City Weekly November 20, 2025

WELCOME, HONORED STRANGER!

ou bring questions and seek guidance, no? You have come to the right place, for your visit has been foretold by the spirits—our readers—for some time. You look for direction and higher wisdom in a world of tumult and noise, a place which often impedes one’s judgment and vision.

Fret not, dear stranger! We are prepared to give you a reading of that which has been, that which is, and that which may yet be, thanks to over 15,000 votes that were cast in Best of Utah ballot across over 480 categories. By these we will divine Utah’s superlatives—and occasional hazards—across the cultural, political, gastronomic and recreational planes. We hope that such may provide you with good times and wise decisions in your near future.

Let us commence with our reading, then, so that the best of what the Beehive State has to yield may be brought more clearly to our gaze.

— Wes Long, Contributing Editor

City Weekly Best of Utah

Congratulations to the 2025 Hall Of Fame inductees:

TACOS DON RAFA

The OG of Street Tacos at the same on State Street location for longer than we remember.

SNIDER’S MEATS

Honestly, has there ever been a better butcher shop in these parts? No.

MADDOX RANCH HOUSE

For 75 years some of the best steaks and cattle cuts have been served here, in Perry, Utah no less.

UTAH BOOK AND MAGAZINE

This decades old gem on Main Street is perhaps the final vestige of a Utah way of life that may never return

DEL VANCE

The quiet owner of the Beer Hive has a noisy past: As a founder of Uinta Brewing, he helped set the stage for Utah’s craft beer explosion.

THE WORD & SPEEDWAY CAFE

If you never heard the Boxcar Kids, Dinosaur Bones or The Strangers, or never tossed in a mosh pit--well, you missed Utah’s Underground Music and your life is not better for that.

2025 PUBLISHER’S CHOICE

APOLLO BURGER & CAR CONCEPTS

Celebrating 40 Years, Apollo Burger is among the largest locally grown burger chains... and is still growing. Car Concepts has adapted from 4 track tape decks in the 70s to today, a leader in the marriage of wheels and sound.

JON HUNTSMAN SR. HUMANITARIAN

TY BURRELL

First during COVID recovery, and recently when fire destroyed SLC businesses, Ty stood tall for our hospitality community Thank you, Ty.

2024

Here is your first card—the Eight of Wands. This is a card of activity and of rapid information. Depending on its position and the cards beside it, this could be an omen of good or ill, of hasty action or of long-expected results. Both are not uncommon in the fast-moving environment through which the following honorees operate, either in making the news or reporting it. Whether such actions prove to be well-aimed or hasty has been for our readers to judge, for as we all know, a wand can be an instrument of creative personality or of ego and impulse.

Best Columnist

Eli McCann,

The Salt Lake Tribune

Any ex-Mormon is bound to get a kick out of Eli McCann’s observations of Latter-day Saint culture. He writes without a trace of bitterness, instead channeling nostalgia and bemusement. Not every story is as immediately gripping as, say, his recollection of dressing up as a nun for Halloween. But like any great columnist, McCann can transform something as mundane as his husband’s crusade for more neighborhood speed bumps into a cheeky, insightful tale. sltrib.com

2. Gordon Monson, The Salt Lake Tribune

3. Meg Walter, The Deseret News

Best Community Advocate

Jennifer Plumb

Doctor Jennifer Plumb represents Utah’s 9th Senate district and has been a huge advocate for fighting the opioid crisis. She worked to build bipartisan support at the Legislature to allow individuals to carry Naloxone, which helps reverse symptoms of an opioid overdose, and she continues to educate members of the community through a monthly online training course. jenplumb.com

2. Rosie Card

3. “Bad” Brad Wheeler

Best Conservative Mitt Romney

It is perhaps incongruous that—within the federal congressional delegation and state Legislature, plus the Governor and his cabinet—Utah’s best conservative this year is a private citizen. Nonetheless, Mitt Romney casts a long shadow. Among the circus of modern politics, Romney held his own doing the work of bipartisan legislating before jumping ship. Time will tell whether Romney’s now unique brand of conservatism retires with him or if it can find a new champion.

X: @MittRomney

2. Becky Edwards

3. Dan Thatcher

READERS’ PICKS

It’s been an amazing thing to watch Mayor Mendenhall sidestep the draconian efforts of the Legislature at every turn. So far in her second term, she’s already had to work on creative workarounds for their evertightening grip and bigotry. And under her steady leadership, the city is weathering unprecedented abuse under GOP leadership at the state and federal levels pretty well, all things considered. slc.gov/mayor/

2. Sen. Nate Blouin

3. Mayor Jenny Wilson (Salt Lake County)

Standout Internet Figures

It can be hard to remember a world before the internet gave us the tools to connect. Now, depending on where you look, it was either a wonderful gift or a doomsday curse. On the one hand, you have Elevate Utah, an organization that’s made it their mission to empower Utah’s voters. They’ve made a splash with informational videos that focus on local issues and community involvement where whiteboards and sticky notes are the stars. They’re regular people trying to build a coalition, online and on the ground. On the other hand, you have Mike Lee, a sitting U.S. Senator who seems to live on social media—not to communicate with constituents, but to amplify the worst of the echo chamber he’s descended into. Nothing is off limits, and even when confronted in the halls of Congress by a colleague for callousness in the aftermath of tragedy, apologies are never warranted.

Best Political SocialMedia

Influencer

Elevate Utah

IG: @elevate_utah

Best Local Podcast

“City Cast Salt Lake”

To live around Salt Lake is to reside alongside folks who have wildly-different personal histories with the region. Many have relatives dating back to the Latter-day Saint settlers of the 1840s, while others just unpacked their U-Haul. “City Cast Salt Lake” provides a place for every manner of local to find something of interest. Telling stories through text, visuals and sound, the crew tackles topics great and small, with a particular emphasis on quality-of-life issues. The site’s myriad lists and its Hey Salt Lake newsletter also provide dependable jumpingoff points for local exploration, be you a veteran of life here or a total noob. saltlake.citycast.fm/

2. “Mormon Stories”

3. “GeekShow Podcast”

Roots, Race & Culture (PBS Utah)

Co-hosts Lonzo Liggins and Danor Gerald talk candidly about the wide spectrum of experiences for Black Utahns and communities of color. They interview all types of people, from artists and lawmakers to entrepreneurs, creating an invaluable source of education with the perfect amount of storytelling and humor to keep diverse audiences engaged and informed. You can stream it from the PBS app and online. pbsutah.org

2. Good Things Utah (KTVX/KUCW)

3. Studio 5 (KSL-TV)

Standout Organizations

Planned Parenthood’s Salt Lake Health Center and Action Council of Utah are a lifeline for Utahns— offering birth control, emergency contraception, STI/STD testing and treatment, PrEP and other preventative medications, vaccines, wellness exams, abortion care in certain locations, and more. Despite fierce political attacks, funding freezes and attempts at defunding, they haven’t just survived— they’ve kept their doors open, kept serving, kept educating. The organization is strong under the leadership of Shireen Ghorbani—now interim president/CEO—who brings passion, grit and clear commitment to defending access and expanding care in this challenging moment. In a state where reproductive rights are under constant threat, Planned Parenthood reminds us that these services are essential, the advocacy is urgent and our community depends on them now more than ever. plannedparenthood.org/planned-parenthood-utah

Best Advocacy Organization

Planned Parenthood Action Council of Utah

Best

Organization

Standout Politicians

The cycles of political life are unpredictable. For some, their rise (and fall) can be meteoric, for others, it’s about finding the right time. During his final year in the U.S. Senate, Mitt Romney was reckoning with a career as both party leader and outcast. His retirement came as a welcome surprise to many. Still, some hoped, including Romney himself, that he’d be able to use his voice following retirement to do some good. Instead, he’s chosen to keep quiet about his party and the man he once voted to impeach.

Meanwhile, despite her loss in the race to replace Romney, Caroline Gleich has emerged as a rising star for the state. A devoted environmentalist, Gleich comes at a time when the state is facing dire threats from climate change. While the Senate race might not have worked out, it likely won’t be the last we hear of Gleich.

Best Politician: Over the Hill

Mitt Romney

X: @MittRomney

2. Rocky Anderson

3. Ben McAdams

Best Politician: Up and Coming

Caroline Gleich

IG: @carolinegleich

2. Nate Blouin

3. Natalie Pinkney

READERS’ PICKS

Best Political Controversy HB267 Referendum

This year, the Utah Legislature waded further into controversial measures when, despite continuous and fierce protests, lawmakers passed a law to strip public workers of their collective bargaining rights. Utahns’ anger turned to action and, in just 30 days, organizers broke records collecting more than 320,000 signatures to put a public referendum on the ballot to repeal HB267. We’ll see you at the polls.

2. Trevor Lee’s Pride flag ban

3. Mike Lee’s attempt to sell off public lands

Best Progressive Sen. Luz Escamilla

First elected in 2008, Senate Minority Leader Luz Escamilla has been busy fighting for progressive causes big and small. This year in the Legislature, Escamilla endeavored to close the gap on childcare access in the state and to protect immigrant communities. In the minority caucus, her efforts often hit roadblocks. But to keep on fighting even when we fall short is a great strength. Progress doesn’t happen overnight.

IG: @senatorluzescamilla

2. Sen. Nate Blouin

3. Sen. Jen Plumb

Standout Radio

If you’ve turned on the radio during your morning commute anytime during the last 30 years or so, there’s a good chance you’ve encountered Radio From Hell on 96.3 FM. A rogues’ gallery of supporting characters have come and gone, but what has stayed are titans Kerry, Bill and Gina and their playfully rebellious and insightful conversations to accompany you on those sleepy mornings. Radio From Hell is one of the longestrunning local radio shows in the country, and it is a big factor—but far from the only one—for why X96 (KXRK) is beloved by Utahns and nationally renowned, including being ranked as a Top 5 rock and roll station by Rolling Stone. Things are always changing, but Radio From Hell and X96 are a comforting—and subversive—constant. x96.com

Best Radio Show

Radio From Hell (X96)

2. RadioWest (KUER 90.1)

3. RadioACTive (KRCL)

Best Radio Station X96 (KXRK 96.3 FM)

2. KUER 90.1

3. KRCL

Best Mixed-Use Space in which to Live/Work/Play

Maven District

Salt Lake City’s Maven District is known for women-owned businesses and a local community atmosphere. Shop for books at the Lovebound Library, grab a treat at Normal Ice Cream, or explore any number of other interests while enjoying murals as you peruse the street. This area also offers several townhomes and lofts for rent, as well as a plethora of wellness spots like Pilates studios and spas. It really has it all. mavendistrict.com

2. Millcreek Common

3. Central 9th

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COARSE NATURAL MULCH

MEDIUM NATURAL MULCH

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ORGANIC COLORED MULCH

FOUR OPTIONS AVAILABLE

In response to democratic backsliding during the second Trump administration, huge crowds have made their voices heard by gathering in Salt Lake City and around the state. Among them was Afa Ah Loo—a father, fashion designer and community advocate—who was tragically shot and killed during the protest in June. Ah Loo, like all those who attended, remind us that in the history of our nation, power has always been with people willing to come together.

2. Transgender Day of Visibility

3. ICE Out of SLC

Standout Reporters

The free press is critical for a free society— watchdogging the government, holding megacorporations accountable and, yes, keeping us up to date on our favorite teams. Robert Gehrke, a Tribune veteran, is an expert at breaking down the tomfoolery of Capitol Hill. His byline is one that Utahns have trusted for decades. His colleague Andy Larsen turned a passion for the Utah Jazz into a dream job—he began blogging about the team for fun before his professional run covering the action at the Delta Center. Fox 13 reporter Ben Winslow is a multi-Best of Utah winner with decades of experience covering Utah news across radio, print, TV and digital platforms. Readers love his sharp, multi-platform skills that make local news accessible and entertaining. And Doug Fabrizio, the silver fox of SLC, is the unmistakable voice of RadioWest. Known for his easeful interviews, he draws out depth and authenticity in every guest.

Best Reporter: Print/Digital

Robert Gehrke, The Salt Lake Tribune

sltrib.com

2. Bryan Schott, Utah Political Watch

3. Katie McKellar, Utah News Dispatch

Best Reporter: Radio

Doug Fabrizio, KUER kuer.org

2. Lara Jones, KRCL

3. Eric Cabrera, KSL Newsradio

NO KINGS participants marching up State Street

READERS’ PICKS

Standout Utahns

Art has a way of having a lasting impression on us, especially when that art makes people talk. Longtime editorial cartoonist Pat Bagley has spent decades cutting through the fog of political commentary with profound images that don’t require explanation. But, disappointed with and fearful of the current administration, Bagley picked up and moved to Portugal. He’ll continue to offer political commentary from abroad, but Utahns will miss being able to claim this award-winning artist as their own. The current favorite Utahn, on the other hand, is none other than Post Malone, a beloved genre-blending musician that has captured hearts around the world. Malone moved here in 2019, stating his love for the state’s beauty and wanting a quieter lifestyle. Hopefully he’s found what he was looking for and will stick around for some time.

Best Former Utahn Pat Bagley

IG: @bagleycartoons

2. David Archuleta

3. John Stockton

Best Utahn Post Malone

IG: @postmalone

2. Afa Ah Loo

3. “Bad” Brad Wheeler

Best Reporter:

Sports, All Media

Andy Larsen, The Salt Lake Tribune

sltrib.com

2. Amy Donaldson, KSL

3. Gina Barberi, X96/KXRK

Best Reporter: TV

Ben Winslow, Fox 13/KSTU

IG: @benwinslow

2. Mary Nichols, KUTV2

3. Daniel Woodruff, KSL-TV

Best Utah Athlete

Tony Finau

The SLC-born golfer was dynamite in 2024, tying for third in the U.S. Open and reaching the FedEx Tour Championship. While his performance on the course cooled a bit in 2025, Finau still made the cut in 15 of his 20 events and made the top 50 at the Masters, the PGA Championship and U.S. Open. Finau also has a sterling reputation as a philanthropist and as the founder of the Tony Finau Foundation.

2. Caroline Gleich

3. Grace McCallum

The Great Salt Lake has long been the beating heart of Utah. And for years, that heart has been failing as water has been diverted away. Now, faced with difficult choices to keep toxic dust out of our lungs, the state has chosen baby steps where great leaps are required. With our future in Utah and the West dependent on saving the lake, this may prove to be the defining crisis of our lifetimes.

2. Protecting abortion access in Utah 3. Protecting collective bargaining rights for public workers

Standout TV

Mary Nickles has been on air at KUTV since 1991, offering a consistent and comforting person on whom viewers can depend. She’s an absolute pro at her job, the epitome of someone mastering their career. Nickles has also been vocal about the importance of women getting mammograms after her own tumor was detected during an exam in 2011. Her indepth reporting and work as KUTV’s Check Your Health spokesperson has won Nickles an Emmy and other awards. City Weekly voters also chose KUTV 2 as the overall best news station in town, preferring the downtown broadcaster’s timely and accurate coverage of local issues. From the daily weather and traffic reports to field reporting on breaking news, the team at KUTV consistently delivers well-crafted and easy-to-understand updates on what’s going on in the community. kutv.com

Best Local TV Anchor

Mary Nickles (KUTV 2)

2. Kerri Cronk (Fox 13)

3. Heidi Hatch (KUTV 2)

Best News Station

KUTV 2

2. KSL-TV

3. Fox 13

Social Cause

Our Great and diminishing Salt Lake

READERS’ PICKS

MEDIA, PEOPLE & POLITICS

Best Weathercaster

Chase Thomason (KUTV 2)

When the 10-day forecast is just a smartphone app away, it takes a talented and dedicated professional to elevate the weather report to the level of must-see television. KUTV’s Chase Thomason is one such weathercaster, going beyond the daily highs, lows and inch counts to offer expert insights on regional and long-term trends, and showing a keen eye for the news of extreme weather and the on-theground impacts of a changing climate. kutv.com

2. Kevin Eubank (KSL-TV)

3. Gina Barberi (X96)

Most Underreported Utah Story SLC’s Treatment of its Unsheltered Community

When it comes to homelessness, no one is happy with how things are going. That’s just about the only thing on which anyone can agree, with the debate otherwise devolving into a storm of finger-pointing and blame. Many of those fingers end up pointed at Salt Lake City, but while the media and politicians have the luxury of squabbling over fault, thousands of unsheltered Utahns are simply trying to make it through another night.

2. Fluoridated water ban

3. Legislature sneaking $300 million for a pedestrian plaza at the Delta Center

Worst Use of Public Funds Fluoride Removal

While nine out of 10 dentists may recommend water fluoridation to prevent tooth decay, the Utah Legislature has decided to listen to the tenth dentist. Now, communities are barred from treating their water with the additive. The decision overrides broadly accepted health expertise and even the will of voters where, as recently as 2023, residents of communities like Brigham City voted 2-to-1 to keep fluoride in their water. Better get that dental checkup booked.

2. Private school vouchers

3. “Stand for Our Land” deception campaign

Worst Utahn Sen. Mike Lee

For years, Utah has thought of its brand of conservatism as more compassionate than the rest. Still, over his three terms in office, Sen. Mike Lee has done his best to prove otherwise. Just this year, his jokes about the assassination of Minnesota lawmaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, as well as his latest efforts to sell off Utah’s public lands, saw Sen. Lee leading a race to the bottom—a race he isn’t running alone. X: @basedmikelee

2. Gov. Spencer Cox

3. Trevor Lee

CW STAFF PICKS

Best Counterpunch

Mayor Mendenhall’s Sego Lily Pride Flags

When the Utah Legislature voted to ban pride flags from schools and government buildings (HB77), Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall refused to let the city be silenced. In response, she and the City Council quickly rolled out three new official flags featuring LGBTQ+, transgender and Juneteenth symbolism, each with SLC’s sego lily. What was meant to erase residents instead became an official banner under which to unite. You can’t legislate identity—only elevate it.

Best Defense of Democracy Utah Courts Uphold Proposition 4

The Utah Legislature is petty, callous and drunk on power. So when a statewide majority told lawmakers to stop gerrymandering, the “representatives” reacted by swatting an independent commission aside and cutting the Wasatch Front into worse districts than before. It might have ended there—with voters trapped in a feedback loop of incumbency—but for the state’s Judicial Branch, which reinforced the people’s right to reform their government and sent the Legislature back to the drawing board.

Best Living Utah Historian Craig Wirth

Entering the historical field involves many circuitous paths, but the connection between history and journalism is, understandably, a short one indeed. Craig Wirth has been walking this path for decades as a journalist and documentarian in New York, Wisconsin and California on top of Utah. His fascination with the offbeat has proved a perfect fit for the history of the Beehive State. Apropos of his ABC4 feature, Craig’s “Wirth Watching.” abc4.com/author/craig-wirth/

Best New Sports Team League One Volleyball

How often do you get to watch an Olympiclevel athlete do their thing in person? In a state as volleyball-crazy as Utah, the opportunity to watch gold medalists Jordyn Poulter and Haleigh Washington in person is truly incredible. LOVB (pronounced “love”) made a major splash in its first season, and with the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles on the horizon, professional volleyball in Salt Lake is on the rise. lovb.com/teams/lovb-salt-lake-volleyball

Best NIMBYs Solutions Utah

This pro-business/public safety group had just started earning street cred on homelessness when it bafflingly went full Karen on bike lanes and speed bumps, calling the managers at the Legislature to demand a moratorium from on high and bankrolling a couple of City Council candidates to agitate for the interests of suburban commuters. Helping lawmakers steal power from Salt Lake City is the ultimate betrayal. Hopefully that extra parking space was worth their souls.

Best Reality Check Salt Lake Tribune Overshoots on Stuart Adams

The Tribune had a helluva scoop—abuses of power, sex crimes involving a child, nepotistic cover-ups. The editorial board was outraged. The orgs launched 1,000 internet petitions demanding resignation! But the Senate President never flinched, and the factual record revealed a tediously by-the-book change in code related to the crimes of 18-year-old high school students. Then the governor dismissed the “controversy” at his TV press conference and the story vanished into yesterday’s news.

Best Sports Homecoming Alex Jensen, University of Utah Basketball

Alex Jensen not only played for one of the alltime quirkiest coaches in the college game, Rick Majerus, he returned from a professional basketball career overseas to join Majerus’ staff at Saint Louis University. Since then, Jensen’s earned head coaching duties at several levels of the sport, while spending a decade as an assistant with the Utah Jazz. His choice as the 17th head coach of the Runnin’ Utes feels like an inevitable reunion.

Most Exciting Jazz Prospect in Decades

Airious “Ace” Bailey

Who was the last great small forward to play for the Utah Jazz? Gordon Hayward? Andrei Kirilenko? No disrespect to AK-47 or Hayward, but

those guys were one-time All-Stars. Bailey has the potential to be so much more. There’s never been a player with Bailey’s combination of size, athleticism and ball handling in a Jazz uniform, let alone one who’s just 19 years old. Let’s enjoy his talents in the purple and light blue while we can.

Worst Case of Public Stultification Utah Legislature’s “Realignment” of Higher Ed

“What I want is, Facts,” says the administrator in Dickens’ Hard Times. “Plant nothing else, and root out everything else.” Well, courtesy of its Legislature, Utah’s institutions of higher learning are acquiring a Dickensian flavor through HB265’s $60+ million budget cuts, with the proviso that universities eliminate “inefficient” programs and reinvest in lawmakers’ preferred industries before funds return. Add the effects of banning anything DEI-adjacent and favoring at-will contracts, and you’ve a recipe for hard times indeed.

READERS’ PICKS

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Not only known for their pottery, Art Haus also has classes for other mediums such as painting and drawing. It’s an all-inclusive art class experience open to all ability levels, making it much more than an art school, but also a community space. Scholarships are available, so if money is tight, you can still find ways to improve your artistic skills at this community-driven school. arthaus-slc.com

Standout Concert Venues

Utah has no shortage of amazing concert venues. Everywhere you turn, there’s a unique place to enjoy local and national tunes. The people have spoken, though, and there can only be one winner—or in this case, a few winners. Red Butte Garden is a stunning setting featuring beautiful flora and an incredible mountain view. You can pull up a blanket and chill on the grass, or bring chairs for the whole family. One really can’t go wrong with this amphitheater when looking for something to do. The Eccles Theater is an excellent venue for everything from classical music to comedy; its interior will have you as transfixed as the performances themselves. Kilby Court is a classic, allowing local performers to cut their teeth and gain experience on its stage. It seems like a rite of passage to have your photo taken in front of the “Welcome to Kilby Court” sign.

It appears we have continued the suit with the Ace of Wands. With its connotations to intellectual and spiritual passion, this is an encouraging sign, particularly in its upright position. You can expect ambitious creative work from this, backed by a good dose of luck, which is something that the following award-winners can well appreciate with their own endeavors across Utah’s arts scene. Whatever the medium and despite occasional reversals, they strive to bring about the very finest from their hearts and minds and we are all the better for it.

Best Art Gallery

Utah Museum of Fine Arts

Though you may spend only a few hours wandering the two floors of the Utah Museum of Fine Arts, their collection of over 22,000 works provides the best opportunity for Utahns to be exposed to global artwork, whether it was crafted millennia or mere decades ago. They recently reimagined their Mexican and Central and Southern American galleries and have an exhibit inspired by the age of AI on display until Jan. 4. umfa.utah.edu

2. Springville Museum of Art

3. Urban Arts Gallery

Best Arts Nonprofit Broadway Centre Cinemas

The Salt Lake Film Society and Broadway Centre Cinemas are the home of independent film not just for Salt Lake; they’re the heart of it for the entire state. They’ve been an important part of the scene for decades, ensuring that lesser-known films get released locally and that filmmakers have a venue to reach audiences. They’re also deep into preservation work on the beloved Tower Theatre, with completion estimated for later this decade. slfs.org

2. Salt Lake Acting Company

Best Concert Venue: All-Ages Red Butte Garden redbuttegarden.org

Kilby Court 3. Utah First Credit Union Amphitheatre

Best Concert Venue: Indoor Over 500 Capacity Eccles Theater saltlakecountyarts.org 2. Abravanel Hall 3. The Depot

Best Concert Venue: Indoor Under 500 Capacity Kilby Court kilbycourt.com 2. The State Room 3. Urban Lounge

Best Concert Venue: Outdoor Red Butte Garden redbuttegarden.org 2. Utah First Credit Union Amphitheatre 3. Sandy Amphitheater

Best Drag Entertainer Sequoia

What sets a good drag performer apart? Not only the charisma, uniqueness, nerve and talent to even grace a stage, but also the quality of live vocals, lipsyncing and storytelling through costume and presence. Sequoia embodies all of this and more with her snatched wigs and sequined bodices that pull you in and wanting more. Follow her on Instagram to keep track of her

3. Utah Shakespeare Festival

Best Cultural Event

SLC Pride

Salt Lake City is known for many things, but over the years Pride Month events have gotten bigger, better and more fun. Geared to the hyperlocal, the SLC Pride organization hosts events throughout the year, with its June festivities being the centerpiece. Their programming is an accessible and stylish way of letting our LGBTQIA+ friends and family know that they are not only welcome, but very much loved. slc-pride.org

2. Utah Pride Festival & Parade

3. Utah Arts Festival

READERS’ PICKS

If a friend told you to meet you at some building with the name “Eccles” attached to it, you’d probably get lost. The Eccles family’s wealth originated with David Eccles, Utah’s first multimillionaire. Today, his grandson, Spencer Eccles, carries on a family tradition of philanthropy as chairman of the George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Foundation, a key donor behind the Eccles Theater, Ballet West, KPCW and the Utah Shakespeare Festival. gsecclesfoundation.org

2. Jonathan King

3. Kate Rufener

Best Dance Company

Ballet West

The premier dance company for high-class, professional ballet in Utah. From Romeo & Juliet to A Midsummer Night’s Dream to the celebrated Nutcracker, you will be in awe of the dancers and productions that Ballet West produces so consistently. It is one of the country’s leading ballet companies for a reason, so check out the classical stories, historical masterpieces and modern creations that they have to offer! balletwest.org

2. Ririe-Woodbury Dance Company

3. SALT Contemporary Dance

Best Haunted House

Fear Factory

Spooky season means haunted houses, and Fear Factory outdoes itself each year. It’s not only ranked highly in Utah, but also known throughout the world for its spooktacular size, boasting six buildings—some up to six stories high—with two underground passages and a zombie bus to get you there and back. Be prepared to be scared, but also to have tons of fun. fearfactoryslc.com

2. Nightmare On 13th

3. Asylum 49

Best Movie Theater

Broadway Centre Cinemas

There’s something charming about a theater you don’t need a map to navigate, an older cineplex that feels homey yet blends cutting-edge technology with the capability to run old 35mm prints. Broadway Centre Cinemas is a landmark for film buffs looking to see the best in independent films and classic cinema. It’s also been a local Sundance venue for years, something we’ll look back fondly on through the haze of old celluloid. slfs.org

2. Brewvies Cinema Pub

3. Megaplex Theatres at Jordan Commons

Best Muralist Lizzie Wenger

Lizzie Wenger’s vibrant depictions of Utah’s landscapes were made to be painted on buildings throughout Salt Lake City, reminding passersby of the natural splendor surrounding the city on all sides. In 2025, she painted majestic mountains, playful horses and gentle flowers on the sides of three structures: Wicksmith Candle Company, Harley-Davidson of Salt Lake City and the addiction recovery center Fellowship Hall. Go check them out! lizziewenger.com

2. Joseph Anderson

3. Caro Nilsson

READERS’ PICKS

Among the inhabitants of the Natural History

Any museum can curate history, but a truly great one uses the past to interrogate the present. For example, The Natural History Museum of Utah details the ecosystem of the Great Salt Lake to illuminate its water level crisis and uses interactive games to encourage climate action. Other exhibitions cover Utah’s Indigenous peoples and the Ice Age. And if you only visit museums to gawk at dinosaurs, there are plenty of those, too. nhmu.utah.edu

2. Utah Museum of Fine Arts

3. Utah Black History Museum

Best Music Festival Kilby Block Party

Kilby Block Party’s first iteration was in 2019, and it has been growing stronger with each subsequent year. It’s become famous for incredible lineups that not only draw showgoers from across the state but from across the country as well. Tickets sell out quickly, so you have to be on the ball to get your passes—but it’s well worth the waiting and watching. kilbyblockparty.com

2. Deer Valley Music Festival

3. Das Energi Festival

Best Music Instrument Store Summerhays Music Center

Where there are booming music scenes, there must be music stores that locals can trust to service their gear or find replacements. Summerhays has locations in Orem, Layton and Murray, allowing for great availability and access across the Wasatch Front. They help with purchasing, repairing and renting, and have lists of private tutors for those who are just starting out. They’ve been around since 1936—a testament to their skills and ability to work with musicians. summerhaysmusic.com

2. Acoustic Music

3. House of Guitars

Best Neighborhood Concerts Tiny Porch

It’s already cool to gather with like-minded people who enjoy the same music you do, but it’s even more fun when it’s hosted on a small porch. Helped along by the Utah Arts Alliance, quality local acts come to play and hang out with a small, intimate group of folks ready to chill. There are often potlucks and snacks, too, so it’s really not something you can go wrong with. tinyporchconcerts.com

2. Heart & Soul Music Stroll - Sugar House

3. KRCL’s Day in the Park

Best Neighborhood Gathering 999 Ride

There’s no organizer and it’s slightly chaotic, but that is also what makes this underground bicycle rally so much fun. You can meet at the 9th & 9th intersection on Thursday nights to meander around the city on your favorite pair of wheels. It’s a sure way to explore new areas as well as make new friends along the way.

2. Utah Film Center Summer Outdoor

3. Avenues Street Fair

Best Singer/Songwriter

Addison Grace

READERS’ PICKS

Standout Paint and Pottery

Whether you prefer paint or pottery, Salt Lake City contains some excellent safe havens of creativity. Enjoy a date night or group outing sipping a beverage at Sip & Paint with Salt Lake Pottery Studio, held at Loki Coffee. Enjoying Loki’s delicious wares, you can paint a pot to your heart’s content before Salt Lake Pottery fires it up for you. Speaking of pottery, Art Haus is a great place to take a class. Students learn at their own pace and the classes are a blend of beginners, intermediates and experts working together in a nonjudgmental space. You can choose from clay to wheel throwing classes, decorating, hand building and figure sculpting.

Best Paint Night

Sip & Paint with Salt Lake Pottery Studio

lokicoffeeco.com/events/sip-and-paint

2. Color Me Mine

3. Champaint Night with Kat at Why KiKi

Best Pottery Classes

Art Haus

arthaus-slc.com

2. Salt Lake Pottery Studio

3. Red Kiln Pottery Gallery

Standout Performances

City Weekly readers’ favorite musical performances skewed Celtic in 2025. The fiddle and bagpipes in Utah Symphony’s performance of John Powell’s soundtrack to How to Train Your Dragon made the audience feel like they were soaring in the clouds with Hiccup and Toothless. Meanwhile, Irish folk musician Hozier brought listeners down to earth with a voice as soulful as his lyrics, backed by a legion of harmonizing vocalists and string musicians. After a fervent performance like that, it’d be easy to forget about Hozier’s 2019 “handsome Squidward” incident—when he shattered his ethereal persona with an accidental Instagram story post of him messing around with a silly filter—but the internet never forgets.

Best Classical Music/Opera

Performance

Utah Symphony, How to Train Your Dragon utahsymphony.org

2. Utah Opera

3. Candlelight Concert

Best Concert of the Past Year

Hozier, Utah First Credit Amphitheatre hozier.com

2. Post Malone

3. Addison Grace

Singer/songwriter Addison Grace has built up a following on social media sites like TikTok and Instagram, but when they began releasing music in 2020, listeners immediately felt a connection—especially in the Beehive State. Grace’s music is sweet, thoughtful and introspective, with a widely appealing bedroom-pop sound. It’s easy to see why they came in first place this year. IG: @graceful.addison

2. Talia Keys

3. Michelle Moonshine

Best Theater Company Hale Centre Theatre

Nothing impedes actors more than a shoddy set. Hale Centre Theatre’s actors are lucky not to have this problem, allowing them to bounce around and belt their hearts out without breaking the immersion. The Young Living Center Stage’s ability to rise and descend provides seamless set changes that seem like magic even to an audience of 900. It’s a far cry from the theater’s first iteration, which was housed in an old lingerie factory. hct.org

2. Salt Lake Acting Company

3. West Valley Performing Arts

Best Urban Public Art Out of the Blue (The Whale)

Public art is supposed to create conversations and become part of the community. There’s no question that Out of the Blue by artist Stephen Kessler—known simply as “The Whale”—has stirred conversation. Initially met with skepticism, it’s now worldfamous and so beloved that it’s spawned a Church of the Sacred Whale, Pride flags bearing its image and folks running marathons around it. If that’s not good public art, we don’t know what is. tuskstudios.com

2. Hoodah (Granary District)

3. Joe McQueen mural (Ogden)

READERS’ PICKS

Best Utah Author

Brandon Sanderson

Every time you turn around, Brandon Sanderson has written another book, and they always sell like hotcakes. But it wasn’t always so. His popularity launched through the stratosphere when he was handpicked to finish Robert Jordan’s Wheel of Time series. Since then, Sanderson has written millions of words in series like Mistborn, the Stormlight Archive and more. He’s local, dedicated to teaching his craft while honing it, and an overall nice guy. His popularity is well-earned. brandonsanderson.com

2. Terry Tempest Williams

3. Shannon Hale

Best Utah Band The Backseat Lovers

While there are many worthy bands that can hold the title of Best Utah Band, The Backseat Lovers are an excellent choice. They started in 2018 and now have millions of listeners who love their indie/alt sound. They really gained public attention with their 2019 single “Kilby Girl,” a track dedicated to the legendary venue. This is still the band’s most popular song, capturing the hearts of listeners all around the world.

