The Bayou

This place is very popular, although I continue to wonder why. I've visited it a few times and have mostly been disappointed.

1. Beer Selection: this seems to be the draw, but to be honest it is only impressive by comparison to what is available at other places in Salt Lake. They simply can't get the selection of beers that similar bar/restaurants in other cities do. They are often out of the more interesting offerings in their menu. I'm glad that someone is trying to do a menu like this here, but it's not really comparable to a Belgian Cafe (Philadelphia) for example.

2. Food: at it's best it's mediocre bar food that is overpriced. Sometimes it's just bad. I had a catfish sandwich that is supposedly a house specialty, it tasted like a dirty grill. The sweet potato fries are good, if you like such things.

3. Service: the service is wanting here. They don't take reservations, so you can expect an enormous wait for a table on the weekend. This is exacerbated by the fact that they routinely seat large parties that don't turn over their table and then tax the wait staff to the detriment of every other table. It would make sense to limit parties to a max of 6 on weekends, then they could turn tables over more quickly and the servers could do a better job
on their stations. The servers are friendly, but to be blunt, they are mostly in over their heads, especially with multiple large parties to tend to.

If you're a Salt Lake local you're kind of stuck with this place if you want any kind of selection of imported and craft brews, but if you're just visiting town, stick to the places downtown like Squatters. Both the food and the service there are superior. If you like being packed into a loud space full of 20 somethings, with a long wait for a table and for service, maybe you'll enjoy the Bayou more than I did.

The Bayou no longer charges a membership fee!!!! SLC changed the law on fees back in 2008, so nobody has to pay a membership to visit restaurants and clubs in Salt Lake City that serve liquor. So in the very least Fodor's information is two years old. ...dated... Not good. This is 2010 and we're on the Internet. No excuse for this.

A choice of over 200 kinds of beer in a quaint old style atmosphere. Sit at the bar and make friends, meet a small or large group at different sized tables, or sit outside cooled off by misters surrounded by hanging flower baskets. The appetizers are great! On Fridays or weekends there are local musicians there to entertain.