Boudreaux’s Bistro

We may have been raised in the West, but a recent visit to Boudreaux’s Bistro in Payson has left us ravin’ about Cajun cuisine. Boudreaux’s offers a slice of Southern comfort in south Utah County, from its lively ambience to its Louisiana-inspired menu options. We highly recommend the Red Beans With Sausage — a delightful combination served over rice. We also enjoyed the Chicken Étoufeé and the Jambalaya. Another hit was the Deli Sliced Ham Po’ Boy sandwich, served on New Orleans french bread and piled high with three slices of ham and other fixings. We weren’t brave enough to try any Alligator Sausage — but we loved the Fried Candy Bar for dessert.

— 47 S. Main St., Payson, (801) 465-1222, www.boudreauxsbistro.biz

Old Towne Grill

We hadn’t even entered the restaurant before we were made to feel welcome at the new Old Towne Grill in Provo. All we had to do was approach the restaurant, located inside the Madison building on Center Street, where we were greeted by an extremely friendly staff member at a reception desk on the sidewalk. In addition to friendly service, the Old Towne Grill oozes ambiance and its own quirky charm. The restaurant touts its menu as “Inspired American Grub,” and that is precisely what we encountered. Check out the Flash-Fried Artichokes and Santa Fe Rolls for appetizers. Our favorite entree was the Old Towne Burger — featuring a half-pound of beef topped with bacon, caramelized onions, blue cheese dressing and Madison sauce — but there are plenty of other menu options to whet your appetite.

— 295 W. Center St., Provo, (801) 375-2183