New Restaurants, Bars and Cafes Add to Salt Lake Dining Scene
Salt Lake’s booming dining and nightlife scene continues to wow après skiers and general visitors to Utah’s capital city. A flock of new restaurants, bars and cafes have just opened in one of the Top 10 “Foodie Cities” in the US, according to Wallethub. With more than a dozen artisanal coffee roasters, close to 20 brew pubs and a restaurant scene that embraces experimentation and clever reuse of the city’s existing architecture, Salt Lake has secured its place as one of the gastronomic stars of the West. It’s a metropolis that cleverly balances the performing arts and the great outdoors and serves up a vibrant urban lifestyle.
Hot Tables
Current Fish & Oyster Generating buzz since it opened in 2015, the seafood emporium just made OpenTable’s list for 100 Best Restaurants in America for 2016. This cool industrial chic space under Executive Chef Phelix Gardner is located in what was Salt Lake’s original Ford auto dealership.TableX Newly open by three chefs – Mike Blocher, Nick Fahs and David Barboza – in the Zions Park neighborhood, the minimalist design of TableX is the backdrop to dishes featuring Morgan Valley steak tartare, Christiansen Farm Berkshire pork and Idaho rainbow trout.
HSL Executive Chef Briar Handly serves seasonally and locally driven food ranging from beef cheek burgers to coddled duck eggs at the Salt Lake branch of Handle, a favorite in nearby Park City. HSL was named The Best New Fine Dining by The Salt Lake Tribune.
Stanza Italian Bistro & Wine Bar Chef Logan Crew offers an array of small plates, fresh pastas and a wine list that stretches the length of Italy, served in a vast modern space that won the Best New Atmosphere award from The Salt Lake Tribune.
The Rest A subterranean speakeasy in the heart of downtown, filled with taxidermy, antiques and the inventive cooking of Chef Brendan Cagle, which might include honey-glazed beer-can chicken, fried brioche doughnuts and even a unique version of poutine. Its upstairs companion, Bodega, offers small plates and vintage cocktails.
Shaken and Stirred
Under Current Cocktails, seasonal craft beers and wine in a location adjacent to Current Fish & Oyster. Expect oysters, small bites, absinthe and seasonal cocktails.
Whiskey Street Back in the mid 1800s, there were so many bars between today’s 200 South and 400 South along Main Street that LDS Leader Brigham Young dubbed it “Whiskey Street.” The name was revived for this gastropub that features a 72-foot long bar and serves more than 130 whiskies (among other libations).
Beer Bar Next door to BarX, which opened the year Prohibition was repealed in 1933, is Beer Bar, both owned by Modern Family’s Ty Burrell. It’s Salt Lake’s version of a late night beer hall with more than 150 beers and a menu featuring house-made bratwursts, local breads and Belgian fries.
The Morning After
The Hub & Spoke Diner Restaurateur Scott Evans’ fourth dining establishment (after Pago, Finca, and East Liberty Tap House) in Sugar House offers Southern influenced breakfast favorites such as Shrimp and Grits, Kentucky Hot Brown and Sweet Potato Pancakes.
Publik Coffee Roasters Known for their single-origin roasted coffee and specialty toast made with locally produced breads and jams, the local chain just opened Publik Kitchen in the 9th and 9th neighborhood, with a full breakfast and lunch menu.
Visit Salt Lake is a private, non-profit corporation responsible for the promotion of Salt Lake as a vibrant, modern destination brimming with unexpected dining, lodging, nightlife and entertainment options, a destination well-suited for convention and leisure travel alike. In partnership with Salt Lake County, Visit Salt Lake’s mission is to improve the area economy by attracting and providing support to conventions, leisure travelers and visitors while being a leader in environmental responsibility. For more information on all that Salt Lake has to offer, go to www.VisitSaltLake.com
