Salt Lake City Restaurants

1. Current Fish & Oyster

Being in a city with a major international hub airport has its advantages, including access to daily shipments of incredibly fresh fish, which are the stars on the menu of this postindustrial former warehouse space with a soaring arched ceiling and exposed rafters and air ducts. Expect seafood sourced from East and West—consider Japanese Kumamoto oysters on the half shell, Gulf shrimp and grits, and Prince Edward Island mussels with house-smoked pork belly. Next door, Under Current bar stays open later.

2. Laziz Kitchen

Run by a friendly husband-and-husband team who began with a hummus stand at the farmers' market, Laziz has grown into an outstanding full-service Lebanese restaurant in the burgeoning Granary District, with a cheerfully hip plant-filled dining room and street-side terrace. The most delicious strategy here is to make a feast of a selection of small plates: spiced labneh, eggplant baba ghanoush, grilled Halloumi cheese, kibbeh, fried cauliflower with garlic-cilantro pesto, red-wine-braised lamb shank, and maybe a kafta burger or two. The short but excellent wine list features several Lebanese bottles. There's a second location in Midvale.

3. Provisions

Renowned for its delicious weekend brunches and a bright and colorful dining room with a lively open kitchen, this modern American bistro with a focus on organic ingredients also turns out flavorful dinner fare. Brunch favorites include slow-roasted pork shoulder with poached eggs and wood-roasted blueberry pancakes, while homemade pappardelle with braised rabbit and smoked bacon stars among the dinner options.

4. Red Iguana

Visitors are sometimes taken aback to find stunningly authentic, richly flavorful house-made moles, chile verde, carnitas, and other self-described "killer Mexican" dishes in Salt Lake City, and especially in a rambling old yellow-brick building on the other side of I–15 from Downtown. But the lines out the door attest to the longstanding adoration of the Red Iguana, which in addition to doling out great food also serves first-rate premium margaritas, good Mexican beers, and delicious and free salsa and chips. If the crowds have you feeling blue, try the satellite outpost, Red Iguana 2, which is just two blocks away and has many more tables.

5. Café Trio Downtown

In this comfortable, modern dining room with clean lines and a great location near Trolley Square and 9th and 9th, you might whet your appetite with a selection of cheeses or flatbread, but save room for balsamic-drizzled stone-fired pizzas, hearty baked pastas, and roasted half chicken, all of which vie for attention at this chatter-filled Italian eatery. You'll want to linger for the crème brûlée, flavored martinis, and espresso.

6. Ivy & Varley

Downtown's largest restaurant patio—with its tranquil reflecting pool, canopy of ornamental trees, and eye-catching murals—is an idyllic setting for boozy weekend brunch with friends, dinner and drinks before a show at nearby Abravanel Hall, or a late-night snack between dance clubs. The reasonably priced contemporary American food is consistently good, too, from the braised Wagyu beef Benedict with truffle Mornay sauce at brunch to ahi tuna tartare and cashew-kimchi bowls for dinner. There's a comfy indoor dining area, too, but it's the outdoor space that makes Ivy & Varley special.

7. La-Cai Noodle House

Named for a historic restaurant district in Ho Chi Minh City, this unassuming eatery south of downtown re-creates the cuisine of southern Vietnam. The menu ranges from traditional basics, like beef-brisket pho and stir-fried crispy egg noodles, to more creative fare, such as walnut shrimp in a creamy white sauce, salt-baked calamari, and a massive hot pot that's perfect for groups of two to four. Portions are huge and service is impeccable.

8. Layla Mediterranean Grill and Mezze

Venture a few miles south from downtown to Holladay to enjoy savory Mediterranean dishes—with an emphasis on hearty Moroccan and Middle Eastern grills—in a crisp, contemporary dining space. Tangy spices enliven Old-World favorites, such as shawarma and moussaka, and not-so-common dishes like muhamarra (think hummus but with walnuts) may tempt you away from your comfort zone. Bright walls, big windows, and family-friendly banquettes bring a sun-drenched vibe to the meal.

