Located in Salt Lake City's east side, the Red Butte Cafe offers its guests a special chance to enjoy high-end, casual eating. Combing a laid-back atmosphere with top-notch foods, Red Butte Cafe has invented an eclectic/ Southwestern menu comprised of tasty items, all offered at a moderate price. Enjoy a brunch and a cup of coffee, or a glass of wine over lunch or dinner. Or come in between mealtimes and enjoy a dessert with an espresso and a conversation with friends. The dessert menu at the Red Butte Cafe exceeds the ordinary ice cream-and-cake selection; Red Butte's bakery offers a dozen or more truly unique and delicious items at any given time.
Local Expert tip: At the Red Butte Cafe, it is a shame to not save room for dessert!
A locally owned and operated restaurant, this modern American restaurant brings healthy, inventive and delicious cuisine to the eastern side of the Salt Lake Valley. New in 2012, Flora serves artisan fare crafted with locally grown ingredients, and an accompanying beer and wine selection. Fresh and bold flavor combinations bring out the best attributes of the high-quality, whole ingredients used in each dish. Try any of their homemade pastas, Cajun pork spring rolls, goat cheese and kale ravioli, roasted beets tower or the New York strip with a jalape?o-maple bourbon glaze. No matter your selection, your meal will begin with a complimentary side of homemade bread and olive oil with fresh herbs.
Local Expert tip: Flora is a family-friendly establishment and offers a special kids' menu.
The aptly named Oasis Cafe is a hidden retreat in the heart of Salt Lake City. Located beside the Golden Braid Bookstore, this restaurant offers not only a treat for the food seeker's taste buds, but also a quiet place in which to relax. Serving handcrafted foods featuring the finest, freshest ingredients possible, the Oasis Cafe offers creative, locally-inspired cuisine designed to be as refreshing and delicious as it is nutritious. Believing in the Local First mentality, the Oasis Cafe utilizes Utah-made ingredients whenever possible. Though the Oasis Cafe has a very favorable reputation among Salt Lake City's vegetarians, this restaurant also proudly serves many meat dishes.
Local Expert tip: The Oasis Cafe is a proud part of the Craft Beer Movement, serving Utah beers ahead of others.
"Handcrafted New American Cuisine" is Metropolitan's claim to fame, along with their tasty, tapas-sized dishes served in an elegantly modern dining room - set within a renovated warehouse. In business since 1995, this locally-owned eatery clearly has been doing something right. Both casual and upscale dining are available in this sophisticated place, depending on your preference. Exquisite appetizers include a Maytag blue cheese crepe souffle; main course fare is built around perfectly prepared rabbit, scallops, caribou, elk, quail, and local trout. Finish up with chocolate pomegranate roulade or just-right Dutch apple pie. The Metropolitan offers more than 30 wines by the glass and over 200 bottles.
Local Expert tip: The Metropolitan uses locally grown, seasonal, organic ingredients whenever possible.
The Copper Onion is one of the new additions to the growing Utah foodie scene. Former NYC chef (and native Utahan) Ryan Lowder now brings his personal take on New American cuisine to his own kitchen with an approach inspired by his passion for Utah's outstanding farmstead ingredients and his experience as a chef cooking his way through Barcelona, NYC and South America. The Copper Onion serves a wide array of vegetable side dishes and a menu designed to explore and share, with plates such as Ricotta dumplings with lemon, sage and brown butter and Braised Pork Belly with shaved Brussels sprouts and pickled celeriac. Entrees include Fresh house-made papparedelle with lamb ragout and Duck Confit with butternut squash and roasted mushroom caps. An insistent focus on the freshest and best is paramount; sausages and burgers are ground daily, bread is baked and ice cream is made in house, offering casual diners an exceptional experience at affordable prices.
Local Expert tip: Order plenty of side dishes, and share with the table.
If you're looking for farm-fresh, artisan food, Pago is your number-one choice in the Salt Lake City area. Whether you're looking for brunch, lunch or dinner, you can expect a diverse menu filled with tantalizing meat and vegetarian dishes of the New American persuasion. Constantly seeking the finest in locally produced foods, Pago offers an ever-changing menu to match the seasons and their fruits. Located in the heart of the hip 9th and 9th neighborhood, this restaurant occupies a renovated space in an historic building. A highly decorated eatery, Pago has received awards from Best of State, City Weekly Best of Utah, OpenTable.com and Wine Enthusiast Magazine.
Local Expert tip: Offering 20 wines by the glass, Pago received the 100 Best Wine Restaurants distinction from Wine Enthusiast Magazine in 2012.