Utah dining landscape quickly changing as closures continue to mount

De Los Muertos Mexican Restaurant - seating

It’s been a little over a year since I penned the sobering why your favorite might restaurant might be closing. In the intervening months, those keeping score could’ve optimistically countered by nodding to a slew of openings. Last year’s grand recap soared past 195, this year’s will handily top the 150 mark. I undoubtedly missed … Read more

Local Utah restaurant quits amid continuing staffing issues

Sad news just in hot off the press, Fenice Mediterranean Bistro in downtown SLC is no more. Local food blogger SLC Eats spied the following information recently posted to the doors of the Mediterranean styled restaurant. The notice reads: “8/21/2022 Dear Fenice Patrons and Supporters. Due to the many challenges facing small businesses in the … Read more

Liquor license frenzy approaches – mark your calendars

Beer (freepik)

As the clock ticks down to the June DABC meeting (sorry it’s DABS now folks) so the interest escalates around who exactly will snaffle up all those delicious bar licenses set to unfurl. Just like an exotic flora that blooms once every 17 years, this is a practically unheard of event, something to witness and … Read more

Utah bar licenses exhausted until the Summer after DABC meeting

Beer (freepik)

Well there you have it. Two months into the year and bar licenses are pretty much toast. Want to open a bar in Utah? Come back in May, because that’s when a single license will be up for grabs next. And after that, who knows… With various news outlets reporting on a state legislature unconvinced … Read more

Fifteen bars, one license, welcome to Utah

It sounds like the premise of a bad joke: fifteen bars walk into a… but no, this was the reality of January’s DABC meeting. One singular bar license, fifteen business jostling for position and five ready to go today. Welcome to Utah. To remind you then, the state currently has a complete dearth of available … Read more

More than 195 new Utah restaurants – how many have you tried?

Despite the ever present threat of Covid this year, the food and drink scene in Utah has boomed unlike any other I can remember in recent memory. The following list contains nigh on two hundred different business that opened their doors around the Beehive this year: bars, coffee shops, bakeries, food trucks, delivery services and … Read more

Local Utah foodie business seeks help to go national

Cathy Tshilombo-Lokemba

If you haven’t yet seen this one, consider contributing some seasonal cheer (see: cash) for a fabulous local producer. Created by Matt Caputo – always a staunch supporter of local food projects – the campaign seeks to raise funds for Cathy Tshilombo-Lokemba’s Utah based hot sauce business, Mama Africa, Posting on the fundraising page here, … Read more

Utah liquor license crisis set to worsen according to reports

Punch Bowl Social - beer and biscuits, no more

Get ready for a fraught 2022 folks. Following this months DABC meeting, Ben Winslow confirmed via this story that the Utah legislature seems unmoved by the perilous state of Utah’s liquor license inventory. Indeed, things might actually get worse yet still – if that’s even possible. As part of the FOX13 story, Winslow highlighted the … Read more

Ready for elegant dine-in? Fenice is ready for you

One mark of the change in food culture during this most recent, nearing-the-end (we hope? maybe? soon??) stage of the pandemic is that diners are opting more often for the kinds of experiences that were hardest to replicate at home. I’m talking about beautifully-plated and more expensive meals, in courses brought out slowly, eaten in … Read more

Mythical Utah bar license spotted in the wild, then gobbled up

DABC commissioners gathered this week to debate the outcome of an unexpectedly available bar license – which at this point are right up there with unicorns in terms of improbability. Commissioners didn’t elaborate on the reasons behind the freed license, but if memory serves, one license was being held back pending ongoing litigation – presumably … Read more

Restaurant liquor licenses starting to feel the pressure

Crack Shack sandwiches (Crack Shack)

Welcome back to our monthly roundup of all things perfectly potable. While ordinarily I’d start with a raised eyebrow and nod to the state’s bar license crunch (there are presently ZERO available) there’s truthfully not much to talk about. So instead lets start with another looming area of concern… Full service restaurant licenses (beer, wine, … Read more

Utah fund offers up million dollar restaurant prize

R&R BBQ - three meat plate

Ever fancied yourself a would be Danny Meyer, a food tycoon extraordinaire in the making? Maybe you’ve got the details to the next big thing stashed away in your brain – just not the cash to covert calculations to concrete? If so, local equity fund Savory have exactly what you need… a cool million bucks … Read more

More than 25 new Utah restaurants to keep an eye on

Kokonut Island Grill - meat plate (Kokonut Island Grill)

The time is once again upon us my hungry friend. That’s right, it’s our routine recap of everything new and noteworthy. O.k. I know the headline says restaurants but in truth it’s always a map of the masticable; food trucks, ghost kitchens, brewers, bakers and more. Basically if you can stuff it in your face, … Read more

More than four dozen new food spots around Utah to check out

Chicken Shack - wings and tenders

It’s been quite the busy few months in restaurant world. Despite my own frenzied hand waving and chicken little-esque chirps of the sky is falling – a galaxy of starry eyed restaurateurs have thrown their hats in the ring. Who will succeed, who will fail, well that’s pretty much up to you dear reader. It’s … Read more

The latest liquor news you don’t want to miss

Eight Settlers - bar and dining room (Eight Settlers)

In his first meeting taking the reigns from former chairman John T. Nielsen, commissioner Thomas Jacobson ran a briskly paced meeting that sped through the docket at an enjoyable pace. A few notable items that came up: The list of businesses requiring extended closures has slowly been whittled down to just a small handful. Publik … Read more