City Weekly Best of Utah 2019
Best of Utah 2019: General
160 reader-voted winners in general, from the City Weekly Best of Utah 2019 poll.
Ask Ave: What won Best of Utah 2019 for General
- Best Adult Beverage NeighborsRed Rock Brewing/Mountain West Hard Cider
When you have two different companies that are chasing the same customers, you're bound to run into a few problems in the pursuit of those customers. Now place those competitors side by…
- Best Aggressive ExpansionThe Store
For years, this local grocery store hung out on the fringes of Millcreek, appeasing the neighbors with its locally-sourced products and quaint vibes. Then 2019 hits and the place locks down…
- Best All-American MeatloafUnion Grill
This is a beautiful bistro with an Old West feel and a modern, family-friendly flair. Their "Momma's Meatloaf" ($14.95 for dinner) is the perfect thing to indulge on a long day, cold night…
- Best Anti-Trump Twitter RantsVince Olson, Kane County Democratic Party Chairman
Nearly 65% of voters in Kane County swung for Donald Trump in the 2016 election, but that hasn't stopped Kane resident Vince Olson from going off about our orange-haired president every day…
- Best AtmosphereLa Caille
The Starz hit drama Outlander follows the story of a World War II nurse, Claire Randall, who inadvertently travels back in time to the mid-1700s. Claire acclimates to the gorgeous… — Runners-up: Tuscany, Log Haven
- Best BallsQuickly Utah
During my visit to Quicky Utah, I couldn't help but notice how spherical most everything on the menu was. A lot of this has to do with the fact that Quickly specializes in boba tea, fried…
- Best Bank for Small BusinessesFirst Utah Bank
First Utah has been serving the Salt Lake City community since 1978 when it opened its first office on the Wasatch Front. Now with six branches across the valley, First Utah Bank continues… — Runners-up: University Federal Credit Union, Mountain America Credit Union
- Best Bloody Mary on a BudgetRed Rock Brewing's $2 Bloodys
So you've spent all your hard-earned money on mimosas. Well, Red Rock Brewing has just the thing: $2 bloody marys. They're not big bloody marys—they are just $2 after all. But while at…
- Best Boozy Reminder of the NortheastSaltFire Brewing Co.'s Big in Japan New England IPA
If you're like me and from the northeastern U.S., sometimes you get tired of sipping on lagers and pale ales. The bland blondes and substantial stouts leave you wanting something hazy and…
- Best BurritoBlue Iguana
A highly contested category year after year, our readers have spoken and named downtown eatery Blue Iguana the best burrito purveyors in all the state. Just what makes these burros best?… — Runners-up: Lone Star Taquería, Sweeto Burrito
- Best Carne Asada Fries BurritoBeto's
I'm originally from San Diego, where we call the carne asada fries burrito a "California burrito." Where I come from, people take this burrito seriously, and clearly they do at Beto's as…
- Best Cast of CharactersThe Viva La Diva Cast
After residing in California and New York City, Magna native Jason CoZmo returned home with one clear mission: to elevate the Beehive State's drag standard. Be 'em Disney or Broadway…
- Best CBD ProductHemplucid
"Experience Life Again" is Hemplucid's vision. Oil, muscle rub, gummies and more are what you can find on its website. And it even has products for your pets, too. Hemplucid offers… — Runners-up: Muscle MX, PhatLeaf
- Best CemeteryUnion Pioneer Memorial Cemetery
Opened in 1851, this is a quiet, peaceful little cemetery tucked away on a long road next to an LDS church. Dozens of first-generation pioneers who arrived to Salt Lake beginning in 1847…
- Best Chicken ItemMr. Charlie's Chicken Fingers
With a menu boasting Alabama-style fried chicken stemming from antibiotic- and cage-free chickens, it's easy to see why this Murray eatery took the top spot this year. A favorite of rapper… — Runners-up: Curry Fried Chicken, Pretty Bird
- Best Chomp ChampPoplar Street Pub
What does it take to be a champion? Pastrami and chorizo. On a burger. That's what. Although Poplar Street Pub has a well-rounded menu of pub-friendly staples, their champion series burgers…
- Best Clean-Air CrusaderYoram Bauman and the Clean the Darn Air Act
It's no secret Wasatch Front residents want to breathe clean air. You don't (hopefully) see people out sucking tailpipes. While the Legislature has made gradual steps each year to promote…
- Best Company that Gives BackMountain America Credit Union
It was founded in 1936 with the goal of helping guide people to financial success. In addition to a full suite of services, the not-for-profit financial institution has extended its… — Runners-up: Cotopaxi, Mark Miller Subaru
- Best Company to Work ForUniversity of Utah Health
With a health care system supported by more than 1,400 board certified physicians and 5,000 professionals, University of Utah Health combines top-tier patient care with the latest in… — Runners-up: University Federal Credit Union, Intermountain Health Care
- Best Corn Dog MavericksThe Corn Dog Co.
