REVIEWS

RESTAURANT IN A NUTSHELL RATING PRICE NOISE KID FRIENDLY Acme Burger Co. 275 S. 200 West, Salt Lake City Acme has a hit on its hands with upscale burgers of grass-fed beef, lamb and salmon. Sides are as worthy as entrees. $$ YES Alta Lodge Alta Resort, Little Cottonwood Canyon, Alta Feast on good food, take in the scenery and enjoy the company of good friends. $$ NO Aristo's 224 S. 1300 East, Salt Lake City Solid upscale Greek fare. A jolt of creativity would add to an already great meal. Interesting Greek wine selections. $$ YES Asian Star 7588 S. Union Park Ave., Midvale A modern, expansive Chinese restaurant with a concise menu and good cooks in the kitchen. $$ YES Bambara 202 S. Main St., Salt Lake City This downtown destination restaurant exceeds in decor and service but the kitchen could show moderation in some of the dishes. $$$ NO Baxter's American Restaurant 400 W. South Temple, Salt Lake City The decor and food are colorful with humorous touches to the American menu -- an improvement from its previous Asian incarnation. $$ YES Beehive Tea Room 12 W. Broadway (300 South), Salt Lake City A fun, casual but cozy place to sip tea and eat biscuits or even plan a wedding. $ -- Biaggi's 194 S. 400 West, Salt Lake City A variety of traditional Italian food, wines, good service and reasonable prices that make it a good pick for a date or a casual dinner. $$ -- Big City Pizza 235 S. 400 West, Salt Lake City The imaginative pizza may make some purists cringe, but they serve some unusual but addictive toppings such as spinach pancetta. $ YES Blind Dog Grill, The 1781 Sidewinder Drive, Park City Come enjoy the doggy decorations while eating fresh sushi and delicious steaks. Extensive wine list. $$$ -- Bloomin Roses 880 E. 9400 South, Sandy Quick and easy service. Try a hearty made-to-order sandwich or the daily comfort-food special, then finish it off with dessert. $ -- Blue Boar Inn 1235 Warm Springs Road, Midway Charming Swiss-style family-owned inn offers good food at fair prices in an extraordinary setting. $$$ NO Blue Plate Diner 2041 S. 2100 East, Salt Lake City A neighborhood favorite for breakfast but not really worth a wait. $ YES Bohemian Brewery & Grill 94 E. Fort Union Blvd., Midvale A charmingly idiosyncratic brewery that takes food pairing seriously. Professional service. $$ YES Bombay House 2731 E. Parleys Way, Salt Lake City An old Indian favorite has lost flavor and charm in its new location. $$ YES Bonsai Japanese Steak House & Sushi Bar 1977 E. Murray-Holladay Rd., Holladay Mediocre and pricey food doesn't detract from having a good time by being entertained by utensil-throwing chefs. $$$ YES Boulevard 2335 E. Murray-Holladay Road, Holladay This fine-dining establishment in the heart of Holladay does a lot of things right but too many missteps mar an otherwise memorable meal. $$$ YES Brookside Broiler & Grill 1166 E. 2100 South, Salt Lake City A pretty location with a family-friendly menu featuring a Mongolian grill. $$ YES Butcher's Chop House 751 Main St., Park City Steaks and chops. Great wine selection. $$$ YES Cabela's High Uinta Restaurant and Grill 2502 W. Grand Terrace Parkway, Lehi Cafeteria with an exotic menu of ostrich, wild boar and more. Traditional items include pizza, chili and biscuits and gravy. $ YES Cafe Anh Hong 1465 S. State St., Salt Lake City Good Cantonese dishes and delicious dim sum. Dim sum selection is larger on the weekends. $ YES Cafe Madrid 2080 E. 3900 South, Salt Lake City Good Spanish fare, including gazpacho and beef tenderloin with blue cheese cream sauce. Reasonable prices would ensure return customers. $$$ NO Cafe Trang 1442 E. 12300 South, Draper Asian favorites like spring rolls, caramel pork and sweet and hot mango fish. Also a lot of vegetarian options. $$ -- Cafe Trang 307 W. 200 South, Salt Lake City This mainly Vietnamese restaurant, with other locations in