Italian Village

Location:

5370 S. 900 E.

Salt Lake City, UT 84117

Phone: (801) 266-4182

Price Range: $10 - $30

- The prices here are really cheap for the quality of food that you are getting. This is somewhere that you can take a large group of people for a party or get together at a reasonable price and still have a great dining experience.

Rating (1 to 5)

Service: 4

- The service is actually good here. The only complaint that I have about Italian Village is that you can wait up to an hour and half to be seated. I think that the restaurant's popularity is outgrowing its size. Once you do get seated, the service is top of line. The restaurant staff consists of a bunch of high school kids that actually work really hard to make sure that you are well served.

Atmosphere: 4

- The Italian Village is definitely a Ma and Pa restaurant. The atmosphere is very simple but actually quite enjoyable. It has nice booths and large tables to fit the larger parties that you may have. You can kind of tell that the restaurant is a little old but they do a good job of keeping it clean.

Food: 5

The food at Italian Village is to die for! It feels like you are eating your mom's home cooking and the food is always fresh. They are famous for their pizza benders which is just what the name says it is, it's a pizza bent in half and stuffed with any of the three fillings that you can choose from of a list of over 15 ingredients. They have fresh made garlic bread and a nice dinner salad to go along with your pizza bender.

Red Rock Brewing Co.

General information:

Cost range:
entrées ranging in price from $9-$23.


Location:
254 So. 200 W.
Salt lake city

1640 W. Redstone Center Drive
Park City

Special drinks or meals:
Red Rock is a brewing company and offer a large variety of different home brewed beers



Rate from 1 to 5

Service:
3

Food:
5

Atmosphere:
5

Other Comments:

I had heard about Red Rock from a lot of friends before I finally went and tried it this last weekend. I went for lunch with my mom and it was so good! the service was kind of lacking, but the food more than made up for it! I had the vegetarian sandwich and it was one of the best sandwiches I've ever had. It was loaded with peppers, mushrooms, cheese, and lots of other great stuff!

It was great to go for lunch, but it seems like this would be a really fun place to go on a weekend night, just before going out. The Salt Lake location is right by many popular bars and clubs downtown, so it would be a perfect place to grab dinner then go out after. Their impressive beer list is also very appealing to many young people.


Who would you recommend this restaurant to?

Perfect restaurant for anyone 21 and older looking for a good place to get a night started. Also great for a business lunch, or catching up with old friends

Tepanyaki Japanese Steakhouse

Location:
369 West 1830 South
Salt Lake City, UT 84115
(next to Costco)

Phone: (801) 487-8813

Price Range: $30 - $50 per person
- Although I did enjoy the food and the entertainment, Tapanyaki is way overpriced!! You can find the same quality of food at small Japanese steakhouses around town for half the price. The show the chef puts on right in front of you at the hibachi grill is really cool and fun but you definitely pay for it!

Rating (1 to 5):
Service: 3
- The staff didn't really seem to be too concerned with making sure that we were well served. They did everything that they were supposed to but nothing special to really stand out and make the experience unique. The server was happy to refill our cups as long as we were willing to ask her to and even then it took a while. It took a little while to get our food ordered and after we were done eating it took too long to get our check and get out of the restaurant.
Atmosphere: 4
- The restaurant itself is well decorated and the show the chef puts on is pretty cool. I didn't give it a 5 rating because I think that for the price you are paying, it should be better decorated.
Food: 3
- Again, the food was good but it was way over priced! I would expect to get that quality of food at a small fast food Japanese restaurant. I split the steak, chicken and shrimp dinner with my wife which came with one soup and one little, tiny salad that was totally packaged. It really wasn't that fresh. I guess, where they really excel is with their meats that are cooked right in front of you but to be honest I found the steak and especially the chicken to be a bit bland

Takashi Sushi

Location:
18 West Market Street
Salt Lake City, UT

Phone: (801) 519-9595

Price Range: $31 - $50 per couple
- Takashi is a little pricey but if you are looking for a nice restaurant to take your date, this is your place! When my wife and I eat there we can actually get out the door with only spending about $27 and we still walk away very satisfied.

