Restaurant Spotlight: Pop-N-Sweets

Pop-N-Sweets is located in Provo on Bulldog Blvd just off of Brigham Young University. This place is amazing. If you like candy and soda you have found heaven. This place is full of candy from all over the world. We had a great time looking at all the chocolate bars from countries we have visited. Think a kid in a candy store, but more embarrassing because we are adults... They even had the pop-rock chocolate bar I'm in love with from Israel. They have over 700 different kinds of candy, so you will find something you love. If you're not into international sweets, they have american candy and retro candy from as far back as the 50's, where else can you find the cigarette candy? The only thing more impressive then the candy collection is the glass bottle sodas. They have 100s of flavors and brands. You can enjoy a ginger beer or a Jones Soda. At the soda bar you can try 13 flavors of Reading Draft on tap, with free refills. They have BYU Creamery ice cream to add to your soda for some really delightful floats. If you and your friends want to share, or you've had a hard day, get a "Monster Float". It's so big you have to use serving spoons to get to the bottom.

Check them out on Instagram with the hashtag #popnsweets and on Facebook. Every Tuesday they do trivia games on their Facebook for free floats. The best way to get your candy of choices in the store is to post a photo of it on their Facebook page. They say if one person wants it others will to! Stop by on Monday nights for the Family Night discount of 10% off.


Hours
Monday-Thursday: 11am-12am
Friday: 11am-2am
Saturday: 11am-12am

5 Gluten Free Friendly Restaurants in Utah Valley

Celiac? Paleo? Whole30? Just straight up avoiding gluten? We hear you.
It can be tricky to avoid gluten, especially when you begin to feel like it's in EVERYTHING!

And eating out can be a bit of a nightmare too for those of us avoiding those stomach ache inducing proteins. Few people can understand what a pain it is to have to spend at least 10 minutes before every meal out trying to explain to your cashier or waiter what you're trying to avoid. "Can I get a burger but no bun? If you toast your buns, can you clean the griddle off before you cook my burger so as to avoid cross-contamination? Do you batter your fries? Are they fried in the same oil as battered items?" On and on...

We totally get it. So we made a list of 5 Gluten Free Friendly restaurants here in Utah Valley. Eating gluten free isn't as difficult as it sounds when you have friends like the CVB to help guide you!

Malawi's Pizza

Malawi's is usually a pretty safe bet if you're worried about cross-contamination. If you tell the cashier why you're ordering gluten free and what you're trying to avoid, they can be pretty darn helpful. You can get your pizza crust gluten free but be aware that their menu is a bit limited in terms of what isn't likely to have traces of gluten (which is why it's a good idea to ask what menu items are safest) so many of the pizzas will be on your no-fly list, but the ones that are GF are pretty delish. I like the BBQ Chicken myself. 

And a note for those of you who are also avoiding dairy, they also have Daiya dairy free cheese (and they know how to melt it properly as well, which seems pretty rare). 

For every meal ordered at Malawi's, they donate a meal to a child in Africa. So if you're looking for a yummy GF pizza and some warm-fuzzy's for doing good, Malawi's is a great choice. They have 2 locations: one in Provo and another in Lehi. There's also one in the works for Spanish Fork. 

Spin Cafe 

Spin Cafe is located in Heber City so if you're heading out to Sundance, Strawberry Reservoir, etc. for some time away from the city life but still need to eat GF, Spin Cafe is a wonderful choice! They have a full, gluten free menu filled with offerings like ribs, sandwiches, soups, burgers and more! You'll LOVE their onion rings - yes, gluten free onion rings! Nothing with gluten goes into their fryer so you don't have to worry at all about cross-contamination. 

They also have yummy, creamy, cold gelato (most of the flavors are GF)! 

Dairy Keen

Another Heber City favorite is Dairy Keen! The owner is celiac so they totally get it (and the employees are trained to avoid cross-contamination). Just be sure to let them know that you're Gluten free when you arrive. You can get the burgers made with a New Grains bun or sandwiches made with Udi's breads. They also offer gluten free soups in the winter! 

Dairy Keen is a fun place to take the kiddos because there's a neat little train that goes around the restaurant! 