Draper and Park City, tries to do Pan-Asian with mixed results. $$ YES Cafe Trio Cottonwood 6405 S. 3000 East, Cottonwood Heights Sleek, Euro-minimalist design with a modern Italian trattoria menu that reads better than it tastes. $$ YES Caffe Molise 55 W. 100 South, Salt Lake City Downtown veteran could pare down its Italian menu in order execute flawless dishes. Reasonably priced wine list. $$$ NO Caffe Niche 779 E. 300 South, Salt Lake City A stylish all-purpose cafe with an approchable menu. Weekend brunch and fun wine list a bonus. $ YES Cannella's 204 E. 500 South, Salt Lake City A remodel and menu tweaks make this well-established family restaurant even better. $$$ YES Caputo's Deli 308 W. 300 South, Salt Lake City One of Salt Lake's premier food destinations, featuring Italian, southern French and Mediterranean delicacies. $ YES Carl's Cafe 2336 E. 7000 South, Cottonwood Heights This veteran breakfast and lunch place thrives with a no-nonsense menu. Friendly and accommodating staff. $ YES Carlucci's Bakery 314 W. 300 South, Salt Lake City A great Italian bakery with sandwiches as good as the bread and pastries. $ YES Cedars of Lebanon 152 E. 200 South, Salt Lake City Eat on couches in the beautiful Casbah room and enjoy the belly dancers. But be prepared to wait for a subpar meal; service is slow. $$ YES Chanon Thai Cafe 278 E. 900 South, Salt Lake City Always popular for lunch with $6.95 specials, it's also a worthy jaunt for an affordable delicious Thai dinner. $ YES Chef's Table 2005 State St., Orem This is Orem's "fine dining" destination. Not very crowded unless it is prom season. Boasts a romantic setting. $$$ -- Chez Betty 1637 Short Line Drive, Park City With a fiercely loyal clientele of seasonal residents, this Park City veteran has great service and consistently good food. $$$$ NO Cinegrill 344 S. 300 East, Salt Lake City This iconic Salt Lake landmark thrives despite mediocre "Old World" Italian food. Live piano music livens up the place. $$ YES Citris Grill 2991 E. 3300 South, Salt Lake City A restaurant with an all-star lineup for breakfast, lunch and dinner. $$ -- Club Tuscany 2832 E. 6200 South, Holladay Smaller prices and portions. Cozy atmosphere. Excellent wine selection. $$ -- Colosimo's Sausage 8745 S. 700 East, Sandy This eclectic deli, cafe and market offers spicy sausage or meatball sandwiches, frozen entrees. $ -- Confetti's 4751 S. Holladay Blvd., Holladay Many Mediterranean dishes on the menu, encompassing specialties from Italy, North Africa and the Middle East. $$ YES Creekside Restaurant Solitude Mountain Resort, Solitude Creekside's copious menu could be pared down and executed better. Then it would have great food and a brilliant view going for it. $$$ YES Cucina Toscana 307 W. Pierpont Ave., Salt Lake City A bustling cosmopolitan trattoria. Pasta dishes and tableside Caesar salad are impressive. Service is stellar once you're seated. $$$ YES Davanza's 690 Park Ave., Park City Though the Mucker Supreme is a party-hearty feast on a pizza crust, we can't say the pizza offerings are our favorites. $ YES Desert Bistro 1266 N. Highway 191, Moab A good option for fine dining in Moab, although not every dish lives up to its billing -- and price. $$$ YES E Jo Korean BBQ Restaurant 3250 S. 700 East, Salt Lake City Pleasant service and Korean cuisine including hot pot. $$ -- East-Sea Restaurant 3695 S. Redwood Road, West Valley City Two locations serve up Vietnamese and Chinese fare including six selections of pho. $ -- Eggs in the City 1675 E. 1300 South, Salt Lake City It's no wonder this hip breakfast and lunch place is so popular. Spot-on, cordial and obliging service. $ YES El Chubasco 1890 Bonanza Drive, Park City Inexpensive, delicious Mexican food. -- -- Em's 271 N. Center St., Salt Lake City This charming place on Capitol Hill has a well-crafted, seasonal menu. Numerous wines by the glass