5 New Dining & Drinking Spots in Salt Lake
Salt Lake’s vibrant dining and nightlife scene got a lot more interesting in the past six months with five new openings. They range from casual boites with excellent chefs at the helm to hipster havens that are perfect for après ski, before a show at the Eccles Center or after a Utah Jazz game. The sage advice is to hit the slopes hard and then return to downtown Salt Lake for some cutting edge fare and liquid refreshment.
White Horse Spirits & Kitchen – At this modern American Brasserie, fried stuffed olives and a full oyster bar lead to shared plates of house charcuterie and PB&J (that’s Berkshire pork belly, with bourbon maple onion jam, brioche, radish and apple), before moving on to steak Lyonnaise or roasted organic salmon. White Horse, located in the heart of downtown, has an eye-opening list of beer, bourbons, digestifs and ciders.
Lake Effect – The cool kids are already hanging out at this sleek spot close to the Salt Palace Convention Center, where mixology rules and live music (blues and jazz predominate) is on tap most nights. Small plates, tapas, tacos, salads, burgers and sandwiches dominate the relaxed menu, with a few entrees on offer for larger appetites. The wall of liquor behind the bar shows they’re serious about pairing great food with cocktail offerings to satiate every appetite.
Founded in Salt Lake City in 1884, the long-defunct Fisher Brewing Company has been brought back to life as an employee-owned craft brewery. Located in the Granary District of Salt Lake City, they serve a selection of ales and lagers (their IPA just debuted) on draft in their brewery taproom. The coolest part is their dining option: every day, a different food truck bellies up to the brewery. One day it’s tacos, the next day Chinese, the following day raclette or perhaps Korean. Their website lists the visiting truck of the day.
Vegans now have a classy hangout in Salt Lake at Seasons, which serves “classically inspired gourmet plant-based comfort food.” Italian fare is the inspiration, at an eatery where dishes like Bacon Carbonara (fresh in-house fettucine, smoky mushroom bacon, savory carbonara cream sauce, fresh herbs, parmesan and tomatoes) and Tofu Picata (breaded tofu filets, whipped garlic mashed potatoes, roasted seasonal vegetables, fresh herbs, crispy capers and creamy lemon beurre blanc) are on order. There’s a small beer, wine and bubbly selection at this restaurant, which is located about one mile south of downtown.
Table-X – The space south of Sugar House is a showstopper, a barrel-roofed warehouse that once served as a cheese factory. Chefs Mike Blocher, Nick Fahs and David Barboza create artful but casual fare, focused on local meats and produce, and even the restaurant’s own garden. Come here to savor Jones Creek Beef Bavette Steak with salsify, leek & black garlic jus or Intermountain Gourmet Mushrooms house kimchi, daikon radish and tofu-sesame salad. There’s a five-course tasting menu to consider as well. Finish with Last Year’s Blueberries, with Meyer lemon pudding, candied almond and citrus ash. The wine list has some fine choices from France Italy, Spain and Oregon to complement the dining experience.
