Year
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Best Brunch Spot
Ruth's Diner
Now entering it's 87th year in business—making it one of the oldest restaurants in Utah—Ruth's is the definition of a mainstay. Located just a short drive up Emigration Canyon, the diner offers an unbeatable, downhome brunch experience. Take shelter in the colder months indoors, warm up with a cup o' joe and nosh on their famous Mile-High biscuits and gravy. Along with traditional breakfast options, be sure to try contemporary dishes such as Erik's raspberry chicken, a lunch favorite. (MS)
4160 Emigration Canyon Road, 801-582-5807, ruthsdiner.com
2nd place: Roots Café
3rd place: Lucky 13
Best Atmosphere
La Caille
Nestled at the mouth of Little Cottonwood is one of the most elegant and extravagant dining experiences you'll have in your lifetime. Even the commute up the driveway as you pass the gardens and trees is a delight in and of itself, and during the warmer months, musters of peacocks roam freely across the greens. Inside the French restaurant, you'll find an abundance of unparalleled charm. Finally, the menu—laden with items like stuffed Maine lobster, grilled rack of lamb and Halibut Basquaise—seals the deal. (MS)
9565 Wasatch Blvd., Sandy, 801-942-1751, lacaille.com
2. Log Haven
3. The Cliff Dining Pub
Best Breakfast
Penny Ann's Café
The people have spoken: The best breakfast in the 801 is Penny Ann's, a quaint café with SLC, Draper and Taylorsville locations. If you're new to Penny Ann's, be sure to try the famous light and airy Heavenly Hot Cakes, which are prepared with a special ingredient: sour cream. If your palate isn't satisfied by the skillet, Penny Ann's thick and juicy bacon with eggs never disappoints. (MS)
Multiple locations, pennyannscafe.com
2. Ruth's Diner
3. Eggs in the City
Best Desserts
Gourmandise The Bakery
Gourmandise now has back-to-back victories in the dessert category, and it's easy to see why: The bakery has a seemingly endless array of tasty tarts, pastries and cakes that can satisfy any palate. Patience is a sweet virtue here, as it's usually jam-packed full of patrons sinking their teeth into one of many pastries, cakes and and small plates during lunch and dinner times, though the wait is always worth it. (MS)
250 S. 300 East, 801-328-3330, gourmandisethebakery.com
2. City Cakes Bakery & Café
3. Bake 360
Best Chinese Restaurant
Mandarin
Nearing 40 years of operation, Mandarin has earned its good reputation. The Bountiful establishment has won countless Best of Utah Awards in that time period, as well as other local and national accolades. Not sure where to start? With 100 items on the menu, we don't blame you. Try devouring a plate of the hugely popular honey walnut shrimp, or the Mediterranean lamb (a blend of Greek and Chinese influences)—the epitome of Mandarin. (MS)
348 E. 900 North, Bountiful, 801-298-2406, mandarinutah.com
2. Red Maple
3. Golden Dragon
Best Gluten-Free
Zest Kitchen & Bar
The high-end downtown Salt Lake City vegan eatery is so damned good, you might just consider making the lifestyle change after you leave. Zest is as fresh and organic as it gets. They practice a farm-to-mouth mentality, sourcing ingredients from local farmers and producers. Wash your meal down with a refreshing beet sangría or a berry lavender lemonade cocktail. (MS)
275 S. 200 West, 801-433-0589, zestslc.com
2. City Cakes Bakery & Café
3. Taste of India—Layton
Best Italian Restaurant
Valter's Osteria
With a menu as delightful as the man running the show, it's easy to see why Valter's Osteria is once again named Best Italian. Owner and namesake Valter Nassi can usually be spotted ushering in diners with welcome hands and a warm heart, and is always ready to assist when it comes to deciding on one of the masterful antipasti, pastas or contorni. The place also boasts a seasonal patio and a fully stocked bar with imported wines, which makes it a stellar date night destination. (MS)
173 W. 300 South, 801-521-4563, valtersosteria.com
2. Sicilia Mia
3. Fratelli's
Best Indian Restaurant
Best Downtown SLC Restaurant
The Copper Onion
A constant Best of Utah contender, Copper Onion dishes up plates so masterful and artistic, you'll wonder if it's permitted to deconstruct them. The hip and welcoming restaurant serves some of the best small plates in town, such as the ricotta dumplings and patatas bravas. For dinner, the melt-in-your-mouth lamb riblets in a balsamic glaze are to die for. But, really, any decision here is the right one. (MS)
111 E. 300 South, 801-355-3282, thecopperonion.com
2. Zest Kitchen & Bar
3. Takashi
Best French Restaurant
La Caille
