the fish's chemical properties through a process known as denaturation.

AGUACHILE:

• The translation of “chile water” is the big clue—shrimp doused in a chilled chile broth, usually chiltepin.

• Instead of the shrimp being chopped up fine, the shrimp are butterflied and served whole with minimal ingredients like salt, lime, onion and maybe avocado.

• It doesn’t have the same marinating time as ceviche.

Cucina –1026 E. 2nd Ave., SLC, 801-3223055. cucinawinebar.com. Cucina has added fine restaurant to its list of descriptors—good for lunch or a leisurely dinner. The menu has recently expanded to include small plates and substantial beer and wine-by-the-glass lists.

The Dodo –1355 E. 2100 South, SLC, 801486-2473. thedodorestaurant.com. It’s hard even to update the review of this venerable bistro. So much stays the same. But, like I always say, it’s nice to know where to get quiche. And our raspberry crepes were great. Yes, I said crepes.

Epicure –707 E. Fort Union Blvd., Midvale, 801-748-1300. epicureslc.com. American food here borrows from other cuisines. Save room for pineapple sorbet with stewed fresh pineapple.

Hub & Spoke Diner –1291 S. 1100 East, SLC, 801-487-0698. hubandspokediner.com

This contemporary diner serves the traditional three a day with an untraditional inventiveness applied to traditional recipes. Like, artisanal grilled cheese with spiked milkshakes. And mac and cheese made with spaetzle. Breakfast is king here—expect a line.

Left Fork Grill – 68 W. 3900 South, SLC, 801-266-4322. leftforkgrill.ipower.com. Every booth comes with its own dedicated pie shelf. Because no matter what you’re eating—liver and onions, raspberry pancakes, meatloaf or a reuben—you’ll want to save room for pie. Tip: Order your favorite pie first, in case they run out. Now serving beer and wine.

Little America Coffee Shop – 500

S. Main St., SLC, 801-596-5708. saltlake.littleamerica.com. Little America has been the favorite gathering place for generations of native Salt Lakers. Weekdays, you’ll find the city power players breakfasting in the coffee shop.

London Belle Supper Club

321

S. Main St., SLC, 801-363-8888. londonbelleslc. com. It’s a combo deal—restaurant and bar. That means you have to be over 21 to enter but it also means that you can stay in one place all evening. Their kitchen serves up everything from duck confit nachos to their signature 12-ounce Niman Ranch ribeye.

Oasis Cafe –151 S. 500 East, SLC, 801322-0404. oasiscafeslc.com. Oasis has a New Age vibe, but the food’s only agenda is taste. Lots of veg options, but meat, too. The German pancakes are wonderful, but its evening menu suits the space —being both imaginative and refreshing.

2023 Din I Ng Award

Oquirrh – 368 E. 100 South, SLC 801-359-0426. oquirrhslc.com. Little and original chef-owned bistro offers a menu of inventive and delicious dishes—whole curried lamb leg, chicken confit pot pie, milkbraised potatoes—it’s all excellent.

The Park Cafe – 604 E. 1300 South, SLC, 801-487-1670. theparkcafeslc.com. The Park Cafe has been serving up breakfast to the Liberty Wells neighborhood since 1982. Right next to Liberty Park, the cafe’s location is hard to beat.

Pig & A Jelly Jar – 401 E. 900 South, SLC, 385-202-7366; 227 25th St., Ogden, 801-605-8400; 1968 E. Murray Holladay Rd., Holladay, 385-695-5148. pigandajellyjar.com. Great chicken and waffles, local eggs and other breakfasts are served all day, with homestyle additions at lunch Sunday-Thursday and supper on Friday and Saturday.

Porch –11274 S. Kestrel Rise Rd., Bldg. G, South Jordan, 801-679-1066. porchutah.com. A chef-owned restaurant in the new urban community of Daybreak, this sleek little cafe was conceived by Meditrina owner Jen Gilroy and focuses on locally-sourced cuisine with southern touches.

Porcupine Pub and Grille – 3698 E. Fort Union Blvd., Cottonwood Heights, 801-9425555. porcupinepub.com. With 24 beers on tap available for only $2 every Tuesday, Porcupine has practically created its own holiday. Chicken noodle soup has homemade noodles and lots of chicken. Burgers and chile verde burritos are good, too.