Corn dogs have been a part of my diet since forever, and I've seen many talented folks reinvent, reboot, deconstruct, reconstruct and psychoanalyze corn dogs over the years. It wasn't until…
- Best Crystal BallsTreasures 'N' Creations
The "crystal guardians" who run this shop will not blink if you ask them to direct you to seer stones that you'd like to use to look into the future. They'll be happy to explain how to…
- Best Cultural ExchangeKing Buffet
Mixing the all-you-can-eat method with Chinese food is one of the best examples we have of cross-cultural cooperation, and no dish on the King Buffet menu exemplifies that cooperation more…
- Best Custards With a CauseFillings & Emulsions
Whether you're lured in by macarons (offered in unique flavors like blueberry mojito) or by the selection of Cuban meat pies (an homage to chef and owner Adalberto Diaz' roots), an array of…
- Best Deal You Can Feel Good AboutHive Pass
Salt Lake City has made it hard to justify not taking advantage of its public transportation system. For just $42 a month, city residents can take unlimited rides on UTA trains and buses…
- Best Drag EntertainerJason CoZmo
He's graced a City Weekly cover in full Dolly Parton regalia, so it's no surprise that our readers know about Jason. But the Utah native isn't just a pretty face. His versatility is on… — Runners-up: Sister Molly Mormon, Gia Bianca Stephens
- Best Drag Show ThemeThose Bitches' Saturday Morning Cartoons
Just when I thought drag shows could not get any better, Those Bitches lured SLCers out to the bar in their pajamas for a Saturday morning cartoon theme on a late summer evening, where I…
- Best Dressed at the SLC Mayoral ForumsRainer Huck
Salt Lake City mayoral hopeful Rainer Huck was noticeably absent at some of the forums where fellow candidates faced off this summer in the lead-up to the primary. But when he did show…
- Best Drunken DivasThe Divine Sister-Misters
Serving face, body and talent, The Divine Sister-Misters is a bi-weekly drag show showcasing talent from Happy Valley and beyond. After six years of Provo Pride, the Sister-Misters now…
- Best Dubious PolicyNo Flags Allowed on Temple Square
Boasting a yearly visitor rate in the millions, Temple Square's 35-acre grounds are among Salt Lake City's top tourist spots for believers and heathens alike. It's private property, so they…
- Best Dueling JackiesJackie Biskupski and Jackie Beat
Mayor Jackie Biskupski and drag legend Jackie Beat sharing the stage during the 10th annual Miss City Weekly was definitely a moment; one crowned by a special proclamation at the hands of…
- Best Eclectic ProgrammingSoundwell
Try to peg down the downtown SLC venue and you might be in a pickle. Taking over the space formerly occupied by Elevate, Soundwell keeps upping the ante with its varied programming. Living…
- Best Edible EngineeringBig Tortas
In my travels, I have seen many sandwiches that I would classify as gonzo, depraved or straight up profane. The Sur 39 at Big Tortas is all of that and more. I often revisit my experiences…
- Best Elected OfficialBen McAdams
In 1974, French aerialist Phillipe Petit grabbed global headlines when he strung a high wire between the then-standing Twin Towers and performed 1,312 feet above Manhattan streets. Move… — Runners-up: Spencer Cox, Mitt Romney
- Best Equality CrusadersKelly O'Hara, Christen Press and Becky Sauerbrunn
They're fast. They're strong. They're winners. Oh, and they're women. That's right, three players from the Utah Royals—Kelly O'Hara, Christen Press and Becky Sauerbrunn—starred on the U.S…
- Best Escape From the City Without Leaving the City LimitsSLC Main Library
A reader's paradise notwithstanding, the fifth floor of the library offers a portal to paradise on their rooftop terrace. With 360 degree views of the mountains, it flaunts an open-air…
- Best Fact-Checker Approved Watering HoleThe Ice Haüs
The life of a newsroom fact-checker can be trying. Filled with meticulous cross-referencing and attention to detail, it's no surprise these unsung newsroom heroes need to let their hair…
- Best Fairytale InterpretationSB Dance's Sleeping Beauty
Using minimalist set design and costuming, a dance company would have to rely on an outrageously talented troupe to tell a story with precision and creativity. With SB's version of Sleeping…
- Best Fancy OffalPost Office Place
Despite offal's recent reinvention as haute cuisine, it can be a tough sell if you don't know what you're doing. Luckily, the tongue carpaccio, crispy pig ears and grilled beef heart at…
- Best Force Enacting Change at the SLCPDBlack Lives Matter Utah's Lex Scott
Lex Scott leads the Utah chapter of the Black Lives Matter movement. "My chapter of BLM is independent because it is a movement, not an organization, and I don't need a certificate to…
- Best Former NeighborsCoffee Garden
