Cous Cous

My friend wanted to go out to dinner with me and we happened to be in the Murray area. With no other forethought, we opened the urbanspoon app on my phone and found a wonderful Mediterranean place called Cous Cous.

Cous Cous finds itself in the parking lot of a shopping plaza at 5470 South 900 East in Murray. It's a small place, but its popularity is no secret. They've been receiving awards since they first moved in a few years ago. Despite its accessible and friendly atmosphere, the menu boasts a collection a very authentic dishes of shwarma, hummus, and of course, cous cous.

The Atmosphere 5/5

The place is reasonably small as you might expect from a strip mall restaurant, but they've managed to pack it full of aesthetics that are pleasing and interesting. The kitchen grill is open to the dining room so you can see and hear everything that goes on back there. They have a hummus bar and and olive bar to the far right of the above picture. 

The Service 4/5

The line starts at the door and makes its way to the cashier who was very helpful, but rushed. There weren't that many people in the restaurant when we arrived and I had hoped he'd be able to spend a little more energy making recommendations from the menu for us first-timers. The restaurant manager actually did come later in the meal to ask us how we were and he even personally bussed our table when we finished. 

The Food 5/5

The food was absolutely wonderful. The portions weren't enormous, but I left feeling very satisfied. I ordered the shwarma wrap which was served with their amazing cranberry cous cous. My friend ordered the steak pita with creamy tahini garlic sauce, mushrooms, and avocado... of yeah. The really go overboard with the avocado. Not that it's a bad thing, but but my wrap and his pita were seriously 30% avocado. Anyway...

I would absolutely suggest Cous Cous for anyone looking to break the usual routine and enjoy some multicultural goodness. 

Bangkok Thai on Main

So its been four months since my last posting and I have my little infant son to blame. He has, on occasion, been able to behave himself long enough to enjoy an evening of fine dining, but it happens so seldom, it's difficult to plan around.

We found ourselves in Park City this afternoon and decided to chance having the baby during dinner. My wife is on a dairy-free diet while breastfeeding, so we decided to go with an Asian cuisine.

Bangkok Thai is located on 605 Main Street in Park City on the lower end of the historic shopping district.

The Atmosphere 5/5

The entrance to the restaurant is in the basement (and I do mean creepy old basement) of the Park Hotel which, despite all aging appearances, was built in the 1980's. The restaurant has a traditional dining area to the left and a lounge to the right. We had initially planned on enjoying the all-you-can-eat Pad Thai at the bar before 6pm for $10 a person, but were turned away because you have to be at least 21 years old to be in the bar... We sort of forgot that we had the baby.

The interior of the restaurant is impressive. My 4 month-old spent most of the evening fascinated with the ceiling. The dining room is actually pretty small, but it didn't run the risk of getting too loud or crowded.

The Service 5/5

Despite not being an example of their usual upper-class Après-ski guests, they did an amazing job of taking care of our needs and preventing any issues having our potentially noisy baby would impose on their other patrons. 

Our order was quickly taken with a smile and our glasses were never empty. They didn't hover over the table and allowed us plenty of time to enjoy ourselves, but not so long as to wonder if our food would ever arrive.

The Food 5/5 

I ordered the Panang Curry and my wife ordered the Pad Thai with Chicken (an apparent favorite among all of their guests and the dish that won them 2013's BEST OF STATE award). I was worried about my decision to go with the brown rice instead of the traditional white with my dinner, but the resulting texture sold me. The food was absolutely heavenly. The only downside was the price. I'd have gladly paid $30 for the food pictured here, but the dinner came to $55 after tax and tip.

We were, however, full and satisfied long before any dessert inquiries were made. I'd gladly go again, but the premium price lands this restaurant squarely in the "special occasion" category and will have to wait for me to devise another excuse for coming.

Pat's BBQ

So, I'm finally getting around to writing this one. My wife and I visited Pat's a number of weeks ago and I'd been procrastinating.

