‘What’s good to eat around here?’: 10 unique local restaurant recommendations for visitors
The Spring Lake rainbow trout (from the Spring Lake Trout Farm) with cauliflower puree, roasted cauliflower, dill herb emulsion, and squid ink tuile at Block Restaurant on Thursday, March 15, 2018, in Provo.
Malasadas, a Korean Barbecue Rice Bowl, a side of Mexican style rice, a trio of street tacos, a side of Chimichurri Mac and Cheese, a Steak Asada Salad and a serving of Wonton Chips, clockwise from left, at 180 Tacos in Provo.
A Korean BBQ Pork Taco and an Achiote Pork Taco at 180 Tacos in Provo.
A trio of street tacos at 180 Tacos in Provo. From left to right are Jamaican stewed beef, with cilantro, spruced carrots and fried pickled red onions; achiote pork, with jack cheese, cilantro and pickled red onions; and buffalo chicken, with pickled pirepoix and street corn ranch.
The Navajo Taco Trio and a glass of cactus pear lemonade from Black Sheep Cafe in Provo.
The Goat Burger at Black Sheep Cafe in Provo.
Green Chile Stew from Black Sheep Cafe.
The charcuterie board at Block Restaurant on Thursday, March 15, 2018, in Provo.
The charcuterie board at Block Restaurant on Thursday, March 15, 2018, in Provo.
Food Photography at Block Restaurant Thursday, March 15, 2018.
The jalapeño margarita at Block Restaurant on Thursday, March 15, 2018, in Provo.
The blackberry lemonade with Sugarhouse Whiskey at Block Restaurant on Thursday, March 15, 2018, in Provo.
The blackberry lemonade with Sugarhouse Whiskey at Block Restaurant on Thursday, March 15, 2018, in Provo.
The blackberry lemonade with Sugarhouse Whiskey at Block Restaurant on Thursday, March 15, 2018, in Provo.
The pea tortellini with sorrel pesto, toasted sunflower seeds, and pea tendrils at Block Restaurant on Thursday, March 15, 2018, in Provo.
The pea tortellini with sorrel pesto, toasted sunflower seeds, and pea tendrils at Block Restaurant on Thursday, March 15, 2018, in Provo.
The jalapeño margarita, lower right, and the blackberry lemonade with Sugarhouse Whiskey at Block Restaurant on Thursday, March 15, 2018, in Provo.
The port and red wine poached pear with lemon mascarpone and toasted pistachio at Block Restaurant on Thursday, March 15, 2018, in Provo.
The port and red wine poached pear with lemon mascarpone and toasted pistachio at Block Restaurant on Thursday, March 15, 2018, in Provo.
A sampling from the charcuterie board at Block Restaurant on Thursday, March 15, 2018, in Provo.
The jalapeño margarita at Block Restaurant on Thursday, March 15, 2018, in Provo.
The Nachos and the Turkey Avocado Club are available at Ginger's Garden Cafe in Springville.
A Grilled Cajun Chicken Burger is available at Ginger's Garden Cafe in Springville.
Kelcy Moon, center, and her mother-in-law, Diane Wanamaker, play a card game and eat dinner with friends on Friday, Oct. 27, 2017, at Good Move Cafe in downtown Provo. Isaac Hale, Daily Herald
Nanette Pollard and her husband, Destry, play a jumbo-sized game of Connect Four on Friday, Oct. 27, 2017, at Good Move Cafe in downtown Provo. Isaac Hale, Daily Herald
Ross Hruska opens up a bacon, egg and cheese Kolach at Hruska's Kolaches in Provo.
A pulled pork kolache at Hruska's Kolaches in Provo on Wednesday, July 30, 2014. SPENSER HEAPS, Daily Herald
Some of the day's few remaining fruit-filled Kolaches wait for customers at Hruska's Kolaches on Center Street in Provo.
