Hello, Eaters!
We wanted to hear from you, so at the end of July we launched a survey that asked Eaters, “What’s your favorite restaurant right now?” We got more than 100 responses, with answers ranging from Greek spots to Mexican food. Here are the restaurants that were mentioned by multiple Eaters:
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Inside Oquirrh in downtown Salt Lake City.
Oquirrh — 6 votes
Oquirrh, located at 368 E. 100 South in Salt Lake City, is a fine-dining restaurant owned by chef Andrew Fuller and his wife and manager, Angie Fuller. Open since 2019, Oquirrh specializes in locally sourced American fare.
I wrote about Oquirrh in fall 2024, when I asked Andrew Fuller to share a dish that utilized the summer harvest.
Here are some of the comments you Eaters had about Oquirrh:
“It’s consistent, even with seasonal menu changes. You always know you’re going to get something creative and delicious.”
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“Absolutely everything on the menu has been outstanding, from the simplest to more complex dishes. They always go above and beyond with unrivaled attention to detail. Service is spectacular.”
“The food is creative and prepared with great care but without pretension.”
Salt Lake City’s new Oquirrh restaurant serves familiar food with a twist
Mocktails find their moment
(Morgan Reedy) The entrance to Hell’s Backbone Grill, in Boulder, Utah.
Hell’s Backbone Grill — 5 votes
Hell’s Backbone Grill, at 20 N. Highway 12 in the remote town of Boulder, is focused on farm-to-table food — and it couldn’t be more farm-to-table, since chef/owners Blake Spalding and Jen Castle get most of their restaurant’s produce from their on-site farm.
I visited Hell’s Backbone Grill in spring 2024, and loved the biscuits, the asparagus with hollandaise sauce, and the local beef dinner pie.
Here are some of the comments you Eaters had about Hell’s Backbone Grill:
“Charming ambience, unusually gracious and sophisticated staff, verging on Michelin-class kitchen and cuisine.”
“It stands alone!!”
“You can taste the freshness of the ingredients. The staff is genuinely so passionate and caring. The food is absolutely delicious.”
Restaurant in a remote area of Utah is named one of the nation’s best — again
Award-winning chef hired for nationally acclaimed Utah restaurant
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Eaglewood Golf Course in North Salt Lake.
The Grill at Eaglewood Golf Course — 4 votes
The Grill, the clubhouse restaurant at Eaglewood Golf Course, at 1110 E. Eaglewood Drive in North Salt Lake, describes its food as “not your average golf course food.” Menu items include The Birdie Burger, “portable” steak frites and hand-breaded chicken strips.
Here are some of the comments you Eaters had about The Grill:
“Great menu with a variety of options for being on the golf course.”
“The chicken strips are amazing. Some of my other favorites are the wings, the fries are great, and the burger is super juicy!”
“Best burgers, best fried chicken, best steak frites, best rice bowls. Super affordable with all items $16 or less.”
Kimi’s Chop & Oyster House, Maddox Ranch House, The Pearl, Red Iguana, Table X, Kafe Mamai, Oasis Cafe, Rawtopia and The Other Place all got two votes.
Thanks for being part of our survey! As always, I want to hear from you. Send your recommendations to food@sltrib.com.
Live deliciously,
Kolbie
Food News
(Leah Hogsten | The Salt Lake Tribune) Nomad East in 2020.
• On Sunday, Nomad East, at 1675 E. 1300 South in Salt Lake City, is celebrating its sixth anniversary with a curated five-course tasting dinner with optional wine pairings. There will be seatings at 5 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. The dinner is all-ages, but bring your ID if you plan on having wine. Tickets are available for $65.87 through Nomad East’s link in bio at @nomad.east on Instagram.
• On the same day, from noon to 8 p.m., Laziz Kitchen, at 912 S. Jefferson St. in Salt Lake City, is celebrating 10 years in business with a party that will include food, music, vendors, an alley takeover, special merch and more. Laziz Kitchen is closing its restaurant in the Central Ninth neighborhood after its landlord wouldn’t allow it to renew its lease. The last day to visit the restaurant will be Sept. 20. You can also get Laziz food (their Lebanese platter with kafta is a go-to takeout item for me) inside Sugar House Station, at 2155 S. Highland Drive in Sugar House.
Openings:
• Pirate O’s, the gourmet specialty snack store, is opening a new location in Davis County inside the Layton Hills Mall on Hill Field Road on Oct. 1, according to an Instagram post. In the meantime, you can get all of your favorite treats at Pirate O’s Draper location at 11901 S. 700 East.
• A new location of the national seafood chain Mr. & Mrs. Crab Juicy Seafood has opened in Orem, at 1238 S. State St., according to an Instagram post. This spot specializes in seafood boils — just pick your spice level and off you go. Mr. & Mrs. Crab Juicy Seafood also has Utah locations in Taylorsville and American Fork.
Closings:
• Boomerangs Down Under Bar in Millcreek at 1306 Woodland Ave. has closed, according to a post on Instagram. “Running a bar is never simple, and we’ve been navigating some real business realities for a while now,” the post said. “We gave it everything we had.” Boomerangs has another location, which is still open downtown, at 160 S. Main St.
• Has a restaurant opened or closed in your neighborhood? Let us know at food@sltrib.com.
3 Stories to Chew On
A Mexican restaurant chain with ‘loyal fans’ — and free guacamole — is coming to Salt Lake City
New SLC liquor store could be a ‘blessing’ or a ‘death sentence,’ members of nearby sober club say
What’s that new shop in Salt Lake City’s 9th and 9th neighborhood? A European chocolate drink-maker.
Booze (and Drink!) News
• The finals for Mountain Mixer, Park City’s cocktail competition, were held on Aug. 22, and the winner was a cocktail called Crimson Smoked, created by Adriel Danan at Dos Olas Cantina. The drink is made with mezcal, blood orange puree, calamansi juice, Cointreau and agave syrup, and has a sweet and smoky rim made with sugar, salt and paprika.
— Newsletter written by Kolbie Peterson, The Salt Lake Tribune’s food and drink reporter. The Tribune pays for all of the food written about in this newsletter.
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