La Caille offers an unrivaled dining experience—from its gorgeous 20-acre plot to the seasoned chefs and staff, you'll believe you've entered the French countryside. Try the bouillabaisse, a collection of lobster, shrimp, scallops, halibut, clams, Mediterranean mussels and a baguette. Now it wouldn't be a French meal without du vin, so take your pick from their extensive selection of reds and whites. (MS)
9565 Wasatch Blvd., Sandy, 801-942-1751, lacaille.com
2. Paris Bistro
3. Franck's
Best Japanese Restaurant
Takashi
Yep, you guessed it—the reigning champion of the category, Takashi, once again reigns supreme. Over the past decade, Takashi Gibo and his wife, Tamara, have offered not only the best Japanese cuisine in town, but some of the best in the state. If you're a sushi novice, try the simple sunshine roll, a combination of sliced salmon, lemon, cucumber and avocado. (MS)
18 W. Market St., 801-519-9595
2. Kyoto
3. Ichiban Sushi
Best Indian Restaurant
Bombay House
Bombay House is usually chock full of customers from open to close, so properly prepare or you'll be outta luck. One way to go about getting a taste of their authentic Indian cuisine is calling in your order for takeout, though you'd be missing out on the bustling and lively ambiance. Whatever route you take, you should try the savory lamb vindaloo. Sop up the remains with an order of garlic naan, and you're in business. (MS)
Multiple locations, bombayhouse.com
2. Kathmandu
3. Himalayan Kitchen
Best Korean Restaurant
CupBop
Korean barbecue became an instant hit in Utah due in large part to the wildly successful CupBop. While there are multiple locations along the Wasatch Front and one inside the Vivint Smart Home Arena, CupBop also has a roaming food truck to satiate your Korean food craving. The best part? Their cups are actually low in calories—clocking in at roughly 600 per cup served with a combination of meat, noodles and rice. (MS)
Multiple locations, facebook.com/cupbop
2. Myung Ga
3. Korea House
Best Middle Eastern Restaurant
Mazza
This award is Mazza's impressive 16th victory in the category. For nearly two decades, Mazza's 9th & 9th and 15th & 15th locations have been a staple in their respective communities. Looking for an authentic experience? The restaurant dishes up Middle Eastern fare such as shawarma, falafel, kabobs and an assortment of savory dips and salads, and all of their platters are made in house using fresh, locally sourced ingredients, to boot. (MS)
912 E. 900 South, 801-521-4572; 1515 S. 1500 East, 801-484-9259, mazzacafe.com
2. Laziz Kitchen
3. Cedars of Lebanon
Best Mexican Restaurant
Red Iguana
Red Iguana has the category of Best Mexican on lock, and for good reason: The establishment has become a national brand of sorts. TV show Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives, as well as countless celebrities, have paid the establishment a visit, as evidenced by the signed pictures that adorn its walls. If you're having trouble choosing from one of the extensive items on the menu, go with the delicious mole poblano, which is dished up with chiles, peanuts, sesame seeds, walnuts, raisins and tossed with turkey. (MS)
736 W. North Temple, 801-322-1489; 866 W. South Temple, 801-214-6050; rediguana.com
2. Blue Iguana
3. Chunga's
Best Greek Restaurant
Aristo's
With Aristo's, owner Aristides Boutsikakis has brought a taste of Greece with him back to Salt Lake City. The mezedakia (Greek small plates) are the way to go—there's the sautéed baby octopus and thick cuts of battered and flash-fried calamari, baked eggplant whipped with olive oil, Greek meatballs, sautéed shrimp in marinara and much more. Not into sharing? The char-broiled lamb chops never disappoint. (MS)
224 S. 1300 East, 801-581-0888, aristosslc.com
2. Manoli's
3. The Other Place
Best Patio
The Green Pig Pub
With such a serene and stellar backdrop as the Wasatch mountains, there's a thirst for an outdoor patio in downtown Salt Lake City to take advantage of the view. The Green Pig Pub fills that void with its seasonal rooftop patio. You'd be hardpressed to find a better spot to grub on a burger while sipping on a foamy beer than at the Pig, as well as people-watch from your view atop their upstairs perch. (MS)
31 E. 400 South, 801-532-7441, thegreenpigpub.com
2. Gracie's
3. Ruth's Diner
Best New Restaurant
The Cliff Dining Pub
Draper's Cliff Dining Pub has burst onto the scene with a simple vision in mind—Jason and Wendy Moler-Lewis, along with their partners Matt and Nikki MacKay, strive to leave their customers as satisfied with their dining experience as they are satiated. The eclectic menu derives from a multitude of global styles. Here you'll see an assortment of wings, nachos, chicken and waffles, as well as masterfully rolled sushi. (MS)