encourage food pairings. $$ NO Epic Casual Dining 707 E. Fort Union Blvd., Midvale Greatest hits of current trends on and off the plate. Simple artichoke appetizer succeeds. Perfunctory service. $$ NO Faustina 454 E. 300 South, Salt Lake City A stylish spot serving inventive upscale food with its roots in American cooking and its attitude edgy. $$$ NO Finn's 1624 S. 1100 East, Salt Lake City A reborn Finn's caters to the breakfast and lunch crowd. The bustling place still has kinks to work out. $ YES Five Alls 1458 Foothill Drive, Salt Lake City If you don't already love Five Alls, don't try it unless you are dying for tired food in a corny olde English decor. $$$ YES Five Star Cuisine 3361 S. Redwood Road, West Valley City Ask for the longer Chinese version of the menu and discover many delightful, out-of-the-ordinary, dishes. $$ YES Five Star Restaurant 268 S. State St., Salt Lake City Thai and Chinese cuisines. Great selection of specialty drinks. $$ -- Franck's 6263 S. Holladay Blvd., Holladay Franck's deserves its standing in the top tier of Salt Lake dining, offering a seasonal menu ranging from French bistro to American fare. $$$ NO Fresco Italian Cafe 1513 S. 1500 East, Salt Lake City Charming and quaint. Inventive semi-Italian cuisine. Nice wine list. Attentive service. $$$ NO Gandolfo's New York Delicatessen 719 E. 2100 South, Salt Lake City Great subs, the menu is organized by meats. Hot or cold subs. Whole or half sandwich options, pasta salad and cheesecake. $ YES Garden Espresso 917 E. Vine St. (6000 South), Murray A quiet garden spot, the perfect place to enjoy a simple, casual lunch. $ -- Ghidotti's Italian Restaurant 6030 N. Market, Redstone Village, Kimball Junction Problems with food temperatures and inferior service detract from what could be a fine-dining experience. Impressive wine list. $$$ NO Glitretind at Stein Eriksen 7700 Stein Way, Park City One of the best restaurants in Utah, in a quiet sort of way. Extensive wine list. $$$$ NO Grappa 151 Main St., Park City One of Park City's best: unpretentious atmosphere, inventive cooking and good service. $$$$ NO Hagermann's Bakehouse Café 684 E. 11400 South, Draper A cafe that revolves around fresh bread for breakfast, lunch and dinner. $ -- Hapa Grill 1571 W. Redstone Center Drive, Park City Asian food with a hint of Hawaii. Artful presentation of fresh sushi. $$$ YES Hector's Miramar 342 W. 1300 South, Salt Lake City From traditional to coastal Mexican fare, Hector Miramar's food is some of Salt Lake's best. $$ -- Himalayan Kitchen 73 E. 400 South, Salt Lake City Low-key, casual dining. Try the Nepalese specialties like chicken thukpa -- soup laced with noodles. $$ YES Hong Kong Tea House & Restaurant Inc. 565 W. 200 South, Salt Lake City Great dim sum and tea selection make this out-of-the-way restaurant worth seeking out. $$ YES House of Bread 2005 E. 2700 South, Salt Lake City This bakery offers crusty delights, plus muffins, soups and sandwiches. $ -- House of Kabob and Ouida's Lounge 268 S. Main St., Salt Lake City Food was a real disappointment during a recent lunch at this Greek-Persian-Turkish restaurant. Kitchen suffers from many missteps. $$ YES Indochine Vietnamese Bistro 230 S. 1300 East, Salt Lake City Not just a noodle house or chained to Chinese items, this Vietnamese eatery offers stir-fries, curries and French-inspired entrees. $$ YES Jean Louis Restaurant & Bar 136 Heber Ave., Park City Fab French chef, Jean-Louis Montecot, formerly of Goldener-Hirsch, goes out on his own with an eclectic menu. $$$ NO Kyoto 1080 E. 1300 South, Salt Lake City Terrific tempura, good sushi and excellent service have ensured long life for this charming Japanese restaurant. $$ YES La 35 1576 W. 3500 South, West Valley City Made-from-scratch Mexican food in bare-bones digs. Expect lots of flavor. $ YES La Caille 9565 Wasatch Blvd., Sandy Very elaborate dining atmosphere. A