Restaurants in East Central

Ever since Barbacoa Mexican Grill opened in 1998, ordering a meal has turned into a creative pursuit. At the fingertips of everyone who walks in the door is an edible artist's palette that they draw upon as they orchestrate the creation of their dream burrito, burrito bowl, or tacos. Inspiration begins with a foundation: hand-trimmed barbacoa beef slow cooked in a chipotle paste, shredded pork with roasted pineapple and a honey glaze, or even steamed vegetables. Then a rainbow of salsas, a choice of beans, and individually monogrammed grains of rice combine to create a fully personalized meal.

Now spread throughout Utah, Barbacoa Mexican Grill has also branched out beyond its inimitable meals. It strives to establish and strengthen communities by working with local nonprofit and charitable organizations. The primary focus of the restaurants' grassroots endeavors falls on the promotion of healthy, active lifestyles and the support of underserved children—evidenced by their cooperation with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Utah.

The aestheticians at Nails 4 U treat nails as tiny canvases awaiting a dash of color and self-expression. Besides lacquering digits in a kaleidoscope of hues with gel polishes during spa mani-pedis, they execute skin-smoothing waxing services.

Elizabeth's English Bakery crafts subtly sweet scones, iced cookies, and tarts, all the same treats that entrance the British Isles. They also make homemade savory fare, as well as items customers can take and bake at home. While serving both takeaway and catering orders, customers can also relax with a hot cuppa and enjoy a scone in the bakery.

Tucci’s executive Chef Mirsad “Papa Tucci” Masic constructs a menu of classic Italian palate pleasers from scratch, stirring homemade sauces and inventing new concoctions of marinara, spices, and expressive hand gestures every day. Test the tongue's taste receptors with the classic lasagna originale ($12.49) or the herbivore-friendly pomodoro, which lets angel-hair pasta tango close to diced roma tomatoes in a ballroom strewn with spices ($10.99). A piping pesto pollo pizza flavors its grilled chicken with a cheesy triumvirate of mozzarella, parmesan, and romano ($12.99). Guests can head seaward for the salmone bruschetta, sautéed in garlic-herb butter and seasoned beneath a shower of basil, garlic, olive oil, and tomatoes tossed in perfect parabolas ($16.99). For dessert, try the Old World favorite, Gratino crème brûlée, a warm custard with raspberries, mascarpone cheese, brown sugar, and a side of warm caramel sauce.

For more than 30 years, Green Street has been dishing out a full menu of beer-hall staples while invigorating ears with live entertainment five nights a week. During warm months, customers can lounge on Green Street's palatial garden patio while noshing on palate-pleasing appetizers such as sweet potato fries ($4.99), artichoke dip ($7.29), or the Combo Mombo—a platter of chicken wings, potato skins, southwestern egg rolls, and battered fried mushrooms ($9.99) easily shared among friends or devoured by one huge toddler. An onslaught of entrees includes the blackened-salmon caesar salad, which parades across the palate led by an 8-ounce filet ($9.49), or the chili verde burrito ($7.99) served as a special on Tuesdays, sating beginning of the week tortilla-entrapped cravings. An Angus bacon cheeseburger ($7.99) and a half-rack of grilled, barbecued baby-back ribs ($12.99) round out meat-centric menu options.

Whispers cafe's crew brews organic coffee and loose-leaf teas and whips up paninis and pastries. Diners can select hot, iced, or blended drinks from a chalkboard menu, which boasts 21 flavors of loose-leaf tea ($2+). Organic ingredients form the building blocks of dulcet brews—such as Milky Way mocha ($4.50+) and raspberry truffle ($4.50+)—to pacify demanding sweet teeth. Take the facemask off your football helmet to nibble a tuna-melt panini, an adhesion of white tuna and cheddar cheese between crisp slices of focaccia bread ($6), or silence vociferous, curmudgeonly bellies with a vegan sausage casserole packed with vegan cheeses, meat-free sausage, and robust seasonings ($6.50).