Some Good Restaurants in Greater Salt Lake City
by Michael K. Gardner
(This page is copied from the following
link.)
Salt Lake City has a remarkable number of good restaurants
for a city its size. While I don't claim to know them all, here are some
that I like:
French
La Caille [9565 Wasatch Blvd., Sandy, 942-1751]
French country cuisine amid peacocks, vineyards, and a French country manor.
The food is wonderful, but bring a credit card with a high limit - you'll
need it. La Caille is located several miles south of downtown, near the
canyon entrances to the ski resorts.
Seafood
Market Street Grill [48 West Market St., 322-4668]
Market Street Broiler [260 S. 1300 E., 583-8808]
Both these restaurants are owned by the same group
(Gastronomy)
and both emulate San Francisco seafood cuisine. The clam chowder is great,
and you can't go wrong with the seafood. The Grill is downtown, while the
Broiler is next to the University of Utah. Prices range from moderate
(especially lunch and early bird dinner specials) to high.
Southwestern/Mexican
Pierpont Cantina [122 W. Pierpont Ave., 364-1222]
Another Gastronomy success story, this one features Mexican fare.
Most everything
is good, and there's a lot of seafood choices (guess they get it from the
Market Street joints). Prices are very reasonable; location is downtown.
Rio Grande Cafe [270 S. Rio Grande St., 364-3302]
Another very good Mexican restaurant, located in the former Rio Grande train
station. It's very popular for lunch, and the lunch specials are exceptional.
Prices are reasonable; location is downtown, near the train tracks and the
homeless shelter. Park in the parking lot next to the restaurant so you
don't have to walk through the bad sections of town nearby.
Red Butte Cafe [1414 S. Foothill Dr., 581-9498]
Specializes in Southwestern cuisine, but also has good pasta salads and
onion soup. A popular lunch and dinner spot located in Foothill Village,
a small mall near the University of Utah. Prices are moderate.
Santa Fe Restaurant [2100 Emigration Canyon Rd., 582-5888]
Very good southwestern cuisine, and a great Sunday brunch to boot. Located
next to Ruth's, this restaurant is a recent addition (unlike Ruth's). Prices
are moderate to high.
Chinese
Golden Dragon [1518 S. Main St., 486-3991]
Simple, but satisfying, Chinese food. Located about 10 blocks south of downtown,
near Franklin Quest Field (home of the Triple A Salt Lake Buzz baseball
team). Prices are low (especially the lunch specials).
Breakfast
Ruth's Diner [2100 Emigration Canyon Rd., 582-5807]
An institution for breakfast and lunch, with the canyon as a backdrop.
Originally
owned by Ruth, who, legend has it, ran a house of prostitution at one point
during her career. The omelettes are great, as are the biscuits. Also open
for dinner. Prices are moderate.
Brew-Pubs
Squatter's Pub Brewery [147 W. Broadway, 363-2739]
A yuppie brew-pub that's got excellent pesto pizza. A good place for lunch
located downtown. Naturally, the beer (their own brews) are wonderful. Prices
for lunch are moderate.
Red Rock Brewing Company [254 S. 200 West, 521-7446]
Similar to Squatter's, Red Rock is another brew-pub located downtown. The
main attraction is the home brewed beers and ales, but lunch is good as
well. Prices are moderate (for lunch).
Coffee Houses
Salt Lake Roasting Company & Cafe [320 E. 400 South, 363-7572]
Who would've thought coffee would sell in tea-tottling Salt Lake City? The
owners of the Salt Lake Roasting Company did. This is the coffee house that started the trend in Salt Lake. I find
the seating uncomfortable, but the coffee is very good. You can buy coffee
beans to take home and use in your own Mr. Coffee machine. Located downtown
near the Hall of Justice (a lot of lawyers stop in). Prices are reasonable.
Nordstrom's [Crossroad's Mall, Fashion Place Mall]
Although Nordstrom's is an upper tier clothing store, both locations feature
a good expresso bar. Don't expect much other than coffee, however. The coffee
is very good, and it's convenient if you are shopping. Crossroad's location
is downtown; Fashion Place location is 10 miles south of downtown in Murray,
Utah.
Drive-thru Coffee Shops
Caffe Expresso [900 South 1100 East]
Java Jo's [E St. 1st Ave]
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