12234 Draper Gate Drive, Draper, 801-523-2053, cliffdiningpub.com
2. Tradition
3. Table X
Best Ogden Restaurant
Tona Sushi
Per their website, "delicate, edible art" is how patrons describe Tona Sushi's skillfully crafted dishes and sushi rolls. The eatery has had a stronghold on the Best Ogden Restaurant category for years due to its vigilance in collecting ingredients from around the globe and sourcing fresh fish from the West Coast. Indecisive on what to order? Try the Grinch roll—an assortment of yellowtail and seared albacore tuna, basil and cucumber. (MS)
210 25th St., Ogden, 801-622-8662, tonarestaurant.com
2. Slackwater Pub & Pizzeria
3. Roosters Brewing
Best Park City Restaurant
Riverhorse on Main
Not only is Riverhorse on Main a distinguished restaurant on Park City's Main Street, but it's also been recognized 16 times on the Forbes Travel Guide among an elite list of national restaurants. Riverhorse boasts a trendy urban vibe, live music and a menu that can leave even the pickiest of palates satisfied. For the adventurous, try the trio of fair game—an assortment of buffalo, venison and elk topped with a port reduction. (MS)
540 Main, Park City, 435-649-3536, riverhorseparkcity.com
2. Handle
3. Tupelo and Grappa (tie)
Best Salt Lake Valley Restaurant
Provisions
The quaint house-turned-American fine-dining restaurant will make you feel right welcomed with seasonal, organic and local ingredients. The menu here changes with the seasons, though you'd be remiss if you didn't devour the wood-roasted Brussels sprouts, which are prepared with smoked bacon, caramelized onions, bacon dashi and nori crumbles. For an entrée, try the whole fried branzino, topped with butternut squash, herbs and a dash of lime. (MS)
3364 S. 2300 East, 801-410-4046, slcprovisions.com
2. Braza Grill
3. Copper Kitchen
Best place to take Mom
Ruth's Diner
Take note: Ruth's Diner is a multi-year winner in this category, so be a good son or daughter and treat your mom to one of the prettiest views and delicious meals around town already. It takes little effort to make the quick trip up the beautiful Emigration Canyon with your birthgiver for a meal. Try out the cinnamon roll French toast—a dish perhaps as sweet as she is. (MS)
4160 Emigration Canyon Road, 801-582-5807, ruthsdiner.com
2. Little America Coffee Shop
3. La Caille
Best Vietnamese Restaurant
Oh Mai
Oh Mai has you covered on all things Vietnamese—from delectable pho to the best banh mi this side of Hanoi. The restaurant, which now has three Salt Lake City locations, is a perfect destination for a quick lunch trip or an extensive stay in the waning evening hours. (MS)
Multiple locations, ohmaisandwich.com
2. All Chay
3. Somi
Best Utah County Restaurant
Communal
Communal boasts in serving its dining guests farm-fresh and in-season cuisine aided by locally sourced and produced ingredients. It's best to go as a group, as the dishes are served family style—hence the name. Dishes like roasted chicken, Utah trout and grilled hangar steak are prepared in a no-nonsense, simple yet sensational style. If there were ever a reason for SLC to be darn jealous of Provo, this would be it. (MS)
102 N. University Ave., Provo, 801-373-8000, communalrestaurant.com
2. Pizzeria 712
3. Black Sheep Café
Best Vegetarian
Sage's Café
Don't be fooled into thinking Sage's only caters to a niche, meat-free community—the flavors are so good, staunch carnivores won't be able to tell the difference. For brunch, there's the sweet banana chocolate pancakes in classic, whole wheat or gluten-free varieties. The fennel sausage-stuffed Dunked Hipster Burrito is another solid option. (MS)
368 E. 100 South, 801-322-3790, sagescafe.com
2. Buds
3. Zest Kitchen & Bar
Best Thai Restaurant
Sawadee
Located on the outskirts of the Avenues, Sawadee offers a genteel paradise for lunch goers in an elegant, peaceful environment. Appetizers at the family owned and operated locale are a must. Try the dumplings—rice-flour packets stuffed with minced shrimp and bamboo shoots with a sensational sesame-oil chili sauce. (MS)
754 E. South Temple, 801-328-8424, sawadee1.com
2. Thai Siam
3. Chabaar Beyond Thai
Best Wine List
BTG Wine Bar
By the 2-ounce taste, 5-ounce glass, the bottle or the wine flight, have it your way at BTG (By The Glass) Wine Bar. Enjoy one of the more than 75 wines to choose from in a relaxed, upscale-ambiance bar or elevated booths. Wine aficionados can rest easy knowing that BTG has all the bases covered with a number of domestic and imported reds and whites, as well as a selection of bubbly. Oh, and the full menu from neighboring Caffé Molise is available here, too. (MS)
63 W. 100 South, 801-359-2814, btgwinebar.com
2. La Caille
3. Pago