IG: @the.backseat.lovers

2. Pixie & the Partygrass Boys

3. The Used

Best Utah Comedian Craig Sorensen

This certified silly goose is being recognized for the third consecutive year. Sorensen helms Crowdsourced Comedy, a queer- and Black-owned comedy troupe that performs live shows Sundays and Fridays at Why KiKi. As a former language instructor at the Missionary Training Center, Sorensen knows what makes Utahns laugh. He continues to push the boundaries of sass, while also teaching others his ways through Crowdsourced’s improv classes. IG: @kcraigsorensen

2. Mayor Wren

3. Chan B

Best Utah Poet RJ Walker

If you’ve meandered outside of the bars on Main Street on any given night, then chances are good that you’ve run into RJ Walker’s table decked out with a typewriter, stationary and lots of fun stickers. He will write you a poem on the spot that is sure to be a fun souvenir for a memorable evening. He is known to see people very clearly, though, so be prepared to be read like a book. IG: @dollarcompliments

2. Wren Williamson (Lady Death)

3. Paisley Rekdal

Best Utah Stage Actor Joseph Paul Branca (Salt Lake Acting Company)

You might have spotted him as a froglike alien in SLAC’s Close Encounters from the Beehive. Maybe he moved you as David in Beloved King: A Queer Bible Musical. He definitely cracked up your little ones as Mo Willems’ self-centered Pigeon, who insists on driving a bus without a license in SLAC’s family show. No matter the role, Joseph Paul Branca commits to the bit with enthusiasm that infects an entire audience. josephpaulbranca.com

2. Ed Sciotto (Salt Lake Acting Company)

3. Jayne Luke (Pioneer Theatre Company)

Best Visual Artist

Lizzie Wenger (Art by Lizzie Wenger)

Lizzie Wenger has been obsessed with the landscapes of the American Southwest ever since she was a child, finding sanctuary in the outdoors as she grieved her father’s death. Today, Wenger renders Utah’s natural beauty in what she calls a “psychedelic cubist” style. Each rust-red canyon and desert brush is composed of ripples, creating paintings as mesmerizing and unique as fingerprints. lizziewenger.com

2. Squid Vishuss (Squidvishuss)

3. Cat Palmer (Bogue Foundry)

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

CW STAFF PICKS

Party on with Sandbox VR

Best Adult Birthday Party You Can Do Sober Sandbox VR

Sure, virtual reality is all the rage among the young, but if you haven’t strapped on a headset and some body monitors, are you even living in 2025? Sandbox VR—located inside Murray’s Fashion Place Mall—is a full-body experience with an intensity that must be experienced firsthand to understand. Up to six players can play together, and the games range from Squid Game to UFL, aka Unbound Fighting League. Pick your weapon and go! sandboxvr.com

Best DOGE Dodge Utah Humanities

If there’s one thing certain kinds of conservatives hate, it’s everything good in the world, including arts and humanities. You can imagine the shock when Utah Humanities, responsible for top-notch programming throughout the last 50 years, had its funding catastrophically slashed by Elon Musk’s DOGE hit squad. Everyone thought it was the end, but thanks to last-minute donations, they’ve stuck around to 51. A 52nd year isn’t guaranteed, though, so stick it to DOGE and donate. utahhumanities.org

Best Literary Resistance

Let Utah Read

Utah’s lawmakers have made it their business to censor books for school kids, regardless of the literary merit they’re suppressing. Taking pages right out of the fascist playbook, they’re harming school kids and destroying free speech. Let Utah Read, a coalition of organizations, parents, teachers and librarians, has stood sentinel against the tyranny of the legislature and the defense of the First Amendment of schoolchildren—and everyone—across the state. letutahread.org

Best Musical Rabbit Hole

The Salt Lake Hardcore Archives

You’re following YouTube leads. A band called Spittin’ Teeth appears. You dig the music and decide to get educated. With some keystrokes, you find the Salt Lake Hardcore Archive, where the very first band featured is the act that sent you there. But Spittin’ Teeth is but one of dozens of punk bands that’ve called SLC home. Together, they find digital residence at a site dedicated to these oft-mercurial acts, with links to original recordings. slchcarchive.com

Best New Storyteller’s Stage Utah Film Center

The Utah Film Center’s new black box theater is a versatile, community-driven space built to support local filmmakers and creatives by hosting screenings, table reads and rehearsals. It’s available to rent and welcomes a wide range of events. Home to internal programming like Black Bold & Brilliant, Tumbleweeds, Through the Lens, and the Utah Queer Film Festival, it’s a safe, inclusive venue for emerging, queer, BIPOC, and youth voices to thrive. utahfilmcenter.org

Most Promising Community Center The Art Castle (Utah Arts Alliance)

The Utah Arts Alliance is working to preserve, renovate and activate the west side’s 120-year-old 15th Ward Chapel (at 915 W. 100 South) to create a community gathering space and an immersive art attraction. Get involved to help bring this vision of performances, concerts and special presentations to life. You can check them out during open hours, view the beautiful Victorian Gothic revival architecture and walk the sculpture garden. utaharts.org/en/art-castle

Here we have The Empress, a figure of abundance and fertility. She wields a sceptre to govern the natural world and bring harmony into being. Such a labor seems appropriate for the many Utahns out there who seek to nurture, heal and facilitate the community around them in their own special ways. The goods they produce and the services they provide do much to point us in the direction of concord. Their initiative has not gone unnoticed.

Standout Animal Care

Those of us hoping to share a cup of joe with our dogs need look no further than Bjorn’s Brew. Seasonal lattes make this a perfect coffee shop for humans, but canine friends are more likely to enjoy the shortbread cookies that come with every drink. If, like you, your pet bears the crushing weight of a devolving society, Koodegras offers a chance to catch a mild high. Their CBD products come in edible, topical and tincture form for easy enjoyment by all parties involved. Should that fail to adequately relax your furbaby, a trip to Fang and Claw Grooming may provide the pampering they require. Every cut, pluck and trim comes with a bath to ensure they leave refreshed. And for everything in between, SLC’s Healthy Pets offers an excellent array of supplies, foods, toys, and treats for the dogs and cats that may, in fact, eat better than you.

Best Doggie Biscuit Take Out

Bjorn’s Brew bjornsbrew.com

2. Rebel Paw

3. Ma & Paws Bakery

Best Pet CBD Koodegras koodegras.com

2. HempLucid 3. Acrely Farms CBD

Best Pet Groomer Fang and Claw Grooming fangandclawgrooming.com

2. Arnie’s Dog Spa

3. The Dog Den

Best Pet Supply Store

Healthy Pets

Salt Lake City healthypetsslc.com

2. The Dog’s Meow

3. Ma & Paws Bakery

READERS’ PICKS

There’s no more noble cause than Best Friends’ mission to save the lives of as many animals as possible (more than 2,500 per year) and make Utah a nokill state. They connect pets with foster homes via their SLC adoption center and also operate an animal sanctuary in Kanab. A visit to their facilities really drives home that the animals are well taken care of, to say nothing of the passion of the staff. bestfriends.org/salt-lake-city

2. Humane Society of Utah 3. Ruff Haven Crisis Sheltering

Animal Care (Medical)

Let’s all raise a glass to the incredible crew over at Neighborhood Veterinary Care in Murray for their tireless tending of the most important members of our society: our pets. Dr. Lynette Sakellariou’s confident and gentle bedside manner, as well as her ability to communicate and modify care plans according to the animal’s needs, singles NVC out as one of the best places in Utah for animal care. The prices are reasonable and the service from the staff is excellent even for the most nervous of dogs and cats they treat.

Animal Hospital

Antique Store

City Antique Mall

You never know what treasure you’ll unearth at Capital City—like vintage Levi jean jackets, a tucked-away Norman Rockwell book, one-of-akind belt buckles and more. You can happily wander for hours amid the neatly organized displays. Their staff are gems too—kind, knowledgeable and excited by the weird and wonderful. A must-visit for quality vintage and quirky finds.

Auto Dealership

Mark Miller Subaru

Oh my heck, Utah really loves a Subaru. And while there’s no shortage of places to secure yourself the state’s unofficial four-wheeled vehicle, the time-tested appeals of Mark Miller Subaru are known: quality sales and service on all the latest models plus a stocked lot of pre-owned vehicles. The business is one with deep roots around here and its social media channels show support for a variety of causes. markmillersubaru.com

Nate

READERS’ PICKS

Get your photo on at Essential Photo Supply

Best Camera Shop

Standout Book Services

Bookworms of Salt Lake City have so many wonderful shops and libraries from which to choose. The King’s English Bookshop is an old-fashioned kind of neighborhood bookstore—which barely exists anymore—and the perfect place to wander a warren of book-filled rooms. For comic book fans, Black Cat Comics is known for its knowledgeable and personable staff who really care about comics and the culture it produces. With regard to libraries, it is no surprise that architect Moshe Safdie’s Salt Lake City Public Library building downtown should command our readers’ attention, with its open layout and spectacular urban views. Check out community events and make use of the library’s wonderful collection of books. It takes a special person to navigate this kind of terrain, but Lisa Grant of the County Library system has decades of experience under her belt. Readers have been impressed by her friendly and helpful guidance as a Children’s Librarian.

Best Bookstore

The King’s English Bookshop

kingsenglish.com

2. Under the Umbrella Bookstore

3. Lovebound Library

Best Comic Book Store

Black Cat Comics blackcat-comics.com 2.

Essential Photo Supply

A modern fixture of the 9th & 9th neighborhood, this boutique camera shop has become a must-visit for shutterbugs of any era. They’re an authorized dealer for over 50 different film and camera companies, ranging from old-school filmusers to the best digital options on the market. What’s more, they offer lessons in photography and camera use, a professional studio to shoot in and a fullservice lab. They’ll make you a pro photog in no time! essentialphotosupply.com

2. Pictureline

3. Allen’s Camera

Best Library Branch

Salt Lake City Main Library

slcpl.org

2. Marmalade Branch

3. Sprague Branch

Best Utah Librarian

Lisa Grant - Salt Lake County Library

slcolibrary.org

2. Jason Rabb

3. Laura Renshaw

Best Mom & Pop Shop

Bruges Belgian Bistro

Bruges’ waffles are caramelized delicacies made with a secret recipe from the founder’s native Belgium. The sweet pearl sugar and rich crème fraîche make a flavorful combination, especially when paired with fresh strawberries. Their frites (the term for fries in the French-speaking areas of Belgium) are hand-peeled daily and cooked to order with a choice of dipping sauces. Don’t miss a chance to try the Machine Gun Sandwich stuffed with spicy merguez beef and pork sausage, as featured on Man vs. Food. brugeswaffles.com

2. Feldman’s Deli

3. Jolley’s Corner

READERS’ PICKS

Standout

Cannabis/CBD

Cannabis has come a long way in Utah, and this collection of providers are but a few among many that have done insane amounts of work to make that possible. Shout out to Dragonfly Wellness’ Mia Hicken for her patient, knowledgeable approach with first-time cannabis patients. WholesomeCo Cannabis continues to set the bar for top-shelf flower while making the application process for a medical card simple and shameless. On the CBD side, Kush Kube and Koodegras each provide a level of quality that our voters both seek and consistently find. Our thanks to all such retailers and providers for their superlative work.

Best Cannabis Budtender Mia Hicken (Dragonfly

Wellness)

2. Michael Johnson (Bloc PharmacySouth Jordan)

3. Dennis Magana (WholesomeCo Cannabis)

Best Cannabis Pharmacy WholesomeCo Cannabis  wholesome.co

2. Dragonfly Wellness

3. Bloc Pharmacy - South Jordan

Best Cannabis Medical Card Provider

WholesomeCo Cannabis

wholesome.co

2. Mountain West Medical Clinic

3. KindlyMD - Utah Medical Card & Medication Services

Best CBD Products

Kush Kube

kingbdistribution.com

2. Koodegras

3. HempLucid

Best CBD Retailer Koodegras koodegras.com

2. Kush Kube

3. HempLucid

Best HVAC True Pros Heating & Air

Chances are, you haven’t heard of what Katy Higgins calls the “One-in-the-Van” Trick, but you may have been ripped off by an HVAC salesperson using the technique. An industry veteran, Higgins grew tired of all the gimmicks and games, so she started a more honest company of her own, True Pros Heating & Air. She even wrote a pamphlet detailing scams to look out for, available to download from the True Pros website. truepros.com

2. Larsen Heating and Air Conditioning

3. Just Right Plumbing, Heating & Cooling

Modify and beautify with Abyss Body Piercing

days of offcenter lobe piercings at Claire’s are over. For those in search of a unique ear curation or those with metallic dreams more exotic, Abyss takes a holistic approach to body modification. Their shop employs not only talented and experienced piercers, but also reiki and massage services. The shop’s healing atmosphere makes even those pesky daith piercings (relatively) painless. abysspiercing.com

READERS’ PICKS

GOODS & SERVICES

Standout Clothing

A lioness does not concern herself with the fashion sense of others, but does seek top-notch apparel for herself. For that dress that happens to be a foot too long or those last-season pants that need a reinforced zipper, Sue’s Alteration has you covered. Owner Sue Song utilizes decades of experience for detailed care in every alteration. In an unprecedented era of #ThriftGrift inflation, Retro Betty and IconoCLAD offer unmatched quality and selection. Retro Betty compiles bespoke vintage pieces for timeless wardrobe additions and their shoe selection is unmatched. IconoCLAD’s target audience skews younger— think iconic clubbing pieces—but their wide selection ensures you’ll find exactly what you need for any badass updates. Don’t skip the accessories either. For those who value function over fashion, Cotopaxi represents top-of-the-line gear. Their multi-colored packs earned the brand national recognition, but their fleeces and puffer jackets turn it into a lifestyle.

Best Alterations, Apparel

Sue’s Alteration

suesalteration.com

2. Leone’s Custom-Made, Tailor & Dry Cleaning

3. Tailor Cooperative

Best Clothing Boutique

Standout Community Contributors

Believe it or not, our readers do more than eat and shop. For those whose endeavors may persuade them onto the wrong side of the law, Jesse Nix provides empathetic legal representation, with the institutional knowledge to defend clients to the utmost degree. For the compassionate consumer, The Other Side Thrift Boutique sells secondhand goods for an important cause: alleviating homelessness. Their thrift store is managed by and provides financial support for The Other Side Academy, a non-profit focused on combatting homelessness and addiction. And beyond holding the naming rights of an expo center in Sandy, Mountain America Credit Union built their brand on something more meaningful. Their Business Services team is dedicated to supporting small businesses with loans, payroll and more. Finally, Parker Barbee’s Parfé Diem not only turns out spectacular single-serve whipped parfaits, but stands as an inspiring example of courage. Each makes SLC a better place.

2. Black Diamond Equipment

3. Skullcandy

(Salt Lake Legal

READERS’ PICKS

Standout Food

Part market, part meeting place, Harmons at City Creek brings flavor to everyday life. From expert cheesemongers and shipping services to an in-store spot for a seriously good burger and fries, they truly have it all. Their bakery is top tier, with custom cakes starting at just $10—perfect for any celebration. Harmons also offers in-person and virtual cooking classes, with current and past options including American-Chinese cuisine, Mediterranean mezze, global flavors and seasonal dishes in collaboration with local partners. Salt Lake Culinary Education, meanwhile, continues to shine with its hands-on, professional training for future chefs. And we have to shout out Salsa Queen her locally made salsas are a staple in our kitchen. It’s hard to pick a favorite, but we might be in love with her creamy jalapeño. Even better? You can pick up Salsa Queen at your local Harmons!

Best

Cooking

Classes

Harmons Grocery - City Creek harmonsgrocery.com 2. Caputo’s 15th & 15th

Orson Gygi

Best Culinary School Salt Lake Culinary Education sliceutah.com

Park City Culinary Institute

Salt Lake Community College Culinary Miller Campus

Best Grocery Store Bakery Harmons Grocery harmonsgrocery.com

2. Rancho Market

3. The Store

Best Local Grocer Harmons Grocery - City Creek harmonsgrocery.com 2. The Store

3. Liberty Heights Fresh

Best Locally Made Salsa

Standout Games & Hobbies

Salt Lake City has a robust game and hobby community, with a plethora of independently-owned stores, from which our readers picked two. Nestled in Sugar House, Game Night Games is a cozy store with a wide array of board games and an incredibly knowledgeable staff willing to offer recommendations to help you have the perfect game night. With a generous dedicated play space and Este Pizza next door, it’s easy to see why they’re a favorite. As for the hobby end of things, The Legendarium wins the top honors. Known primarily as a sci-fi/fantasy and horror bookstore, they’re also billed as an RPG café, with a host of games and accessories in stock. They host roleplaying and game nights in plenty of space. They’ve built an impressive, inclusive community that readers definitely want to be a part of.

Best Gaming Store Game Night Games gamenightgames.com

2. The Nerd Store

3. Oasis Games

Best Hobby Shop The Legendarium legendariumbooks.com

2. Black Cat Comics

3. The Nerd Store

Best Local Ad

Agency

Love Communications

In Utah, love is in the air—and a lot of our ads. Advertising agency Love Communications created Visit Utah’s “In Love. In Utah.” campaign, boosted tourism after the COVID-19 pandemic for Ski Utah, advertised the Utah State Fair in 2024 and rebranded the Salt Lake City International Airport in 2020. Love Communications’ website boasts their additional accomplishments, along with 16 office dogs who “work” alongside their human owners. lovecomm.net

2. Saltworks

3. Target River

READERS’ PICKS

Standout Markets

Salt Lake is home to a diverse array of cultural foods. For the at-home chef, Chinatown Supermarket is the best place to score not just Chinese Lao Gan Ma, but a variety of other Pan-Asian ingredients. For a different kind of international dish, Caputo’s 15th & 15th serves up Italian subs and Southern Europe imports. Chicago expats might recognize it better as the city’s only source of spicy giardiniera. Finally, Black Cherry Mediterranean Market promises to “bring the flavors of the Mediterranean and Middle East to your table.” Halloumi and halal meat suit a variety of tastes from within the unassuming store.

Best Asian Market

Chinatown Supermarket

chinatown-supermarket.com

2. H Mart

3. Ocean Mart

Best European Food

Imports Market

Caputo’s 15th & 15th

caputos.com

2. Pirate O’s

3. Siegfried’s Delicatessen

Best Middle Eastern Market

Black Cherry

Mediterranean Market

blackcherrymarket.com

2. Karim Bakery

3. Specialty Market

Standout Personal Care

It’s not just a barbershop or salon—Lucero Hair and Wellness is where the city comes to feel seen. This gender-neutral, queer- and trans-friendly space guarantees great haircuts every time. With a no-tipping policy and fair wages for staff, Lucero is rooted in equity and care. Every year, they host a back-to-school haircut event, offering free cuts and school supplies to students. They also hold workshops and classes that empower and connect the community. At Lucero, we not only feel seen and respected, we feel celebrated. What can we say? We love them. Downtown SLC’s Soleil Nail Studio, meanwhile, is the ultimate destination for luxurious, natural nail care. Specializing in Gel-X and Builder Gel, the talented, welcoming team delivers flawless results in a serene, spotless space. With elite products and personalized service, Soleil is where beauty meets comfort—nail care, truly elevated.

Best Barbershop

Lucero Hair and Wellness

lucerohairandwellness.com

2. Jed’s Barber Shop

3. The Blade Maiden

Best Hair Salon

Lucero Hair and Wellness

lucerohairandwellness.com

2. The Dread Keeper

3. Landis Lifestyle Salon

Best Nail Salon

Soleil Nail Studio

soleilnailstudio.com

2. Nail Plate

3. Wicked West Nails

Buyer AND seller agents

Neighborhood experts

Locally owned real

that doesn’t charge you franchise fees!

THANK YOU FOR YOUR BUSINESS AND REFERRALS!

Angela Carlson | Amy Allison | Benny Keele Cortney Anderson | Cristina Christenson-Perez

Deborah Arguello | Jack Rhinehart | Julie De Lay (Bella)

Justin Doll | Kevin Holman | Leslye Stratton

Marcela Montemurro | Mark Janeway | Michele Haley

Pat DePaulis | Rhett Davis | Robyn Vieta | Ryan Eborn

Shaun Jacobsen | Susannah Seare

Babs De Lay, Principal Broker / owner Staff: Sarah McKenzie

855 S STATE STREET, SLC

MON-SAT:

Standout Piercing/Tattoo

If you want a professional yet extremely calming and almost spiritual experience when receiving a piercing, look to Courtney Marriott at Abyss Body Piercing. For piercing spaces overall, KOI Piercing Studio has a wide selection of jewelry and showed itself to be the go-to place for our readers due to its cleanliness and experienced piercers. On the other hand, if a tattoo is what you’re after, Jessica Sheahan from Dark Arts is a reader favorite, doing excellent work at an award-winning shop that specializes in black and grey, illustrative blackwork and occult and hermetic tattoos.

Best Piercer

Courtney Marriott (Abyss Body Piercing)

abysspiercing.com

2. Jade (KOI Piercing Studio)

3. Kristina Butterfield (The Piercing Place)

Best Piercing Studio

KOI Piercing Studio

koipiercingslc.com

2. Abyss Body Piercing

3. The Piercing Place

Best Tattoo Artist

Jessica Sheahan (Dark Arts)

darkartsmidvale.com/jessica

2. Danny Madsen (The Garden Electric)

3. Walt Watts (Giant Robot Tattoos)

Best Tattoo Shop Dark Arts darkartsmidvale.com

2. Prohibition Ink Custom Tattoo

3. Only Forever Tattoo

READERS’ PICKS

Standout Private Events

Whether you’re hosting a Utah wedding or … a regular wedding, The Bar Project and Red Butte Garden provide spectacular drinks and views. The Bar Project leverages owner Ashley Pacheco’s 15 years of bartending experience to provide a spectacular client experience. With affordable hourly rates and a flexible alcohol procurement policy, they turn birthdays and corporate events into classy affairs. Red Butte Garden is a stunning place for a first date stroll and a spectacular summer concert venue, but it also proves a highly-popular private event space. The venue’s unique blend of indoor and outdoor areas allows for highlycustomizable, highly-memorable events.

Standout Recreation

Snow mobiles, sleeping bags and fishing poles are just some of the ways to enjoy Utah’s pristine nature. Young Powersports has a variety of offroad and all-terrain vehicles and handles repairs and parts acquisition, ensuring customers have what they need to get outside. Smith & Edwards turns access into experience with their selection of hunting and camping equipment. Given their skills, expect a long-term relationship with them. If you’re up the creek without a paddle, however, Western Rivers will sell you some waders and rods while you look for it. With decades of experience, they offer solid advice on fishing spots and gear. After nearly 40 years, Recreation Outlet wraps up operations. Their vast selection of land, snow, and water equipment was appreciated and their guidance ensured that our gear lasted as long as our passion for the outdoors. Our readers can only offer one final award as a retirement gift.

Standout Plant Care

How does your garden grow? From trees and shrubs at Glover Nursery to the annuals and perennials at Millcreek Gardens, the Wasatch Front boasts native, waterwise plants aplenty. For more exotic flora, Cactus & Tropicals is an oasis of orchids and succulents. And if farm to table is more your thing, Lambert Growers has got your vegetable needs covered. No green thumb? No problem! Dial up Diamond Tree Experts for trimming and maintenance, and let Native Flower Company’s monthly subscription fill your home with blooms.

Best Florist

Native Flower Company

nativeflowercompany.com

2. Cactus & Tropicals

3. Hillside Floral

Best Flower Nursery Millcreek Gardens

millcreekgardens.com

2. Glover Nursery

3. Cactus & Tropicals

Best Specialty Nursery

Cactus & Tropicals

cactusandtropicals.com

2. Glover Nursery

3. Orchid Dynasty

Best Tree and Shrub Nursery

Glover Nursery

glovernursery.com

2. J&J Nursery and Garden Center

3. SuperTrees Nursery

Best Tree Services

Diamond Tree Experts

diamondtreeexperts.com

2. Amen Trees

3. Rent A Monkey Tree Service

Best Vegetable Nursery

Lambert Growers

lambertgrowers.com

2. Kuwahara Wholesale

3. Cook’s Farm & Greenhouse

Best Private Bar Service

The Bar Project

thebarprojectslc.com

2. Your Favorite Bartender

3. Premier Event Services

Best Private Event Venue Red Butte Garden

redbuttegarden.org

2. Church & State

3. Cactus & Tropicals

Best Runners Store Salt Lake Running Company

Good gear is essential for good running. And if runners sometimes seem like they’re members of a strange fitness religion, it’s due in large part to temples of sport like the Salt Lake Running Company. From the latest in quality footwear to a full and regularly updated inventory of upper- and lower-body layers, SLRC has the goods to get you out the door and feeling great for miles and miles, no matter the weather. slrc.com

2. Ogden Running Company

3. RunGr8 Running Center

Best ATV/ORV Store

Young Powersports XL

youngpowersportsxl.com

2. Steadman’s Recreation Inc

3. Weller Recreation

Best Camping Gear

Smith & Edwards

smithandedwards.com

2. Recreation Outlet

3. General Army Navy Outdoor

Best Fishing Gear Store

Western Rivers Flyfisher

westernriversflyfishing.com

2. Fish Tech Outfitters

3. Sportsman’s Warehouse

Best Recreation Sports Store

Recreation Outlet

IG: @recoutletsaltlake

2. Backcountry Retail Store

3. Lone Pine Gear Exchange

Native Flower Company

READERS’ PICKS

Boarding the Raunchy way

Best Skate Shop

Raunch Records & Skate

Since making a comeback in Sugar House years ago, owner Brad Collins has maintained a punk aesthetic to the iconic shop that feels down-to-earth and free of high-pressure tactics. You just walk in, check out the goods, get what you need and, maybe, snag a vinyl on the way out the door. They’ve got a cool selection of boards, parts, gear and music, complete with a shop cat hanging out with you while you look. raunchrecords.com

2. Milosport

3. Crossroads Skateshop

Standout Ski/Snowboarding

If you french fry when you should pizza, you’re gonna have a bad time. But show up at the resort without the right gear, and your day is ruined before it even starts. Locals love Lone Pine Gear Exchange for skis, boots and outerwear at great prices. They sell demo and consignment gear, plus feature in-house repair and tuning. If you prefer to ditch the hard boots and poles, nobody knows snowboarding better than the crew at Milosport, just a couple blocks away. This iconic shop has been in snow biz since 1984 and sells the best-of-the-best board, boot and binding brands.

Best Ski

Shop

Lone Pine Gear Exchange

lonepinegearx.com

2. Level Nine Sports - Millcreek

3. Sports Den

Best Snowboard Shop Milosport

2.

3.

Best Pest Control

Beeline Pest Control

With nearly three decades of experience, Beeline Pest Control is a one-stop shop for getting rid of creepycrawlies, whether common (cockroaches, ants, termites) or the more esoteric and unexpected guests in your home/office (scorpions, bed bugs and various rodents). With locations across the state, they’re able to tackle your problem efficiently and quickly, with free quotes. Having been around for over a quartercentury, Beeline Pest Control does one thing and does it very well. beelinepestcontrol.com

2. Pest Pro Pest Control

3. Greenix Pest Control

Best Residential Complex Avia

Avia Apartments, just east of Washington Square Park, offers unmatched downtown access and residential feel. Their pet-friendly studio- to 3-bedroom units all come with access to the complex’s outdoor fire pits, lounges and fitness center. Based on resident testimony, the maintenance team is also quick to respond to service requests, which warrants accolades in itself. aviaslc.com

2. American Towers

3. Post District Residences

DRIVER WANTED DRIVER WANTED

READERS’ PICKS

Best Plumbing

Millcreek Plumbing Inc.

If you have an unexpected leak, the last thing you want is for your plumber to show up, string you along and flush your savings down the drain. Since 2002, Millcreek Plumbing has offered transparent diagnoses and reasonable prices, with a community-minded approach, speedy and efficient service and none of the crap you might get from another plumber. millcreekplumbinginc.com

2. Rare Breed Plumbing

3. Scott Hale Plumbing, Drains, Heating & Air

Best Smoke/Vape Shop

Blackhouse Vapor Company

In a market crowded with competitors, Blackhouse Vapor Company is a standout. The business consistently scores highly with the public and emphasizes service and a wideranging selection of high-quality devices and store-branded e-juices. They have created a safe, friendly and comfortable environment that appeals to regulars and those coming to vape for the first time. X: @blackhousevapes

2. Robertsons Smoke & Coffee Shop

3. Murray Vapes

Best Thrift Store

IconoCLAD

We could all use a little more slay in our wardrobe, and IconoCLAD is your one-stop shop for secondhand swag. From the eclectic lineup of boots to the sleek men’s wear on offer, you’ll leave

IconoCLAD feeling yourself without breaking the bank. There are so many pieces that will surprise you with their color, texture and fit. Push your style boundaries on a budget at Utah’s best thrift store. iconoclad.com

2. The Other Side Thrift Boutique

3. Pib’s Exchange

Best Vinyl Record Shop

Randy’s Records

Wandering into Randy’s Records on a Saturday can be intimidating. You’ll be shoulder-to-shoulder with a jazz enthusiast or metalhead as you flip through racks of LPs. You might even strike up a conversation with a fellow audiophile. In doing so, you’ll be fulfilling founder Randy Stinson’s vision for the space, which he thought up while listening to records with his fellow soldiers during the Vietnam War. randysrecords.com

2. Graywhale Entertainment

3. Diabolical Records

Best Wedding Planner Wingwoman Weddings

A lot can go wrong at a wedding. You could get a coffee stain on your dress or your evil twin could make an appearance. In situations like these, it’s nice to have a wingwoman backing you up. That’s where Lucy Ahrens comes in. Ahrens offers everything from event staff to rehearsal dinner coordination. If you have questions or are feeling stressed, you can book an hourly consultation to vent it out. wingwomanweddings.com

2. Pierpoint Place

3. Michelle Leo Events

50% TRADE IN VALUE ON ALL KIDS SKI/BOARD GEAR! Bring in your kids & gear to get set up for the new season

TNT Guns & Range a shot

Guns & Range is Utah’s largest indoor

range, offering 25- and 100-

along with a rare indoor clay

shotgun range. Their attentive staff values safety and customer experience. Those new to shooting can enjoy weapon rentals as well as basic courses on pistol marksmanship and concealed carry permitting. tntgunrange.com

GOODS & SERVICES

CW STAFF PICKS

Best Budget-Friendly Aid to a Yearly Headache

Tax Help Utah

We all know how stressful tax season can be when it involves added expenses on top of all our other regular bills and pressures. Thankfully, the folks with Tax Help Utah understand this. Made up of a coalition of organizations sponsored under the VITA grant program, Tax Help Utah offers free and secure tax preparation for those of low and moderate incomes, the elderly, the disabled and those with limited English ability. taxhelput.org

Best Excuse to Stop Driving Kensington Byway

Try going somewhere without driving and you’ll quickly find that the greatest obstacle is other people’s cars and the high-speed, multi-lane roadways built for them. Drivers rely on these “arterials” but to pedestrians and cyclists, they are walls. On the opposite side of the scale are neighborhood byways like Salt Lake’s Kensington Avenue—a slow-speed, low-traffic corridor intentionally made more so by people-first design and traffic calming. New crossings at 700 East and Foothill Drive sealed the deal.

Best Local Garden

Little Gay Garden

Situated in Rose Park, this farm is queer-owned and prides itself with sustainable farming practices, focusing on soil health and organic cultivation. Started by June Hiatt two years ago, Little Gay Garden has already become a go-to supplier for other florists. You can take advantage of the free gardening classes as well as yoga and natural dye workshops. littlegaygarden.com

Best Physical Media Geek Out

Synth & Soul Record Shop

Synth & Soul strives to carry records that are rarely seen in other local shops. Ryan Condrick’s brick-and-mortar (shared with SISTER Art Collective) specializes in EU imports, reissues, independent label gems, used records and

limited pressings. Customers in this space tend to take control of the AUX to satisfy their curiosity. The goal here is to show something new that resonates. Digging with your ears, not just your eyes, is encouraged. IG: @synthandsoulrecords

Best Street Makeover 200 South

There were naysayers who didn’t believe 200 South needed protected bike and bus lanes or any of the amenities last year’s construction brought. Traveling on it now, it’s easy to see the city’s vision. It doesn’t matter what mode of transportation you’ve chosen—2nd is now one of the smoothest, nicest streets in SLC. And since cars have been disincentivized to their proper place, traffic’s negligible. UDOT could take some lessons here.

Best Underwear That Actually Sees You Aqua Underwear

Aqua Underwear creates handmade, genderinclusive underwear with a focus on size, disability and BIPOC inclusion. Founded by Mel Martinez (they/them), a queer Latine sewist, the brand offers custom and ready-to-wear options in a wide range of styles and fabrics. With a strong commitment to accessibility, community pricing, and joyful affirmation, Aqua Underwear is changing what inclusive intimates can look and feel like. aquaunderwearslc.com

Best Unsung Hero of Local School Safety

Robert Ridge

There’s nothing more important to Utahns than our children, and no one does more to ensure they safely coexist with local car culture than SLC’s Crossing Guard Program Coordinator, Robert Ridge. Students cross the street more than 400,000 times per school year, and Ridge is the steady captain keeping things running smoothly. If your crossing guard calls out sick, Ridge will be there in a jiffy with his high-visibility vest and stop sign in tow.

Before you is The World. This card betokens a change of place, a voyage and of seeking. It also promises completion and fulfillment, of the existing connection between oneself and all which surrounds us. You would do well to pursue this kind of journey and nourish this type of connection—you inhabit a fabulous state in which to do so.

Standout Cycling

The humble bicycle offers many benefits: it’s great for the environment; you’ll never skip leg day; and competitions sometimes lead to fame, fortune and friendship. But bicycling sometimes comes with risks—namely, unfriendly car drivers using you for target practice. That’s why we celebrate neighborhoods like 9th and 9th for supporting designs for streets and sidewalks with bicyclists in mind. As for those of us who prefer to bike off the beaten path, the Bonneville Shoreline Trail’s many trailheads ranging from southern Utah to the Idaho border are perfect for low-key mountain biking. The still-developing trail will eventually be around 300 miles long, tracing the shoreline of the prehistoric Lake Bonneville, which once submerged much of our state underwater.

Best Bike-Friendly Neighborhood

9th and 9th

2. Sugar House

3. Park City

Best Mountain Bike Trail

Bonneville Shoreline Trail

bonnevilleshorelinetrail.org

2. Wasatch Crest Trail

3. Brighton

Best Bowling Alley

Bonwood Bowl

Bonwood Bowl is a local institution. A fixture since 1957, this slice of Americana combines vintage charm and modern affordability that’s perfect for family outings and anyone looking for a casual bowling experience. It also offers 42 lanes, league play and food selections for all ages. What’s not to like? The location is accessible, the facility clean and those shoes that are still warm from the previous occupant come at no extra cost.

bonwoodbowl.com

2. Olympus Hills Bowling Lanes

3. Pins & Ales - Draper

Best Camping

Bear Lake

Bear Lake is what some of us locals refer to as “The Missed Vacation.” You go there to relax for a few days, but then you end up doing a bunch of stuff anyway until you realize it’s time to leave. You say to yourself, “I’m just gonna go to Rendezvous Beach and read a book,” and the next minute you’re in a paddleboat with a friend, or hiking with strangers, or getting a raspberry shake in Garden City. Don’t believe us? Try it next summer. bearlake.org

2. Spruces Campground

3. Mirror Lake - Uintas

READERS’ PICKS

Standout Family Excursions

Utah prides itself in being family-friendly, but the options for an excursion can sometimes be difficult to parse through. Might we suggest three for your year? Many right-wingers will have you believe that LGBTQ+ events by definition are inappropriate for children, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. SLC Pride’s summer festival aims to be inclusive, educational and celebratory for a wide range of ages, going so far as to include a youth zone and allowing free admittance to attendees aged 17 and younger. While there’s plenty of time for outdoor fun, the snow and cold do eventually drive us inside. That’s where Loveland Living Planet Aquarium

Best Adventure Outfitter

Red River Adventures

A Moab fixture since 2003, Red River Adventures has basically become the go-to place to gear up for whatever pain or pleasure you feel like putting yourself through in the great outdoors. Whatever you may require, from camping gear to sporting goods to extreme canyoneering essentials, they have what you need. True to their name, they also book a number of unique guided adventures of their own. redriveradventures.com

2. Brighton Mountain Sports (Brighton Resort)

3. Moab Adventure Center

Gear up at Red River for your next Moab adventure

comes in, housing stunning exhibits of critters from all over the world. Regardless of the weather, the animal antics continue in the open air at Hogle Zoo, which hosts amazing lifeforms from diverse ecosystems as well as familyfriendly events across its yearly calendar.

