Top 10 Best Restaurants in Salt Lake City

Top 10 Best Restaurants in Salt Lake City

It can be challenging to think of Utah’s capital as a foodie destination. However, Salt Lake City may be located in the desert, but it has become a young urban center. There are many opportunities to explore artisan food in and around Salt Lake City. The city has everything to offer, including great brunches, contemporary American food, steakhouses, Italian, Mexican, Japanese, Indian cuisine, and more.

Here are the details about the best restaurants salt lake city:

1. Log haven

Log Haven consistently receives the honor of being the most romantic restaurant and is a popular venue for weddings and private parties. Located near downtown Salt Lake City but feels like a world away. The restaurant and log cabin complex is located in Millcreek Canyon in the Wasatch National Forest. The complex was built by the steel baron LF Rains in the 1920s.

The logs were hauled out of Oregon in horse-drawn carts. In 1994, Margo Provost renovated the restaurant creating a romantic and elegant setting that focuses on locally grown ingredients. Chef Dave Jones establishes a menu of small plates and entrees, including Juniper Smoked Elk Carpaccio, Cider-Brined Duroc Pork Chops, and Roasted Mushrooms with Yuba Noodles.

2. Caffe Molise

Caffe Molise is one of the best Italian restaurants in Salt Lake City. Located on South West Temple Street, Caffe Molise is an excellent place for lunch or dinner in the city center. The decor is cozy and features local artwork in the dining room or dine at the tribute that pays tribute to the Italian region of Molise.

The romantic restaurant uses locally sourced ingredients. The menu includes ancestor dishes, salads, chicken, seafood, and pasta.

There is an extensive cocktail and wine list, and the dessert menu is decadent. Caffe Molise offers live jazz music on Fridays.

3. Porch

Located on SoDa Row at Daybreak, Porch offers a laid-back urban-chic spot for a hearty brunch or dinner. The restaurant opened in 2014 and is eclectically decorated and offers an eclectic menu of low country dishes. Brunch includes chicken and biscuits, crawfish and grits, grilled bavette steak and eggs, and a southern stack of pancakes topped with egg, bacon, crawfish, and maple syrup. The dinner menu includes typical southern dishes such as meatloaf, fried chicken, baby back ribs, grilled pork chops, and crab mac n cheese. Dessert is served for brunch and dinner. Diners can enjoy handcrafted cocktails and boutique wines.

4. Kyoto

Japanese chef and businessman Sam Tada and his wife Yoshiko Yamasaki opened Kyoto in 1984 and established a traditional Japanese restaurant at E 1300 South in Salt Lake City. Chef Tada trained in Kyoto and moved to Salt Lake City to start his career. Tada and Yamasaki aimed to create a traditional Japanese restaurant with simple traditional Japanese decor with kimono-clad waiters. Tada and his wife expanded the restaurant’s sushi bar in 2001. Kyoto has partnered with the LaSalle Group to continue as a Salt Lake City staple.

5. Spencer’s Steak and Chops

For two decades, Spencer’s Steak and Chops have been a Salt Lake City staple. Spencer’s is a classic club steakhouse located in the downtown Hilton hotel, cozy and romantic. Executive Chef Sebastian Lowrey offers a traditional steak menu with French and Italian influence and creativity.

USDA Prime meats are dry-aged, cured, and smoked. In addition to the steak, the menu includes house-cured duck bacon with Scottish maple glaze and coffee and bacon-braised Wagyu beef brisket, among other dishes. The wine list is extensive, and guests can enjoy tastings.

6. Saffron valley

Lavanya Mahate has brought traditional regional Indian cuisine to Salt Lake City and built a brand. He opened three restaurants, created a spice line, and opened a culinary school. Mahate was born in Andhra state in southern India. He learned culinary skills from his mother and extended family and was inspired to travel to different regions of India to study cooking as a teenager. He came to Salt Lake City in 2001 and worked with young men and women to help them develop business careers.

Meanwhile, Mahate created a spice mix line and opened the East Pantry mix line in 2010. The following year he opened Saffron Valley, a popular destination for lunch and dinner. The menu offers dishes from all regions of India, including chaat, dosas, kebabs, and curries.

