Salt Lake City dining

[Pellice]

My friends and I will be in Salt Lake City for a few days next week. We will mostly be outside urban areas on a birding trip to northern Utah and southern Idaho, but am looking for dining options in Salt Lake City - and also in Twin Falls and Pocatallo, ID, for that matter.

We are all easterners, so would be interested in local cuisine, if such exists anymore. For example, are fresh trout available. Is grilled meat the norm in that part of the west?

Any good local beers, spirits (I know the mountain west is big on distilleries!)

TIA

 

[Gumby]

I'm also interested in Salt Lake City dining recommendations, as we will be there on vacation in September.

 

[38Chevy454]

Any good local beers, spirits (I know the mountain west is big on distilleries!)

TIA

Any Utah produced beers will be limited to the lower alcohol permitted in Utah. Only "imported" beers have the higher alcohol content in Utah.
I forget the value, I used to travel to Utah for work, but can't recall the percentage. It is lower like 3.2%, even for microbrew style that is made in Utah. The local microbrews were nice flavor, and I tended to drink those vs the other choices.
As for a restaurants, only one I can recall was the Red Iguana Mexican style restaurant that is located kind of between the SLC airport and downtown on N Temple Dr. There are two locations, the one on N Temple is the original. Can have long wait times as it is popular.

 

[braumeister]

Utah is full of great beers. Most are a little lower in alcohol than those made in other states (personally, I think that's a good thing). I'd rather have two than one, which is why I've always tended to go for an ordinary bitter in England, rather than an IPA.

I used to pass through SLC occasionally, and usually stopped for a meal at Squatters brewpub which is downtown and has always been reliable IMHO. Red Rock, Desert Edge, and Avenues Proper are other brewpubs.

 

[davebarnes]

Yelp and TripAdvisor.

 

[folivier]

If you're looking to eat out on a Sunday check to make sure the place is open. Many are not.

 

[Gulfbeach]

The Red Iguana, mentioned above, is actually the home of some of the best moles in the US. They even have a mole sampler so you can decide which you like best. I am a fan of their mango mole which pairs well with one of their mango margaritas. They are open on Sunday.

 

[PawPrint53]

Another vote for Red Iguana. Are you going to Bear Lake for birding?

 

[Pellice]

HI all. Just back from my trip to SLC. Yes, we did go to Bear Lake and enjoyed the unusual sight of scores of Virginia rail and sora chicks running around - that is definitely not something I've observed before. The Great Salt Lake was another spectacle with thousands upon thousands of various shorebirds and eared grebes.

We DID dine at Red Iguana, and it was quite good - but there is excellent Mexican food to be had in New Jersey, so the "wow" factor was less pronounced. The mole sampler was fun.

We had excellent and unusual food at the Tin Angel. The spiced beans that came with the rainbow trout entree were terrific. The service (described as "warmly hip" by one of the review sites) was annoyingly affected - everything described as "amazing" or "awesome" - but that's better than simply annoying! The venue was "shabby chic" - but the food was really, really good! I highly recommend this spot!

 

[nphx]

Places on my "re visit" list for my Ski Trips:

Tonkotsu Shabu Shabu Bar (no alcohol)
Squatters Pub

 

[SecondAttempt]

The Red Iguana, mentioned above, is actually the home of some of the best moles in the US. They even have a mole sampler so you can decide which you like best. I am a fan of their mango mole which pairs well with one of their mango margaritas. They are open on Sunday.

+1 for RI. Don't be surprised if you have to wait outside on the sidewalk but the food is worth it!