Best Family Fun: Indoor Attraction

Loveland Living Planet Aquarium livingplanetaquarium.org

Natural History Museum of Utah

Best Family Fun: Outdoor Attraction Hogle Zoo hoglezoo.org

2. Tracy Aviary & Botanical Gardens 3. Lagoon Amusement Park

Best Family-Friendly Festival SLC Pride slc-pride.com

2. Snowbird Oktoberfest

3. Living Traditions Festival

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Standout Getaways

Sometimes the best way to enjoy Utah is to take a step back and admire it from afar. Whether you’ve had one too many dirty sodas or crave a happy hour cocktail, Idaho’s Lava Hot Springs offers a change of pace. The resort’s geothermal waters can be enjoyed indoors or out with plenty of kid-friendly sections. If you’re more time-limited, the High Uintas serve as a pristine natural retreat for a weekend or merely an afternoon. These mountains offer access to dozens of trails including the iconic 25-mile King’s Peak hike. Of course, Utah’s best vacation getaway is a mere four hours south of SLC. Moab serves as a base camp for two national parks and provides unparalleled access to sandstone climbing, mountain biking and spectacular views. While the small town can be overrun by tourists over the summer, Utah locals can enjoy relative calm from fall through spring.

Best

Getaway:

Bordering

State Lava Hot Springs

lavahotsprings.com

2. Jackson Hole

3. Maple Grove Hot Springs

Best Getaway: In Utah

High Uintas

fs.usda.gov/r04/ashley/recreation/highuintas-wilderness

2. The Cliff Spa

3. Crystal Hot Springs

Best Utah Vacation Getaway Moab

discovermoab.com

2. Uinta Mountains

3. Lake Powell

Best Glamping Open Sky Zion

Ah, glamping—proof that most of us would be eaten by bears if the anarcho-primitivists had their way. Open Sky Zion’s cushy campsites resemble hotel rooms with windows on all sides, allowing you to wake up to the sun’s rays instead of a phone screen’s. Trade the body odor and back pain of sleeping in a tent for heated floors, warm showers and even a nearby restaurant, all within minutes of Zion National Park. stayopensky.com

2. Under Canvas Moab

3. Conestoga Resort, Bear Lake

Standout Guides

Alongside a vast gear selection, Western Rivers Flyfisher also offers award-worthy guide services. The organization leads trips across Utah, all the way down to South America. Whether you’re interested in a local class on fly fishing or a guided trip to Patagonia, the team’s experienced staff will ensure you can get the catch of a lifetime. On the other hand, fans of water without rods might prefer what family-owned OARS Dinosaur has to offer, which has spent over 50 years perfecting river guiding across Utah and abroad. Their one-day Dinosaur National Monument rafting trip along the Green River promises breathtaking views and family fun.

Best Fishing Guide Services

Western Rivers Flyfisher

westernriversflyfishing.com

2. Swiss Mountain Outfitters

3. Trout Bum 2 Fly Shop

Best River Guide Company

OARS Dinosaur

oars.com/dinosaur

2. High Country Adventure

3. Western River Expeditions

Standout Golf Courses

Utah’s natural beauty makes golf the perfect way to spend a weekend afternoon, whether your game is with a club and ball or with a flying disc. In either nine or 18 holes, you can avail yourself of the wildflower-covered ski runs of Brighton Resort’s disc course, the ancient basalt cliffs and lush landscapes of the Black Desert Resort’s championship golf space in Ivins, or the familiar hills and open skies found at Salt Lake’s Mountain Dell. In each case, you’ll be in awe of the courses that can be played, but even more so with the beauty in which they are to be found. Let the group behind you play through and take it all in, huh?

Best Disc Golf Course

Brighton Resort

brightonresort.com

2. Fort Buenaventura Park

3. Midvale City Park

Best Golf Course Beyond the Wasatch Front

Black Desert Golf Course

blackdesertresort.com

2. Moab Golf Course

3. Carbon Country Club Golf Course

Best Public Golf Course

Mountain Dell Golf Course

slc-golf.com/mountaindell

2. Eaglewood Golf Course

3. Hobble Creek Golf Course

Standout Parks

There are particular corners of Utah that are absolute “must visits,” and many are found within designated park areas. You’ll feel like you’re traveling across the surface of Mars as you walk through the sandstone formations of Goblin Valley State Park, while Capitol Reef National Park’s remote location provides the ideal backdrop for dark sky photos of the Milky Way. Sugar House Park, on the other hand, is the perfect urban setting for a nice evening stroll, a Saturday morning pickup run at the basketball or soccer courts, or a lawn game with friends. If you haven’t yet visited these spots, have you really experienced Utah?

Best

Dark Sky Park

Capitol Reef National Park

nps.gov

2. Goblin Valley State Park

3. Zion National Park

Best Municipal

Park

Sugar House Park

sugarhousepark.org

2. Liberty Park

3. Murray Park

Best

Utah State Park

Goblin Valley State Park

stateparks.utah.gov/parks/goblin-valley

2. Antelope Island State Park

3. Dead Horse Point State Park

Best Health Spa

The Kura Door

Kura Door is the ultimate escape—peaceful, luxurious and deeply restorative. The moment you arrive, you’re welcomed into a calming oasis, complete with steam room, light snacks and serene ambiance. Whether indulging in a massage, a radiant facial or the blissful ofuro Japanese bath, every detail invites you to slow down and breathe. In stressful times, a day at Kura Door isn’t just self-care—it’s essential. We always leave feeling renewed. thekuradoor.com

2. FIKA Infusion + Wellness

3. Snowbird

Since 2016 over 200 of our BEST FRIENDS have joined us on our annual trips to Greece. Great fun. Great Price. Great People. HOSTED BY CITY WEEKLY FOUNDER, JOHN SALTAS

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The pickleball courts at Second Summit Hard Cider

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Standout Hiking Trails

Impress your out-of-town friends with breathtaking views and unique terrain on Utah’s best hiking trails. Lower Calf Creek Falls in Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument is a fantastic family-friendly choice. The robust six-mile trail includes just over 500 feet of elevation gain and gives way to a striking waterfall. Bring a swimsuit as the pool is swimmable (weather permitting). Those with a deeper hunger for adventure may better enjoy Mt. Timpanogos. The challenging 15-mile hike passes through meadows and forests on its 4,000+ foot elevation gain. In spring and summer, hikers can enjoy wildflowers and overnight camping. But by October, sections of the trail are frozen, so plan accordingly!

Best Hiking Trail: Beyond Wasatch Front

Lower

Calf Creek Falls

2. Mill Creek North Fork Trailhead

3. Cascade Falls Trailhead

Best Hiking Trail: Wasatch Front

Mt. Timpanogos

2. Bells Canyon Trail

3. Lake Mary

Best Off-Road Destination

Moab

Riding through Moab’s expanse of red rocks and sandstone ridges forces you to question your own place in the universe. Centuries of environmental forces have created an unforgettable landscape to explore via Jeep, 4x4 and/or mountain bike. And depending on the trail, you may be accelerating in a fight for your life. Moab is home to views that will stay with you forever—as long as you can navigate your way to them.

discovermoab.com/natures-masterpiece

2. Capitol Reef - Torrey

3. San Rafael Swell

Standout Natural Wonders

Utah’s breathtaking natural wonders, unique formations, scenic views and iconic landmarks makes this a place of envy. Although there are many hot springs in the state from which to choose, Crystal Hot Springs is known for having the highest mineral count in the world—yes, in the whole world! It makes for a truly therapeutic trip up to Honeyville. Attracting visitors from around the world further south, Moab’s Delicate Arch is a quintessential, mustsee landmark for its stunning beauty and one-of-a-kind geological formations. A bit closer to the city, you can catch an amazing view of the sunset on the Great Salt Lake’s beach at The Great Saltair. Yeah, this state is awesome.

Best Hot Springs

Crystal Hot Springs

crystalhotsprings.net

2. Fifth Water Hot Springs and Falls

3. Homestead Crater

Best Must-See Rock Formation

Delicate Arch (Arches NP)

nps.gov/arch/planyourvisit/delicatearch.htm

2. Goblin Valley State Park

3. Bryce Canyon

Best Sunset View

The Great Saltair

thesaltair.com

2. Mt. Olympus Trailhead

3. Salt Lake City Public Library Rooftop

Best Place for a Staycation Snowbird

Snowbird has earned its reputation for being a staycation spot, as it’s the place you go to be alone while also being within a reasonable distance of your actual house. Winter activities aside, the place offers various lodges with a deluxe spa, good food, places to mingle and chill out, and a variety of room options. Plus, a view to die for, no matter the season. snowbird.com

2. Grand America Hotel

3. Deer Valley Resort

Best Paddleboard Lake Causey Reservoir Lookout

Located an hour northeast of Salt Lake City, Causey Reservoir is the perfect place for a weekend getaway. Since no motorboats are allowed, the water is still and perfect for paddleboarding. There are stunning mountain views everywhere one looks, provided one can lift their gaze from the crystal clear water for a few moments. Paddle out to the center of the lake and cool off with a cliff jump to complete the experience. It’s sublime.

2. East Canyon 3. Smith & Morehouse Reservoir

Best Pickleball Courts

Second Summit Hard Cider

The folks at Second Summit are all about hard cider, an active lifestyle and community. That’s why they elected to put state-of-the-art, covered pickleball courts on their property at 4010 S. Main Street, and folks can rent one of the four courts for an hour, Monday through Sunday. Give it a shot! secondsummitcider.com

2. 11th Ave Park

3. Holladay City Center

Best Remote Music Festival Moab Music Festival

As any Piano Guys fan knows, there is nothing cooler than sticking a classical instrument somewhere it doesn’t belong. Moab Music Festival cashes in on this appeal, using Moab’s canyons and secret grottos as outdoor amphitheaters. Fusing music and outdoorsmanship, the two-week festival features performances on hiking trails and moving rafts. Who knew “leave no trace” could include bassoon reeds and guitar picks? moabmusicfest.org

2. Fort Desolation Fest

3. Moab Folk Festival

Best Running Trail

Jordan River Parkway

Utah is home to great trails, but there’s nothing else quite like the Jordan River Parkway. Start anywhere along this 40-plus-mile-long Emerald Ribbon and within a 30-minute jog in either direction, you’ll pass through a dynamic mix of concrete jungle and untamed wild. Convenient transit connections, secret shortcuts and a chain of neighborhood nodes along the river mean an infinite number of route permutations waiting to be explored in the heart of our population center.

2. Pipeline

3. Friendship Trail

Best Scenic Drive Alpine Loop

Utah has a lot of notable drives you can take throughout its northern region, but the Alpine Loop offers a little something of everything for those who love the mountains. The whole trip is just under 30 miles, but it is one of the most scenic drives you’ll see as it crosses through Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest sights amidst a picture-perfect design. It’s got everything, from waterfalls to high trees to scenic foliage, all between American Fork and Provo Canyons.

2. Mirror Lake Highway

3. Guardsman Pass

Holladay City Skatepark

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Standout Side Trips

With Arches National Park on a reservation system, Moab has plenty of offerings for when plans (or lack thereof) go awry. Goblin Valley State Park showcases that classic Moab sandstone in unique formations reminiscent of an alien planet. As with much of Moab, the park is an International Dark Sky Park, meaning nights of camping give protected access to brilliant stars. Those with an extra day in Zion should consider Coral Pink Sand Dunes. These rippling formations blend crumbling sandstone into a timeless desert that visitors can hike, off-road and canyoneer to fully take in its natural ambiance.

Best Side Trip: Moab Area

Goblin Valley State Park

stateparks.utah.gov/parks/goblin-valley

2. Dead Horse Point State Park

3. Potash Road Dinosaur Tracks and Petroglyphs

Best Side Trip: Zion/Bryce Area

Coral Pink Sand Dunes

stateparks.utah.gov/parks/coral-pink

2. Kolob Canyon

3. Tuacahn

Best Skate Park

Holladay City Skatepark

As Spohn Ranch Skateparks puts it on their website, smart skate park design is democratic, made for riders of all skill levels. That’s why they designed Holladay City Skatepark with a wide variety of obstacles and ramps, from deep bowls for flying down to slappy curbs to slide on. There’s even a sunset-colored bank designed to resemble one of Utah’s thousands of mountains, although this one is infinitely easier to scale. spohnranch.com/portfolio/holladay-skatepark

2. Utah State Fairpark

3. Woodward Park City

Standout Snow

Locals don’t love to divulge their secret snow stashes, but with tree lines as legendary as Brighton Resort’s, it’s hard not to wax poetic about B-town powder days to anyone who will listen. It doesn’t hurt that Brighton is also the most family-friendly resort with a worldclass snowsports school, a wide variety of terrain and all-abilities terrain parks. Plus, kids six and under ski/ride free.

Best Ski Resort

Brighton

Resort

brightonresort.com

2. Alta Ski Area

3. Snowbird

Best Snowboarding Resort

Brighton Resort

brightonresort.com

2. Snowbird

3. Snowbasin Resort

Best Summer Camp Camp Cloud Rim

Unless you’re involved with the Girl Scouts, you probably don’t hear about Camp Cloud Rim that often. Sitting on Lake Brimhall above Park City, the camp comes with everything you need for a troop visit to the woods, including an amphitheater. While the Scouts have it from May through August, the property is available for outside rental during the off months, so that courage, confidence and character can be built during any time of year. gsutah.org

2. Camp Tuttle

3. I.J. & Jeanne Wagner Jewish Community Center

Standout Towns

Helper, Utah is the small town that could—and did. Over the past 15 years, this former mining and railroad town has transformed into one of Utah’s most vibrant art communities, thanks to the vision of go-getter Mayor Lenise Peterman and her visionary wife, artist Kate Kilpatrick. But credit also goes to the original artists who laid the groundwork: David Dornan, David Johnsen, Thomas Elmo Williams, Paul Davis and Marilou Kundmueller. These pioneers made Helper an art town long before it was trendy. Now, Main Street is thriving with galleries, charming places to stay and events like Helper Saturday Vibes and the Helper Arts Festival. And don’t miss the many incredible newer artists and small businesses who’ve moved in over the years—this town is buzzing with creativity, community and character. Helper isn’t just Utah’s best small town—it’s the one you’ll never want to leave.

Small Town Main Street

Standout Utah Destinations

Utah is known for its natural wonders and, fortunately, you can see such wonderful places as Antelope Island during a fun, quick day trip. Whether you are into hiking, mountain biking or horseback riding, Antelope Island offers striking views of the Great Salt Lake. If a spa day is more your speed, check out The Grand America Hotel’s Grand Spa in the heart of downtown Salt Lake City. Not only does it have a fivestar rating, but it includes a variety of treatments and state-of-the-art amenities like the Himalayan Salt Sauna and Eucalyptus Steam Sauna. And for those who want to explore more of Utah’s rich pioneer history, This Is The Place Heritage Park is newly renovated and offers plenty of fun for the whole family, including a train ride with stops at interactive exhibits and hands-on activities like leather-making. Utah truly is a special place, wherever you go.

Best Utah Day Trip

Antelope Island (Antelope Island State Park) stateparks.utah.gov/parks/antelope-island/

2. Salt Flats (Rest Area Westbound)

3. Topaz Museum and Concentration Camp

Best Utah Hotel

Grand Spa (Grand America Hotel) grandamerica.com

2. Red Cliffs Lodge

3. Boulder Mountain Lodge

Best Utah Heritage Site

This Is The Place Heritage Park thisistheplace.org

2. Topaz Museum and Concentration Camp

Best Utah Curio Shop

Dancing Cranes Imports

From gemstones and jewelry to talismans and textiles, Dancing Cranes Imports offers a soothing and spiritual shopping experience where your intuition guides you among the aisles. Explore incense and herbs, create a ritual with meditations, pillows and singing bowls, tap into the unknown with tarot and oracle decks. The shop also offers yoga classes, meditation sessions, sound baths and psychic readings! dancingcranesimports.com 2.

3. Anasazi State Park Museum

Most Overlooked Site/Curiosity International Peace Gardens

Salt Lake City’s west side boasts a spectacular walkable garden at Jordan Park with statues and markers representing various countries. It’s the perfect place to stroll for free and see flowers bloom in their season. Also, check out the various events that are open to the public, from poetry and dance to even Japanese tea ceremonies. Enjoy the fusion of botany, history and folklore all year round at this hidden gem. internationalpeacegardens.org

2. The Spiral Jetty

3. Gilgal Gardens

CW STAFF PICKS

UTAH ADVENTURE

Women’s Wine & Hiking Society

Best Bed & Breakfast Ellerbeck Bed & Breakfast

Looking to get away but not too far away? Ritzy hotels not your thing? Do historical settings cast an indefinable spell upon your soul? Have we got just the place for you! Housed within a refined Victorian mansion in the Avenues is one of Salt Lake’s finest B&Bs, the Ellerbeck. With a responsive staff, hearty meals and seven uniquely-themed bedrooms, let the Ellerbeck take you back in time today. ellerbeckbedandbreakfast.com

Best Ride Up the Mountain HVTransit Route 107 to Park City

It might not seem like it, but the Wasatch Front is blessed with impressive transit service to its outdoor recreation areas—at least for the United States (sigh). UTA incorporates Big and Little Cottonwood Canyons into its winter service schedules, and year-round bus and Trax routes drop

riders within spitting distance of multiple trailheads. But it’s High Valley Transit’s 107 bus that takes the cake, with free-fare service between downtown Salt Lake City and Kimball Junction. And while the transfer connection into Park City proper is already great, a new bus rapid transit service under development on Highway 224 is set to take this car-free option to the next level by giving riders an express route through the now-constant congestion on the road. hvtutah.gov

Best Starting Point for SLC Newbies Ensign Peak Nature Park

There’s so much that could be said and done to introduce visitors to what the Salt Lake Valley is and what it has to offer. The lakes, mountains, beautiful churches, diverse cityscape and historical landmarks are each excellent places with which to start, but might we suggest something that embraces them all? Ensign Peak, that

popular domed hill overlooking Salt Lake City, is a superb spot upon which to take in one’s surroundings with a single majestic burst. The half-mile trail is doable, the nature garden is fascinating and the hilltop sights are fantastic. Want to give someone a crash course on Salt Lake City? This is the place.

Handiest Helper of Haut Hikes Just for Her Women’s Wine & Hiking Society

Formed in 2016 between two friends with a mutual love of backpacking, the Women’s Wine & Hiking Society has grown into a robust facilitator of female empowerment that treks all over Utah’s majestic backcountry. Whatever your age, ability or drinking preference, this is a fun and friendly group more interested in making sure no one hikes alone than in covering a certain distance. Adventure with these women and you won’t remain bottled up for long. winehikingsociety.com

Wife, Mother, Grandmother, Sister, Aunt, Nouna... and Cousin

Yvonne Saltas Pauls

February 10, 1945- November 9, 2025

Your next card is the Eight of Coins. This is a sign of hard work, of craftsmanship. You can bet that focus will be required to complete and refine the demanding labors before you. Our local food vendors know this well. Whatever their specialty, it takes a lot to develop a unique dish and perfect its preparation before a steady stream of hungry patrons day in and day out. They strive to be the best in what they do, and our readers have responded to such dedication with delight.

Standout Appetizers

Feeling appy? For small plates and starters big on flavor, you can’t go wrong with Tona Sushi’s pork belly bacon bubble gum, Hearth and Hill’s famous cheddar biscuits, and the Bombay House onion bhaji. Or, for a twist on a classic, try Not Your Grandma’s Deviled Eggs from newcomer Violet, topped with cornichons, dill and pickled beet. Looking for an app to impress someone you met on the apps? Iberico ham sliced tableside at the Tasting Room is your ticket. And for appetizers worth waiting for, we’re anxiously anticipating the 2026 return of White Horse as it rebuilds after a tragic fire—nobody does confit duck wings better.

Best Appetizers: Ogden

Tona Sushi Bar and Grill

tonarestaurant.com

2. Table Twenty Five

3. Roosters Brewing

Best Appetizers: Park City

Hearth and Hill

hearth-hill.com

2. Top of Main Brew Pub, Park City

3. Handle

Best Appetizers: Salt Lake County

White Horse Spirits & Kitchen

whitehorseslc.com

2. Finca

3. Urban Hill

Best Appetizers: Utah County Bombay House bombayhouse.com

2. Taqueria 27, Lehi 3. The Owl Bar

Best Hot New Appetizer

READERS’ PICKS

DISHES

Best Bagel Baby’s Bagels

Not Your Grandma’s Deviled Eggs (VIOLET) violet-slc.com

2. Bone Marrow Taco (Blind Rabbit Kitchen)

3. Scotch Olives (Franklin Ave Cocktails & Kitchen)

Best Must Have Appetizer

Iberico Ham, sliced tableside (The Tasting Room)

tastingroomslc.com

2. Jalapeno Hamachi (Mint Tapas and Sushi)

3. Jalapeno Poppers (Taqueria 27)

The West’s answer to East Coast bagels, Baby’s is no child’s play. We’re talkin’ real-deal bagels made from Utah-milled flour and Salt Lake City water, hand-rolled, kettle-boiled and baked fresh daily. You can always depend on traditional lox, or think outside the box and try a pumpernickel bagel topped with house-made dill pickle spread. babysbagels.com

2. The Bagel Project

3. Rich’s Bagels

Over the years, BLTs have gotten a little out of hand. For example, “BLAT” could refer to a cartoonist’s favorite onomatopoeia or the BLT variation with an avocado addition. The LGBTQ (lettuce, guac, bacon, tomato and queso) is another popular choice, if only for its cheeky name. Lucky’s Iron Door Roadhouse keeps things simple: greasy bacon hot off the smoker, sliced tomatoes and fresh lettuce wedged between two slices of toasted sourdough bread. luckysirondoor.com

2. Central 9th Market

3. Lucky 13

Best BBQ Pulled Pork R&R BBQ

They say fast food gets you lost. At R&R, nothing’s fast—except how quickly locals devour it. Their pitmasters have been perfecting that “slowly smoked, quickly devoured” pulled pork magic for years. Hearty servings mean leftovers are fair game. Bonus: the bulk of the menu is gluten-free! Don’t leave without sampling all four homemade sauces—spicy gets our heart. randrbbq.com

2. Pat’s Barbecue 3. Salt City Barbecue

Best Brats Bohemian Brewery

There are two choices for Bohemian brat enjoyment. In the first, two brats share a plate with sauerkraut and mashed potatoes. My goodness! You can also get Bohemian’s brat sandwich, with either beerbattered/fried or grilled bratwurst, the ubiquitous sauerkraut, Swiss cheese and dijon mustard. Can’t deny the appeal here, either. The key is to arrive with a friend so you can also split a pretzel (a musthave). Just leave room for the brat. bohemianbrewery.com 2. Siegfried’s Delicatessen

Beer Bar

Best Brisket Pat’s Barbecue

Pat’s has been winning BBQ awards for over 20 years, and while you won’t go amiss with anything on the menu, their brisket is what keeps locals coming back for more. Smoky, tender and packed with flavor, it’s a stand-alone standout. If handhelds are more your thing, the brisket French dip and brisket Philly offer pitmaster twists topped with peppers, onions and cheese. patsbbq.com

2. R&R BBQ

3. Salt City Barbecue

READERS’ PICKS

DISHES

Standout Breakfast

For lovers of the American breakfast combo of bacon and eggs, you can’t go wrong with Eggs in the City. Whether for a quick meal or a leisurely brunch followed by a walk at Tanner Park, it’s a great spot for locals and visitors alike.

When you’re in the mood for the best biscuits and gravy that Utah has to offer, Sweet Lake Biscuits & Limeade is the place to go! It’s no surprise that Betos Mexican Food’s breakfast burrito is this year’s winner, given how fast, convenient, and reasonably priced it is. As for a breakfast sandwich with pork, fried egg and cheese, Central 9th Market takes the culinary crown. Finally, in the province of pancakes, Penny Ann’s Cafe wins again for its famous light and airy Heavenly Hot Cakes, served with butter and syrup. However you like to breakfast, start your day right with one of these!

Best Bacon and Eggs

Eggs in the City

IG: @eggsinthecity

2. Penny Ann’s Cafe

3. The Park Cafe

Best Biscuits & Gravy

Sweet Lake Biscuits & Limeade

sweetlakefresh.com

2. Ruth’s Diner

3. Atomic Biscuit

Best Breakfast

Burrito

Betos Mexican Food

betosmexicanfood.com

2. Skillets

3. Alberto’s

Best Breakfast

Sandwich

Central 9th Market

central9th.com

2. Egg Break

3. Caputo’s 15th & 15th

Best Pancakes

Penny Ann’s Cafe

pennyannscafe.com

2. Lazy Day Cafe

3. The Original Pancake House

A

Best Burrata Dish Matteo Ristorante Italiano

Matteo is one of the newer Italian eateries that have opened in downtown Salt Lake recently and it has made quite a splash so far. Their burrata appetizer is deceptively simple in its preparation—the namesake cheese is coupled with grilled zucchini, focaccia and confit tomatoes. Simple or not, it packs a punch all the same. matteoslc.com

2. Fratelli Ristorante

3. Veneto Ristorante Italiano

Best Cauliflower Dish

Gobi Manchurian (Bawarchi)

Bawarchi’s Gobi Manchurian, a fusion dish that originated in India among the Chinese expat communities living there, is everything you want in an appetizer—delicate, flavorful and freshly prepared. Lightly battered, deep fried and sauteed in Bawarchi’s special sauce, it is indeed excellent. The next time you’re in South Jordan, pop in and have some. bawarchislc.com

2. Laziz Kitchen

3. Facil Taqueria

Best Ceviche

La Cevicheria

This being a restaurant specifically known for its Mexicanstyle ceviche, it’s no wonder they’ve been voted as this year’s winner. Whether you’re craving their signature traditional ceviche or more unique tropical tuna or shrimp varieties, you are guaranteed balanced flavors and fresh taste. They even offer a ceviche avocado style for those not inclined to eat seafood. IG: @lacevicheriautah

2. Facil Taqueria

3. La Casa Del Tamal

O’Shucks’ newest bar in Old Town Park City serves up breakfast, burgers and sushi with live music on the patio and indoor stage

READERS’ PICKS

Standout Burgers

There are many impressive takes on this American classic to be found across Utah. Tonyburgers offers elevated chipotle, garlic and bleu cheese burgers, as well as Impossible burgers for vegan burgerheads. You won’t find a better buffalo burger than the offerings at No Name Saloon, including the zesty avocado burger. Lucky 13 is an iconic spot for Salt Lake foodies with its smoked pastrami and Swiss, as well as the nut butter burger—if you haven’t had peanut butter on a burger, this is a must try. Further south, you’ll find Hawaiianinspired flavors at Seven Brothers Burgers, which serves an incredible teriyaki burger, a cowboy burger with pineapple and two massive onion rings, and a handsome looking Impossible burger called “Keep the Country, Country.”

Best Burger: Ogden Tonyburgers

tonyburgers.com

2. Warrens Craft Burger

3. Burly Burger

Best Burger: Park City No Name Saloon

nonamesaloon.com

2. Park City Roadhouse Grill

3. The Spur Bar & Grill

Best Burger: Salt Lake County Lucky 13

lucky13slc.com

2. Crown Burgers

3. Proper Burger Company

Best Burger: Utah County Seven Brothers Burgers

sevenbrothersburgers.com

2. Purple Turtle 3. JCW’s

Burger stylings at Salt Lake’s Lucky 13

Best Charcuterie Board Bar à Vin

Opened in 2024, Bar à Vin has shown itself to be an excellent place for wine lovers to have a drink amid a relaxed environment with a formidable selection. Their awardwinning charcuterie board features an assortment of local meats and cheeses paired with jam, mustard, a selection of crackers and the standout—candied walnuts. baravinslc.com

2. The Tasting Room

3. Scion Cider Bar

Best Chicken and Waffles Hub & Spoke Diner

The secret to the best chicken and waffles in town is that Hub & Spoke uses sweet potato waffles, sweet-tea-brined fried chicken, chile maple syrup and potatoes, served with a sunny side up egg. This slight twist makes the flavors unique enough to remember and keep you coming back for more. Reasonably priced, it’s worth it to come check out. hubandspokediner.com

2. Bruges Belgian Bistro

3. Lazy Day Cafe

Best Chili Deer Valley Resort

It may surprise some that a luxury resort would have the best chili. It seems so pedestrian, right? Yet, the hearty Southwestern stew served up at Deer Valley has everything one could want in a chili. The fact that it has a turkey base and no tomato further adds to its charming flavor, composed of black beans and veggies. deervalley.com

2. Cotton Bottom Inn

3. Emigration Brewing Co.

READERS’ PICKS

DISHES

Best Dim Sum

Red Maple Chinese Restaurant

Dim sum cravings can be unpredictable, so what’s a diner to do when the mood strikes but most Chinese restaurants adhere to strict dim sum hours? Head to Red Maple Chinese Restaurant. Open until 9 p.m. (10 p.m. on weekends), they offer a Dim Sum Any Time Menu with over 20 bite-sized buns, dumplings and authentic dishes. Order one of everything, then order some to-go. You know, for those late-night cravings. redmaplechinese.com

2. New Golden Dragon

3. Hong Kong Tea House

Best Fried Egg Rolls The Pearl

If egg rolls aren’t the first dish that comes to mind when you think of bar bites, then you haven’t been to The Pearl. We’d argue there isn’t a curated cocktail on the list that doesn’t pair well with their hot, crispy, perfectly fried Vietnamese rolls stuffed with pork, wood ear mushroom, carrot and jicama, served with a side of house fish sauce for dipping. Bonus points if you go on a Sunday, the only day when you can also score a bowl of smoked chicken pho. thepearlslc.com

2. Mi La-Cai Noodle House

3. Shanghai Cafe

Best Clam Chowder

Market Street Grill

Market Street Grill has been slinging the best clam chowder in the state for decades. First created by the previous owner—Tom Guinney— while in the Navy, Market Street’s famous recipe is loaded with clams and made extra creamy. Armed with a slice of sourdough to complete the experience, you can’t go wrong. marketstreetgrill.com

2. Freshies Lobster Co. - Salt Lake City

3. White Horse Spirits & Kitchen

Best Comfort Food Dish Butter Chicken (Bhansa Ghar)

Move over, mac n’ cheese—butter chicken is crowned comfort food fave! Bhansa Ghar tucks juicy, tender pieces of dark meat into its rich, creamy curry with tomato, onion, cashew and raisin, plus a signature blend of spices. Speaking of spice, you can order it as hot as you like, but be careful what you wish for—this is real-deal Nepalese cuisine with chilies that pack a punch! bhansagharut.com

2. Gumbolaya (The Bayou)

3. Stroganoff (Hoof & Vine)

Best Dumplings

Drunken Kitchen

We’re talking potstickers, to be precise! Take your pick from classic ground pork with Chinese chives and cabbage, or vegetarian potstickers with leek and cabbage filling, plus tofu and shiitake mushroom. Diners 21 and older can enjoy dumplings in person at Grid City Beer Works— where chef brothers Tim and Joe Rammell have set up shop—or order them to-go seven days a week. drunkenkitch.com

2. The Dumplings Company

3. Zhu Ting

Best Eggs Benedict Finn’s Cafe

For a benny by way of Norway, it’s got to be Finn’s, a cafe that’s no stranger to winning City Weekly awards. Order the Benedict Royale for a truly Scandinavian take topped with smoked salmon and poached eggs on an English muffin, finished with their signature hollandaise and a side of hash browns. Don’t forget to order Danishes or Jule Kake to-go on your way out. finnscafe.net

2. Ruth’s Diner

3. Eggs in the City

CHICKEN

READERS’ PICKS

Standout Ethnic Food

Phileas Fogg attempted to circumnavigate the world in 80 days in Jules Verne’s classic novel. But with this roundup of restaurants serving diverse global fare, you can complete the journey in record time. Start in Ogden at Tona Sushi Bar & Grill, serving up Asian-inspired tapas, sushi rolls and sashimi. Next, hit up Grappa in Park City for rustic Italian cuisine like osso bucco and lobster fregola sarda. Last stop: Little India in American Fork for spicy lamb vindaloo and dessert of creamy pistachio kulfi.

Best Ethnic: Ogden

Tona Sushi Bar & Grill

tonarestaurant.com

2. Ravoli’s

3. Ruan Thai Restaurant

Best Ethnic: Park City Grappa

grapparestaurant.com

2. El Chubasco

3. 11 Hauz Authentic Jamaican Food

Best Ethnic: Utah County

Little India, Fine Dining

littleindiaut.com

2. Vegan Sun

3. Sabaidee

Best Coleslaw

Pretty Bird Hot Chicken

Creamy coleslaw can kick the curb, it’s Pretty Bird’s cider slaw that has City Weekly readers smitten. (Hey, if it’s good enough to beat Bobby Flay …) Made with purple cabbage and a house cider vinaigrette, this vibrant side offers a crisp, cool, tangy bite that perfectly balances chef Viet Pham’s award-winning Nashville Hot Chicken. prettybirdchicken.com

2. Feldman’s Deli

3. Blatch’s Backyard BBQ

Best Falafel Alhambra Shawarma

How far would you go for falafel? Fans of Alhambra Shawarma swarm to this Taylorsville joint from miles away to dig into the Falafel Box, a feast of eight pieces perfectly crispy on the outside and soft and fluffy on the inside, complete with dipping sauces and toasted pita bread. Want to go big before you go home? Try the falafel-pepper burger, a whole vegetarian falafel patty topped with homemade roasted red pepper cream.