La Jolla Groves

Looking for somewhere fancy? La Jolla Groves is a great place to take your gluten free special someone. The owners of La Jolla Groves are celiacs so they have a lot of GF options on the menu (just look for the little leaf next to the menu items). They even have a delicious gluten free dessert: Orange Creme Brulee! Ooh lala! 

Barbacoa

Fun fact(s): Only 3 items on their menu are not GF - everything else is totally gluten free! Also, Barbacoa is certified by the Gluten Intolerance Group of North America! Basically, so long as you don't order their flour or wheat tortillas or the cookies, you're totally safe! Lucky for you GF lovers of Mexican food - Barbacoa is totally delicious! And they have a rewards card program - ask about their "Black Card" - which lets you earn free food.   

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Honorable Mentions:
You can eat at a lot of places GF (if you're not too concerned about cross-contamination), you just have to get creative and a lot of times, the restaurant will have options for you if you just let them know you're avoiding gluten. The restaurants listed above were selected due to their special efforts to be gluten free friendly, however, there are other restaurants that we would like to suggest that either have items that are naturally gluten free anyway (like salads) or that have the option to switch out a regular bread or bun with something gluten free.

Cubby's Chicago Beef - Cubby's has some amazing salads (a personal favorite is the tri-tip) and they also have Udi's gluten free buns available on on request.

Mountain West Burrito - Mountain West is a fantastic choice for a salad with a little Latin flair. If you're avoiding gluten but cool with beans and fresh salsa, you're safe going with one of their salads.

Noodles & Company - Noodles is actually making some pretty legit efforts for those of us who are Gluten Free. If you want pasta - they've got gluten free pasta now! They also have a few other GF options on their menu (as well as a very helpful allergen info sheet).

Blue Lemon - Blue Lemon focuses on fresh and delicious foods! They have a pretty decent gluten free menu (and everything on it is super tasty!) Sadly, you'll have to stay away from their amazing sweet potato fries as they do dip them in wheat prior to frying.
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What are your favorite Gluten Free restaurants in the Valley? Let us know! Send us a comment, post on Facebook, send us a tweet or even tag us in an instagram photo! #VisitUtahValley

Savoring Summer: A Round Up of Utah Valley BBQ Joints

School is starting soon and everyone is scrambling to squeeze in a few more moments in the sun, playing outdoors and savoring summer's best! One of our favorite parts of summer is the barbeque! (Vegetarians and vegans, avert your eyes!) If you're also a fan of juicy grilled meats massaged with seasonings or coated with sauces, check out some of these fantastic BBQ restaurants here in Utah County!

http://www.bambamsbbq.com/

I typically do my best to eat like a lady but when ribs are involved, all bets are off. Let's talk about the delicious beauties found at Bam Bam's BBQ (1708 S State St. Orem) tender and very meaty with just those little pops of fat that add to the overall richness of each bite! Bam Bam's has a number of different sauces that you can add to your meats (which are, of course, delicious) but you definitely don't *need* them. I would also recommend their brisket or turkey - succulent and sassy, I loved them both!

Five Star BBQ Facebook

Want something a little more smokey in the rib department? How about the smoked ribs at Five Star BBQ (70 N. Geneva Rd. Orem)? With those trademark pinkish bones that you see with smoked meats, you can't go wrong with these ribs! I know a well-smoked piece of meat when I taste one - and these ribs are definitely well-smoked! And don't you dare forget to pair it with the amazing smoked beans!

Sean's Smokehouse Facebook

Looking for something other than red meats? Have you even tried the smoked turkey at Sean's Smokehouse (222 E SR 73, Saratoga Springs)!? It pairs perfectly with everyone of their delicious sauce (which are basically a taste-tour of the country) and, I could seriously eat it all day! The smoked chicken is pretty fantastic as well but... I personally love me some turkey! They also have a Ghost Chili Wing Challenge, if you're tolerant to insane levels of spiciness and wanna step up to the plate.

http://www.poorboysbbqdawgs.com

Speaking of smoked meats, have you ever seen Poor Boys BBQ & Dawgs (865 Highway 198, Payson)? It's kind of hard to miss seeing as how there's a line of smokers right out front and beware when you step out of your car because the smell will make you drool! Do not skip the smoked sausage! If you don't really like sausage, it's only because you haven't tried these. If you're dining with littles, they have yummy, hand-dipped mini corndogs. And for desert, I would go for the peach cobbler (assuming you haven't completely stuffed yourself at this point).