9. Manoli's

Venture into this sleek, angular neighborhood bistro to savor some of the tastiest contemporary Greek food in Utah, best enjoyed with a selection from the nicely curated wine list (which lists some excellent Hellenic offerings). The menu is broken down into tapas-style vegetable, meat, and seafood plates, such as piquillo peppers with smoked feta and olive oil, charred octopus with bean salad and sherry vinaigrette, and pork-beef meatballs with a soul-warming cinnamon-tomato sauce. Save room for the interesting desserts.

10. Mazza Middle Eastern Cuisine

11. Mumbai House

You'll be enveloped in electrifying aromas the minute you step into this dark, intimate space that ranks among the best Indian restaurants in the state. You'll find all the standards, including soft garlic naan, chicken-coconut korma, piquant lamb vindaloo, fragrant tandoori dishes, and lots of vegetarian options. There's a selection of domestic and imported beers as well as traditional teas and tea-based drinks. There are additional locations in West Jordan and Provo.

12. Oasis Cafe

From early morning to well into the evening, a selection of fine teas and espresso drinks, big breakfasts, and healthful entrées draw regulars to this café and its serene patio courtyard, and also to adjacent New Age bookstore and gift shop, the Golden Braid. The menu leans toward vegetarian and seafood selections, such as multigrain waffles and eggs Benedict Florentine in the morning and sesame-blackened ahi with sticky rice and peanut stir-fry with udon noodles later in the day. There's a nice wine selection, too.

13. Sawadee Thai

Head to this popular restaurant on the border between the Avenues and Central City—its brick walls and gorgeous artwork create a warm, inviting vibe—for authentic Thai fare. Starters like minced-fish cakes with red curry paste and Thai beef salad are perfect for sharing, and the main dishes—such as barbecue sweet-soy pork, pineapple fried rice, and duck in red curry sauce—arrive in generous portions.

14. Seasons Plant Based Bistro

Along the Jefferson Street restaurant row in the Granary District, this sleek, contemporary space serves creative, beautifully presented vegan cuisine, much of it with Italian and French preparations. Dishes like mushroom Alfredo with wild mushrooms and house-made ravioli with butternut squash and brown-butter consommé are both hearty and robustly flavored.

15. Settebello Pizzeria Napoletana

Two ambitious restaurateurs set out to re-create authentic, ultrathin-crust pizza from Naples using an oven, flour, cheese, and other ingredients shipped from the Old Country. The popular result of this undertaking is Settebello Pizzeria, which draws raves for its blistered-crust pies with simple, top-quality toppings, like crusted tomatoes, artichokes, and pancetta, and a few nontraditional options, like jalapeño marmalade and slow-cooked brisket.

16. The Angry Korean

With an irreverent name and somewhat remote suburban location in the District retail-dining center in South Jordan, this contemporary post-industrial space pulls in ardent fans of Korean food from points far and near. Once you've tucked into a plate of kalbi flame-grilled short ribs, beef bulgogi, fusion-style garlic-ginger tacos with Asian slaw, or a Korean fried shrimp po'boy slathered in house sweet-and-sour sauce, you'll understand what all the fuss is about. There's a second location in Cottonwood Heights.

17. Weller's Bistro

A perfect option for a delicious feast of modern German-American fare before or after a visit to Antelope Island State Park, this dapper downtown Layton restaurant is also midway between Salt Lake City and Ogden. The made-from-scratch food is spot-on—try the Alsatian-style flammküchen, currywurst with fries, Parmesan-crusted pork schnitzel, or one of the tasty thin-crust pizzas. The restaurant's Döner Wagon food truck appears at various locations throughout the Wasatch Front.

18. Zest Kitchen & Bar

The charms of this festive bar and grill near downtown theaters and Pioneer Park include quirky decor (both a chandelier and a disco ball), a superfriendly staff, a focus on organic spirits and wines, and healthy farm-to-fork–inspired plant-based cuisine. Drop in for a thyme-infused grapefruit-vodka cocktail (with CBD on request) and cashew-quinoa–stuffed poblano pepper before a show or a smoothie, jackfruit pizza, or miso ramen bowl to break up an afternoon of exploring.