Rating (1 - 5):
Service: 5
-One thing that I think is essential to service at a restaurant is making sure that the customers' cup is always full. Our server did a great job at making sure we knew he was always around to help us and refill our drinks, even though it is was really busy when we were there. We went there on a Friday night so a wait was expected at a popular restaurant like this but what I liked was that the receptionist seemed to be very with it and when she told us it would be a 35 minute wait, 35 minutes later we were seated.
Food: 5
-The food at Takashi is AMAZING!! They are famous for their sushi obviously but they also have some other really good food on the menu. I would recommend that everyone that goes there start off with the miso soup and their garden salad that has a light ginger dressing with apple slices, it is great! My favorite sushi roll (and one of the most popular) is the T & T roll. It is a little spicy so it isn't for the faint at heart but it has a great, fresh and unique taste to it.
Atmosphere: 5
-The atmosphere here is great! It is a very happening place with a very simple Japanese theme. The entrance is a little small so you might find yourself waiting outside for your seat which can suck during the cold months but once you are inside you will find it was worth the wait. There is a sushi bar for those that are into that type of experience but they also have booths and tables for those that are looking for a more intimate dining experience.

Teru Sushi

General information

Cost range: 4.95-10.95

Location:

1844 Ft. Union Blvd
Slc ut 84121

Rate from 1 to 5

Service:
5

Food:
5

Atmosphere
4

Other comments

This is a hole in the wall sushi restaurant, but don’t let that fool you. The rolls at Teru are awesome and the best part is they are reasonably priced. From 5 dollars up to 8 for a tempura roll. It is a little hard to find but once you are inside the experience is great. I rated the atmosphere as a 4 only because it is a small restaurant and if it is busy it is hard to get a seat. But the rolls are so tasty and the servers all recognize you and call you by name after coming in a few times. Great service and experience at Teru.

Porcupine Pub and Grille

General information

Cost range:

Brunch (Saturdays and Sundays 9:30-3 only): 6.99-16.99

Lunch (Monday-Friday 9:30- 3): 8.99-10.99

Dinner 4:00pm to 11pm Monday-Saturday (until 10 on Sunday):6.99-23.99

24 draft beers, red and white wines and champagne, and spirits menu


Location

3698 East Ft. union Blvd.
Slc. Ut. 84121


Rate from 1 to 5

Service:
5

Food:
5

Atmosphere
5


Other comments:

I LOVE porcupine! It is my favorite restaurant. It is located at the mouth of big cottonwood canyon so in the winter there are many tourists that finish skiing that end up eating there. They have the best salad ever. The house dressing is to die for! There are TV’s located on all corners of the restaurant and a bar so if you enjoy watching the game and having some food, porcupine is the place to be. Porcupine is a hang out for a lot of college students and with their reasonable pricing it makes it a great stop for any college age person.


Web info

Porcupine has a easy to use web page. Check it out
http://www.porcupinepub.com/

Red Iguana

The Red Iguana

The Food Network Fetures the Red Iguana on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives

Cost:

Tacos as low as $3.10 and upwards toward $25

Location:

736 West North Temple

Salt Lake City, UT 84116

Rate 1 to 5

Service 5 - These guys were excellent. I've lived in the Salt Lake Valley my entire life and have never been here. They helped me make the best selections that fit my interest. I actually ordered something I didn't particually care for, (just didn't go with my test buds, others absolutley loved the dish). I sent the dish back and they got me something different that I loved.

Food 5 - A lot of different choices for a Salt Lake Mexican restaurant.

Atmostphere 5 - Tight seating but really fun. Very busy and for good reasons.