While we're happy that our friends at Coffee Garden are thriving in the 9th & 9th area, we do miss having them as neighbors to the City Weekly offices. Who knows how many stories they…
- Best Friend to Your LungsRep. Patrice Arent
Known to her fellow air advocates as "the queen," Rep. Patrice Arent, D-Millcreek, has been fighting to make our air cleaner since 2011. She founded the bipartisan Clean Air Caucus…
- Best Garlic Delivery SystemGrandma Sandino's Sauces & Bread Mixes
The correct answer to "how much garlic is too much garlic" is "there's no such thing." For anyone who agrees with that sentiment, and just can't get enough of the "stinking rose," there's…
- Best Ghost TownGrafton
Maybe it's because he undermines Utah's prudish reputation or maybe it's because outlaws are just kind of cool on an aesthetic level, but Utah is populated with markers and monuments…
- Best Gluten-FreeCity Cakes
Specializing in gluten-free and vegan baked goods, City Cakes is the one-stop shop for all of your baking needs—dietary restrictions or not. Owner Nanette Wessels' creations are plentiful… — Runners-up: Good Food Gluten Free Bakery
- Best Gourmet VinegarRedstone Olive Oil
Dedicated foodies have long been devotees of great extra-virgin olive oil, and the name of Redstone Olive Oil should clue you in that they've got you covered there with delicious imported…
- Best Group EffortWatchtower Café Kickstarter
Watchtower Café is one of the most beloved hangouts of our local geek community, and earlier this year the owners launched a Kickstarter campaign to fund their relocation. The crowd-funding…
- Best Grub and a TuneGarage on Beck
Garage on Beck might be unassuming to passersby. Heck, it's located right next to one of the Salt Lake Valley's polluting refineries. But once you're inside, you're in for a treat. The…
- Best Half-a-Lifetime Creative Dream-Come-TrueSavannah Ostler's Twice the Dream
Alpine, Utah, native Savannah Ostler has been performing for more of her life than she hasn't—including beginning the idea for this script, about two sisters trying to fulfill their own…
- Best Hand-Made FlutesWowflutes
The Wowflute is a pocket-sized ocarina made of clay, reminiscent of the one Zelda plays in the Nintendo 64 game The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. The handy little flutes, ranging in…
- Best Hand-Made ToyLevel Ledges Bricked Barricade
I'm too old and out of shape to risk breaking a bone doing kickflips on a skateboard like when I did back when I was 13. But I still have the spirit of skateboarding inside of me so I keep…
- Best Herbal Apothecary and CollectiveMobile Moon Co-op
In recent years, there's been a trend toward becoming more environmentally conscious, but for grassroots educator Rikki Longino, being eco-friendly and sustainable is not a trend, it is her…
- Best Hike PathDonut Falls
This 3 ½-mile trail up Big Cottonwood Canyon is a great idea for a quick getaway during the warmer months. You've probably heard people mention the hike before and it's for good reason. The… — Runners-up: Ensign Peak, Bells Canyon
- Best Home State PrideShades Brewing
If you haven't signed onto the local microbrew revolution, it's time to wake up, smell the hops and head to your nearest tasting room. Need a little more convincing? Chances are good that…
- Best Homegrown ShowgirlGia Bianca Stephens
Clad in feathers, ruffles, rhinestones and sky-high hair, Gia Bianca Stephens exudes top-tier glam. Be it on the Miss City Weekly stage or at an array of drag performances around town, the…
- Best Icy WelcomeBeerhive Pub
Generally, an icy welcome isn't the preferred way to welcome any visitor into your establishment, but the Beerhive's owner, Del Vance doesn't quite see it that way. When you enter the…
- Best Inland Port Advocate We Love to AnnoyJeff Hartley
An oil and gas lobbyist connected to the inland port's stakeholders and legal team, Hartley for some critics embodies the crony capitalism behind this whole messy undertaking. His DGAF…
- Best Inland Port OpponentDeeda Seed
Civil Riot and other radical protesters have definitely stepped up resistance to the inland port, but they also endured a major backlash as a result of a now-infamous protest inside the…
- Best Innovative MenuTable X
Chefs Nick Fahs, David Barboza and Mike Blocher are alumni of Culinary Institute of America in New York City. There, they learned teamwork and cohesion, and together they continually push… — Runners-up: SLC Eatery, Zest
- Best Instagram FeedThe Salt Project
In a place as full of families with children as Utah, it's nice to have people pointing you toward the best activities and places to take your little ones. The Salt Project showcases images… — Runners-up: Iconoclad, Salt Plate City
- Best International Snack SelectionChinatown Supermarket
Looking for cuttlefish snacks from Korea? Or maybe some four-layer Orion turtle chips? How about Filipino-style banana ketchup to put on your hot dogs and cheeseburgers? Find all of this…
