City Weekly · News
Salt Lake is home to great local dining, if you know where to look.
Small Lake City
I was getting my hair cut recently when my barber casually remarked that Utah is “a strip mall of restaurants.” I was surprised by how protective I felt—not out of defensiveness, but because I’ve lived here for 25 years and know the places that don’t show up on first impressions.
I travel a fair amount and grew up in an actual big city, and I often joke that we’re a town cosplaying as a city. As this column suggests, we truly are Small Lake City —and I love it here. My barber asked me what my “go-to” spot was.
This is a 600 character excerpt. Read the full story at City Weekly, where it was published on January 7, 2026.
Avenews summarizes City Weekly coverage and connects it to places, awards and neighborhoods. The reporting is theirs.
Ask Ave: What are the main takeaways of "Salt Lake is home to great local dining, if you know where to look."Read it at City Weekly
Places in this story
- Mazza
Long-running Salt Lake favorite for Levantine and Middle Eastern plates with warm date-night energy.