place fit for special occasions. The food needs work. $$$$ NO La Morena Cafe 1458 W. North Temple, Salt Lake City The original restaurant was opened in 1967. The new location offers much of the same menu. Try the chile verde and chile rellenos. $ -- La-Cai Noodle House 961 S. State St., Salt Lake City Very nice atmosphere. Four varieties of pho in addition to a well-rounded Vietnamese menu. $$ YES Lamb's Grill Cafe 169 S. Main St., Salt Lake City A kitchy restaurant is a Utah original. The place has a lot of history and makes the food an afterthought. $$ YES Left Fork Grill 68 W. 3900 South, South Salt Lake Great lunch items in a classic diner tradition but with exceptional execution like meatloaf, Reubens and numerous pies. $ YES Les Madeleines Patisserie & Cafe 216 E. 500 South, Salt Lake City Using only the best ingredients, items are baked each day depending on what's fresh and in season. Shatteringly flaky croissants. $ -- Log Haven 6451 E. Creek Canyon Rd., Salt Lake City Comfortable rustic mountain setting with great service makes this a Utah favorite. Food should be stellar but needs work. $$$$ NO Lugano 3364 S. 2300 East, Salt Lake City Chef-owner Greg Neville continues to turn out lusty Northern Italian food at this successful, somewhat noisy restaurant. $$ YES MacCool's Public House 1400 S. Foothill Drive, Salt Lake City About as Irish as you can get in the Beehive State, with classics like shepherd's pie, pierogies and bangers and mash. $$ -- Mandarin 348 E. 900 North, Bountiful This popular overdecorated restaurant serves its own peculiar interpretation of Chinese food that relies on a lot of sweetener. $$ YES Marcello's Ristorante Italiano 375 N. Main St., Bountiful Quirks and a bit of charm abound at this family restaurant where the red sauce and faux foliage are abundant. $$ YES Market Street Broiler 260 S. 1300 East, Salt Lake City A university-dependent Gastronomy restaurant, the menu is all-things seafood. Kitchen needs to be more consistent in its execution. $$$ YES Market Street Grill Cottonwood 2985 E. Cottonwood Prkwy., Cottonwood Heights A Gastronomy-owned charming restaurant, the menu is all-things seafood. Kitchen needs to be more consistent in its execution. $$$ YES Market Street Grill Downtown 48 W. Market Street (350 South), Salt Lake City A Gastronomy-owned charming restaurant, the menu is all-things seafood. Kitchen needs to be more consistent in its execution. $$$ YES Market Street Oyster Bar Cottonwood 2985 E. Cottonwood Pkwy., Cottonwood Heights A private club attached to Market Street Grill, the menu is all-things seafood. Kitchen needs to be more consistent in its execution. $$$ -- Market Street Oyster Bar Downtown 54 W. Market Street (350 South), Salt Lake City A private club attached to Market Street Grill, the menu is all-things seafood. Kitchen needs to be more consistent in its execution. $$$ -- Martine 22 E. 100 South, Salt Lake City Sophisticated surroundings serving up imaginative small plates like Moroccan braised beef. $$ NO Mayan Adventure 35 E. 9270 South, Sandy It's heavy on the adventure, weak on the dining. Mexican and American entrees offer mediocre sustenance for above-average prices. $$ YES Mazza 1515 S. 1500 East, Salt Lake City One of Salt Lake City's treasures. This tiny, but crowded, Lebanese cafe serves up a delicious, ambitious menu. $$ YES Mazza 912 E. 900 South, Salt Lake City This second Mazza location hits the mark with delicious Middle Eastern fare. Professional service. Interesting wine list. $$ YES Metropolitan 173 W. Broadway (300 South), Salt Lake City This smart-looking restaurant should focus on the basics before it can be considered a premier fine-dining establishment. $$$$ NO Mi Ranchito Grill 9560 S. State St., Sandy Non-alcoholic mixed drinks. Great Mexican food. $$ -- Michelangelo Ristorante 2156 S. Highland Drive, Salt Lake City Above-average