Oh dear, I've gone and made myself hungry! Run, don't walk, to these fantastic BBQ joints before the summer's over (and then keep em in mind for fall and winter when you're missing those good ole' flavors of summer).

Restaurant Spotlight: Aubergine and Company

 You gotta love the popularity of restaurants born in the valley! There are so many choices that it can be difficult to choose. However, if you're looking for something that is not only delicious but also healthy, then look no further than Aubergine and Company.

Located on State Street in Orem (next to Sprouts), Aubergine and Company is a new restaurant featuring healthy eats with a Mediterranean vibe. Unlike other restaurants, Aubergine and Company is on a mission. They are preparing meals with a purpose: To change the way that people eat by offering healthy and delicious food.

We had the wonderful opportunity to stop by and visit with the General Manager of the restaurant, Elcio. The restaurant was opened last April and it has been enjoying wonderful success ever since. Elcio told us about the importance of healthy eating, stemmed from his own experience changing his eating habits to a diet that is much more natural and healthy. He found that in doing so, he immediately began to have more energy and feel better.

Everything at Aubergine and Company is made fresh from scratch, without sugar (they use natural sweeteners like agave, honey, and dates) and using only healthy fats (like cashews, tofu, and avocado). They even have offerings for those who suffer from gluten intolerance (like their absolutely heavenly cheese bread). For those who don't mind a little gluten, Aubergine and Company makes their pita breads (for their Mediterranean sandwiches) fresh with wheat flour. Even the meats they use are healthy: wild salmon from Alaska and antibiotic-free chicken.

Naturally, being a health-focused restaurant, Aubergine and Company also has a wide variety of smoothie options and even Acai bowls (think parfait-meets-smoothie in a bowl). If you've never had an Acai bowl, I can't recommend it more highly; all of the delicious and naturally sweet flavors of cold blended tropical fruits without any of the guilt that you might get from a similarly sweet treat - it's basically nature's ice cream!

Before we left, Elcio shared with us a couple of secrets about healthy eating:

• We are what we eat, so it's critical to eat well. 
• We don't worry too much about calories; we care about offering the right nutrients.
• Eating healthy isn't more expensive than the alternative when you consider all the health benefits.

So, if you're health-oriented and you're looking for something fresh and delicious - head over to Aubergine and Company. Your body will thank you. 

GIVEAWAY: Waffle Love

Enter to win 2 FREE waffles to Waffle Love!

Chick-fil-A Grand Opening

We are one day away from Chick-fil-A grand opening in Provo. The new restaurant located on 484 W. Bulldog Blvd will open at 6:00 am on Thursday, January 9. What makes this event so special is the free Chick-fil-A for a year to the first 100 people in line. They will get 52 coupons for a Chick-fil-A Chicken Sandwich, medium Waffle Potato Fries and a medium drink. I don't know about you but I love the sound of free Chick-fil-A. So what do you need to know so you can win some free chicken tomorrow? I'll tell you! First know that people start lining up early, some more than 24 hours in advance. So if you really want to win call in sick today and head on over. Next you need to know that it's winter here, and that means the Greatest Snow on Earth. Find your inner boy scout because tomorrow they are calling for snow and a high of 32 degrees. To fight the cold you are welcome to bring tents, sleeping bags, and anything else you might need to keep yourself warm and entertained.    

For more information about this event check out these links:
Grand Opening facebook Page
Daily Herald
Chick-fil-A rules and details
  

The Family Tree Restaurant

The Family Tree Restaurant in Santaquin produces more than delicious family home cooking for its patrons. Guests and employees both have felt the presence of ghosts, who are said to inhabit the Main Street structure, stacking furniture, seeing shadowy figures, hearing growls, unexplained banging and noises or the spirits touching them in passing. The family has always seen and heard things that they could only explain as ghost activity. Most of the claimed occurrences happen in the basement of the restaurant, but they have been known to occur throughout the entire location. One such account claims a clock’s broken second hand started working again, only in reverse, for several hours. There have also been several occasions that the owners of the restaurant have come into their business in the morning only to find chairs stacked on tables. A small boy, said to be about 7 to 8 years old, with an old fashioned “bowl” hair cut fashioned into his dark hair and a long, skinny face has been seen on numerous occasions by the proprietors.  

