Sunday, August 17, 2008

Los Cabos
453 S Washington St
Afton, WY 83110
(307) 885-0011

I guess technically I'm breaking the fundamental rules of this blog as the title indicates this is for Salt Lake City eateries, but I figure I can bend the rules since I am a native Salt-Lake-Citian citizen. (Hee hee hee :) This past weekend I went river rafting down the Snake River with some people from my singles ward. On the way we decided we were hungry, so to remedy this we concluded to stop for lunch. Our first option was Taco Time. Hoping to find somewhere a little more adventurous, we continued our search and discovered a more authentic version of Hispanic food. We walked in at 11:15 (fifteen minutes after opening time) and were greeted with colorful walls, artwork and music. Chips and salsa come free with the menu, and the entrees aren't too badly priced either. Mostly they run from about $6.50 to $10.

La comida esta delicioso. Esta muy divertido y no cuesta demaciado dinero. :)

Don't expect to have breakfast here, though. They are very much a lunch time establishment, but it's conveniently located as a lunch stop for Salt Lakians on their way to Jackson, so next time you feel like going to Wyoming, give it a go. Ai Ai!

Monday, July 28, 2008

Cedars of Lebanon

152 East 200 South

Lunch: 11:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. M-F, Dinner: 5:00-10:00 p.m. M-F
Open Friday-Saturday for dinner only: 5:00-11:00 p.m.

Featuring dishes from Lebanon, Armenia, Israel, and Morocco, this was my first experience with Middle Eastern food and I rather enjoyed it! The inside of the restaurant was really nice and is made to look like you are on the inside of a tent, with a sloping canopy above head. It seemed that there was a second room with low couches and tables for yet a different dining experience. The goblets and Middle Eastern music added to the authenticity. While service was on the slow side, the server had good suggestions. We had homous dip on flatbread as well as pastilla (deliciously-seasoned chicken in a flaky pastry crust), lamb tagine (lamb marinated in curry, served with rice and vegetables), and side salads. The food was all excellent. Appetizers were around $6; main dishes run about $16-18. FYI on Friday and Saturday nights they have belly dancers, which we got to experience. I also hear that they also do a lunch buffet where specialties not necessarily on the menu are served. For those who would like to try smoking a hookah pipe, they have different flavors. The whole evening was a fun and interesting cultural experience I would recommend to both those who are and aren't familiar with Middle Eastern cuisine.

Sunday, July 20, 2008

Dolcetti Gelato (4.5 of 5 Mini Spoon Thingies)

1100 E. 1751 S.

http://www.dolcettigelato.com/

Yesterday morning during a chat with my uncle Mike, he mentioned a great gelato place in Sugarhouse called Dolcetti Gelato. I took advantage of the opportunity to go try it out last night. It's a small little shop on the east side of the road. Parking was a little difficult because of the large number of customers already there. The two workers there were friendly and helpful in selecting a flavor of gelato. Customers are free to try as many different flavors as they like. I think I walked out with five or so mini colored spoons... It seemed like there were more flavors at the Mr. C's gelato place out in Jordan Landing by my house, but the flavors here were equal to or more delectable than Mr. C's. Dolcetti Gelato is apparently well-known for its lemon gelato, and now I know why. It was quite good. I would also highly recommend the plum and dolce de leche flavors. I wasn't too fond of the ginger. I suppose that's an acquired taste. Customers can mix flavors in a single dish. The price tag of $3.50 on a small cup seems a little steep, but it's worth it. Our server, left just about as much gelato above the rim than below..

There are a couple small tables inside the restaurant and patio space outside. If the weather's good, I'd select the porch. There's nothing better than some heavenly ice cream on a warm summer evening.

House of Tibet (4 of 5 Dumplings)

1300 S. 250 E.

On a few different occasions, my aunt and uncle have suggested that I go try the House of Tibet. Last night I finally had the opportunity to do so. I was pleasantly surprised with the restaurant. I feel obligated to advertise for this place...there were only a couple people there during our meal. This meant excellent service from our waiter, but it could also mean that the House of Tibet won't be around for long unless we help them gain a more substantial customer base.

The atmosphere was quiet and peaceful, great for conversation. The food was good. The price was great. Two entrees, appetizers, two soup and specialty drinks ran us about $27.00. Amazing. I'd go back just for the cheap food. We tried the beef dumplings, the fried mashed potatoes, the lentil soup, the beef and mushroom something, the Mango smoothie and the yogurt based Da-Rha. Everything was scrumptious. Thanks Tim and Lisa!

Wednesday, July 16, 2008

Microwavable goodness!


I think the picture says it all.

Indian Fusion

A couple of weeks ago some friends and I visited Indian Fusion at Jordan Landing. It's right across the street to the west of Wendy's. They've only been open for a month or two, but it seems that the cooks and servers have shaken off the new-business jitters.

Our server was pleasant and knowledgeable. She even let us taste test a couple of the lassie flavors. Stay away from the "salty" lassie. It was positively disgusting. It was like slurping down salty yogart. The mango and strawberry lassies were pretty good, but I would have liked them to be a bit thicker. Does anyone know where I can get a lassie shake?

The decorations were fair. The restaurant is a bit small, but the food is good. The four of us tried a little bit of everything and were satisfied. Two entrees, appetizers and a couple of lassies ran me about $40-$45.

Monday, July 14, 2008

Stoneground


249 East 400 South
Salt Lake City
Across the street from Salt Lake Main Library
http://www.stonegroundslc.com/ (if you want to browse the menu)

This has become one of my favorite restaurants in the city. The atmosphere is relaxed and inviting with background music from Bossa Nova to the Beatles. The ambiance is such that you can linger over your meal and no one minds. They also have a pool table if that is an interest. The menu is mainly made up of pizza and pastas with various salads and a few sandwiches too. My favorite is the artichoke mushroom pasta with spinach leaves, red peppers, and of course, garlic. The wonderful blend of flavors and tastes is what makes Stoneground stand out. The house salad is also good and the house vinaigrette is amazing. They have a large menu so there is always something new to try, or if you're like me, more often than not you fall back on your favorite. The prices are reasonable with dishes averaging between $10-$16. If you're sharing a pizza it ends up being a little bit cheaper. One drawback is sometimes your carefree waiters do not give the best service. I have had varied experiences, some with good service, some impeccable, and others disastrous. If you are looking for a fun tranquil experience where you can have good conversation and new flavors, then give Stoneground a try.



Note: They are on the second floor, go in the door and head up the stairs. They have parking on the west side of the building and also in the back behind the building.