I first heard about Pat's BBQ on 155 W. Commonwealth Ave in Salt Lake while watching a local episode of the Food Network's Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. You can click here to view the segment. It wasn't until the restaurant was featured on a podcast I listen to, however, that I decided we had to visit.

The Atmosphere 4/5

Pat's is located inside of an old manufacturing warehouse and they've made some interesting decisions on how to use the space. When we walked in the the early evening, it was difficult to tell if anyone was in. We cautiously wandered through the hallway, peering into storerooms and kitchen space trying to determine if we had entered from the correct door. We made it all the way into the back of the building, where the dining hall is located, before seeing a single employee. We were greeted there and shown to our seat. The place is set up with picnic tables and feels very much like a backyard barbecue, complete with live music.

The Service 3/5

We had arrived too early for the music. The band was just setting up as we left. There seemed to be plenty of servers and only a few early diners, so I don't know why the servers all seemed a little rushed. Nonetheless, the server was able to give us a rudimentary introduction to the menu.

Featured predominantly in the center of the menu is the Smoked Meatloaf. It was the item that was highlighted on the TV show, so I decided that I would go for that. My wife ordered the brisket. I was surprised at the time by how lightening fast or food was served, but in hindsight realize that all of the food at a real BBQ is smoked for hours before we arrived and therefore would be instantly available.

The Food 4/5

Smoked Meatloaf was an experience and a half. It was absolutely amazing, but it seemed to have the same minor problem as the brisket. The meat at Pat's is prepared really sweet. Everything had a natural honey flavor. It wasn't really a problem, rather it was simply unexpected. Everything on the plate is made from scratch and the mashed potatoes were some of the best I have had in a very long time. The corn had been creamed in such a homestyle method, I'm not sure I'll prefer them any other way again. 

The Conclusion

Pat's is a local gem and I would suggest it to any and all BBQ lovers out there. Go on a Thursday, Friday, or Saturday night and enjoy the live band.

Joy Luck

My big sister was in town for the weekend, so of course the family wanted to all get together for dinner. As has become tradition, we decided to get Chinese food and we opted for what is quickly becoming the family favorite: Joy Luck, located at 10745 S. State St., Sandy, UT 84070.

(I say family favorite because the family as a whole loves it... I personally do not, but we'll get to that later).

The Atmosphere (5/5)

The first thing you see when you walk into the restaurant is a half-wall fish tank full of several colorful fish. I tend to spend several minutes in front of the tank, just watching them live their little fishy lives. I'm always so enthralled by the aquatic distraction that I barely notice the rest of the restaurant, but based on the pictures Matt took, there's nice, calming dimmed lighting complimented by soft yellow walls and dark wood accents. Overall, it's a very comfortable atmosphere.

The Service (5/5)

The number one thing I use to judge the quality of service at any restaurant is the number of times I see the bottom of my water glass. Our server at Joy Luck did an excellent job keeping everyone's water full. I don't know if that's because he's just that good or if it was because we were right by the serving station and the water pitcher was right there for him to easily grab every time he passed by. I'm willing to give him the benefit of the doubt though and say he's just that good.

The Food (3/5)

The picture above is of Matt's dinner: Beef Lo Mein with a side of hoisin sauce. The food overall was good; it was the "asian flavor [Matt] was going for." However, it did come out disappointingly cold. There are very few things more off-putting than cold Chinese food. Luckily, this was Matt's dinner, not mine, so I wasn't the one who had to eat it.

