Stuart Melling

Hi, I'm Stuart, nice to meet you! I'm the founder, writer and wrangler at Gastronomic SLC and The Utah Review; I'm also a former restaurant critic of more than five years, working for the Salt Lake Tribune. I've worked extensively with other local publications from Utah Stories through to Salt Lake Magazine and Visit Salt Lake. I'm a multiple-award winning journalist and have covered the Utah dining scene for more than a decade. I'm largely fueled by a critical obsession with rice, alliteration and the use of too many big words I don't understand. I ate all the pies.

Friday night food fun, unmissable deals, food news galore

August 27, 2020August 20, 2020 by Stuart Melling

Kafe Mamai Fundraiser Want to stretch your lockdown legs this Friday, get out and about the fresh air with some food? I’ve got the perfect event for you. This Friday …

Covid closures, a running tally of the impact on the SLC food scene

February 9, 2021August 16, 2020 by Stuart Melling

No one likes to be the bearer of bad news; but bad news is what I have. Sorry. As you no doubt know, the hospitality industry is pretty much the …

The return of Desert Edge, new restaurants and must eat dishes

August 11, 2020August 10, 2020 by Stuart Melling

Desert Edge returns Several readers have contacted me over the past few months to ask about the current state of this popular pub and brewery. I can now happily report …

Rico risking closure, buffets back in business and much more

July 28, 2020July 28, 2020 by Stuart Melling

Rico Brand Foods face closure News in this week that the popular Rico Brand Foods might be up on the chopping block soon. Rico’s owner Jorge Fierro came to the …

Businesses push for liquor changes, new restaurants and closures

July 20, 2020 by Stuart Melling

Bars feeling the squeeze With current turbulence showing zero signs of abating, Utahs bars are experiencing some of the biggest disruptions to their businesses. I mean, hands up (carefully at …

Summer festival pivots, openings, closures and more

July 7, 2020July 7, 2020 by Stuart Melling

Pretty Bird fried chicken plate, credit Pretty Bird and Billy Yang

Eat Drink SLC Probably the highlight of last year’s dining event and festival calendar was Eat Drink SLC’s fifth installment. Sadly, the inevitable news arrived this week that the 2020 …

Get ready for the grill – Summer Q essentials

June 24, 2020June 22, 2020 by Stuart Melling

Now that Father’s Day has come and gone we can get on with this year’s BBQ roundup. After all there’s no point suggesting to dad he’s doing anything wrong when …

As restaurants re-open in Utah, what can you expect from dining out?

June 17, 2020 by Stuart Melling

Whiskey Street - bacon wrapped meatload and cider

Cards on the table time. I’ve been in self imposed lockdown since roughly March 12th now, and if I’m brutally honest I’m more than happy to keep myself holed up …

Supporting black owned businesses, closures and other news around town

June 12, 2020June 12, 2020 by Stuart Melling

Black owned restaurants With the nation grappling to understand and react to the horrific events of late, many have wanted to show their support in any way they can. One …

New restaurants coming online during the re-opening

September 10, 2020June 4, 2020 by Stuart Melling

The past few months have hardly been the perfect background for business openings, but as we all know, life finds a way. As we all start to adjust to the …

Restaurants continue to open at speed, DABC axes inventory

May 29, 2020 by Stuart Melling

Best Chicken And Ribs - chicken skewer plate

The re-opening continues If you’ve been checking the general news over the past week, you’ll have noted the unstoppable freight train that is the concerted effort to re-open. Buffets can …

Dine in openings continue apace plus other specials and news

May 14, 2020May 14, 2020 by Stuart Melling

Specials and curbside updates Caffe Molise – The ever popular downtown restaurant opened for curbside just a couple weeks back, and now has several eye popping specials on the to …

Mother’s Day 2020 dining, restaurants re-opening and more

May 9, 2020May 6, 2020 by Stuart Melling

Mother’s Day 2020 I don’t know if it was my dispirited take on the outlook for this years proceedings, but restaurants have stepped up a gear this week. A whole …

Restaurants set to re-open, new menus, meals and deals

April 29, 2020April 29, 2020 by Stuart Melling

Utah restaurants looking to re-open It was already the topic on everyone’s lips – when would Utah restaurants be able to open again? Should they even open if they could? …

Where to eat this weekend? Don’t miss the hottest dining news

April 23, 2020April 23, 2020 by Stuart Melling

Curbside updates As ever, be sure to check out our complete curbside dining list here. As well as that complete list here are all the recent updates and changes you …

The latest updates on the dining scene

April 18, 2020 by Stuart Melling

Curbside and delivery updates Can’t decide what’s for dinner tonight? Here’s all the latest news from local restaurants. Don’t forget to also review our delivery, curbside and drive thru lists …

What’s next for the hospitality industry

April 15, 2020April 15, 2020 by Stuart Melling

As I’ve been sitting here secluded from society for week upon week, my mind has started to wander; how exactly will the chips fall when we return to normal. I …

What’s for dinner – Chefpanzee

April 13, 2020 by Stuart Melling

I’ve had more than a few emails ask the same thing of late – how can can I help support local businesses during the current Covid-19 outbreak? The basic advice …

Read moreWhat’s for dinner – Chefpanzee

Easter dining to go, free meals for healthcare workers and more

April 9, 2020April 9, 2020 by Stuart Melling

Easter options to go Ordinarily our Easter dining roundup is one of the biggest articles of the year. Brunch upon brunch of delicious celebratory meals. This year is obviously markedly …

The latest ways to support the local hospitality industry

April 4, 2020April 3, 2020 by Stuart Melling

Curbside and drive thru Here are the latest new options from local restaurants. Remember you can also browse our complete lists of curbside pickup, delivery and drive thru too. The …