11 Best Restaurants in Park City and the Wasatch Back, Park City and the Southern Wasatch

Handle was voted Best Restaurant in Park City in 2017 thanks to chef Briar Handly's inventive American dishes. Small plates make it easy to try everything, and you'll want to with dishes like buffalo cauliflower, smoked trout sausage, and the chef's famous fried chicken. The creative and knowledgeable bar staff will surprise you with inspired handcrafted cocktails. Save room for inventive, delectable desserts like the Handle Bar, made with local maple ice cream dipped in milk chocolate and topped with a brown butter crumble.

Started in 2017 by Brooks Kirchheimer, when he returned to his Park City hometown, this local favorite quickly became a hangout for those in search of comfort food and community. Built with floor-to-ceiling windows inside a modernized industrial space, the restaurant has plenty of elbow room, and the natural lighting and white-tiled open kitchen give the place a distinctive communal vibe. Locals love the H and H Burger with pimento cheese and served with a side of salt and pepper fries. 

Touted as the only ski-in, ski-out distillery in the world, High West Saloon sits at the base of Park City Mountain's Town Lift, serving hearty American fare with a locally focused menu that changes seasonally and delicious, handcrafted cocktails using the distillery's own whiskey and vodka. This lively restaurant and bar, housed in a historical home and livery, is a favorite among locals and visitors alike. Head out to the distillery's newest location at Blue Sky Ranch, just outside of town, for a full distillery tour, lunch, and Sunday brunch.

With two warehouse loft rooms, exposed wood beams, sleek furnishings, and original art, this award-winning restaurant feels like a big-city supper club where chef-owner Seth Adams pairs imaginative fresh food with a world-class wine list in this elegant—but ski-town relaxed—atmosphere. The menu changes seasonally, but look out for the braised buffalo short rib, pan-roasted tomahawk pork chop, or signature macadamia-nut-crusted Alaskan halibut.

An extension of the ski resort's famous culinary offerings, this gourmet grocery/café serves breakfast, lunch, and early dinner, and features menu items ranging from the famous Deer Valley turkey chili to shrimp tacos to a chicken tandoori wrap, and everything in between. The expansive outdoor deck provides waterfront alfresco dining and views of the ski resort. Stop in for a casual lunch after a hike, après-ski, or even to grab a gourmet picnic-to-go for a concert or a carrot cake cupcake for the road.

At this lively establishment, dishes are cooked over an open flame, and antique leather chairs look out onto the open kitchen. Serving so-called heirloom American cuisine, the restaurant's seasonal, locally sourced menu changes frequently. Chef-owner John Murcko is no stranger to the Park City dining scene, as many of his local restaurants earned culinary fame in the past three decades, but Firewood is his first solo venture. The downstairs bar is not to be missed, with an industrial feel and a unique bar top finished with hundreds of nickels.

If you are looking for a place to grab a burger and delicious craft beer while your kids enjoy house-made mac-and-cheese, this roadhouse (formerly Squatters) is the spot. With a sleek and bustling brewpub vibe, it's a great place for either an evening out or a quick stop after a spin on your mountain bike to enjoy truffle fries and share a pint of pale ale.

Plenty of purple-hue touches—velvet upholstered booths, hand-painted scrims, and Western murals—brighten the 1898 brick building that was once the local telegraph office. "Fancy cowboy" cuisine includes such dishes as grilled veal meat loaf with poblano peppers and pine nuts or the lime-grilled black tiger shrimp. In summer, eat on the back deck under the charming bistro lights.

Located in the newly remodeled Park City Peaks Hotel, Versante has become a favorite among locals. The welcoming, casual atmosphere paired with menu favorites such as flatbread pizzas, hearty pastas, and specialty cocktails is hard to beat. The restaurant opens at 4 pm daily, making it a great option for après-ski. In the warmer months, enjoy a local craft beer on the patio and lawn area outside. 

It's hard to believe it's been more than 30 years since Wasatch became Park City's first brewery in the post-Prohibition era back in 1986. At the top of Main Street, this pub stays on top of its game with celebrated beers and down-to-earth yet elevated pub food. Sidle up to the bar for a mug of Polygamy Porter and a burger, or cozy up with the entire family in a booth. The menu is a step above regular pub food, with items such as house-made coconut shrimp, a buffalo burger with a Cajun remoulade sauce, and a side of tater tots (both sweet potato and regular) instead of your typical fries. Top it all off with a Brigham's root-beer float. In summer, grab an outside table for people-watching.

Don't overlook Windy Ridge because of its industrial park neighborhood—the dining room is warm and inviting, and the baked goods are delicious. Lighter appetites might fancy the homemade chicken noodle soup and a Southwest salad, or if you've spent the day skiing or biking, tackle the meat loaf or a rack of smoked ribs. It's well worth the short trip from Main Street for this affordable menu. Just be sure to save room for a pastry or two from the neighboring Bakery at Windy Ridge.