IG: @alhambrashawarma

2. Mazza

3. O’Falafel Middle Eastern Cuisine

Best Fish & Chips

Summerhays Halibut N Chips

It can be challenging to find well-battered fish alongside those succulent vinegar-doused steak fries in the Salty City. Summerhays is the best in this regard, expertly nailing the dish with the crunch of the fillets beside chips that are crispy on the outside yet soft on the inside. The glorious result—pearly white halibut glistening with moisture—is something to be championed. Just a whiff of that lovely aroma is enough to make one’s mouth water. summerhayshalibut.com

2. Little Taste of Britain

3. Rabbit’s Foot Brewing

Best Fish Platter

Market Street Grill

With three locations—Salt Lake City, Cottonwood and South Jordan—Market Street Grill’s popularity is clear. The grill prides itself in sourcing the freshest seafood available for its prawn, shrimp, crab, tuna and cobia charcuterie platter. Oyster and shrimp platters can also be enjoyed at the attached Market Street Oyster Bar.

From surf-n-turf to fish and chips, consider your seafood cravings fulfilled. marketstreetgrill.com

2. Takashi

3. Little Taste of Britain

Standout French

French cuisine is highly inspiring and influences chefs around the world, so it’s no surprise that we Americans have also co-opted some of their dishes and ingredients to enjoy on a regular basis. Case in point is the French dip sandwich, which originated in America but at least uses a baguette. For the best of these, you’ll want to head to Big Dipper Sandwiches. It’s unknown if the name of the restaurant or the name of the sandwich came first but regardless, you can grab one of their huge Big Dippers and it will probably keep you full for a couple days. For the best side of soup on a rainy day, visit Desert Edge Brewery for their savory, cheesy French onion soup. On the sweeter side, Kneaders Bakery & Cafe has you covered with their standard chunky French toast or seasonal options like pumpkin cream cheese.

Best French Dip Sandwich Big Dipper Sandwiches

bigdippersandwiches.com

2. Desert Edge Brewery

3. Red Rock Brewing - Downtown SLC

Best French Onion Soup Desert Edge Brewery

desertedgebrewery.com

2. Delice Bakery & Cafe

3. Union Grill

Best French Toast Kneaders Bakery & Cafe kneaders.com

2. The Park Cafe

3. Skillets

Standout Fries

There is perhaps nothing more Utahn in the food scene than fry sauce, and thankfully these two restaurants have perfected what we dip into that sweet pink goodness. Hand-peeled and cut in store, the frites at Bruges Belgian Bistro offer the ultimate crunch. Bruges’ legacy in the fry game is strong, winning their first Best of Utah award in 2011. If sweet potato fries are more your bag, then Spitz is the place to be. The waffle cut offers the perfect crispiness to these fries as well as a large surface area to cover in their secret seasoning, and the garlic aioli sauce is a perfect complement.

Best Fries

Bruges Belgian Bistro

brugeswaffles.com

2. Lucky 13

3. Crown Burgers

Best Sweet Potato Fries

Spitz - Downtown Salt Lake spitz-restaurant.com

2. Cubby’s

3. The Bayou

Best Funeral Potatoes

Hoof & Vine

In a state known for its funeral potatoes, standing out as the best is a tall order. But Hoof & Vine gets them right. Presented on the plate like a scoop of ice cream, the delicious concoction of potatoes and cheese, with a bit of something crunchy on top, is the perfect side to any protein. hoofandvine.com

2. Ogden Beer Company

3. Huckleberry Grill

READERS’ PICKS

DISHES

Standout Greek

Calling all tzatziki freaks, lamb lovers and pita purists! If you’re gaga for Greek, get to Greek Souvlaki for the best gyros and meat plates in Utah. We love the lemony chicken souvlaki with grilled onions and zucchini, and if handhelds are more your thing, you can order it wrapped in warm fluffy pita. Don’t forget to order a side of fries and throw a few inside for an authentic Athenian bite.

Best Gyro

Greek Souvlaki

greeksouvlaki.com

2. Spitz - Downtown Salt Lake City

3. Yanni’s Greek Express

Best Souvlaki

Greek Souvlaki

greeksouvlaki.com

2. Yanni’s Greek Express

3. The Med

Best Empanada Arempas

There are several delicious kinds of empanada at Arempas, but the musttry pabellón variety includes a crispy corn flour exterior and tasty filling of beans, beef, plantain and cheese. Pair it with the garlic sauce and you won’t be disappointed. This is an ideal spot for people interested in trying authentic Venezuelan food and the best part is that they’re open late! arempas.com

2. Argentina’s Best Empanadas

3. Empanadas 801

Standout Indian

From creamy coconut korma to spicy vindaloo and rojan josh to saag aloo, there are endless ways to feed your Indian fix along the Wasatch Front. If lunch is in order, locals love Kathmandu Grill’s buffet and its rotating selection of Indian and Nepalese dishes like chicken tikka masala, pakoras and momo. Craving curry? Try award-winning Mumbai House with locations in Salt Lake City, Park City and Tooele. City Weekly readers rave about the traditional lamb curry.

Best Indian: Curry

Mumbai House

mumbaihousecuisine.com

2. Bawarchi

3. Saffron Valley

Best Indian: Lunch Buffet

Kathmandu

Grill

kathmandugrillslc.com

2. Bhansa Ghar

3. Himalayan Kitchen

Best Inexpensive Lunch Buds

Online, Buds boasts that they have the best sandwiches in Salt Lake and they just happen to be vegan. It’s hard to argue with that assessment. One can easily get lost in a doom spiral of eating nothing but Buds for lunch for weeks if they’re not careful. Part of it comes to the price point. For the money, it’s a steal and even the carnivore in your lunch bunch can’t argue with the taste. budsslc.com

2. Vessel Kitchen

3. Oh Mai Vietnamese Kitchen

Standout Italian

From old-school family restaurants to innovative new Italian cuisine, the Wasatch Front has plenty of ways to mangia. Your mouth will water just gazing upon Italian Village’s magnificent calzones—baked, bulky and bursting with gooey melted cheese. For you sweet tooths out there, Carlucci’s Bakery has your back. Piped on site, their crisp-fried cannolis will make you smirk and salivate at the same time. The dish to wake carnivores up to the pleasures of vegetarian cuisine is Fratelli’s eggplant parm. Skinned, sliced and salted to taste, their recipe is a showstopper. Per Noi Trattoria’s pillow dressed ravioli are silky, with generous fillings. It’s all about the aroma, flavor and presentation–these delicious sticky dumplings lend themselves to creative interpretation. As for Sicilia Mia’s carbonara, well, let’s put it this way: pancetta, eggs, pecorino, pasta, no cream and its zenith—a flaming cheese wheel!

Best Calzone Italian Village

italianvillageslc.com

2. The Pie Pizzeria

3. Rusted Sun Pizzeria

Best Cannoli

Carlucci’s Bakery

IG: @carluccis_bakery

2. Sicilia Mia

3. Fratelli Ristorante

Best Carbonara

Sicilia Mia

siciliamiautah.com

2. Fratelli Ristorante

3. VENETO Ristorante Italiano

Best Eggplant Parmesan Fratelli Ristorante

fratelliutah.com

2. VENETO Ristorante Italiano

3. Matteo Ristorante Italiano

Best Ravioli Per Noi Trattoria

pernoitrattoria.com

2. Fratelli Ristorante

3. Valter’s Osteria

Standout Japanese

The Salt Lake Japanese dining scene has grown bigger than Godzilla as of late, and newcomer UT Craft Ramen, which opened in May, has already noodled its way into a Best of Utah award. Speaking of ramen, readers rave about the crispy katsu at Tosh’s, available as an add-on to any bowl. If sushi and sashimi are more your style, it doesn’t get better than Takashi (always worth the wait, trust us). And for the indecisive, Kyoto serves up lunch-time bento boxes with a little bit of everything: chicken teriyaki, ebi tempura, gyoza, tuna sashimi and a California roll. Skreeonk!

Best

Japanese: Bento Boxes

Kyoto Japanese Restaurant kyotoslc.com

2. Itto Sushi

3. Tsunami Restaurant & Sushi BarTsunami on 9th

Best Japanese: Katsu

Tosh’s Ramen

toshsramenslc.com

2. Mo’ Bettahs Hawaiian Style Food

3. JINYA Ramen Bar

Best Japanese: Ramen

UT Craft Ramen

utcraftramen.com

2. Oishi Ramen

3. Ramen Legend

Best Japanese: Sashimi Takashi

takashisushi.com

2. Itto Sushi

3. Sapa

Best Japanese: Sushi Takashi

takashisushi.com

2. Sapa

3. Mint Tapas and Sushi

Best Gyoza Tsunami Restaurant & Sushi Bar

Ah, gyoza: the satisfying Japanese take on dumplings, or pot sticker as some call them. Filled with either pork or vegetables, Tsunami’s gyoza is fried to a golden brown, achieving the perfect amount of crunch. Bonus points for the novice chopstick user—the gyoza at Tsunami are the perfect size to try your skills. tsunamiutah.com

2. Drunken Kitchen 3. Sapa

READERS’ PICKS

DISHES

Standout Korean

Direct Delta flights to Seoul aren’t the only gateways to Korea these days. Salt Lake City is home to phenomenal Korean restaurants serving everything from tteokbokki to japchae. KOU serves all-you-can-eat Korean BBQ and soju from its Midvale and Orem locations. With 20 cuts/styles of meat available, the meal’s 90-minute time limit may pass faster than you think. For the less carnivorous, Stun Cube serves up phenomenal bibimbap, available with a variety of toppings. Customers come here for the homestyle Korean food and stay for the warm chefs/owners “Mama Choi” and “Papa Won.” Of course, no discussion of Korean food in Utah would be complete without mention of local success story Cupbop. This chain started as a food truck outside the Gallivan Center and has since exploded to dozens of locations across the Mountain West. Their marinated bulgogi goes best in their signature dish—Korean BBQ in a cup.

Style Food

In an age of shrinking portion sizes, Mo’ Bettahs remains steadfast in its desire to bring delicious and affordable Hawaiian cuisine to the people of Utah. Shockingly authentic kalua pig and chicken katsu are easy wins, but the chain’s secret gem undoubtedly is their Spam musubi. This Pacific Island/Japanese fusion dish combines fried Spam on top of rice with a wrap of dried seaweed nori. It is reminiscent of those available in a typical Maui convenience store—perhaps the highest culinary honor available. mobettahs.com

2. The Salty Pineapple

3. Kokonut Island Grill SLC

Best Fusion Tacos Taqueria 27

On a daily basis, Taqueria 27 includes both a new “taco of the day” and “fish taco of the day,” so you can keep going back to try interesting combinations. While some of the tacos are unconventional—such as duck confit, french fries or grilled pears—they work perfectly and satisfy that taco craving in a way that feels a bit more luxurious than the typical taco joint. taqueria27.com

2. ROCTACO

3. Facil Taqueria

READERS’ PICKS

DISHES

Best Lamb Dish Manoli’s

My paidakia has a first name, it’s m-a-n-o-l-i … Jingles aside, this Greek restaurant in the Liberty Wells neighborhood is highly regarded for its grilled lamb riblets topped with caper chimichurri and a simple sprinkling of sea salt. Manoli’s blends the community feel of a traditional taverna with reimagined meze in a contemporary, bright space that feels as fresh as the ingredients chef/owner Manoli Katsanevas sources. manolison9th.com

2. Afghan Kitchen

3. Mazza

Best Made-in-Utah Food Product

Beehive Cheese (Beehive Cheese Company LLC)

These folks don’t win major awards by chance; they are a well-oiled cheese-making machine. This year alone, they took home three American Cheese Society awards for their Barely Buzzed, Promontory and Big John’s Cajun products. But the proof is in the eating, and having Beehive cheese on a charcuterie board is always a showstopper. beehivecheese.com

2. Salsa Queen

3. Infused Salts & Sugars (The Salted Roots)

Best Meat Pie

Fillings & EmulsionsSalt Lake Main

You’ve never had a Cuban quite like this before! Havana-born chef Adalberto Diaz reimagines the classic ham and pork sandwich at his patisserie, Fillings & Emulsions, into a flakey puff pastry meat pie, complete with Swiss cheese, pickles and mustard. And for more traditional Cuban pasteles, it doesn’t get more authentic than his hand pies stuffed with Cuban sofrito, olives, capers, red wine, raisins, tomatoes and spices, available with ground chuck and pork or chicken. fillingsandemulsions.com

2. Sagato Bakery & Cafe

3. The Bruce Scottish Pub

Best Meatloaf Hell’s Backbone Grill

Now in its 26th year, Hell’s Backbone has expanded to include a food truck, Little Bone, and taken over ownership of onsite Boulder Mountain Lodge. What hasn’t changed? The award-winning Spicy Cowgal Chipotle Meatloaf: local pastured beef and bison topped with spicy “Backbone” sauce served with lemony mashed potatoes and vegetables from the Hell’s Backbone Farm. hellsbackbonegrill.com

2. Left Fork Grill

3. Franck’s Restaurant

Best Mexican Bakery Cakes by Edith

Since 2007, Edith and Jorge Lopez have been baking authentic pan dulce like conchas, polvorones and Cacahuates at their panaderia and pasteleria. Drop by the Riverton or Taylorsville locations to check out the rotating selection of seasonal favorites, or DoorDash a baker’s dozen to your next business meeting for major office brownie points! cakesbyedithbakery.com

2. Rancho Markets

3. Panaderia Alicia’s

Best Momos Himalayan Kitchen

When a dish has its very own category of Google reviews, it’s got to be good! In fact, Himalayan Kitchen should perhaps rename their momos “Must-Try Momos” (the people have spoken). Select from vegetable, chicken or bison, all served with sesame dipping sauce. Can’t decide which dumpling to choose? The good folks at Himalayan offer half orders of each flavor so you can mix and match. himalayankitchen.com

2. Cafe Shambala

3. Bhansa Ghar

READERS’ PICKS

DISHES

Standout Mexican (Hand-held)

Given the depth of Mexico’s cultural roots in this region, it probably should be no surprise that Mexican food has a special place in most Utahns’ food palates today. But where to go to appease such cravings and get what you seek into your hands? If birria tacos are what you’re after, look no further than La Casa Del Tamal. The Tijuana dish includes a rich consommé for dunking that is so, so delicious. After a latenight out, when hungering for a burrito that will satisfy every time, Betos Mexican Food is a clear winner. As for a classic taco, West Jordan’s Tacos Lopez wins for its namesake items, each made with fresh, high-quality ingredients.

Best Birria Tacos

La Casa Del Tamal

lacasadeltamalutah.com

2. Los Tapatios Taco Grill

3. Santo Taco

Best Burrito

Betos Mexican Food

betosmexicanfood.com

2. Lone Star Taqueria

3. Blue Iguana - SLC

Best Tacos

Tacos Lopez

tacoslopezwestjordan.com

2. Real Taqueria

3. Facil Taqueria

Standout Mexican (Dishes)

We’re extremely blessed that so many talented Mexican chefs share their craft in Utah and we need to hang on to them as tightly as we can. Utahns are covered from sunrise to sundown in this category. Don’t believe us? We have the saucy and rich chilaquiles of Sandy’s La Condesa or La Costa’s stunning huevos rancheros for the breakfast hour; masterful chiles rellenos at Salt Lake’s Blue Iguana or Red Iguana’s enchiladas nearby in Fairpark for lunch; and the savory menudo at El Meño’s or the tamales at West Valley’s La Casa Del Tamal for dinner.

¡Qué sabrosura!

Best Chilaquiles

La Condesa

lacondesabrunch.com

2. El Barril

3. Contento Cafe

Best Chile Relleno

Blue Iguana - SLC blueiguanarestaurant.net

2. Red Iguana

3. Chile-Tepin

Best Enchilada

Red Iguana rediguana.com

2. Blue Iguana - SLC

3. La Casa del Tamal

Best Huevos Rancheros

La Costa Restaurant lacostasandy.com

2. Red Iguana

3. Eggs in the City

Best Menudo

El Meño’s elmenosslc.com

2. Smothered Burrito

3. El Paisa Grill

Best Tamales

La Casa Del Tamal lacasadeltamalutah.com

2. Victor’s Restaurant

3. La Costa Restaurant

Best Nachos Porcupine Pub & Grille

Stack them high and load them up. That is the winning combination for a great plate of nachos, and Porcupine does not disappoint. The mingling of blue and white corn chips topped with all the goods you would expect on a nacho is the perfect shareable dish to start a meal. porcupinepub.com

2. Gracie’s

3. Lake Effect

Fast and Affordable Hot Sandwiches

Chef Daily Case

Breakfast All Day

Plant-based Market

Open Late

READERS’ PICKS

DISHES

Standout Pizza

This is a stacked category. The hearty steel pan offerings at Bricks Corner are perfect for sharing— or scarfing by yourself, whichever comes most easily with deep-dish. For those with specialized diets, The Pie Pizzeria’s gluten-free options are made in a separate kitchen and cannot be beat. Such attention to detail is worth commending. As for the margherita lovers among us, Settebello Pizzeria Napoletana provides the perfect balance of mozzarella, tomatoes and fresh basil. But when gourmet and specialized ingredients are what most appeal to the appetite, it’s back to Bricks Corner we go, where their Brick House is a work of art, covered in pepperoni, Italian sausage, roasted peppers, red onions, mushrooms and some calabrian dip.

Best Deep-Dish Pizza Bricks Corner

brickscornerslc.com

2. Via 313 Pizza

3. Wicked Peel Pizza Kitchen - Midvale

Best Gluten Free Pizza The Pie Pizzeria

thepie.com

2. Via 313 Pizzeria

3. Bricks Corner

Best Margherita Pizza Settebello Pizzeria Napoletana

settebello.net

2. The Bambino

3. Villaggio Pizzeria

Best Specialty Pizza Brick House (Bricks Corner)

brickscornerslc.com

2. Pies Combo (The Pie Pizzeria)

3. This is Sparta (Slackwater Pizza SLC)

Best Oysters Market Street Grill

With four locations across the region, Market Street Grill brings a broad menu to life, with pescatarian options at the heart of its operations. And at the very center of that is the humble oyster. Depending on location, they offer earlyweek specials (like $2 oysters on Mondays and Tuesdays), with special oyster menus at their wellappointed bars. There, you can sit, sip and watch the staff shuck away, with quality checked at every step. marketstreetgrill.com

2. Kimi’s Chop & Oyster House

3. Current Fish and Oyster

Best Poke LemonShark Poke

Salt Lake diners are peppered with a plethora of poke possibilities. From that crowded field, LemonShark takes the victory, thanks to a menu that’ll allow even the most regular of regulars a chance to mix-and-match a different meal each visit. LemonShark’s downtown SLC space provides a nice central location to its other outposts, its storefront doing brisk trade as a result, with friendly service, fresh ingredients and a relaxed vibe always the rule. lemonsharkpoke.com

2. Vessel Kitchen

3. Savage Fish Poke

Best Poutine SpudToddos

It’s sacrilege not to love fry sauce in Utah, but Canadian poutine is enough to make anyone a convert. French fries loaded with cheese curds and gravy? Say less. Did we mention you can add roast beef? If your taste buds skew more red, white and blue, SpudToddos offers five other versions of “Garbage Fries” like the Philly, the Buffalo and the Vegas piled high with toppings including bacon, guac and Baby Ray’s BBQ sauce. spudtoddos.com

From Our Red Iguana Family to Yours Wishing you a Very Happy Holiday Season filled with peace, love, and laughter!

tradition ...tradition

READERS’ PICKS

DISHES

Best Pretzel Dangerous Pretzel

This ain’t yo mamma’s mall pretzel! With flavor combos like bourbon maple bacon and chili cheddar with hot honey glaze and jalepeño, Dangerous Pretzel dares to go where no dough has gone before. Wash it all down with a local beer or cider (we told you this isn’t the mall!), then grab an order of sweet cinnamon and sugar Saint Bombs for dessert. dangerouspretzel.com

2. Bohemian Brewery

3. Ice Haus

Best Ribs

Salt City Barbecue

Three-peat Best of Utah winner and food truck fave Salt City Barbecue recently found new digs at Woodbine Food Hall, and we’re hog wild over its new home. Now it’s easier than ever to track down drool-worthy brisket, ribs and pulled pork served alongside their signature coleslaw and corn cakes.

saltcitybbq.co

2. Big South

3. Kenny J’s BBQ

Best Seafood Cocktail

Current Fish and Oyster

Calling the Seafood Tower at Current a seafood cocktail is a bit like calling a great white shark a fish, but as they say, go big or go home! Chef Logen Crew’s menu features a platter Poseidon himself would be proud of, replete with oysters, shrimp, lobster tail, tuna tartare and optional Jonah crab claw alongside mignonette and cocktail sauce (see, it is a seafood cocktail). currentfishandoyster.com

2. Market Street Grill

3. Tres Hombres Mexican Grill and Cantina

Take your bread game to the next level with Dangerous Pretzel

Best Shawarma Alhambra Shawarma

That’s a wrap! Choose between beef, chicken or award-winning falafel with veggies all tucked nice and snug into warm shawarma at this Taylorsville fave. For the serious shawarma enthusiast, try the Supreme Shawarma Veneko—a succulent mix of chicken, beef, falafel, sweet plantain and crispy fries with double the sauce. IG: @alhambrashawarma

2. Curry Fried Chicken

3. Beirut Cafe

Best Sliders Post Office Place

Post Office Place is many things: a James Beard semifinalist; the sister restaurant/bar of award-winning Takashi; host of weekly omakase nights; and now, winner of Best Sliders. If that last one feels out of place, you should know we’re not just talking about grass-fed local beef (always a good choice), but also inventive sliders like katsu, Spam and jackfruit topped with bread-and-butter pickled ginger and house kimchi. Now it’s all coming together. popslc.com

2. Squatters Pub Brewery

3. Rabbit’s Foot Brewing

Best Soup

Ginger Noodle Soup (Chabaar Beyond Thai)

From sick days to snowy nights, nothing beats spoonfuls of ginger noodle soup from Anny Sooksri’s Chabaar Beyond Thai. For chicken noodle nostalgics, order it with poultry or with pork, tofu, veggie, beef, swai fish or shrimp. Vegan and vegetarian versions are also available. Each bowl is brimming with savory ginger broth, rice noodles, onion, bean sprout, celery, green onion and cilantro, making it 100% slurp-worthy. bestthaifoodinutah.com/chabaarbeyondthai

2. Chicken Noodle Soup (Porcupine Pub & Grille)

3. Avgolemono — Egg Lemon (The Other Place Restaurant)

READERS’ PICKS

Standout Sandwiches (Specialty)

When it comes to specialty sandwiches across Salt Lake, we have an embarrassment of riches. There is Moochie’s, winning top honors for its cheesesteak sandwich as well as its namesake meatball entry, which boasts homemade meatballs and marinara sauce. Pretty Bird Hot Chicken serves a killer chicken sandwich along with several varieties of in-house sauces and slaw. Downtown’s Red Rock Brewery serves a delicious Cuban sandwich made with their house-roasted pulled pork, which pairs nicely with their beers on tap. Caputo’s 15th & 15th stands out for their impeccable deli sandwiches, made with the finest imported ingredients. Another heavyweight in the sandwich world, Feldman’s Deli serves up a stellar Reuben made with your choice of turkey, pastrami or corned beef on Jewish Rye with sauerkraut, Swiss and Thousand Island dressing. And finally, there is Freshies Lobster Co. with their sliders and rolls stuffed with fresh Maine lobster. An embarrassment of riches, we tell ya.

Best Cheesesteak Sandwich

Moochie’s Meatballs and More

moochiescheesesteak.com

2. Beast from the East Sandwichery

3. The Philadelphian

Best Chicken Sandwich

Pretty Bird Hot Chicken

prettybirdchicken.com

2. Cluck Truck

3. Silverside Deli

Best Cuban Sandwich

Red Rock Brewery - Downtown redrockbrewing.com

2. Fillings & Emulsions Salt Lake Main

3. Stella Grill

Best Deli Sandwiches

Caputo’s 15th & 15th

caputos.com

2. Feldman’s Deli

3. Grove Market and Deli

Best Meatball Sandwich

Moochie’s Meatballs and More

moochiescheesesteak.com

2. Caputo’s 15th & 15th

3. Beast from the East Sandwichery

Best Reuben Sandwich

Feldman’s Deli

feldmansdeli.com

2. Siegfried’s Delicatessen

3. Ice Haus

Best Seafood Sandwich

Freshies Lobster Co. - Salt Lake City

freshieslobsterco.com

2. Cousins Maine Lobster

3. Summerhays Halibut and Chips

Standout Sandwiches (Overall)

Sandwiches are dang near the perfect food—the possibilities are endless, and you can eat them for every meal. That said, some sandwiches are better than others. Ogden’s Hug-Hes Cafe offers hearty, filling and just plain tasty food. If you’re hankering for a sandwich, you can’t go wrong with their prime rib, chicken salad croissant or backyard BBQ selections. Further south and east, our readers highlighted Big Dipper Sandwiches in Park City, whose entire menu is dedicated to sandwiches, most notably their namesake, the Big Dipper. We also can’t talk sandwiches without mentioning Caputo’s 15th & 15th in Salt Lake. Here you can find Italian staples like prosciutto, salami and a variety of delicious cheeses—they’re a perfect place to stop for lunch. Or even breakfast. Yes, they have that as well.

Best Sandwiches: Ogden

Hug-Hes Cafe

hug-hes.com

2. UTOG Brewery

3. Old Grist Mill Bread Co.

Best Sandwiches: Park City

Big Dipper Sandwiches

bigdippersandwiches.com

2. The Eating Establishment

3. Butcher’s Chop House & Bar

Best Sandwiches: Salt Lake County

Caputo’s 15th & 15th caputos.com

2. Central 9th Market

3. Beast From the East Sandwichery

Standout South Asian Salt Lake City doesn’t exactly scream “spice tolerance,” but the South Asian restaurant scene refuses to sacrifice authenticity or flavor. Nepali restaurant Bhansa Ghar takes first place for their biryani, combining proteins like lamb, goat or paneer with the restaurant’s signature biryani masala. (A note to those hesitant to pick their protein—the restaurant offers all-you-can-eat lunch specials.) Tea Rose Diner proudly proclaims itself the best Thai in Utah. When it comes to chicken satay, readers agree. The diner boasts a traditional Thai repertoire and cozy atmosphere. Those craving an iconic chicken tikka need look no further than Bawarchi, another self-proclaimed “best.” From their spot in South Jordan, Bawarchi serves up authentic chicken tikka masala at a spice level tolerable for even your most spice-averse friends.

Best Biryani Bhansa Ghar

bhansagharut.com

2. Bawarchi

3. Mumbai House

Best Chicken Satay Tea Rose Diner

bestthaifoodinutah.com/tea-rose-diner

2. Sawadee Thai Restaurant

3. Skewered Thai

Best Chicken Tikka Masala Bawarchi

bawarchislc.com

2. Mumbai House 3. Bhansa Ghar

Best Specialty Salad Smoked Salmon Salad (Nomad East)

If a pizzeria winning Best Specialty Salad seems odd, know that the first rule of dining at Nomad is there are no rules. While we highly recommend their creative pies—like Children of the Corn and Stalk to the Hand— know that tucking into their smoked salmon salad topped with radish, breadcrumbs, almonds, manchego, red onion, and pickled golden raisins with smoked paprika dressing is an equally pro move. nomad-east.com

2. Thai Style Salad (Vertical Diner)

3. The Mediterranean (Oasis Cafe)

Standout Steaks

If there’s anything you learn after ending a 10-year vegetarian streak, it’s how to appreciate a good steak. From those who unabashedly order well-done with ketchup to those bravely transitioning from raw to rare, Ruth’s Chris Steak House and Hoof & Vine cater to all carnivores. The white tablecloths and downtown location at Ruth’s Chris provide an elegant atmosphere within which to appreciate their succulent prime rib. Hoof & Vine, meanwhile, aims for a more contemporary feel. Their ribeye steak comes with your choice of sides, including Utah’s classic funeral potatoes. While it would be a shame to complete a meal without the “vine” half of the restaurant’s name, their selection of zero-proof cocktails caters to all sorts.

Best Prime Rib

Ruth’s Chris Steak House ruthschris.com

2. Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse

3. Grub Steak

Best Rib-eye Hoof & Vine

hoofandvine.com

2. Maddox Ranch House

3. Ruth’s Chris Steak House

Best Tapas

Mint Tapas and Sushi

The joy of ordering a small plate, or tapa, should not be underestimated. Faced with the decision of what to order when so many dishes jump out at you, you can be remedied with an array of tapas. Order several for the table or for yourself; no one is judging. But never not order the sexy shrimp; judgment will be harsh. mintsushiut.com

2. Finca

3.

READERS’ PICKS

DISHES

Standout Thai

We’ve said it once and we’ll say it again, Sawadee is the most authentic Thai eating experience in Utah. But don’t take our word for it. This is the 12th time the restaurant has won a Best of Utah award. If you’re looking for real-deal pad thai, don’t bother ordering it from anywhere but here. And to satisfy your curry cravings, they offer nearly a dozen options. When available, the soft shell crab pad pong curry is life-changing.

Best Thai: Curry

Sawadee Thai Restaurant

sawadeethaiutah.com

2. Chabaar Beyond Thai

3. Skewered Thai

Best Thai: Pad Thai

Sawadee Thai Restaurant

sawadeethaiutah.com

2. Tea Rose Diner

3. Chanon Thai Cafe

Best Unique Menu Item

Tower for Two (Skillets)

Ordering is a dilemma when every dish looks delicious. How about a bit of everything? Skillets’ Tower for Two is a food pyramid for breakfast enthusiasts. There are three tiers: eggs, meats and potatoes at the bottom, sourdough toast with whipped butters in the middle and waffle fondue with Nutella, pistachio cheesecake and dulce de leche dipping sauces at the top. That’s not a bad way to spend $39 and an afternoon. eatskilletsut.com

2. Smoked Trout Caviar (The Tasting Room)

3. Gnocchi Sbatui Di Malga (VENETO Ristorante Italiano)

from Sawadee Thai Restaurant

Standout Vegan

Vegan substitutes used to be pathetic, but food scientists have made rapid advancements in recent years. In the Beehive State, we’ve got self-styled “plant butcher” Vegan Daddy Meats serving up Varby’s Jr. sandwiches, which remind us that going vegan doesn’t necessitate cutting out fast food. Vertical Diner is the place to go for a tofu scramble and homestyle biscuits and gravy. Meanwhile, Sweet Hazel & Co. has perfected their ability to make you forget you’re eating beefless burgers and eggless baked goods. Each of these options reminds us that the greatest representation of the indomitable human spirit is our ability to engineer animal products without animals involved.

Best

Vegan: Bakery

Sweet Hazel & Co. Bakeshop & Bistro

sweethazelandco.com

2. Eats Bakery & Coffee

3. Passion Flour Patisserie

Best Vegan: Breakfast Vertical Diner

verticaldiner.com

2. Sweet Hazel & Co. Bakeshop & Bistro

3. Goat Head

Best Vegan Burger

Sweet Hazel & Co. Bakeshop & Bistro

sweethazelandco.com

2. Vertical Diner

3. Ice Haus

Best Vegan Specialty Dish Varby’s Jr. Sandwiches (Vegan Daddy Meats)

vegandaddymeats.com

2. Buffalo Chicken Sandwich (Buds)

3. Oyster Mushroom Po’ Boy (Mark of the Beastro)

READERS’ PICKS

Standout Vietnamese

With entire subreddits dedicated to crowning the best Vietnamese in Utah, there is no shortage of opinions on which restaurant is best. Let us help make the decision as clear as good pho broth: If you’re in a banh mi mood, head to Oh Mai Sandwich Kitchen and order the garlic ribeye with a side of pho dipping sauce. Feeling more of a noodle night? Phở 33 is the right answer. Specifically, ask for the signature Pho 33, which includes rare beef, brisket, meatballs, flank, shank, tendon, tripe and oxtail.

Best Vietnamese: Banh Mi

Oh Mai Sandwich Kitchen

ohmaisandwishkitchen.com

2. The Pearl

3. Little Saigon

Best Vietnamese: Pho Phở 33

pho33utah.com

2. All Chay

3. Phở 777

Best

Wings Scovilles

The best wings are bones with meat, not just excuses to eat sauce. The perfect wing should be very crispy and very saucy—Scovilles excels at both. Whether eating bone-in, boneless, veggie or vegan, you’re encouraged to get creative by combining wet and dry elements to invent your masterpiece. The dance between the Jamaican honey curry and red chimichurri was hot enough to leave a slight afterburn but sweet enough for this writer to want more. scovilles.us

2. The Pearl

3. Wasatch Wing Coop

DISHES CW STAFF PICKS

Burger

Burgers By Guayoyo

At first glance, the unassuming hamburger doesn’t seem like it can fully encapsulate an entire culinary culture between its buns. When you visit Burgers By Guayoyo, however, it’s easy to see the culturally unifying power that a creative burger can provide. Whether it’s the Italian inspired “La Capo” with its roasted bell peppers to the “La Tokio” with its miso aioli, this Millcreek burger spot shows a lot of love for international cuisine.

IG: @burgersbyguayoyo

Best Local

Movie Tie-In The Bambino

Locals who feel a sense of nostalgia when watching the 1993 cult classic The Sandlot will appreciate The Bambino. Not only has this hip pizza parlor set up shop in Midvale—a baseball’s toss away from many of the movie’s filming locations—but it’s got a menu full of Sandlot Easter eggs that will get a chuckle out of any fan. thebambinoslc.com

Best Plates on Main Ramblin Roads

Salt Lake’s Main Street is home to many of the state’s most iconic bars and eateries. But since the closures of The Bay Leaf and Lamb’s Grill, the downtown core has lacked the quintessential American diner where all types of customers can drop in at all times of day for a homestyle meal that sticks to the ribs without breaking the bank. Entering that vacuum this year is Ramblin Roads, a Utah-grown chain of family restaurants known for large portions, low prices and friendly service. It’s a gamble expanding into SLC while the working lunch crowd is still recovering from the decimation of COVID, but our hearts (and stomachs) are with them in the fight. ramblinroadsrestaurant.com

Best Slice Price Rusted Sun Pizzeria

David Portnoy (Barstool Sports) was recently in town to nit and pick about Utah/BYU football. He also came to eat pizza, leaving his imprimatur on a swath of local eateries. He missed a vital one, though: State Street’s Rusted Sun, which has for nearly 30 years quietly served some of SLC’s very best calzones and pizzas. Affordable, too: Slices are only $4.50 daily till 4 p.m.— toppings just an extra quarter each. Portnoy would get no complaints here. rusted-sun-pizzeria.res-menu.com/

Best Smash Burger Girls Who Smash

We love a good smash burger, from its crispy crust and unique flavors to its rapid cooking time. While Girls Who Smash understands the virtues of a hard-pressed patty, this women- and queer-owned popup goes one better by combining catering expertise with locally sourced ingredients and the French cooking traditions of co-owner Camille Aglaure’s grandmother. What it amounts to is a flattened burger that nevertheless leaves you elevated. IG: @girlswhosmashslc

We seem to be entering some notably positive territory with The Sun, which is all about optimism and innocent joy. This indicates that the shadows have passed and the terrain is open for childlike wonder again. What irrepressible pleasures derive from such a sweet state of being! And if one requires a burst of said sweetness and light, perhaps the following people and places can be of some help to evoke it—if even on the palate.