7. Fish and oysters today

Current Fish and Oyster are located next to the “Under Current” bar in downtown Salt Lake City. The traditional seafood restaurant offers traditional, fresh, and quality seafood with an eye to sustainability. The restaurant’s atmosphere is fresh and airy with a large open kitchen, a raw bar, lots of natural light, and a ceiling designed to resemble a ship’s hull.

Chef Alan Brines and his staff create contemporary seafood, including organic carmalized salmon, grilled scallops, shrimp and grits, Alaskan king crab, and Pacific black cod. The menu also includes chicken, hamburger, fish sandwiches, and a wine list, and artisan cocktails.

8. Red iguana

Ramón and María Cárdenas opened Red Iguana in downtown Salt Lake City in 1985, and it was an instant success. Ramón and María brought their traditional Mexican and Southwestern cuisine from their native San Luis Potosí and Chihuahua and added an innovative twist. Before opening Red Iguana, the Cardenas opened Casa Grande in 1965.

The original Red Iguana had only 18 seats, but the award-winning restaurant would soon need to expand to accommodate the crowds. The decor is traditionally Mexican and festive. Today, the Cárdenas children run Red Iguana, which recently expanded further.

9. Stanza Italian Bistro and Wine Bar

Stanza Italian Bistro and Wine Bar is one of the last restaurants to hit downtown Salt Lake City. The award-winning Stanza is directed by the LaSalle Group and designed by the same group intended Current Fish and Oyster.

Executive Chef Jonathan LeBlanc has traveled the country, exploring and working in various restaurants. He helped open Stanza in 2014. He and his team have achieved success. The menu offers traditional Italian cuisine and includes small plates, salads, pasta, seafood, and meats.

10. Avenues Proper Restaurant and Publick House

Avenues Proper is a great place to hang out with friends for brunch and dinner. The English pub’s atmosphere and menu are lovely and delicious. The restaurant is located on 8th Street in the heart of downtown Salt Lake City. Traditional pub menu options include burgers, pork belly, pumpkin cheddar meatballs, chicken mole tacos, and grilled poblano mac n cheese.

Excellent brunch options include homemade waffles, raspberry cakes, cookies and jelly, and southern Benedict. Avenues Proper has a wide selection of signature cocktails, beer cocktails, ciders, and wine.

Top 10 Bars In Salt Lake City, Utah

Salt Lake City is the capital of Utah, a state with historically fascinating liquor laws. These strange laws mean that some places require a food order with your drink. Here are the top 10 bars in Salt Lake City. Salt Lake City Downtown | © Micah Sheldon / Flickr

1. The Red Door

Open for a decade; The Red Door serves specialty cocktails and an extensive drink list. These range from a Dirty Girl Scout Martini (made with vodka, Irish cream, coffee liqueur, and creme de menthe) to classic whiskey and bourbons. They even offer wine in this little downtown bar. Every Friday night, you can find the resident DJ playing some great tunes and live bands for the rest of the week. For soft drinks, dim lighting, and the perfect antidote to a busy week at work, The Red Door is a great downtown location.

57 W 200 S # 102, Salt Lake City, UT 84101 (801) 363-6030

2. Beerhive Pub

Beerhive Pub is one of the first places in Salt Lake City where you can sample over 24 different beers on tap or choose from a long list of flawless bottled beers. Upstairs, you can even find an ice-covered bar table where you can keep your beer cold while you relax. The vintage wood-toned decor creates Beerhive’s warm atmosphere and lively chatter as beer lovers share in the fun of experimenting with the hundreds of beers available at this pub. This place is excellent if you are in the mood for a casual after-work drink in a quiet area. Or, if you’re especially interested in tasting beers from a variety that includes local and international beers, Beehive is the place to be.

Arrow Press Square Mall, 128 Main St, Salt Lake City, UT 84101 (801) 364-4268

3. The Garage

This bar is a garage for its excellent beers, good live music setup, and delicious food. The Garage has a touch of American flair, as old juke joints and roadhouses inspired its decor and location. The Garage is also a welcoming environment for all ages and types of crowds. It makes for a fun and eclectic hangout.

