If you want a quick overview of this week’s dining reviews in Salt Lake City, head on over to Gastronomic Salt Lake City (no affiliation to us here at ASKSLC). In five minutes you will have an overview of what reviewers are saying about some of the best (and worst) restaurants in the city. You may even find that special place you want to head to this weekend.

This week includes:

• Cafe Trang
• Bohemian Brewery
• Left Fork Grill
• Market Street Grill
• Acme Burger Company

Definitely recommended reading!!

Step into the Bohemian Brewery’s log-cabin style restaurant, and you make think you’ve entered Willy Wonka’s version of Oktoberfest; a big boar’s head hangs on the wall, a huge fireplace sits in the dining room, and beer steins are as large as milk jugs. While the decor may be a bit over the top, the food satisfies, the wait staff is friendly, and it all works together to provide a great experience.

The Bohemian brewery got its start in 2002, just before the Olympics. It offers a varied menu focusing on Central European staples such as brats, roast pork, and schnitzel with a touch of bar food thrown in for good measure.

Food

We have been to the Bohemian 3 or 4 times and on the latest visit we mainly stayed with items authentic to the restaurant’s Czech/German roots. However, we decided to start with standard bar fair; beginning with the VERY LARGE Brew Master’s Basket (everything seems bigger here). The basket included calamari, garlic fries, bread, and roasted garlic bulbs. The calamari and fries were good but generally what you would expect from a bar and grill. The roasted garlic bulb, though, was a delicious surprise. One of my dining companions commented that it was better than what he’s had at La Caille (that’s not saying as much as it used to, but the bulb was very good). It had great flavor and a consistency that typically comes from an upscale restaurant. If you want to keep the troops happy until dinner arrives, the basket is a good choice.

Our main courses included the Pierogies & Bratwurst, Bavarian Brats & Mashed Potatoes, and the Chicken Paprikash with Spätzle. These were the most perfect combination of comfort foods I have tasted at a restaurant. The brats were cooked perfectly, with a slight hint of spice. The pierogies, which are dumplings filled with potatoes, were completely satisfying . The Chicken Paprikash, which has a sour cream and paprika sauce, defines comforting. You expect the orange paprika sauce to be overly rich and spicy, but instead it perfectly compliments the chicken breast. The sauce wraps the chicken like a blanket and provides a soft and silky texture to the meat. It was served with spätzle, which I had never tasted before. It reminded me of eating a heartier form of scrambled eggs (with a little more consistency). The spätzle’s had a flavor that was subtle but tasty and turned out to be very filling.

The most surprising aspect of the Bohemian Brewery was how well the parts of a dish complimented each other. The pierogies and mashed potatoes completed the brats. The spätzle matched well with paprika sauce and chicken. I could tell a great deal of thought has been put into each of the dishes in order to make complete meals. You don’t often find this level of pairing at an upscale restaurant, let alone a brewery.

Drinks

The Bohemian Brewery specializes, of course, in beer. They offer four beers, a Czech Pilsner, a Viennese, a Wheat, and Cherny Bock. We tried all of them expect the bock and were happy with each of them. I probably like Squatter’s beer a little better, but you might have different tastes. I would recommend that you try a few (if you drink beer) because you’ll probably find one you like. I am particularly fond of the Viennese which is a little darker than an ale and slightly malty.

The wine list leaves a lot to be desired. There’s nothing too interesting to try, but this is a brewery, so that shouldn’t be a surprise.

Ambiance & Service

This is a fun, vibrant restaurant. On the Saturday we visited, it was packed from floor to rafters with patrons. The taxidermied animals and log cabin walls tend to make the restaurant feel slightly cheesy but at least it’s interesting. The wait staff was constantly scurrying to keep up with the crowd but was attentive to our table. Our waitress was able to provide accurate descriptions of the food and provided great suggestions.

Recommendation

I have enjoyed each of my trips to the Bohemian, but this last trip was the best. Previously I ordered burgers which were fine, but the authentic European food made this visit. I would recommend the restaurant to anyone looking for comfort food, wants a hearty meal after skiing, or desires above average bar food.
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Tip #1: Don’t ask the waitress for a “big beer.” She may bring you the Manly which is served in the largest mug I have ever seen, unless of course you want that big of a beer.

Tip #2: Weekends are busy. Get there before 6:30 or after 8:00 if you don’t want to wait very long.

Bohemian Brewery
94 E 7200 S, Midvale, UT
(801) 566-5474

Curry in a Hurry has two locations in Salt Lake City, one near downtown and the other near 20th & State. Tonight I tried the latter and it offered decent Indian food.