A beef dog with sauce, onion, pickle and mustard at J Dawgs in American Fork on Tuesday, March 26, 2013. SPENSER HEAPS/Daily Herald
The Country Fried Steak is pictured Friday, March 16, 2018, at Leslie's Family Tree Restaurant in Santaquin. Isaac Hale, Daily Herald
The Navajo Taco is pictured Friday, March 16, 2018, at Leslie's Family Tree Restaurant in Santaquin. Isaac Hale, Daily Herald
Scones with honey butter are pictured Friday, March 16, 2018, at Leslie's Family Tree Restaurant in Santaquin. Isaac Hale, Daily Herald
Photos from the owner's family history hang on the walls along with license plates from various states Friday, March 16, 2018, at Leslie's Family Tree Restaurant in Santaquin. Isaac Hale, Daily Herald
A Half Chicken Dinner is pictured Friday, March 16, 2018, at Leslie's Family Tree Restaurant in Santaquin. Isaac Hale, Daily Herald
The Steak and Shrimp is pictured Friday, March 16, 2018, at Leslie's Family Tree Restaurant in Santaquin. Isaac Hale, Daily Herald
The Bacon Cheeseburger is pictured Friday, March 16, 2018, at Leslie's Family Tree Restaurant in Santaquin. Isaac Hale, Daily Herald
Photos from the owner's family history hang on the walls Friday, March 16, 2018, at Leslie's Family Tree Restaurant in Santaquin. Isaac Hale, Daily Herald
Scones with honey butter are pictured Friday, March 16, 2018, at Leslie's Family Tree Restaurant in Santaquin. Isaac Hale, Daily Herald
The Navajo Taco is pictured Friday, March 16, 2018, at Leslie's Family Tree Restaurant in Santaquin. Isaac Hale, Daily Herald
Photos of veterans hang on a cubby Friday, March 16, 2018, at Leslie's Family Tree Restaurant in Santaquin. Isaac Hale, Daily Herald
A Half Chicken Dinner is pictured Friday, March 16, 2018, at Leslie's Family Tree Restaurant in Santaquin. Isaac Hale, Daily Herald
The Bacon Cheeseburger is pictured Friday, March 16, 2018, at Leslie's Family Tree Restaurant in Santaquin. Isaac Hale, Daily Herald
The Steak and Shrimp is pictured Friday, March 16, 2018, at Leslie's Family Tree Restaurant in Santaquin. Isaac Hale, Daily Herald
The Margherita Pizza at MidiCi The Neapolitan Pizza Company at University Mall in Orem.
The Margherita Pizza at MidiCi The Neapolitan Pizza Company in Orem.
The Tree Room's king salmon with dumpling and rice pudding at Sundance Resort on Tuesday, March 20, 2018.
The Tree Room's seared octopus at Sundance Resort on Tuesday, March 20, 2018.
The Tree Room's dumpling with the king salmon and rice pudding at Sundance Resort on Tuesday, March 20, 2018.
The Tree Room's celeriac angel hair pasta at Sundance Resort on Tuesday, March 20, 2018.
The Tree Room's seared octopus at Sundance Resort on Tuesday, March 20, 2018.
The Tree Room's king salmon with dumpling and rice pudding at Sundance Resort on Tuesday, March 20, 2018.
The Tree Room's king salmon with dumpling and rice pudding at Sundance Resort on Tuesday, March 20, 2018.
The Tree Room's king salmon with dumpling and rice pudding at Sundance Resort on Tuesday, March 20, 2018.
The Tree Room's celeriac angel hair pasta at Sundance Resort on Tuesday, March 20, 2018.
The Tree Room's seared octopus at Sundance Resort on Tuesday, March 20, 2018.
From left, the Tree Room's, seared octopus, celeriac angel hair pasta, and king salmon at Sundance Resort on Tuesday, March 20, 2018.
From left, the Tree Room's, seared octopus, celeriac angel hair pasta, and king salmon at Sundance Resort on Tuesday, March 20, 2018.
The Tree Room's celeriac angel hair pasta at Sundance Resort on Tuesday, March 20, 2018.
Two tables await customers in the Tree Room at Sundance Resort on Tuesday, March 20, 2018.
The dining room at the Tree Room at Sundance Resort on Tuesday, March 20, 2018.