I can't say enough about this local restaurant. It's just west of down town Salt Lake City. Its close for local business that work near the city, it's close to freeways and is accessible. It's not your typical Mexican restaurant, my family and I were greeted very nice and respectful, and we were told it would be 15 minutes for a table. They checked back with us several times to keep us posted on our table. They were super helpful and even helped us with our rowdy daughter throughout our meal. We don’t drink alcohol, but the drink menu is very friendly and it a variety is wonderful for any type of social drinker.

Like I mentioned in my service rating, I ordered a dish that I didn't particularly care for. It was called Enchiladas Suizas. This is of their most popular dishes. It just didn't sit right with me. Like mentioned in the video, it's one of their specialties. I'm confident that those that try this dish will like it, it just wasn't for me. I ended up with the Chicken Chimichunga. It was topped with their Salsa Espanaloa, this was a very sweet, unique flavor and I absolutely loved it!

My two year old daughter is the pickiest eater I've ever seen. We ordered her one of their tacos. She kept saying, "it's good, it's good" and ate her entire taco. So for those of you that have kids, this is cost friendly and your kids will love it.

Olio Ristorante

Olio Ristorante

General information:

Cost range:

Entrees range from $9.95 to $24.95

Location:

150 West 500 South

Inside the Sheraton Hotel

Wine List:

Small, but well chosen.

Rate from 1 to 5

Service:5

Food:4

Atmosphere:4.5

Other Comments:

Olio is an Italian/European type of restaurant. They serve pastas, soups, salads, different seafood entrées, and steak.

My experience at Olio was great. From the moment we walked in the door until the time we left, we had nothing but fantastic service. The hostess seated us right away, and the server came to take our drink orders not too long after. Our server was extremely friendly and knew just what to recommend. Also, he came back to check on us at the appropriate times; nothing irritates me like a server who just won’t leave you alone, or one that rarely checks on you. He also didn’t charge us the $12 fee to open the bottle of wine we brought, which I was very impressed with; he said he didn’t feel like he should because he hardly had to do anything.

The food was great. I had some kind of spaghetti dish with meat sauce and it was pretty good; it was different than a typical spaghetti entrée though. I also had the opportunity to try a couple bites of the New York Steak and mashed potatoes. The steak was delicious. The way it was marinated made it so you didn’t even need A1 or any other kind of sauce. The mashed potatoes were also amazing; I could have just ordered that for dinner and been happy.

Although we brought our own bottle of wine, I did look at the wine list. The menu in general is the only place I was just a bit disappointed. The wine list was very short, but the wines that were listed happen to be some of my favorites, but others may not be too happy with that. They do also offer different beers and liquors. The food menu was also very brief; it was just the front and back of a menu. They had 4 different appetizers to choose from, about 7 or 8 soups and salads, 5 or 6 pasta dishes and about 8 entrées. I like more variety than that, so it was just a little disappointing.

The atmosphere was great. Surprisingly for a Friday night, there was hardly anyone in the restaurant, which made it comfortable and peaceful. The way the restaurant is designed is gorgeous in my opinion, so I enjoyed every second of being there.

Who would you recommend this restaurant to?

Great for everyone, especially those who like to try something a little different every now and then.

Green Street Social Club

Green Street

General information:

Cost range:
Brunch ranges from $4.95 to $9.95
Appetizers, lunch and dinner range from $4.99 to $24.90
*Also offers buffet and banquet options.

Location:
602 East 500 South SLC, UT.

Special drinks or meals:
They offer different meal choices Monday-Friday at a lower price. Usually the specials range from spaghetti and meatballs to steak and everything in between. They also offer great deals on drinks depending on the day, week, or month. A 16 oz. beer on tap is usually $1-$1.50, and they always have at least one deal on different kinds of shots.

