$$$$MexicanNorth TempleSun-Thu 11:00-21:00; Fri-Sat 11:00-22:00
Red Iguana on West North Temple, the Cardenas family's Mexican room since 1985 and Utah's most awarded restaurant, runs the state's defining moles.
OrderA combination platter with mole negro and mole verde plus a pomegranate margarita.
TipWait can run over an hour; cross to Red Iguana 2 at 866 W South Temple or order takeout via the operator's site.
$$$$Farm-to-table New AmericanNinth And NinthDaily 17:00-21:00
Pago on 900 East, Scott Evans' 45-seat farm-to-table flagship in 9th and 9th since 2009, codified Salt Lake's seasonal local-ingredient tier.
OrderWhatever the kitchen is featuring from local farms plus a glass off the by-the-glass wine program.
TipReservations on the operator's site open weeks out; the small room turns fast on weeknights.
$$$$Italian DeliDowntownMon-Sat 9:00-19:00; Sun 10:00-17:00
Caputo's Market and Deli on West 300 South, Tony Caputo's Italian deli and market since 1997, runs the largest craft chocolate selection in the country.
OrderThe Old School sandwich and a craft chocolate bar from the 300+ bar wall.
TipCounter sandwiches travel well; the cheese, cured meats and tinned fish stretch through holidays. Multiple metro branches.
$$$$MexicanNorth TempleSun-Thu 11:00-21:00; Fri-Sat 11:00-22:00
Red Iguana 2 on West South Temple, the larger sibling of the Cardenas family flagship, runs the same award-winning moles in a bigger room with a full bar.
OrderWhichever mole the original flagship is celebrating that week plus a margarita at the bar.
TipUse Red Iguana 2 to skip the original's hour-plus wait at peak; same kitchen, same family, full bar.
$$$$New American GastropubDowntownMon-Fri 11:30-15:00, 17:00-22:00; Sat-Sun 10:30-15:00, 17:00-22:00
The Copper Onion on East Broadway, chef-owner Ryan Lowder's New American room since 2010, anchors downtown's gastropub tier with seasonal scratch cooking.
OrderThe Copper Onion burger plus a house-made pasta dish from the rotating menu.
TipReserve via OpenTable; weeknight dinners run quieter than weekends. Sister room Copper Common next door for cocktails.
$$$$GreekNinth And NinthTue-Sun 17:00-22:00; Sat-Sun brunch 10:00-14:30; closed Mon
Manoli's on Harvey Milk Boulevard, chef-owner Manoli Katsanevas' Greek small-plates room since 2015, reinterprets Greek mezze with seasonal local ingredients.
OrderHalloumi with black olive honey, dolmathes, spanakopita and a Greek pour off the list.
TipClosed Mondays. Saturday and Sunday brunch 10:00-14:30; dinner Tue-Sun from 17:00.
$$$$Spanish TapasFifteenth And FifteenthDaily 17:00-21:00
Finca on 1500 East at 15th and 15th, Scott Evans' Spanish tapas room reopened in its new home, runs scratch tapas and a Spanish wine list on the ivy patio.
OrderA spread of tapas plus the paella for the table; pair with sherry by the glass.
TipThe ivy-covered patio is the seat to ask for in summer. Reserve well ahead; the room is small.
$$$$Hot ChickenDowntownMon-Tue 11:00-21:00; Wed-Sat 11:00-22:00; Sun 11:00-16:00
Pretty Bird Hot Chicken on Regent Street, chef Viet Pham's Nashville-style downtown fast-casual since 2018, anchors Utah's chef-driven hot chicken movement.
OrderHot chicken sandwich at the heat level of your choice plus a side of slaw.
TipOrder ahead via the operator's site for pickup; the counter line stretches at lunch. Park City, Sugar House and Midvale branches are siblings.
$$$$Wine BarAvenuesMon-Fri 7:00-21:00; Sat 8:00-21:00; Sun 8:00-16:00
Cucina Wine Bar on 2nd Avenue in the Avenues, Dean Pierose's upscale deli turned New American wine bar, runs gourmet deli by day and small plates from 17:00.
OrderA wine flight off the selected list plus rotating small plates from the seasonal evening menu.
TipDaytime deli 7:00-17:00; dinner from 17:00. The deli sandwiches travel well to picnics at Memory Grove.
$$$$Wine BarFifteenth And FifteenthSun 14:00-20:00; Mon-Thu 17:00-23:00; Fri-Sat 17:00-24:00
Casot on 1500 East next to Finca, the Pago Group's wine and craft cocktail bar at 15th and 15th, runs natural wine flights and chef-driven small plates.
OrderA natural wine flight off the rotating list and a small plate from the Spanish-leaning kitchen.
TipReserve via Tock; quieter than Finca, opens in evening. The two rooms share staff and walk between is encouraged.
$$$$New American GastropubNinth And NinthMon-Tue 12:00-22:00; Wed-Fri 12:00-24:00; Sat 11:00-24:00; Sun 11:00-22:00
East Liberty Tap House on 900 South, Scott Evans' Pago Group neighborhood tavern since 2014, runs an updated bar menu with selected Utah craft beer.
OrderThe house burger plus whichever Utah craft beer is leading the rotating tap list.
TipPatio in summer; Sunday and Saturday brunch starts at 11:00. Reserve via the operator's site.
$$$$VeganCentral CityTue-Sun 8:00-21:00; closed Mon
Vertical Diner on 900 South, Salt Lake's longest-running full-service vegan diner since 2007 (current address from 2019), runs plant-based comfort food all.
OrderThe ranch burger or biscuits and gravy with a side of spicy fries.
TipAll-day breakfast service; the retro-diner room is family-friendly. Beer and wine on the menu.
$$$$VeganCentral CityTue-Sun 11:00-22:00; closed Mon
Mark of the Beastro on South State Street, the vegan bistro inside The Beehive music venue, runs plant-based diner classics in a live-music-venue room.
OrderThe vegan burger plus fried pickles and a breakfast plate from the all-day menu.
TipClosed Mondays; the dining room runs alongside The Beehive's music nights. Brunch reliable on weekends.
$$$$VegetarianDowntownMon 16:30-21:00; Tue-Thu 11:00-21:00; Fri 11:00-22:00; Sat 10:00-22:00; Sun 10:00-20:00
Zest Kitchen and Bar on South 200 West, the plant-based and 100 percent gluten-free room since 2012, runs vegetarian small plates with a cocktail program.
OrderA plant-based main plus a hand-crafted cocktail off the seasonal list.
TipLive music and DJ nights run the room late on weekends; the cocktail program is one of the strongest among the city's plant-based rooms.
$$$$CafeNinth And NinthMon-Fri 8:00-21:00; Sat 10:00-21:00; Sun 10:00-14:00
Emigration Cafe on 1300 South, Scott Evans' Pago Group all-day cafe in Yalecrest, runs breakfast, sandwiches and salads through the afternoon hours.
OrderA breakfast plate in the morning or a seasonal sandwich at lunch with an espresso drink.
TipMorning rush peaks 08:00-10:00; weekend brunch is the busiest window. Closes mid-afternoon.