I will be in Salt Lake for one night in early June. If you could have only one dinner there, where would it be? Something with ambience, good local cuisine and prices not totally out of the ballpark. I've heard of Absolute and also Market Street Grill. Anyone ever been there?

If you were willing to travel outside the city, Sundance is wonderful! The Tree Room is extremely expensive, but the Foundry Grill would be cheaper. (Lunch is good there, too -- if that's an option.) The setting is gorgeous, the ambiance special, the food is top notch, I think.
You could look it up at www.sundanceresort.com

Market Street Grill is a good choice. I've eaten there many times. Great food, pretty fairly priced, nice ambiance, not snobby but still stylish.

Enjoy your trip. SLC is a neat place.

Shelly

Although not local cuisine, P.F. Chang's is delicious and well-run. There are some local restaurants run by a group called Gastronomy. They serve good food. There are enough good restaurants in SLC. You don't need to travel up into the mountains. Enjoy downtown SLC - it's cool.

Market Street Grill is excellent as is it's sister, Market Street Broiler near the University of Utah. It's in an old, brick fire station.

Two unique restaurants with tons of ambiance are

Tuscany, located near the bottom of Big Cottonwood Canyon. Lovely surroundings, outdoor tables for summer, excellent Italian.

The other is La Caille, located at the bottom of Little Cottonwood Canyon. Replica of a French country farmhouse with beautiful grounds -- ponds & swans & gazebos.

Both are expensive, but very good.

Most of the restaurants mentioned here have good food & nice atmosphere, especially if you want to sit outside with mtn. views. A couple others are Log Haven in Millcreek Canyon (sort of a wild menu though but wonderful setting); Il Fresco (Italian), no views but very good food & quaint outdoor seating; the Santa Fe in Emmigration Canyon and downtown for a pricey but excellent steak is Fleming's at Gateway Center. Have fun..

Thanks so much everyone for your input. Since I will not have a car and would prefer to walk, I guess it will be the Market Street Grill which is within walking distance from my hotel.

It's my understanding that the Santa Fe is closed and being turned into a bed and breakfast. Have fun at Market Street.

For excellent Italian food, try Caffe Molisse on 1st South between West Temple and Main. Small, chef-owned, moderately expensive. Homemade pasta.

Also the sushi at Ginza's on 2nd South across from the ExpoMart (2nd West?) is great.