- Best KaraokePiper Down
As Utah's premier Irish pub, it's only fitting that there's a round-the-clock countdown to St. Patrick's Day at Piper Down an Olde World Pub. But you'd be remiss in thinking the March… — Runners-up: The Highlander, A Bar Named Sue
- Best Late Night GrubPie Hole
The perfect antidote to a belly full of booze is a belly full of pizza. That's why Pie Hole remains open well past the time last drinks are poured at nearby bars—2 a.m. from Sunday to… — Runners-up: Benji's BBQ Shack, Hector's
- Best Liquor SelectionWhiskey Street
Before its name was changed to Main Street in 1906, a stretch of downtown—housing distilleries, bars and brothels—was called Whiskey Street by none other than Brigham Young himself (a… — Runners-up: Lake Effect, White Horse
- Best Local Gear BrandBlack Diamond
If you're looking for quality back-country skiing or climbing gear, Black Diamond is the place to go. The company has been serving outdoor enthusiasts along the Wasatch Front since 1992… — Runners-up: Cotopaxi, Klymit
- Best Local ManufacturerBlack Diamond
Black Diamond moved from Ventura, Calif., to Salt Lake City in 1991—just three years after its founding—to get closer to the recreational opportunities in the Wasatch Mountains. It was at… — Runners-up: Huge Brands, Klymit
- Best Local SpiritFive Wives Vodka
From supporting a bevvy of community events (their yearly Pride float is a mobile party like no other) to breaking ground on a new 30,000-square-foot facility, it's no surprise Five Wives… — Runners-up: Dented Brick Vodka, High West Campfire
- Best LoserJim Dabakis
From the very beginning of the mayor's race, Salt Lake Democrat Jim Dabakis was trumpeted as the candidate most likely to win—a hypothesis shored up by flawed polls and "conventional…
- Best Made-in-Utah ProductBeehive Cheese
Brothers-in-law Tim Welsh and Pat Ford launched Beehive Cheese in 2005 with a combined eight days of cheesemaking experience between the two of them. Using high-quality milk from Ogden's… — Runners-up: Cox Honey, Five Wives Vodka
- Best Minority-Owned BusinessLaziz Kitchen
From moving from Lebanon to Utah in 2006, to becoming a catalyst for marriage equality and now debuting a fresh chapter in his life, Moudi Sbeity, the self-professed "hummus-sexual"… — Runners-up: Fillings & Emulsions, Benji's BBQ Shack
- Best MomosHimalayan Kitchen
Although Himalayan Kitchen has a great menu of Indian and Nepalese cuisine, they first won my heart with their traditional momos. They were one of the first things that I tried during my…
- Best MonstrousMulti-Use Trail
Jordan River Parkway Whether you're walking, running or biking, meandering through the Jordan River Parkway is an ideal way to spend a lazy Sunday or blow off some steam after work. A…
- Best Nerd's Night OutEvermore Park
Evermore is most accurately described as what would happen if a low-stakes Dungeons & Dragons game came to life. Guests are encouraged to explore, watch performances and go on quests for…
- Best New LGBTQ+ NightBottoms Up
With the mantra "come as you are, everyone is welcome," Bottoms Up has breathed new life into a tried-and-true downtown SLC venue. Tarot card readings, paint nights ... who knows what…
- Best New Ogden Happenings HubThe Monarch
While Salt Lake City gets most of the attention for big arts events in Utah, you shouldn't discount Ogden as a vibrant place for art, dining and all manner of lively happenings. The latest…
- Best News StationFox 13
It's been around for 41 years, but Fox 13 is the new kid on the block among Utah's commercial television stations. Over the past four decades, it's built a solid reputation as a source of… — Runners-up: KUTV Channel 2, KSL Channel 5
- Best Non-apologyAlex Jamison
So, you're the co-owner of a trio of successful vegan eateries who really wants to get his name out there. What do you do? If you're Alex Jamison of Monkeywrench, Buds and Boltcutter fame…
- Best Old World PretzelsPetra's Backstubchen
There are the things you buy from the grocery store freezer, and then there are real pretzels, the way they were designed to be so that they became the very symbol of bakers' guilds in…
- Best One-Man Cast of DozensAustin Archer, Good Standing
Plan-B Theatre Co.'s world-premiere of Matthew Greene's Good Standing found powerful drama in a gay man being called before a Latter-day Saint "court of love" for possible excommunication…
- Best Only Semi-Awkward First DateNickelcade
Any avid dater would get excited when dates don't start with a genius idea, such as, "let's grab a drink" or "let's hang out." So, grab a bottle of your favorite liquor/wine/whatever drink…
- Best Orthopedic Surgeon Who Gets ItDr. Benjamin Williams
In what can best be described as a freak accident, I broke my humerus (that large, Flintstones-like arm bone) over the summer. After a series of painful emergency room X-rays, I was told…
- Best Otherworldly CampgroundThree Peaks Recreation Area