A batch of fresh kolaches is pulled out of the oven at Hruska's Kolaches on Thursday, April 12, 2018, in Provo.
A sausage kolache is pictured at Hruska's Kolaches on Thursday, April 12, 2018, in Provo.
A strawberry and sausage kolache are pictured at Hruska's Kolaches on Thursday, April 12, 2018, in Provo.
A raspberry and strawberry kolaches are pictured at Hruska's Kolaches on Thursday, April 12, 2018, in Provo.
A pan of sweet kolaches is pictured at Hruska's Kolaches on Thursday, April 12, 2018, in Provo.
Utah County plays host to a plethora of restaurants and food styles, but it can be difficult to pinpoint a few to recommend on the spot when people from out of town ask where they should go.
Here are some unique spots in Utah County to consider the next time a friend or visitor asks for food recommendations.
180 Tacos
Tacos are generally considered a Mexican dish, but not at this Provo restaurant. 180 Tacos serves up international adaptations of the traditional food, offering a diverse array of taco flavors from Korean barbecue to falafel.
“Our regular menu and daily specials pull from flavors from all over the world, which makes for a fun food exploration,” said Dorian Kidd, chef and founding partner of the restaurant. “180 Tacos is the perfect stop if you are from out of town and want to experience a unique global approach to tacos with the chance to try various tastes.”
180 Tacos is located at 3368 N. University Ave., Provo, and menu prices range from $2.25-$9.75. More information is available at 180tacos.com.
Black Sheep Café
Native American cuisine is this Provo restaurant’s specialty. Black Sheep Café’s story began with Navajo founder Bleu Adams and stays true to its signature Southwestern fusion menu with authentic Navajo bread and Native American flavors infused into dishes like Hog Jowl Tacos, a customer favorite.
“(Visitors aren’t) going to find other restaurants like this, but the tastes are going to be familiar to them,” said Kevin Santiago, a Black Sheep Café partner. “It’s a restaurant you’d expect to find in a much bigger city, and it makes people feel like they’re at home.”
Black Sheep Café is located at 19 N. University Ave., Provo, and menu prices range from $6-$22. More information is available at blacksheepcafe.com.
Block Restaurant
This Provo fine dining restaurant might be of special interest to visitors seeking a nice location for a date, brunch or business lunch. Block Restaurant prides itself on its seasonal farm-to-table menu and local ingredients.
“We try to source everything from within our community and just try to support as many small-business owners in the area as we can,” owner Erika Orndorff said. “If our community can band together, we become a stronger community.”
For those who imbibe, Block Restaurant also serves a variety of drinks, any of which can also be served without alcohol.
Block Restaurant is located at 3330 N. University Ave., Provo, and menu prices range from $6-$36. More information is available at blockrestaurantgroup.com.
Leslie’s Family Tree Restaurant
Visitors who want to delve into a bit of Utah County history might consider stopping at Leslie’s Family Tree Restaurant. This 35-year-old Santaquin classic is famous for its scones, which owner Leslie Broadhead describes as being “the size of your arm, literally.” The 18-inch-by-4-inch scones are served with honey butter and come with almost everything on the menu, which offers purely homemade meals.
“When you walk in, we’ve got a lot of old pictures on the wall that (go) back nine generations,” Broadhead said. “I’ve been told that the atmosphere is just really, really relaxing.”
Leslie’s Family Tree Restaurant is located at 77 W. Main St., Santaquin, and menu prices range from $4.50-$23.99. More information is available at lesliesfamilytreerestaurant.com.
Good Move Café
From its menu of burgers, fish and chips, snacks, and desserts to its collection of about 700 board games, Good Move Café is likely to be a winner among food lovers and game lovers alike. This Provo restaurant, which opened last year in mid-October, welcomes guests who want to eat, play games or do both.
“I was driving down the road one day thinking about what I wanted to say about my career when I was done with it, and I wanted to be able to say I did something good and brought people together in some way,” owner Shawn Moon said. “(I) thought about things that brought people together, and board games and food were both on that list.”
Good Move Café is located at 1 E. Center St., Provo. Menu prices range from $3.99-$12.99, and there is a $5 per person cover charge for games, which is waived for those who spend $15 or more on menu items. More information is available at goodmovecafe.com.
