City Weekly Best of Utah 2022

Best of Utah 2022: General

161 reader-voted winners in general, from the City Weekly Best of Utah 2022 poll.

Ask Ave: What won Best of Utah 2022 for General

• Best ‘80s ThrowbackSnowmobile Pizza

  Pizza has never really lost its cool, but pizza parlors have needed some reinvention as of late. Enter Snowmobile Pizza, a pop culture-savvy slice of 1980s nostalgia with gourmet pizza to…

• Best ‘Please Just Go Away'BYU Jettisoning LGBTQ+ Resources From Welcome Bags

  So, what does the Office of Belonging at LDS Church-owned Brigham Young University really oversee? The question was raised this fall when six-page pamphlets detailing LGBTQ+ resources in…

• Best AccessoryDragonfly Wellness Novaa Vape Battery

  Nothing signals that you're a particular type of Utahn like the sleek, pack-of-gum-shaped vape battery from Dragonfly Wellness. Sure, it only works with Dragonfly cartridges—like an…

• Best Advocate/Advocacy OrganizationPlanned Parenthood of Utah

  For many Utahns, the fight for reproductive autonomy has never been more pressing than it is right now. At the front lines of that fight is Planned Parenthood, whose medical professionals… — Runners-up: Equality Utah, Utah Coalition Against Sexual Assault

• Best AleBewilder Brewing Co. ESB

  When City Weekly readers look for an ale that covers all the bases, the Extra Special Bitter (ESB) seems to be their go-to brew. The Bewilder ale's red appearance, caramel malt profile and… — Runners-up: Grid City Beer Works Honey Cream Ale, Kiitos Brewing Big Gay Ale

• Best at Putting Voters FirstUtah's Redistricting

  Lawsuit Moves Forward Some four years ago, Utahns voted to place congressional maps in the hands of an independent redistricting commission. “Not so fast!” responded GOP legislators, who…

• Best at Winging ItTrolley Wing Co.

  From their humble but clever opening over 20 years ago in an actual trolley car in Trolley Square, TWC is the clear pioneer in the category of wing-focused eateries. Three things stand them…

• Best Backyard VibesBackyard Events on Reed

  If you have been to Eddy's, you know. This guy somehow gets the best local (and sometimes not local) bands to play in his very epic backyard. He always has a smile, a hug and the grill…

• Best Bacon and EggsPenny Ann's Cafe

  Simple pleasures are the building blocks of good living, like the smell of hot coffee in the too-early morning, butter melting on hot toast or hotcakes and a few strips of perfectly crisp… — Runners-up: The Park Café, Over the Counter Cafe

• Best Bacon SammiesOgden River Brewing

  If everything tastes better with bacon, then double the bacon, and the meal is twice as tasty, right? Sure, you can dabble with bacon-infused Jack Mormon funeral potatoes, add bacon to your…

• Best BagelThe Bagel Project

  Ever hear someone from New York or New Jersey say they can't have a bagel outside of the East Coast? They'll tell you water is the secret ingredient, and everywhere else just isn't the… — Runners-up: Rich's Bagels, Feldman's Deli

• Best Bank for Small BusinessesAmerica First Credit Union

  Most people don't realize the difference between a credit unit and a bank, but they certainly can feel it at AFCU. Credit unions like AFCU are nonprofit whereas banks exist to make a profit… — Runners-up: Mountain America Credit Union, Utah First Credit Union

• Best BathroomLake Effect

  Bathrooms are not always a go-to place to feel glam when out in public, but at Lake Effect, the elegant and slightly surreal aura of the craft cocktail bar extends into the gilded and… — Runners-up: The Grand America Hotel, Alibi Bar & Place

• Best BeignetThirst Drinks

  What 20-year-old do you know who could open a business while attending college full-time? There's not many who could, and not many who could succeed as successfully as Thirst Drinks' Ethan… — Runners-up: Pig & a Jelly Jar, Mama Africa

• Best Bento BoxesTsunami Restaurant & Sushi Bar

  There's nary a wrong choice to be made when ordering at one of Tsunami's eateries, be it something from the wide-ranging a la carte sushi menu or selecting a house teriyaki burger… — Runners-up: Fat Fish, YellowFinn Sushi Bar & Grill

• Best BibimbapKorea House

  As one of Utah's longest-operating Korean restaurants, Korea House has introduced scores of local diners to the wonders of bibimbap. It comes with your choice of protein—don't overlook the… — Runners-up: Stun Cube, Myung Ga Restaurant

• Best BiryaniMumbai House (formerly Bombay House)

  What's more comforting than a mound of warm, toasty rice? A mound of warm, toasty basmati rice rich with spices, aromatic herbs, ginger and garlic, one studded with the sweetness and… — Runners-up: Saffron Valley Indian Restaurants, Himalayan Kitchen

• Best Biscuits and GravySweet Lake Biscuits & Limeade

  Sweet Lake's menu includes a lot of great ways to enjoy their namesake biscuits—as French toast, as sandwich bread, as dessert. But the finest expression of these mammoth, from-scratch… — Runners-up: Hub & Spoke Diner, Over the Counter Café

• Best Bloody MarySt. Regis Deer Valley

  Much can be said about dining at St. Regis, but the bloody mary has been known to steal the spotlight on many occasions. You may not think creating a tomato juice-based concoction can be… — Runners-up: Gracie's, Lucky 13 Bar & Grill

• Best BLTLucky 13 Bar & Grill

  Located just down the road from the ballpark featuring America's game is this tavern and restaurant, with a menu that plays to an American palate. Burgers, salads, apps, wraps ... all are… — Runners-up: Central 9th Market, Over the Counter Cafe

• Best BratsBewilder Brewing Co.