There's something rather Mars-like about Three Peaks, a high desert getaway located about 10 miles outside Cedar City. The main campground overlooks a mountain range that stands off in the…
- Best Oyster InitiationKimi's Chop & Oyster House
There's a right and wrong way to try oysters for the first time. I made the mistake of getting oysters in a po' boy sandwich from a no-name beachside seafood shack in San Diego and I never…
- Best Paper WallsPygmalion Theatre Co.'s Sweetheart Come
A theatrical set is, generally, a temporary thing, built only to be dismantled at the end of its run. But for Pygmalion Theatre Co.'s production of Melissa Leilani Larsen's Sweetheart Come…
- Best Pasties-Clad EnlightenmentMadazon Can-Can
Madazon Can-Can has a clear mission: To push the envelope and challenge Utah's stodgy laws one pasties-clad performance at a time. Case in point, Genit-Hell Yeah, their one-person show…
- Best Pastries With a ViewBeaumont Bakery & Café
Beaumont Bakery serves the best French pastries ever. Made in-house daily, delicacies such as croissants, crullers, cruffins and kouign amann are browned to a deep golden and elegantly…
- Best Place For That Sunday MimosaLondon Belle Supper Club
Everyone loves brunch. It's an experience, not just a meal. But you know that. So now you need to find a spot with a hangover curing mimosa. Look no further than one of Main Street's newest…
- Best Place to Attempt a World RecordGreat Salt Lake Marina
In the summer of 2019, staff at the Great Salt Lake Marina wanted to drum up support and awareness for the unique body of water to Salt Lake City's west. Its wetlands are threatened by…
- Best Place to Avoid Inversions and Smoky WildfiresWest Jordan Library
Just one of many in the area, the West Jordan Library provides the perfect place to escape the harmful valley air during the onset of inversions and wildfires by offering an indoor refuse…
- Best Place to Camp Within Minutes of the Wasatch FrontSilver Lake Flat
Need a quick weekend getaway after leaving the office on Friday? Head up past Mount Timpanogos east of Lehi. The drive isn't far—maybe 30 minutes to an hour depending where you live on the…
- Best Place To Catch the STD of the SeaLake Powell
As popular as mussels are on a restaurant menu, they are significantly less so when it comes to the infestation, and destruction they cause in our lakes. Hence being termed the STD…
- Best Place To Get WorkedRocksteady Bodyworks
Whether you sign up for a yoga class or strap yourself to one of the pilates torture devices, Rocksteady's classes will sweat out your toxins while building your strength. For the record, I…
- Best Place to Get Your Creative Groove BackThe Coffee Shop in Riverton
More than just proficient brewmasters, the baristas at The Coffee Shop in Riverton are also gifted in making all visitors feel like VIPs. But for writers, the ambiance is especially…
- Best Place To Lose Your ChildMuseum of Natural Curiosity
Not only does this museum conjure curiosity and wonder for young minds, but it often leaves parents wondering. Where in the hell is my child? Tiny human will-power is futile when surrounded…
- Best Place to Pick up Free FurnitureThe Beach in Front of the Great Saltair
Spent your entire savings securing a new apartment with zero dollars to furnish? Take a drive down to the beach in front of the Great Saltair and you will find a variety of pieces to drag…
- Best Place to Pretend You're Nicolas CageWendover Airfield
As part of a classified project dubbed Project W-47, military officers and scientists held practice runs for the Japan atomic bombings at this dusty outpost. Decades later, it was the…
- Best Place to Take a Bathroom Break During a Road TripCove Fort
Anyone who has made the drive between St. George and Salt Lake City knows that the long stretches between towns can be hell on your bladder. There often aren't even truck stops to brave…
- Best Place to Take in the Summer SolsticeThe Sun Tunnels
The Sun Tunnels in the Great Basin Desert radiates an otherworldly vibe. And perhaps it's fitting they seem out of this world—they're meant to draw attention to the heavens. Created in the…
- Best Place to Twist and ShoutTwist
It isn't called Twist for no reason. This two-story downtown bar located in a 19th-century boiler room was given a makeover in 2015 to turn into a happening bistro by day and hopping bar by…
- Best Place to Watch a ShowGallivan Center
I know Ogden Twilight has kind of overshadowed Salt Lake's Twilight Concert Series in terms of popularity, but it's quite lovely watching concerts at the outdoor Gallivan Center. The sun…
- Best Playful PairsSalt Lake DuoFest Improv Comedy
Improvisational comedy, in any form, is a tightwire act of trust, as stage partners spin on-the-spot concepts into skits, sketches and bizarre anecdotes. The inaugural DuoFest, held in…
- Best Pocket Full of SunshineRicArepa Xpress
