Weekly round-up 10/23/08

Michelangelo Ristorante
2156 S. Highland Drive
(801) 466-0961

This week in the Deseret Morning News, Stacy Kratz dines at Michelangelo Ristorante. Sadly she finds poor service on this one particularly night. She does howwever concede the food is markedly better. Sounds like they had an off night to me, our own visit a couple of weeks back was more than fine.

Kitty Pappas’ Steak House
2300 S. Main (Hwy 89), Woods Cross
(801) 295-9981

Ted Scheffler of the City Weekly checks out the intrigungly titled Kitty Pappas’ Steak House. There’s not really much I can add to Ted’s story on the place, it is one you need to read yourself.

Hong Kong Tea House & Restaurant
565 West 200 South, Salt Lake City, UT 84101
(801) 531-7010

After months without any local reviews The Gourmand Syndrome is back with two, starting with a review of Hong Kong Tea House & Restaurant, more specifically their Dim Sum. Some of the pictures in the review look delicious. Even better is the news that they open Sundays. I think I know where an up and coming lazy Sunday afternoon is going to be spent…

Tulie Bakery
863 East 700 South, Salt Lake City, UT 84102
(801) 883-9741
http://tuliebakery.com/

The second review from The Gourmand Syndrome is of the newly opened Tulie Bakery. The Salt Lake Magazine also briefly covers Tulie Bakery earlier in the week too. Both reviewers echo the same sentiments. Prices might be a little higher than normal, but the baked goods more than make up for it. Thumbs up all around.

Vienna Bistro
132 S. Main St., Salt Lake City
801-322-0334
http://www.viennabistro.com/

Vanessa Chang provides the latest review of Vienna Bistro in the Salt Lake Tribune this week. Apart from the odd under seasoned dish, or lapse in service, Vanessa adds to the chorus of plaudits for chef Frody Volgger’s authentic, house made Austrian fare.

Madeline’s Steakhouse
1133 W. 10600 South, South Jordan, Utah
(801) 446-6639
http://www.madelinessteakhouse.com/

Madeline’s Steakhouse is the focus of Your Heart Out’s review this week. A positive review all said and done, for an eatery I confess I had never even heard of. Interestingly, I note that “21 day aged” crops up on their menu. If they do indeed dry age their steaks, that is something of a rarity in Salt Lake City steakhouses. Even the big boys in town like Spencer’s and Ruth’s Chris don’t dry age, preferring the faster wet-aging approach.

Tsuanmi
2223 South Highland Dr. Salt Lake City, UT 84106
(801) 467-5545
http://www.tsunamiutah.com/

Krista Smith’s Salt Lake City food blog dines at the Sugar House branch of Tsunami. Krista gives the sushi bar a whirl and finds it spot on. I really enjoy Tsunami’s sushi, its just a shame about the average wait for it to reach your table, at least in the Sugar House outlet. Krista’s review seems to suggest the bar is the way forward. Has anyone tried their other locations, are they faster at all?

Au Naturale
880 E. 2100 South, Salt Lake City
(801) 466-8888
http://www.goaunaturale.com

Finally the much talked about Au Naturale is tested out by the In Utah This Week staff. They seem largely impressed by this new local company, who have some big ideas. See our discussion board for more information on Au Naturale SLC.

Stuart Melling

Hi, I’m Stuart, nice to meet you!  I’m the founder, writer and wrangler at Gastronomic SLC.  I’m a multiple-award winning journalist and have written in myopic detail about the Salt Lake City  dining scene for the better part of seventeen years.

I’ve worked extensively with multiple local publications from Visit Salt Lake to Salt Lake Magazine, not least helped to consult on national TV.   Pause those credits, yep, that’s me! I’m also a former restaurant critic of more than five years, working for the Salt Lake Tribune.    I’m largely fueled by a critical obsession with rice, alliteration and the use of big words I don’t understand.   What they’re saying about me: “Not inaccurate”, “I thought he was older”, “I don’t share his feelings”.

Want to know more? This is why I am the way I am.