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Apr 17
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Salt Lake City Reveals Plan For Rio Grande District Development

By City Watch

The Redevelopment Agency of Salt Lake City (RDA) has released the Rio Grande District Vision & Implementation Plan, revealing the future vision for the Rio Grande District in Salt Lake City. The area contains about 11 acres of RDA-owned property in Downtown Salt Lake City, which will be transformed to include a portion of the “green loop,” public art spaces and residential, retail and maker’s spaces, a new hotel and space for nonprofit operations.

This vision for an urban, walkable community will be flanked by the State’s multimodal transit hub and the historic Rio Grande Depot. The six-chapter plan is a result of the city’s partnership with global architecture and design firm Perkins & Will. Which, Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall says, “Thoughtfully addresses the neighborhood’s past, present and future. Technically, it identifies and explores functional designs for spaces and buildings that will advance creativity, community wellness, economic growth and opportunities for all.”

The planned new developments in the Rio Grande District also aligns with Mayor Mendenhall’s “Tech Lake City” initiative (which is meant to develop Salt Lake City into a pipeline for tech and life sciences industries) by providing incubator, laboratory and office spaces.

Plan for walkability and transit

The Rio Grande District will bolster and add to the so-called “Green Loop,” the City’s proposed 5.5-mile urban trail and park, which connects multiple downtown neighborhoods and will run through the RDA site along 500 West. 

The RDA Rio Grande District Re-development plan: The "Green Loop", a proposed 5.5 mile urban trail and linear park
The “Green Loop” is a proposed 5.5 mile urban trail and linear park that would connect to the Rio Grande District. (Courtesy Perkins & Will)

“Designed as a low-carbon community, it leverages its proximity to a variety of transportation choices and provides a healthy walkable environment,” says Geeti Silwal, Principal and Urban Design Practice Leader for Perkins & Will. They plan for the re-development area to serve as a bridge between Downtown and neighborhoods west of downtown.

The Rio Grande Distrisct plan also includes the creation of new mid-block street connections to break up larger blocks and form connections to transit (like the adjacent Utah Transit Authority Salt Lake Central Station and the proposed Orange Line) and public spaces, such as the planned transformation of 300 South into a people-first “Festival” street. This would allow the street to be closed to vehicle traffic and programmed for events and an Arts Campus Alley, an outdoor venue for local arts and performances.  

“It’s always an exciting and unique opportunity when we get to invest in the future of our communities,” says District 2 Salt Lake City Council Member and RDA Board Chair Alejandro Puy. “I am thrilled to support this transit-oriented development that lay the groundwork for an accessible and bustling area in our city.”

The Rio Grande District plan sustainable strategies include building orientation for optimal building performance, climatic comfort, and biophilia; preservation and revitalization of existing buildings on-site; on-site stormwater management, permeable surfaces within the public spaces and a central underground stormwater collection cistern to reuse for landscape irrigation; policies for all new development to be designed and operated without on-site fossil fuels; and low-carbon mobility network. (Courtesy Perkins & Will)

What’s next?

To accommodate the first phase of development, the RDA plans to lay the groundwork by upgrading utilities to support higher density at the site.

According to the plan, the development will be built in phases “over many years” and could change, dependent on the market and available funding.

Phase 1. Development is focused on the southeastern portion of the site, including:

  • Construction of Market Street and a segment of Woodbine Court.

  • Major mobility and access improvements to the existing 300 south (Festival Street) and 400 South Frontage Road rights-of-way.

  • Construction of the southern portion of the Arts Campus plaza and possible plaza along 500 West.

Phase 2. Development is focused on the reopening of the Rio Grande Depot and adding housing onto the site, including:

  • Construction of Pierpont Avenue from 600 West to Woodbine Court and the nortnern segment or Woodbine Court from 300 South to Eccles Avenue.

  • Completion of the Rio Grande Depot renovation with State of Utah departments and additional civic tenants moving into the Depot along with a publicly accessible grand concourse with new active uses.

  • New multi-family residential projects with active uses on the ground floor.

  • Anticipated construction or commercial mixed-use high-rise tower. The project can accommodate a tech anchor tenant in an urban campus setting or multiple tenants including allowances for new wet and dry lab spaces to support Tech Lake City initiative.

Phase 3. Development is focused on the parcels adjacent to Salt Lake Central Station and the Green Loop:

  • Reconfiguration of 500 West as a multi-modal street, including improved intersections at 400 South and 200 South.

  • The construction of the Green Loop urban trail and linear park on the eastern portion of 500 West.