Roots Café – 3474 S. 2300 East, Millcreek, 801-277-6499. rootscafeslc.com. A charming little daytime cafe in Millcreek with a wholesome, granola vibe.

Moochie’s meatballs

232 E. 800 South, SLC, 801-596-1350; 2121 S. State St., South Salt Lake, 801-487-2121; 7725 S. State St., Midvale, 801-562-1500. moochiesmeatballs.com. This itty-bitty eatery/take-out joint is the place to go for authentic cheese steaks made with thinly sliced steak and griddled onions glued together with good ol’ American cheese and wrapped in a big, soft so-called French roll.

Nomad East –1675 E. 1300 South, SLC, 801-883-9791. nomad-east.com. Nomad East is cousin to the original, now-closed Nomad Eatery. It’s in the charmed location on 1300 South where Eggs in the City used to be. Everything here is cooked in a pizza oven, even the roasted chicken (a must-have). Chef Justin is a salad wizard. Fun and excellence combined.

Ruth’s Diner – 4160 Emigration Canyon Rd., SLC, 801-582-5807. ruthsdiner.com. The original funky trolley car is almost buried by the beer garden in fine weather, but Ruth’s still serves up diner food in a low-key setting, and the patio is one of the best. Collegiate fare like burgers, BLTs and enchiladas rule here. The giant biscuits come with every meal, and the chocolate pudding should.

The Salt Republic –170 S. West Temple, SLC, 385-433-6650. exploretock.com/the-saltrepublic-salt-lake-city A modern eatery with a focus on healthful and hearty dishes from local ingredients, prepared in the kitchen’s rotisserie and wood-fired oven, for breakfast, lunch or dinner at the Salt Lake City Hyatt Regency hotel.

Silver Fork Lodge sel’s four locations is in an area of Utah they feel they can engage with the local populace through straight-forward, fast, casual cuisine that’s also healthy. Online ordering and curbside takeout are available at every Vessel restaurant.

11332 E. Big Cottonwood Canyon Rd., Brighton, 801-533-9977. silverforklodge.com. Silver Fork’s kitchen handles three daily meals beautifully. Try pancakes made with a 50-year-old sourdough starter. Don’t miss the smoked trout and brie appetizer.

Stella Grill – 4291 S. 900 East, SLC, 801288-0051. stellagrill.com. A cool little arts-andcrafts-style café, Stella is balanced between trendy and tried-and-true. The careful cooking comes with moderate prices. Great for lunch.

Tiburon – 8256 S. 700 East, Sandy, 801-2551200. tiburonfinedining.com. Servings at Tiburon are large and rich: elk tenderloin was enriched with mushrooms and demi-glace; a big, creamy wedge of St. Andre came with pork belly. In summer, tomatoes come from the garden.

Tradition – 501 E. 900 South, SLC, 385-2027167. traditionslc.com. Plan your meal knowing there will be pie at the end of it. Then snack on pigs-in-blankets (sausage from artisan butcher Beltex) and funeral potatoes. Fried chicken, braised pork, chicken and dumplings are equally homey. Then, pie.

Bakeries

The Baking Hive – 3362 S. 2300 East, SLC, 801-419-0187. bakinghive.com. Tucked behind Provisions restaurant, this homespun bakery uses real butter and cream. Classes allow kids to ice and decorate their own cakes and they offer gluten-free options, too.

The Bagel Project –779 S. 500 East, SLC, 801-906-0698, bagelproject.com. “Real” bagels are the whole story here, made by a homesick East Coaster. Of course, there’s no New York water to make them with, but other than that, these are as authentic as SLC can get.

Carlucci’s Bakery– 314 W. 300 South, SLC, 801-366-4484. carluccisbakery.com. Plus a few hot dishes make this a fave morning stop. For lunch, try the herbed goat cheese on a chewy baguette.

City Cakes & Cafe –1860 S. 300 West, D, SLC, 801-359-2239. 192 E. 12300 South, Ste. A, Draper, 801-572-5500. citycakescafe.com. Gluten-free that is so good you’ll never miss it. Or the dairy—City Cakes has vegan goodies, too. And epic vegan mac ‘n’ chezah.