The arepas from RicArepa Xpress are, simply put, milestone moments. There's your life before trying these Venezuelan sandwiches, ignorant of their existence and not knowing what you're…
- Best Pockets of DeliciousnessJafflz
In a fast-moving world, we crave the convenience of food we can take on the go—but it's really not worth the artificiality of familiar frozen food pockets. Fortunately, there's a healthier…
- Best Pockmarked Granny TofuSzechuan Garden
When you hear that something is called Pockmarked Granny Tofu, your first instinct might be to run away—those are a lot of fearsome words in one dish. Dubious as the dish's literal…
- Best Political "Upset"Erin Mendenhall and Luz Escamilla Advancing to General Election
Calling it an "upset" might not be totally correct. Sure, former Sen. Jim Dabakis appeared to be polling well in the weeks leading to the primary, but he came in third, leaving the door…
- Best Political ScandalProp 2
Good God almighty! Can't the GOP-dominated Legislature keep its fingers out of anything? After voters last year OKed by a 53% margin a comprehensive medical cannabis ballot initiative… — Runners-up: Inland Port, Gerrymandering in San Juan County
- Best Political Tightrope-WalkerU.S. Rep. Ben McAdams
After narrowly beating Mia Love in her re-election for Utah's 4th Congressional District last November, Salt Lake County Mayor-turned U.S. Rep. Ben McAdams got to work balancing on the…
- Best Post-Tattoo Care ProviderEric Marshall
It was a little bit of a dream come true last spring, when the BF and I got tattooed by Technicolor goddess Lolli Morlock during a trip to Seattle. Morlock hooked us up with a nifty…
- Best Pride PurveyorProject Rainbow's Dallas Rivas
From Provo to Logan and beyond, Project Rainbow has added a vibrant pop of color to yards across the state in the form of rainbow and trans-rights flags. A colective effort between the Utah…
- Best Produce PalsHarmons Neighborhood Grocer
It was the corporate decision that left many scratching their heads: Determining that City Weekly didn't align with their customer base, Smith's parent company, Kroger, yanked our humble…
- Best Queen For the PeopleSister Molly Mormon
All hail Sister Molly Mormon (née Tyler Hillam), who, pretty in flamingo pink, was the victor at the 10th annual Miss City Weekly pageant. "I don't think that competition should ever be…
- Best Reader RecommendationDoc Brundy's
Every so often I'll get lucky enough to have someone recommend a place that I'd have never found in a million years, and Doc Brundy's is one such recommendation. It's part restaurant, part…
- Best Real-Life Version of Rainbow RoadLehi I-15 construction
Mama Mia! That's a lot of construction. For those in Utah County, the stretch of freeway between American Fork and Lehi is a thrill-ride to say the least. Who needs Disneyland or Lagoon…
- Best Reason to Learn How to SnowshoeThe Yurt at Solitude
Last winter, I learned that you can get me to snowshoe up a mountain pretty damn quick if you tell me the destination is a four-course meal cooked up by professional chefs. The Yurt at…
- Best Reminder Utahns Don't Forget Their HistoryTopaz Museum
During World War II, Japanese-Americans across the U.S. were taken into custody in fear they might sympathize with their home country and harbor ill will toward the U.S. They were placed in…
- Best Repeat OffendersFlaming Lips at Ogden Twilight
It was the performance that earned Ogden Twilight a distinction in last year's Best of Utah as Best Festival Glow-up. Being his Wayne Coyne-iest self, the Flaming Lips frontman came out…
- Best Running EventSalt Lake City Marathon
The annual Salt Lake City marathon is truly a high-altitude event. Starting at 4,835 feet above sea level, the course is a gentle downhill run through Salt Lake City's Avenues neighborhood… — Runners-up: Ogden Marathon, St. George Marathon
- Best ShawarmaIshtar Grill
You know you're in a legit Middle Eastern restaurant when most of your fellow diners on a recent visit are speaking Arabic. Ishtar's shining star is the shawarma—there's beef and lamb and…
- Best Sign We're Living in UtahThe Ash Wednesday Melee
In an "Oh gosh, we really do live in Utah" moment, one Davis School District teacher asked her student to remove a black mark—ashes in observance of the religious holiday Ash Wednesday—from…
- Best SLC BromanceJoe McQueen & Brad Wheeler
The famed bromance of Obama and Biden has nothing on the local dynamic between the legendary sax player, Joe McQueen, and SLC's favorite disc jockey/harmonica player, Bad Brad Wheeler. In…
- Best SLC-Based Twitter Follow@RobertGehrke
Do you often find yourself needing to take the edge off from reading our president and commander-in-tweet's feed? Than look no further than Salt Lake Tribune columnist Robert Gehrke's…
- Best Smelling Street in SLCRegent Street