  There's no law saying that a brewpub has to have a good brat on the menu, but that food item just seems to go hand-in-hand with a great, housemade craft beer. At Bewilder, there's not just… — Runners-up: Beer Bar, Ice Haus

• Best Bread PuddingThe Grand America Hotel

  The Grand America's classic feel and relaxed elegance provides the proper vibe for a post-anything celebration. No meal at the hotel's Laurel Brasserie & Bar (or Little America Coffee Shop… — Runners-up: Les Madeleines, The Bayou

• Best Bridge BuildersArchie and Lois Archuleta

  Lois Archuleta and her late husband, Robert “Archie” Archuleta, are pillars in the community, known for their long years of advocacy around civil rights, education, homelessness and so many…

• Best BrisketPat's Barbecue

  Those in the know understand that smoked brisket requires patience and artistry, but the 12 hours of cooking time are worth it. The brisket at Pat's boasts the telltale red “smoke ring”… — Runners-up: R&R Barbeque, SugarHouse Barbeque Co.

• Best BrowniesBrownies! Brownies! Brownies!

  Brownies! Brownies! Brownies! (or BrowniesX3) offers a rotating selection of brownies and blondies in flavors such as cookies and cream, salted caramel, peppermint, churro and Butterbeer…

• Best BulgogiOmbu Grill

  Bulgogi, a type of Korean barbecue, can include a variety of meats, but they all share the commonality that the name bulgogi derives from—literally, fire meat. Most often however, it's beef… — Runners-up: Bumblebees BBQ & Grill, Cupbop

• Best BurritoLone Star Taqueria

  The winner of multiple food awards and chalking up a visit from Guy Fieri's Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, Lone Star remains a stopping point for smart taste buds and empty stomachs. Fish… — Runners-up: Alberto's, Red Iguana

• Best Buttered BunsRich's Burgers-N-Grub

  What makes a burger stand out from the rest? 100% angus beef? Crave-worthy combinations of toppings? Sides, like huge baskets of steak fries, sweet potato waffle fries and golden onion…

• Best CalzoneItalian Village

  To the non-Italian, a calzone is just a folded and stuffed piece of pizza, a hand-held pie of sorts. To the Italian Village crowd, it's a bender. Since 1968, this old school diner has been… — Runners-up: The Pie Pizzeria, Slackwater Pub & Pizzeria

• Best Cannabis BudtenderDennis Magana, WholesomeCo Cannabis

  Utah's medical cannabis pharmacies would be much more difficult to navigate without the many budtenders who work to help patients. Their role is to offer suggestions, answer questions… — Runners-up: Michael Johnson, Bloc Pharmacy South Jordan, Darcy Gonzalez, Deseret Wellness

• Best Cannabis ConcentratesMoxie

  Even if you're not a concentrate's person, the name Moxie might still ring a bell. That's because they are the first cannabis company awarded a license to operate business in California…

• Best Cannabis EdiblesHygge Chews

  Hygge (pronounced hue-guh) cannabis edibles from Riverside Farm are the top pick among readers this year because of their effectiveness in promoting relaxation, reducing stress, relieving… — Runners-up: Dragon Bites, Dragonfly Wellness, Torch, The Flower Shop, Ogden

• Best Cannabis FlowerLarry Cake By Dragonfly

  You spoke, and we listened. Larry Cake from Dragonfly Wellness was the obvious winner of this year's cannabis-flower category, so we visited Utah's first dispensary downtown to grab some… — Runners-up: Ice Cream, Beehive Farmacy, Gelato Cake, Pure Plan Medical

• Best Cannabis PharmacyWholesomeCo Cannabis

  Although there are 14 medical cannabis pharmacies throughout the state, WholesomeCo Cannabis is the Best of Utah favorite for 2022. That's not just because of their stellar northern Utah… — Runners-up: Dragonfly Wellness, Bloc Pharmacy South Jordan

• Best Cannabis TopicalPure Plan Pain Cream

  Are you trying to get rid of those aches and pains without getting lit? Skip the pain pills and find a natural solution—one that's made in Utah. Readers voted Pure Plan Medical as the best… — Runners-up: Dragon Balm, Dragonfly Wellness, Cypress Sage Balm, Zion Medicinal

• Best CannoliSapori Italian Bakery and Cafe

  The offerings at Sapori look, smell and taste just like you'd find throughout Palermo or Siracusa. Until husband-and-wife team of Sicilian natives Luca and Azzurra opened shop in 2017, Utah… — Runners-up: Carlucci's Bakery, Osteria Amore

• Best CarbonaraThe Copper Onion

  Located next door to the Broadway Centre Cinemas in downtown Salt Lake City, this brasserie-style restaurant is owned by Ryan and Colleen Lowder. Their menu—featuring American fare with an… — Runners-up: Cucina Toscano, Michelangelo's on Main

• Best CBD ProductsHempLucid

  You can find CBD products almost anywhere these days. Grocery stores, smoke shops, gas stations, restaurants—you name it. So, how do you know which kind to buy to experience the best… — Runners-up: Beehive Buds CBD Wellness Center, Koodegras CBD Oil

• Best Charcuterie BoardSicilia Mia

  You get what you pay for with Sicilia Mia—top quality and authenticity. This dish is meant to be an experience, not just an appetizer. Aside from a gorgeous charcuterie board, the ambiance… — Runners-up: The Ruin, Bodega and the Rest

