Page 8 of 11

The Future of Flavor
A look at Salt Lake food trends and what to look for as you dine out.
By Aimee L. Cook

Forget bland buffets and chain restaurant mediocrity— Salt Lake City's culinary scene is hotter than a jalapeño popper on a July afternoon. Dive into the latest dining trends from some chefs making waves and the influencers keeping their fingers firmly on the pulse of this ever-evolving gastronomic playground.

Chefs Weigh in
Patrick LeBeau, executive chef of Bambara (202 S. Main, SLC, 801-363-5454, Bambara-slc.com) has introduced an extensive pickling program. "I wanted to complement our charcuterie program," he says. "Any vegetable you can think of, I have probably turned into a pickle."

Phelix Gardner, corporate chef at Pago Group (which includes Pago, Finca, Casot and Emigration Café, pagoslc.com) finds inspiration and trends by following James Beard award winners. "People are becoming a little more price-conscious since inflation has been so nuts the last few years. We are starting to see a lot more cultural comfort food represented ... pasta, pizza, burgers and salads—that's what people are wanting right now."

Shirley Butler, executive pastry chef at Riverhorse on Main (540 Main St., Park City, 435-649-3536, riverhorseparkcity.com), creates seasonal, locally sourced desserts. "Comfort puddings are showing up quite a bit, and I have been making sticky toffee pudding since I could hold a spoon."

Drew Kawaguchi, sushi chef at Tsunami (multiple locations, tsunamiutah.com), says the restaurant tries to cater to everyone, including those who don't eat sushi. "We are doing a 'crispy sushi' now [popular in California]," he says, "which our vegetarian customers are really enjoying."

Trends Influencers Are Tracking
Girl dinners
While social media channels have taken to calling it "girl dinner", the art of small plates dining or tapas has really taken off here. From traditional Spanish pinxtos to sharable dishes of every ethnicity, I love this dining style because you can try a lot of dishes from a restaurant and ultimately eat what would be considered a full meal while enjoying so many different flavors.
—Heather L. King

As a professional restaurant critic and food writer, I'm constantly searching out hidden gems and hot spots at home and abroad. IG @slclunches

Ski resorts are serious about food
As a contributing writer for Ski Utah and Visit Utah, I'm particularly excited to see our 15 ski resorts invest in their on-mountain menus. They're going way beyond burgers and chips with options that could be served in the area's finest restaurants. This is a gastronomic win for guests and an economic one for the resorts that are convincing people to go deep into their wallets as well as deep into the powder. 
—Paula Colman

I like food and cooking food. I like eating other people's food (occasionally without their permission). I like pairing food and wine. And people frequently ask me about all of the above. IG @harpo_utah

Paper vs. QR
I think I'm one of the few people who is totally fine with QR code menus rather than paper menus. It reduces clutter, waste and trips to the table for servers. I do think all establishments should have a larger-print hard copy of their menu available on request for folks with diminished eyesight or without smartphones.

Some noteworthy spots with progressive tech and/or inclusive menus include Grid City (333 W. 2100 South, South Salt Lake, 801- 906-8390, gridcitybeerworks.com) with its online menus, tons of plant-based dishes, gluten-free options.

Koyote (551 W. 400 North, SLC, 385-262-5559, koyoteslc.com) lets you order online at your table for your whole party by opening a tab to which you can add items over the course of the meal.
—Christy Gilbert

I'm an eternally hungry food adventurer who really loves community—always looking for the next thing and always hoping the next thing is a sandwich with a friend. IG @fig.eats

Tip creep is real
With the price of dining out on the rise, people are noticing every little charge on their food bill, especially when it's staring them in the face in the form of a tip button. Tip creep is real. When tipping becomes a burden, it detracts from the overall customer experience. Frustration can translate into negative reviews and impact a business' reputation.

