This feature was originally published as part of City Weekly's 2025 Dining Guide.
If you read this newspaper regularly, you know that my dad—John Saltas, who founded City Weekly way back in the forgettable glam rock era—often opines about when Utah bars served powerful drinks from mini-bottles that cost under $2 each, especially his beloved VO Canadian Whiskey. You don't see him in bars anymore, since hardly any bar serves VO. His loss.
We heathens know that while some restaurants serve booze, all bars must have food available. Them's the rules. Unlike my dad's Def Leppard days, many restaurants today have cocktail menus that rival those in our best clubs and bars. One could say that restaurants really are bars, but that would shake the salt off the righteous rim of the Utah Legislature.
Kids these days like lists (I'm a millennial), so below is my not-so-finite list of must-have dishes from "bars that serve food." I dine damn-nearly exclusively in 21+ only establishments anyway. And why not? Those shifting cocktail glasses have encouraged bars to reciprocate by upping their own food game.
A Bar Named Sue (abarnamedsue.com): Two locations, and both qualify as my neighborhood watering hole. At the Highland Drive location, look for my old man's young man picture on the wall from 50 years ago. Burgers and brunch, baby. The Man in Black would go for their 8-Pack Chicken Wings.
Aker Restaurant & Lounge (akersaltlake.com): Located in one of the coolest downtown properties, the Boston Building, Aker brings a hip Asian-fusion theme to its old-school backdrop. Their Salt Baked Branzino was an instant classic.
Beer Bar (beerbarslc.com): For the last time—maybe—Modern Family's Ty Burrell is a part owner, but that’s not the best reason to stop in. All sauces are made in-house and marry well with all their exotic meat choices. But, as a Greek, my bouzouki is tuned to the Gyro Brat.
Beerhive (beerhivepub.shop): Everyone knows it for their countertop ice bar that helps to perfectly chill their large beer selection. With that ice cold beer, you'll want a warm belly, and the Lasagna does the trick here. Available as veggie-style, too.
Big Willies (bigwillieslounge.com): Newly crowned Utah's Best Sports bar (2024 City Weekly Readers' Pick) Big Willies has everything your pals need for the game. "Everything" also includes an atmosphere that is 100% classic. Go for the Willie's Appetizer Combo.
Black Sheep Bar & Grill (theblacksheepbarandgrills.com): Their name itself suggests you can expect the unexpected here. Expect everything from a Jumbo Shrimp Cocktail to a Chile Verde Burrito and everything in between here. A perfect landing point every time is their Three Lil Sheep slider option.
Bodega / The Rest (bodegaslc.com): Enter through the street level taco bar facade at Bodega's Main Street entrance and snag yourself a reservation at The Rest, which is "secretly" hidden downstairs. Cap off the night with an order of beignets.
Brickyard Bar (thebrickyardbar.com): It's nice to just sit on a patio and let the world pass by. After a makeover of the bar formerly known as Lumpy's, the Brickyard keeps it simple. Fried Cheese Curds do it.
Brewvies (brewvies.com): As Salt Lake City's only 21+ movie theater, you're going to take advantage of more than popcorn and M&Ms to get you through this week's new flick. I'm sure Ryan Reynolds (IYKYK) would like the Garlic Burger.
Copper Common (coppercommon.com): Their sister restaurant, Copper Onion, is an SLC gem, and an-all time favorite of mine. You're going to be set no matter what you order here from a flawless menu. Mary's Chicken is my first choice.
Crow and the Pitcher (thecrowslc.com): Aesop's crow filled the pitcher one stone at a time in order to take a drink, a lesson in cleverness and perserverance. Same for this easily passed by bar even though it's in the heart of Murray on State Street. They've been quietly building a nice rep without much fan fare, in doing the same good things every day. I'll vouch for their Bloody Mary, and despite doctor's orders, their triple decker Porkatory, too.
Cruzrs Saloon (facebook.com/CruzrsSaloon): This location was once Club Sojourner, known for its supper club style and one of the few "clubs" that was open on Sundays, back in my dad's "good ol days", ha! Today, Cruzrs is making a food name again, but this time in the category of "sandwiches that are tough to beat", thanks to authentic offerings from Beast From The East.. Do the JD Philly Cheesesteak, wit whiz.
Duffy's (duffystavernslc.com):- Bill Murray once owned 5% of the Salt Lake Trappers baseball team (which holds the record for most consecutive wins in baseball at 29). Legend is Duffy's was one of his stops. Not much has changed. Great memories. Great sandwiches. Get the Mark Cleveland.
Elixir Lounge (elixirloungeutah.com): An easy stop to hide your face or brag after a round of golf at the nearby Old Mill Golf Course. Just keep it the same as your game—safely down the center without any hazards. Score with the French Dip.