Upon walking into the small restaurant you will want to look at the menu board which will outline the Indian (mostly curries with various meats and vegetables) and Pakistani (wraps, etc.) food available. There are probably about 10 basic menu items to choose from. Each of these is served immediately from metal containers in front of you, so you receive your food faster than if you were at McDonald’s.

Food

A basic curry costs about $6 and comes with rice. For about $9 you get a combo which comes with your curry, rice, sliced pita bread (no naan, very disappointing!!!!) and a vegetable. I tried the chicken curry and had potatoes for my vegetable. The chicken in the curry was excellent. Each bite of chicken tasted very spicy and the herbs danced on my tongue. The sauce by itself with the rice was so-so. It didn’t have as much flavor as I expected. The rice was a little mashed, but since it was near closing time at 7PM, it wasn’t surprising. The potatoes had a nice flavor, similar to the sauce, but weren’t anything special.

The curry wasn’t as good as the ones I have tasted at Bombay House or Tandoor. Of course, it’s 40% cheaper too. To be fair, you do get more food at Bombay House, where they serve the entree family style. Curry in a Hurry provides a single serving, really best enjoyed at lunch.

Ambiance

Much like the food, the decor is sparse. There are a few tables and a bar that runs along the window. The space is pretty tight and wouldn’t hold more than 10-15 people. Again, it would be great for lunch but not well suited for that first date (unless you needed to get your food in two minutes).

Recommendation

We’ll head back to Curry in a Hurry. It was decent food at the right price. My wife and I could try two dishes for $12. If you need a quick place to get lunch or to satisfy your Indian food craving, you may want to give it a try.

Curry in a Hurry
2020 S State St, Salt Lake City, UT
(801) 322-2044

210 S Main St, Salt Lake City, UT
(801) 323-7030

Five miles up Emigration Canyon, and about two miles farther than Ruth’s Diner, lies a small roadside restaurant called The Sun & Moon Cafe. Walking up to the restaurant one would gather that it is much like Ruth’s Diner with simple but (hopefully) delicious food. However, Sun & Moon tries to be a little more by offering both a basic brunch and an upscale dinner. We hear that they do a great job with the brunch, but unfortunately the same can’t be said for their evening service (at least on the nights we’ve been there). It’s like day and night.

Food

We’ve been to Sun & Moon a number of times for dinner. We typically visit on Thursday nights and have appetizers and burgers. We were drawn to the restaurant because it’s low-key, locally owned, and unusual (they also had 20% off on Thursday “Locals” nights). On those nights the burgers were average, tasting a lot like Costco Angus burgers and the appetizers were above average (the chicken quesadillas are good). This time we decided to go on a weekend night and order from the upscale, special entree menu.

We started with the Goat Cheese and Chorizo Quesadilla and our first few bites were delicious. The goat cheese was smooth and rich, while the chorizo sausage added nice spice to the dish. It would be delightful with a glass of white or red wine. Unfortunately, less than 60 seconds after the quesadilla was delivered, our waitress brought our main course. This was a complete disaster. We were left to decide do we let our main meals get cold or stop eating the delicious appetizer. We decided to move on and try not to let this annoying mistake cloud our judgment.

My wife had the Ono, which is a white fish that was served with rice and vegetables. It was bland and unmemorable. As she stated, she could have made the same or better dish at home. That’s saying something when her specialty is pancakes. The rice had no flavor, leaving the steamed vegetables to be the highlight of her dinner.

I dined on the Blackened Pork Tenderloin. It had a honey and riesling reduction sauce that was delicious. It was both sweet and spicy. Unfortunately it was also extra-crispy; so much so that it felt like it was cutting the inside of my mouth when I took a bite. The inside of the pork wasn’t much better as it was incredibly dry. A more resourceful and demanding diner would have sent their food back, but we would have had to go back into the kitchen to get our server’s attention. Instead, I cut away the crispy edges and dined on the dry center of the meat. It’s not the way you expect your $19 Pork Tenderloin to be enjoyed. The highlight of my meal was the rosemary potato gratin. Not that it made up for my “pork crispy,” but it was edible.

Drinks

Sun & Moon’s beer list is smart and interesting. While it doesn’t rival the Bayou’s selection, it does have over twenty beers, with many pilsners and wheat beers from Europe. We would recommend skipping the familiar local micro brews and trying the Ayinger wheat beer from Bavaria. It is delicious.

We didn’t have wine this evening but have before. On many Thursday nights Sun & Moon offers a wine-flight tasting of 3 or 5 wines and has a wine expert at the restaurant to explain each wine. It’s a nice way to try wines you might otherwise not taste. In general, though, the wine list seems pretty comparable to what you find elsewhere in the city. If you wanted a glass, you would likely find something to meet your needs.