• Best Chicken SataySawadee Thai Restaurant

  Any meat eater who likes their protein on a stick would love this dish. It's a traditional offering throughout Southeast Asia that can come in pork, beef, goat, tofu or chicken. Sawadee… — Runners-up: Aroon Thai Kitchen, Chanon Thai Café

• Best Chicken Tikka MasalaSaffron Valley

  Regardless of whether you visit any of Saffron Valley's locations (Sugar House, South Jordan, Riverton and in the SLC Avenues), the chicken tikka masala s always a delicious experience… — Runners-up: Himalayan Kitchen, Kathmandu Grill

• Best ChilaquilesLucky' s Iron Door Roadhouse

  This restaurant is the best-kept secret on the southwest side of the valley (well, no longer—because we are shouting it from the roof top). As the all-ages South Valley offshoot of Lucky… — Runners-up: Red Iguana, Penny Ann's Cafe

• Best ChiliWhiskey Street Cocktails & Dining

  This bowl of deliciousness is on the menu year-round for good reason: It slaps! No matter the weather, a hearty bowl of the bourbon black-bean buffalo chili is a great way to add some spice… — Runners-up: The Park Café, Squatters Pub

• Best ChurrosSan Diablo Artisan Churros

  San Diablo Artisan Churros takes the churro game to a whole new level. In 2016, Scott Porter, an avid traveler to Mexico City, opened shop to bring a new twist on the heavenly… — Runners-up: Franco's Churros & Crepes, Barrio

• Best City Street Makeover900 South

  You've probably heard about Brigham Young demanding city streets be wide enough to turn a team of oxen around. But have you heard the one about Salt Lake City cutting a street in half to…

• Best Clam ChowderMarket Street Grill & Oyster Bar

  For decades, Market Street Grill & Oyster Bar has been the premier spot for locals to shuck and shoot some oysters. It comes as little surprise that they're also pretty good at filling a… — Runners-up: Freshies Lobster Co., Current Fish & Oyster

• Best ColeslawFeldman's Deli

  There are different philosophies about what makes for a great coleslaw, but Feldman's offers up a version that feels so distinctive you could know it by sight, let alone by taste. The… — Runners-up: Pretty Bird Chicken, Pat's Barbecue

• Best Company That Gives BackCotopaxi

  When your company slogan is Gear for Good, you'd better put your money where your proverbial mouth is. And for those wondering how Cotopaxi gives back, the better question is how aren't… — Runners-up: Mark Miller Subaru, Black Cat Comics

• Best CrêpesMonsieur Crêpes à La Maison

  Nestled in Sugar House is a charming branch of European cooking that's been delighting locals with its tasty and authentic offerings. A labor of love from French chef Maxime Ambeza and his… — Runners-up: Dali Crepes Catering & Café, Annie's Cafe

• Best Dim SumRed Maple

  Chinese Restaurant Served any day of the week, not just the traditional weekend service, the dim sum offerings at Red Maple enhance Taylorsville's ethnic food map creds. Enjoy tasty little… — Runners-up: Hong Kong Tea House, New Golden Dragon

• Best Dog-Friendly PatioHandle Bar

  Dogs are the best but finding places in a city to take them can be the worst. Even ostensibly “dog-friendly” spaces are often suited only to the smallest breeds on their most well-tempered… — Runners-up: T.F. Brewing, Fisher Brewing Co.

• Best Drag EntertainerTamara Knight

  A relative newcomer to the SLC drag scene, Tamara Knight has exploded onto the scene with a unique voice and perspective. The Las Vegas transplant somehow found time in the middle of… — Runners-up: Jason CoZmo, Gia Bianca Stephens

• Best Dumpling/GyozaYoko Ramen SLC

  The gyoza at Yoko are not only the most perfectly delicious bite, but they've got a special something, too. The most memorable thing about them is the lace-like webbing of batter connecting… — Runners-up: David's Kitchen, Little World

• Best ÉclairSchmidt's Pastry Cottage

  For decades, Schmidt's Pastry Cottage has crafted a pleasing array of pastries from cookies and layer cake to brownies and napoleons. Their éclairs deserve special mention, however, as… — Runners-up: Carol's Pastry Shop, Les Madeleines

• Best Eggplant ParmesanPer Noi Trattoria

  When a restaurant is praised for a food item from its appetizer menu that every other restaurant serves as a main course, you know two things: 1. that the rest of the menu is awesome and 2… — Runners-up: Valter's Osteria, Siragusa's Taste of Italy

• Best Eggs BenedictFinn's Café

  Legend has it that a hungover Wall Street broker brought us eggs Benedict. In 1894, at New York City's Waldorf Hotel, Lemuel Benedict ordered himself two poached eggs on top of buttered… — Runners-up: Market Street Grill, Ruth's Diner

• Best Elected OfficialSalt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall

  It should be noted that “None” won this category by a landslide. However, coming in a strong second was Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall, who is quite literally a “breath of fresh air.”… — Runners-up: State Sen. Derek Kitchen, Utah Gov. Spencer Cox

• Best EmergencyPreparedness Store

  Smith & Edwards In the 70-plus years it's been in business, Smith & Edwards has accumulated a staggering amount of inventory. Not only can you find pretty much anything within its walls… — Runners-up: Family Freeze Dry, Food Storage Depot

• Best EmpanadaArempa's

  Every culture has some kind of yummy fried dough with a filling of meat, cheese and/or veg. This Venezuelan restaurant offers gluten-free and vegan options of arepas—corn patties or pockets… — Runners-up: Argentina's Best Empanadas, Papito Moe's