Best Beignet

Thirst Drinks

Made from scratch and covered in a gentle snowfall of powdered sugar, the beignets at Thirst are light, warm and oh-so-scrumptious. Paired with a raspberry, honey or chocolate drizzle sauce, this is a perfect drive-thru snack. Thirst also offers glaze-dipped beignets with maple, chocolate and coconut cream-filled options to soothe your sweet tooth. thirstdrinks.com

2. Prohibition

3. Sunday’s Best

Best Brownies

Gooey Gourmet Brownies

For the most part, the Girl Scouts’ Brownies are much more adventurous than the dessert they share a name with. Sometimes, a brownie recipe will add nuts, and if you’re feeling really crazy, you can bake blondies instead. Gooey Gourmet Brownies offer variations on the formula with ingredients like mint, peanut butter, Oreo, pumpkin and caramel apple, but never stray too far from the basics. gooeygourmetbrownies.com

2. Pie Party

3. Kneaders Bakery & Cafe

Best Candy Shop

Pirate O’s

Pirate O’s claim to fame is their variety of oddball candies that would make Willy Wonka blush. Shelves are lined with gourmet chocolate bars containing ingredients like popping candy, cayenne and potato chips. They’ve got gummy Bagel Bites and sushi, cotton candy “animal poo” and beer-flavored Jelly Bellies. Even bacon donuts will seem tame once you taste their bacon hot chocolate. pirate-os.com

2. Hatch Family Chocolates

3. See’s Candies

Best Churros

San Diablo Artisan Churros

Churros can be an unwieldy dessert, resembling floppy, footlong swords covered in cinnamon sugar. San Diablo’s churros are much daintier morsels, from dulce de leche-filled pastries a few inches in length to churro bits the size of walnuts (which come in sweet and spicy flavors). San Diablo also offers subscriptions and baking kits for the true churroholics. sandiablochurros.com

2. Franco’s Churros & Crepes

3. Sol Agave

READERS’ PICKS

SIPS & SWEETS

Cinnamon Rolls The Dough Lady

This local favorite offers fresh cinnamon rolls at their Millcreek bakery as well as take-and-bake rolls that you can save for a special occasion. Their stable of staple flavors is to die for with the classic cinnamon, the lovely brown butter chai and the bright blueberry lemon, plus monthly and weekly flavors. These are truly the gooiest cinnamon rolls in Utah and you can enjoy them for yourself or give them as a gift! doughladyslc.com

2. Straw Market SLC

3. Eats Bakery & Coffee

Frida, Judy, Virginia, Louise . . . these aren’t the ladies in your neighborhood sewing circle, unless that circle is made of butter, sugar, eggs and flour. They’re the names of just a few of the delectable cookies at RubySnap. The brain child of founder Tami Steggell, each cookie features a compelling backstory alongside gourmet ingredients, like the Suzie—a pink vanilla dough with tart cherries and milk chocolate named for the Susan G. Komen breast cancer organization. rubysnap.com

2. Chip Cookies

3. Crave Cookies

Best Bread Pudding Gourmandise

Gourmandise takes not just the cake, but City Weekly’s award for Best Bread Pudding. Amongst the restaurant’s varied selection of French and English pastries, their bread pudding strikes the perfect balance of fluffy bread and moist custard. That they have locations in SLC, Draper and American Fork only means that we have more opportunities to try out this classic dessert. gourmandise.com

2. The Dough Lady

3. Laurel Brasserie & Bar

Best Crepes Dali Crepes Catering & Café

Enjoy the flavors of Paris without leaving Salt Lake City! Founder Dalibor Blazic’s love of crepes traces to his Serbian childhood, when his mother made him crepes before school. With a menu filled with names like Raspberry Dreamland, Strawnana and BiscoffRose, it’s a perfect spot for any meal or a dessert date. You can count on Dali for significant portions, excellent service and crepes that are always amazing. dalicrepes.com

2. Greenhouse Effect Coffee and Crepes

3. Monsieur Crepes

Best Cupcakes Nothing Bundt Cakes

Founders Debra Shwetz and Dena Tripp founded Nothing Bundt Cakes in 1997 back in Las Vegas. Today, they’re the nation’s largest specialty cake company. There are tons of flavors and sizes, all with cream cheese frosting—or without it, if you prefer. Their moist, velvety, and flavorful two-bite cupcakes— “bundtinis”—are available by the dozen. Besides the featured flavors, you can also place a custom order for any rich and delicious taste you’d like. nothingbundtcakes.com

2. Cravings - Alisha’s Cupcakes

3. So Cupcake

Standout Coffee

Coffee is more than just a caffeine boost. It’s also about ritual—something that connects people and communities, like inviting friends to gather over a cup of coffee and catch up on life. It tastes even better when it is freshly roasted, which is why Publik Coffee Roasters is a top choice. They offer roasted-to-order coffee, which minimizes waste. Quality coffee is enhanced with quality service, like that provided at Loki Coffee’s Salt Lake location by Josh Yist, a barista who stands out by making sure you feel good even if you haven’t had your morning coffee yet. Like his fellow colleagues, he can make some impressive latte art that provides your experience with greater fun and visual appeal. For those on the run, Java Jo’s is the go-to for a nice cup of joe. There’s usually a double line of cars waiting for fresh brew, so you know it’s good.

Best Coffee Roaster

Publik Coffee Roasters

publikcoffee.com

2. Caffe Ibis Coffee Roasting Co.

3. Millcreek Coffee Roasters

Best Coffee Shop: Barista Josh Yist (Loki Coffee)

lokicoffeeco.com

2. Pete Souvall (Bedlam Coffee)

3. Tyce Hawkins (Roots Coffee Sugar House)

Best Coffee Shop: Drive-Thru Java Jo’s

javajos.com

2. Bjorn’s Brew

3. Tres Gatos Coffee

Best Latte Art Loki Coffee

lokicoffeeco.com

2. Coffee Garden

3. Sugar House Coffee

Best Cold Brew Roots Coffee Utah

The point of cold brew is not necessarily about drinking it cold, but in using another extraction method to bring out different flavor profiles from the beans. Roots Coffee gets this right in spades. Try it straight, or water it down—their cold brew comes correctly with smooth and low acidity nuances. Coffee addicts (including most City Weekly writers) appreciate the consistency and quality of every cup, not being patient enough to brew their own in advance. rootscoffeeutah.com

2. Loki Coffee

3. Tres Gatos Coffee

Get it to go at Java Joe’s

READERS’ PICKS

Standout Desserts

If you’re looking for an excuse to eat dessert first, we’ve got five! Leave the pain of the bain-marie to Momo’s Gourmet Cheesecake Co. and enjoy a rotating selection of four seasonal flavors and four classics, available in bite-sized Minis or full cheesecakes for a crowd, plus gluten-free options. Speaking of crowd pleasers, the Choco-Mocha Bliss cake from Cakes by Edith is a chocolate lover’s dream. Think rich, moist chocolate cake, coffee liqueur and mocha mousse filling made from scratch. If that sounds good, you’ll love the tiramisu at Tulie Bakery, which has two downtown locations to quell your coffee cravings. If vegan sweets are your cup of tea, head to Sweet Hazel & Co. for a wide selection of mini cakes sans egg and dairy. Rounding out our list of all things sweet and decadent, the Butter Cake from Sol Agave is not to be missed.

Best Dessert: Cheesecake

Momo’s Gourmet Cheesecake Co. momoscheesecakes.com

2. Doki Doki - Japanese Dessert Cafe

3. Tin Roof Grill

Best Dessert: Chocolate Cake Cakes by Edith cakesbyedithbakery.com

2. The Chocolate, A Dessert Cafe

3. Chubby Baker

Best Dessert: Decadent

Butter Cake (Sol Agave) solagave.com

2. Affogato (MONKEYWRENCH)

3. Dulce De Leche (Twisted Tiramisu)

Best Dessert: Tiramisu Tulie Bakery tuliebakery.com

2. Twisted Tiramisu

3. VENETO Ristorante Italiano

Best Vegan Dessert

Sweet Hazel & Co. Bakeshop & Bistro

sweethazelandco.com

2. City Cakes & Cafe

3. Eats Bakery & Coffee

Best Donuts

Fresh Donuts & Deli

What makes Fresh Donuts & Deli’s donuts so good? Some say it’s their lightness; others, the quality of the flour. The shop doesn’t have a website or social media, but they do have a popular Instagram fan account. They were ranked 26th on Yelp’s list of the 100 best U.S. donut shops in 2023. Much to the chagrin of fans who’d prefer their gem stay hidden, business has been booming ever since.

2. Banbury Cross Donuts

3. Chubby Baker

Best Eclair

Schmidt’s Pastry Cottage

Before you inhale the deliciousness of Schmidt’s delicate puff pastry filled with custard and topped with chocolate, take a moment to notice the decorative flower made of icing. The eclairs at the Pastry Cottage are fully customizable for any occasion—choose your flower colors for weddings and showers, request holly berries for Christmas or order blue or pink baby booties for baby showers. schmidtspastry.net

2. Gourmandise

3. Carol’s Pastry Shop

Best Fried Scones Sill’s Cafe

Where to find Utah’s best scones has been a hotbutton topic among foodies for decades, always changing as places mix things up. This year, Sill’s scones won the top honors, no doubt in part thanks to their sweet, crumbly texture that land firmly within the comfort food zone. Along with a healthy amount of butter plopped on top, they melt in your mouth every time. sills-cafe.foodjoyy.com

2. Penny Ann’s Cafe

3. Navajo Hogan

Best Fudge

Hatch Family Chocolates

Their fudge isn’t just rich and silky—it’s legendary. Kate Masterson and Stephen Hatch are still using old family recipes. We all know it is THE best and we are grateful they are here. You go for the fudge, of course, but you stay for the vibe: they throw block parties, outdoor movie nights and neighborhood gatherings that bring fun and magic to the neighborhood. hatchfamilychocolates.com

2. Chocolate Covered Wagon - Trolley Taffy Station

3. Fudge Co.

Best Hot Chocolate Hatch Family Chocolates

Hot chocolate at Hatch is more than a drink—it’s an experience. Their recipe is built to transport you: rich, cozy, and so decadent that it’s like drinking a melted candy bar. Each batch is a little unique—because they “eye-ball” the chocolate—so no two cups are exactly alike. Add-ins are totally optional: the original, unadorned complexity is where the magic lives. hatchfamilychocolates.com

2. Kahve Cafe SLC

3. Monkeywrench

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Standout Ice Cream

Whether you prefer the rich, creamy mouthfeel of ice cream or the dense, concentrated flavor of Italian gelato, the Wasatch Front has you covered. For handchurned, small-batch scoops, nothing beats Blacksmith Ice Cream Co., where you’ll find “always” flavors like fresh raspberry or peanut butter cup alongside seasonal selections and dairy-free options. When only gelato will do, Dolcetti is the name of the game. This whimsical 9th and 9th gelateria stocks 40 rotating flavors including fan faves like coconut sticky rice and cold brew.

Best Gelato Dolcetti Gelato

dolcettigelato.com

2. Sweetaly Gelato

3. Picnic Cafe

Best Ice Cream Shop

Blacksmith Ice Cream Co.

blacksmithicecream.com

2. Normal® Ice Cream

3. Leatherby’s Family Creamery

Best Juicery Vive Juicery

Raw, cold-pressed juices, plant milks and wellness shots delivered fresh to your door? Yes, please! Vive’s exclusively online store offers same-day delivery to all of Salt Lake County. Start a subscription and mix n’ match your favorite bottles like the Hulk, Hero and Sensei, or choose one of Vive Juicery’s three cleanses with preselected bottles in one-, two- or three-day durations. vivejuicery.com

2. Just Organic Juices

3. Hill’s Kitchen - Sugar House

Best Macaron Fillings & Emulsions -

Salt

Lake Main

Fillings & Emulsions put macarons on the map in Utah, and they continue to dazzle with their vibrantly colored and flavored creations like beehive sour cherry, passion & pineapple, marshmallow blackberry and caramel florentine. Swing by for a six-pack or take your next event to new heights with the 200-count macaron tower. fillingsandemulsions.com

2. Eva’s Bakery

3. Delice Bakery & Cafe

Best Made in Utah Candy Bar Chocolate Truffles (Utah Truffles)

With soda shops, cookie chains and the like, Utah’s sweet tooth is widely famous. But such a love affair goes even deeper than that, with Utah Truffles among our most reliable sugar purveyors. Their truffles are miraculously rich without tasting too sweet or fatty and the cocoa powder exterior lends a smooth-yet-multidimensional gustatory experience. These positively decadent chocolate truffles come in traditional sizes but are better (and slightly longer) enjoyed in candy bar form. thenutgarden.com

2. Ritual Chocolate (Heber Cafe & Factory)

3. The Chocolate Conspiracy (The Chocolate Conspiracy)

Best Milkshake Iceberg Drive Inn

For more than 60 years, Iceberg shakes have been the go-to treat for good grades, sweet tooths, pregnancy cravings and prom nights, without ever getting out of the car. The thick, vanilla soft-serve ice cream base is the perfect start to a scrumptious creation of your choice. The mini size is more than enough for sharing, but why would you want to? icebergdriveinn.com

2. Nielsen’s Frozen Custard

3. Dairy Keen - Home of the Train

READERS’ PICKS

Freshly baked goodies from Gourmandise

Best Muffin Picnic Café

Picnic Café is no novice baker, but among their scones, cakes and cookies, their freshdaily muffins are star-quality (seriously, Publik stocks them). Go straight to the source at their storefront just south of Liberty Park to check out their seasonal pastry offerings, but rest assured that anything on the menu will be light, fluffy and perfectly baked. picnicslc.com

2. The Dodo Restaurant

3. Vosen’s Bread Paradise

Best Non-Alcoholic Cocktails

HK Brewing Collective

Taproom & Bar

HK Brewing makes non-alcoholic drinks that are anything but boring. With kombuchas that hit like craft brews and zero-proof mocktails like the Holy Trinity Shooter, High Noon Hibiscus Mule and Talk to the Peach, HK brings big flavor without the buzz. Oh—and they’re pretty, too. Whether you’re sober or just sipping smart, these are the drinks you’ll keep coming back for. hkbrewing.com

2. Sol Agave

3. 1833 Craft

Best Pastry Shop

Gourmandise

This one’s for the laminated dough lovers! When only flakey and buttery French patisserie will do, get yourself to Gourmandise where you can choose from nearly a dozen varieties of freshly baked sweet and savory croissants, kouignamann, mille-feuille, fruit tartlettes and eclairs. As if those aren’t reasons enough, Gourmandise also features rotating seasonal specials that keep us coming back for more. gourmandise.com

2. Tulie Bakery

3. Tomodachi Bake Shoppe

Standout Pie

No need to wait for Pie & Beer Day—these local bakeries cater to Team Cream and Team Fruit fans year round. With a new storefront on Highland Drive, Instagram darling Pie Party whips up flavors like chocolate cream, caramel banana cream and lemon lime coconut available by the slice, Thursday–Sunday until 2 p.m. If your pie preference is more for the peach or apple variety, South Jordan’s Flake Pie Co. serves up personalsize pies with their signature flakey butter crust. And if you get asked to bring desserts to holiday dinner, both of these pie purveyors offer whole pies to go.

Best Pie: Cream Pie Party piepartytime.com

2. Flake Pie Co.

3. The Dodo Restaurant

Best Pie: Fruit Flake Pie Co. flakepie.com

2. Pie Party

3. Pie Fight

Best Shaved Ice

Hokulia Shave Ice

Summers in Salt Lake City are no joke. Hokulia Shave Ice helps patrons beat the heat with their authentic Hawaiian-style ice, prepared with a fluffy texture and drenched in dozens of available flavors. The Provo-based brand has since stretched across the United States, which speaks well of the quality of this refreshing treat. hokuliashaveice.com

2. Bahama Buck’s - Draper

3. Devil Angel Desserts

Grateful to be included as one of the best in Utah for the last five years!

5 Convenient locations visit JavaJos.com

SALT LAKE CITY & THEIR FURRY FRIENDS

READERS’ PICKS

Standout Coffee Shops

Sitting down for a cup of coffee with friends, a date or even some solo time to read a book sounds like a perfect day. Luckily, Utah has many great sit–down shops to choose from, such as Ogden’s Grounds for Coffee, which offers a variety of food options like oatmeal, baked goods and breakfast burritos to complete your morning. When in Park City, be sure to check out the cute, cozy Atticus Coffee & Teahouse right in the heart of Main Street, which doubles as a bookstore and gift shop. For those in Salt Lake County, 9th & 9th’s Coffee Garden is the place to go. It’s great for peoplewatching, located within a beloved neighborhood to enjoy one of life’s most simple pleasures. Further south, Provo’s Peace on Earth is a cozy environment that invites you to relax and listen to chill background music while you sip some joe.

Best

Coffee Shop: Ogden

Grounds

for Coffee

groundsforcoffee.com

2. The Mercantile on 25th

3. Wasatch Roasting Company

Best Coffee Shop: Park City Atticus Coffee & Teahouse

atticustea.com

2. Garden Cafe at Park City Gardens

3. Hill’s Kitchen

Best Coffee Shop: SL County Coffee Garden

coffeegardenslc.com

2. Sugar House Coffee

3. Culture Coffee

Best Coffee Shop: Utah County Peace on Earth

peaceonearth.coffee

2. Java Junkie

3. The Coffee Shop

Best Smoothies Space Tea

We’ll note that Space Tea has the smoothie game down pat, but … if you go in for one, they’ll tempt you with all sorts of varied options, from seasonal specials to international cookies of various kinds. And of course, there’s a huge variety of bubble teas. A State Street stalwart (with new digs on the 1000 block), Space Tea is a fun, community-minded spot to hit, with options running up and down the flavor palette. IG: @spaceteaslc

2. Roxberry Juice Co.

3. Protein Foundry

Best Specialty Cakes Tulie Bakery

Take a seat and enjoy the vibes at Ogden’s Grounds for Coffee

Still buying grocery store sheet cakes for coworkers’ birthdays and special celebrations? Do better! Tulie Bakery levels up your cake game with single- and triple-layer cakes in sophisticated flavors like Valrhona chocolate with espresso buttercream, carrot and pecan with sweet cream cheese buttercream and our personal favorite—olive oil cake with orange and a brown buttercream. Sizes range from 6-14 inches. Three days’ notice for special orders required. tuliebakery.com

2. Cakes by Edith

3. 43 Bakery

Standout Tea

More than a boba shop, Space Tea is gravity for the local scene. Brewing fresh loose-leaf teas from Taiwan daily and serving U.S.-made tapioca pearls, quality is their standard. Located in a low-to-moderate income neighborhood, they offer top-tier drinks at affordable prices. And don’t skip the treats—matcha ganache cookies, pistachio raspberry cheesecake, Dubai chocolate scones. Great tea and seriously stellar desserts! Heading across town over to Tea Zaanti, which has over 85 premium loose-leaf teas plus thoughtfully selected wines, there’s something for every kind of sipper, making it the best tea service. Owners Becky and Scott Lyttle have brewed up something special: a cozy, dog-friendly space built on real relationships—with tea, and with people. No matter if you’re here to work, unwind or just find your new favorite blend, it’s communi-TEA at its finest.

Best Boba Tea

Space Tea

CW STAFF PICKS

Best Cold Pressed Taste of Rural Utah

Rowley’s Red Barn Apple Juice

Crafted from apples grown in Santaquin, Rowley’s Red Barn apple juice provides a fantastic Utah taste. Through its cider mill, Rowley’s cold-presses and bottles a truly unique rural character that is simple, but packs the flavor of fresh apples with every sip.

Although you can buy it directly, it’s also available at local Associated Foods grocers. This apple juice will likely ruin all others—it’s perfect for cider season, but you’ll find yourself picking it up year-round. rowleysredbarn.com

Best Kind of Neighborhood Napoleon Carol’s Pastry Shop

Nestled in the Sugar House neighborhood stands a towering

entity despite its size, filled with a zest that moves people and shapes lives. We’re talking, of course, about the cream cheese, raspberry and whipped cream trifecta reigning amidst the handcrafted puff pastries at Carol’s. Seek their Napoleons out and you too may be joining their loyal following. And best of all, they’re egomania-free!

Best Use of Mexican Flavor Azúcar Cafe

Just when you think you’ve encountered all that a coffee shop has to offer, places like West Valley’s Azúcar Cafe in all modesty widen the horizons even further. Sure, you could go for a traditional mocha or cappuccino, but when you have signatures like an horchata latte or a dulce de leche macchiato, why would you want to? azucarcafeutah.com

Sweetest Spoiler of Self Control The Apple Fritters at Mrs. Backer’s Pastry Shop

One strives to indulge in sweet things only through willed regulation. A person might even be successful in this at times, until fate brings them through the portals of Mrs. Backer’s. Leaving with a box of their wares, one is enticed by the fruit and cinnamon fixings of their signature apple fritter. What’s a few bites on the way home? Oh my. Well, what the household never knew was in the box won’t be missed. mrsbackers.com

Here’s an interesting one: the Moon.

Often when we pull the Moon card, it’s warning of error and deception, but here we get a sense of an open journey rife with dualities. The faint glow of intuition is our guide through the blanket of night, with many choices awaiting exploration. Such is the case in navigating Utah’s nightlife. Whether in the realms of drinking, dining or diversion, the choices are many, the imitators not a few.

Perhaps our readers may cast some needed light on this mystery.

Standout Apres Ski

After a long day on the mountain, there’s nothing better than coming back into town for a warm meal. One of the best places to do so is Slackwater Pizzeria. Located in downtown Ogden, it’s a great eatery to drop in for their expansive beer menu, and of course the pizza. Additionally, they have seasonal dishes and soups—perfect for a chilly day. If you’re in Park City, High West Saloon is the place to stop. You’ll find locally sourced cuisine inspired by the mountainous scenery, as well as handcrafted cocktails and whiskey that’s distilled on site. In the SLC area, The Hog Wallow Pub has local beer, cocktails, great food and live music. It’s a perfect location for when you just don’t want the party to end.

Best Apres Ski: Ogden

Slackwater Pizzeria

slackwaterpizzeria.com

2. Harp and Hound

3. The Angry Goat Pub ‘N Kitchen

Best Apres Ski: Park City

High West Saloon highwest.com

2. No Name Saloon

3. Hearth and Hill

Best Apres Ski: SLCo

The Hog Wallow Pub thehogwallow.com

2. Porcupine Pub & Grille

3. Cotton Bottom Inn

READERS’ PICKS

RESTAURANTS & NIGHTLIFE

Standout Bars (Specialty)

Can you imagine explaining what Why KiKi is to a Utah time-traveler from the distant past? Why KiKi is one of the most fun places to spend a night in the city, especially if there’s a drag show. Big Willies is your classic pub and grub, complete with a ton of pool tables, darts, and massive screens to catch every UFC fight live. And new or old, there isn’t a more immersive bar experience than Thieves Guild Cidery. Entering the cidery feels like you’ve stumbled into an IRL Dungeons & Dragons tavern, complete with mounted skulls of past familiars and secret notes to decipher.

Standout Bars (Overall)

Looking for a new watering hole? We’ve rounded up the best of the Wasatch by region. In downtown SLC, Lake Effect is the place to be. Think swanky-yetindustrial speakeasy style, paired with one of the most impressive cocktail menus in the state. Or cast your net a bit wider to Cottonwood Height’s Hog Wallow Pub for smokehouse-inspired aprés ski or summer patio spritzes. Down in Lehi, Strap Tank Brewery is a familyfriendly affair with bites, brews and non-alcoholic bevvies to please everybody. If you find yourself north, head to Harp and Hound for Ogden’s take on a classic Irish pub. And celebrating its 25th year, Park City’s No Name Saloon serves up world famous buffalo burgers and beer in 1905 Spanish Colonial revival digs.

Best Bar: SLC Lake Effect lakeeffectslc.com

2. Gracie’s 3. Why KiKi

Best Bar: Ogden Harp and Hound harphound.com

2. The Angry Goat Pub N Kitchen 3. Brewski’s

Best Bar: Park City No Name Saloon nonamesaloon.com 2. High West Distillery 3. O’Shucks Bar & Grill

Best Bar: SL County The Hog Wallow Pub thehogwallow.com 2. A Bar Named Sue 3. Prohibition

Best Bar: UT County Strap Tank Brewery straptankbrewery.com

2. The Owl Bar 3. ABG’s Bar

Standout Bar Amenities

We love a good dive bar, but if you’re looking to imbibe with more of a vibe, here are five spots that stand out among the sticky floors and tired taps. For beers with your bestie (man’s best friend), Templin Family Brewing features a dog-friendly patio and plenty of fire pits to keep you cozy. Come patio weather, Ivy & Varley have revamped the old Caffé Molise space into an outdoor sanctuary you have to see to believe. Gracie’s bar menu caters to those who want to get a drink as well as satiated—we rec the mango habanero fried chicken sando and a pineapple daiquiri. Bar bathrooms have historically been a gamble, but the art deco-inspired loos at Lake Effect are a game changer (think polished brass, hanging glass pendants and emerald-cut mirrors). And if it’s games you’re after, A Bar Named Sue has the best bingo night in town.

Best Bar Bathroom Lake Effect

lakeeffectslc.com

2. Quarters Arcade Bar - Downtown

3. Prohibition

Best Bar Bingo

A Bar Named Sue

abarnamedsue.com

2. Willies Lounge

3. Manny’s Neighborhood Bar

Best Dog-Friendly Bar Patio

Templin Family Brewing tfbrewing.com

2. Fisher Brewing Company

3. Handle Bar

Best Bar Menu

Gracie’s

graciesslc.com

2. White Horse Spirits & Kitchen

3. The Bayou

Best Bar Patio

Ivy & Varley

ivyandvarley.com

2. The Hog Wallow Pub

3. Gracie’s

Best Barbecue Restaurant

R&R BBQ

You’ve got to slow your roll when it comes to BBQ, and R&R masters that beautifully. Their meats are smoked low and slow until every bite melts—brisket, pork, ribs—they all hit. Their sauces are top tier. Add in massive homemade portions, soul-comforting sides, a team that makes every visit feel familiar, and you’ve got Utah’s BBQ crown. randrbbq.com

2. Kenny J’s BBQ

3. Pica Rica BBQ

READERS’ PICKS

RESTAURANTS & NIGHTLIFE

Best African Restaurant Mahider Ethiopian Restaurant & Market

At Mahider, Salt Lake’s first authentic Ethiopian restaurant, food is delivered family-style atop a tangy, spongy-textured sourdough bread called injera. The bread is made from teff, one of the oldest grains on earth. The brightly-colored “Taste of Mahider” sampler platter features 12 individuallyspaced portions so each diner can try 12 dishes, including a light tomato-and-jalapeño salad and a crumbly, fresh cheese. In the Ethiopian custom, diners are encouraged to eat with their hands. mahiderethiopian.com

2. Kafe Mamai

3. Balabe

Best All-You-Can-Eat Buffet Rodizio Grill Brazilian Steakhouse

What better way is there to celebrate a special occasion than with unlimited tri-tip, picanha and grilled pineapple at Rodizio? It’s hard not to feel like you’re living large when cut after cut of succulent meat is sliced for you at your table. Flip your sign to green and make space for more delicious food because Rodizio’s buffet is unbeatable. Que delícia! rodiziogrill.com

2. KPOT Korean BBQ & Hot Pot

3. Braza Grill

Best American Diner Ruth’s Diner

The iconic diner created in a Salt Lake trolley car, with arguably the best biscuits and homemade jam in the state, earns a well-deserved top nod. Few eateries stand the test of time with the same vigor and consistency that has made Ruth’s Diner a local go-to since the 1930s. ruthsdiner.com

2. Penny Ann’s Cafe 3. The Park Cafe

Best Brazilian Restaurant Rodizio Grill

Brazilian Steakhouse

There’s no better way to get a taste of São Paolo than visiting Rodizio. Their extensive selection of beef, chicken and pork entrees will turn you into a food strategist. There simply is not enough room in one belly to eat everything their Churrasco buffet offers, so you’d better go in with a gameplan. Voters recommend the frango com bacon (chicken wrapped in bacon), fraldinha (beef tender) and a recent addition to the menu, cordeiro (lamb). rodiziogrill.com

2. Tucanos Brazilian Grill

3. Braza Grill

Best Bread Bakery Vosen’s Bread Paradise

Visit Vosen’s for the best bread money can buy. You’ll find staples like sourdough rounds, French baguettes and rolls, but their niche is German loaves and pastries. Think more varieties of rye than you’ve ever seen in your life alongside salt pretzels, bratwurst buns and croiliners (a cross between a croissant and a berliner). vosen.com

2. Table X

3. Great Harvest

Best Chinese Restaurant Mandarin

Family owned and operated since 1977, the Mandarin consistently wins awards for its Chinese cuisine. Crowd pleasers include the Soong imperial lettuce wraps, char shu won ton soup, sweet and sour almond chicken and mu shu pork. For special occasions, reserve a Peking duck, served with Mandarin pancakes, scallions and duck sauce. The restaurant also offers a wide range of gluten-free and vegetarian options. mandarinutah.com

2. Shanghai Cafe

3. Hong Kong Tea House

Best Cidery

Second Summit Hard Cider Co.

For being a newer kid on the hard cidery block, Second Summit Hard Cider Co. is making headlines and winning awards for its creative selection of ciders and commitment to community. Crafting seasonal flavors with interesting combinations, such as their Ginger Sumac, makes their ciders stand out above the fray. Also, pickleball anyone? IFYKYK. secondsummitcider.com

2. Mountain West Cider

3. Scion Cider Bar

Best Farm-to-Table Restaurant Hell’s Backbone Farm & Grill

Every visit to Hell’s Backbone feels like coming home. Now, with Blake and Jen’s recent acquisition of the Lodge next door, the magic has only deepened. We try to recreate their dishes at home, but something’s always missing: love—the kind they pour into every garden row and every plate. How do they make a simple creamy apple pumpkin soup taste so divine? This award is always well deserved. hellsbackbonegrill.com

2. Urban Hill

3. Table X

READERS’ PICKS

RESTAURANTS & NIGHTLIFE

Standout Breakfast

The most important meal of the day is easily sourced across Utah. In Ogden, Jeremiah’s Restaurant spends at least two menu pages enumerating the various ways in which pancakes and eggs might be enjoyed. Moving over to Park City, Five5eeds provides an elevated breakfast experience worthy of the town’s high elevation. Smoothie bowls and avocado toast offer fresh flavors capable of powering the fluffiest of powder days. Salt Lake City’s best breakfast goes to The Park Café in Liberty Wells. Coming up on 50 years, this restaurant’s spent decades crafting the perfect sweet, salty and savory components of an awardwinning breakfast. Finally, Utah County’s best breakfast comes from TRUreligion Pancake & Steakhouse. For TRUreligion, the common link between pancakes and steak is all-American fare. Of course, the vast breakfast menu of crepes, eggs benedict and omelets creates a crowd-pleasing experience for all.

Best Breakfast: Ogden

Jeremiah’s Restaurant

jeremiahsutah.com

2. Criddle’s Cafe

3. Virg’s

Best Breakfast: Park City

Five5eeds five5eeds.com 2.

Best Breakfast: SLC

Standout Breweries

Utah brewers are a special breed. Brewing in a state where we indulgers often joke we need a permit just to get a drink—our brewers step up in a big way. Fisher Brewing Company takes on the challenge like a fish(er) to water. Located in the Granary District, their ever-rotating tap options are plentiful, ranging from German Pilsners to Mexican Cervezas. For those who like to eat their dinner, not just drink it, Squatters gives off the energy of a lively pub in a slightly larger city. Their broad menu offers brunch, seafood, pizza, kids meals and more. Paired with a (very) full bar, it’s a fantastic place to spend an evening, afternoon or whatever. Level Crossing Brewing Company offers classic pizza and sandwiches to go with their phenomenal Vienna-style lager. Mark your calendars for Level Crossing’s beer garden tent at the downtown farmer’s market, June through October.

Best Brewery

Fisher Brewing Company

fisherbeer.com

2. Templin Family Brewing

3. Red Rock Brewing - Downtown SLC

Best Brewery Food Squatters Pub Brewery

squatterspubbrewery.com

2. Level Crossing Brewing Co.

AWARD-WINNING LOCAL ITALIAN

Family-owned fresh food since 2007

Best Breakfast: Utah County TRUreligion Pancake & Steakhouse trureligionpancakeandsteakhouse.com

2. Hruska’s Kolaches

3. Joe’s Cafe

3. Bohemian Brewery Best Brewpub Level Crossing Brewing Company

READERS’ PICKS

RESTAURANTS & NIGHTLIFE

Standout Brunch

Eating breakfast at 11 a.m. used to be frowned upon. But thanks to the invention of brunch, sleeping in late and devouring pancakes has become rather fashionable. Take Sunday’s Best, for example. This spot in Sandy (and now SLC’s Post District) is known for beachside vibes, from a bumping DJ to extravagant menu items like oysters, zucchini bread and eggs shashuka. Looking for something more casual? Oasis Cafe is the place, with its quality yet cozy dishes like coffee cake and huevos rancheros. If day drinking is what you find appealing about brunch, try Lucky 13. This author suggests the Dirty Cop, a mix of vodka and orange juice with a slice of bacon as the garnish.

Standout Chefs

Urban Hill’s Nick Zocco

Utah is becoming a mecca for talented chefs. By region, here are the four that kept us coming back for more this year. Executive Chef James Bradford spearheads American eatery Table Twenty Five in Ogden, where his grandmother’s gnocchetti has become a staple. At Park City’s Hearth and Hill, Executive Chef Jeff Moore blends his Hawaiian roots with alpine vibes in dishes ranging from poke bowls and pork gyoza to baked brie and burgers. Recently returned from beating Bobby Flay, Executive Chef Nick Zocco of SLC’s Urban Hill dethroned the king of Southwest cuisine with his take on a chile relleno. And Chef Skylar McCallson’s Under Wraps serves sashimi, handrolls and izakaya at Pleasant Grove’s first and only sushi restaurant.

