Restaurants in Salt Lake City

As they slice fresh fish and roll seaweed wraps around sticky rice, the sushi chefs greet diners from behind the sushi bar. Upholding the affable atmosphere, friendly wait staff dressed in navy and white kimono tops then seat guests at clothed tables or on the outdoor balcony. After perusing the menu, guests bite into vibrant pieces of red tuna and pink salmon sashimi, along with more creative rolls, such as the spicy-tuna-and-jalapeño Cancun roll, which arrives garnished with green cilantro leaves. Meanwhile, in the kitchen, chefs fry shrimp tempura and grill marinated beef bulgogi, which pair well with Kirin Ichiban beer, wine, or hot sake.

Nacho's Libre Mexican Restaurant taps into traditional Mexican culture through a varied menu of seafood and meat dishes wrapped in tortillas and paired with imported beers. After entering through the bright-pink façade, guests take in the dining room’s paintings and servers occasionally clad in a Mexican luchador’s traditional mask, cape, and Van Halen T-shirt. Chefs craft mole sauce in 10 variations of chilies, spices, and chocolate, and diners can create their own platter combinations of burritos, enchiladas, and chimichangas. Nacho's Libre also slings fare for quick delivery as well as catering for parties, meetings, and ocean-liner christenings.

Stalwart bricks contain the pizza oven's feisty flames at Boardwalk Pizza and Pasta, where chefs knead and stretch fresh pizza dough by hand. More than 25 specialty pies—such as the eponymous Boardwalk with pesto, spinach, grilled chicken, roasted tomatoes, and bacon—join customizable and Neapolitan-style pizzas on a vast menu of classic and gluten-free slices. Subs embrace meatballs or chicken parmesan, and pastas such as spaghetti, elbow macaroni, and wheat penne mingle with toppings including cheese, artichoke hearts, and steak slices, all ushered into rumbling stomachs by sips of soda, beer, or specialty cocktails. Each cozy booth glows from the light of a private inset television, which flickers with live sports between professional, college, and Montessori school teams.

With faux-stucco walls, arched doorways, and warm, golden light, Roma Ristorante’s dining room seems to transport diners into the picturesque confines of a Tuscan-countryside villa. The scene is set for the main event: waiters transport festive Italian dishes such as manicotti noodles stuffed with ricotta and parmesan cheeses or sautéed chicken wrapped in a prosciutto bow. Lighter fare includes crisp salads and soup that's made fresh daily.

Jars of Korean kimchi and delicate spheres of salmon roe dot Dahn Sushi’s kitchen, adding artful flourishes to a menu of classic Japanese cuisine. Sushi, the restaurant’s specialty, ranges from dainty duos of eel nigiri to hand rolls packed with tuna, octopus, or red snapper. Diners can belly up to the sushi bar and take notes as they watch the chefs chop, slice, and roll their creations into vibrant spreads, some of which look like friendly caterpillars. In addition to serving small groups within the scarlet dining room, Dahn's staff delivers giant platters of sushi to parties, meetings, and mermaids’ swim meets.

Traditional Indian dishes co-mingle with modern American fare inside Spice Bistro’s kitchen, where chefs dedicate themselves to preparing scratch-made cuisine from fresh ingredients to ensure that each morsel bursts with maximum flavor. Their extensive menu showcases more than 50 items, ranging from lamb or shrimp sizzled in a tandoor oven to vegetarian curries to thick-cut steaks and chops dressed with elegant glazes. Guests can pair each savory selection with more than 25 red and white wines, which are served by the bottle, the glass, or the repurposed birdbath.