It's great to see local restaurants raise base wages and incorporate gratuities into pricing, providing workers with more consistent income and shielding customers from aggressive prompts for tips. Cheryl's Bagels (273 W. 500 South, Bountiful, cherylsbagels.com) and Three Pines Coffee (165 S. Main, SLC, threepinescoffee.com) are the most recent additions to the movement.
—Hang Wong

Hang Wong is a long-time foodie perusing the food scene in Salt Lake, always in the know and always one of the first to try the latest openings and hot spots. IG @hangwong

Ghost kitchens
Ghost kitchens allow chefs a cheaper way to bring their concepts to consumers. Lower overhead, a delivery boom and certain cooking methods are key factors for an up-and-coming culinary creative to utilize a ghost kitchen vs. a food truck. Chef Teilmann Hansen of Enigma Chef (IG @enigmachef ) works out of ComComKitchen (67 W. 1700 South, Salt Lake City, 801-694-2390, comcomkitchen.com) and prepares much of his high-end dishes using sous vide, which is not very user-friendly for a food truck, he says.
—Aimee L. Cook

Food & lifestyle writer, IG @gathernoshandsavor

The New Crop
20 restaurant openings lighting up the local dining scene.
By Alex Springer

Despite the ravages that 2020 inflicted upon our local restaurant scene, our persistent restaurateurs continued to open some great restaurants over the past few years. If your local dinner plans require something a bit on the fresher side of things, look no farther than this list of 20 up-and-coming Utah restaurants.

Thai Better
Utah has always had some strong representation when it comes to Thai food, but there's something clever about Thai Better's takeout-friendly model and adorable branding that make it stand out. Since it opened last year, it's turned plenty of heads with its tasty curry dumplings and special curries that include pineapple, avocado and duck. 11511 S. 4000 West, Ste. 101, South Jordan, 385-297-0321, thaibetterus.com

Loco Burger
This Mexican-infused, torta-inspired burger joint made enough waves when it opened in downtown Salt Lake to fund a second location that opened late last year. The secret? Gigantic burgers with everything from grilled sausage, ham, pork loin and plenty of melty cheese. It's rare to find a spot that embodies everything we love about burgers with everything we love about tortas, but Loco Burger has successfully cracked that code. 1702 S. Main, SLC, 801-386-2875; 5470 S. 4220 West, Kearns, 801-505-8187, locoburger.com

Basta Pasteria
There aren't many fast-casual restaurants that can boast homemade pasta, but that's how Basta Pasteria runs its show. From rigatoni to pappardelle to gnocchi, Basta is making it all in house, and its including some high-end support like burrata and truffle should you feel indulgent during your visit. The pasta is a must here, but make sure you don't overlook their wood-fired pizza. 6157 S. State, Murray, 385-474-2093, bastapasteriaut.com

Ty Fish & Chips
What do you get when a professional sushi chef decides to shift focus to fish and chips? Magic, that's what. Chef Ty Hoang's understanding of seafood really shines with each golden-brown item on the menu. Delectable fried shrimp, crispy crab balls and fried calamari are all part of the show here, but it's all about the red snapper—fried to perfection and served with a smile. 9411 S. 700 East, Sandy, 385-274-2760, tyfishnchips.com

Lulu's Hot Oven
Diners along the Wasatch Front have been fortunate to see a plethora of fusion restaurants open in recent years, but Lulu's Hot Oven has been the only one brave enough to put Mexican favorites like birria and mole on a pizza—and holy smokes does it work. On top of that, Lulu's menu also includes masterfully constructed tortas, so you really can't lose here. 10949 S. Redwood Road, Ste. 400, South Jordan, 801-998-8219, lulushotoven.com

Forty Three Bakery
Bakeries aren't often considered in the same league as fine dining establishments, but if they were, Forty Three Bakery would be right up there with Salt Lake's finest. Chef Andrew Corrao has evolved his rustic, flavor-packed concept from a local ghost kitchen to one of downtown's most gorgeous spaces. Sipping espresso while munching on carefully laminated pastry at Forty Three Bakery is one of Salt Lake's most decadent pleasures. 733 W. Genesee Ave., SLC, 435-962-1628, fortythreebakery.com

