Andrew "Give it to me.  I'll eat it." S.'s Profile

I moved to this neighborhood because of this Festival.  Seriously.

Thanks to the 9th and 9th Street Festival I wandered through what I personally feel is the best neighborhood in Salt Lake City.  From eclectic shops to great shaded neighborhood streets this area has it all.  

The festival every fall is just icing on the cake.  Great vendors.  Wonderful entertainment. Tasty food and shops up and down the street open for business and many with great sales.  It's pretty awesome!  

So check it out every year for great people watching and entertainment.  Maybe you will end up part of the hood like I did.

Well, the power went out at our house tonight and we were looking for a last minute toddler friendly meal that did not consist of burger and fries or mac & cheese.  So this is where we found ourselves at the suggestion of our neighbor.  He said it was better than L&L.  I'm not a big fan of L&L, so it had to be.

Well, it was.  Not much, but it was.  

When you walk in the mirrored doors and are greeted by a full dining room of noisy children and the smell of grilling meat, you may be tempted to leave.  Now is your chance, but stick around, it's OK.

Anyway, we stayed.  Next thing I noticed were the floors.  Dirty, poorly stained concrete, reminded me of a truck stop restroom from the 80's, so wear your shoes.  Next, you walk to the Rumbi-like counters and place your order after waiting 10 minutes in a line of screaming 5 year old children (made me feel good because my 3 year old was well behaved compared to them.(who am I kidding, my kids are amazing!!!)).  

We ordered two plates.  The 2 item and the monster plate called the Ekolu. Now, I liked the mac salad.  Reminded me of the islands as did the pork and the chicken.  The steak was a bit on the bland side, but OK.  
The rice was also good, not anything spectacular, but good.  I like the both the white and the brown rice.  

I would love to see some spam masubi on the menu and maybe some haupia.  

I give this place 3 stars because it is truly A-Ok.  Not Amazing in a blow me away kind of way, but I would definitely go back.  Not too often though.  I need to keep myself in shape and this a calorie laden roll yourself out the doors kind of meal.  In other words, a lot of food!

I love Kyoto today just as much as I did when I wrote my review in 2007.  Japanese comfort food at it's finest.  (yes, you read right.  I have been reviewing on Yelp in our fair city for over 4 years!! Do I win a prize? Jeffry?)

Anyway,  we had not been in several months, maybe almost a year, thanks to the kids that now inhabit our lives and were pleasantly surprised to see that Akira had finished traveling the states and was back behind the Sushi bar!  Welcome back Akira!  He has brought some creative new ideas to the place and the menu has changed significantly.

This evening we dined at the booths as they are perfect for boxing in the little ones so that we don't bother the adjacent diners with little humans like they once were.  A few mild rolls for the kiddos and some spicy rolls for us.  All were tight and delicious and I was pleased to not see a single deep fried or cream cheese filled roll on the menu.  Perhaps they have been added, but I didn't see them.  Thank God!

Now that boys are reaching civilized toddler stages I look forward to being back often.

It's an Apple Store. Far too busy and never enough people interested enough in helping to actually help you.  I love Apple products and hate the Apple Store.  

Indifferent staff eliminated, it would be all right.

We had the opportunity to dine at Zy during the preview this week and I have to say that I was quite impressed with decor, service and meal. All was exceptional and it I look forward to heading back again and again for lunch and dinner.

We started our dinner at the small bar at the front while waiting for the rest of our party to join us.  This is the cheese counter and you can select from a plate of 3 or 5 types of cheese.  According to Chef Matt the selection of cheeses will change, but this day we had a fine selection of local cheeses and a great assortment from Italy, Spain and France.  Every cheese we tasted were well selected and delicious.  If I had one complaint, it was that the Tartufo was a little too Truffly.  A bit like the artificial taste of most Truffle oils.  That said, I enjoyed it all.

When we moved to our table we selected 4 appetizers to share at our table.  The Chorizo Meatballs were a savory hit and the Scallops with Almond Curry and Red Wine reduction were perfectly prepared and an ingenious combination.    