• Best EnchiladaRed Iguana

  The most famous restaurant in Utah, the Red Iguana is owned by Lucy Cardenas and her husband, Bill Coker. Lucy's mom and dad, Maria and Ramon Cardenas, opened it in 1965, and since then… — Runners-up: Blue Iguana, Chile-Tepin

• Best Excuse to Stop DrivingFree Fare February

  Utah's air is legendarily bad, and our cars aren't helping. But lo and behold, when the city teamed up with UTA to offer free fares systemwide ... people rode transit! State leaders on…

• Best Faux OutrageJason Chaffetz Spouting the MAGA Line

  Say what you want about former Rep. Jason Chaffetz, the now-Fox-News pundit has pretty good instincts. Back in 2017, Chaffetz was chairman of the House Oversight Committee looking into…

• Best Fish and ChipsSummerhays Halibut N Chips

  Summerhays' fish and chips are known for their light, crispy batter with the perfect amount of breading. They're also famous for being hot and delicious. The steak fries are also crisp, and… — Runners-up: Codspeed at HallPass, Grid City Beer Works

• Best Fish PlatterEl Meño's

  When the Paz family opened El Meño's in 2005, their 1700 South location was a bit of a jaunt from the downtown dining scene. No longer, since more and more dynamite eateries are expanding… — Runners-up: The Bayou, Fish Market Park City

• Best Fresh-Pressed JuicesVive Juicery

  Fresh-pressed juice has many draws—all those condensed veggies pack a health punch, but also a flavor punch. At Vive Juicery, you can indulge in a vibrant array of cold-pressed blended… — Runners-up: The Juice Shop, Liberty Heights Fresh

• Best Fried Cauliflower DishHSL

  While battered, fried and sauced-up cauliflower indeed first got popular in the vegan culinary world as an alternative to fried chicken dishes, it's since been embraced by omnivore chefs…

• Best Frozen YogurtUgurt

  When your late-night fro-yo craving hits, nothing tops Ugurt near the U of U campus. With a wide selection of Dole Whip flavors and toppings ranging from a DIY cereal bar to fruity boba… — Runners-up: North Ogden Yogurt Co., Top It Frozen Yogurt Plus

• Best Funeral PotatoesGarage on Beck

  Funeral potatoes are one of Utah's most significant contributions to the culinary zeitgeist, and The Garage on Beck honors this dish while keeping it modern. Fried Mormon Funeral… — Runners-up: Tradition, The Dough Miner

• Best Glass BlowerMike Hurst

  For 30 years, Ogden-based Mike Hurst has been crafting fantastical creations out of glass, many of them inspired by his love of holidays—like pumpkins for the Halloween season, and heirloom… — Runners-up: Tom Holdman, Jodie McDougal

• Best Glass-Ceiling BreakageJill Pohlman's Appointment to the Utah Supreme Court

  Oyez! Oyez! Move Over, Brethren! There's a new lineup on the five-member Utah Supreme Court. With the state Senate's unanimous confirmation of Court of Appeals Judge Jill Pohlman, women…

• Best GnocchiPer Noi Trattoria

  Fluffy clouds of potato dumplings coated in the sauce of choice is the Per Noi Trattoria's gnocchi experience. The question is which amazing sauce will you choose? The creamy Gorgonzola is… — Runners-up: Caffé Molise, Veneto Ristorante Italiano

• Best Grilled MealCatrachos' Parrillada de Mariscos Y Mas

  You'll find most everything you're craving in this mouthwatering grill: shrimp, prawns, crab legs, beef, chorizo, chicken, shrimp, onions, jalapenos, fried beans, rice, quesadilla, plantain…

• Best Groovy Gray-ish GatheringThe Get Up Kids 25th Anniversary Show

  Picture it, wall to wall Gen Xers...a lot of gray beards and gray hair...rocking out like they were 15-year-olds again, at The Urban Lounge. Sparta (former members of At the Drive In)…

• Best Hard SeltzerGrid City Beer Works

  If you're going to get into the hard seltzer beverage game, you'd better bring your A-game and provide a selection of flavors that are above the ordinary. With flavors that include… — Runners-up: Shades Brewing, Wasatch & Squatters Brewery

• Best Haunted HouseFear Factory

  Location, location, location. Salt Lake City (and Utah more broadly) has many grade-A haunted attractions during spooky season. But where others must first mimic dilapidated spaces, Fear… — Runners-up: Nightmare on 13th, Castle of Chaos Escape Rooms & Haunted House

• Best Hike PathBonneville Shoreline Trail

  Utah's Bonneville Shoreline Trail is to hiking what Interstate 15 is to driving, bridging the communities of the Wasatch Mountain range and serving as a backbone connection to both favorite… — Runners-up: Moab, Lake Blanche

• Best HorchataAlberto's

  Nothing cuts the heat of a spicy Mexican dish like horchata, a rice beverage with its splash of milky cinnamon that cools the tongue and tickles the taste buds. The fine folks at Alberto's… — Runners-up: Red Iguana, Facil Taqueria

• Best Hot DogJ.Dawgs

  With a simple menu of Polish and beef “dawgs” and their accompanying condiments, J.Dawgs has carved its own special niche into the gastronomic field. Serving in-person diners as well as…

• Best Hot PotHero Hotpot

  The true spectacle of a hotpot restaurant is alive and well at Hero Hotpot. If it can be boiled, grilled, sauteed or fried, you can bet you can find it during a visit to this Salt Lake… — Runners-up: Ombu Hot Pot, Royal Hot Pot & BBQ