Phase 4. Development is focused on the landmark mixed-use residential tower on 500 West and the mixed-use development along the 400 South Overpass:

  • Construction of the northern portion of the Arts Campus plaza.

  • Construction of permanent park programming at the 400 south underpass such as dog park and soccer courts.

  • Construction of the landmark residential mixed-use tower along 500 West and 300 South.

For each re-development site, the RDA says it is prioritizing projects that include climate-positive design, affordable housing for families and seniors, affordable commercial spaces for locally-owned businesses and the creation of educational and workforce development opportunities. As far as exactly how those stated priorities will manifest in this particular development, time will tell.

The RDA says it is currently developing construction drawings for the development and plans to release a Request for Proposals (RFP) from developers later this year to start building out select sites on the north block. For more information, visit slcrda.com/riograndedistrict.

Apr 17
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The Sober-Curious Trend Sweeping Utah’s Beverage Industry

By After Dark, Eat & Drink

Whether you choose to imbibe, are taking a break from booze or pursue a sober lifestyle, one thing that teetotalers share with imbibers is a desire for flavor. Experiencing new and exciting concoctions that ignite our senses is one of life’s greatest pleasures, but why should that experience be limited to high-proof cocktails or syrup-laden sodas? Rising in popularity, alcohol alternatives are sating our curiosity for compelling mocktails that we’re actually excited to order. 

“It’s about providing a sophisticated drink for non-drinkers,” says Crystal Daniels, NA enthusiast, notable Salt Lake bartender and owner of a new beverage consulting business. Daniels began searching for alternatives for booze in an effort to make her establishments more inclusive to all guests. What she found was a world of NA (non-alcoholic) options suited to all tastes, from NA beer and wine, to spirit alternatives, to products that fall into a category completely of their own. Brands such as Cut Above, Ritual Zero Proof and MONDAY offer a range of 1:1 spirit alternatives, so you can still enjoy the depth of an Old Fashion or the bitter bite of a Negroni without calling an Uber at the end of the night. Some of Daniel’s favorite NA products are those that  are wholly original, like Pathfinder—a hemp-based elixir that was created by bartenders and plant scientists. “It’s an entirely new sipping experience,” she says. “It’s a blend of wormwood, angelic root, saffron and other adaptogens with antioxidants and vitamin E The closest this I can relate it to is an amari.” Utilizing adaptogens (herbs, roots and other natural substances that help the body respond to stressors) are just another way the beverage industry is tapping into a more health-wise consciousness. A brand called Three Spirit even categorizes their NA products by Feels, like their Nightcap elixir, an indulgent blend of lemon balm, valerian root and terpenes. 

Utah Beverage Industry
Enjoy a zero-proof Aperol Spritz, Margarita, or an Old Fashioned. Image courtesy of Ritual Spirits.

Bartenders are utilizing these products to create intriguing mocktail programs, but many can be enjoyed in the comfort of your own homes simply poured over a glass of ice. And if you’re in the mood for a glass of zero-proof vino, there’s plenty of that to go around as well. Tracey Thompson, President and CEO of wine brokerage/non-alcoholic distributor VineLore noticed a boom in the industry after 2020. Taking their cue from the growing demand for NA options, leading wine producers now offer dealcoholized pinot noirs and sauvignon blancs. And for those who prefer zero residual alcohol, companies like Zilch have created bubbly grape beverages that never undergo fermentation. “There’s a lot of innovation in this market,” Tracey remarks. 

The recent rise in NA products might be the result of a post-pandemic reality where many imbibers are reeling in any overindulgent habits formed during isolation. Other studies have found it’s the new generation of sober-curious individuals that drive the trend (a 2020 study by Berenberg Research found Gen-Z drinks 20% less than millennials). Whatever the cause, it’s clear the sobriety stigma is clearing out, and some of the beverage industry’s biggest players are cashing in. Anheuser-Busch, the world’s largest brewing company, projects a 25% increase in their non-alc category by 2026. Just last year, Heineken partnered with Marvel to produce the Super Bowl’s first 0% beer commercial. Even vanguards in the bartending industry like Portland Cocktail Week incorporated NA programming in their 2023 curriculum. On a local level, Salt Lake’s movers and shakers are eager to introduce curious consumers to the NA realm. As part of their ongoing culinary course program, Caputo’s offers a “Mocktails & NA” tasting course with Crystal at the helm. During select prix fixe menus, Oquirrh has offered NA wine pairings, and bars like Bar Nohm, Copper Common and Post Office Place answer mocktail requests with flair. 

