No new bars licensed at April’s Utah DABS meeting

Bar licenses

While a solitary bar license was anticipated to become available at today’s DABS meeting – a subsequent re-evaluation of Utah’s current population numbers meant that this was punted over to next month’s meeting. Those presently on the wait list include:

Blue Katz Rock N Roll Grill, St. George
Riverhorse on Main, Park City
The SunTrapp LLC, Salt Lake City
Manor F&B, Coalville, May
Melancholy, Salt Lake City, June
Sunday School, Salt Lake City, June
The Break Sports Grill Saratoga Springs, Saratoga Springs, July
Atma Prema, Cottonwood Heights, September

You might recall that during the February meeting, and the revised policy regarding how licenses are handed out, the remaining Utah bar license inventory was swiftly emptied. Commissioners advised those on the list to come prepared to May’s meeting to put forward their case. Expect a lively one.

No substantial influx of bar licenses is expected until July when the recent legislative revisions to liquor quotas are put in place. What those numbers look like in practice should be presented at May’s meeting. Here’s a recap on what that legislative update means.

Meanwhile, in happier news, The Garage looks set to re-open in either May or June at the latest. Owner Robert McCarthy spoke to the commission about their fire-induced October closure; insurance delays meant work couldn’t commence on the rebuild until February this year. When the business does spring back to life, McCarthy explained the kitchen wouldn’t be ready on day one – expect food trucks in the early days.

Full service restaurant licenses (beer, wine, liquor)

Thirty-seven full-service licenses were available going into the April meeting – with the following thirteen restaurants given the green light:

Bhansa Ghar, Salt Lake City, pictured top, chicken dopiaza with garlic naan
Lola Mexican Bistro, Salt Lake City
The Club at Soldier Hollow, Midway
Wasatch Mountain Cafe, Midway
La Fogata Mexican Grill, Taylorsville
Seoul Meat Co., Riverton
Tamarisk Restaurant, Green River
Crunch Fusion Sushi, West Valley City
Contento, Salt Lake City
Wild Thyme Cafe at Tree’s Ranch, Springdale
Blind Rabbit Kitchen, Salt Lake City
Tip Top Club, Salt Lake City
Taboo Pizza, Ogden

Limited service restaurant licenses (beer, wine)

Finally, ten new successful applicants in this category:

The Brunch House, Provo
Vessel Kitchen, Park City
Vessel Kitchen, Sandy
Vessel Kitchen, Salt Lake City
The Cafe, Panguitch
Prospector Cafe, Marysvale
The Burger Barn, Panguitch Lake
Thousand Hills Daybreak, South Jordan
Eiko Cafe Two, Salt Lake City
Tuk Tuk’s, Draper, pictured above

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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.