Italian fare in the basement of a business complex. Service needs minor adjustments. $$ YES Mikado 6572 S. Big Cottonwood Canyon Road, Cottonwood Heights Lunch and dinner menus offer plenty of traditional Japanese and sushi selections, though some are pricey. $$ YES Mikado (Naked Fish) 67 W. 100 South, Salt Lake City While the fish is pristine and the atmosphere is inviting, service needs attention to make for a pleasurable dining experience. $$ NO Millcreek Cafe & Eggworks 3084 E. 3300 South, Salt Lake City This hip Millcreek eatery offers traditional breakfast fare and updated lunch items. $ YES Monsoon Thai Bistro 1615 S. Foothill Blvd., Salt Lake City Monsoon Thai takes its wine list as seriously as its curries; to dine here is to revel in the combination of the two. $$ YES Moochie's Meatballs and More 232 E. 800 South, Salt Lake City Kitchen in the back of Circle Pottery. Sandwiches and lasagne. $ -- Myung-Ga Tofu House & Korean BBQ 1839 W. 3500 South, West Valley City Delicous soft tofu soups and barbecued meat dishes at this friendly, no-nonsense Korean restaurant. $$ YES New Golden Dragon 1518 S. Main St., Salt Lake City Ho-hum Cantonese menu is bolstered by fairly good dim sum. Salt-baked crab and green beans with ground pork and shrimp are standouts. $$ YES New Yorker, The 60 W. Market St. (350 South), Salt Lake City The kitchen sets the pace at The New Yorker, still one of Salt Lake City's finest, even with '70s atmosphere and amateurish service. $$$$ NO Nick's Cafe 1600 Snow Creek Drive, Park City Delicious Greek food, from appetizers and lemon-chicken soup to baklava, plus all of the lesser-known specialties in between. $$ -- Nina's Original NY Pizzeria & Juice Bar 858 N. 700 East, Provo There are breakfast items and sandwiches but pizza is supreme -- epic in proportion with a pretty decent crust. Fresh juice bar a plus. $ YES No Worries Cafe and Grill 185 Aspen Drive, Summit Park No Worries is a pleasant, relaxing stop for a filling, reasonably priced breakfast or lunch. $ -- Nostalgia 248 E. 100 South, Salt Lake City The comfortable sofas invite guests to have a seat and the local art work inside adds to the interior. Menu includes soups and sandwiches. $ -- Oasis Cafe 151 S. 500 East, Salt Lake City Exciting visually pleasing dishes. Healthy food. Many vegetarian and vegan options. Meat is still on the menu. $$ -- Oh Sushi 2015 E. 3300 South, Salt Lake City Roll- and sashimi-lovers will find heaven in this popular Millcreek sushi joint if they can withstand the spotty service. $$ YES Omar's Living Cuisine 2148 S. Highland Dr., Salt Lake City One of the few places to find raw food, vegans and omnivores can find something to refresh and recharge. $$ YES One World Cafe 41 S. 300 East, Salt Lake City Denise Cerreta and crew fix something new every day. Serve yourself what you want in the portions you want. -- -- Original Pancake House, The 790 E. 2100 South, Salt Lake City All the food is made from scratch with over 20 kinds of pancakes. -- YES Painted Pony 2 W. St. George Blvd. (Ancestor Square), St. George This Southern Utah gem should be praised for sustainability and seasonality. The eclectic menu aims to please, but some execution is off. $$$ YES Panache 299 S. Main St., Suite 250, Salt Lake City Good wood-fired pizzas and pasta dishes. Excellent service. $$ -- Paris Bistro, The 1500 S. (Emerson) 1500 East, Salt Lake City The Paris is inching to perfection but its French fare isn't there yet. Best bets include pan-seared duck and salads. $$$ YES Park Cafe, The 604 E. 1300 South, Salt Lake City Mom-and-pop diner serving hearty breakfasts and simple lunch at affordable prices. $ -- Pasillas 185 S. Main, Kamas The trendy and colorful Pasillas, serving its unique mix of spicy food and warm atmosphere, is popular among locals and regulars. $$ -- Pat's Barbecue & Catering Co. 155 W. Commonwealth Ave. (2125 South), South