Chip Cookies — 155 E 900 S #101, SLC, 801-889-2412. chipcookies.co. Probably the only gourmet cookie delivery company that began out of pregnancy cravings. Try the weekly specialty cookies or one of the original flavors. Delivery, pick-up and catering available.

Vessel Kitchen

905 E. 900 South, SLC, 801-810-1950; 1146 E. Fort Union Blvd., Midvale, 801-337-5055; 11052 S. State St., Sandy, 801-349-2544; 1784 Uinta Way, #E1, Park City, 435-200-8864. vesselkitchen.com. Each of Ves -

Biscotts Bakery & Cafe –1098 W. Jordan Pkwy. #10, South Jordan, 801-890-0659; 6172 W. Lake Ave., South Jordan, 801-295-7930. biscotts.com. An Anglo-Indian teahouse, Lavanya Mahate’s (Saffron Valley) latest eatery draws from intertwined cultures, serving tea and chai, English treats and French pastries with a hint of subcontinental spice.

Eva’s Bakery–155 S. Main St., SLC, 801355-3942. evasbakeryslc.com. A smart Frenchstyle cafe and bakery in the heart of downtown. Different bakers are behind the patisserie and the boulangerie, meaning sweet and daily breads get the attention they deserve. Go for classics like onion soup and croque monsieur, but don’t ignore other specials and always leave with at least one loaf of bread.

Fillings & Emulsions –1475 S. Main St., SLC, 385-229-4228. fillingsandemulsions. com. This little West-side bakery is worth

Sizzle and Smoke: Chef-Recommended Summer Grilling Tips

This year take your grilling game to the next level

BY LYDIA MARTINEZ

NOTHING SHOUTS SUMMER like the smell of a hot grill the moment you lay down a steak over the coals or rapidly char some green beans over an open flame. Still trying to figure out where to start? Or are you a grill master looking to up your game? We’ve gathered some gastronomic tips and tricks from three local chefs to help elevate your grilling game. So grab your tongs and apron, and prepare to embark on a gastronomic journey that will transform your backyard barbecue into a five-star culinary experience. See page 106, 108 finding—its unusual pastries find their way into many of Salt Lake’s fine restaurants. Pastry Chef Adalberto Diaz combines his classical French training with the tropical flavors of his homeland. The results are startlingly good and different.

Granary Bakehouse –1050 E. 900 South, SLC, 801-810-0296. granarybakehouse. com The classic bakery sells beautifully lamenated baked goods, does not skimp on the quality of the baked artisan breads and sources local ingredients.

Gourmandise – 250 S. 300 East, SLC, 801328-3330, 725 E. 12300 South, Draper, 801-5711500. gourmandise.com. This downtown mainstay has cheesecakes, cannoli, napoleons, pies, cookies, muffins and flaky croissants. And don’t forget breads and rolls to take home.

La Bonne Vie – 555 S. Main St., SLC, 801-258-6708. grandamerica.com. Cuter than a cupcake, Grand America’s pastry shop has all the charm of Paris. The pretty windows alone are worth a visit.

Mrs. Backer’s Pastry Shop – 434 E. South Temple, SLC, 801-532-2022. mrsbackers. com. A Salt Lake tradition, Mrs. Backer’s is a butter cream fantasy. Fantastic colors, explosions of flowers, most keyed to the current holiday created from American-style butter cream icing, fill this old-fashioned shop.

Passion Flour Patisserie –165 E. 900 South, SLC, 385-242-7040. passionflourslc. com. A vegan-friendly cafe located in an up-andcoming neighborhood. They offer coffee and tea lattes and a variety of croissants: the crust is flaky and buttery (despite the lack of butter). They also bake up some deliciously moist custom vegan cakes for any occasion.

Ruby Snap Fresh Cookies –770 S. 300 West, SLC, 801-834-6111. rubysnap.com. The Trudy, Ruby Snap’s classic chocolate-chip cookie. But it’s just a gateway into the menu of delicious fresh cookies behind the counter at Ruby Snap’s retro-chic shop on Salt Lake’s west side.

So Cupcake – 4002 S. Highland Dr., SLC, 801-274-8300. socupcake.com. Choose a mini or a full cake, mix and match cakes and icings, or try a house creation, like Hanky Panky Red Velvet.

