The Best Restaurant in Salt Lake City, Utah

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The 2002 Winter Olympics cast Salt Lake City in a new, contemporary, more diverse light. Visitors discovered a panoply of cultural influences, brewpubs, ethnic flavors, and progressive chefs. Salt Lake City may not have the depth of restaurants seen in other big cities, but there are a couple of outstanding choices for nearly every budget and cuisine. Restaurants like Lamb’s Grill Café, Hire’s Big H, and Ruth’s Diner trace their roots back five-plus decades, and their colorful proprietors are more than willing to share the history they’ve witnessed from their kitchens. Returning LDS missionaries have brought back their favorite flavors from Asia, Europe, and Latin America, with impressive results. Seafood, Japanese, Tibetan, Indian, Spanish, and Italian are all suitably showcased in Salt Lake eateries, and when all else fails, there are great burgers and Rocky Mountain cuisine, a fusion inspired by frontier big game, seafood fresh from the great Pacific ports, and organic produce grown in Utah’s fertile valleys. You'll also find creative wine lists and knowledgeable service. Bakers and pastry chefs defy the 4,400-foot altitude with rustic sourdoughs and luscious berry-filled treats. Multiple weekly summer farmers' markets are thriving, and chefs are building more and more of a food community.

Layla Mediterranean Grill and Mezze

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Venture a few miles south from downtown to Holladay to enjoy savory Mediterranean dishes—with an emphasis on hearty Moroccan and Middle Eastern grills—in a crisp, contemporary dining space. Tangy spices enliven Old-World favorites, such as shawarma and moussaka, and not-so-common dishes like muhamarra (think hummus but with walnuts) may tempt you away from your comfort zone. Bright walls, big windows, and family-friendly banquettes bring a sun-drenched vibe to the meal.

4751 S. Holladay Blvd., UT, 84117, USA
801-272–9111
Known For
  • Combination mezze platters
  • Lebanese-influenced cocktails
  • Turkish coffee ice cream
Restaurant Details
Closed Sun. No lunch

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