Best Chef: Ogden

James Bradford (Table Twenty Five)

table25ogden.com

2. Cornelius Ward (Purple Sky Winery)

3. Jan Weller (Weller’s Bistro)

Best Chef: Park City

Jeff Moore (Hearth and Hill) hearth-hill.com

2. Bob Valaika (Shabu)

3. Senthil Krishnamurthy (Goldener Hirsch)

Best Chef: Salt Lake City

Nick Zocco (Urban Hill) urban-hill.com

2. Tim Rammell (Drunken Kitchen)

3. Manoli Katsanevas (Manoli’s)

Best Chef: Utah County

Skyler McCallson (Under Wraps) underwrapssushi.com

2. Callie’s Cafe & Sports Bar

3. Keni Aikau (Hungry Hawaiian Provo)

Standout Clubs

As Salt Lake City continues to grow, its nightlife only blossoms into ever more unique and interesting forms. If you are looking to dance the night away, look no further than Why KiKi and its Silent Disco events every weekend. The club also boasts a solid lineup of performers through its rotating shows and weekly lip sync battles, where you can always expect great music and great vibes. If you prefer to watch others do the dancing, the clear winner would be Molly’s Gemini Room, which has spectacular talent—the best part is that it is a woman-owned business. If kicking it back to a live band is more your thing, the Urban Lounge takes the cake, as it books a steady stream of local and touring artists within a comfortable setting.

Best Dance Club Why KiKi

whykikibar.com

2. The Sun Trapp

3. M I L K +

Best Gentleman’s Club Molly’s Gemini Room

mollysgeminiroom.com

2. Trails

3. Duces Wild

Best Nightclub DJ Line-Up Why KiKi

whykikibar.com

2. Sky SLC

3. M I L K +

Best Nightclub for Live Music Urban Lounge

theurbanloungeslc.com

2. Soundwell

3. Lake Effect

Standout Dive Bars

Looking to cap off the night with a round of pool? Johnny’s SLC provides dive bar prices and top-notch fun in the heart of downtown. The bar is open 365 days a year with nightly karaoke, pool competitions and DJ sets. Venturing over to Ogden, Brewski’s focuses on a wide selection of beers, live performances and pizza. The bar’s interior is everything you could hope for from a dive bar—rock memorabilia, mismatched seating and wall art galore. Get in early to snag a seat before the near-daily evening rush begins!

Best Dive Bar

Johnny’s SLC

johnnysslc.com

2. Duffy’s Tavern

3. A Bar Named Sue

Best Ogden Dive Bar Brewski’s

brewskisogden.com

2. Funk ‘n Dive Bar

3. Kamikazes - House of Rock

Best DJ DJ Sheade

The open-format DJ Sheāde is not only a DJ for our professional women’s soccer team, the Utah Royals, but is also a resident DJ at the LGBTQ+ nightclub and bar M I L K +. She has enough mixes to keep everyone happy, so be sure to follow her on social media and make it to her next gig.

IG: @dj_sheade

2. DJ ChuOnWax

3. DJ Parkboi

READERS’ PICKS

Standout Fine Dining

Celebrations call for elevated dining, splurgeworthy dishes and drink menus to match. But if you really want to impress, choose restaurants that highlight Utah’s unique flavors. Take Table Twenty Five, where small plates like local fried mushrooms with truffle honey and a bottle of Park City’s Old Town Cellars “Townie” Rosé set the tone for the meal. At Riverhorse, channel the wild west with an Ol’ High Fashioned featuring local High West Bourbon and Double Rye, alongside the trio of wild game. For regional southwest cuisine, Urban Hill’s award-winning lump crab chile relleno and an epazote margarita is the right move. And for family-style fine dining, Communal’s seasonal menu showcases local produce and brews like award-winning T.F. Brewing Ferda DIPA.

Best Fine Dining: Ogden

A trio of wild game at Riverhorse On Main

Best Greek Food Manoli’s

SLCFoodie

Forget Yelp, Reddit or Google reviews, if you want the inside scoop on Salt Lake’s dining scene, just follow SLCFoodie. With Instagram reels for nearly every new restaurant opening, this account features BBQ and brunch reviews with over one million views and covers everything from cultfaves like Fiiz to hidden gems like Oishi Ramen.

IG: @slcfoodie

2. Gastronomic SLC

3. Phoking

Best French Restaurant La Caille

Lush gardens, vineyards, swans, a turreted chateau … this isn’t a pastoral Parisian fever dream, it’s Utah’s Best French Restaurant at the mouth of Little Cottonwood Canyon. Celebrating its 50th, La Caille is synonymous with over-thetop elegance that’d make Marie Antoinette blush. All the better, as there isn’t a more beautiful way to enjoy dishes like velouté de mer or duck with gooseberry gastrique. Don’t miss the wine and cheese tastings, by reservation only. lacaille.com

2. Franck’s Restaurant

3. Gourmandise

Dining: Salt Lake

Fine Dining: Utah County

Best German Restaurant Siegfried’s Delicatessen

There are two ways to enjoy this absolute landmark of downtown SLC. You can go in to enjoy a classic German meal, served up by the longtime employees and ordered from a series of steaming pans behind the glass countertop. Or you can peruse the shelves for a li’l somethin’ to take home, be that a Euro soda or a German pantry standard (like Maggi seasoning or Knorr soups, staples of every German kitchen cupboard). siegfriedsdelislc.com

2. Bohemian Brewery

3. Weller’s Bistro

From the meze—a seasonal assortment of shareable bites ranging from vegetarian to meat to seafood—to the warm loukoumades with spiced honey syrup for dessert, every plate at Manoli’s reimagines classic Greek flavors with a modern twist. And don’t leave out the libations! The cocktail menu is worthy of Dionysus himself. Try a Mediterranean spin on a martini with the Aridea—Greek gin with dry vermouth, grape leaf and olive brine, seeded spice blend and paprika oil. manolison9th.com

2. Greek Souvlaki

3. The Other Place Restaurant

Best Health-Conscious Cuisine Vessel Kitchen

Vessel Kitchen shines because they make clean eating feel absolutely delicious. Their menu is scratch-made, vibrant and ingredient-forward— vegan, paleo, Whole30, gluten-friendly—without sacrificing flavor. But here’s the kicker: we are in love with their horseradish crema. That zippy, creamy kick elevates bowls, tacos and dishes into something unforgettable. vesselkitchen. com

2. Aubergine Kitchen

3. Zest Kitchen & Bar

Best Hotel Restaurant Laurel Brasserie & Bar

Where else can you find grass-fed beef franks wrapped in croissant dough with a bougie Dijon crème fraiche dipper? It’s like the best of both worlds combined—your inner child and adult selves both leave happy. For that adult in you, there are other delicious offerings as well, and don’t sleep on the cocktails—some of the best crafted in the city. laurelslc.com

2. The Coffee Shop at Little America Hotel

3. Bambara - Salt Lake City

Loukoumades at Manoli’s

Best Indian Restaurant Bawarchi

If you like your pakora freshly-fried and your tandoori chicken hot enough to melt your face, just tell your Bawarchi server and rest easy. This restaurant’s classic Indian menu gets an extra oomph from a few North Indian specialties. Take your paratha as a kati roll and think of Kolkata, no mission trip involved. To those of us who understood none of these terms, order the gulab jamoon for dessert, a delicious, syrupy donut hole. bawarchibiryanis.us/locations/saltlakecity

2. Mumbai House

3. Saffron Valley

Best Italian Restaurant Caffe Molise

With cucina italiana there is much regional variation and specialty, reaching back to the seasonality of local ingredients from the land or sea. Caffe Molise’s take on Italian fare reigns supreme. Come here for polenta, Pappardelle al Sugo and Scampi Alla Diavola. The wine list is cosmopolitan, the patio is epic, and everything here is as tasty as it looks. At Caffe Molise it’s not only recipes, but the attitudes and philosophy behind them. caffemolise.com

2. Matteo Ristorante Italiano

3. Osteria Amore

Best Japanese Restaurant Takashi

Ask anyone in Salt Lake and they’ll tell you Takashi has the best sushi in town. If they don’t say Takashi, it’s only because they haven’t been yet. When it comes to fresh fish, inventive rolls and an impressive beverage program, Takashi delivers a masterful blend of traditional Japanese techniques and creative innovation. Must-try sashimi dishes include tai tomatillo and spicy mussels with quail egg, followed by their award-winning spider roll, Takashi’s hakozushi and the Forrest Gump roll. takashisushi.com

2. Sapa

3. Kyoto Japanese Restaurant

READERS’ PICKS

RESTAURANTS & NIGHTLIFE

Best Korean OMBU Hot Pot

When this place says they’re offering the best hotpot experience, they mean it. Utah in general doesn’t have a wide selection of hotpot places, so OMBU goes out of its way to make sure when you sit down and have a meal with them, you’re getting as good a representation of the culinary form as possible. Featuring vegan and vegi options all the way to meat lovers, even tentacles are an option here. OMBU-HotPot.res-menu.com

2. Myung Ga Restaurant

3. KOU - Korean BBQ of Utah

Best Latin/So. American Restaurant

Arempas

This is Venezuelan comfort food at its finest. The stars of the show are the arepas, a flatbread of ground maize dough stuffed with your choice of carne asada, peluda (shredded beef), or pabellon (beef, black beans and fried plantains), among many other options. Arempas also serves tasty empanadas, cachapas (a Venezuelan pancake filled with cheese) and patacones (fried plantains). Most items are gluten-free, with vegan options available as well. ¡Pasale, chamo! arempas.com

2. Sabor Latino

3. El Rocoto Peruvian Restaurant

Best Local Fast-Food Franchise Crown Burgers

You know a restaurant is good when it’s busy from the moment it opens to the time it closes. Crown Burgers has, of course, great burgers, but if you have a hankering for Greek street food, you can grab gyros or souvlaki. Alternatively, if you need dessert, they have monster shakes, sundaes and floats. It’s hard to find a place that does so many things and does them well, but Crown Burgers is that place. crown-burgers.com

2. The Pie Pizzeria - South Salt Lake

3. Hires Big H

Best Mexican Restaurant Red Iguana

Red Iguana is one of Salt Lake’s most iconic restaurants, with the Cardenas family continuing to raise the bar, even after more than 60 years in business. Be sure to make a reservation or be ready to wait, because it is always packed, and with good reason. The menu is absolutely stacked (see: enmoladas, camarones sonora, and the cochinita pibil), but what truly sets Red Iguana apart is the quick and friendly service. rediguana.com

2. Blue Iguana

3. La Casa Del Tamal

Best Middle Eastern Restaurant Mazza

Now in its 25th year, Mazza is an institution of Middle Eastern cuisine in Utah. You could make a meal mixing and matching the starters alone, like muhammara, baba ganooj and labneh with pita. As tempting as that may be, save room for the Lebanese lamb kafta or the mushroom and cauliflower kabseh. And don’t forget to peruse the wine menu, where you’ll find a wide selection of Lebanese reds to round out your meal. mazzacafe.com

2. Laziz Kitchen

3. Alhambra Shawarma

Best Food Hall Woodbine Food Hall

The Granary District is developing into a dining destination that can hold its own against downtown, but Woodbine is the food hall that anchors it all. Home of award-winning Salt City Barbecue and sandwich savant Deadpan (if ever a sando could blow your mind, it’s here), Woodbine also houses Mercato Kitchen, Yakuza Ramen and Old Cuss Coffee Co., alongside burgers, sushi, cookies, dogs, pizza and a rooftop bar. woodbineslc.com

2. HallPass

3. Sugar House Station

Standout Food Trucks

Whether they’re showing up to your work or you just find them around town, food trucks have a way of making the day better. At Cluck Truck you can find delicious wraps, delectable sandwiches and of course a classic basket of chicken complete with fries. Their food is hearty and will fill you up at your lunch break or make a perfect dinner on the way home. More and more places these days have vegan-friendly eats that not only consider our vegan friends, but go above and beyond to create food that’s still packed with flavor for anyone to enjoy, sans animal products. Cupbop Korean BBQ offers tasty infusions of Korean food on the go, while also bringing the spice level up several notches.

Best

Food

Truck

Cluck Truck

clucktruckutah.com 2. Girls Who Smash 3. Bacio D’ Italia

Best Vegan-Friendly Food

Truck

Cupbop Korean BBQ

cupbop.com

2. The Salty Pineapple 3. Sushi Squad

Standouts In the ‘Hood

It’s fun to go out on the town, but having a place nearer at hand in which to drink or grab a bite is its own special pleasure. A Bar Named Sue is the perfect combination of classic basement pub and friendly neighborhood haunt when you’re looking to knock back a few. Start off with a Sue Pilsner, but be sure to check out their funky cocktails and, if you’re no longer in the running for the trivia podium, their signature shots. For the peckish among us, VIOLET is chic, elegant and an absolute powerhouse. Their stylish interior is perfect for tea parties and bridal showers with adorable presentation and delicious from-scratch small bites. But, more important than any of the above: The deviled eggs are five for $10. The deviled eggs are five for $10. The deviled eggs are five for $10.

Best Neighborhood Bar A Bar Named Sue abarnamedsue.com

2. Dick N’ Dixie’s

3. Crow and the Pitcher

Best Neighborhood Restaurant VIOLET violet-slc.com

2. Cucina

3. The Dodo Restaurant

Standout New Restaurants

Foodies love to try all things hot and new, and this year, BBQ joints claim two of our three regional winners. Head to Steve’s Black Sabbath BBQ in Ogden for drunken chicken, pork belly burnt ends and smoked mac and cheese. Or try Kenny J’s BBQ in South Jordan for hatch green chile and cheddar sausage, funeral potatoes and banana pudding. If small plates and pizza pleases your palate, Park City’s Matilda is a must-try for unique bites like prawn toast, charred hispi cabbage and sweet corn pizza with huitlacoche cream.

Best New Restaurant: Ogden Steve’s Black Sabbath BBQ stevesblacksabbathbbq.com

2. Taboo Pizza (Riverwalk)

3. Purple Sky Winery

Best New Restaurant: Park City Matilda matildaparkcity.com

READERS’ PICKS

RESTAURANTS & NIGHTLIFE

Standout Nightlife

In Utah, where our alcohol and nightlife laws are restrictive and highly debated, it’d be easy to assume there aren’t many spots to sip a beer and indulge in the simple pleasures of life. That couldn’t be further from the case. Manny’s Neighborhood Bar is the place to practice your poker face. Big Willies has plenty of pool tables that you can reserve for a whole day, if that’s your idea of a good time. Trivia nerds should check out HK Brewing, and Highlander Pub has won in City Weekly’s Best Karaoke category for years, so chances are good that attendees don’t have to deal with an off-key “My Heart Will Go On” or halfhearted “Tequila.”

Best Karaoke

Highlander Pub highlanderutah.com

2. Manny’s Neighborhood Bar

3. Drag Karaoke w/Sequoia @Blue Gene’s

Best Place to Shoot Pool Big Willies bigwillieslounge.com

2. A Bar Named Sue

3. The Hog Wallow Pub

Best Poker Night

Manny’s Neighborhood Bar facebook.com/mannysagain

2. A

Best Trivia Night

Standout Pizza

The quest for primo pizza never ends, but might we suggest some truly special landmarks on your map?

Starting in a small space on Ogden’s historic 25th Street, Lucky Slice has grown in popularity and size, becoming a top-notch destination for New York-style pizza. If you ever find yourself hanging out in Park City, you have to check out Este Pizza. Diners enjoy the authentic flavors and cozy dine-in patio. If you’ve lived in Utah for any amount of time, there’s a good chance you’ve been to a The Pie, and if you haven’t ... what are you doing? Chilling at one of their locations with friends is one of the best ways you can spend an evening. Last and certainly not least is Utah County’s Brick Oven, another longtime, consistently great place to grab slices, order catering or have pizza delivered for a movie night at home.

Best Pizza: Ogden Lucky Slice Pizza theluckyslice.com

2. Slackwater

3. Taboo Pizza

Best Pizza: Park City Este Pizza estepizzaparkcity.com

2. Davanza’s

3. Maxwell’s

Best Pizza: Salt Lake City The Pie Pizzeria thepie.com

2. Bricks Corner

3. Settebello Pizzeria Napoletana

Best Pizza: Utah County Brick Oven

brickovenrestaurants.com

READERS’ PICKS

RESTAURANTS & NIGHTLIFE

Standout Restaurants (Overall)

If the Best of Utah were the Academy Awards, Best Restaurant is our version of Best Picture. And the Oscars … er, Best of Utah Awards … go to: The Copper Onion, where the wagyu beef stroganoff is the stuff dreams are made of; Tona Sushi we dare you to find a roll you don’t love; Handle, the OG brain child of chef, owner and James Beard semifinalist Briar Handly; Table X—nobody showcases seasonal Utah produce and meats quite like their sevencourse menu; Communal, where you come for the family-style dining and stay for the butterscotch pudding. The closest we have to an Academy, our readers, thank you

Best Restaurant: Downtown The Copper Onion

thecopperonion.com

2. Urban Hill

3. Mar Muntanya

Best Restaurant: Ogden Tona Sushi Bar and Grill

tonarestaurant.com

2. The Sonora Grill

3. Napoli’s Italian Restaurant

Best Restaurant: Park City Handle

handleparkcity.com

2. Grub Steak

3. Hearth and Hill

Best Restaurant: SL County Table X

tablexrestaurant.com

2. Eight Settlers Restaurant & Distillery 3. Cafe Madrid

Best Restaurant: Utah County Communal

Copper

Standout Restaurant Amenities

Vibes matter—especially when it comes to restaurants. Perhaps nobody knows that better than Bar Nohm, which positively drips with Japandi decor like tatami mat walls, warm woods, paper lanterns and handpainted artwork from local artist Madelon Juliano. Take the vibes outside at Ruth’s Diner and enjoy creek-side patio dining up Emigration Canyon. And if its vibes and views you’re after, here are three spots worthy of your Instagram stories: Slackwater Pizza on Ogden’s Historic 24th Street for firepits, cornhole and Weber River vistas; High West Distillery—the world’s only ski-in distillery—located at the base of Park City’s Town Lift; and the Cliff Dining Pub for its sweeping views of the Salt Lake Valley.

Best Restaurant Atmosphere Bar Nohm barnohm.com

2. Log Haven Restaurant

3. Hell’s Backbone Farm & Grill

Best Restaurant Patio Ruth’s Diner

ruthsdiner.com

2. Ivy & Varley

3. The Bambino

Best Restaurant View: Ogden Slackwater Pizzeria slackwaterpizzeria.com

2. Steve’s Black Sabbath BBQ

3. Taboo Pizza (Riverwalk)

Best Restaurant View: Park City

High West Distillery

highwest.com

2. Silver Star Cafe

3. Le Depot Brasserie

Best Restaurant View: Salt Lake County

The Cliff Dining Pub

cliffdiningpub.com

2. Mar Muntanya

3. Eight Settlers Restaurant & Distillery

READERS’ PICKS

Best Place for Late-Night Grub Pie Hole

For an easy first place, Pie Hole is the go-to for that late-night craving. While the long lines pack the street, rest assured that it is for a good reason! The service is quick and always hits the spot. Next time you’re out, make sure to go stuff your pie hole with a slice of pizza. pieholeutah.com

2. Arempas

3. Betos Mexican Food

Best Old-School Drive-In Hires Big H

While drive-in burger joints may not be as prevalent as they once were, some are still thankfully around along the Wasatch Front. It’s not far from the University of Utah and still standing at its classic 1959 location. In fact, guests can do their best American Graffiti impression with boss food and keen company at Hires. Just be sure to cool it with one of their signature frosted root beer floats before you cut it, Daddy-O. hiresbigh.com

2. Iceberg Drive-In

3. Millie’s Burgers

Best Old-Timey Cafe Over the Counter Café

While the environment is a little hectic, this place gets busy for a reason. There is quick service, friendly staff and tasty diner food with a lot of options. You can’t go wrong with any of the skillets or scrambles, and any omelet can be converted into a scramble. Even when the place is packed, the booths are well-spaced enough to provide a sense of privacy. Breakfast or brunch, Over the Counter satisfies. overthecountercafeslc.com

Best Romantic Restaurant Log Haven Restaurant

If the mountain air and ambiance don’t win you points, the delicious food will. Log Haven was built 100 years ago as an anniversary gift from local steel baron L.F. Rains to his wife, with logs from Oregon. This place is more than an eatery; it is a sanctuary with elevated dishes, an award-winning wine selection, stunning views, and exceptional hospitality. log-haven.com

2. Urban Hill

3. Tuscany Restaurant

Best Rooftop Patio

The Green Pig Pub

If you want to have a beer or a bite and peoplewatch in the city, there’s no better place at which to do so than the Green Pig. Overlooking 400 South just west of Washington Square, it’s a beautiful spot to catch a sunset, witness questionable driving and see the city at its finest. There’s a nice balance between tables and barstools, making this rooftop patio the perfect place to meet friends or a first date. thegreenpigpub.com

2. Mar Muntanya

3. Van Ryder

Seafood Restaurant

Current Fish and Oyster

Current’s combination of fresh fish, impeccable technique and elegant atmosphere made it a star of the Salt Lake food scene. Some of chef Logen Crew’s brightest dishes included scallops served over a crispy rice cake and crunchy veggies, a stunning stuffed branzino, and an intricate tuna katsu furikake. Current’s collection of a la carte enhancements could’ve been the star of most menus, including grilled lobster tail, Alaskan king crab and seared Gulf shrimp. We shall miss it.

2. Market Street Grill

3. Harbor Seafood & Steak Co.

READERS’ PICKS

RESTAURANTS & NIGHTLIFE

Best Soul Food The Bayou

You could go to The Bayou and order a perfectly good pizza, or Buffalo wings, or a turkey burger. But you’d be cheating yourself a bit, as The Bayou’s long been the go-to place in the region for Cajun, Creole and general Southern cooking, with Louisiana staples like muffalettas and po’ boys, gumbo and bread pudding, popcorn crawfish and (arguably the most-decadent of the bunch) alligator cheesecake all highlighted on The Bayou’s big, wide-ranging menu. utahbayou.com

2. Sauce Boss Southern Kitchen

3. Big South

Best Steakhouse

Ruth’s Chris Steak House

In New Orleans circa 1965, single mother Ruth Fertel bought the original Chris’ Steak House. Eleven years later, the original location burned down. Fertel’s contract prevented her from reopening as Chris’ Steak House, resulting in the head-scratching name we have today. Now boasting over 100 locations worldwide, Ruth’s Chris is known for their atmosphere, bar and hospitality, but most of all, their steaks, served on searing, 500-degree plates slathered in butter. ruthschris.com

2. The Capital Grille

3. Hoof & Vine

Best Thai Restaurant Tuk Tuks

Pineapple rice with your choice of protein, served in a half pineapple, is not just pleasing to the eye, but also to the taste buds. In fact, every dish prepared at Tuk Tuks is a colorful display with an abundance of flavor. Pro tip: Thai chilies tend to be much hotter than you think they will be, so choose your spice level wisely. tuktuks-slc.com

2. Sawadee Thai Restaurant

3. Skewered Thai

Standout Vegan/Vegetarian

Calling all vegans, vegetarians and plantcurious, Vertical Diner and Zest Kitchen & Bar are the names to know for your next brunch, lunch or dinner. Vertical aims to satisfy your classic diner cravings with 100% plant-based riffs on classics like burgers, Reubens, cheese fries and milkshakes. (They even offer a shiitake escargot, if you’re feeling bougie!) Head to Zest for bar bites like jalapeño poppers, nachos and pizzas, plus gluten-free vegan pastas and desserts. We’re especially fond of the chocolate beet torte with avocado frosting.

Best Vegan Restaurant

Vertical Diner

verticaldiner.com

2. Buds

3. Sweet Hazel & Co. Bakeshop & Bistro

Best Vegetarian Restaurant

Zest Kitchen & Bar

zestslc.com

2. All Chay

3. Vertical Diner

Best Vietnamese Restaurant

The Pearl

The Pearl is proof that you don’t need an extensive menu to make a big impact. Lunch leans into Vietnamese rice or noodle bowls and bahn mi, plus a handful of starters including award-winning egg rolls and fish sauce wings (half off on Wednesdays). Dinner adds entrees like blue mussels with dashi beurre monté and a grilled bone-in lemongrass pork chop. But the real star is Sunday night’s pho menu—go early, it sells out fast! thepearlslc.com

2. All Chay

3. Phở 33

CW STAFF PICKS

Best Case of “Expect the Unexpected”

The International’s

Tape Nite

Fischloops’ monthly Tape Nite is something out of this world. Even if you look upon cassettes with nostalgia, what Fisch and his recurrent guests do will lift you out of space and time. Mixing power pop to synth pop to hip-hop, for example, goes deeper than just the surface of things. And who doesn’t love to listen to tunes that make one dance while at the same time think “what the hell is this?” internationalbarslc.com

Best “Don’t Call It a Comeback” Gary’s Asian Bistro

If you do what you love, you never work a day in your life. For Gary Lee, he loves Chinese cuisine so much that he couldn’t stay retired. With a legacy dating back to 1993 when he opened Cottonwood Mall’s Ocean City, then with Asian Star (now under new ownership), Gary’s Asian Bistro is Lee’s latest iteration serving favorites like walnut shrimp and sesame chicken in sleek digs for an elevated dining experience. garysasianbistro.com

Best Exurban Brewery Bonneville Brewery

On the right afternoon, you can sit on the outdoor patio of Bonneville Brewery and watch a storm roll in, the Great Salt Lake visible on the horizon. With a beer in hand and a food order placed, you realize the appeal of such locations across America’s small towns. As craft brewers have been buffeted by challenges in recent years, we wish the best of luck to this new(ish) spot on the edge of Tooele. bonnevillebrewery.com

Best Feline-based Decor 9-UP Night Market

While most Taiwanese and Chinese restaurants will feature lucky cats as supporting characters in their design concept, the folks at 9-UP Night Market have taken the maneki-neko to new–and adorable–extremes. The restaurant’s entire concept is based around fortunate feline mystique, and its interior decor is replete with all manner of whimsical kitties. A meal among all sorts of grinning cats makes it easy to feel like your luck is about to change. 9upnightmarket.com

Best Night Adventure for Foodies āker’s Tuna Fight Club

If you have not had the experience of watching a handful of exceptionally trained sushi chefs break down a 40-pound fresh bluefin tuna, now is your chance. (Well, the first Tuesday of every month, that is.) Sushi chef Pae Randall and her team create around 10 Omakase dishes in front of up to 50 guests. Be sure to get a dish of their whiskey barrel-aged soy sauce for dipping. IG: @akertunafightclub

Best Restaurateur with a Vision Anny Sooksri

Not many people could look at a dilapidated albeit historical chapel and see an amazing event space. When redevelopment in Murray forced Sooksri to decide either to close her beloved Tea Rose Diner (65th E. 5th Ave) or relocate, Sooksri set her sights on the chapel across the street. Buying the building “as is” has proved more challenging than originally thought, however, since it doesn’t have power. Undeterred, Sooksri presses on, powerless but with grand dreams. IG: @annystakeonthai

It appears we’ve drawn the Three of Cups—not a bad way in which to end our time together. Judging from this, you can look forward to occasions of frivolity and celebration. A period of reunion or of first meeting seems imminent, with a common goal pursued in a merry spirit. Such merrymaking in groups requires a measure of social lubricant, which is where Utah’s drinking scene comes in. Whatever you pour and however you sip, we raise our cups in honor of the good times you provide.

Standout Beer

We tapped City Weekly readers to find the best local brews worth bar-hopping for, and these five are the faves. Start at Bewilder Brewing with its refreshing Bewilder Big Crispy West Coast Pilsner, which pairs perfectly with the Bavarian bites on the brewery’s dine-in menu. Next, head to Kiitos in the Granary District for a round of pinball and a pint of Blackberry Sour or Coffee Cream Ale. Then it’s off to Templin Family Brewing to sip a Ferda DIPA fireside on the dogfriendly patio. Finally, end your crawl with Dirty Chai Stout at SaltFire Brewing Co.

Best Ale

Kiitos Coffee Cream Ale (Kiitos Brewing)

kiitosbrewing.com

2. Bewilder ESB (Bewilder Brewing Co.)

3. Dog Lake Pale Ale (Salt Lake Brewing Co.)

Best IPA Ferda (Templin Family Brewing) tfbrewing.com

2. Off the Tree Juicy IPA (Salt Lake Brewing Co.)

3. Yacht Rock Juice Box (Proper Brewing Co.)

Best Lager/Pilsner

Bewilder Big Crispy West Coast Pilsner (Bewilder Brewing)

bewilderbrewing.com

2. Czech Pilsner (Bohemian Brewery)

3. Grid City Pilsner (Grid City Beer Works)

Best Sour Beer

Kiitos Blackberry Sour (Kiitos Brewing)

kiitosbrewing.com

2. Huckleberry Sour Ale (2 Row Brewing)

3. Kveik Pina Colada (Shades Brewing)

Best Stout Dirty Chai Stout (SaltFire Brewing Co.)

saltfirebrewing.com

2. Baba (Uinta Brewing Co.)

3. Big Bad Baptist (Epic Brewing Company)

READERS’ PICKS

Best

Help yourself to an affordable drink at Duffy’s

Bloody Mary Lucky 13

A Bloody Mary should definitely count toward your five daily servings of fruits and vegetables. And if you add bacon, well, that’s a balanced diet. Lucky 13 has perfected the booze and food, or, in this case, booze as a food hangover cure—it has all the right proportions of tomato juice, spirits, house-smoked bacon and secret ingredients. They make this concoction fresh and it’s better for it. lucky13slc.com

2. Prohibition

3. Hash Kitchen

Duffy’s Tavern has it all—laid back atmosphere, dope sandos, pool, great music and no-frills drink specials. All on the cheap: Wine N’ Fernet Mondays; Whiskey Wednesdays; Stubby and a shot of Beam Thursdays. Be sure to tip the bartenders as they are funny, helpful and will make you feel welcome as soon as you enter. Worth a visit for uncelebrated charm, good crowd, the smell of years of spilt beer and Terry’s Western Records. duffystavernslc.com

Best Brewery Can Art SLC Pils (Proper

Brewing)

The art for SLC Pils has the kind of immediate, “yessss”-inducing appeal that cuts through the store-shelf clutter, with its intentional play on the indie flick SLC Punk! That 1998 film may’ve played nationwide, but there’s nowhere else that’ll “get” the reference as keenly as here. The fun color palette of green, red, white, black and blue complements the mohawked badboy who knits the concept together. Kudos to Proper’s marketing smarties for this winner. properbrewingco.com

2. Fisher Beer (Fisher Brewing)

3. False Prophet Hazy IPA (RoHa Brewing Project)

Best Kombucha Han’s Kombucha

There’s a booch revolution brewing in SLC, and Han’s is leading the charge. Their kombucha is silky smooth—if you think you don’t like kombucha, give Han’s a shot. Unique flavors like Cheers Queers (white peach champagne), Pineapple Cactus Nectar, Ginger Hibiscus, Grapefruit Rosemary, Raspberry Rose, All Tied Up Cherry Pie and seasonal delights like Cozy and Jun Bug set them apart. We love that they are woman- and queerowned! Bonus: super cute merch. hkbrewing.com

2. Mamachari Kombucha

3. SünTea Kombucha

Best Looking Utah Liquor Bottle

Vintage Distillery (Vintage Spirits Distillery)

An interesting reader selection, as the art isn’t some printed-on label, but a customized bottle with the company’s logo as part of the glass casting. It’s a sleek design that harkens back to a different era, when contour bottles weren’t just a sexy artistic option; they were everywhere. In the same way you know what a Coke bottle is, you know a Vintage Spirits bottle when you see one. vsdistillery.com

2. High West (High West Distillery)

3. Five Wives (Ogden’s Own Distillery)

READERS’ PICKS

Raspberry Whiskey Sour (left) from Sugar House Distillery

Standout Cocktails

In a state where drinking feels like an act of resistance, Prohibition serves up brunch cocktails in a 1920s-themed bar worthy of its name. A refined brunch menu that includes beignets and crepes works perfectly with Bloody Marys, mimosas and Irish coffees. For those on the go, Sugar House Distillery offers a variety of bar-quality canned cocktails highlighted with their raspberry lemonade vodka and raspberry whisky sours. The locally-sourced grains give each sip a kick of home-grown goodness. If canned just won’t do, Water Witch off of Harvey Milk Boulevard prides itself on spectacular craft cocktails. Their near-limitless array of top-shelf liquor lends elegance to their ever-changing selection. Be sure to ask your bartender for their recommendation.

Best Brunch Cocktails

Prohibition prohibitionutah.com

2. Franklin Ave Cocktails & Kitchen

3. Sunday’s Best

Best Canned Cocktails

Sugar House Raspberry (Sugar House Distillery)

sugarhousedistillery.net

2. Gin Rickey (Desolation Distilling)

3. Porters Huckleberry Lemonade (Ogden’s Own Distillery)

Best Craft Cocktails

Water Witch

waterwitchbar.com

2. HK Brewing Collective Taproom & Bar

3. Melancholy

Standout Distilleries

Founded in 2006 as Utah’s first state-licensed distillery since the end of Prohibition, High West bears the crown of premier whiskey production in the Beehive State. From the Double Rye to the bourbon, they deliver a smooth taste that has earned international recognition. Not far behind is Spirits of the Wasatch, whose distillery tour gives you the full VIP treatment, including face-to-face time with the owner to ask questions. Samples of the coffee liquor, habanero vodka and gin are provided as part of the tour, and their environmentally conscious approach deserves plenty of praise.

Best Distillery

High West Distillery

highwest.com

2. Spirits of the Wasatch Distillery

3. Vintage Spirits Distillery

Best Distillery Tour

Spirits of the Wasatch Distillery wasatch.co

2. High West Distillery

3. Clear Water Distilling Co.

Best Margarita

Blue Iguana - Salt Lake City

Be it blended, on the rocks, rimmed with kosher salt or with homemade sour mix, a good margarita can top off the perfect summer day. Even in the depths of a Utah winter, it can stir up memories of sunshine and sea salt. If you’re in the mood for a little bit of tropical paradise, Blue Iguana offers nearly 20 varieties of margarita, each designed to suit the unique tastes of its patrons. blueiguanarestaurant.net

2. Red Iguana

3. El Chihuahua Restaurant

READERS’ PICKS

Standout

Spirits

For liquor to leave you in high spirits (please laugh), Jack Rabbit Gin uses juniper, sage and rose botanicals to create a robust flavor combination perfect for tonic, seltzer or juice.

Vintage Spirits’ smooth Salty Beach Silver Rum works best in their recommended mojito recipes—unless you’re interested in the smell of brine shrimp, the “beach” is not included.

Vintage also offers top-notch Bourbon Whiskey, brewed with caramel and vanilla and smooth enough to sip neat or enjoy mixed. Spirits of the Wasatch combines two vices in one with their Perky Cowgirl Coffee Liqueur, City Weekly’s best local spirit overall. Made in-house with Kings Peak beans, the vodka-based liquor is about as Salt Lake as it gets. The OG in tapping into local culture, Ogden’s Own is best-known for their Five Wives Vodka. The gluten-free vodka comes from mountain spring water and is now available in flavors like cinnamon and tamarind.

