2.22.2008

350 MAIN


350 Main Street,Park City, UT
435.649.3140
Open Nightly from 5:30 p.m.
Reservations Recommended
http://www.350main.com/

Whaaaaaa? You went to Park City? I thought this was Salt Lake Chowhounds.... Ok, we know, but when you hear awesome things about a place you have to go right? And isn't our sleepy town neighbor just the place to venture out too? We would say so and if we're going to be venturing out, why not to a restaurant with a great reputation.


What we loved:

The Environment: There is a reason why 350 is so popular, it does have a very cozy feel. Its nice to walk into a warming arena when you've been hiking up ye ole Main Street. The basement can feel a little enclosing, but some people would just think it was cozy. The decor is a mixed of Tuscan wine cellar mixed with winter cabin and just a dash of upscale eatery.

The Appetizers: Lentil Cakes and Ahi and Hamachi Tower are both divine. (for pics of these, scope the website)

The Variety: It was hard to nail down a specific theme on the menu. Imagine a asiameircan/sprench.....yeah. Something like that.

The Calories listed on the menu: Oh yeah its true...however we're not sure if this is a good or a bad thing. Is guilt a good side dish with dinner? They seem very health conscious. Thumbs up in our book.

The Food: When it all boils down isn't this what it's about? As we mentioned, there is something for everyone to try. Scallops...yum. Cooked perfectly. No one likes a had scallop. Sea bass...sesame crusted and delicious. Jasmine Rice Cakes.....Oh yeah. The mango salsa will make you soooo happy. Ono-Ono...Very tasty. We have to be a little picky though... one preparation of the Ono was a tad overcooked....sorry. However, everything we tasted on the the menu was light yet still extremely flavorful. You felt like you had a hearty meal without having to poke another hole in your belt....know what I mean. Every thing made for "happy hounds all around."

The Deserts: Chocolate is the best part of the day. Want some hot chocolate cake wrapped in phillo dough and surrounded by some awesome vanilla ice cream? DONE! Want a cup of the most amazing mocha pudding/creme topped with some fresh berries and rolled wafer cookies? Done and DONE! Deserts...represent.

And what about the wine....Here's Andrew's take on his experience.
Let me start by saying that expectations ran high walking into this experience based on the fact that Joshua Cowart is the Sommelier... Josh has had some of the best mentors in the industry and loves wine with the same passion that I love my Harley (which, lets just say is border line unnerving!)Anyhoo... The wine list is as perfect as it gets. Plenty of unique wines and familiar favorites with a price point to make most diners very happy. Even the “by the glass” list had some great selections. I know you’re just dying to know what we had so let me cut the suspense! We started with a 2006 Dr. Loosen Riesling which kills it every time! Mosel-Saar-Ruwer (The region of Germany that Dr. Loosen calls home) is quickly becoming the rock star of the Riesling world, but the great thing is... it’s still an affordable glass of good grapes! On to the purple stuff... A 2001 Medrano-Irazu Reserva Rioja. Sometimes it feels like you need a Rosetta Stone to decipher certain wine labels, so let me help you with this one... Medrano-Irazu is the producer, Reserva is the level of quality (3 basic levels for Rioja... Crianza, Reserva, Grand Reserva – Grand is highest quality), Rioja is the region and it tells you that you are drinking predominantly Tempranillo grapes. I would say that this was the least universally loved wine that we have had on our adventures, but it was because it was so interesting and unique. Earthy with olive undertones instead of the fruit explosion that a lot of Cali reds tend to be... this is what makes it not fit everyone's taste buds. Those of you who are Tempranillo fans... buy a freakin case! IT’S A GOOD (said with a bad Spanish accent).Now, I’ll make this quick... which by now you’ve noticed is not my forte. The server’s knowledge of the wine list was my only complaint. She had a few favorites that she recommended, but when I wasn’t enthused by her fav’s, she did not know the list well enough to make solid alternate suggestions. Not what I expected from one of Josh’s servers. To her absolute defense and redemption... she had fun and, dammit, that is what wine is about (sorry snooty wine demons... I know you like to be serious and pretentious as you sip the night away).

