Best Restaurants In Utah: Salt Lake Magazine's Dining Awards

The winners of Salt Lake Magazine's Dining Awards celebrated the fact that they survived, and even thrived, during the past few lean financial years. 

"I think we should give ourselves a huge round of applause for being in business right now," said Sam Neves of The Wild Grape Bistro in his acceptance speech for "Best Mixologist. Wild Grape was one of several winning restaurants that opened in 2008, just as the economy was tanking.  

Several others echoed his sentiments, including Bowman Brown and Viet Pham of Forage, who were named "Best Chefs." 

"Unbeknownst to most people, we were two college dropouts sitting on our porch two years ago with no money, and pretty much at zero," said Brown. "But we stuck with it." 

This year the Brown and Pham were regional winners of Food & Wine Magazine's Best New Chefs Award, and are currently nominated for a James Beard Foundation award. Forage specializes in local, organic ingredients, and serves one fixed-price menu each night. The menu changes daily. 

The annual dining awards, organized by Salt Lake Magazine's food and dining editor Mary Malouf, are considered the Oscars night for the local dining scene. A good share of this year's winners have only been in business a few years, such as Copper Onion, J. Wong's Bistro, Frida Bistro,  and Pago. But the event also honored veteran restaurateurs, such as Lifetime Achievement Award winner Karen Olson. Her restaurant, Metropolitan had a stellar 15-year run in downtown Salt Lake City before closing last August. Olson was credited with raising the bar for Utah dining and spearheading what has become the annual Downtown Dine O'Round. 

"The baton is passed," said Olson. "I will be here in a decade and a half after you put in your 15 years, and we can toast to you as well."

Best Restaurant in Salt Lake City (as well as best Italian restaurant) went to Fresco Italian Cafe, which has won numerous awards in the past. 

Amber Billingsley of Vinto was named best pastry chef.  Billingsley, who has worked her sweet-tooth magic in a number of Utah restaurants said, "The main reason I am standing here is because of all the chefs  I have worked with in the past who taught and inspired me."

Here's the list of award-winners : 

Best Chef: Viet Pham and Bowman Brown, Forage (370 E. 900 South, Salt Lake City) 

Best New Restaurant: Farm at Canyons (4000 Canyons Resort Dr., Park City) 

Best Restaurant in Salt Lake City and Best Italian: Fresco Italian Café (1513 S. 1500 East) 

Best Restaurant in Park City: Talisker on Main (515 Main St.) 

Best Northern Utah: Slackwater Pub and Pizzeria (1895 Washington Blvd., Ogden) 

Best Central Utah: Pizzeria 712 (320 S. State St., Ste. 185, Orem) 

Best Southwestern Utah: Whiptail Grill (445 Zion Park Blvd., Springdale) 

Best Southeastern Utah: Hell's Backbone Grill (20 N. State Hwy 12, Boulder) 

Best Pastry Chef: Amber Billingsley of Vinto (418 E. 200 South, Salt Lake City) 

Best Bakery: La Bonne Vie (Grand America Hotel, 555 S. Main St., Salt Lake City) 

Best Breakfast/Brunch: Copper Onion (111 E. Broadway, Salt Lake City) 

Best Chinese: J. Wong's Asian Bistro (163 W. 200 South, Salt Lake City) 

Best Indian: Saffron Valley (1098 W. South Jordan Parkway, Salt Lake City) 

Best Japanese: Naked Fish Bistro (67 W. 100 South, Salt Lake City) 

Food & Wine Education Award: James Santangelo, WSET (Wine Academy of Utah) 

Best Mediterranean/Middle Eastern: Aristo's (224 S. 1300 East, Salt Lake City) 

Best Mexican: Frida Bistro (545 W. 700 South, Salt Lake City) 

Best Comfort Food: Pat's Barbecue (155 W. Commonwealth Ave., Salt Lake City) Best Lunch: Left Fork Grill (68 W. 3900 South, Salt Lake City) 

Best Quick Eats: Guzzi's Vintage Burgers & Fries (180 E. 800 South, Salt Lake City) 

Best Discovery: The Garage (1199 Beck St., Salt Lake City) 

Best Design: Silver (508 Main St., Park City) 

Best Wine List: Louis Koppel of Spencer's For Steak & Chops (255 W. West Temple, Salt Lake City) 

Best Mixologist: Sean Neves, The Wild Grape (481 E. South Temple, Salt Lake City) 

Golden Spoon for Hospitality: Ali Raafati of Grand America (555 S. Main St., Salt Lake City) 

Green Fork Award: Pago (878 S. 900 East, Salt Lake City) 

Community Award: Slow Food Utah (slowfoodutah.org)

Lifetime Achievement Award: Karen Olson, Metropolitan

Several restaurants have been given Lifetime Achievement status due to their consistent quality over many years. They included Mazza, Red Iguana, Log Haven, Cucina Toscana, Takashi, and Squatters Pub Brewery.