Utah Beverage Industry
N/A options cater to those who are sober for a variety of liefestyle reasons. Image courtesy of

Utah is primed for a sober curious movement, and you might be surprised just how fun zero-proof can be. The next time you’re ordering a mocktail, go beyond a Shirley Temple or Diet Coke and see what flavorful elixir awaits you. And catch Crystal’s next mocktail class on March 7, and check caputos.com for their upcoming schedule. If you’re interested in NA consulting, reach out to Crystal at crystaldanielscreative.com and follow her journey on Instagram @mostlysoberbartender.   

Apr 16
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National Ability Center’s New Home on the Hill

By City Watch

It certainly catches the eye more than the old double wide did. The McGrath Mountain Center, the new on-mountain home of the National Ability Center (NAC) at the base of Park City Mountain, isn’t just roughly five times the size of the organization’s prior operations facility consisting of a mobile trailer and a couple of sheds. It’s a stunning, modern facility befitting the essential work the NAC does.

For nearly four decades the non-profit NAC has fostered a safe and inclusive environment for people with disabilities through adaptive recreation. The organization, initially known as the Park City Handicapped Sports Association (PCHSA), was started in 1985 by Meeche White and Pete Badewitz, a Vietnam Veteran, out of their home. A grant from the Disabled American Veterans of Utah funded ski lessons for veterans at the base of Park City Mountain. 

From those humble beginnings, the National Ability Center has continued to grow and develop into a leading organization in adaptive recreation. And what started as an idea out of White’s and Badewitz’s home has grown into a comprehensive campus on a 26-acre ranch in Round Valley—which includes an equestrian center, ropes courses, an indoor hub with a climbing wall and an on-site lodge for visiting participants—that’s now joined by a state-of-the-art facility at the base of Park City Mountain at the very site of the first ski lessons the organization taught in 1985.

McGrath Mountain Center
The National Ability Center’s adaptive ski bike program is one of the activities based at the new McGrath Mountain Center. Photo Credit SLUG MAGazine

“This is a dream come true,” says Tracey Meier, Chief Program and Education Officer at the NAC. “Our new McGrath Mountain Center is a 9,400-square-foot, fully ADA-accessible facility situated at our home resort of Park City Mountain. Through this new center, we offer world-class adaptive skiing and snowboarding, providing individualized experiences for people with disabilities.”

Park City Mountain donated the land for the McGrath Mountain Center, and Laurie McGrath, an NAC Board Member, donated a significant portion of the funds that made the project possible. As monumental as the new facility is, the opportunities it affords are more of an extension of what the NAC has been doing all along, albeit with a fair bit more comfort and space.  

Some 80 adaptive ski instructors have been working out of the new facility this winter. Undoubtedly it’s an upgrade over the crowded confines of the nearby trailer, which managed, through the diligent work of staff and endless enthusiasm of participants, to serve as the base for countless incredible experiences for adaptive skiers and snowboarders over the years. The NAC served more than 5,400 people last year, and the number should only grow as opportunities abound both in snowsports and with year-round seasonal activities and events.  

 “The inclusive approach at the McGrath Mountain Center goes beyond just skiing,” Meier says. “It encompasses a broad spectrum of activities such as adaptive mountain biking, hiking, and day camps, ensuring a holistic adventure for individuals, families, and groups. Serving all ages and all populations, we have the people, equipment, and program to provide each person with a memorable experience!”

McGrath Mountain Center

“After seven years of planning, I am thrilled to celebrate this joyous occasion with the community.”

—Meeche White, Co-founder of NAC
Photo Credit Adam Finkle

The opening of the McGrath Mountain Center is a crowning moment, especially for the people at the NAC who’ve never lost sight of its critical mission. “Having a new mountain center completes my original vision for the evolution of our facilities,” said NAC co-founder Meeche White at the center’s unveiling last October. “After seven years of planning, I am thrilled to celebrate this joyous occasion with the community.” 

And in the longer term, the facility is a monument to the Park City community’s commitment to the NAC and the work it does. Without the critical support of partners like Vail Resorts, Park City Mountain, and the town itself, such a project wouldn’t be possible. The mountains are for everyone, and the new McGrath Mountain Center is a reminder of Park City’s support of that vision for decades to come.

Apr 15
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Review: ‘Bitter Lemon’ at Plan-B

By Arts & Culture, Theater

Lady Helen Macduff waits in wonderment, isolated in an undefined space. Her silence is broken by the appearance of the loathsome King Macbeth, a specter from her past and the emissary of her condition. And it is here, in limbo—the existential space between heaven and hell—where together they await their destiny.

