Saturday, June 23, 2007

Mole, Masala, and Mochas

A few years back I dated this girl and we started a weekly ritual to try one new restaurant a week. I know, incredibly original. But with my busy work and school schedule, we managed to comb the valley before I left for an internship on the east coast. Furthermore, we discovered that we previously ate out way to much and deciding on this made the most of our trips out. Together, even after not lasting a year, we still managed 52 new restaurants, some as just friends. If you happen to stop by SLC, here is your culinary starting place, anything else is a waste of your precious layover.

Some overall observations about dinning in SLC. It is underappreciatedly great. It's much cheaper than NYC, LA or WDC, but not lacking in flavor or authenticity. When it comes to a good coffee shop -- despite popular opinion about the Mormon population -- SLC rivals Seattle and Portland in really, really good local roasters, and astonishingly, there are plenty of them. I could write up a separate entry just for those. The reason I don't, is cause there wasn't one I really did not like. And, yes, you can order alcohol with your meal. And even for you lushes, that too is cheaper.

Below is a short, mixed sample of what you can do in between disembarkment and departure:

Bombay House: I will keep this brief. Eat here. Nothing fancy, just amazing, reasonably priced India fare. Briyani, dynamite. Curry, outstanding. Masala, amazing. You know a restaurant is good when it is forced to pack up and move for zoning reasons, and the business still booms. Sort of like groupies, the people follow you, anywhere. This place is a priority when I return.

Mazza: Best hummus to this day. I am comfortable, and stick by the statement. It's a small, simple establishment but you will never forget what you just had. For non-vegetarians, the kaftas, shawarmas and kebabs are done well in both their sandwich or solo form. My best friend Meghan is a vegetarian. I am not. But the falafels she introduced me to where done well.

Kyoto: Sushi can be either really, really good, or shit. There really is no in between. I have never walked out of a sushi place and felt so filled in a very good way. Kind of like a "cleansing" feeling. Also the Kobe steak is ridiculous. It also has a great Japanese atmosphere about it. The sushi chefs are engaging as they meticulously roll your fish, rice and avocado.

Betos: This is an institution. The shack on 3300 South State Street is my favorite. Still the best chicken burrito to date. This place falls into the "hole in the wall" category. Open 24 hours makes it even better, shifting crowds from Taco Smell. Eventually, it will be these guys buying out the Chilis and Chevys. Salsa bar is included, cashiers speak little English and nothing but Telemundo on the tube. Muy beuno!

Red Iguana: I love mole. I love it's flavor, texture and temperature. I make no apologies for that whatsoever. There is a reason this place doesn't advertise alot, the food speaks for itself. Situated in an area known by locals as "Little Mexico", you feel right at home in Pueblo when you pull up. If I remember correct, they devote an entire section of their menu to the varieties of mole on tap.

Cedars of Lebanon
: Not to be confused with the brand name in supermarkets. Better ambiance than Mazza, and still very good. Slightly more expensive, and make sure and reserve the back room on a Saturday night with the belly dancers. Excellent for a Mormon bachelor party. Included is a Lebanese deli attached to the left of the restaurant for lunch goers.

Bohemian Brewery: Who thought Vespas would make a great decorative item? Obviously, beer selection, specifically Czech, is not in shortage. Like other breweries in the area, you can sample in different sizes. Scandinavian fare is typically rare in SLC, which gives them an edge, but their taste is not. If my grandpa, who is a WWI vet, wanted to go back, I knew it must be good. Awesome schnitzel, plus everyone around the table during their anniversary dinner, seemed pleased.

Sugarhouse BBQ Company: Located in probably my favorite area, slightly resembling Berkeley, this place will fill up fast during lunchtime. It is Memphis style bbq. Haven't been back since it finished remodeling, but if you have to add space, you're doing something right. The sauce was what did it for me. There is a smokey flavor to everything and goes excellent with Cutthroat Pale Ale. Probably one of the best beer/ribs combination out there.

Rodizio Grill
: More meat. More Brazilian meat. Also, in a very cool part of SLC, despite the recent trenchcoat, nut-job shooting. While carnivores are being fed, vegetarians can surprisingly lust after one of the best salad bars. It's a nice combination of juicy slices of meat, coupled with a cooling sensation from fresh stuff at the green bar. The best part, for the quality, it's inexpensive, especially during lunchtime. The downside, you won't be productive for the rest of the day.

The Pie
: Alright, there isn't a single Italian restaurant on this short list. Get over it. Eat at The Pie. At the base of the U, in a basement, hides another institution. I spent many unproductive study sessions here. Thick and over-cheesy pizza is a beautiful thing.