Kumo Cafe
When seeking out desserts, it's easy to forget about the role texture plays in how much we enjoy said desserts. For anyone looking to explore this relationship, Kumo Cafe's souffle pancakes and fluffy crepes are excellent subjects for your research. With flavors like cookies and cream, passion fruit and creme brulee, the wobbly, cloudlike souffle pancakes are a gorgeous experience. 3432 S. State, Ste. C, SLC, 385-528-2963, kumocafe.shop

Matchstick Bar and Grill
This West Valley restaurant has embodied the Chinese concept of chuan, a street food-inspired riff on grilled protein and veggie skewers. It's the kind of food that lends itself to social dining. Matchstick is a great place to round up some pals and order way too many drinks and skewers. Make sure you're adding some side dishes to the party; the tortilla-adjacent grilled bread is a great meat delivery vehicle. 2000 W. 3500 South, West Valley City, 385-227-8376, matchstickutah.com

De Los Muertos Mexican Kitchen
Once summertime graces the Wasatch Front, the patio at De Los Muertos in Sugar House will be the best place to beat the heat and indulge in some great Mexican cooking. The foundation of De Los Muertos is their Monterrey-style burritos—smothered in mole or chili verde for good measure. For variety, you can check out their breakfast burritos that are served all day. 1215 E. Wilmington Ave., Ste. 104, SLC, 801-869-1006, delosmuertos-mexican-restaurant.com

Bix Bakery and Cafe
Restaurateur Lavanya Mahate has pretty much set the tone for Indian restaurants in Salt Lake, and she recently took all that wonderful experience into the world of professional baking. She has dabbled in bakeries before, but with Bix, Mahate has really embraced the European bakery concept. Vibrant cakes, tasty pastries and coffee all await Sugar House diners who have a bit of a sweet tooth. 479 E. 2100 South, Ste. B, SLC, 385-259-0359, bixbakery.com

Burgertory
A horror movie-themed burger joint? Yes, please. Serving up entrees like the Exorswiss and Mushrooms and Baconstein's Monster, Burgertory leans juicily into its chosen concept and backs it up with some truly delectable burgers. Served with their thick-cut Steak Frights. While blood and guts may be thematic at Burgertory, they also have plenty of plant-based options for those vegan vampires among you. 3197 S. Redwood Road, Ste. 9, West Valley City, 385-229-4074, burgertoryslc.com

Scelto
One of Utah's newest Italian restaurants, Scelto has quickly constructed a loyal fanbase who are clamoring for its fresh take on some classic dishes. Main dishes include scallops with pistachio bagna cauda, short rib served with a red wine jus and a risotto served with local cheese. Pair those stellar options with some house made pizza and pasta, and you've got a spot to keep an eye on. 849 E. 9400 South, Sandy, 385-542-3030, sceltoslc.com

Egg Break
The early risers typically don't have a whole lot of options when it comes to satisfying eats and snazzy interior design. That was until Egg Break opened, of course. This egg-centric restaurant specializes in well-stacked breakfast sandwiches that feature all of your favorite pork products, including a bit of pastrami for good measure. In addition to savory options, Egg Break has plenty of indulgent sweets, such as brioche toast topped with berries and cream. 193 W. 2100 South Expy., South Salt Lake, 385-500-2705, eggbreakbreakfast.com

Kompas Taqueria
Making a taqueria stand out is a tricky endeavor, but Kompas Taqueria is rising to the challenge in some interesting ways. They're serving up plenty of fusion tacos like the Korean beef and the masala chicken, but it's their take on tacos al pastor that really make Kompas worth a visit. It's the pineapple salsa drizzled over that perfectly cooked pork that does it; there's plenty of bang for your buck here. 726 E. 12200 South, Draper, 385-237-3197