Macbeth (played to pompous effect by Bobby Cody) is in a state of confusion in the presence of Helen Macduff (played by the powerful Yolanda Stange). His first recognition of her is an emerging memory of the two of them as children, aligned in youthful play turned to romance, and of her bewitching Bitter Lemon cake.

How quickly that sweet memory turned bitter. Macbeth’s death, thus his presence in this ethereal space, came at the hands of Andrew Macduff as an act of revenge for Macbeth’s slaying of Macduff’s beloved wife and three children, Andrew Jr., Alexander and baby Angela, 

Here in limbo, Helen Macduff seizes the moment. A woman murdered alongside her children is not to be toyed with, after all. An enraged Helen Macduff is given her voice in playwright Melissa Leilani Larson’s imaginative epilogue to Shakespeare’s Macbeth.

Kudos to Jerry Rapier, Plan-B’s artistic director and the director of Bitter Lemon, the final play of Plan-B’s season. His commitment to progressive, intelligent theatre and to the enriched community is truly nothing short of remarkable. 

The scenery (designed by Janice Chan) is tiered, vertical backdrop panels, with a fluidity representative of an undersea scape. Emma Belnap’s lighting design underscores the room’s impermanence, yet illuminates space for the impending confrontation. Current-era costumes (designed by Victoria Bird) further set the mood for the 21st Century adaptation. Cheryl Ann Cluff has again surpassed audience expectations with the sound design of Bitter Lemon.

The characters evolve as the conversation between Finley Macbeth and Helen Macduff turns into a confrontation. While a defiant Macbeth turns to defensiveness, an angry, bitter Helen Macduff summons her rage in a full-out assault on Macbeth, railing against his vile tactics and his self-obsessed schemes for power. 

Helen Macduff seeks reconciliation through forgiveness, while Macbeth defends his violent quest for permanent rule. And in one of her most inspiring and most defiant retorts to his queasy defense of his self-seeking aggrandizement, she claims, “That is just typical of you, and your gender. It reeks of privilege. What can be more selfish than to tire of someone else’s pain? If you are the hero, the leader, you claim to be, you will embrace your sins. Own them, hold them up and say—‘I did this.’” 

And in his one, stunning act of contrition, Finley Macbeth asks Helen Macduff for forgiveness. To which she replies …”That’s the balance, then. You must own your wrongs, and I must forgive them.”

As the audience’s applause faded and we walked out of the theater, I was reminded that political leaders’ self-seeking obsession for power and wealth, irrespective of mass human deprivation is sadly not just a relic of the 16th Century.

  • What: Plan-B Theatre’s Bitter Lemon by Melissa Leilani Larson, Directed by Jerry Rapier

  • When: Bitter Lemon at Plan B runs April 11-28, on Thursdays and Fridays at 8 p.m. and Saturdays at 4 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m.

  • Where: The Studio Theatre, Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center, 138 W. 300 South, SLC

  • Tickets and info: planbtheatre.org

Apr 15
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Here’s Your 2024 SLC Twilight Concert Series Lineup

By Music

Get ready for a summer of great music! The Salt Lake City Arts Council in partnership with S&S Presents today announced the lineup for the 37th Annual Twilight Concert Series at The Gallivan Center (with one tantalizing show at Library Square). There is something for every musical taste from neo-soul to alt-rock, indie folk to electronica/dance/pop and all stops in between. Organizers have posted a playlist on Spotify if ya wanna whet your aural appetite.

Season tickets are on sale Tuesday, April 16, 2024, and individual show tickets are on sale Wednesday, April 17, 2024.

  • June 21—Laufey with Grace Enger and Anna Beck 

  • June 27—Thee Sacred Souls, The Mañanas and Jazzy Olivo 

  • July 19—Watchhouse with TBA and Branson Anderson

  • Aug. 7—Jungle with BALTHVS and The Plastic Cherries

  • Aug. 16—The María with Automatic and Homephone (at Library Square)

  • Aug. 21—Alex G with julie and Cannibal Queen

Bonus: Tickets to the 2024 Salt Lake Twilight Concert Series include free UTA fare. Ride UTA trains or local buses with your Salt Lake Twilight concert ticket and enjoy free fare all day on the day of the event (Paratransit, Ski, and PC-SLC Connect Service not included). Show a day-of concert ticket to the bus operator or UTA fare enforcement personnel when asked for proof of payment.