What we didn't love as much:

The Parking: Park City Main Street...Nuff said.

The Poached Apple Desert: Yeah sorry.... It's not your grammy's apple pie. That's for sure.

The Service: Ok, we know, we know we're asking a lot....but when you are in a restaurant that is known for its impeccable service, you expect they very best. Our water glasses sat empty quite a few times and the wine service was lacking. Our server was lighthearted and friendly, but we felt that there was just wasn't a sense of professionalism and hustle that you come to expect from upscale restaurants.

Remember, Park City is just a hop, skip and a jump away from the good ole SLC and where else can you see every variety of furry boots and over sized parkas? All in all, 350 Main is a hit. The food is great, the menu is unique and that is what its all about.

350 Main at a glance:
Food: Very Good, Fresh and Delicious.
Service: Good, but could and should be amazing.
Bathrooms: SO good. Clean and sanitary.
The Price: Big Bucks, but worth it.
(Who dined? Kara, Melanie, Andrew, Michelle and our guest Tyra.)

2.20.2008

RELEASE THE HOUNDS! 350 Main

We're going on a field trip. Coming next: 35o Main in Park City.

2.18.2008

SETTEBELLO


260 West 200 South
Salt Lake City, UT 84101
Phone:801.322.3556 Fax:801.322.3556
Hours:
Mon - Thurs 10am - 10pm,
Fri - Sat 10am - 11pm

Who doesn't love pizza? It the all time classic goodness. And where better to get it than a place that does it real style. For more info on their history, we recommend giving their website a gander.

What we love:

The Location: Oh Downtown. It's nice to see buildings that are still standing, escpecially ones that house such delectiable delights.

The Service: Fast and Friendly. Also, They aren't afraid to make recommendations, but also won't overwhelm you by ordering for you.

The Atmosphere: It is not a formal dining arena, but the room is light and airy. Even with a lot of people you don't feel over crowded or jammed into a little space.

The Menu: Simplistic. No one likes to read the Declaration of Independance before they find what it is that they want to order.

The Food: Holy Lord...the food. This is by far one of the best pizza places in all of Salt Lake and we would venture to say the West. (Yes all you East Coasters we're leaving you out of this.) Everything that goes into these discs of doughs happiness is fresh and authentic. Want classic, go for the MARGHERITA. She's a classic lady with sauce, basil and cheese. Feelin crazy? CALZONE is the answer. A twist you say? No red sauce? BIANCA is your woman. Every order is made fresh with an amazing crisp, chewy dough that will rock your world. The cheese is amazing. It's refreshing to have a slice that isn't dripping with oil and and leaving strings of ruberized white gluten all over your face. For their full menu, hit up their website

The Deserts: Gelato and Sorbetto. I'm sorry, I couldn't hear you over my taste buds giggling with glee. Pistacio, Hazelnut, Strawberry and Chocolate Chip Gelato and Raspberry Sorbetto.....Oh my. And whats better than that? The flavors are always changing! We reccommend getting a scoop of each. Just do it.....