Hruska’s Kolaches
For people seeking a tasty and unique breakfast option, Hruska’s Kolaches should do the trick. This Provo shop is open Monday-Saturday from 6:30 a.m. until sellout and specializes in kolaches, traditional Czech pastries, offered in a variety of sweet and savory flavors.
“We are from Texas, and we missed kolaches so much because they are part of our heritage and we grew up eating them,” said Cory Hruska, one of the shop’s owners. “After we got ahold of our great-grandmother’s kolache dough recipe, it all fell into place. … It is very cultish and something fun. There is a cool culture and atmosphere that surrounds our store that naturally draws people in.”
Hruska’s Kolaches is located at 434 W. Center St., Provo, and menu prices range from $1.25-$3.75. More information is available at hruskaskolaches.com.
J. Dawgs
What started out as a small hot dog shack on a street corner near Brigham Young University has become a signature Utah hot dog business with stores across the Wasatch Front. J. Dawgs offers uniquely flavored polish and beef hot dogs that are cut with a trademark crisscross design and grilled over an open flame. The hot dogs are then served atop homemade buns with a special sweet sauce and your preference of condiments including onions, sauerkraut, banana peppers, jalapeños and pickles.
“There’s really nothing out there like it,” owner and founder Jayson Edwards said. “It’s its own style, like a Chicago Dog would be or a dog on the streets of New York City, something from L.A.; every one has a particular style.”
J. Dawgs is located at 858 N. 700 East, Provo, with other Utah County locations at 207 E. University Parkway, Orem, and 3750 N. Thanksgiving Way, Suite B, Lehi. Menu prices range from $1-$7. More information is available at jdawgs.com.
Ginger’s Garden Café
Those in search of a healthy meal might be enticed by the whole foods-based menu at Ginger’s Garden Café, which offers salads, sandwiches, wraps and soups made with organic produce, organic poultry and non-GMO whole wheat flour. This Springville restaurant is dedicated to carefully sourcing its ingredients, locally in many cases, and caters to a variety of dietary restrictions.
“We love seeing the diversity of our clientele. You can be a gluten-free raw vegan and come to lunch with your carnivore buddy and both leave extremely satisfied,” owner Bobbie Henderson said. “We often hear from travelers that we are an oasis in the desert, a place to get a fresh meal to counter the travel belly.”
Ginger’s Garden Café is located at 188 S. Main St., Springville, and menu prices range from $6-$11. More information is available at gingersgardencafe.com.
MidiCi
Visiting pizza lovers might consider getting their fix at MidiCi, which takes the traditional food back to its original Italian roots. The Orem restaurant, which opened about nine months ago, is the sixth MidiCi location in a quickly growing franchise that specializes in authentic Neapolitan pizzas. MidiCi’s pizzas cook in just 90 seconds in a 900-degree wood-fired oven imported from Naples, Italy.
“What makes MidiCi unique is probably the combination of fast-casual ordering with a fine-dining atmosphere,” said Adam Wills, owner of the Orem restaurant. “There’s old, black-and-white Italian movies playing on the wall and there’s lots of unique features around the restaurant.”
MidiCi is located at 541 E. University Parkway, Orem, and menu prices range from $3.95-$16.45. More information is available at mymidici.com.
The Tree Room
Visitors seeking to experience a more scenic view of Utah County might enjoy an escape to The Tree Room, a fine-dining restaurant at Sundance Mountain Resort, which is about a 20-minute drive from central Provo. The Tree Room serves a seasonal menu that focuses on fresh mountain cuisine.
“I believe the one thing that sets The Tree Room apart from any other dining experiences is the room itself, its ambiance and feel: the huge bay windows looking out on the pine trees, the original tree standing by the fireside,” said Tim Rock, the resort’s director of food and beverage. “We offer a chance to step away from the world and just be.”
The Tree Room is located at 8841 N. Alpine Loop Road, Sundance, and menu prices range from $10-$56. More information is available at sundanceresort.com/dining/tree-room.