Best Local Gin

Jack Rabbit Gin (Beehive Distilling)

beehivedistilling.com

2. High Mountain Desert Gin (Spirits of the Wasatch Distillery)

3. Sophie’s Gin (Clear Water Distilling Co.)

Best Local Rum Salty Beach Silver Rum (Vintage Spirits Distillery)

vsdistillery.com

2. Dented Brick Premium Rum (Dented Brick Distillery)

3. Lorenz (Clear Water Distilling Co.)

Best Local Spirit Overall Perky Cowgirl Coffee Liqueur (Spirits of the Wasatch Distillery)

wasatch.co

2. Salty Beach Aged Rum (Vintage Spirits Distillery)

3. Five Wives Vodka (Ogden’s Own Distillery)

Best Local Vodka Five Wives Vodka (Ogden’s Own Distillery)

ogdensown.com

2. Clear Water Vodka (Clear Water Distilling Co.)

3. Sugar House Vodka (Sugar House Distillery)

Best Local Whiskey

Vintage Spirits Straight Bourbon Whiskey (Vintage Spirits)

vsdistillery.com

2. Mountain Summit Bourbon (Spirits of the Wasatch Distillery)

3. Rendezvous Rye (High West Distillery)

Standout Hard Drinks

When it comes to Utah libation conversations, cider and seltzer have officially entered the chat. The state’s original craft cidery, Mountain West Cider now offers six year-round cans and several seasonal sips. Impress the in-laws and bring a four-pack of Winter Solstice Wassail Hard Cider to your next holiday dinner. If seltzer is more your style, let the bubbles at Grid City Beer Works wet your whistle. Their wine/hybrid seltzers use varietal specific white and red grape juice to craft concoctions like the cult-fave Rosé and 11.2% ABV Aperitif high-point seltzer.

Best Hard Cider

Mountain West Cider

mountainwestcider.com

2. Second Summit Hard Cider Co.

3. Thieves Guild Cidery

Best Hard Seltzer

Grid City Beer Works

gridcitybeerworks.com

2. Uinta Brewing Co.

3. RoHa Brewing Project

READERS’ PICKS

Standout Selections

What impressive collections of drinks! Templin Family offers an expansive selection of in-house brews, including a lingonberry sour that anyone in the world will enjoy, plus the iconic Ferda IPA. Meanwhile, a devastating fire in August has set Whiskey Street back, but their formidable liquor selection will return with a vengeance in the future. Ogden’s Own, the creators of the Five Wives vodka and Porter’s Fire whiskey, offers a highly decorated selection of handcraft spirits that any state would be proud to have. The Bayou offers an incredibly long list of beers and cocktails that you simply won’t find anywhere else in Utah. (There’s 36 beers from local breweries on tap! C’mon!).

Best Beer Selection: Brewery/Brewpub Templin Family Brewing tfbrewing.com

2. Fisher Brewing Company

3. Level Crossing Brewing Co.

Best Liquor Selection: Club or Restaurant Whiskey Street Cocktails & Dining whiskeystreet.com

2. Water Witch

3. Lake Effect

Best Liquor Selection: Distillery Ogden’s Own Distillery ogdensown.com

2. Spirits of the Wasatch Distillery

3. Vintage Spirits Distillery

Best Local Beer Selection: Club or Restaurant The Bayou utahbayou.com 2.

Standout Servers

Having a favorite bartender is perhaps the classiest of adult experiences. For those of us that struggle with small talk, feel free to take a hint from City Weekly’s voters and check out Jake Garcia at āker. āker’s chic downtown location and Japanese-inspired cocktail selections gives an atmosphere of grace aided by Garcia’s top-notch bartending. While White Horse Spirits & Kitchen is currently closed, their mixologist Harrison Archibald remains unmatched in his playful and innovative cocktails. Follow him on social media to keep tabs on his frequent guest bartending pop-ups.

Best Bartender

Jake Garcia (āker) akersaltlake.com

2. Kimo Kahookele (Bar à Vin)

3. Davin Robinson (Lucky 13)

Best Mixologist

Harrison Archibald (White Horse Spirits & Kitchen)

IG: @saltcitysailor

2. Natalie Hamilton (Melancholy)

3. Tyler Fernberg (Thieves Guild Cidery)

Best Wine Bar

Melancholy

Stepping into Melancholy feels like entering a living art piece—moody tones, lush greenery, antique treasures, and that “dark academia meets botanist’s lab” vibe instantly sets the mood, thanks to the vision of Shaleen Bishop. The bartenders are sharp and kind, the wine selection is global and natural, and the cocktails are creative without being pretentious. Intimate yet impressive, this woman-led gem delivers top-tier pours at reasonable prices. melancholyslc.com

2. The Tasting Room

3.

CW STAFF PICKS

Best Bar to Drink to the Vinyl Revival

The Green Room

Salt Lake City’s only listening bar, The Green Room, plays good music on a good sound system with no exceptions ever.

Offering something other than the loud playlists one is bombarded with everywhere else, James Ramirez and co. deliver quality nights out with amazing local lineups as well as the occasional high profile out-oftowner. Pull up, grab a libation and enjoy the experience. It’s like walking into another world.

IG: @thegreenroom.bar

Best Flippers for Tipplers

Quarters Arcade Bar

What if the gang doesn’t go for your standard pool and darts on a night out? Level up the experience with the arcade accoutrements at Quarters, where you can avail yourself of its full bar while aiming for the high score. Ever gotten a ball saver with a “Hulk Smash” cocktail in your system?

Ever nursed a Templeton rye with Orange Crush—the Crush Bandicoot—while holding court around the Black Knight cabinet? Such pleasures await you. quartersslc.com

Scenes from the Scene

Local photographers chronicle nightlife culture while helping to build it.

BY ARICA ROBERTS comments@cityweekly.net

Salt Lake City’s arts and nightlife scene is a vibrant ecosystem, supported by behind-the-scenes creators like Enrique Jimenez, Josue Mejicanos and Jason Appel. As digital artists and media curators, they document our favorite memories by capturing these moments on camera.

Jimenez is a photographer and videographer who started making YouTube videos at 13 years old. Inspired by his father— who worked on the film set of Back to the Future—he got his start in professional photography in 2016 taking photos at hiphop shows before switching to electronic music events. He’s captured legends like Australian producer GG Magree and YULTRON, as well as hip-hop acts like Trippie Redd and Migos. He stays busy photographing local talent as well, such as ZANDZ, OBAŸASHI and Audeamus, as well as doing flyer work for several big names in Salt Lake City like Dirty Dave and DJ Handsome Hands, to name a few.

It’s a lot of work for someone like Jimenez who balances running shows, filming and photographing events, outside nightlife and filming commercials and documentaries. What sets Jimenez apart is not only his passion for capturing the raw emotion and energy of live events— such as those high-energy performances of entertainers that make viewers feel present—but also his willingness to build other artists up.

“Enrique has been so helpful to me es-

pecially with getting started at Plumhouse and getting into some clubs to shoot,” fellow photographer Appel told City Weekly Jimenez works closely with groups like Jaguar Occult and Plumhouse not only to document but also actively build local culture. He doesn’t gatekeep—rather, he wants to influence others to capture stuff and build community. “Everyone’s perspective is different and unique,” he asserted. For aspiring photographers, Jimenez’s primary advice was to simply show up to events, be present and reach out to artists and organizers, as many are open to receiving more content.

“Enrique actually recommended me to a friend who needed a photographer for a concert out at the Saltair the spring of 2022,” Mejicanos, another fellow photographer, recalled of Jimenez. “That was my first concert ever, and it was for Rick Ross, Lil Mosey and Lil Pump, so they were pretty big artists.”

Mejicanos had transitioned from the restaurant industry to full-time photography, a change spurred by the COVID-19 pandemic. He’s since gone on to do work for some of Salt Lake City’s biggest teams like LNE, Sky SLC and V2’s media team, and has gotten to shoot big names like Rezz, Black Tiger Sex Machine, INZO and Excision. When he’s not shooting for bigger festivals, he loves the more underground atmosphere of local nightlife spaces.

“I definitely like doing the after-hours events and those underground scenes, just because they feel more raw and genuine when it comes to the DJs. They can really let loose,” Mejicanos said. “In the smaller venues that are more intimate, they can really express themselves in a way that they may not be able to normally. And so I think it really transfers to their music.”

Appel is also drawn to the unpredictable and emotional environment of raves and nightlife as a photographer.

“The kind of photography I like to do is more just capturing moments that are candid of people experiencing emotions or

MUSIC

just having a great time,” he said. “And I feel like you get that so much in the nightlife scene.”

As a freelance photographer and digital artist originally from Indiana, Appel has been passionate about taking photos since childhood. His journey into professional photography began in high school when he was repeatedly denied access after he started taking photography classes but remained resourceful and determined.

So what did Appel do?

“I photoshopped a fake pass, a fake media pass for a newspaper in the city, and I would apply for concerts that way and I would get accepted,” he said.

This helped Appel start a portfolio, network and gain first-hand experience. After a period working as a hairstylist, he re-established his creative career, focusing on the EDM, rave and nightlife scene. His work involved a blend of photography and graphic design, creating visuals for show posters and album artwork. He successfully broke into the Salt Lake City EDM scene by persistently offering his help in any capacity to promoter V2, eventually

showcasing his photo and video skills to earn a spot on their media team. “There’s lots of different resources and ways to make your dreams come true,” he said.

Starting with affordable equipment rentals, Appel explained that his initial freelance strategy involved shooting for free at local clubs like BLAQ VOID and Plumhouse, then sending the photos to artists and promoters to build his portfolio and network.

“Josue has been a great help with always making sure I know my worth as a nightlife photographer and don’t let myself get taken advantage of, cause it’s a lot of work,” Appel said. “Community is very important in the scene, and you should always lift up other media when you see them. It’s not a competition!”

Next time you’re out and about town catching local EDM shows, keep an eye out for some of the local scene’s best photographers. Also check out their work on Instagram: Enrique Jimenez @shotbyrique, Josue Mejicanos @josuemejicanos and Jason Appel @snap.appel. CW

BEST BAR IN UTAH!

GREAT FOOD

MUSIC PICK S

Danny Brown @ The Complex 11/21

Danny Brown is one of the most creative, boundary pushing, intelligent, focused and, most of all, respectful hip-hop artists creating music right now. His newest project, Stardust, is his first since getting sober and while all of his albums are enjoyable and worth a spin, I’m really hoping this is the one that breaks him through to a deserved, wider audience. There’s a good deal more sophistication, nuance, wordplay and intertextuality on display here. It builds on everything that came before. “I’m from old school hip-hop, I listen for shit that ain’t nobody else about to rap on, but it’s dope to me,” Brown told NME. “But sometimes, I think I’m doing normal, cool shit. Like, this is my take on a pop album, and everybody’s like, fuck no, this is still some weird shit!” A lot of rappers these days seem perfectly comfortable with just being another component in the sonics and the atmosphere of a record, which runs counter to a lot of people’s idea of what a rapper’s role ought to be. Brown has always been an individual, remarkable voice in music. The man is so talented and deserves the financial success to go with the critical flowers. Stardust is not only fresh, but redefines contemporary rap music; it’s definitely an AOTY contender. Femtanyl and underscores open. Catch these acts on the STARDUST tour at The Complex on Friday, Nov. 21. Doors at 6 p.m., show at 7 p.m. Tickets for the all-ages show are $47.42 at thecomplexslc.com. (Mark Dago)

WEEKLY LINEUP

TUESDAYS

WEDNESDAYS

MUSIC PICK S

The Darkness @ The Depot 11/21

Glam rock experienced its apex in the early 1970s. Primarily a British phenomenon, glam rock was characterized by a heavy emphasis on boundary-pushing fashion, androgyny and over-the-top production values. By the late ’70s, glam had faded and its leading lights—David Bowie, Slade and T. Rex.—either bowed out or moved on to other styles. But if glam’s heyday was over, nobody told The Darkness. Launched in 2000 by brothers Dan and Justin Hawkins, the band sought to revive the aesthetics of glam rock for a new generation. The Darkness’ debut album, 2003’s Permission to Land, sold well over a million copies in England, capturing a raft of awards. Familiar excesses dogged the group, which went inactive by 2007. But The Darkness returned in 2011 for sustained success. And while their stateside popularity has never matched their appeal at home, the band remains a popular draw. The Darkness’ eighth and latest studio album, Dreams on Toast was released in March to positive reviews, capturing the top spot on U.K. album charts. The Darkness comes to The Depot on Friday, Nov. 21 at 7 p.m. Tickets for this all-ages show are $45 on ticketmaster.com. (Bill Kopp)

MUSIC PICK S

World Record, Dogpaw, Sequoia’s Faucet, Kevin McCune & The Twine @ Kilby Court 11/21

It’s a busy weekend for concerts, so it might be a bit tough to choose—but if you’re in the mood for some killer locals, this is the show for you. At the top of the bill are indie rockers World Record, who released their debut album in August. It’s a charming, upbeat yet mellow and sincere album—a great debut for the band. You’ll find plenty of reverb on the electric guitar, plus echoey vocals that are cheerful in some songs and a bit mournful in others. Also joining the party is SLC’s own DIY/folk/lo-fi group Sequoia’s Faucet. Since 2021 the group has been serving up whimsical and cerebral music, including their most recent release the horrific chimney riddles. “This album was inspired by smoking in my backyard,” the album description reads on BandCamp. Last and certainly not least on the bill is Kevin McCune & The Twine, who bring their brand of satisfying and homey acoustic/folk sound. There’s no way you could possibly be disappointed at this lineup. Come hang out on Friday, Nov. 21 at 6 p.m. Tickets for the all-ages show are $13 in advance and $15 at the door. Tickets at 24tix.com. (Emilee Atkinson)

Andy Bell @ Marquis Park City 11/21 - 11/22

When an artist has been part of an iconic band for the better part of his or her career, stepping out on their own can be a risky proposition. For Andy Bell—an integral part of the highly popular synth pop band Erasure—the break was particularly precipitous, given its fanatical following, chart-topping hits and continuing kudos (a Brit Award, a Mercury Prize nomination and the Ivor Novello Award, among the many). Happily then, Bell has managed to elevate his solo stature courtesy of four solo albums (Electric Blue, Non-Stop, iPop and his most recent, Ten Crowns, soon to be released in an expanded edition). The New York Times called the latter “effer-

vescent,” while Classic Pop raved, “…that even away from the Erasure mothership, he remains so giddily in love with pop.” So too, in the midst of his first American tour, things appear to be going very well. “The shows become this source of great energy,” Bell recently remarked in a promo release, adding, “People have been saying it’s the best we’ve ever been, which is great to hear at 61.” Not that Erasure remains entirely in the rearview mirror; he and longtime collaborator Vince Clarke are currently in the studio working on a project that they hope will coincide with the 40th anniversary of the band’s first release in 1986. Clearly, this Bell’s still ringing loud and clear. Andy Bell’s Ten Crown Tour comes to Marquis Park City in Park City for a 21+ show at 8 p.m., Friday Nov. 21-Nov. 22. Tickets cost $60.35 at ticketmaster.com. (Lee Zimmerman)

Shrek Rave @ The Depot 11/22

With the tagline, “IT’S DUMB JUST COME HAVE FUN. WHO CARES. COOL IS DEAD,” this Shrek-themed rave is not trying to take itself seriously. It’s for us millennials who are nostalgic as hell and need a break from the on-going stresses of life. We can step into an irreverent fantasyland and sing along to remixes of Shrek songs like Smash Mouth’s “All Star” and “I’m a Believer,” mixed with other popular club music genres like big room house, dubstep or “swampstep” and acid house. If you need a hero, dress as Princess Fiona and find your Shrek in the crowd. Look out for the evil Lord Farquaad busting a move, or Donkey and Dragon grinding in the corner. While it started out as an internet meme, this rave actually now has a tour and has leveled up its production, including its visual effects. So, even if you’ve never been to a rave, you can come dance and laugh at the absurdity; or, if you’re a longtime raver who wants to take advantage of a silly theme and trade Shrek-themed Kandi, then this is the place to be. Salt Lake City’s Shrek Rave will include some local talent like Geovante and Lazer Kitten. Support our DJs and leave the pretense at home. This rave takes place on Saturday, Nov. 22. Doors open at 9 p.m. for this 18+ show, with tickets listed at $30. For other tiers, check ticketmaster.com. (Arica Roberts)

Lonely Boys

BY SCOTT RENSHAW scottr@cityweekly.net @scottrenshaw

Jay Kelly BB 1/2

I’d like to believe that writer/director Noah Baumbach is self-aware about his protagonist being a narcissistic asshole—but I just can’t quite get there. Baumbach seems far too sympathetic towards Jay Kelly (George Clooney), an aging movie star sparked by several coinciding events—the death of his filmmaking mentor (Jim Broadbent); an encounter with an old acting-school classmate (Billy Crudup); the impending departure for college of his youngest daughter, Daisy (Grace Edwards)— to reassess his life. Unsurprisingly, Clooney brings his own movie-star charisma to bear effectively, at his best when turning on the charm for a bunch of civilians on a passenger train. But it feels like the crux of the story should be how everyone in Jay’s orbit—not just Daisy and his older daughter, Jess (Riley Keough), but his entourage, including longtime manager Ron (Adam Sandler) and publicist Liz (Laura Dern)—winds up losing themselves to his single-minded focus on his career. Every moment spent with these other characters—all terrific performances—is a reminder that Jay isn’t a particularly good guy, yet we still endure Jay stepping into flashbacks and ruefully observing his past, like A Christmas Carol if Scrooge was … well, George Clooney. And there’s enough tone-deafness involved in making this story so much more about Jay’s redemption than about the pain he’s caused that it feels like making the moral of A Christmas Carol “wow, it’s really hard to be rich.” Available Nov. 21 in theaters; Dec. 5 via Netflix. (R)

Rental Family BB 1/2

After thinking and writing about art for 30 years, I’ve reached a point where I can recognize that something is wishy-washy emotional comfort food, and still acknowledge that I’ve been at least a little bit emotionally comforted by it. This one tells the story of Phillip Vandarploeug (Brendan Fraser), an under-employed American expatriate actor in Tokyo who finds a job with a company that hires

out people to fill voids in people’s lives, whether that’s pretending to be a journalist so a veteran actor (Akira Emoto) doesn’t feel forgotten, or posing as the absentee father of a mixed-race girl named Mia (Shannon Mahina Gorman). This apparently is an actual cultural phenomenon in Japan, which doesn’t make the situations any less farcical and improbable when they appear, particularly when completely predictable complications ensue. The multiple plot-lines also make it harder to focus on the one between Phillip and Mia, which clearly has the most juice and tear-jerking potential. Still, director/co-writer Hikari does an effective job of setting the stage of a bustling city where it can be easy for isolation to set in, and where someone like Phillip with unresolved issues might not even realize he’s using that isolation as a crutch. I’m not sure Hikari has entirely worked out which elements of this service are manipulative vs. which are acceptable; I was also smiling often enough to let some of that stuff go. Available Nov. 21 in theaters. (PG-13)

Train Dreams BBB 1/2

What does it mean to feel connected? That’s a question with dozens of different tendrils, and somehow it feels like co-writer/director Clint Bentley—adapting with Greg Kwedar a novella by Denis Johnson—manages to touch on nearly all of them in a sure-footed, emotionally rich drama. As narrated by Will Patton, it’s the story of Robert Grainier (Joel Edgerton), a traveling laborer and logger in the early-20th-century Pacific Northwest, who finally finds a sense of stability in his marriage to Gladys (Felicity Jones) as the country evolves around him. Edgerton’s performance is magnificent, a portrait of internalized manhood built on Robert’s history as an orphan and his attempts to find a sense of belonging both with Gladys and with his itinerant work “family” (including a delightful William H. Macy as a garrulous demolitions expert). But Johnson’s narrative also includes an incident involving a murdered Chinese laborer that haunts Robert throughout his life, and the realization that the natural world that gives Robert his livelihood can also take life. This idea of threads of interconnection and our place in the world (and in the universe) weaves its way throughout the story, with a sense of epic cinema in Adolpho Veloso’s cinematography written on the small canvas of a 100-minute running time. As heartbreaking as it sometimes is as an individual human story, it finds its power in recognizing that no one exists in this world just as an individual. Available Nov. 21 via Netflix. (R) CW

CINEMA

theESSENTIALS

Complete listings online at cityweekly.net

RDT: Ovation

While local arts organizations can delight audiences with classic works, there’s also a special spark that comes from seeing brand-new creations, and knowing that these local organizations have been part of helping them come to be. For Ovation, its November program, Repertory Dance Theatre presents an evening that celebrates its own commissions, including both world-premiere and previously-produced works.

On the latter front, we have the return of Katarzyna Skarpetowska’s Oktet: In Situ (pictured), originally presented by RDT in 2022. Set to Bach’s “Goldberg Variations,” the eight-dancer piece celebrates both individuality and the ability to work together in community. From 2023, Yusha-Marie Sorzano’s Solfège also joins the program— set to Tan Dun’s 2011 Symphonic Poem of 3 Notes, a challenging work with evershifting meters that includes symphonic rapping and hip-hop themes, industrial sounds of brake drums and car wheels, along with chanting and stomping—while Jacque Lynn Bell’s 1988 Japanese garden-inspired Ryoanji will feature a cast of 43 dancers across generations, including Tanner Dance students.

Audiences will also see two entirely new commissions. One comes from Executive/Artistic Co-Director Nicholas Cendese to spotlight the artistry within the RDT company, while Norbert De La Cruz III showcases his fusion of ballet with contemporary movement.

RDT’s Ovation runs Nov. 20 – 22 at the Rose Wagner Center Jeanné Wagner Theater (138 W. 300 South), with performances at 7:30 p.m. nightly. Tickets are offered on a $15 - $40 sliding scale to encourage all possible levels of support; visit saltlakecountyarts.org to purchase tickets and for additional event information.

(Scott Renshaw)

Holiday Lights

As fall transitions into winter, it’s time for light displays to herald the coming of the holiday season. Here are just a few local opportunities to be dazzled by festive illumination.

On Saturday, Nov. 22, 6:30 p.m. –8:30 p.m., The Gateway’s (200 E. 400 South) annual “Lights On!” celebration marks the start of its holiday displays. The lights will be flipped on at 8 p.m., while guests on the Olympic Legacy Plaza can enjoy live music by Dueling Pianos, food & beverage vendors, LED stilt walker, balloon animals and more family-friendly fun. Visitors can also check out seven seasonal Art Shop

Project Windows by local artists, with glowing and light-up installations following the theme “Winter After Dark.” The event is free and open to the public; visit atthegateway.com.

On Monday, Nov. 25, 6 p.m. – 7:30 p.m., the Eccles Theater (131 S. Main St.) offers its own “Lights On” event, with the debut at 6:30 p.m. of a new temporary art installation in the theater lobby: The Turning Season, a whimsical, hand-painted carousel create by local artists Jeremy Morgan and Brooke Smart. Other activities include aerial artists, magic and live music, with a hot cocoa bar and other treats. Also free and open to the public; saltlakecountyarts.org.

For an epic drive-through light experience, World of Illumination comes to the Utah State Fairpark (155 N. 1000 West) throughout the holidays. “Enchanted Safari” presents animated light-up displays set to music, as you journey through land, air and sea, and even to the age of the dinosaurs, before visiting Santa. Tickets begin at $39.99 per vehicle; visit tickets-utah.worldofillumination.com for reservations. (SR)

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NOVEMBER 20-26, 2025

Nurse Blake

The phrase “social media star” can feel like a pejorative, as though the person in question really hasn’t done anything more to warrant their celebrity than make videos. But don’t apply that dismissive notion to Blake Lynch, the popular YouTuber known familiarly to his fans as “Nurse Blake.” Long before he was garnering millions of monthly views for his perspectives on the experiences of being a nurse for more than a decade in work including trauma centers, Lynch and his husband founded Banned4Life, a movement to rescind the federal government’s policy of not accepting blood donations from gay men, which succeeded in getting the policy changed in 2015. And beyond that, he founded a free social media platform, NurseCon, for nurses to support one another around the world and take continuing education courses.

When it comes to his live appearances, however, Nurse Blake brings things to a much more conventionally entertaining level. His performances find him looking for both the humor and the emotion in the frequently chaotic world of being a professional nurse, and celebrating the amazing work that those nurses do every day. That includes all the crazy things you can encounter when patients (and their families) are under the stress of dealing with the medical establishment, and medical professionals have to deal with people who have “done their own research.”

Nurse Blake’s “But Did You Die?” tour hits Kingsbury Hall (1395 E. Presidents Circle) on Saturday, Nov. 22 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $49.27 - $59.97; visit artstickets. utah.edu to purchase tickets, and kingsburyhall.org for additional event info. (SR)

Thai with a Twist

Big Mango Bangkok Kitchen & Bar spices up Mountain View Village.

BY ALEX SPRINGER comments@cityweekly.net @captainspringer

The Mountain View Village shopping district, which has been aggressively expanding in Riverton’s western neighborhoods, has been an interesting spot for restaurant-watching. It’s got its share of flashy dining options whose shimmering veneers and Instagram-ready backdrops appeal to the Daybreak and Daybreakadjacent crowds. While there’s nothing wrong with that, it’s not uncommon for dining ecosystems of this nature to inadvertently conceal its more interesting options—this is what hidden gems are all about. Big Mango Bangkok Kitchen & Bar is unique because it’s a hidden gem whose menu and cocktails can definitely hang with some of the area’s heavier hitters.

Owned and operated by Jeff and Nina Turk, Big Mango is a love letter to the traditional Thai recipes that Nina grew up with as a Bangkok native. While the restaurant’s interior maintains a cozy fast-casual vibe, the Thai fusion menu and signature cocktails reveal a powerhouse culinary force in the back. Utah’s Thai scene has long been one of our state’s points of gastronomic pride and Big Mango is quickly showing that it can hang with the best of them.

The snack menu at Big Mango has a few solid entries, making this spot a decent selection for those after small plates

and drinks. The moo yang ($12) is a combo of marinated pork skewers paired with sticky rice. The skewers are a street food classic—grilled to crispy perfection and packed with smoky, spicy flavor. The sticky rice adds some textural contrast to the dish, and overall it’s a great shareable small plate.

Perhaps the biggest surprise on the snack menu was the Wing Zab! ($9 for half order; $16 for full order). The menu bills them as Bangkok-style fried chicken wings, which means that they’ve got a nice, crispy dry fry to them. There’s an obvious comparison to American buffalo wings, but here it’s the zabb seasoning that is doing all the heavy lifting in the spice department. They’re made to order, which means they’re piping hot when they arrive to your table; make sure you’ve got plenty of drinks on hand.

Speaking of which, I thought the cocktail menu at Big Mango was outstanding. The fast-casual space doesn’t exactly scream high-end drinks, but those who enjoy a decent cocktail will want to indulge here. The standout for me was the Sticky Situation ($15), which is inspired by the classic Thai restaurant dessert of mango sticky rice. It’s a mix of mango vodka, coconut rum, mango puree and RumChata. Flavor-wise, this is a dead ringer for that mango-meets-coconut flavor, and it’s definitely something to check out.

I also liked the One Night In Bangkok ($15), which is a Thai riff on an old-fashioned. I once had an old-fashioned in Vegas that had a slight hint of absinthe, and the anise flavors present here evoked a similar vibe. I admittedly haven’t had bourbon with many Thai meals and I could see myself getting used to it—not that I think it would be a hard sell by any stretch.

In the entree section of the menu, you’ve got two main options. Either go with the Big Mango Features, which boast fusion dishes like the Bangkok chees-

esteak sandwich ($20) or the Bangkok fried chicken sandwich ($17), or stick with the Classic Bangkok Dishes for something a bit more traditional. There’s no one right direction, of course. The fried chicken and cheesesteak sandwiches are a good opportunity to try some of Big Mango’s Zab! fries, which are also hit with that smoky, paprika-forward zabb seasoning.

The classics will be familiar to those who frequent Thai restaurants, as there are plenty of noodle and curry dishes that allow you to select your protein and spiciness level. Big Mango isn’t afraid to send a little fire your way, so there’s a reason that a level-four spiciness level has been dubbed “FAFO.” The drunken noodles ($17) are an excellent representation of a Thai classic. The silky flat rice noodles and stir fried with veggies go well with any of the protein options (chicken, pork, beef or ribeye).

I was also intrigued by the khao soi curry ($18), which is a Northern Thai curry that reminded me of a less peanutty massaman. The dish comes served with both soft and crunchy noodles, and I liked the extra crispiness that the latter imparted to each bite. The curry itself was lovely; I paired it with beef, which leaned into the stew-like heartiness of the dish.

While Big Mango is a fairly new addition to the food scene, it’s making some pretty interesting moves. It’s different enough from our local Thai powerhouses to stand out, and it really does stick the landing with its menu. From its clever cocktails to its signature dishes, Big Mango is shaping up to be a great spot out in Riverton’s bustling commercial district. CW

2 Row Brewing

73 West 7200 South, Midvale 2RowBrewing.com

On Tap: “Juicequake” Juicy Style IPA

Avenues Proper

376 8th Ave, SLC avenuesproper.com

On Tap: Paradise Green Tea Rice Lager

Bewilder Brewing

445 S. 400 West, SLC BewilderBrewing.com

On Tap: Pink Boots - Pink Pony Pilz

Bohemian Brewery

94 E. Fort Union Blvd, Midvale BohemianBrewery.com

NEW Releases: Kölsch, Dusseldorfer “Alt” Bier

Bonneville Brewery

1641 N. Main, Tooele BonnevilleBrewery.com

On Tap: Peaches and Cream Ale

Chappell Brewing

2285 S Main Street Salt Lake City, UT 84115 chappell.beer

On Tap: Pie Hole - Strawberry Rhubarb Tart Ale

Corner Brew Pub Sugar House 2110 S. Highland Drive, SLC saltlakebrewingco.com/wasatch

On Tap:  Top of Main Yuzu Bruzu Wheat Beer

Craft by Proper

1053 E. 2100 So., SLC properbrewingco.com

On Tap: I Am The Vvitch - golden ale with pumpkin and spices

Desert Edge Brewery

273 Trolley Square, SLC DesertEdgeBrewery.com

On Tap:  Centennial Steamer, California Common Lager

Epic Brewing Co.

825 S. State, SLC EpicBrewing.com

On Tap: Six New Big Bad Baptist Imperial Stout Variants

Etta Place Cidery

700 W Main St, Torrey www.ettaplacecider.com

On Tap: Imperial Cider, Fig-Tamarind Session Mead

Fisher Brewing Co.

320 W. 800 South, SLC FisherBeer.com

On Tap: A rotation of up to 17 Fresh Beers!

Grid City Beer Works

333 W. 2100 South, SLC GridCityBeerWorks.com

NEW: DK Rice Lager

Heber Valley Brewing

501 N. Main Street, Heber City, UT hebervalleybrewing.com

Freshly Canned: Lone Pine Pale Ale 6.2%

Helper Beer

159 N Main Street, Helper, UT  helperbeer.com

Hopkins Brewing Co.

1048 E. 2100 South, SLC HopkinsBrewingCompany.com

On Tap: Hopkins Lager

Kiitos Brewing

608 W. 700 South, SLC KiitosBrewing.com

On Tap: Dark Check Pilz (cans only)

Kiitos Brewing Sugar House Bar 1533 S. 1100 East, SLC KiitosBrewing.com NOW OPEN!

Level Crossing Brewing Co. 2496 S. West Temple, South Salt Lake LevelCrossingBrewing.com

On Tap: Hefe Goldbloom Hefeweizen

Level Crossing Brewing Co., POST 550 South 300 West, Suite 100, SLC LevelCrossingBrewing.com

On Tap: Vienna Lager

Moab Brewing

686 S. Main, Moab TheMoabBrewery.com

On Tap:  “Big Drop” West Coast Pilsner

Mountain West Cider

425 N. 400 West, SLC MountainWestCider.com

On Tap: Quince Cider

Offset Bier Co 1755 Bonanza Dr Unit C, Park City offsetbier.com/ On Tap: DOPO IPA

Ogden Beer Company 358 Park Blvd, Ogden OgdenBeerCompany.com

On Tap: 11 rotating taps as well as high point cans and guest beers

Park City Brewing 1764 Uinta Way C1 ParkCityBrewing.com

On Tap: Yes Jeff! - Hazy IPA 5%

Prodigy Brewing

25 W Center St. Logan Prodigy-brewing.com

On Tap: 302 Czech Pilsner

Proper Brewing/Proper Burger 857 So. Main & 865 So. Main properbrewingco.com

On Tap: I Am The Vvitch - golden ale with pumpkin and spices

Proper Brewing Moab 1393 US-191, Moab properbrewingco.com

On Tap: I Am The Vvitch - golden ale with pumpkin and spices

Red Rock Brewing 254 So. 200 West RedRockBrewing.com

On Tap: Gypsy Scratch

Red Rock Fashion Place 6227 So. State Redrockbrewing.com

On Tap: Grand Bavaria

Red Rock Kimball Junction 1640 Redstone Center Redrockbrewing.com

On Tap: Bamberg Rauch Bier

RoHa Brewing Project 30 Kensington Ave, SLC RoHaBrewing.com

On Tap: Jeffeweizen

Roosters Brewing Multiple Locations RoostersBrewingCo.com

On Tap: Peacan Pie Ale

SaltFire Brewing 2199 S. West Temple, South Salt Lake SaltFireBrewing.com

On Draft: Master Control Program NIEPA

Salt Flats Brewing 2020 Industrial Circle, SLC SaltFlatsBeer.com

On Tap: OPEN ROAD SERIES #3Barrel Aged Grand Cru

Scion Cider Bar 916 Jefferson St W, SLC Scionciderbar.com

On Tap: A Raposa 8% ABV

Second Summit Cider 4010 So. Main, Millcreek https://secondsummitcider.com

On Tap: Garden Pear 6% ABV

Shades Brewing 1388 S. 300 West, Salt Lake City ShadesBrewing.beer

New Batch: Raspberry Pistachio Sour Ale

Shades On State

366 S. State Street, Salt Lake City

Shadesonstate.com

4391 S. Enterprise Drive, St. George SGBev.com

Squatters Corner Pub – Valley Fair

3555 Constitution Blvd, West Valley City squatterscornerpub.com

On Tap: Salt Lake Brewing Co. Dog Lake Pale Ale

Squatters Pub Brewery / Salt Lake Brewing Co.