Our entrees arrived and we tried the Lamb, Hangar Steak and Halibut.  Again, all were expertly prepared, properly seasoned and never over salted like you so often see.  Again, I enjoyed every dish.  

Since we had four in our party, we sampled all four of the deserts available that evening and the Tres Leches Cake was the hit of table.  Properly moist and authentic, it was topped with a spread of dark chocolate and strawberries.  Delicious.  The Cobbler wasn't a huge hit, but was good and the Creme Brulee and Mango Pudding with Strawberries were light and delicious.

The great thing about Zy is that it is joining a group of amazing restaurants to recently open in Salt Lake and there is plenty of room for this place. It stands on it's own and is not a copy of anything else.  It is an excellent option that will satisfy a particular craving.  I welcome Chef Mathew Lake to the Salt Lake City scene!

Reservations are taken and recommended here.  They will be busy, so book them now!

It's funny how Best Buy ended up being the only player left in the Electronics Superstore arena, especially since they are so much more expensive than almost anywhere else when it comes to similar items.

True, that I do shop there when I need something and they are often the only local source for the product.  I do like to see, touch and feel electronics before I buy them.  However, if it is cheaper on Amazon, I will see, touche and feel at BB and then buy on Amazon.  

What I hate about BB is the constant hounding you get from the staff, until you actually need something and the you can never find them. When they have a sale, the items are most often limited to stock on hand and strangely, they only had 2 left when the sale started and if you weren't there at 9am on Sunday, you can forget about getting it on sale because it is sold out.  Then, the day after the sale is over they have 25 of them again.  

I wonder if BB will end up like Circuit City, Comp USA and so many others?

Zupas is alright.  I like it well enough and prices aren't bad with 4.99 for a sandwich, but the food is just OK.  nothing to write home about.  The deserts aren't great and cost as much as a sandwich.

It's quick for lunch, but I like Paradise better, but I don't like either enough to go back a lot.

Costco and I have a love hate relationship.  I love some of the prices. I hate the parking, crowds and miles you have to trek just to pick up 18 eggs.  

The good things are a pretty good with a nice produce selection, cheap, quick frozen eats for the kids and a good selection of organic goods. I only wish they had more organic produce and meats.  Bison in the meat case would also be good.  

If you have kids, the children's book selection is also great along with the book prices and seasonal toys are also a great deal.  Much cheaper than anywhere else.

I love a good burger and this place is pretty good.  The burgers are a solid three stars, but the tiny mom and pop feel gives you another star.  They appreciate you here, they listen to the customers and make changes and they are pretty quick for a make it when you order kind of place.  

The reviewers are right, the fries are ok, but not stellar.  They are, however, better than in-n-out for a fresh cut fry!  IMHO.  The menu here is burger and fry heavy. With I think only 5 choices from blue cheese to pineapple and on to bacon.  They also do a WONDERFUL pulled pork.  

It's a tiny old converted sit at the bar diner, so space and parking is limited.  Keep that in mind during lunch hour and schedule your lunch after one.

The new Whole Foods is a wonderful addition to the Salt Lake Grocery scene.  Sure beats the old 4th South location, which I would dread visiting.  

First, the store is HUGE!  Well, huge for a Whole Foods.  The layout is great, makes sense and there is plenty of room to shop.  Now they do have a nickname "whole paycheck" and while it is typically true. But, as a parent who buys organic I know my prices and I am paying less for milk and produce than I do at the other guys and even less than Costco.  I hope this is just not a new store thing and that these prices last.

Being that I work in Trolley Square and live about 7 blocks away, this location rocks.  It is quick and easy to get to and parking is abundant.  I also pop over a couple times a week for lunch and have yet to be disappointed by anything I have eaten in the deli.  From a huge buffet, to great sandwiches, salads and gellato, I have found everything to be great!  Though I will say that 7.99 a pound at the buffet really adds up.  It's cheaper to go for sandwiches, burritos and pizza.  

I am more than a regular here now and will continue to be.  Sorry Sugar House Whole Foods.