Between the smells from Pretty Bird's fried chicken and Last Course's fresh-baked waffle cones, Regent Street is by far the best smelling street in all of downtown. If I were on the…
- Best Smoothie SplurgeJust Organic Juice
Located in the heart of Sugar House (as well as Draper), JOJ offers an array of organic beverage items. Juices and smoothies are plentiful and are on board to help replenish the damage you…
- Best Social CauseBanning Conversion Therapy
Once upon a time, Utah was poised to join 18 other states in banning so-called conversion therapy to change sexual orientation or gender identity among LGBTQ+ youth. A bill in the… — Runners-up: Clean Air, Medical Cannabis
- Best SoupsSoup Kitchen
A local staple since 1974, Soup Kitchen has set the warm and hearty soup standard across the land. Order yourself an 8-ounce portion (or a 128-ounce if you plan on throwing a soup rager)… — Runners-up: Porcupine Pub & Grille, Feldman's Deli
- Best SourdoughFinn's Café
While the friendly service, welcoming environment and Scandinavian-inspired menu are what has made Finn's Café an institution, their sourdough recipe is what makes them a fascination. When…
- Best Southern ComfortSauce Boss
This place started out as a local food truck that made a name for itself cooking up Southern-inspired soul food. Not long ago, owner and executive chef Julius Thompson opened a brick and…
- Best Sports ReporterDavid James
KUTV Channel 2's David James is the go-to guy for all things sports. Since signing on with Channel 2 in 1992, the California native has earned a well-deserved reputation as the… — Runners-up: Dave Fox, Bill Riley
- Best Spot to Contemplate World PeaceInternational Peace Gardens
Located alongside the Jordan River, the International Peace Gardens is a monument to unity and hope. The grounds, according to its website, "encourage pleasant wandering and meditation" as…
- Best Spot to Meet Doggy DaddiesTanner Park
Anyone who enjoys men and dogs will want to wander over to Tanner Park. While not an official dog park, doggos are plentiful here. Leave any fancy expectations at the door. Basically, it's…
- Best Step on the Road to BroadwayA Wall Apart Premiere
Creating an original musical theater production is a longer, more drawn-out process than most people could ever imagine, requiring years of development and millions of dollars. So it was a…
- Best Summer Late-Night Indoor ActivityTower's Summer Late Nights
Do you consider film-watching more of a social activity? Summer is a great time to be outside and Salt Lake City summers are second to none. Sometimes, though, a movie theater is the place…
- Best Sunday Study SpotLin's Market
You wouldn't think a supermarket would be an ideal place to buckle down for an hours-long study sesh, but this is where a taxi driver took me when I had to get work done on a Sunday morning…
- Best Surf and TurfHarbor Seafood & Steak Co.
Those looking for an old-school surf and turf place with a mind toward locally-sourced ingredients and sustainability have hit paydirt with Harbor. All the Wagyu beef they use for their…
- Best Surround SoundThe State Room
There's no reason to believe that a smaller live-music venue skimps on the high-quality sonic experience for visitors. The State Room might only hold as many as 300 spectators for any given…
- Best Swan SongThe Swan Princess Turns 25
Once upon a time, there was a Utah-based producer named Selden Young, whose transition from selling direct-to-market historical and Biblical animated shorts to a feature film based on Swan…
- Best Theme NightProhibition
At this speakeasy-influenced bar, every night is theme night. Waitstaff and bartenders are fitted in Roaring '20s attire, while swing music blares from the loudspeakers. The fare fits the… — Runners-up: Area 51's Fetish Night, Viva La Diva at Metro Music Hall
- Best Themed Benefit Bash to Let Your Diversity Flag FlyUtah Arts Alliance's White Party
With a theme open to interpretation, SLC's annual White Party has only one rule, "wear white with flair." Abiding by this will lead to an exciting den of peculiarity featuring jaw-dropping…
- Best Thing to Come From the Salt Lake City CouncilFree Feminine Hygiene Products
The Salt Lake City Council has faced a lot of tough decisions on what to do about affordable housing, homelessness and infrastructure this year. But probably its best no-brainer move was to…
- Best Thing To Do Before Football SeasonSpeed Week
It's the dog days of summer. There isn't much sports action going on. When the calendar turns to August, sometimes all we can think about is Week 1 of the college football season. To help…
- Best Totally Awesome RebrandingThe Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Since its origin story way back in the 1800s, the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has been associated with the acronym LDS and terms Mormons, Mormonism, etc. But then ... a…
- Best Train RideHeber Valley Railroad's Themed Trains
