Salt Lake City Restaurants

41. 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.

42. Mazza

Mazza presents a long menu of well-prepared, traditional Middle Eastern favorites, like falafel, Aleppan walnut-pomegranate dip, cheese and za'atar flatbread, lamb kebabs, and oven-baked chicken and potatoes mutabbak (served with sweet onions and a tangy tamarind sauce over basmati rice). The desserts—including honey-drenched baklava—are noteworthy.

43. Mazza Middle Eastern Cuisine

44. 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.

45. Nomad Eatery

Located in something of a food desert amid the chain hotels southwest of Salt Lake City International Airport, this terrific adults-only gastropub—since it is inside Uinta Brewhouse Pub—serves elevated comfort fare. A nice option before or after a flight or on your way to or from Great Salt Lake State Park, Nomad doles out well-executed takes on comfort classics, from fish-and-chips to falafel salads. There's a second location, Nomad East, near Wasatch Hollow ( 1675 E. 300 S).

46. 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.

47. Oquirrh

An unprepossessing storefront eatery near the leafy Avenues district, Oquirrh (rhymes with "poker") is named for the snowcapped mountain range west of Downtown and focuses on seasonal fare with locally sourced ingredients. Boldly flavored dishes like house-made radiatori pasta with basil-cashew pesto and Niman ranch pork chops with feta and beet puree are presented artfully on handmade stoneware in an intimate, art-filled dining room.

48. Ozora Izakaya

Sample small boldly flavored plates of yakisoba noodles, hamachi crudo, eggplant yakitori, and miso-glazed salmon at this airy, high-ceilinged Japanese restaurant in Sugar House. Ozora also offers a nice range of sushi rolls and sashimi. Save room for a slice of strawberry-and-yuzu cheesecake.

49. Pretty Bird

As its name hints, this usually packed Downtown fast-casual eatery with counter service and a small seating area specializes in poultry, and the menu couldn't be simpler. Pick your spice level (from medium to the excruciatingly fiery "hot behind"), choose either a quarter bird or a boneless-chicken sandwich, and add some sides if you'd like (crinkle-cut fries, cider slaw, pickles). Pabst Blue Ribbon in a can is the only beer served, but there's canned wine, too. Additional locations are in Sugar House, Midvale, and Park City.

50. Salt Lake Roasting Company

Since 1981 the Roasting Company has sourced, bought, imported, roasted, and sold dozens of varieties of coffees. Great pastries, desserts, light breakfast and lunch fare, free Wi-Fi, and friendly, knowledgeable staff make this a Salt Lake institution. You'll detect the distinctive aroma of their coffee in the lobby of the public library, where there's a satellite location.

51. 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.

52. 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.

53. 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.

54. SOMI Vietnamese Bistro

The expertly prepared, contemporary Vietnamese food is but one reason for this buzzy, contemporary bistro's success—there's also a good wine list and a range of creative cocktails. The kitchen specializes in modern and traditional fare, along with some nods to countries that border Vietnam—try the piquant lemongrass beef noodle soup before graduating to steamed whole branzino fish with a ginger-scallion sauce and tender sliced Peking-style pork chops with sweet-and-sour sauce.

55. Swen's

With its sleek, contemporary vibe, warm lighting and wood accents, open kitchen, and floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the fantastic ski terrain, this upscale restaurant in the ritzy Snowpine Lodge is Alta's hippest dining destination. The kitchen takes a farm-to-table approach to its hearty but creative mountain fare, with standout dishes like hamachi crudo and a succulent peppercorn-crusted rib-eye steak with mashed potatoes and Merlot-braised mushrooms. Service is top-notch.

56. 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.

57. The Bayou

You'll find more than 200 microbrews, both bottled and on tap, at this lively, often crowded Louisiana-inflected bar and restaurant on the south side of downtown. The menu offers plenty of Cajun specialties, such as crawfish étouffée and blackened catfish sandwiches, along with more regionally American grub like fried chicken and pizza. Live music, pool tables, and a casual, high-energy buzz make this a fun place to hang out for a while. You must be over 21 to enter.

58. The Park Cafe

Drop by this long-running café with a wall of windows facing the leafy trees of Liberty Park for a leisurely breakfast or lunch before strolling amid the greenery or visiting Tracy Aviary & Botanical Garden. Specialties include vegan hash with grilled potatoes and avocado, the bacon-and-egg-filled pancake sandwich, and a variety of burgers. Portions are formidable, too.

59. Tin Angel

This bustling, art-filled restaurant inside the airy, contemporary Eccles Theater draws plenty of folks for meals before or even during shows (there's a quick-bites intermission menu). Food here tends toward Southern American, with plenty of modern twists, such as barbecue bone-in ribs with sweet potato mash, and shrimp salad po'boys with root-vegetable chips. There's also an extensive selection of desserts and after-dinner drinks, as well as preshow cocktails.

60. Tulie Bakery

This cozy neighborhood bakeshop between Trolley Square and 9th and 9th turns out absolutely ethereal cookies (the salted caramel bars are legendary), tarts, and cakes, as well as sandwiches on soft and crusty savory breads. The soppressata and provolone and prosciutto-fig-gorgonzola sandwiches are among the favorites, and there's a full roster of espresso drinks and fine teas. There's a second location south and east, near Wasatch Hollow.