The picture below is of my dinner: Sesame chicken with fried rice, an egg roll and a fried prawn. Before Matt even had a chance to take the picture, the prawn was off my plate and donated to someone (anyone) else. I don't do seafood. Ever. Once the offending item was taken care of, I was able to dig in to my atypical dinner. Normally, I go for Lo Mein but was feeling saucy and opted for a different dish. It is really difficult to mess up fried rice, so I wasn't too surprised when I enjoyed that portion of the meal. It did need a little bit of soy sauce to help the flavor along, but that's to be expected of basically all fried rice dishes. Even the most delicious ones are made even more scrumptious with a little soy sauce. The egg roll, on the other hand, was a huge surprise: I LOVED it! Typically, that would've left my plate for someone else's immediately after the prawn was gone, but I decided to try it and am so glad that I did. The cabbage inside wasn't soggy. There was a good amount of pork throughout the whole thing (which is always appreciated) and the shaved carrots added a nice touch of crunchy sweetness.  Literally the best egg roll I've ever eaten! Now for the star of the dish. Although the flavor of the sesame chicken was pleasant and the chicken was cooked well, the breading was a little soggy and off-putting. Either there was too much breading on the chicken to cook thoroughly or the grease was not hot enough, causing the breading to soak up the grease without actually being cooked all the way through. On top of that, and I've found this every time I've eaten at Joy Luck, the food was uncharacteristically sans salt for Chinese food. I NEVER put extra salt on my food because I don't really like salt. This chicken had me reaching for the shaker several times throughout the meal and by the time I'd eaten maybe a fourth of the chicken, I gave up on it entirely.

Conclusion

Chinese food, when done correctly, is one of my favorite styles of food. In my family's opinion, Joy Luck is the place to go when the Asian food craving hits. Aside from the subpar offerings however, I do really enjoy the fish tank wall and the comfortably private atmosphere one experiences at Joy Luck. I will continue frequenting the establishment with my family and have a good time because being in my family's presence is my happy place and no amount of disappointing food can ruin that for me.

Los Cucos Sandy

The Atmosphere 2/5

The last time we were in this building it was a peaceful, relaxing Italian restaurant. It’s been at least four years, but I couldn’t help comparing the atmosphere now to what it was then. There used to be warm, cream-colored walls covered with framed black-and-white pictures of Italian-American celebrities. The photos are gone now; the walls are painted a nauseating shade of green. And the noise level was what I’d expect from a high school cafeteria. Memo to me: This may be the place to bring my grandsons. No one will notice their racket.

The Service 4/5

I couldn’t fault the service. We were seated promptly and our wait staff was friendly, helpful and efficient. My glass never made it to half empty. 

The Food 3/5

I’d come to Los Cucos hungry for mole sauce; the deep, rich kind made with peanut butter, chilies and chocolate. If there was anything on the menu served with mole, I never found it. Instead we opted for the Parilla San Luis: a barbecue/fajita dish with sausages, chicken, beef carnitas, and shrimp. The menu said, “for two,” but this easily could have fed three or four hungry people. 

We’d been meaning to visit this restaurant for some time, if only to satisfy our curiosity. We found the food and service good, but certainly not on the level with the Red Iguana. With so many tastier (and quieter) choices nearby, we’re not likely to choose this spot again.

State Street Grill

I consider myself to be fairly adventurous in choosing where I eat. Every once in a while, I might lose a gamble. Such was the case today.

My wife and I found ourselves in American Fork where we have frequently passed by the State Street Grill at 656 N 2000 W. We were hungry and decided to give it a try. 

The Atmosphere 3/5 

There were a couple things that surprised me about the restaurant. 1. It was much smaller than it even looked. 2. It was packed with loyal customers. and 3. They are proud of their heritage. Apparently, the owners hail from the East Coast and bring (or at least attempt to bring) their favorite American flavors back to Utah. The regular guests all ordered fried cod and fish burgers. They claim to have "the smallest freezer in Utah" which I suppose means they serve only the freshest food. In my opinion of the end product, the effort is a little wasted.

The Service 2/5

They were happy to explain the culture of the joint (after noting that they didn't recognize us as repeat customers. Honestly, it felt like walking into a biker bar dressed in button down shirts and slacks.) and the different items on the menu. We were suggested the Boston burger and the "My Bleu Heaven" burger. We happily ordered them. 

The food seemed to take an eternity to be prepared. In fact, we were about to impatiently go ask about the wait time (which I almost never do) when we were finally served.