Service

We have had the same waitress each time we’ve been to the restaurant. While she has never been overly friendly, this evening was a new low. We had a total of five interactions with her during our meal: ordering, delivery of beer, delivery of appetizer, delivery of main course, and delivery of check. She never checked on our meal or asked if we wanted another beer. I was parched after that cracker-like tenderloin. She only had one other table and could  be seen chatting and laughing with the cook in the kitchen.

In general there was a complete lack of attention to detail. No plates were delivered with our appetizer, forcing us to eat off the appetizer plate. The meal was delivered so quickly after our appetizer, that I’m surprised the server took two trips. And did I mention that we were parched? When we were ready to pay, we couldn’t even find her to give her our credit card, and this place is small.We have not had this bad of service in over a decade, and when a main course goes for $20, you expect more. When a main course goes for even $5, you would expect more than we received this night.

Ambiance

The renovations to the restaurant, especially the paint, have updated the feel of the restaurant. It looks very crisp and inviting. Local artists’ efforts decorate the walls, and if you like a certain work, it can be purchased. This evening they had live music, which was a welcome change from many SLC restaurants. However, the music was very loud which made conversation difficult.

Recommendation

The moon should set on Sun & Moon. While we haven’t tried breakfast, people say it’s delicious. We can’t say the same for dinner. The food didn’t live up to its price tag. The service was horrible. We won’t go back and would recommend that you save your money. If you do go, try the quesadillas (chicken or goat cheese) and a German beer (if you drink). As they say, if you don’t expect too much, you might not be let down (sincere apologies to the Gin Blossoms).

Tip #1: While our dinner trips have rated from average to horrendous, their breakfast sounds better. Check out this review of breakfast on the Salt Lake Tribune.

Sun & Moon Cafe
5205 Emigration Canyon, Salt Lake City, UT
(801) 583-8331

I really wanted to like Tandoor Indian Grill. I love Indian food and am desperately trying to find another establishment to put into my dinner rotation. Overall the experience was OK, but it really didn’t compare to Bombay House.Tandoor is located in a strip mall on 3300 South at about 700 East. I have never really been a fan of upper-end, casual restaurants situated in strip malls. On my way to these restaurants, I am bound to drive by 3 Papa Johns, that look exactly the same. Unfortunately, that clouds my judgment.

Food

For this visit, we did take-out, and had Chicken Tikka Masala, Chicken Cilantro, and Plain Naan. The Chicken Tikka Masala has a read cream sauce, that in this case looked a lot like Hooters Wing Sauce. It was EXTREMELY orange. The taste was slightly spicy (we ordered medium but if you want any spice flavor, I would order hot), but not too creamy. When compared to Bombay House, this sauce was lighter tasting and much more runny. The main difference being that the Tandoor Indian Grill sauce isn’t quite as robust tasting as the Bombay House sauce. However, the dish did have a nice smokey flavor.The chicken cilantro had large dark-meat pieces of chicken and a cilantro/nut based sauce. The sauce had the appearance of the broth that comes out of a Chunky Vegetable Beef Soup can. The cilantro taste was light but nice. In general, though, the entree was fairly blah. My wife didn’t like it because it was predominantly dark meat. We definitely wouldn’t get it again.Unfortunately the Plain Naan was cold and a little brittle, so again I wouldn’t recommend it.In general, the food was OK. If my friends were going, I would probably go along. If I was planning the outing, we would go elsewhere. One note though, which may influence you. I am definitely not an Indian Food critic; however, Tandoor does seem like it would be a little more authentic Indian than Bombay House. I say this because the sauces are lighter and the flavors more nuanced. If you know Indian food, and you like the authentic variety, this might be the place for you.

Ambiance (or lack thereof)

As for ambiance, unfortunately, no one was there except for a mom and her son. It was a Wednesday night, so maybe weekends are better. The inside has a number of tables and booths along one side of the restaurant. However, other than the tables and chairs, the restaurant is sparse. The owner was very nice and asked if I would like something to drink while waiting for my meal. He would be the reason I would come I back.

Conclusion

Unfortunately, I am afraid that Tandoor is destined to go the way of Bombay Express, which inhabited the location previously. While the food seems more traditional than other Indian restaurants in town, I didn’t enjoy it as much. There is absolutely no ambiance, and in fact, Arby’s has more ambiance than Tandoor. For a restaurant that costs more than Bombay House ($10-$12 curries), it should be better.Tandoor Indian Grill733 E 3300 S, Salt Lake City, UT(801) 486-4542

Down a little bit from the Porcupine Restaurant is a place that used to be a biker bar and is now aptly called, Hog Wallow. Should you like to imbibe and don’t mind a little second hand smoke, you have to hit this place at least once a ski season.

