Before attending a show at the Eccles Theater in downtown SLC recently, my wife and I popped into one of our favorite neighborhood bistros for a bite to eat: Eva. Named for his great grandmother, Eva Coombs, Chef/Owner Charlie Perry opened Eva in early 2009 and it’s been a popular downtown dine-and-drink spot since Day 1. Perry has said that his passion for organic foods and … [Read more...]
ITALIAN INSPIRATION: A Visit to The Gateway’s New Italian Graffiti
You know the saying “A rolling stone gathers no moss,” right? Well, that can certainly be said of Marc Marrone, partner with Reed Allen Slobusky of Nice Hospitality, who opened HallPass at The Gateway in 2019 and is the founder of SkinnyFATS. Having partnered with Slobusky and Nice Hospitality, Marrone opened Italian Graffiti restaurant at The Gateway a couple weeks ago, in the … [Read more...]
CRANDALL’S CORNER: Another Bourbon Group Hit at Franklin Ave.
Bar loving Utahns can thank the Salt Lake City-based Bourbon Group for bringing an inspired mixture of great cuisine, top-notch libations, and inviting ambiance to our town with establishments like Whiskey Street, Bourbon House, White Horse Spirits & Kitchen, and now, Franklin Ave. Cocktails & Kitchen, which opened in mid-summer. All of these places help to raise the … [Read more...]
GARDEN PARTY Awesome Al Fresco at Nona Bistro
When a friend told me about the recent quiet opening of Nona Bistro on 900 South in Salt Lake City, I was eager to check it out. The reason for my enthusiasm is that Nona Bistro is the creation of Will and Emily McMaster, co-owners of one of the best pizzerias in Utah, Pizza Nono. Emily, of course, is also the owner and designer of her very successful Mabo kids clothing … [Read more...]
LAZIZ 2.0 Midvale’s New Laziz Kitchen
When partners Derek Kitchen and Moudi Sbeity opened Laziz Kitchen in 2016, it was an instant hit - a friendly neighborhood restaurant serving outstanding Middle Eastern and Mediterranean cuisine, with a leaning towards Lebanon, in a warm and inviting atmosphere. Fast forward to 2022 and there’s a brand spanking new Laziz Kitchen, this one in Midvale. Think of it as Laziz … [Read more...]
PIZZA PERFECT: A Trio of Can’t-Miss Pizza Joints
I’ve written numerous times about excellent pizza purveyors in our area, and you can find those in the online archives at the Utah Stories website. This week, I’m just doing a quick take on three pizza places that I really love but haven’t written about, and which might not yet be on your radar. Fellow food writer Alex Springer brought Victor’s Pizza Co. … [Read more...]
A TASTE OF BRAZIL: The Churrasco Experience at Tucanos Brazilian Grill
During graduate school as I was working on a PhD dissertation in anthropology, I took time off to travel to Brazil to study the Brazilian martial art called capoeira. It was in Rio de Janeiro during my time at Mestre Camisa’s capoeira school that I got my first churrasco experience. It’s a popular dining style in the southern states of Brazil, usually called churrasco … [Read more...]
FORTRESS OF FLAVOR: Red Fort’s Vibrant Indian Cuisine
Ever heard of India’s Red Fort? Me neither. But with the help of Google, I learned that what is called the Red Fort was originally built as the palace fort of Shahjahanabad - the new capital of the fifth Mughal Emperor of India, Shah Jahan. It got its name from the formidable walls that enclose the Red Fort complex, made of red sandstone. What prompted me to dig into a … [Read more...]
DON’T WORRY, BE HAPPY: Grand America’s Happiest Hours
A couple of months ago I reviewed The Grand America’s wonderful new restaurant, Laurel Brasserie & Bar. It is a killer addition to the downtown SLC dining scene and maybe most surprising: it’s affordable. Well, even more affordable are the Happy Hour specials at Laurel’s bar, which I was barely able to touch on in my previous review since I had so much else to say about the … [Read more...]
APPLAUSE WORTHY CUISINE: A Delightful Dinner at Oquirrh Restaurant
As someone who is married to a restaurateur, I’ve never quite understood how marriages survive with couples working together in the same restaurant. But then, I guess that could be said of any business. I’m pretty sure working alongside my wife would not end well, because I would drive her crazy. But there are couples who make this situation work, like Angie and Andrew (Drew) … [Read more...]