One guest stated constant feelings of being observed and watched in both bathrooms as well as in the West Room and in the basement areas. In the kitchen area they experienced that some spirits were there and at least one was trying to communicate with them directly by making noises near the telephone and the bread that was lying out on the table. In the West Room area they saw shadows that moved around the floor near the bathroom entrances and in the top corner of the room there appeared a black, misty form that liked to stay up near the ceiling. The guest also claimed tickling on the back of their neck in the West Room. The guest went on to say they experienced overwhelming feelings of extreme unfairness for the other sprits who were trapped and felt the urge to provoke the hovering “misty form” and the other possessive and controlling male spirit, to try to and seek justice for the other trapped spirits.

Another guest claims while in the basement of the restaurant, they heard footsteps above them on three separate occasions and felt extreme tingling on the back of their neck on several occasions. They say they also saw shadows observing them from all around he room, giving them the feeling they were weak and powerless, and then feeling something/someone tug at the back of their shirt.

A third guest says in the back room area, behind the kitchen, they kept thinking they were seeing something down one of the hallways. They claim seeing something peek it’s head out from the corner of an old bathroom or hallway. Other people with the guest stated they saw the same thing as well. In that same area and also in the basement, feelings of something or someone right behind them were watching them.

It is believed that what's holding many of the spirits here is an American Indian curse laid on the area by a local tribe angry at the white settlers.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t0naHH4jPRY#action=share

Black mist in the upper left corner

White mist in the middle of the photo

Restaurant Special Deal: La Jolla Groves

Eating under the lemon trees at La Jolla Groves was a wonderful experience. As we walked in we were

taken back by how home-like it felt. The lemon trees, which were custom made for the restaurant, increase the feeling of an intimate night at home with close friends and loved ones. The only difference is that at home you may not have an amazing chef like they do at La Jolla Groves. Chef Kent Anderson is one of the three owners of the restaurant, and it really is a kitchen driven restaurant. All the chefs have experience and have won awards for their craft.  They focus on healthier choices without compromising taste. If the excellent food isn't enough to come in, the service will be. When you walk in the door you're family. It doesn't matter who you are, they're happy to see you and want you to have the best experience you can have.

Lets talk about the soup to start with. I don't like mushrooms, but I would sell a child for their Mushroom Soup. Sure I don't have any kids, but that's not important right now. This soup warms the soul and is perfect for a cold day. It has an earthly taste, without being over powering. It is made from a slow roasted mushroom, finished with light chicken stock and fresh herbs. They finish it off by garnishing it with Sauteed Mushroom and Basil oil. We also tried the Potato & Garden Fresh Leek Soup; I loved this soup! Garden leeks and golden potatoes are simmered in light chicken stock then frothed until light and creamy. They top it with a potato garnish. These soups will change your life...but seriously.

La Jolla Groves changes up their menu with the season to keep the food fresh. They told us the food speaks for itself when you buy it right, and this food sure is chatty. I tried the Beef Tenderloin Medallions and Amanda had the Lemon-Roasted Chicken. They were remarkable. The Tenderloin comes with Roasted baby potatoes, asparagus and heirloom carrots. The veggies were cooked perfectly and added to the flavor of the meat. The beef itself was tender and juicy. The lemon roasted chicken is served with garlic mashed potatoes, butternut squash and carrots with a light cream pan-sauce. We enjoyed the chicken...a lot. It was seasoned just right and the garlic mashed potatoes were phenomenal. The chicken is moist and the lemon flavor works with the garlic mashed potatoes.

Something we didn't know about La Jolla Groves was how friendly it is to events. You can host events there without paying a room fee. That's right, you can book an incredible location without a booking fee. They have the perfect space for everything from a wedding reception to a corporate meeting. One of the private dining rooms, space for 65, is set up with AV. This would be a great restaurant for a birthday party or bridal shower. The best part is that the restaurant is so beautiful, you don't have to do much decorating.

SPECIAL DEAL
La Jolla Groves was generous enough and is allowing anyone who mentions this blog post when they visit, a free appetizer with the purchase of 2 entrees!
Valid only at the Riverwoods location

We all Scream for Ice Cream...Coneys Frozen Custard that is

Coneys Frozen Custard opened its doors in September 2003 in Orem. It was started by the father and son duo of J. Dale and Jason Christensen. Coneys was brought to life after Jason fell in love with frozen custard while traveling for business throughout the country. He wanted Utah County to experience frozen custard like the Midwest.