147 W. Broadway, SLC saltlakebrewingco.com/squatters On Tap: Salt Lake Brewing Co. Big U Pilsner

Strap Tank Brewery, Lehi 3661 Outlet Pkwy, Lehi, UT StrapTankBrewery.com

On Tap: “Virgil the Guide” (Italian Pilsner); “Smiles und Sunshine” (German Leichtes Weizen)

Strap Tank Brewery, Springville

596 S 1750 W, Springville, UT StrapTankBrewery.com

On Tap: “Orange Hopsicle” Hazy Pale; “Trouble” American Sour with Mango and Passionfruit

TF Brewing

On Tap: Six Wheat Under Hefeweizen Silver Reef

936 S. 300 West, SLC TFBrewing.com

On Tap: Twelve taps and high point cans available.

Talisman Brewing Co. 1258 Gibson Ave, Ogden TalismanBrewingCo.com On Tap: Sour EncounterPomegranate Sour Thieves Guild Cidery 117 W. 900 South, SLC thievesguildcidery.com

On Tap: Crossbow - Bright apple forward cider w/orange zest | 5%

Top of Main Brewery

250 Main, Park City, Utah topofmainbrewpub.com

On Tap: Top of Main Yuzu Bruzu Wheat Beer

Uinta Brewing 1722 S. Fremont Drive, SLC UintaBrewing.com

On Tap: Was Angeles Craft Beer UTOG

2331 Grant Ave, Ogden UTOGBrewing.com On Tap: Golden Grant 5% ABV. Vernal Brewing 55 S. 500 East, Vernal VernalBrewing.com Zion Brewery 95 Zion Park Blvd, Springdale ZionBrewery.com

BEER NERD

Orange Ya Hoppy For IPAs

The world’s most popular citrus flavor finds a home in not one, but two local beers.

BY MIKE RIEDEL comments@cityweekly.net @utahbeer

2Row - Juicequake: Founded in 2015, 2 Row Brewing Company gained a huge following early on with beer nerds, as owner and head brewer Brian Coleman was unapologetically one of them. Coleman was an avid homebrewer before getting into the professional game and he quickly gained a reputation for his strong IPA work. Eleven years later, we zip ahead as 2 Row Brewing celebrates two years in its spacious new Midvale brewery. As a nod to its loyal customers, 2 Row released Juicequake last week as a “thank you” for showing up week after week, from one beer nerd to another.

2 Row Brewing’s latest release doesn’t waste time with a fancy name, opting instead for a simple, bold promise: “Juicequake,” featuring a modern hop trio of Idaho 7, Motueka and Ekuanot. From the moment this hazy beer is poured, the aroma is big, exploding from the glass with a bouquet of zesty citrus. It’s a vibrant mix of freshly-grated lime peel from the Motueka and sweet grapefruit, announcing a bright and flavorful experience.

The first sip confirms the beer is aptly named. My first swig is immediately washed over with a wave of juicy citrus meat—think tangy tangerine and fleshy grapefruit segments. This isn’t just a fleeting fruit note; it’s a deep, satisfying flavor that forms the core of the beer. But just as you settle into the fruitiness, a complexity emerges. An undercurrent of hop resin provides a subtle, piney counterpoint, adding depth and preventing the profile from becoming one-dimensional. The finish rounds out right as the juicy sweetness peaks, with

just a hint of hop bitterness to scrub the palate clean, leaving a dry sensation that invites the next sip.

Verdict: At a breezy 5.0 percent ABV, this beer achieves peak drinkability without sacrificing an ounce of character. It’s everything you want in a modern pale ale: vibrant, balanced and profoundly refreshing.

RoHa - Tipsy Tigress: The latest entry in the RoHa Brewing Project’s Brewer’s Select Series shoots for a formula of simplicity. It doesn’t try to be everything at once; instead, it focuses on the classic IPA flavors and executes them with a straightforward approach.

It has more of an old-school look, less golden and more amber hues. The experience begins with a great aromatic malt profile that sets a welcoming tone. Rich notes of sweet caramel and toasty grains create a warm, bready foundation. But this is a balanced affair—pushing forward to meet the malt is a good blast of citrus peel, piling on an aroma that is deliciously orange-forward.

That citrus character ignites on the palate. At first sip, the hops unleash a wave of bright orange and sweet tangerine flavors. While there are layers to the citrus character, orange is the dominant player here, a deliberate choice that keeps the flavor equation clean and impactful. This isn’t a muddled fruit cocktail; it’s a focused expression of citrus, supported by the sturdy malt backbone that prevents the hops from ever becoming sharp or overwhelming.

Verdict: Ultimately, this beer’s charm lies in its brilliant formula: A rich malt character + a generous dose of focused hop flavor, all divided by a well-integrated 7.8% ABV = undeniable happiness. It’s a robust, flavorful and deeply satisfying IPA that reminds us how good a simple, well-crafted beer can be.

You can find 16-oz. cans awaiting you at the RoHa brewing project to enjoy in their cozy pub or to take home. 2 Row’s Juicequake can be found on draft and in cans to-go from 2 Row’s massive Midvale brewpub. I’m hearing rumors this may end up in grocery store coolers, so keep your nerdy fingers crossed. As always, cheers! CW

the BACK BURNER

BY ALEX SPRINGER | @captainspringer

Caputo’s Chocolate Fest 2025

Caputo’s Market & Deli (caputos.com) will be hosting its annual Chocolate Fest on Nov. 20 at its downtown location starting at 7 p.m. This year, the festival will be fundraising for the Heirloom Cacao Preservation (HCP) Fund, which is a non-profit collaboration between the Fine Chocolate Industry Association and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The mission of HCP is to identify and preserve specific strains of heirloom cacao and protect them from environmental issues that can seriously endanger them. In addition to supporting a good cause, the event will bring some of Utah’s finest luminaries from the food and beverage scene together for an evening of chocolatey celebration.

Tuck O’ the Irish Drag Brunch at Piper Down Pub

Piper Down Pub (piperdownpub.com) has been killing it with its monthly drag brunches, and the November installment is already upon us. This old-world pub presents a truly unique backdrop to the antics of some talented local drag queens and burlesque performers. Hosted by Camille Leon, this event will feature performances by Cvntcealed Carrie, Mysti Meanor and Tzu, while the great Piper Down staff serves up some of its signature Irish cuisine, draft beer and signature cocktails. This month’s drag brunch will take place on Nov. 22 from noon to 2:30 p.m. at Piper Down Pub.

Wicked-themed Menu At Hash Kitchen

Those looking to make this weekend particularly Oz-inspired in anticipation of Wicked: For Good will want to check out Hash Kitchen (hashkitchen.com). On Nov. 21, both the Draper and Foothill locations of this brunch spot will be featuring pink-and-green mimosa flights, strawberry matcha pancakes and some vibrantly-colored lemonade for kiddos. Hash Kitchen also features live DJs for weekend hours, so fans can expect to brunch out to all the Wicked hits while they dive into their dishes. The event also coincides with the restaurant’s Black Friday gift card promo, where you can get $10 off their next meal with the purchase of $50 in gift cards, or $25 with the purchase of $100.

Quote of the Week: “Stop studying strife and learn to live the unexamined life.” —Fiyero, Wicked

S AP

BOX

“He’s Leaving Home,”

Nov. 6 Private Eye

I was primed to write and thank John Saltas for one of the best of his many excellent pieces, but the last paragraph scares me. I hope John is not becoming so discouraged that he is contemplating throwing in the towel.

We need Private Eye more than ever. Please keep up your work.

To encourage you, I herewith share the mission statement of the Texas Observer. I would not be surprised if you know of it:

“We will serve no group or party but

will hew hard to the truth as we find it and the right as we see it. We are dedicated to the whole truth, to human values above all interests, to the rights of humankind as the foundation of democracy. We will take orders from none but our own conscience, and never will we overlook or misrepresent the truth to serve the interests of the powerful or cater to the ignoble in the human spirit.”

MARILYN COPELAND

Salt Lake City

Utah Redistricting

Editor’s note: Last week, Judge Dianna Gibson rejected the Utah Legislature’s attempt at redrawn congressional districts and instead approved a map submitted by the plaintiffs in a yearslong case challenging the unlawful repeal of Proposition 4, an anti-gerrymandering ballot measure that won majority support in 2018. A statement posted to social media by City Weekly and a selection of reader reactions are included below.

Thank you to the League of Women Voters of Utah and Mormon Women for Ethical Government for their Herculean efforts over the past several years, culminating in fair redistricting maps for the residents of Utah. An especially big thank you to longtime City Weekly contributor Kathy Biele of the League of Women Voters of Utah.

SALT LAKE CITY WEEKLY

And thank you, Judge Gibson, for protecting the rights of the people of Utah to reform their government, as clearly indicated in Article 1, Section 2 of the Utah Constitution!

ALDO FERNANDEZ Via Facebook

Women were the White Horse all along. Wild stuff.

HEIDI JONES Via Facebook

This looks like the opposite of gerrymandering. Thank you!

LOGAN CASHWELL Via Facebook

Is this real? This is such a better representation of how Utahns vote. Yay for SLC having their own district!

LISA FELTENBERGER Via Facebook

I am not even at 10% belief yet that [the court’s map] will hold. But I’m super grateful for those two groups and the hard work they’ve done to make our voices be heard.

JAMES BRAMBLE Via Facebook

I typically vote red, but I wholeheartedly accept this map. Every voice should not just be heard, but represented. I’m grateful that a significant portion of our population will now have the opportunity to have representation.

KAREN T. ARNESEN Via Facebook

Thank the voters of Utah!

LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF UTAH Via Facebook

Write to comments@cityweekly.net

THE WATER COOLER

What category would you like to see added to Best of Utah next year.

Kayle Dreher

Best Cocktail

Wes Long

Best Peacemaker. I would love to see those kinds of efforts highlighted more consistently, as there are plenty out there who get too little appreciation. Plus, we could all use it.

Katharine Biele

Best New Development Downtown.

Bryan Bale

How about Best Circus Studio? I have a winner in mind, but I don’t want to bias the judges.

Chelsea Neider

Best Free Camping Spots

Benjamin Wood

Best Bus Route

Best Pocket Park

Best Walk-Up Window

Best Shortcut on Foot

Best Upzone

Best Pupusas

Best Feijoada

Best Acai Bowls

Best Cheap Coffee

Best Adaptive Reuse

Best Tactical Urbanism

Best Underpass

PRIVATE EYE

BY JOHN SALTAS

Loser Lee Wins. Again.

For the first time since the inception—around 1990— of the annual City Weekly “Best of Utah,” I had nearly nothing to do with it. The current crop of editors and staff writers don’t need me haranguing them, as evidenced by their being done in record time and with a fresh-looking format to boot.

Nor does the sales staff need reminding that deadlines await and calls need to be made. I kinda like it that way.

What comes next is the annual “Best of Utah” party— the opportunity for the winners and this community to commingle in a great celebration that is, being frank and honest, probably the best party held in these parts each year. I’ve been to a few parties, and that’s just a fact.

Perhaps we’ll see you there. One person who will not be there—Yay!—is Utah Senator Mike Lee.

Each year, there are some folks who criticize City Weekly for publishing the Worst Utahn award, ostensibly because a celebration of the state’s “Bests” should not be tainted by such negativity.

Well, maybe it’s that. It’s also a healthy release in some regards, a chance to remind all that Utah needs to be on alert that there are scurrilous souls among us.

Mike Lee is one of them. Indeed, I believe he set a record this year in the number of votes cast for him as Utah’s very Worst Utahn. Nearly one in every 20 ballots cast (which was around 20,000) voted for Mike Lee as Worst Utahn, closing in on nearly 1,000 votes just for him. He got more votes for just himself than were cast in many entire categories.

Maybe it’s genetic—and I’m only assuming that Mike Lee is somehow related to state Rep. Trevor Lee—but what

is it about those Lees that make them so unlikable? To be sure, they give us plenty of reasons not to like them. But what causes their propensity to behave like snipes in the first place?

Is it insecurity? Cultural intolerance or entitlement? Misogynistic or religious arrogance? Bias and prejudice? Lack of education?

Who knows. But between those two guys, there’s plenty of Lee animus going around. I’m a bit torn about that, as I know some “kin” of Senator Mike Lee. Great folks. They are the opposite of our senator, to be sure. And they were likely to have voted for their own blood as Worst Utahn if they indeed voted.

The Lee family relatives I know are perfectly OK with being progressive, kind and generous and are firmly aghast at whatever it is Mike Lee represents, as it tarnishes their own name.

A nd now they have Layton’s Trevor Lee to add muck to the pile. One Lee was tough enough—but two?

I feel sorry for them, having to defend their name all the time. Trevor became very unlikable very fast—but then again, a platform that is basically anti-gay and pro-toxic moral bigotry will propel one into such atmospheres. The day will come, I do believe, when Trevor Lee upsets Mike Lee as Worst Utahn.

Like I said, it’s a pity that the broader Lee families have to endure this. Indeed, when I was young, there was a Lee who was well-known and quite beloved and respected. His name was Joe Lee, and his instantly recognizable and bold news voice was heard for decades on the popular AM radio stations of the day—like KDYL, KNAK and KCPX 1320, where he spent a quarter century.

When I was in Jr. High, Joe Lee was a judge for a regional speech contest that I participated in. He butchered me on the scorecard. Thanks to him, I gave up public speaking on the spot and I’m eternally grateful. I never quit listening to him, though. He was really good and his perfect radio voice would land him in the Utah Broadcasters Hall of Fame. When Lee finally retired

in 1987—way past retirement age—Gov. Norm Bangerter proclaimed the day as Joe Lee Day.

May there never be a Mike Lee Day or Trevor Lee Day proclaimed by any Utah governor.

Speaking of which, Utah has one more notable Lee— J. Bracken Lee, the Republican Utah governor who was liked even by my Democrat-to-the-soles-of-his-shoes grandfather. It didn’t hurt that J. Bracken Lee, like my grandfather, was from Carbon County, serving six terms as mayor of Price, Utah.

It also didn’t hurt that he was not in a snit over all things alcohol or prostitution, both fabric materials in the wide cloth that comprised the varied makeup of Carbon County citizens.

J. Bracken Lee later served for 12 years as mayor of Salt Lake City. He served for a total of 32 years in public office. He was controversial, but not dishonorable. He disavowed federal taxes, but managed to structure funding for Utah’s highways. He fought abuse and waste. His major weak heel was that he was not a particularly good friend of Utah’s education system, which caused educators generally to side against him.

Still, he was regarded as a good guy. I can fairly predict he would not have been voted Worst Utahn.

So that makes, as far as I can see, two good-guy Lees and two bad-guy Lees. The tie must be broken, but that will be easy. There are far more good Lees than bad Lees, after all.

Call your own shot with Robert E. Lee; but after him there’s Stan Lee, Spike Lee, Albert Lee, Brenda Lee, Peggy Lee and Christopher Lee, plus so many others that compensate the Lee family tree for having to endure Mike and Trevor.

Nor is there forgetting the Boston Red Sox Pitcher Bill “Spaceman” Lee, who once said, “bring back natural grass and nickel beer.” That’s a Lee that City Weekly can fully endorse. CW

Send feedback to john@cityweekly.net

HITS & MISSES

BY KATHARINE BIELE | @kathybiele BY

MISS: Contempt for Hemp

Seriously, when will Republicans start focusing on real-life issues rather than cultural sophisms? Enter the hemp industry, and welcome back the fearmongering over marijuana and how it will surely destroy lives and kill people. No one is as upset as Christine Stenquist, who relied on cannabis to relieve the pain from a brain tumor and who was instrumental in legalizing medical marijuana in Utah. Now, with more than 4 million followers on Facebook, she’s raising alarm over a proposed congressional redefinition of hemp to “save the children.” “Hemp didn’t fail because hemp is bad,” she wrote. “Hemp failed because policy procrastination met political opportunism.” Hemp is a $28 billion industry whose regulation will affect, if not destroy, the state’s agricultural farms. It is used primarily to help with inflammation, pain and sleep rather than psychedelic highs.

MISS: Crash Landing

If the shutdown showed anything, it was how well Utah can manage its public lands. The state decided to keep its national parks open during the federal shutdown, to encourage visitation and, of course, revenue. When SFGate reporters visited Arches, they found graffiti and trash in stunning display. With no one looking, vandals apparently took the opportunity to spray paint the porous red rocks and deface the area. Public opinion appears to favor leaving public lands in public hands but, of course, Sen. Mike Lee would like to take over. This despite the specter of major expenditures for things like wildlife management, which costs $3.5 billion a year, according to the Congressional Research Service. Utah may have to raise taxes to fund a public land acquisition, then, even if it makes no fiscal or environmental sense.

HIT: Sowing Seeds

It’s not exactly space lasers, but cloud seeding is having its day in the political spotlight. The MAHA movement and Health Secretary RFK, Jr. are staunchly behind an effort to stop “stratospheric aerosol injections,” or what they call geoengineering. Georgia Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, who has a direct line to God, says “divinity” doesn’t like it. If she means the old-fashioned candy, indeed, water would ruin it. Utah, however, can hold out that at least one of its congresspersons—Celeste Maloy—recognizes that Utah is pretty dry and has been seeding the skies for decades. Joel Ferry, a former legislator and now director of the Department of Natural Resources, really likes the program and claims that Utah is good at looking at science and analyzing data. But he and others will have to contend with Utah’s conspiracists, who are all about the evils of chemtrails and maybe vaccines being dribbled from the sky. CW

Map Quest

Utahns woke up on November 11 to incredible news: the state will almost certainly be electing a Democrat to Congress in 2026.

The Third District Court has ruled that the state will adopt Plaintiff Map 1 for our congressional districts—a huge victory for fairness and representation. For reference, District 1 will now be fully contained within Salt Lake County, stretching east to Brighton, west to Magna, north to just above Rose Park— including all of the Avenues—and south to around 7200 South, including the Midvale and West Jordan areas.

Grassroots efforts work. If the Legislature had simply passed a compliant map in the first place, we wouldn’t be here. But because people organized, persisted and demanded accountability, we now have districts that better reflect the people of Utah.

While many on the Democratic side are inspired to step up and run for Congress, some Republicans have chosen outrage instead. The GOP is up in arms, insisting that fair representation is an attack on them when, in reality, it simply means the rest of us finally get the voice we’ve long been denied.

West Valley City Republican Rep. Matt MacPherson has even called for the impeachment of Judge Dianna Gibson—the judge who upheld both the principles of fairness and the letter of the state Constitution. Ironically, under the new, fair boundaries, MacPherson resides within the new Salt Lake County district and will likely face an uphill battle in his impeachment effort.

This moment is also deeply personal for many of us. I live in an area that was heavily gerrymandered, split in ways that diluted our community’s power. My own state senator doesn’t even live in my county—a perfect example of how skewed the system had become.

And yet, our community didn’t back down. We came together to defend Proposition 4, to pass the ballot initiative and to insist that gerrymandering would no longer silence us. That collective determination is what brought us to this historic turning point.

So yes, this is a moment to celebrate. Fair maps mean fair representation. The people spoke—and this time, the system listened.

Let’s also take a moment to honor Judge Gibson, whose courage and integrity made this victory possible. She refused to be intimidated, refused to bow to political pressure and held firm to the principle of fairness. Even as calls for her impeachment surfaced, she remained focused on the constitutional truth: the people should choose their representatives—not the other way around.

Her strength in the face of power sends a message that resonates far beyond this moment: the rule of law matters, and so does integrity.

But a word of caution: stay vigilant. Watch out for petitions or proposals that try to undo the progress you just helped secure. Don’t sign anything that threatens fair maps, fair representation or your voice in our democracy.

Remember to stay alert, stay engaged and stay powerful. CW

free will ASTROLOGY

BY ROB BREZSNY

ARIES (March 21-April 19)

In the coming weeks, I invite you to commune intimately with your holy anger. Not petulant tantrums, not the ego’s defensive rage, but the fierce love that refuses to tolerate injustice. You will be wise to draw on the righteous “No!” that draws boundaries and defends the vulnerable. I hope you will call on protective fury on behalf of those who need help. Here’s a reminder of what I’m sure you know: Calmness in the face of cruelty isn’t enlightenment but complicity. Your anger, when it safeguards and serves love rather than destroys, is a spiritual practice.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20)

The Korean concept of jeong is the emotional bond that forms between people, places or things through shared experiences over time. It’s deeper than love and more complex than attachment: the accumulated weight of history together. You can have jeong for a person you don’t even like anymore, for a city that broke your heart, for a coffee mug you’ve used every morning for years. As the scar tissue of togetherness, it can be beautiful and poignant. Now is an especially good time for you to appreciate and honor your jeong Celebrate and learn from the soulful mysteries your history has bequeathed you.

GEMINI

(May 21-June 20)

Over 100 trillion bacteria live in your intestines. They have a powerful impact. They produce neurotransmitters, influence your mood, train your immune system and communicate with your brain via the vagus nerve. Other life forms are part of the team within you, too, including fungi, viruses and archaea. So in a real sense, you are not merely a human who contains small organisms. You are an ecosystem of species making collective decisions. Your “gut feelings” are collaborations. I bring this all to your attention because the coming weeks will be a highly favorable time to enhance the health of your gut biome.

CANCER (June 21-July 22)

I myself am born under the sign of Cancer the Crab, just as you are. So as I offer my ongoing observations and counsel, I am also giving myself blessings. In the coming weeks, we will benefit from going through a phase of consolidation and integration. The creative flourishes we have unveiled recently need to be refined and activated on deeper levels. This necessary deepening may initially feel more like work than play, and not as much fun as the rapid progress we have been enjoying. But with a slight tweak of our attitude, we can thoroughly thrive during this upcoming phase.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22)

I suggest that in the coming weeks you care more about getting things done than pursuing impossible magnificence. A labor of love you actually finish is worth more than a masterpiece you never start. The healthy, makeshift meal you throw together feeds you well, whereas the theoretical abandoned feast does not. Even more than usual, perfect will be the enemy of the good. Here are quotes to inspire you: 1. “Perfectionism is self-abuse of the highest order.”— Anne Wilson Schaef; 2. “Striving for excellence motivates you; striving for perfection is demoralizing.”—Harriet Braiker; 3. “Perfection is not attainable, but if we chase perfection, we can catch excellence.”—Vince Lombardi.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)

Now is an excellent time to practice the art of forgetting. I hope you formulate an intention to release the grievances and grudges that are overdue for dissolution. They not only don’t serve you but actually diminish you. Here’s a fact about your brain: It remembers everything unless you actively practice forgetting. So here’s my plan: Meditate on the truth that forgiveness is not a feeling; it’s a decision to stop rehearsing the resentment, to quit telling yourself the story that keeps the wound fresh. The lesson you’re ready to learn: Some memories are worth evicting. Not all the past is worth preserving. Selective amnesia can be a survival skill.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)

A Navajo blessing says, “May you walk in beauty.” Not just see beauty or create it, but walk in it, inhabit it and move through the world as if beauty is your gravity. When you’re at the height of your lyrical powers, Libra, you do this naturally. You are especially receptive to the aesthetic soul of things. You can draw out the harmony beneath surface friction and improvise grace in the midst of chaos. I’m happy to tell you that you are currently at the height of these lyrical powers. I hope you’ll be bold in expressing them. Even if others aren’t consciously aware and appreciative of what you’re doing, beautify every situation you’re in.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)

Your theme for the coming weeks is the fertile power of small things: the transformations that happen in the margins and subtle gestures. A kind word that shifts someone’s day, for instance. Or a refusal to participate in casual cruelty. Or a choice to see value in what you’re supposed to ignore. So I hope you will meditate on this healing theme: Change doesn’t always announce itself with drama and manifestos. The most heroic act might be to pay tender attention and refuse to be numbed. Find power in understated insurrections.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)

A day on Venus (one rotation on its axis) lasts about 243 Earth days. However, a year on Venus (one orbit around the sun) takes only about 225 Earth days. So a Venusian day is longer than its year. If you lived on Venus, the sun wouldn’t even set before your next Venusian birthday arrived. Here’s another weird fact: Contrary to what happens on every other planet in the solar system, on Venus the sun rises in the west and sets in the east. Moral of the story: Even planets refuse to conform and make their own rules. If celestial bodies can be so gloriously contrary to convention, so can you. In accordance with current astrological omens, I encourage you to exuberantly explore this creative freedom in the coming weeks.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)

Let’s revisit the ancient Greeks’ understanding that we are all born with a daimon: a guiding spirit who whispers help and counsel, especially if we stay alert for its assistance. Typically, the messages are subtle, even half-disguised. Our daimons don’t usually shout. But I predict that will change for you in the coming weeks, especially if you cultivate listening as a superpower. Your personal daimon will be extra talkative and forthcoming. So be vigilant for unexpected support, Capricorn. Expect epiphanies and breakthrough revelations. Pay attention to the book that falls open to a page that has an oracular hint just for you. Take notice of a song that repeats or a sudden urge to change direction on your walk.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)

Awe should be one of your featured emotions in the coming weeks. I hope you will also seek out and cultivate reverence, deep respect, excited wonder and an attraction to sublime surprises. Why do I recommend such seemingly impractical measures? Because you’re close to breaking through into a heightened capacity for generosity of spirit and a sweet lust for life. Being alert for amazement and attuned to transcendent experiences could change your life for the better forever. I love your ego—it’s a crucial aspect of your make-up—but now is a time to exalt and uplift your soul.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20)

What if your anxiety is actually misinterpreted excitement? What if the difference between worry and exhilaration is the story you tell yourself about the electricity streaming through you? Maybe your body is revving up for something interesting and important, but your mind mislabels the sensation. Try this experiment: Next time your heart races and your mind spins, tell yourself “I’m excited” instead of “I’m anxious.” See if your mood shape-shifts.

urban LIVING

50-year mortgage?

This might blow your mind, but recent studies are predicting that home prices in Utah will exceed $1 million by the end of 2029. I’ve read a couple of them and given the data, this is believable.

Sadly, prices will go up. But logic and the history of income studies say that salaries won’t rise substantially to help afford such homes.

With a 10% downpayment, a $900,000 loan and an interest rate of 6%, you would have a principal and interest payment of $5,396 per month.

Given the rule of thumb of paying one-third of your income, that means you’d have to make almost $16,000 per month, or $192,000 annually. The average monthly income right now in Utah is approximately $4,084, with a median household income of $93,421.

CROSSWORD PUZZLE

ACROSS

1. Take another tour

5. Hank’s wife on “King of the Hill”

10. ___ of certiorari

14. Shoe insert

15. Movie cowboy Lash

16. Tip-top

17. River through Luxor

18. In any way

19. Felt bad about

20. Sax mouthpiece that’s mostly caramel and sugar?

23. Address a crowd

24. Unknowns in a linear equation

25. Heat source?

28. Neuralgia, e.g.

30. Unit of resistance

31. Overachieving high schooler?

38. Tapioca balls

40. Dr. on “The Muppet Show”

41. Last Ivy alphabetically

42. Super Bowl-winning coach Ewbank, if he had a team of arachnids?

45. ___-mo

46. Adopt-___ (shelter program)

The current U.S. president hates Jerome Powell, the chairman of the Federal Reserve, and has tried every trick in and off the book to get rid of him, because Powell won’t lower interest rates. Powell is in his second term as chair, which ends in 2026, but he will remain on the Board of Governors until 2028. He won’t lower rates to what President Donald Trump wants due to concerns about inflation from the new tariffs and the risk of throwing our economy into a worse headspin than it is already.

Powell is in a bind because government reports have been unavailable due to the recent shutdown and in some cases entire data sources have been closed or the relevant personnel fired. Thus, without good information, Powell would only be guessing. And we really don’t want the money man of the Fed to be guessing about our economy’s future.

So now, the Republican administration is pushing for a 50-year mortgage opportunity for home buyers—at the same interest rate or slightly higher than what’s available now for a 30-year loan. What’s the advantage of that? Your monthly payment would be a few hundred dollars less, but you’d be paying interest-only for almost the first half of the loan and it would leave you paying massive amounts of additional interest over the extra 20 years of the loan’s term.

Most homebuyers these days don’t stay in their purchase for more than seven to 10 years and a 50-year mortgage is an idea that’s not going to help our housing crisis. Why? Because it won’t help our shortage of housing inventory. And if the new mortgages did create a housing boom, where would we get the laborers to build them when ICE is arresting them all? Plus, the cost of copper, concrete, lumber, granite and steel will continue to go up and up and up.

Homebuying is a cycle for most people. You buy your starter home, you buy a bigger home to grow your family and then downsize to a smaller home, apartment or condo when everyone moves out. That’s three purchases in a lifetime.

A 50-year mortgage is not going to keep buyers in their homes, because life changes. It may not enable homeowners to create great amounts of equity either, because of the massive amount of interest that has to be paid on the loan. Stay tuned, as this is a hot topic right now! ■

47. Frequently

49. ___ de terre (potato, in French)

52. Mob

55. Flinging something at your parents in the front because you want the road trip to be over?

60. Pleasant

61. Accord promoter

62. Week seven, e.g.

64. Clinic group, casually

65. Held title to

66. Tax-exempt bond, for short

67. Future M.D.’s course

68. Brings up

69. Corp. boss

DOWN

1. Sought office

2. Idle of Monty Python

3. John Wooden’s sch.

4. Young star athlete

5. Beach, in Barcelona

6. Irritate

7. Raisin, formerly

8. Nervous noise

9. Stadium sound

10. Purchaser’s protection

11. Joan of Arc site

12. “___ to tell you something ...”

13. One of the Roosevelts

21. Stylish clothing selection

22. Way out

25. Unruly crowds

26. “Breakfast All Day” chain

27. Prefix that means “both”

28. Buttigieg who ran for president

29. Hurt

32. Raison d’___ (reason for being)

33. Take a break

34. Not a lot

35. Vane heading

36. Allure competitor

37. Sign filler

39. Batman portrayer on TV

43. Olympic weapon

44. Physical form

48. “I’m hungry!”

49. “Kung Fu ___”

50. Constellation with a belt

51. Magnet for visitors

52. Dye used for temporary tattoos

Last week’s answers

Complete the grid so that each row, column, diagonal and 3x3 square contain all of the numbers 1 to 9. No math is involved. The grid has numbers, but nothing has to add up to anything else. Solve the puzzle with reasoning and logic. Solving time is typically 10 to 30 minutes, depending on your skill and experience.

NEWS of the WEIRD

Finders Keepers

The town council in Neuville-sur-Saone, France, delivered good news to a homeowner on Nov. 5, CBS News reported: He can keep the $800,000 in gold bars and coins he unearthed while digging for a swimming pool in his backyard. The gold was stashed in plastic bags; the man alerted authorities in May, when he found the treasure. Police said they were able to determine that the gold had not been stolen and the home’s previous owner had died, so it belongs to the current resident.

Least Competent Criminals

Police in Windsor, Connecticut, can’t credit their amazing investigative skills after they apprehended two men who stole a huge highway sign on I-91. WFSB-TV reported that Andrew Scott Lampkin, 42, and Jonathan Riopelle, 46, from Vernon, Connecticut, allegedly removed the sign and strapped it to the bed of a pickup truck around 8:30 a.m. on Nov. 5. The thieves were charged with third-degree larceny, reckless use of a highway by a pedestrian and improper parking on a highway.

Odd Rescue

As Colleen Dunn was walking her dogs on the beach in Manzanita, Oregon, one early evening in October, she came upon a beached shark. Rather than steering clear or calling the authorities, Dunn told KGW-TV, “I just made the quick decision to get him back into the deep Pacific Ocean.” A veteran viewer of “Shark Week,” Dunn knew that if she dragged the shark by its tail, it wouldn’t be able to bite her; with some effort, she was able to wrangle the shark first to shallow water, then push it into water deep enough for it to swim away. Shark expert Taylor Chapple of Oregon University identified the shark as a juvenile salmon shark and said it is not uncommon for the creatures to experience shock while swimming in colder waters and end up beached.

Recurring Themes

It’s falling iguana time again in Florida! With this year’s first cold blast making it all the way to the Sunshine State, The Guardian reported on Nov. 10, Floridians are being warned about paralyzed reptiles tumbling out of trees and hitting them on the head. While some people are moved to help the stunned iguanas, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission warns against intervening. “Once they recover and warm up, they could act defensively.” Also, it’s illegal to relocate or release captured iguanas. Just let ‘em lie, folks.

Nope

In an underwater cave on the border between Greece and Albania, scientists have discovered a spider web that spans 1,076.4 square feet along a wall, People magazine reported on Nov. 11. The web is home to an estimated 110,000 spiders of two different species. Istvan Urak of the Sapientia Hungarian University of Transylvania in Romania visited the cave to analyze the web. “It is a unique case of two species cohabiting within the same web structure in this huge number,” he said. The cave is also home to 512 other species of spiders.

Questionable Judgment

Tucker Kemp, 31, of St. Petersburg, Florida, is rethinking his decisions after an incident in a local Starbucks coffee shop last month. According to The Smoking Gun, Kemp had stopped for a tea when he noticed that a Pride flag was hanging on one of the walls inside the store. Kemp told the Starbucks manager that he was “offended by the flag and ... they should put up an American flag.” Then he allegedly threw his tea at the flag and tore it off the wall before stuffing it into a trash can. Kemp was arrested for criminal mischief and spent a few hours in jail—but the long-term consequences may have been more influential.

Kemp lost his job at nearby Dignity Memorial and is on the hunt for a new gig. He said his “poor decisions ... led to my rightful arrest and termination from my career.” Anyone looking for a recalcitrant funeral director?

Powerful Pipes

The Great Melbourne Bagpipe Bash at Federation Square in Victoria, Australia, brought together nearly 400 bagpipers on Nov. 12 to pay tribute to rock legends AC/DC with a performance of “It’s a Long Way to the Top (If You Wanna Rock ‘n’ Roll),” shattering the world record for the most bagpipers in a single performance, as reported by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Among the ragtag assembly of pipers were none other than Les Kenfield and Kevin Conlon, who were members of the Rats of Tobruk Memorial Highland Band in the 1970s and who had performed in the piper trio seen in AC/DC’s music video for the song, which was filmed just a few blocks from Federation Square in 1976. Kenfield hopes the event, which brought together pipers of all ages, will inspire renewed interest in the instrument.

“Piping is really a dying art,” Kenfield said. “In my band, if everyone over 70 resigned, there would be no band left.”

Call of the Wild

The Amherst Junior High School in Amherst, Ohio, was the site of an early morning surprise on Nov. 13, FOX 8 reported. According to a press release issued by the school’s principal, Andrew Hoffman, a large deer crashed through one of the school cafeteria’s windows, startling “a couple of students and staff” who were preparing for breakfast at the time. Video footage of the incident showed the deer fighting to gain traction on the slick cafeteria floor before ultimately lying down in exhaustion. Staff members and the Amherst Police Department were able to keep the deer corralled inside of the cafeteria before herding it toward a set of doors that they had propped open to provide the deer with an easy escape route.

“As shocking as the event was to witness, we are happy to report that no significant injuries took place,” Hoffman said, while also assuring that “all students were offered the opportunity to receive breakfast during 1st period.”