Tulie Bakery– 863 E. 700 South, SLC, 801883-9741; 1510 S. 1500 East, SLC, 801-410-4217. tuilebakery.com. You can get a little spiritual about pastries this good on a Sunday morning, but at Tulie you can be just as uplifted by a Wednesday lunch.

Vosen’s Bread Paradise – 328 W. 200 South, SLC, 801-322-2424. vosen.com. This German-style bakery’s cases are full of Eifelbrot, Schwarzbrot, Krustenbrot and lots of other Brots as well as sweet pastries and fantastic Berliners.

Barbecue & Southern Food

Pat’s Barbecue –155 W. Commonwealth Ave., SLC, 801-484-5963; 2929 S. State St., SLC, 385-528-0548. patsbbq.com. One of Salt Lake City’s best, Pat’s brisket, pork and ribs deserve the spotlight but sides are notable here, too. Don’t miss “Burnt End Fridays.”

R&R BBQ 307 W. 600 South, SLC, 801364-0443. Other locations. randrbbq.com. Tasty, reliable and award-winning barbecue define R&R. The Ribs and brisket are the stars, but fried okra steals the show.

Bar Grub & Brewpubs

(Also check bar listings, page 111)

Avenues Proper Publick House – 376 8th Ave., SLC, 385-227-8628. avenuesproper.com. It’s a restaurant and brewpub, with the emphasis on small plates and late hours. The food is inventive, the beer is good and—big plus—they serve cocktails as well as brew at this neighborhood hot spot.

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Sauce Boss Southern Kitchen — 877 E. 12300 South, 385434-2433 Draper, saucebosssouthernkitchen.com. The menu at Sauce Boss embodies nostalgia, Southern comfort and Black soul food at its best. The focus is on authentic flavors, consistent quality and the details: Red Drink (a housemade version of Bissap), real sweet tea, crunchycrust cornbread, fried catfish, blackened chicken wings and collard greens.

The SugarHouse Barbecue Company– 880 E. 2100 South, SLC, 801-4634800. sugarhousebbq.com. This place is a winner for pulled pork, Texas brisket or Memphis ribs. Plus killer sides, like Greek potatoes.

Bohemian Brewery– 94 E. 7200 South., Midvale, 801-566-5474. bohemianbrewery.com Bohemian keeps a firm connection to its cultural history—so to go with the wonderful Czech beer, you can nosh on potato pancakes, pork chops and goulash. There’s also plenty of American beer fare.

Desert Edge Brewery– 273 S. Trolley Square, SLC, 801-521-8917. desertedgebrewery. com. Good pub fare and freshly brewed beer make this a hot spot for shoppers, the business crowd and ski bums.

Red Rock Brewing – 254 S. 200 West, SLC, 801-521-7446; 6227 State St., Murray, 801262-2337; 1640 Redstone Center Dr., Park City, 435-575-0295. redrockbrewing.com. Red Rock proves the pleasure of beer on its own and as a complement to pizzas, rotisserie chicken and chile polenta. Not to mention brunch. Also in the Fashion Place Mall.

Squatters Pub Brewery–

147 W. Broadway, SLC, 801-363-2739; 1763 S. saltlakebrewingco.com. One of the “greenest” restaurants in town, Squatters brews award-winning beers and pairs them with everything from wings to ahi tacos.

Wasatch BrewPub –

2110 S. Highland Dr., SLC, 801-783-1127. saltlakebrewingco.com

Part of the same mega “boutique” group that produces Squatters and Wasatch beers and runs the pubs in Salt Lake City and Park City with those names, this extension is everything you expect a brewpub to be—hearty food, convivial atmosphere, lots of beer and a great late-ish option.

Breakfast/Lunch Only

The Daily– 222 S. Main St., Ste. 140, SLC, 801-297-1660. thedailyslc.com. Chef Ryan Lowder’s only non-Copper restaurant (Onion, Commons, Kitchen) is open all day for breakfast, lunch and noshing. Call in and pick up lunch, stop in and linger over Stumptown coffee, take some pastries to go and don’t miss the biscuits.

Eggs in the City– 2795 S. 2300 East, SLC, 801-581-0809. eggsinthecityslc.com. A familiar face in a whole new space—the favored breakfast joint has moved to Millcreek. Hip and homey, all at once.