Baby's Bagels
As diverse and enjoyable as Salt Lake's local food scene is, we've been woefully devoid of local bagel spots. This is why Baby's Bagels has been such a blessing. Every day the team at Baby's whips up fresh batches of delicious bagels in-house and serves them up as breakfast sandos or loaded with plenty of lox and homemade cream cheese. Bagel fans of any description won't want to miss this place. 204 E. 500 South, SLC, 801-613-0066, babysbagels.square.site

Koyote
The ramen scene in Utah has been evolving at a rapid pace, and Koyote represents the next step in that evolution. The menu here has remained quite faithful to its roots by serving up ramen varieties you don't often see in Salt Lake. In addition to their signature ramen, diners can snag several street food-inspired appetizers like shioyaki saba, a crispy grilled mackerel topped with daikon and green onions. This place has got all the right moves for local ramen fans. 551 W. 400 North, SLC, 385-262-5559, koyoteslc.com

Chez Nibs
When one of your city's most talented bakers decides to close up shop, it's lovely to see them reopen a chocolate shop instead. Chef Romina Rasmussen recently rebranded her much-beloved bakery into more of a chocolate and confection destination—though you can still get her famous kouign amann in addition to her new treats. 212 E. 500 South, Ste. A, SLC, 801-673-8340, cheznibs.com

Roux
This contemporary American restaurant is a newcomer in Salt Lake's celebrated Broadway neighborhood, and it's wasting no time setting itself apart from its peers. From the homemade focaccia offered as a bread course to the rich, Reuben-inspired pastrami with blackened cabbage, Roux is taking its cues from on-trend dishes like birria and Basque cheesecake, building an exciting menu for downtown diners. 515 E. 300 South, SLC, 385-256-1367, rouxslc.com

Alhambra Shawarma
Though Alhambra has been operating one of Utah's most popular Middle Eastern food trucks, its new brick-and-mortar location has pushed Alhambra to step up its game a bit. Their claim to fame is their meaty shawarma, wrapped in lavash and served with plenty of dipping sauces. Alhambra also whips up a mean falafel for anyone interested in a plant-based shawarma. 3965 W. 5400 South, Taylorsville, 801-645-6959, order.toasttab.com/online/alhambrautah

El Cholo
Recently, Sugar House welcomed a legend in the field of Mexican food, and that legend is El Cholo. Originally opened in California circa 1922, El Cholo has long been a Mexican restaurant pioneer. Its arrival in Utah last year marked the first time the venerated restaurant chain moved out of state, bringing its hundred-year legacy along with it. 2166 S. 900 East, SLC, 385-426-2166, elcholo.com

Comfort Cravings
Five gastropubs equipped to feed body and soul.
By Alex Springer

It's easy to write Utah off when it comes to gastropubs, but that feels like a raw deal. We've got plenty of local pubs that are whipping up memorable eats in addition to serving a wide selection of local beer and craft cocktails—you just need to know where to look. Here are five pubs with menus and ambiance that will surely turn a few heads.

Garage Grill: Vroom vroom
A brewpub built by gearheads for gearheads, the Garage Grill (1122 Draper Parkway, Draper, 801-523-3339; 12547 Herriman Autorow, Herriman, 801-666-7767; thegaragegrill.com) mixes a high-octane automotive aesthetic with a creative spin on pub fare. It also serves as the dining extension of Salt Flats Brewery, so take a peek at the locally produced beer flights and craft cocktails before you pick something tasty to eat. From there, you can peruse a well-stocked menu filled with NASCAR puns and plenty of creative eats.

Among the most unexpected of these dishes are those on their well-stocked sushi menu—they have some great signature rolls like the Nitro Roll made with yellowtail, fried shishito peppers and avocado that gets topped with some ahi and spicy mayo. The sushi showstopper at the Garage Grill would be the Enzo Sushi Nachos that use crispy wonton wrappers to scoop up chunks of ahi tuna, crab salad and tobiko.

Of course, if something more grilled is your preference, the selection of burgers should not be overlooked. The Mustang, for example, adds a pile of house-smoked brisket burnt ends to a burger swimming in bourbon barbecue sauce and topped with a crispy onion ring.