  • What: Salt Lake City Twilight Concert Series

  • Where: Gallivan Center (and Library Square)

  • When: June 21, 2024 through Aug. 21, 2024

  • Tickets and info:

Apr 15
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Best of the Beehive 2024 Reader’s Poll

By Best of the Beehive

Every year, Salt Lake celebrates our favorite Utah things in our “Best of the Beehive” issue. It’s our cheeky love letter to the food, drinks, activities, places and more that make our state special. In 2024, we want to hear from you. From old favorites to new upstarts, from Logan to St. George to everywhere in between, what is your personal Best of the Beehive? Fill in the survey below and get ready for the 2024 edition of Best of the Beehive this summer.        

 


Apr 12
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Utah Arts Festival Announces 2024 Music Headliners

By Music

You know summer is almost here when we start talking about the Utah Arts Festival. This year, the Utah Arts Festival will return to Salt Lake City June 28-30, 2024 to celebrate visual art, music, dance, film and community.

Friday, the Utah Arts Festival announced its headlining musical acts that will perform on the main festival stages throughout the weekend, including acts like Andy Frasco & the U.N. and Steely Dead. 

“The Utah Arts Festival has a long history of presenting high-quality musical acts, many of whom are on the rise when they performed at the Festival and have since gone on to critical acclaim in their respective genres,” says Festival executive director, Aimee Dunsmore. Those acts that have gone on to the big-time include Brandi Carlile, Jason Isbell and Ben Harper. 

“That’s part of the magic of this event, and this year’s slate is no different,” says Dunsmore. “Our 2024 musical headliners represent our desire to create a vibrant, welcoming and fun-loving environment where the community can come together and where art comes to life.” Festival organizers say that these incredible shows—and the community that turns out to engage with them—are what makes the Utah Arts Festival truly “the Great Utah Get-Together.”

Utah Arts Festival 2024 Musical Headliners

Steely Dead

Friday, June 28: Steely Dead 

Steely Dead performs two sets on the Festival’s Amphitheater Stage. A 4-piece ensemble hailing from Denver, Colorado, Steely Dead is renowned for their unique blend of Grateful Dead and Steely Dan, performing soulful renditions of classic tunes. 

Seo Jungmin

Friday, June 28: Seo Jungmin

 Korean artist Seo Jungmin performs on the Festival Stage, offering a truly unique opportunity to see this artist. Having performed at SXSW, WOMEX and WOMAD, Seo Jungmin blends traditional and contemporary sounds with her 25-string Gayageum, shamanic vocals and percussion mesmerizing audiences. (This performance is made possible in part through the Performing Arts Global Exchange Program of Mid-Atlantic Arts with support from the National Endowment for the Arts.)

Andy Frasco of Andy Frasco & the U.N.

Saturday, June 29: Cool Cool Cool and Andy Frasco & the U.N. 

Cool Cool Cool and Andy Frasco & the U.N. funk it up with a double bill on Festival’s scenic Amphitheater Stage. The colorful heart-thumping fun of Andy Frasco will pump up this summer’s Saturday night at the Utah Arts Festival. Andy Frasco & the U.N. are trailblazing DIY rebels within the touring circuit, celebrated for their dynamic musical fusion and unparalleled stage presence. With their latest release, L’Optimist (Fun Machine Records/Soundly), the band showcases Andy Frasco’s horn-infused positivity and power.

 “I fight depression every single day,” Frasco shares. “Optimism is my weapon against it. I write optimistic songs because they keep me moving forward. We’re all in this together, and everyone needs a little optimism to persevere.” Andy Frasco & The U.N. continue to captivate audiences worldwide with their infectious energy and heartfelt message, proving that optimism and music are powerful catalysts for change.

Cool Cool Cool

In between their Northlands Music & Arts Festival in New Hampshire and High Sierra Music Festival in California, Cool Cool Cool will stop off in Salt Lake City to stir up the Utah Arts Festival. A genre-defying force, Cool Cool Cool (former members of Turkuaz) seamlessly blends funk, house and R&B to craft a unique and energetic sound–fronted by dynamic vocals and backed by a tight horn section, swirling synths, and a groove-laden rhythm section. 