Salt Lake Seriously good barbecue, especially "burnt ends" at lunch on Fridays. Pulled pork, baked beans and cornbread also standout. $$ YES Patio at Emigration Market, The 1706 E. 1300 South, Salt Lake City Neighborhood market-turned-eatery offers a new place to eat on the east side -- and breakfast lasts all day. $ YES Pawit's Royale Thai Cuisine 1968 E. Murray-Holladay Road, Salt Lake City If glitches in dish execution and timing were remedied, this Thai restaurant could stand out from the crowd. $$ YES Pazzo Deli and Market 2005 E. 2700 South, Salt Lake City The place for a quiet lunch, early dinner, coffee shop or gourmet market and gift shop. Try the meatball sandwich. $ -- Pei Wei Asian Diner 1028 E. 2100 South, Salt Lake City Faster and less crowded than P.F. Chang's. Almost the same food, totally different atmosphere. $ -- Pho Bien Hoa 4146 S. 1785 West, Taylorsville Clean spacious lime green interior is fun and casual. Very good beef noodle soup and chicken noodle soup. $ YES Pho Cali 1631 W. 3500 South, West Valley City Small and large bowls of inexpensive pho. Bare-bones setting. -- YES Pho Green Papaya 2000 W. 3500 South, West Valley City An extensive menu full of delicious Vietnamese items at this West Valley City eatery. $$ YES Pho Hoa 3460 S. Redwood Road, West Valley City The Utah location of a worldwide chain offers a bright and upbeat atmosphere. The menu is helpful to pho beginners. -- YES Pho Saigon Noodle House 1830 W. 3500 South, West Valley City This charming place has booth seating and big bowls of pho. $ YES Pie Pizzeria, The 1320 E. 200 South, Salt Lake City Remember college? You will, here. The pizza may not be the best in the city but the Pie is one of the best pizzerias around. $ YES Pinon 2095 E. 1300 South, Salt Lake City Friendly atmosphere, delicious pastries, fresh salads and sandwiches make this a nice stop for breakfast, lunch or an early dinner. $ -- Pistol Pete's Mexican Bistro 2477 E. Fort Union Blvd, Salt Lake City Casual and inexpensive, with fast-food service of tacos, burritos and enchiladas that are out of the ordinary. $ -- Pizzeria 712 320 S. State St., Ste. 147, Orem Extraordinary pizza and small plates based on the best seasonal ingredients. $$ YES Porcupine Pub & Grille 3698 E. 7000 South, Cottonwood Heights Burgers, sandwiches, salads and weekend brunch. Two dozen beers on tap. $$ -- Primo 2350 E. 7000 South, Cottonwood Heights Primo has managed to thrive for years, proof that diners value its service and comfortable ambience, even if menu is predictable. $$$ YES Provisions Deli and Coffee Shop 30 N. Main St., Kamas Homey, small-town cafe featuring sandwiches, scones, wraps and drinks. $ -- Q4U Hickory-Smoked Bar-b-que 3951 W. 5400 South, Taylorsville Best "que" in the valley has moved to a new location in Taylorsville. Check back in the future for a dining update. $ YES Red Iguana 736 W. North Temple, Salt Lake City This veteran gem of a restaurant continues to serve consistently good Mexican cuisine. Professional service. Great margaritas. $ YES Red Rock Brewing Co. 254 S. 200 West, Salt Lake City Good food and service. Traditional pub-fare includes pizza and sandwiches. Also salads, pasta and vegetarian options. $$ YES Robin's Nest, The 311 S. Main St., Salt Lake City Well-prepared sandwiches such as the "Rooster Call" -- chicken salad with cashews and red grapes. Popular soups include the potato leek. $ -- Roma Ristorante 5468 S. 900 East, Murray This beloved eatery has found a new home, continuing to offer good service and homey Italian fare. $$$ YES Roosters 253 25th St., Ogden Good food and beer are the best reasons to visit. Best bets: baked cheese, artichoke and crab dip; pizzas. $$ -- Royal India 10263 S. 1300 East, Sandy Delicious southern Indian cuisine featuring biryanis, curries and tandoori dishes. $$ YES Ruth's Chris Steak House 134 W. Pierpont Ave., Salt Lake City