The Food 2/5

Is it the thought that counts? I mean, the idea behind these burgers was really great, but the execution left a lot to be desired. The freshness of the ingredients was completely negated after the burgers were burnt into blackness. I had a difficult time finding any bleu cheese in my burger at all. We couldn't even make it half way through all the food we ordered. 

Conclusion

 I would gladly make this food on my own. These two could be my favorite kind of burgers, but it would have to be done well which, unfortunately, was not what we found here. 

Bombdiggitys

After a particularly enjoyable family event in South Jordan, we decided to enjoy a late dessert at a place we'd noticed on the way. The name was certainly interesting and it made us mentally salivate for, of all things, Beefalo burgers and frozen custard.

Bombdiggitys at 1481 W. 12600 S. in Riverton bears all the appearances of a local burger joint. Shakes, fries, sodas... even the picture board of Man Vs. Food survivors of whatever ginormous concoction they could invent. The twist of it all is that they do it with Beefalo, a hybrid invention crossing domestic cattle and the North American Bison. They boast a healthier burger of more than 70% protein.

The Atmosphere 3/5

I don't believe the small town grease-hut feel of the restaurant benefits its intended appearance. It is more special and has more to offer than it lets on at first glance. I imagine, however, that presenting themselves as a lesser quality eatery allows them the advantage of lower expectations. If you expect a $0.99 blackened puck of meat with american cheese between slices of wonder bread and receive a $6.00 sweet carolina barbeque burger, you'd likely walk away with a positive experience.

The Service 5/5

We were practically the only people there. It was their last operating hour on a Saturday, but places like these tend to be hotspots for the local high school kids. We had all the attention to ourselves. They were very helpful describing the restaurant and its menu. The food was made quickly and was delivered to us.

The Food 4/5

I ordered the special of the day, the "Hawaiin Burger" (I love public typos) with fries, drink, and a shake. This turned out to be far more than I should have. I was very full. The meat was great and I'd be inclined to have more of it at a backyard barbecue of my own. Actually, they sell the beefalo meat directly out of the restaurant in every variety. Ribs, Steaks, and ground beefalo. 

 I did have a problem with the rest of the burger, however. The bun was a thin white bread that soaked up the BBQ sauce and became too flimsy to support the sandwich. It began to crumble into a messy disaster. Also, the sauce itself pooled in the center of the onions which then created a pressurized liquid bomb that exploded on impact. 

Conclusion

This place is a great local burger joint to go to with friends and family. Beefalo is a fun and seemingly healthier alternative to the cow. The shakes are thick and stacked high. Bring an empty stomach. Enjoy!

Bombay House

The only real problem we had with Bombay House in West Jordan was getting there. We all used navigation apps to find it and were all led astray. We were directed to the Target parking lot at the southwest corner of the Jordan Landing shopping center. The restaurant is actually several yards to the east, sharing a building with PetSmart, Michael’s Arts & Crafts and the Sports Chalet.

There were seven of us for dinner after 6:30 on a Friday night. I expected our group would overwhelm the small strip-mall location, but we were seated almost instantly. Our orders were taken and delivered with the same punctuality, and our water glasses never ran dry. 

For starters we had vegetable samosa, onion bhaji, chicken pakora, and a vegetable pakora, which came with a spicy mint sauce and a fruity tamarind sauce. We could easily have made a meal of these, but since they’re all deep fried it’s probably well that we didn’t. 


We ordered chicken tikka masala, chettinad lamb, chicken curry and a mixed vegetable curry. We also had garlic naan and aloo partha, even though the entrées arrived with plenty of white rice. Each dish was prepared exactly as spicy or as mild as we specified, so there were no unpleasant surprises.

We saw several intriguing afters on the menu: two unique Indian ice creams, a cardamom-flavored rice pudding studded with fruits and nuts, and gulab jamun, a pastry soaked in syrup and garnished with coconut. Sadly, we were just too full to consider any of these. We’ll have to go back again, skip the dinner and just have dessert!

