Food Reviews
No, honey, it’s good for you. City Dogs
City Dogs is Salt Lake’s premier vegetarian/vegan hot dog cart. Could there be anything niftier than a bike ride downtown on a sunny afternoon made complete with some delicious and healthy lunch eaten while sitting on some grass? Why eat a veggie dog or vegan taco? Well, as my veggie girlfriend says, “We already have the bun, we might as well use it.” … read more
Saigon Subs Invade Redwood Road
Bánh mí (or Saigon subs as they are called in America) are a kind of submarine sandwich, that might also be a rite of passage for a secret society. If you haven’t had one, you don’t know what I’m talking about, and if you have, you probably have buddies with whom you share your passion for this amazing dinner-sized, snack-priced foodie favorite. They are cheap, delicious and like no other sandwich. … read more
Food Review: Bruges
Over a year ago, Belgian restaurateur Pierre Vandamme took the success of his Downtown Farmer’s Market waffle cart and parlayed it into a permanent brick-and-mortar food destination just south of the Gateway Mall. The shop’s attention to detail, use of quality ingredients and kitschy Bruggelingen décor coalesce into a uniquely Belgian eating experience. … read more
Food Review: Meditrina
Meditrina is the ambitious love child of local foodie entrepreneurs and married couple Jennifer Gilroy and Amy Britt. Britt and Gilroy opened the “small plates and wine bar” in November 2008 in the same space where Southern Plantation fried up catfish in the ‘90s. The menu at Meditrina is tapas (small plates) with a thoughtful wine selection and a beer menu that includes some of the new Uinta beers. … read more
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