The Vino: Andrew and Michelle, we believe this is your forte.....
Yum is the first word that comes to mind. here is a great example of tradition over modern techno wine-snobology. For once, I will totally excuse the fact that our wine was served in tumblers! You get the idea that this is a very true representation of what it’s like to go to a pizza joint in Naples and to be served it’s native wines from the Campania region. Our server was honest with her recommendations which is always refreshing... first, she admitted that she has never liked white wine when I asked which was her favorite. So, she brought us the most popular... a 2005 Falanghina (a white grape varietal native to the Campania region... similar weight to Chardonnay but a bit more floral) from Feudi di san Gregorio winery, which ended up being very tasty and fit our appetizers well. It fell short when our actual pizzas came so we moved on to some red, which our waitress had a bit more experience with. She brought us a Nero D’Avola from the Morgante estate (a red grape specific to Sicily)... the 2005 vintage did not rate well with Wine Spectator, but I have to say, I will be going to the Wine Store to pick up a few bottles as my “keep around the house for company” wine. It was a super smooth dinner wine that paired perfectly with the spice and depth of all the different pizzas on the table (even though it was the only red on the list not specific to the Campania region). All in all, great wine experience and good value... both bottles were $30 and well worth the price. I do have to say, I’m glad I had friends to drink with... the “by the glass” price was 8-10 dollars which is a bit spendy when the bottle is only $30.

What we didn't love as much:

The Parking: Yeah, yeah, yeah you've heard it before. We hate parking downtown. Just be prepared.

The Appetizers: They were a little lack lustre in comparison to the yum of the pizza.

The Presentation Factor: If you're looking for fancy pants presentation, this isn't the place. But hey, when the pizza is this good, it could come out on a garbage can lid and it would still be divine.

So all in all, we loved Settebello. Go for dinner, go for lunch, but just go! You will not regret it. In fact, some of us....not saying who, might have a minor addiction to the joint.

Settebello at a glance:
Food: Once again....Holy Lord. So yum,
Service: Quirky, fun, friendly.
Price: Very afordable. Actually pennies from heaven.
Bathrooms: Very nice.


(Who dined? Kara, Melanie, Laura, Andrew and Michelle)

2.14.2008

Coming Next! Settebello

ACME Burger

275 S 200 W
Salt Lake City, UT
(801) 257-5700
M-Th, 11 am-10:30 pm; F-S, 11 am-11:30 pm, Su, 11 am-9 pm

Ok now...I'm sure we were all wondering just what was in store when this big blue building popped up and all of a sudden you see the word ACME all over the joint, but hey, SLC needs a little quirky...right?

What we love:

The Location: Acme is virtually in the downtown mecca. Its perfect walking distance from the Gateway and many other downtown fancies. Want more beer? Red Rock and Squatters are on the same block. Want theatre? Rose Wagner and Capitol Theatre are a hop, skip and a jump.

The Decor: Its a little bit diner and a little bit upscale. Its the perfect mix of t-shirt and jeans tossed together with your fancy pants.

The big screen tv broadcasting the goings on in the kitchen: Wait...I'm not sure if we love this... It might be just a little weird.

The Service: Thanks Stephanie, you did a great job. All the food and beverage came out fast and fresh. Little tip for the future though... Sometimes you shouldn't lay out too many personal details on your diners. We felt a little uncomfortable.

The Food: Yes...isn't that what its all about? The food is actually really good. The lamb burger gets a big thumbs up, as well as the fries. Did anyone else know that ostrich is a red meat? We didn't, but as a burger, we're not quite sure. Its a unique but powerful flavor. Pretty tastybut very interesting. Two words for ya...Bread Pudding. Look into it. It will change your life.

The Beer Menu: Thanks to Red Rock, tasty brews all around.

The Bathrooms: So new and clean. And the fun part you ask? There is a blackboard wall and chalk in the bathroom. You can totally leave your mark. Sweet bro.

Things we didn't love as much:

The Mahi Burger: Pardon, but has anyone seen its flavor? Its sad when the bread is better than the meat. Know what I mean?

The Parking: We hate pay lots. They're dumb. Street park if you can.

Oh Acme. All in all not a bad joint. If you want to chomp on a restaraunt burger, this is definatley the place for you.

ACME at a glance:
Service: Good, but beware of chatty servers.....
Food: Yummy, but be wary when ordering. Stick to classics, beer and deserts.
Cheddar: Not outrageously spendy, but its not Wendy's. Be prepared to fork it out.
Bathrooms: Some of our favorite. They're just fun.

(Who dined? Xia, Melanie and Kara.)