Rate from 1 to 5

Service:
4

Food:
4.5

Atmosphere:
5

Other Comments:

Green Street is an “all-purpose” bar and club, so to speak. There are TV’s downstairs and outside to watch sports and play trivia, there’s a patio outside to get away from the “bar scene,” and an upstairs devoted to dancing, drinking, and playing pool (they also have a few pool tables downstairs).

I have been here numerous times and have always enjoyed myself and the entire experience. Sometimes all you want is a relaxing night where you can go watch a game, grab some food, and have a couple beers; Green Street is great for this. Other times you want a crazy night full of drinking, dancing and so on; Saturday nights are usually best for those times.

The food is actually pretty good for a bar. They have a well-rounded menu and you can always find something good to eat. Everything I’ve ever had there has been delicious. The club sandwich, the buffalo chicken sandwich, and the extreme nachos are 3 of my favorites; food is one thing I’ve never been disappointed with here.

Service, on the other hand, is hit-or-miss. When I went to evaluate the bar, the service was great. They were very prompt at taking our orders, refilling our drinks and getting us the check when we were done. However, that is only one of two times I’ve had great service there. The other times, the waitresses are never quick to refill our drinks, which is kind of a buzz kill, literally.

The drinks are endless, which makes sense since it is a bar. They can make every mixed drink you could ever think of, they have so many different kinds of liquors to drink straight or to mix, and they have your basic draft beers: Bud Light, Coors, etc. The best part of going to Green Street is that most of the time, the beer is dollar or dollar fifty drafts, depending on the day, which makes it affordable and worth the experience.

The atmosphere is extremely fun whether you are there to watch a game, for a birthday party, or just for a night out with your friends. It’s one of those places where everyone feeds off of one another and it makes it that much more exciting.


Who would you recommend this restaurant to?

Great for college students and anyone 21 and older.

Caffé Molise

Caffé Molise

General information:

Cost range:
Brunch ranges from $6.95 to $14.95
Lunch ranges from $9.95 to $14.95
Dinner ranges from $6.95 to $27.95

Location:
55 West 100 South SLC, UT.

Wine List:
Caffé Molise offers a wide variety of red and white wines, cocktails, and beer.

Rate from 1 to 5

Service:
5

Food:
5

Atmosphere:
5

Other Comments:

My experience at Caffé Molise was absolutely fantastic. Besides the beautiful atmosphere, friendly employees and delicious food, I really enjoyed the small, yet intimate setting. It was nice to be somewhere that wasn’t so incredibly packed with people because it presented the opportunity for an actual conversation.

The food is phenomenal; I don’t know how else to put it. Caffé Molise offers a variety of food including variations of signature Italian pastas and other fantastic entrees, seafood dishes, salads, and my favorite: panini’s. They also offer a wide variety of wines, beers and cocktails, which go perfectly with your Italian meal. Caffé Molise also offers Sunday brunch, and I can only imagine how good it is.

The service I experienced at Caffé Molise was exceptional. The hostess seated us right away, the waitress got our drinks and food to us quickly, and she checked on us when necessary, not every other minute like many restaurants. She made sure to tell us about the specials and was very nice about answering the questions we had regarding the different dishes. She also was very adamant about making sure we liked what we ordered and that we were happy and satisfied. The service was outstanding, and as a result, it was one of the best experiences I’ve had at a restaurant. I’ve been here multiple times and the service is always consistent, so you can expect a great experience whenever you decide to go.

The atmosphere is my favorite part of this experience, besides the food of course. Like I mentioned earlier, it is an intimate setting so inside there are maybe 20 tables. However, there is a door that they leave open in the summer that goes out to the patio where there are about another 10-20 tables. The way they designed the inside is elegant, beautiful, and contemporary; outside though, is even more beautiful. During the summer the gate is filled with vines so you can’t see the street, which is amazing since you’re in the heart of downtown. There is also a pond and trees in the summer which make it so relaxing to eat and enjoy each other’s company.


Who would you recommend this restaurant to?

Great date location for college students. I would also recommend it to anyone 21 and older.

