Nanafischer

I will be in Salt Lake City all next week to attend a Conference. We will have Tuesday free and also some time here and there. The last time we visited the Family History Library I remember that we asked the receptionist for a pass to the LDS Cafeteria at Temple Square. We went over there for lunch. There was a man in a tux playing a babygrand piano while everyone ate. Is that cafeteria still there and do they still allow "outsiders" to eat there?
Also, what other suggestions would you have for us to see and do? We won't have a car, so we will be limited to the Sheraton Hotel area.

katyslc

Nanafischer --

I'm not familiar with the cafeteria you mentioned on Temple Square, but just east of Temple Square is the Lion House, former home of Brigham Young's wives, and in the basement there is a cafeteria serving hearty Mormon cooking. On nice days you can eat outside in the garden in back of the Lion House. This is open to the public, of course. There is A LOT of construction just south to Temple Square, however.

If you have time in the day, I would recommend Red Butte Garden at the University of Utah; really the weather and leaves are so fabulous now, it shouldn't be missed. You can easily take a cab up there, and back, it's five minutes from downtwn. "Body Worlds 3" is on at the Leonardo, at Library Square (500 South and 200 East.) You can get there via Trax, or walk.

Restaurants we like downtown close to your hotel include the Tin Angel (400 South between 400 and 300 West), Acme Burger (200 West bwetween 200 and 300 South?) and of course, the Gastronomy Restaurants, The New Yorker and Market Street Grill (post office place, which is 350 South, between West Temple and Main Street.)

Hope you enjoy the city!

Katy

BarbaraS

Perhaps you mean the Nauvoo Cafe in the Joseph Smith Memorial Building http://www.diningattemplesquare.com/nauvoo.html.

StantonHyde

The capitol buidling was just refurbished and is beautiful. Walk up City Creek Canyon--pretty fall colors.

Other downtown restaurants to consider: Bambaras, Cafe Martine, Cafe Molise, Blue Iguana, Ems.

BodyWorlds is a truly spectacular exhibit--I would highly recommend it.

bachslunch

Will second the suggestion of Acme Burger above. Other restaurants you might consider that are within reasonable distance from downtown would include:

-Cafe Trang (Pan Asian, especially Vietnamese)

-Crown Burger (a local chain that's a glorious step up from Mickey D's -- if you don't mind a big cholesterol blast, get their signature burger with cheese and pastrami, then put fry sauce on it)

-Takashi (Japanese, especially sushi)

Was not very taken with Lamb's, which many guidebooks list. It's basically so-so diner style food.

Red Iguana (not to be confused with Blue Iguana) is a little west of downtown and is arguably the best Mexican place in the area, with mole being a specialty. It's a short cab or bus ride from downtown. There's also an ice cream place, Leatherby's, across the road from there that's worth stopping in for dessert.

La Cai, another excellent Vietnamese place, is a little south of downtown and reachable via public transport.

Have seen praise for Settebello, a downtown pizza place across the street from Acme Burger, on Chowhound but did not get a chance to go there.

bachslunch

As for sightseeing:

1. will second doing a tour of the capitol building. Well worth it.

2. will agree that Red Butte Gardens is very nice, but yes, you'll have to take a cab there. Sorry to report that Heritage Village at This is the Place State Park, another worthy attraction that's also a cab ride from downtown, is open in summer only. The other two tourist reasons to hit the University of Utah are less compelling (Utah Museum of Natural History is best for kids, while the Utah Museum of Fine Arts is only worth it if they have a great temporary exhibit)

3. definitely see the Mormon attractions in the Temple Square vicinity:

a. the lobby of the Joseph Smith Memorial Building

b. the Museum of Church History and Art which is great on the history and religious practice end of things if not on its art holdings

c. the Beehive House

d. Temple Square -- it's worth taking the tour to see the Tabernacle, grounds, and Assembly Hall

e. Conference Center -- again worth the tour to see the auditorium and the roof garden, plus if you're around Thursday night, you'll likely be able to hear the Mormon Tabernacle Choir rehearse

4. another worthwhile option is to do a tour of the Great Salt Lake and the Bingham Canyon Copper Mine.

For shopping or just outdoor mall wandering, the nearby Gateway Mall is your best bet. Avoid Trolley Square, which is nearly three-quarters empty and undergoing a lot of construction.

StantonHyde

oh yes, Settebello is very good. And Cucina Toscano is excellent. For Italian sandwhiches, Caputos is tops. I mentioned Blue Iguana because you can actually get a table there without an hour wait, but NOTHING beats the Red Iguana for Mexican food--mole to DIE for.