• Best Huevos RancherosThe Park Café

  Locals will tell you that The Park Cafe's huevos rancheros (served as a Saturday special) are just as good as any Southern California Mexican restaurant, if not better. You can add roasted… — Runners-up: Tres Hombres Mexican Grill and Cantina, Eggs in the City

• Best IPAT.F. Brewing Ferda

  On the craft beer scene, IPAs reign supreme. Every brewery has a dozen in their lineup, but readers chose Ferda from T.F. Brewing above all others. This Double IPA's creamy caramelized… — Runners-up: Squatters Pub Juicy IPA, Red Rock Brewing Co. Elephino

• Best KatsuKyoto Japanese Restaurant

  Peggi Ince-Whiting—one of very few female sushi chefs in the industry—brings vast knowledge and experience (more than 30 years) and exquisite attention to detail. So, you know the katsu is… — Runners-up: Itto Sushi, Mo' Bettahs Hawaiian Style Food

• Best Kicking Against the Pricks(tie) Romney's Support of Gun Reform/ House Delegation's Vote for Marriage Equality

  Call it bipartisanship; call it pragmatism; call it the bare minimum of small-d democratic representation; call it whatever you want but give a nod to five-sixths of Utah's federal…

• Best KombuchaHan's Kombucha

  Kombucha is everywhere these days, but nobody is changing the game like Han's. Their flavors go beyond the garden variety of familiar herbs and berries, experimenting with flavors like… — Runners-up: Mamachari Kombucha, Sünnte Kombucha

• Best Kouign AmannLes Madeleines

  Pastry Chef Romina Rasmussen is often credited with bringing the Breton duchess of dessert known as the kouign amann to Utah. Since its arrival, you can find it pretty much everywhere—not…

• Best LagerUinta Brewing Co. Our Lady of the Desert

  There's no wonder this first-time beer from Uinta became the favorite lager of 2022. This special beer was designed with input from every brewery in the state and is the brainchild of… — Runners-up: Wasatch & Squatters Brewery 1st Amendment, Bohemian Brewery Vienna Lager

• Best Lamb ChopsManoli's

  Chef Manoli Katsanevas and partner Katrina Cutrubis run with lamb riblets rather than the sometimes unpredictable and cumbersome full-size lamb chops at what is now regarded as one of Salt… — Runners-up: The Other Place, Mint Tapas and Sushi

• Best Library BranchSalt Lake City Main Library

  The first fancy library building in Salt Lake is now the downtown home of O.C. Tanner. Many remember the downtown library when it was in the building where the Leonardo is located today… — Runners-up: Marmalade Branch, Glendale Branch

• Best Liquor SelectionLake Effect

  A deep pantry is essential in any chef's arsenal. The same goes for a mixologist's backbar. No matter if you're looking for the perfect classic cocktail, a unique house drink or a sip from… — Runners-up: Whiskey Street Cocktails & Dining, Prohibition

• Best Local Company to Work ForHarmons Grocery

  The Harmon family is approaching 100 years of serving Utahns' grocery needs. Their mixture of commitment and experience can be seen in their inviting, locally minded stores throughout the… — Runners-up: University of Utah Hospital, WholesomeCo Cannabis

• Best Local Credit UnionMountain America Credit Union

  This friendly institution opened its doors in the 1930s and has grown to have over 95 branches across six states, and more than 50,000 surcharge-free ATMs. It's headquartered in Sandy and… — Runners-up: America First Credit Union, UFirst Credit Union

• Best Local Gear BrandCotopaxi

  In theory, we all love supporting brands that give back. But in reality, we also want damn good products. When you shop Cotopaxi, you get both—especially if you're in the market for a pack… — Runners-up: The Heavy Metal Shop, Black Diamond Equipment

• Best Local Lifestyle ShowGood Things Utah

  For those still working from home, it's a soothing balm to let the morning news shows morph into local lifestyle shows, especially in the aftermath of COVID. Good Things Utah, which airs on…

• Best Local SpiritOgden's Own Five Wives Vodka

  The spirit that built the small Ogden distillery and turned it into a regional powerhouse keeps on delivering in terms of versatility and drinkability. Well known in Utah as a consumer and… — Runners-up: Beehive Distilling Jack Rabbit Gin, High West Distillery Rendezvous Rye

• Best Local Stage ActorDeena Marie Manzanares

  If you have been in the Salt Lake acting scene, you have likely witnessed the brilliant Deena Marie Manzanares. She played Sycorax in The Sting & Honey Co.'s Sleeping Beauty's Dream, this… — Runners-up: Sarah Huff, April Fossen

• Best Long-Forgotten Optical IllusionGravity Hill

  Time was when most every SLC teenage boy drove to “Gravity Hill,” a stretch of East Capitol Boulevard near the State Capitol. He'd turn off the engine, put the car in neutral and—lo and…

• Best Looking Utah Liquor BottleHolystone Distilling

  The slender and statue-esque looking bottles from Holystone Distilling hark back to the obelisk inspired art deco of the 1920s. The polished edges blend with the angular chassis below the… — Runners-up: Waterpocket Distillery, Beehive Distilling

• Best MacaronFillings & Emulsions

  Friendly atmosphere at all locations and fun flavor combinations makes Fillings & Emulsions tough to beat. The preserves and gelees hidden in the buttercream filling add a delicious… — Runners-up: Gourmandise, Les Madeleines