Lone Star Taqueria

Where do you go when you're hungry, bored, and feeling a little broke? The Lone Star Taqueria at 2265 Fort Union Blvd in Salt Lake City. This little taqueria (pronounced "talk-WHERE-ee-ah" by my GPS) is craaaaaaaaazy busy, but its ok. They know how to handle the traffic and their popularity is completely warranted.

The Atmosphere 5/5

I was worried as we drove up to the restaurant. The drive-through was lined out to the street and every single parking stall was taken. Oddly, I'd never even heard of the place and it seemed the whole town had the same great idea. There ended up being one single, solitary, parallel-parking spot available at the back of the tiny building, sandwiched between the parade of hungry drivers and a foreboding concrete wall that had made its mark on many cars who had foolishly attempted to park there.

The inside of the eatery is sensory overload. Every square inch of the place is decorated with colorful quirks and just plain weird. Masks... with lizards for noses, for example. And, oh yeah. It smells like fish.

The Service 5/5

Despite the long line, it moved really fast and I was worried we'd be herded like the unsuspecting cattle that had eventually become the meat I was about to enjoy. Luckily, they handle their popularity like pros. Our order was taken by a hurried, but very helpful man who directed us toward the reason everybody comes to the joint: Fish Tacos. I do not eat fish under most circumstances, so I ordered the 1/2 size Carnitas Burrito and my friend ordered both the shrimp taco and a fish taco.

The Food 5/5

Our food arrived very quickly, giving us barely enough time to procure utensils and peruse the salsa bar. My burrito that claimed to be "1/2 size" was as big as my face. $6 well spent and very filling. It was heavenly. This is one of the few times I would direct you to let the food speak for itself as my description probably would not do it justice.

Conclusion

Even for the "fish-smell adverse" among us, this place is entirely worth the trip. Think ahead and either brave the drive-through or consider parking elsewhere. 

Royal India

I had been dying for Indian food for a while. There are actually quite a few good restaurants fairly close to where I live. We ended up going to Royal India at 10263 S 1300 E in Sandy, UT.

The Atmosphere 3/5

The restaurant finds itself in a strip mall in a fairly small single unit. Despite that, they've managed to cram twice as many tables as you'd expect into this tiny space. It makes you wonder how big the kitchen could be. They've decorated it nicely and the ambient cultural music is comforting. I would suggest going at an off-peak time. Once it gets busy in here, it's LOUD.

The Service 0/5

And now for the disappointment. :( I've had good experiences here before and I do take authentic Indian cuisine service with a grain of salt, but tonight's performance was unacceptably ridiculous. My wife and I were greeted by four seated employees, who sprang to attention. We were then given a small table for two and menus to look at. It hadn't been three minutes before a server arrived to take our order. She almost seemed annoyed that we weren't ready. We weren't offered drinks or specials. Feeling uncomfortable, we  hurriedly ordered the two most pedestrian items on the menu, Chicken Curry and Lamb Vindaloo. 

It gets worse. A friend of ours pleasantly surprised us and joined us at the table. The staff seemed panicked. I asked if we could be seated at a larger table and we were given a third chair. We requested a plate and silverware. This took them more than 10 minutes to produce AFTER our food had been delivered. There were tons of employees, many of whom came to the table, and yet our friend went unserved for the entire meal. He was given no menu and no chance to order any food for himself. Our water glasses stood empty for the majority of the evening.

The Food 5/5

At the very least, I can say I got what I came for. I don't crave Indian food often, but when I do, Vindaloo hits the spot. Perhaps it's impossible to get it wrong, but I can't remember ever having bad Vindaloo or Curry. We also ordered these lamb pastries, which we served with two sauces: fruity and minty. I really enjoyed these little things, but they were decadent. Had the friend not shown up to help us with them, I doubt I'd have finished.

Conclusion

Royal India is a convenient little Indian food restaurant that can usually seat your whole group without waiting. Lower your expectations on the consistency of the service and enjoy the authentic cuisine. Arguably though, with so many great Indian restaurants in the area, you might consider going elsewhere.