The Green Pig Pub: Beer, burgers and blues
This downtown pub takes its name from its mission, which is to be an eco-friendly gastropub that accommodates any dietary style walking through its doors. The Green Pig Pub (31 E. 400 South, SLC, 801-532-7441, thegreenpigpub.com) also hosts weekly games and entertainment, including a Monday Blues Jam. Their dinner menu includes plenty of tacos—in the summertime, their Pilsner-battered fish tacos are an absolute must. On the burger side of things, the Denver Burger and its jalapeño cream cheese will knock your socks off.

Those after a more plant-based gastropub experience can check out The Green Pig's vegan menu, which makes good use of Impossible Burgers in its street tacos and cheesesteak sandwiches. Their vegan tiger wings tossed with honey Sriracha sauce are also excellent openers to whatever meal you're after.

If a nice boozy brunch is more your style, then check out The Green Pig Pub on Saturdays and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. when their breakfast menu is in full swing. The Green Pig Breakfast evokes a classic diner feel with its two eggs, sausage, bacon, or ham and crispy hash browns, and their French toast made with challah bread is delightful.

Copper Common
Gastronomic surprises in every bite
Those looking for a gastropub that reads a bit more like fine dining are sure to enjoy Copper Common (111 E. 300 South, Ste. 190, SLC, 801-355-0543, coppercommon.com). This local nightspot is known for its oyster plates—served up in your choice of East Coast or West Coast preparation, of course—but its additional list of bar bites is every bit as luxurious. For example, the duck rillette makes expert use of fennel and apple jam turning the whole affair into a series of memorable bites. Even the deceptive fried chicken contains little gastronomic surprises that are artfully concealed by the maitake mushroom gravy.

As Copper Common's dining menu is filled with the unexpected, their drink menu follows suit nicely. If you're going to make oysters a focal point of the evening, consider carrying that enthusiasm over into your drink selection with the Oyster Shooter. This is a nice Laphroaig 10-year scotch with a bit of absinthe and lemon that gets served up with a raw oyster of its very own. For something a bit sweeter, you can go with the Amaro Float, which comes with your choice of amaro paired with chocolate and/or vanilla soft serve.

Beer Bar: Got brat?
One of the flagship gastropubs under the Bar X banner, Beer Bar (161 E. 200 South, SLC, 385-259-0905, beerbarslc.com) is all about bratwurst—if you crave Oktoberfest year-round, this is the place for you. Their dining menu revolves around the plethora of freshly made brats that feature varieties like curry, andouille, Italian and buffalo chipotle—they even have plant-based brats like smoked apple sage if that's more your speed. You pick a brat and then add two toppings from a list that includes kimchi, sauerkraut, chimichurri and sweet peppers, then put the whole thing on a bun, a pile of fries or a salad.

Of course, Beer Bar knows what drink best complements a wide variety of brats, and they have a huge variety of domestic and imported beers on tap—just ask your server which brew goes well with your brat of choice, and they'll happily help you out.

London Belle: Cozy den of deliciousness
For a gastropub that themes its offerings after a checkered chapter of Utah's past, look no farther than London Belle (321 S. Main, SLC, 801-363-8888, londonbelleslc.com). Named after one of Utah's most infamous madams of the early 1900s, London Belle leans into the old-fashioned speakeasy style of watering hole that hearkens back to our frontier heritage. The brasserie embraces its history with a modern spin, and the award-winning food is fantastic. Though the madam died in 1925, pub fare classics like Union Jack fish and chips, the Brothel Burger and Madam's Seafood Pasta recall a bygone era.

The drink menu at London Belle also pulls no punches when it comes to honoring Utah's houses of ill repute. The Side Piece mixes Don Julio Blanco tequila with some pineapple and egg whites with a twist of lemon, lime and agave for a frothy, tropical treat. For a stylish, tongue-in-cheek night out, London Belle has you covered.