The Plastic Cherries

Sunday, June 30: The Plastic Cherries and future.exboyfriend 

The Plastic Cherries and future.exboyfriend will take the Festival by storm with indie electro-pop flair. The Plastic Cherries began as a home recording project making songs on old tape machines. Inspired by glam, soft rock, shoegaze, Elliott Smith, and their dog, Shelby and Joe Maddock formulated their first album, Sunshine, and evolved to include pianist Natalie Hamilton, drummer Wayne Burdick and bassist Stephen Cox. You can hear the pop sensibility and experience the theatrics of their heroes in one compact act. Homegrown in SLC and included in 2023’s Kilby Block Party, they have shared festival stages with the Pixies, The Strokes and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs among others. Their new album beginning with Lovers On The Run is an expansive sequel to their lo-fi debut, telling a psychedelic story of escape and return invoking Ziggy Stardust, Rock Horror, and the B-52s.

future.exboyfriend

Another up-and-coming Utah local, future.exboyfriend has carved out an addictive indie-pop sound with a side of funk and disco. Lead singer Tyler Harris offers soaring vocals and thoughtful lyrics to create a sound with Isaac Paul and Ian Kirby. Their latest album, FXB, is driven by this unique electro-pop groove and percussive bass lines. Just try not to dance to songs like “High at the Gym” and “Hazy.”

Additional artists, performers, and films will be announced in the coming weeks. For more information visit The Utah Arts Festival website uaf.org.

Read more of our music coverage and get the latest on the arts and culture scene in and around Utah. And while you’re here, subscribe and get six issues of Salt Lake magazine, your curated guide to the best of life in Utah.

Apr 11
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First Bite: Scelto in Sandy

By Eat & Drink

I am admittedly a Salt Lake snob, generally adhering to the principle that anything south of 33rd is “the country.” But I was drawn out of my usual stomping grounds recently by talk around town of a new Italian-inspired restaurant called Scelto in, gasp, Sandy. 

To be clear, there are of course great restaurants down south. The Charleston comes to mind, for example, but the south end of our valley is also littered with chain restaurants leaving its residents high and dry if they’re looking for something that doesn’t come with fries. Scelto has a shot at helping this situation. Unfortunately, in a strip mall, Scelto restaurant’s owners have worked hard against the grain of Sandy commercial real estate options. They called in two of Salt Lake’s eminent pros, Gary Vlasic and Jamie Clyde, to design the space and help us all forget that it previously may have been a martial arts dojo. The resulting restaurant is clearly not a dojo. It is spacious, well appointed and inviting. 

I made my visit with a good friend of mine who does a lot of business in the tech sector and his first thought once we were seated was that he’d offer to meet colleagues here as a midway point instead of his usual trek to Lehi, which is truly a dining wasteland. This is kind of the point of Scelto. Salt Lake is growing fast, especially to the south and there is an opportunity for experienced operators to establish excellence amid the sea of mediocrity. 

Will Scelto succeed? Let’s go to the table. First, the wine list is very Italian, a good sign for a place deeming itself to be inspired by Italy and it has some nice splashes of French as well as the Kendall Jackson Chard, as is required in Utah. On the table, we wandered into seared Ahi (not Italian) and arancini (very Italian) for starters. Always dubious about fish in the desert, the Ahi was fantastic, a nice piece of fish well prepared with no fuss. I always chuckle at arancini, in actual Italy, it’s more of a street food. The fried egg-shaped ball of rice and often meat (but in this case, mushrooms) is always on the table when I see it on a menu. For the salad course, I never pass up a beet salad, and this simply presented plate of arugula, baby beets, pine nuts, fennel and a lemony balsamic ticked that box. For the mains, we stayed firmly in Italy—lasagna and carbonara. The chef, however, did bring out a short rib that was easily better than both. The fall-off-the-bone meat was served with caramelized shallot, mashed potatoes and a lovely red wine jus. The carbonara didn’t dazzle but the lasagna was another story. My friend is well-traveled and considers a lasagna to be the litmus test of any Italian meal. “It’s a simple dish but easy to mess up,” he says. Scelto’s kitchen did not mess it up. The beef ragu had been clearly and appropriately simmered for hours, which is the most important and complex part of a good lasagna. 

Scelto is still working out some bugs like any new endeavor but my first visit showed promise and I’d like to go back and try some of the Italian-inspired corners of the menu.  And, my dinner companion gave it a thumbs up as a good spot to entertain Lehi clients (that spares him the trek into actual Lehi.)

  • What: Scelto, an Italian-inspired restaurant

  • Where: 849 E. 9400 South, Sandy

  • Hours: Open for lunch and dinner Monday through Thursday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Fridays from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Saturdays for dinner from 5 to 10 p.m.

  • Online: sceltoslc.com and on Instagram @sceltoslc.