• Best Made-in-Utah Impulse BuysAlpha Coffee

  Anyone who's had a small, local business understands how hard it is to have a small, local business—which makes it a great act of solidarity to support other such merchants. Alpha Coffee…

• Best Made-Up ControversyTransgender Athlete Ban

  There are few clearer examples of pointless red-meat politics than Utah's transgender athletics ban, which started out as a snipe hunt and resulted in a law so sloppily thrown together that…

• Best Mango LassiCafe Shambala

  If you've even got room after stuffing yourself from Cafe Shambala's large plates of delicately savory dishes, you'll want to order the mango lassi as dessert. Smoothie-like with some tang… — Runners-up: Tandoor Indian Gril, Curry Pizza

• Best MeatloafRuth's Diner

  Served in thick, rich slices, Ruth's signature meatloaf has a sumptuous, buttery tenderness that is enhanced when accompanied by mashed potatoes, gravy and veggies. If you crave meatloaf… — Runners-up: Whiskey Street Cocktails & Dining, Franck's Restaurant

• Best MenudoLa Puente Restaurant

  Salt Lake What's not to love about a spicy tomato and chili pepper stew with tripe (cow stomach) serving as the centerpiece protein? Nothing, we say. Formerly served mostly on weekends as a… — Runners-up: La Casa Del Tamal, Julia's Mexican Restaurant

• Best MicheladaPurgatory Bar

  For fans of a bloody without the vodka spike, the michelada hits the spot. At Purgatory, you can expect the same kind of flavor kick from a michelada as you can from a bloody, but with beer… — Runners-up: Red Iguana, Facil Taqueria

• Best MilkshakeIceberg Drive Inn

  Iceberg's fame from creating thick, over-the-top shakes began in 1960 and continues now in its 62nd year. A group of regular customers initially requested extra thick shakes that included… — Runners-up: Jake's Over the Top, Woody's Drive-In

• Best Minority-Owned BusinessFillings & Emulsions

  Not only is founder, co-owner and executive pastry chef Adalberto Diaz's macaron Mecca minority-owned, its management and chefs are largely minority and female. Since 2013, they've been… — Runners-up: Sauced Up Salsa

• Best MolcajeteChile-Tepin

  Of all the dishes Chile-Tepin could win a Best of Utah award for (and there are many), one must start with the dish that put this downtown Mexican eatery on the map—its molcajete. Picture… — Runners-up: Maria's Mexican Grill, Mi Ranchito Grill

• Best MomoCafe Shambala

  Tibetan Buddhism speaks of a kingdom called Shambala wherein the worthy traveler may find beauty and enlightenment. After you make the sojourn up the Avenues to the tables of Café Shambala… — Runners-up: Himalayan Kitchen, Kathmandu Grill

• Best MuffinLittle America Coffee Shop

  Little America's award-winning executive chef Bernhard Götz and his staff are famous for creating made-from-scratch comfort foods. Their moist, flavorful and sumptuous muffins are available… — Runners-up: Picnic Cafe, Coffee Garden

• Best Mug of FoamGrid City Milk Shots

  Adopted from breweries in the Czech Republic, this creamy beer pour looks like milk and tastes sweet and smooth. It's meant to be drunk all at once, like a shot. That way you can enjoy the…

• Best NachosPorcupine

  Pub & Grille Nachos, like pizza, are hard to screw up completely—but with a little extra effort, they can become a work of culinary art. The venerable après-ski venue at the mouth of Big… — Runners-up: Gracie's, Lake Effect

• Best New Indoor Alternative SpotAll Together Skate Park

  What parent wants their kid in front of a screen all day? Who doesn't love an air-conditioned ride? At only $10 a pop (or you can buy a punch pass making it only $7.50), it's an affordable…

• Best NIMBYsAvenues Bus Opponents

  Don't threaten The Avenues with a good time. A vocal minority of the vaunted downtown-adjacent neighborhood have dug in for battle over new trails, new housing and now, a new high-frequency…

• Best Oat Milk LatteOld Cuss Cafe

  It figures that one of the valley's newest plant-based cafes on the scene would end up doing a great oat milk latte. You can order the basic version, or one of their rotating riffs—past… — Runners-up: Tres Gatos Café, Sugar House Coffee

• Best OystersCurrent Fish & Oyster

  Whether you prefer your oysters straight-up or grilled, Current is the ultimate destination to enjoy them. Sustainably sourced, each order of east and west coast offerings is mindfully… — Runners-up: Market Street Grill & Oyster Bar, Kimi's Chop & Oyster House

• Best Pandemic Pivot, ContinuedSB Dance Curbside Theater

  Lots of creative people developed new ways to connect with audiences during the COVID pandemic, but not all of those connections became the new normal. SB Dance impresario Stephen Brown…

• Best PeacekeeperSpitz Mediterranean Street Food

  For too long—it's been mitigating lately—those who eat meat and those who choose a vegan life were not only at odds with each other, but often avoided any eatery occupied by the other. At…

• Best PhoPho Tay Ho

  Want authentic pho? A bowl that rivals all the others? Want to almost cry because the pho is so good? Want it prepared by a family-run business? This is your place. The mix-ins are fresh… — Runners-up: Little Saigon, La-Cai Noodle House

• Best Pickleball Courts11th Avenue Park

  Pickleball with a view. That's exactly what you'll find at 11th Ave. Park in the upper Avenues, where six new-ish courts (added just five years ago) overlook the Salt Lake Valley and… — Runners-up: Murray Park, Murray, Highland Park, South Jordan