With his dad, J. Dale, retiring from public education soon, it was the perfect time to make their frozen custard dreams a reality. With the entrepreneurial mind of Jason, additional financial backing from business partner Jeremy Curtis, and the work ethic of J. Dale, the business plan for Coneys unfolded. The trio spent time visiting different frozen custard companies across the country, attending "scoop school", several custard crawls throughout Milwaukee, and brainstorming with the family to get every aspect of Coneys exactly right.

10 years later, Coneys will be celebrating their success and show appreciation for the community in their award-winning store on University Parkway in Orem. There will be a Coney Island themed celebration full of games, giveaways, and a special guest appearance from Miss Orem from 12-4PM this Saturday (September 28)! Free custard cones will also be served from 12-8PM. Free custard? Sign me up!

**Thanks to Coneys Frozen Custard for sharing the history of their store with us! 

Buy Local First in Utah Valley

There are a few things we really love here in Utah Valley, and one of them is our local restaurants and farms. We really love it when the two come together. Many of our local restaurants are members of Buy Local First Utah, a non-profit with the mission to "empower a movement to recognize the value and vitality of locally owned, independent businesses to our communities and our economy."

Here's a list of those restaurants. Take some time to stop by and support these locals.

Zen Drinks-A drive-thru/walk up beverage hut. Get a latte or hot chocolate with hand-steamed milk. In the summer they also serve cold drinks and snowcaps.  

Tommy's Burgers-They feature chili cheese burgers, homemade chili made from scratch can you get better than that? They also have hot dogs Chicago style. Their buns are baked every morning.

Communal Restaurant

Communal Restaurant-This is a restaurant that understands being part of a community carries responsibility. They build partnerships with local farmers, purveyors and artisans. And their food is amazing. Not only are they open for lunch and dinner, but they also do a special Saturday brunch. Read full review here.  

Guru's Cafe-They have a wide array of delicious dishes, but they also have great live local bands and karaoke every week. Remember you have to try their sweet potato fries. They're open for breakfast Monday-Friday. 

 La Dolce Vita Ristorante Italiano-This restaurant is family owned and operated. They serve the finest authentic dishes of Napoli (Naples) Italy. Some of there most popular dishes include calzones, pizza and gnocchi. They also have a great lunch special.

 Mountain West Burrito-Go to anyone of their locations to try a tasty burrito made from fresh, local and organic ingredients. 

La Dolce Vita in Downtown Provo

tortilla.bar-Mexican food with a gourmet twist. Try something new like the avocado taco with beets. 

Timpanogos Cafe-They are a coffee/ice cream shop located in Orem. A small, independently owned, family run shop. Get a Ice Cold Frappuccino or Prancer. 

Peace, Love and Java- Head down to Salem to enjoy this drive thru coffee shop. They use only organic, fair trade coffee. Located in Crisp's Grocery store parking lot.

Flour Girls & Dough Boys Artisan Bakery & Cafe-The bakery is 100% from scratch with a complete line of European style artisan breads. They also offer wedding and specialty cakes with full catering capabilities. Not in the mood for backed goods? Try the homemade soups, fresh salads, and sandwiches made on their own artisan bread. 

Coffee Creations-They feature Star Mountain Roasters and have a huge variety of espresso drinks as well as hot chocolate, chai tea, fruit smoothies, and Italian sodas. 

Harvest Restaurant

Harvest Restaurant-Located at Thanksgiving Point they feature regional American cuisine with some Mediterranean influences. This restaurant is simple yet elegant and you can go out and explore the gardens when you are done.