This may be the easiest restaurant review ever done, because Hog Wallow serves only two types of food, pizza and nachos. Opt for the nachos and you can either have nachos with cheese or the Macho Nachos. The Macho Nachos include chips, chili, onions, sour cream, jalapenos, and of course cheese. It’s hard not to make nachos well, but these are great after a long day skiing. They give you plenty of cheese and other ingredients.

You may also opt for the pizza, which I think is surprisingly one of the best in the valley. We typically get a sausage and pepperoni pizza, but they have toppings that would satisfy everyone from a strict vegetarians to raging meat-eater. There’s nothing exotic in the toppings, but your basic pizza fan will be satisfied. The crust is thin and crispy and the sauce is robust. They heap the toppings on which will fill you up after a long day up the canyon.

What really drives Hog Wallow, though, is the ambiance. There are few places in Salt Lake that deliver the warm, roadside bar feel. The inside of Hog Wallow looks like an old biker bar, with wooden floors and a large fireplace. There are a couple of pool tables to help pass the time and sports is always on the TVs. This is the sort of place, where you come to mingle with friends around the bar.

The down-side to Hog Wallow for the non-smoker is the smoke. You are almost guaranteed to walk out smelling worse than when you left your aunt Pattie’s house after she’s chain smoked for 6 hours. However, if you are a smoker and lament the lack of great places to go anymore, this should be at the top of your list. It is also a private club, which means if you don’t like to be around alcohol, you wouldn’t like it here. You also have to pay a cover (I mean a membership) to get in.

Hog Wallow has pinball, Golden Tee, and a pool table.

All in all, it is a great place to go after skiing. If you don’t like the smoke, wait until summer and sit outside in their gorgeous, multi-level patio.

Tip: Check out the calendar on their website below. If you don’t absolutely like live music, skip the live music nights. Music night will cost you an extra $4-$7 per person for cover.

Hog Wallow
3200 E Big Cottonwood Canyo, Salt Lake Cty, UT
(801) 733-5567

Pei Wei is P.F. Changs’ Fast Casual restaurant. They offer upscale Chinese food, with items made famous by P.F. Changs (like Chicken Lettuce Wraps). The portions are slightly smaller than P.F. Changs and cost a little less in most cases. Instead of paying $11-$15 for an entree you pay about $8.This is the sort of restaurant I usually get take out from, not because it completely lacks ambiance, but it’s just a little McDonald’s modern for my tastes. That being said there is often a line of people waiting to get a table, so most people find it fine.They do serve a couple of beers (Bud Light for one) and glasses of wine, but the selection is minimal.As for the food, it is consistently pretty decent.

Basics are the Best

I find that, like most Chinese restaurants, I rotate through a couple of items I like depending on mood. My fall back is the Kung Pao Chicken which is excellent. If you decide to go here’s how it works for most items. You order an item, pick the meat (chicken, pork, beef, shrimp, scallops)/Vegetarian (Vegetables or Tofu), and pick white or brown rice. So, I may order the Spicy Korean with pork and white rice. It’s pretty simple.The brown rice is a little bigger, and in my experience crunchier than the sticky white rice. The chicken, pork, and beef are pretty basic (I haven’t tried the seafood or vegetarian dishes). They taste like decent quality meat (not fatty) but what you really taste is the sauce. Here Pei Wei excels. You may not like every dish and sauce, but you will probably find something you enjoy.

Recommendations

Here are recommendations if you decide to do Pei Wei:

The Mandarin Kung Pao is based on a soy sauce with peanuts and is GREAT.
The Sweet & Sour is TASTY. If you like a traditional Chinese sweet and sour dish you would get at a buffet, you will probably really like this.
Ginger Broccoli is understated but GOOD. If you find most sauces over powering and want something a little “lighter,” try this.
I would avoid a couple of dishes:

Asian Coconut Curry. It’s your traditional curry and it’s alright but to me it smells awful. If you want curry, I would skip this and go to Bangkok Thai.
Spicy Korean. The description looks great (hot pepper sauce, garlic, mushrooms, onione, toasted sesame seeds) but it just doesn’t have a lot of flavor.

Conclusion

So, if you are looking or a cheap first date, a place to grab a quick bite but don’t want fast food, or good Chinese take-out, I would give Pei Wei a shot.

Tip: The Kung Pao Chicken and and a Chicken Lettuce wrap is a great meal for two, if you don’t mind eating family style.