• Best Place for Late-Night GrubPie Hole

  The line be damned, nothing beats a hot, thin, dripping slice of pizza in the noisy din of Pie Hole at two in the morning after a night out at the good, the bad and the ugly bars of… — Runners-up: Beto's Mexican Food, Arempa's

• Best PokeHANAya Poke

  A close cousin to the better-known sushi and sashimi offerings, Hawaiian poke has been surging in Utah in recent years and for good reason. Flavorful dishes, bowls and “burritos” are filled… — Runners-up: Laid Back Poke Shack, Koino Poke

• Best Port in the StormJohnny's SLC

  As one of the friendlier bars in town, it's not surprising to learn that Johnny's SLC (formerly Johnny's on Second) is often as not, one of the first places visited by newcomers or by…

• Best PoutineIce Haus

  The origins of the Canadian delicacy known as poutine are hotly debated. One restaurant owner, the late Jean-Paul Roy, insisted his restaurant, Le Roy Jucep, in Drummondville, Quebec… — Runners-up: Diversion Social Eatery, Prohibition

• Best PozoleSanto Taco

  This flavorful pozole hits your soul. For the uninitiated, pozole (or posole) is a traditional Mexican stew or soup that's made with hominy, pork and chiles. If you are looking to try a… — Runners-up: Red Iguana, Barrio

• Best PretzelBohemian Brewery

  The servers at Bohemian Brewery have an amazing sales tool when it comes to the house pretzels—and that's the pretzel itself. When the giant piping hot pretzel goes out to a table, dangling… — Runners-up: Weller's Bistro, Bewilder Brewing Co.

• Best QuesadillaCafe Rio Mexican Grill

  It's hard to go wrong with a quesadilla, and Cafe Rio does it so, so right. The Mexican restaurant has been a favorite of Utahns since it opened back in ‘97 in the southern part of the… — Runners-up: Taqueria 27, Tres Hombres Mexican Grill and Cantina

• Best QuicheEva' s Bakery

  Eva's is known for many things, but their crown jewel is the quiche. The texture and taste are what make it award-winning! It's so rich and appealing, you'll want to order a second slice to… — Runners-up: Coffee Garden, The Dodo

• Best RavioliCaffé Molise

  Decades of taste-bud damage wrought by mothers serving their families ravioli from a can—and way too many did (or do) —is quickly undone when one delves into a serving of the best ravioli… — Runners-up: Michelangelo's on Main, Valter's Osteria

• Best Reality CheckUtah Democrats Shelving Their Senate Candidate

  Defeat is hard to accept, but things can be even worse if you don't. If Sen. Mike Lee were a traditional, reasonable Republican—like the broadly respected man he replaced—then there'd be…

• Best RibsPat's Barbecue

  As perhaps nature's most perfect meat, it's almost impossible to completely screw up ribs, especially slathered in barbecue sauce. You know the ribs at Pat's Barbecue are an apex example of… — Runners-up: R&R Barbeque, Salt City Barbecue

• Best Saturday HobnobbingDowntown Farmers Market

  Aside from your high school reunion, where else can you find a regular crowd filled with familiar faces? The Downtown Farmers Market is one of those places where you cannot hide yourself…

• Best Scenic VistaEnsign Peak

  In 1847, Brigham Young and other Latter-day Saints climbed Ensign Peak to survey the Salt Lake Valley. Today, it's where hikers begin their season to gauge their stamina after a winter off… — Runners-up: Dead Horse Point, Mount Olympus parking Lot

• Best ShawarmaMazza Cafe

  Years ago, after first trying Mazza's shawarma, we dreamed about the savory lamb and beef dressed in tahini and turnip pickles for weeks afterwards. It is a sentiment that holds true to… — Runners-up: Curry Fried Chicken, Beirut Cafe

• Best Shrimp ScampiCaffé Molise

  Operating within what was once the home of the Fraternal Order of Eagles, Caffé Molise now serves Italian cuisine upon the premises with a stylish flair for the modern as well as the… — Runners-up: Citris Grill, Timbermine Steakhouse

• Best Sidewalk-Superintendent HangoutTemple Square Renovations

  Has the LDS Church borrowed a page from the Episcopal playbook? God forbid. But when it comes to the current Temple Square renovation project, it seems that way. You see, NYC's St. John the…

• Best SlidersBeehive Distilling

  Not only is Beehive Distilling making some of the best gin in Utah, but their chic, casual bar is a great place to grab a beer or cocktail. Now, they've even cracked the code on the perfect… — Runners-up: Poplar Street Pub, Post Office Place

• Best SmoothiesBrass Smoothies

  No matter the time of day, a whipped smoothie of fresh, natural and locally sourced ingredients is a win. Try The Boss, made with jalapeno, mango, cilantro, spinach, lime and coconut water… — Runners-up: Keva Juice Utah, Sugar House Coffee

• Best Social CausePlanned Parenthood of Utah

  Do we have to say it? Planned Parenthood is about so much more than abortion. They stand for sexual and reproductive rights, equitable access to health care and the opportunity to choose… — Runners-up: Utah Pride Center, Black Lives Matter

• Best SouvlakiGreek Souvlaki

  Greek Souvlaki, also the Best of Utah 2022 winner for Best Gyro, brings home their second gold as Utah's Best Souvlaki. Their souvlaki sticks are skewered with either grilled chicken or… — Runners-up: Crown Burgers, Yanni's Greek Express

• Best Specialty NurseryCactus & Tropicals

  Looking for a stunning array of succulents? A bonsai tree to complete your meditation room? Perhaps a show-stopping orchid to gift a green thumb? Local nursery Cactus & Tropicals is a…