Felt SLC (feltslc.com): A chic cocktail bar on Main Street and a great menu top-to-bottom. Hit the shareables section hard, and don't skip the baby back ribs, but these Rhinestone Eyes can't pass on the Pulpo de Olivo Ceviche.
Flanker Kitchen and Sporting Club (flankerslc.com): They are the bone-crushers of pop-up themes, currently hitting all the right notes with an Americana country theme. So, naturally go with Pigs In a Blanket or Mac n Cheese.
Franklin Ave Cocktails & Kitchen (franklinaveslc.com): On my first visit to Franklin Ave, I had the never-before-seen-by-my-eyes Mushroom Beignets, and have never looked back. Their menu is top-drawer, so follow those apps up with the Pappardelle Bolognese.
Garage on Beck (garageonbeck.com): Gotta love a spot that outright owns a traditionally Mormon-exclusive food category. But the sad news hits hard today because this one-of-a-kind Utah bar will soon shutter. Apropos then and best memories to Funeral Potatoes.
Gracie's (graciesslc.com): My good buddy Pierre (supposedly my dad's older brother) will knuckle me if I don't give a shout out to the brown gravy chicken strips—and I agree. But if it's chicken for me at Gracie's, it's most often going to be the Chicken Piccata.
Handle Bar (handlebarslc.com): Hat's off to vegan Dave Morris for pioneering serving vegan foods in Salt Lake City bars. If you're looking for a plant-friendly suggestion, you will never do wrong with Handle Bar's Tiger Wings.
Highlander Pub (highlanderutah.com): This was the favorite stomping grounds of one of the best friends City Weekly ever had– and he affectionately referred to the Highlander as his derelict bar (Sorry, Layne, but you knew Rick, too!). Ole reliable, really. You can't go wrong with the Beer Battered Fries.
Ice Haus (icehausbar.com): Since its incarnation as Ice Haus at a location where many clubs have come and gone, it has been a Murray staple. It's tempting to suggest plant-based here, but with a name spelled as it is, the Sausage Party is simply the way to go.
Ivy & Varley (ivyandvarley.com): Easily one of the best places in town to splurge by going family-style on the appetizer menu. Just order one of everything. Honest. Top-tier among the options are the Everything Brussels and the Lavender Crusted Goat Cheese.
Hog Wallow Pub (thehogwallow.com): Simply put, HWP is a treasure. They smoke their meats properly, their music never skips, and their wooded patio is like no other around. Wallow away on a Tri-Tip Sandwich or Smoked Wings.
Johnny's SLC (johnnysslc.com): No-frills sandwiches rock the menu, great for when I feel like mixing hunger with a beer and some clanking cue balls. The magic eight ball for me is their solid BLT. And I'm not even a bacon-eater!
Lake Effect (lakeeffectslc.com): Always ranked among the Best of Utah's nightclubs, their menu defies the norm as one of the area's most eclectic and upscale. Still, I don't know if I've ever gone to Lake Effect without ordering the Tin Can Nachos.
Leatherheads Sports Bar & Grill (leatherheads-sports-bar-grill.foodjoyy.com): Nearly nothing is a pleasing as finding our in a teatotalling land and that was once filled with only sugar beets and corn, there exists a club that comes with all the rest of life's necessities--music, fun, atmosphere, sports action—drinks, of course—and menu full of classic bare fare options. My last visit I had the Turkey Cran and Jalapeno Wrap. Hope it's on the menu next time! And if not, I remember the fries and tots were top drawer, too.
Leprechaun Inn (facebook.com/thelprechauninnbar): Operated by one of the nicest people that there ever was in the Utah bar biz, University of Utah All WAC Defensive End (all 215 pounds of him) Mike "the Snake" Kinsella, this bar exudes his personna. When in a pub, do pub: Fish and Chips.
Lucky 13 (lucky13slc.com): City Weekly readers have voted Lucky 13 as serving Utah's Best Burger category since the first year they opened. My 90-year-old grandmother turned me onto the Nut Butter Burger.
O'Shucks (oshucksutah.com): Inflation doesn't exist at O'Shucks, with $3 Schooners poured every Wednesday since it opened in the 1990s. Great basement vibes too, and who can resist sushi and beer? Not me. Get the Spicy Hamachi roll.
Oyster Bar (marketstreetgrill.com/oyster-bar): This historic fave is one of Salt Lake's longest-operating clubs. They can never be thanked enough for elevating not just club fare, but SLC meals, too, with Market Street Grill and The New Yorker Club. They deserve two picks: Oysters and Clam Chowder, obviously.
Paxton Pub (paxtonpub.com): Paxton is the definition of a neighborhood bar. A happy note is their deep dive of locally produced beers (kudos for supporting local, PP). You gotta try the Funeral Potato Pizza!