Johnny Kolaches

The menu is to die for and prices too!



General Information:

Cost range:

Breakfast: $1.69 - $2.69

Lunch: $1.89 - $5.95

Location:

900 South 248 West

Salt Lake City, Utah 84105

What are Kolaches?

Kolaches are traditional Czech pastry, popular in the immigrant communities in Oklahoma and Texas. Pronounced ko-lah-chee (or ko-lah-key), kolache is the plural of kolach. The indivdual pastries were originally made with fruit or poppy-seed filling baked in to an indatation in the center of a fluffy wee, yeast-risen dough. At Johnny Kolache, they specialize in varieties filled with meat, sausage, and cheese.

Johnny Kolaches is a small establishment here in Salt Lake City. In September of 2008 Johnny Kolache opened for business. Owners Johnny and Chris thought it would be a slow process of implenting food to our city. Word quickly spread and within weeks they were experiencing tremendous response. The Salt Lake Tribune, Salt Lake Magazine, and Fox 13 News raved about their Kolaches. Kolaches have appeared on several local radio remotes throughout the valley. A local sports radio show as them at their remotes every Friday morning. I work at an Accounting firm and we have breakfast brought to us every Friday. Johnny Kolaches is always number one among our employees favorite.

Rating:

Service 5+ - The nicest most friendly people you'll meet at a local establishment.

Food 5 - Considering cost, it's the best bank for your buck.

Atmostphere 3 - Don't plan to take dates or formal activities to this establishment. Johnny Kolaches is built for casual easy dining, and good friends. There's not too many tables to chose from, most of their customers get their food and return to school, the office, etc.

Other Comments:

I've been to Johnny Kolaches 3 times over the last month. Their menu is small - sometimes the best things come in small packages. What they do have on the menu is certainly worth stopping in and giving it a try. This is great place for college students, it's cheap, friendly, and since the University of Utah is a commuter school, it's close to trax stations and freeways for easy arrival/departure.

Items I recommend for breakfast: The Sausage Kolache, The Bacon Egg and Cheese Kolache and a Cream Cheese Fruity. Don't leave this place without trying their World Famous Cinnamon Rolls - only $2.69!

Items I recommend for lunch: Everything! It's all affordable and very declicous.

Ichiban Sushi

Ichiban Sushi

General information:

Cost range:
Sushi rolls ranging from $8.95 up to $13.95
Other entrées ranging from $13 to $27

Location:
336 South 400 East
Salt Lake City

Special drinks or meals:
A large variety of specialty sushi rolls as well as non-sushi option for those who don’t like fish
Beer and cocktails as well as hot or cold Saki served to anyone of age

Special deals:
HAPPY HOUR!! all night on Monday and Tuesday-half off selected sushi rolls and appetizers

Rate from 1 to 5

Service:
5

Food:
5

Atmosphere:
5

Other Comments:

I had an overall great experience at Ichiban. I went on one of their “happy hour” nights, and my meal was no only inexpensive but delicious! A great restaurant for sushi lovers, but my friend who hates sushi went with me and got a steak salad that she said was amazing. They have a full menu including steak, chicken, sea food, and plenty of vegetarian dishes. I had the Dynamo roll-by far the best sushi roll I’ve ever tried. The service was quick and friendly, and the atmosphere was lively, but the noise level was very comfortable making conversation pleasant and easy.


Who would you recommend this restaurant to?

Great for college age men and women in Salt Lake with their specialty prices, but would recommend to anyone. It was an overall great atmosphere that would appeal to most anyone.

Welcome to Dining on the College Dollar

Welcome to our blog where we are dedicated to finding the best food, drinks and deals in Salt Lake City. We hope to be a useful tool for anyone living on a college dollar but is still looking for quality restaurants that are unique to Salt Lake. Our goal is to give you a taste of the best that Salt Lake has to offer when it comes to dining, drinking, and going out.