You can find live music from Thursday to Sunday with a small cover charge. Don’t be fooled by the industrial setting of this fun and affordable bar on Capitol Hill. It is a good time for everyone.

1199 Beck St Salt Lake City, UT 84103 (801) 521-3904

4. The Bar at Sugarhouse

This little dip bar in the Sugarhouse neighborhood of SLC is a charming bar for a drink with a friend or a date in an intimate setting. The friendly staff, the old jukebox, and the excellent beer create a quaint and cozy atmosphere. This beer-only hangout is also a perfect place to catch your favorite game in town. Don’t miss out on happy hour for great prices on a great beer selection.

2168 Highland Dr, Salt Lake City, UT 84106 (801) 485-1232

5. Avenues Proper

A simple minor brewing operation in historic downtown Salt Lake City, Avenues Proper offers four craft breweries and several local beers like Wasatch, Squatters, and Uinta. When you walk into this brewhouse, you get a first-hand look at the brewing process, with fermentation vessels on display. You can even have a great weekend brunch here. This July, Avenues Proper will also participate in the first annual Eat Drink SLC event. It celebrates the culinary diversity and quality of Salt Lake City’s eclectic establishments.

376 8th Ave, Salt Lake City, UT 84103 (385) 227-8628

6. Whiskey street

The wide selection of whiskeys and spiced nuts are ideal for a fun and relaxing evening on Whiskey Street, where the food is as good as the drinks. Poutine and bacon dogs are great with bourbon, rye, or single malt on their extensive menu. It is trendy, and the popular bar buzzes with conversation most nights. While it is not the perfect place for an intimate and romantic date, it is a great place to start a conversation and meet travelers and locals. The bartenders, too, are a friendly bunch who know the menu inside and out.

323 Main St, Salt Lake City, UT 84111 (801) 433-1371

7. Squatters Craft Beers

Squatters Craft Beers is a neighborhood that uses local ingredients from farmers in the region. The pub and brewery have been recognized through numerous awards for their eco-friendly approach—partners with various organizations that support the community. Settlers are also known for their delicious food that complements their beers. The waiters here are friendly and knowledgeable to recommend the best pairings. If you’re still not sure which concoction to commit to, you can try their samples for just 45 cents. Squatters even offers vegan and gluten-free beer options.

8. Bar X

Bar X is the place to try for creative and cleverly mixed drinks. It was inaugurated in 1933, the same year the ban was lifted. This place was recently renovated by Modern Family actor Ty Burrell, his brother, and a few friends to give it a new feel. Serving drinks in the old-fashioned prohibitive style and playing jazz and blues music, this bar maintains the sense of clandestinely speaking. It also introduces a modern twist with masterfully made cocktails. Bar X is environmentally conscious and processes its recyclable waste responsibly, so you can feel good about giving a place like this to your business.

155 200 S, Salt Lake City, UT 84111 (801) 355-2287

9. Brewvies Cinema Pub

For an unusual pub or movie experience, Brewvies Cinema Pub would be your best option. It is a cinema pub where you can get good food, drinks and watch a movie all at the same time. The beer selection is extensive, as is the entire list of bars. Also, the food is delicious, and the cinema offers cheaper tickets than most theaters. You can even have a pitcher here while sitting at a table or sofa while you watch. Due to the experience that Brewvies offers, be sure to purchase tickets in advance online or over the phone. Get there early because the venue fills up shortly before a screening.

677 S 200 W, Salt Lake City, UT 84101 (801) 355-5500

10. The Tap Room

The Tap Room, a nice little neighborhood bar, recently opened a second bar with a pool table. An outdoor patio is perfect for a warm summer day or a strong drink on a fantastic day. This bar is home to locals of all ages, yet it welcomes visitors and has a random conversation and a quality drink. Although the name refers to the bar’s wide selection of beers, they also offer a wide selection of whiskeys, with rye as a Tap Room favorite.

10 Best Restaurants in Salt Lake City