    

Restaurant Spotlight: Station 22

For an easy, complete search tool for all Utah Valley restaurants, click here

"At Station 22, we dig way down deep into our American roots to bring you fresh, reinvented versions of family recipes, classic dishes and some new flavors you never imagined.
We love the concept and flavors of “vernacular cuisine”– foods that are rooted in specific regions and family traditions. Who doesn’t? These are the flavors of Grandma’s house, potlucks, family gatherings and small, family-run restaurants. I absolutely love to eat. But most importantly I love to eat foods that I connect with–foods that hearken back to warm times with family and friends. Times beyond us, that extend all the way back through our grandparents and beyond, from our now tiny branches down into our deepest roots." -Richard Gregory, Owner

Ok, we don't think we could even come close to trying to explain the concept beyond the wonderful Station 22 cafe as well as Owner Richard Gregory does. You can tell from the way that he talks about the restaurant that he has a passion for rich traditions, gatherings, and great food. When you put all of those together and add a little touch of Americana style, and you get the perfection of Station 22! Here's how our interview went with Richard (special thanks again for taking time to sit down with us):

What is your favorite thing about your restaurant? The interior-the combination of the atmosphere and the food makes you feel like you're eating at home or back to the place where you're from.

What makes your restaurant unique? Our menu follows the food trends and has roots in home-cooked recipes; you won't find these types of dishes anywhere else. We also have the best playlist around; we play music from the earliest recordings to present day. Additionally, we have quite the collection of craft sodas.

Do you have a restaurant motto? Deep American roots. 

How has your restaurant evolved over the years? It has changed a lot! We recently redid the entire interior of the building to fit our branding better and have everything come into focus. But originally, the restaurant didn't start out Americana either; basically we just wanted a friendly cafe. Then we decided we wanted a stronger message and dabbled with it for a while. The idea for the Americana theme stemmed from our original Memphis Chicken recipe and from there we kept building.

Do you do any special events, seasonal dishes/desserts, etc.? Lots! One of the things that we do is a supper club.  One a month, we host a special dinner and create a menu that is based on a specific part of the country.  For example, we could pick Utah.  If we did that, we would come up with a variety of traditional dishes (jell-o, etc.) that stem from Utah roots.

What type of uniform do you require for your staff? At Station 22, we are all about vintage head wear. Take note next time of all the different hats that everyone is wearing. Personally, I never really wore hats, but now it is a very rare day if I'm not wearing one.  Vintage head wear just gives the restaurant another touch of Americana and the idea roots back to Bob Dylan and Tom Waits.

Do you use any special ingredients that you could reveal to us? Really, almost everything is made from scratch-very, very little is complete to start. One of the unique ingredients though is our rootbeer molasses that we use on our gravy and fries. The flavor is sweet but in a great way for the fries.


Who are your chefs? Jason Talcott- executive chef and partner in the business, Brittany and Rich- Brittany just finished culinary school and is fine-tuned; she is extremely sensitive to flavor and is a master at getting the taste exactly right. (Sidenote: We could instantly feel the passion these chefs had for their work right when we walked by; they were beaming with happiness and jamming out in the kitchen).

What is the story behind the founding of the restaurant? In 2000, my mom bought the building and rented it out to different restaurants.  Being the owner of a building where restaurants kept coming and going was tough, so we decided to start a restaurant ourselves so we could become more stable.  We definitely gained a deeper respect about the nature of restaurants when we got started because it isn't easy!

What are your top selling dishes? The titans of our restaurant are definitely our Chicken and Waffles and Memphis Chicken Sandwiches. Another favorite is our Poutine, which is fries topped with rootbeer gravy and beehive curds.

Favorite desserts? Po de Smores, which is a pudding dessert served in a jar.  Also, you can never go wrong with the traditional cookies and milk.

Do you have unique names for your dishes? One of the names of a vegetarian selection is the Adventist Veggie Burger.  A funny thing about it is that we started selling this sandwich as a special on Saturday and to this day, the sells of this sandwich are still the highest on Saturday.

Does your restaurant get involved in the community? Yes, we are one of the sponsors for the Rooftop Concert Series and we also are involved in Local 1st Provo.

Visit the full restaurant listing here for more information. (Hours of operation, address, phone, etc.).

Restaurant Spotlight: Communal

  For an easy, complete search tool for all Utah Valley restaurants, click here

 

Communal: an open kitchen-styled restaurant, known for it's wildly fresh cuisine and "big city dining experience" feeling, located in the heart of Provo. We are proud to say that we were able to stop in at this fine-dining restaurant and snag passionate Sous Chef, Vance Lott, and one of the owners for an exclusive inside look at what Communal is all about. And if there was one thing we noticed about this group, it was passion! Here's what we found out:

How did Communal get its start? The 2 owners of this restaurant, Colton and Joseph, used to work in Sundance catering then moved abroad to study & practice culinary work. They noticed the passion for food in other markets and dreamed to bring the same feeling home to Utah.  Due to their love of the Utah County area, they brought the restaurant to Provo.


