Here are ten of my favorite Park City restaurant patios, decks and curbside spots:
The sunny, dog-friendly patio at Hearth and Hill in Kimball Junction is a great spot to enjoy an eclectic array of culinary options that run the gamut from beer-battered cauliflower, empanadas, and shrimp shumai, to coriander-crusted trout, Hawaiian poke bowl, birria tacos, curry farro, and pho. There is truly something for everybody and every palate on the menu at Hearth and Hill.
One of the most beautiful locations for al fresco dining in Park City is at Main Street’s Grappa restaurant. Bill White’s flagship eatery offers guests dining rooms and patios with gorgeous gardens and water features on five different levels from which to enjoy the views from upper Main Street. The food, service and ambiance are top-notch and you’ll definitely want to try the tuna crudo, scallops risotto, and the osso bucco from Grappa’s Italian-leaning menu.
Marvelous mountain views from the sprawling deck complement the killer cuisine at Tupelo Park City, where Owner/Chef Matt Harris deftly weaves the culinary foundation of his Southern roots with an affection and expertise of global flavors, which is probably why he teamed so well with world renowned restaurateur Jean-Georges Vongerichten in the past. Hence, the Tupelo menu ranges from buttermilk biscuits with honey butter and deviled eggs with fried country ham, to roasted duck breast with chilled beets, Park City brie, and strawberry gastrique. The ample free parking at Tupelo is an added bonus.
The newest ― and one of the largest ― restaurant patios in Park City is at The White House; the latest creation of owner Bruce Corrigan’s O’Shucks Restaurant Group. Located at the intersection of Heber Avenue and Park Avenue, The White House serves up sushi, sashimi and nigiri, burgers, tacos, specialty sandwiches, breakfast, and more.
In an interview with Park City’s KPCW, Corrigan said, “We were just excited when we saw that outdoor space. Everyone wants to be outdoors in a ski town, and that’s the biggest patio around from what I can see.”
Don’t let the shopping center location fool you. Twisted Fern is an outstanding Park City restaurant with killer from-scratch cuisine and a surprisingly inviting patio/courtyard for outdoor dining with views of the surrounding mountains. The crisp, clean, modernist decor of a recent remodel pairs beautifully with Chef/Owner Adam Ross’ contemporary cuisine, with dishes like seared Spanish octopus, root vegetable cassoulet, cauliflower Genovese, and a Nashville hot maitake sandwich.
Located on the back side of the Park City Golf Course, and surrounded by hiking and biking trails, Silver Star Cafe affords spectacular views from the large patio and plaza. In summer, live music Thursday through Saturday provides a lovely backdrop for the upscale mountain fare that Silver Star is so well known for. The gooey, cheesy provoleta is a must for sharing, and the vegetarian wild mushroom stroganoff is a perpetual crowd pleaser. Brunch on the sunny patio is a terrific way to spend a part of your Sunday.
Located mid-mountain at Deer Valley Resort’s Silver Lake Lodge, Royal Street Cafe offers lunch guests a sprawling dining deck with stunning mountain views. Consider hiking or biking the lift-served Deer Valley trails to work up a hearty appetite for Royal Street specialties such as firecracker shrimp with honey gochujang aioli; pistachio turkey burger on a Hawaiian bun; duck & truffle fries; and of course, Deer Valley’s famous turkey chili. Afterward, pop into the upstairs Sticky Wicket Bar for a bit of adult après lunch fun.
Sporting one of the liveliest patios in Park City, Blind Dog Restaurant & Raw Bar specializes in satisfying seafood cravings, from sushi and sashimi and fresh shucked oysters, to Fisherman’s stew and mahi mahi with red curry. But there’s plenty to entice meat lovers too, like the half-pound Snake River Farms American Kobe beef burger and Chef/Owner Penny Lehman-Kinsey’s signature “Dreamloaf” ― an upscale take on meatloaf that you won’t soon forget.
The large, rambling patio at Courchevel Bistro is the perfect location for Main Street people watching. French-born Executive Chef Clement Gelas brings some of his Savoie fare to Utah with dishes like the heavenly crozets de Savoie; smoked trout rillettes; Arctic Char bouillabaisse; moules frites; and scrumptious tartiflette. You’ll want to have an ice bucket with a bottle of chilled Champagne nearby when you enjoy dining on the sun-drenched Courchevel patio. The wrap-around deck at Stein Eriksen Lodge and its breathtaking mountain views is the perfect place to enjoy the world-class cuisine of VP of Food & Beverage Operations and Corporate Chef Zane Holmquist. Dishes such as poulet rouge chicken with garam masala potato hash; fennel pollen Spanish turbot; smoked trout croquette with nasturtium; and lobster pot pie with lobster velouté are stupendously delicious edible works of art. For tres private deck dining, book one of the Alpenglobes for dinner.
Feature Image: The White House at Park City.