Tip #2: If you need take-out and need it fast, Pei Wei usually is ready within 10-15 minutes.

There are three locations:

1028 E 2100 S, Salt Lake City, UT
(801) 486-4755

71 N 500 W, Bountiful, UT
(801) 294-0929

10373 S State St, Sandy, UT
(801) 601-1990

We’ve been to the downtown Salt Lake City restaurant many times. When family comes to town, we take them to Squatters. When friends come to town, we head to Squatters. When business associates are in town, we go to Squatters. Why?

Squatters is like Shelter from the Storm by Bob Dylan. Any time it plays it’s comforting, yet I get something different from it every time listen. I like Squatters for the same reason I like Cheesecake Factory (in other cities where there isn’t a three hour wait). Every dish I try consistently pleases and occasionally I fall in love (the Tatonka chicken - a grilled chicken sandwich with spicy buffalo sauce - is fabulous). I then set out on an adventure across the menu to try another item. What I find is good and sometimes great.

Somehow the sense of comfort (I can always get the pizza) combined with the ease of adventure (the talapia salad is probably going to be good because everything else is) just makes the place inviting.

Food without service is Einstein Brothers. Thankfully this is no Einstein Brothers. Every waiter or waitress serving me at Squatters has been courteous and attentive (good people and good management). That’s not to say they dote over you. They appear to have too many tables for that, but when you need a refill they are there for you.

Ambiance is also abundant at Squatters. When you compare dining in Salt Lake City to Chicago or Denver, there are a lot of differences, but one of the bigger ones is the lack of ambiance. Most restaurants in SLC either are soulless or too modern. Squatters, with its exposed wood, brick walls, and fireplace is warm and inviting. This probably isn’t a place to propose to your wife, unless somehow your love was predicated on a bottle of Chasing Tail. Otherwise, the restaurant probably works (great if you have a baby… because its pretty loud anyhow).

Finally, if you are LDS and don’t like to be around alcohol, you may want to steer clear of Squatters. The bar area is separated from the dining area by a short wall. You may also find an abundance of t-shirts with the name of their beers (i.e. “Ploygamy Porter” of “Captain Bastards’s Oatmeal Stout”). It doesn’t offend me and it may not offend you but you should know going in.

If you decide to head to Squatters, you can’t go wrong with:

Tatonka Chicken Sandwich (spicy)
Pizza
Caesar Salad (actually has warm chicken)
Thai Yellow Curry (surprisingly not very spicy)
Any Burger
Jumbalaya

Tip: Get there before 6:30 on Friday or Saturday or you will have a while to wait.

Squatters Details:

147 W 300 S, Salt Lake City, UT

(801) 363-2739

We get food from the Bombay House on Parley’s way (Just off foothill) at least once a week. I highly recommend getting take-out. Take-out is ready within about 30 minutes to pickup (20-25 minutes Mon-Thurs an 30-35 minutes Fri-Saturday) and we have never been disappointed.

Getting Indian can be confusing for some people, so here are a few recommendations:

1. One dish usually feeds two. My wife and I will get two dished sometimes but there is always abundant leftovers.
2. They will ask whether you want it mild, medium, or hot. I like pretty spicy food and medium is a great choice for me. If you like it extremely hot, go for hot. If you’re not into spice try mild the first time.
3. The Chicken Tika Masala (pronounced teek-a-miss-alla) is a great first choice. I have never met anyone who didn’t like it.
4. You will get rice for free as part of your dinner.
5. Get some naan to go with it. Naan is flat bread that is very tasty. One piece is usually good for two people. Try either plain or garlic. Both are delicious.

We usually get the chicken tika masala (red cream sauce), lamb vindaloo (lamb is a great choice here… it is always tender and tasty), chicken makhani (red cream sauce with nuts), or chicken sag (chicken with a flavorful green sauce).

The service in the restaurant can be a little un-even. Sometimes it’s great and other times it’s so busy you are waiting on your check for a long time. Recently it doesn’t seem quite as busy as it once was but Friday and Saturday are still busy. in general, I think the service should be better than it is. While they are quick to pour water and take your order, the wait on delivery of the food and check can sometimes be maddening. It could be a cultural thing, but as always, no excuses.

So, whether you have never had Indian Food or you like it a lot, it’s worth a trip for an interesting evening out, a second date, or before a show at the U. Just give yourself a lot of time.

Tip: Get there early on Friday or Saturday or you will have a while to wait. Being there at 6 wouldn’t be crazy.

Bombay House Details:

1615 Foothill Dr, Salt Lake City, UT
(801) 581-0222