Zest Kitchen and Bar is a vegetarian restaurant in Downtown, Salt Lake City.
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.
Signature dishes: Plant-based plates, Cocktails
Must order: A plant-based main plus a hand-crafted cocktail off the seasonal list.
Tip: Live 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.
Address: 275 S 200 W, Salt Lake City, UT 84101
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.
Signature: Old School sandwich, Cheese counter
Order: The Old School sandwich and a craft chocolate bar from the 300+ bar wall.
Tip: Counter sandwiches travel well; the cheese, cured meats and tinned fish stretch through holidays. Multiple metro branches.
Takashi on Market Street, chef-owner Takashi Gibo's downtown sushi room since 2004, runs Salt Lake's defining omakase at the bar plus a full Japanese menu.
Signature: Omakase nigiri, Tempura
Order: Omakase at the sushi bar; the menu's signature rolls plus sashimi for the table.
Tip: Walk-in only; arrive before 17:30 on a weekday or after 21:00 to skip the wait. Closed Sundays.
Emigration Cafe on 1300 South, Scott Evans' Pago Group all-day cafe in Yalecrest, runs breakfast, sandwiches and salads through the afternoon hours.
Signature: Breakfast plates, Sandwiches
Order: A breakfast plate in the morning or a seasonal sandwich at lunch with an espresso drink.
Tip: Morning rush peaks 08:00-10:00; weekend brunch is the busiest window. Closes mid-afternoon.
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.
Signature: Old School sandwich, Cheese counter
Order: The Old School sandwich and a craft chocolate bar from the 300+ bar wall.
Tip: Counter sandwiches travel well; the cheese, cured meats and tinned fish stretch through holidays. Multiple metro branches.
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.
Signature: Mole, Combination platter
Order: Whichever mole the original flagship is celebrating that week plus a margarita at the bar.
Tip: Use Red Iguana 2 to skip the original's hour-plus wait at peak; same kitchen, same family, full bar.
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.
Signature: Natural wine flights, Cocktails
Order: A natural wine flight off the rotating list and a small plate from the Spanish-leaning kitchen.
Tip: Reserve via Tock; quieter than Finca, opens in evening. The two rooms share staff and walk between is encouraged.
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.
Signature: Mole negro, Mole verde
Order: A combination platter with mole negro and mole verde plus a pomegranate margarita.
Tip: Wait can run over an hour; cross to Red Iguana 2 at 866 W South Temple or order takeout via the operator's site.
Takashi on Market Street, chef-owner Takashi Gibo's downtown sushi room since 2004, runs Salt Lake's defining omakase at the bar plus a full Japanese menu.
Signature: Omakase nigiri, Tempura
Order: Omakase at the sushi bar; the menu's signature rolls plus sashimi for the table.
Tip: Walk-in only; arrive before 17:30 on a weekday or after 21:00 to skip the wait. Closed Sundays.