Have you received any awards? Yes, recently named in the Top 100 Best American Restaurants.  The only other Utah restaurant to receive this honor is the Tree Room at Sundance. 

What makes it unique: Open kitchen/restaurant styled, 80% of products farmed locally/other 20% is farmed regionally, chefs butcher their own pigs, tailoring of dishes.

What is an open kitchen/restaurant style: Guests are invited to "commune" at Communal and the layout of the restaurant allows for just that. Tables are designed to be long and close to each other so guests can socialize and share dishes. The kitchen is also the most beautiful one in the state! Unlike other restaurants, the kitchen is right in the heart of the restaurant for all to see the masters at work.  Bar chairs are placed strategically near the kitchen so guests can enjoy the work and ask questions to the chef. Kids love it!

Is the restaurant kid-friendly? Absolutely. While most of the guests are adults, the menu is extremely kid friendly.  Food offered is delicate and never too spicy-perfect for kids and picky-eaters.  The menu is also simple: salad, protein, side.  Since the cook makes food fresh and the menu is simple, dishes are very super customizable for guests. Really, you can ask for anything you'd like!  They can even make gluten-free dishes and special kid's dinners based on requests.

What style of serving?: Family style! Again, this is a signature trait of Communal that isn't seen as often here in Utah as it is in larger cities. After ordering, all dishes are brought out at once (unless request differently), so your salad and entrees come together.  This way, you aren't waiting for your next dish but can share with those around you. And if you don't want an appetizer (salad, etc.) you don't have to! Portions of each dish are large, which enables you to share with your entire table. This serving style is designed to give you the feel of a "family meal" at mom's.

Several restaurant now offer local products, what's different about Communal? Most restaurants that farm locally, only use about 50% local.  Communal uses 80% and if they can't get it locally, they at least go regionally and pull from the West Coast.  This means food is fresh, and menus adapt with the seasons to keep dishes crisp and new!

What's the restaurant motto?: Communal is part of the Heirloom Restaurant group so they also go by the theme "Eat Well," however, a restaurant motto is in the making. Stay tuned.

What is your specialty item and tell us about it: A special at Communal is Pork--some say it's the best in the state. At Communal, the chefs work with the entire pig.  They never get frozen portions shipped to them or work with pieces pre-butchered.  This is important because they get to use everything and specially design the pig for the restaurant. You won't get that at very many places! On nights with specialties, the chef works with the portions of the pig that he has left and chooses, to put together a masterpiece meal.

Top ordered items?: anything Pork, Hang Steak (this is the butcher's tenderloin, typically the butcher saves this small portion for himself!), Fall Mushroom Toast, Roasted Brussel Sprouts, Butterscotch Pudding, Verona Chocolate Lava Cake, Salted Caramel Ice Cream.

Names of the food?  Menu items are named after the farmers or location of where the product came from. For example, Koosharem Valley, La Nay Ferme, Allred's, Mary's Farm, etc.

Do you ever do special event menus? Absolutely! Specialty dinners are often put together for New Years, other holidays, or special events.  Sauces and greens typically stay the same but a regional crab, rabbit, or special offering will be added.

Are you involved in the community?  Yes, Local 1st Utah organization, Downtown Provo Inc., and we work with Station 22 for Downtown Mixers and special events.

What other restaurants are involved in the Heirloom Group?  Heirloom is a very prestigious and growing group to be a part of.  Others in the area include: Mountain West Burrito, Vivint, & Ancestry.com. This group is special because the owners don't just own the company, they are right there with you cooking.  They are all about food on the plate, not money in the bank, which is why they are so successful.

How has the restaurant evolved? It started out super fancy: white linens and about a2 1/2-3 hours dining experience. Now, it is much more simple and family-styled, with dining times ranging from anywhere between 1/2 hour and 4 hours (based on how long you would like; they can get you in & out so you can make it to your movie, or could dine with you for however long you'd like).

Please, please try the butterscotch pudding dessert for us when you go dine with them! We can honestly say it was to die for. The thick, yet smooth, caramel and butterscotch taste paired perfectly with the chocolate crisp and whipped-cream has got us hooked. Nothing is more perfect than that combination!