Piper Down (piperdownpub.com): Irish Stew is not just a once-a-year gimmick at Piper Down, where Irish is forever. They do mix it up though with homage to their neighbors via Scotch Eggs and English Chips. But everyday is Irish Stew day here.
Post Office Place (popslc.com): As sister bar to the ever-busy Takashi's, this gem gets a lot of overflow traffic from right next door. But, POP rightfully stands on its own, offering a master class in ceviche. The Grilled Octopus is one of the best in town.
Prohibition (prohibitionutah.com): To start, I'm making a simple plea for the return of the Squid Ink Mac n Cheese! If that's not to be, I'll be okay, because brunch is happenin' at Prohibition. The Lemon Ricotta French Toast is so good it should be outlawed.
Redemption Bar & Grill (redemptionbarandgrill.com): When Redemption opened the south end of the valley finally became home to the long missing brunch spot that had never existed out that way. The Redeption is a great option for parties or sports, but in order to kick either off the right way, the best place to start is at the start: Chicken and Waffles, every time.
Snowmobar (snowmobar.com): Snowmobile Pizza recently transformed into a 21+ only establishment, just in time to enrage people here by reminding them that The Hawaiian Pizza—featuring pineapple topping—was invented by a Greek in Canada. True. Only one way to go: the Porky Pineapple.
The Bayou (utahbayou.com): Since day one, they've boasted having the state's largest beer selection. The Bayou is equally known for faithfully introducing Utahns to the foods of their Cajun namesake. The ghost of Hank Sr. suggests the Gumbolaya.
The Break (thebreakgrill.com): A solid sports bar with multiple locations, their multi-continent menu includes tacos, burgers and bowls. Nobody does that. Of course, they upped the ante by adding a Mac n Cheese section. Nobody does that, either. Gotta go with the Mac n Cheese Sampler, folks.
The Bruce Scottish Pub (brucepub.com): Even the old man can't remember if there was ever a Scottish-themed bar in SLC before. Well, there is now, and it's a good one. For sure, the fish and chips are huge and awesome, and the bangers bang. But for the uniquely special, try the Tattie Drottle Soup.
The Green Pig Pub (thegreenpigpub.com): In an era of higher prices, go lower at the Pig's daily (M-F) $10 lunch special. I mean, come on. In this economy? As often as not, though, I go for the Blackened Salmon Tacos with Blackberry Jalapeno Sauce.
The Pearl (thepearlslc.com): When your menu veers from the standard bar fare and into the realm of Asian Fusion, it's hard not to think of dinner. So, take your dinner up a notch even higher with the Black Cod. The Westerner (westernerslc.com): Not only is the Westerner one of Utah's longest-operating bars, and boasts a dance floor the size of Daggett County. You must have a square meal after all that honky-tonkin', so go with the Honky Tonk (badonkadonk) Burger.
The Point After Sports Bar and Grill (thepointafter.biz): When you're located inside the same building that houses one of Utahs biggest and best gyms, The Sports Mall in Murray, it's a good idea to serve up the kind of fare that makes everyone happy. So of course you're going to find tacos and wings and burgers and fries, right? Yep and a good selection of all of those to boot. But for the guilt ridden, like me, you have to go for the Mediterranean Salad.
The Tap Room (facebook.com/slctaproom): The old chalet original location remains a fond memory, but The Tap Room managed to replicate it's non-pretentious, neighborhood bar feel at different digs. My last visit wasn't at all like the first chalet location stop (munching on pickled eggs and Beer Nuts), so a very pleasant surprise last summer were the fresh made Taquitos.
Trolley Wing Co (trolleywingcompany.com) - Theperennial winner of the City Weekly Best of Utah poll, Trolley Wing is basically now the yardstick to measure all other wing purveyors. Their sauces are equally exceptional. I go for the Jamaican Honey Garlic.
Whiskey Street Cocktails & Dining (whiskeystreet.com): As evidence that bars are stepping up their food game, Matt Crandall of Whiskey Street was voted City Weekly's Best Chef in 2023. Boom! My pick of Matt's best is the Steak Sandwich. It's the jam (fig jam).
White Horse Spirits & Kitchen (whitehorseslc.com): Next to Whiskey Street—so Matt Crandall is the force behind this cornerstone, too. Sorry, not sorry to whomever has to poach all the eggs, but the required starter for everyone in SLC should be the Egg n Chips.
Why Kiki (whykikibar.com): Ok, who hasn't had (or secretly yearned to have) a Why Kiki Dick Waffle? Known for some of the best priced cocktails in town, too, perfect for maximizing that brunch day of day drinking. For lunch, why not? The LGBTQ Wrap. Lettuce, Guacamole, Bacon, Tomato and Queso.
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