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10 Years of Stoneground
At this point, the location of Stoneground really shouldn’t be a secret. But since it’s tucked away downtown on the second floor of an older building, one that overlooks the Salt Lake Library and a Trax station, it is easy to drive straight by without ever seeing the large rust-colored sign. In June, Stoneground celebrated its tenth anniversary. And while this is an incredible feat for any restaurant, it is even more impressive when you consider the eatery’s humble beginnings and the adversity it has faced over the past decade. … read more
Bohemian Brewery: The Road Less Traveled
Bohemian Brewery is a homegrown business reimagined from Czechoslovakia to Utah. An alpine feeling brewpub making traditional Czech beers and homey food, Bohemian Brewery makes some of my favorite comfort meals. I go there when I need fried fish or a killer bratwurst. My friends from Vienna and from Romania heartily approve of the food as authentic central European fare. All the food is made fresh on the premises every day, as is the beer. … read more
Food Review: Chow Truck – May 2010
Speaking of stalking, I’ve been stalking the Chow Truck for the past few months. The Chow Truck is a little bit like a bright yellow, wheeled version of the island on the show LOST—it’s considered sacred by some, and it has the ability to move around at will. I started seeing the massive catering truck long before I had the courage to approach it and prior to understanding that there was a website detailing where it would be and when it would be there. … read more
Food Review: Red Iguana – April 2010
When locals want to take their out-of-town guests to a great Salt Lake restaurant, the place where they very often end up is the Red Iguana. One of the most famous and best-loved restaurants in town, the Iguana has, over the years, developed a local cult following and a national reputation. When the City Weekly and Salt Lake Tribune recently did their yearly list of the best restaurants and both omitted the Red Iguana, the outpouring of protest mail was immense and heartfelt. Obviously, this legendary place has personality. … read more
Food Review: Bayleaf Cafe – March 2010
Months ago, I started hearing whisperings of a local soul food restaurant that served chicken and waffles. Where the pairing of fried chicken and a syrup-covered breakfast waffle may seem a little strange to the uninitiated, this eclectic comfort food combination has been standard fare on the menus of traditional African-American restaurants for decades. To experience chicken and waffles in all of its glory, I had to consider the context, I would have to try the dish in the middle of the night, after an evening of dancing and soul music. … read more
The Little World Chinese Restaurant
Located right at the racy hip of State Street, Little World sits like an old buckle on the belt of the city’s tenderloin. Dependable, delicious, and so defiantly small that they even keep the entrance to the wash closets outside. For more than a decade, Little World’s run-down atmosphere and unpretentious, dependably homey Chinese food has attracted big city refugees from both coasts. Recently given a makeover, the cafe’s signature ambiance has been replaced with a newly painted and spiffy atmosphere. … read more
Food Review: Salt Lake Burgers – December 2009
Hires Big H 700 East 400 South (801) 364-4583 www.hiresbigh.com Crown Burgers 377 East 200 South (801) 532-1155 Acme Burger Company 200 West 275 South (801) 257-5700 www.acmeburgercompany.com Mormons don’t have many normal vices. The stringent lifestyle removes alcohol, tobacco and drugs from the mix, and you’d be surprised how little fun gambling and whoring
Atipical
Elegant and simple, Tipica is a project that marries the vision of chef Adam Kreisel with the best ingredients Caputo’s Market has to offer. The pasta is made from locally milled flour, the tomatoes are grown in Cache Valley and the bread is baked right in the neighborhood. … read more
Este: Forks, Ranch, Pineapple and the Red Sox are for...
I’m not sure how closely Este follow the regulations put in place at the original location involving no forks, no ranch, no pineapple and no Red Sox attire, but I am often tempted, when I’ve got my pizza at home, to flip on a Red Sox game, throw some pineapple on top of the pie, grab a knife and fork and dip that fuckin’ slice in some ranch dressing. … read more
Food Review: Road Island Diner
Diners have always held a special place in my heart. Greasy food, handmade desserts and dim lighting—the trifecta of honest road-side eating—have long made me a fan of this style of restaurant. As essential as the food is though, the setting can be even more important. A great burger or a fantastic breakfast special can easily be overshadowed by chintzy décor or a poorly trained wait staff. The opposite can also be true. The right surroundings can make even average food seem immortal. It is in the combination of great food and an incredible atmosphere that the Road Island Diner really shines. … read more
Tires & Tamales
It’s a little confusing at first, going to a tire shop for food, but it makes sense if you think about it. Nothing is worse than being stuck in a waiting room for two hours at lunch time and trying to fill up on Mike and Ikes or rock-hard Skittles while your car is having its tires rotated and balanced, so why not turn the waiting room into a dining area and add a kitchen? That is exactly what Victor Galindo and his wife Elvia did a few years back. … read more
The Bayou: Beer and Fries Please
When the good people over at SLUG asked me to write about The Bayou for the annual Beer Issue, I got a little distracted for a moment, drifting off into the land of “Beervana” with little mugs, goblets and glasses of amber and chocolate liquid dancing around my head. Mmmmm, I love beer. … read more