• Best Step BackwardLawmakers Trying to Overturn the Ban on Conversion Therapy

  When Associate Justice Clarence Thomas suggested that SCOTUS “reconsider” certain constitutional rights, state Rep. Brady Brammer, R-Pleasant Grove, must have been listening. The Utah…

• Best Successful Track RecordThe Proper Restaurant and Brewing Group

  With a stellar brewery, a few classy but casual neighborhood eateries (Avenues Proper, Stratford Proper and Proper Burger Co.—serving some of the best burgers in town), the team at Proper…

• Best TamalesLa Casa Del Tamal

  Comfort food at its finest, with four savory and two dessert fillings to choose from. LCDT's tamales are made from scratch daily, which is evident with the first bite into the light and… — Runners-up: Red Iguana, Victor's Restaurant

• Best Tandoori GrillGurkhas

  Though Gurkhas specializes in all things Indian and Nepali, its tandoori grill section is where the restaurant really shines. The mixed grill special arrives with a delectable sizzling…

• Best TapasEva

  The brilliance of the “small plates” concept is that you can try many different things in a single meal—but then you encounter a place like Eva where you can still end up with FOMO even if… — Runners-up: Café Madrid, Mint Tapas and Sushi

• Best TiramisuConte de Fee

  Like everything this Midvale bakery creates, the tiramisu is a fluffy-textured dream. All the familiar notes are there—espresso flavors meld with layers of sweet cream and cocoa powder—but…

• Best Tough TalkRep. Karianne Lisonbee

  The U.S. Supreme Court overturning the decadeslong right to an elective abortion was made all the more jarring by so-called “trigger laws” that criminalized the procedure overnight. In…

• Best Train Station600 South Trax

  Setting aside the lovely albeit isolated S-Line Streetcar, Salt Lake City's Trax lines haven't really changed since the 2002 Olympics. The dormant network got a much-needed boost this year…

• Best Trax RouteRed Line

  Some people ride the train to work; some people ride the train to school; some people ride the train to dinner and a movie or to get in some shopping downtown. On the Trax Red Line, you can… — Runners-up: Blue Line, Green Line

• Best Tree and Shrub NurseryGlover Nursery

  Imagine walking 10 acres of trees, shrubs and other plants all perfectly suited for growing in Utah and being able to take your pick of the bunch. At family-owned Glover Nursery, that dream… — Runners-up: J&J Nursery and Garden Center, Millcreek Gardens

• Best Tres LechesBuono Bakery

  This Sandy bakery occupies an unassuming spot in the Union Square shopping center, but Buono Bakery packs a considerable punch. Perhaps best known for cake decoration and catering events…

• Best Use of an Organ Not Attached to Your BodyFree Tabernacle Concerts

  Above the cacophony and crush of the 21st century, a slice of serenity beckons every day right in the very heart of downtown SLC—the free, half-hour recitals on the monumental Tabernacle…

• Best Use of the Utah Constitution to Justify BigotryUtah County Clerk

  Candidate Jake Oaks Just when you think something's settled, someone comes along to spoil the illusion. Case-in-point: SCOTUS Justice Alito and pals who overturned Roe v. Wade. And Jake…

• Best Utah Road TripMirror Lake—Uintas

  From Kamas to Evanston, State Route 150 winds through the most impressive mountain terrain in the state. Better known as Mirror Lake Scenic Byway, this drive follows the Provo River and… — Runners-up: Moab, Capitol Reef National Park

• Best Utah Swear WordOh, My Heck

  Utah's list of colloquialisms is as wide-ranging and diverse as the Wasatch Front itself, but a shocked, unironic "Oh, my heck!" is the combination of words that truly lets you know you're… — Runners-up: Balls, Frickin'

• Best Vegan ConfectionsSweet Hazel & Co.

  At local candyland Sweet Hazel & Co., miracles come true for vegans and even gluten-free folks missing their favorite sweet treats. Sweet Hazel veganizes peanut butter cups, “snix” (which…

• Best Vegan Date-Night DishZest's Spicy Jackfruit Tacos

  Spice up your love life with Zest's habanero-marinated jackfruit tacos made with mushrooms, pineapple, jicama slaw and cilantro. You will not even miss the meat. Zest supports the Downtown… — Runners-up: Vertical Diner, Monkeywrench

• Best Veggie/Flower NurseryMillcreek Gardens

  With our new climate realities, you want expertise behind the plant choices you make for your landscaping. And you've got more than 60 years of experience behind the Salt Lake City fixture… — Runners-up: Cactus & Tropicals, Glover Nursery

• Best VeterinarianRobert Bagley, DMV, VCA Cottonwood Animal Hospital

  Still asking your neighbors, co-workers or random strangers at the dog park if they know a good vet? Here's your answer. Utah native Dr. Robert Bagley has been practicing veterinary… — Runners-up: Lynette Sakellariou, DMV, Neighborhood Veterinary Care, Kanda Hazelwood, DMV, Mountain View Animal Hospital

• Best Way to Scandalize Mike LeeAir a Gay TV Show

  Sen. Mike Lee was bumfuzzled when he heard about a new TV series with the innocuous title of Tom Swift. The show—which The CW Network has canceled for lack of viewership—is about a…

• Best Wi-Fi-Free ZoneCoffee Garden

  When the coffee shop culture began, Coffee Garden in the heart of 9th & 9th was regarded not only as a place to awaken and start the day, but also a place to informally socialize (remember…