The Wild Grape, Salt Lake City

From the fresh trout caught in local waters to the piles of splintered logs, the chefs at The Wild Grape Bistro keep their kitchen fully stocked to craft New Western dishes that earned a Zagat-rating of good to very good and the title of Best Salt Lake City Restaurant from Salt Lake Magazine readers in 2010. The eatery’s talented chefs try to use locally made and sustainable ingredients as much as possible when slathering homemade steak sauce on Colorado bison burgers and tossing linguine noodles with grilled shrimp and heirloom tomatoes. Pork chops and elk patties take on rustic flavors while cooking atop the wood-burning grill or inside the authentic smoker.

The décor straddles a similar line between modern and rustic. Rough brick surfaces hold pieces of art and long green banquettes rest beside polished wooden tables. Post meal, diners can move to the copper-hued, V-shaped bar to sip some of their carefully chosen wines or imitate migrating geese.