Heber Valley Railroad has a train for every occasion. You need a birthday present for your nerdy friend? The Harry Potter Wizard's Train and Star Wars train have you covered. Need something…
- Best Unique Candle-BlowerMitt Romney
While the latter-half of this year's political discussions have been monopolized by a certain whistleblower, back in March, the country zeroed in on a different blower altogether: Mitt…
- Best Upgraded ClassicImpossible Burger at Apollo
While they're known for their house classics—the signature Apollo served on a cornmeal-topped bun, the Athenian topped with a feta slab and the Utah burger piled high with pastrami—there's…
- Best Use of BaconLucky 13
There are a few Best of Utah categories that seem to have found an evergreen champion—and this is one of them. What's not to love about bacon? Specifically, what's not to love about adding… — Runners-up: Garage on Beck, White Horse
- Best UTA Bus Route2/220
The Double Deuce. Deuce Truce. Big Twofer. These are just some of the nicknames we've given to the 2 and 220 bus lines. Both routes were adjusted by the UTA in August, as a result of a…
- Best Utah County Sustainable GardenUtah Valley Permaculture Design School
In the desert climate of Utah, located in the foothills of Orem, is the state's best permaculture garden and design school. Director and designer Denise Devynck has spent the last few years…
- Best UtahnGail Miller
For decades, she stood in the formidable shadow of her late husband, businessman and Utah Jazz owner Larry H. Miller. When he died in 2009, Gail Miller emerged as 100% owner of 54 car… — Runners-up: Spencer Cox, Donovan Mitchell
- Best VeganZest Kitchen & Bar
If your mental image of a decent vegetarian dish is bagged salad, you need to get with the times. Enter Zest with its black bean and chia seed sliders, buckwheat pancakes with fruit compote… — Runners-up: Bolt Cutter, Bud's
- Best VisualArtist
Cat Palmer Professional photographers occupy a unique artistic place, balancing a commercial market for their work at events like weddings and the opportunity to do weird and creative… — Runners-up: Sril Art, Josh Scheuerman
- Best Vodka ControversyFive Husbands
Five Wives vodka has become as much of a Utah Pride staple as excessive body glitter and dubious sunburns. Wanting to up the rainbow ante this year, Steve Conlin and the rest of Ogden's Own…
- Best Way to Commute, See the City and Exercise, All At OnceBiking
Salt Lake City offers few things as freeing and thrilling as riding a bike on a crowded street, exhilarated but petrified that Ford Focus isn't going to see you in their rear view mirror as…
- Best Way to Kill a Saturday Summer MorningPioneer Park Farmers Market
The Pioneer Park Farmers Market is a true summertime gem. You can buy anything—fresh fruit and veggies, bread, BBQ sauce, art, coffee, souvenirs. One of the first times I went, there was a…
- Best Way to Say Goodbye to Your Furry Loved OnePet Crossings
Saying goodbye to a pet is never easy. One local company, though, recognizes that a home can be more peaceful than a veterinarian's office when it comes time for euthanasia. Pet Crossings…
- Best Way To Stay Off the NeedleAlign Spa
I'm not really sure how Botox became a thing, but I imagine the inventors often heard their parents say, "Stop, or your face will freeze that way." Regardless, if you find yourself wanting…
- Best Way to Vent Your Frustration with the DABCDABC Online Feedback
We've all been there. You know, when you can't find your favorite spirit at a local liquor store and you have to go out of our way to find a store, or you're fed up with Utah's wacky liquor…
- Best WeathercasterAllison Croghan
Don't mess with Allison Croghan. That's what a detractor learned this summer when he sent her a Facebook message saying, "You look fat in blue." Further: "You're not married because you're… — Runners-up: Lindsay Storrs
- Best Westside Goat Meat FixEl Cabrito
Although Americans have been feeding off pro-beef propaganda for years now, the rest of the world caught on long ago that goat is the better red meat. If you're hankering for a taste, this…
- Best Wielders of Activist AnarchyCivil Riot
Since April, Civil Riot co-founder Ethan Petersen and a consortium of other activists from various age groups and backgrounds have gone to spectacular lengths to disrupt the dealings of the…
- Best WinThe People, Dammit
The people, rightly so, were outraged when the Legislature stepped in following the November 2018 election and put their grimy hands all over the Medicaid expansion and medical cannabis…
- Best WingsTrolley Wing Co.
Twice baked and all-around delicious, wings here are elevated to art. Start with your choice of wing, choose from nine classic flavors (the jamaican honey garlic is to die for) or create… — Runners-up: Wing Nutz, Wing Coop
Best of Utah is a City Weekly readers' poll. Results are reproduced here with permission; the full write-ups are at City Weekly.