A Pinch of Lucky 13

Meat and peanut butter, why not? Lucky 13 is a great little bar and grill just down from the baseball stadium. The food is delicious and unique enough to make typical bar food interesting.

I had a hard time picking just one burger, so I split The Nut Butter Burger and the Breath Enhancer (such good names) with a friend. They were both tasty but The Nut Butter Burger—with its house-smoked bacon, peanut butter, and cheddar cheese—was strange enough to make it the standout. It’s one of those places where you can’t go wrong. Gourmet burgers, sandwiches, delicious fries, and good booze (or so I hear). Grab a group of friends and pay it a visit. You won’t be disappointed. 

A Pinch of Myung-Ga Tofu House

Korean food. I probably shouldn’t say this but my preliminary judgment of how good (and authentic) an ethnic restaurant will be begins by taking note of the other patrons. If a Mexican restaurant is full of Hispanic people, it instantly gains credibility for me. If a BBQ joint is full of big, fat truckers (of any race because that’s America), I’ll assume my food will be authentic American. Likewise, the many Asian patrons of Myung-GaTofu House gave me confidence that the Korean food I was about to eat for the first time would be authentically delicious. And it was.

There were things I liked and a few things I didn’t care for (which I think is typical when exploring unchartered food territories). The experience was great, the presentation was fun (my food came out boiling in a stone bowl), and the staff was lovely. I look forward to refining my Korean taste buds and believe this is the perfect place to do it. 

A Pinch of Cedars of Lebanon

People of Salt Lake listen to me. If you want a magical treat for your taste buds, go to Cedars of Lebanon and get the Chicken Pastilla. Amazing. This restaurant wasn’t totally on my radar but is now. Of the places we’ve eaten so far with the group, this is the unanimous favorite.

It’s Lebanese and Moroccan food. The waitress gave us first-timers some pointers and consequently, everything we ordered was delicious. They have a more western dining room with tables and chairs and then another room that feels more traditional (whether it is or isn’t, I have no idea, but it reminded me of Turkey and seemed more fun). We went on a Wednesday but if you can handle a little more authenticity, they have belly dancing on the weekends.

We all highly recommend Cedars of Lebanon and if you’re a fan of chocolate, the Chocolate Mousse dessert will rock your world.

A Pinch of Eva

Eva is the reason I wanted to start this group. I wanted to try Eva and all the other cool places around SLC. I had so many friends say it was home to their favorite eats in Salt Lake. Don’t get me wrong, it was good, and had a cool vibe, but my expectations weren't met (though in fairness, they were high). Maybe it’s because I don’t drink and half of their description is “Drinks”—Small Plates & Drinks. Perhaps the spirits are fantastic (we may need some drinkers to join us next time for some better insight). The food was good but didn't blow my socks off. Keep in mind, I was expecting the best place in Salt Lake City.

We each ordered two plates and then shared, sampling a bunch of food between the six of us. Everything was good but nothing (and it seemed we all agreed) was insanely good. Will I go back? Yes. Should you go? Yes. Am I craving anything from there? No, at least not yet.

A Pinch of Frida Bistro

A group of us took a pinch of Frida Bistro Wednesday night for our first Pinch of Salt Lake outing. It didn’t disappoint. Frida’s (we’re on a first name basis) is not the taco or burrito joint you might be thinking of. Instead, it’s a high-end Mexican restaurant full of flavor and color (from multi-colored cauliflower to purple potatoes, both your mouth and eyes leave satisfied). It’s on the pricier end for Salt Lake City restaurants but is certainly still affordable ($15-$30 for main course) and perfect for a nice night out.

While you’re there, try one of the desserts. The Pastel de Mole Negro with housemade black pepper ice cream ($10) was both incredibly strange and delicious. It will certainly confuse, yet delight, your taste buds.

Where should we go next? We’re looking for somewhere to eat Wednesday, June 5 or Thursday, June 6.

A Pinch of Awesome

We want to experience all the best eateries in Salt Lake. Chime in with restaurant suggestions, vote on where we should go, and enjoy the reviews that follow. It's going to be awesome.