Bayleaf Cafe
159 South Main St. Salt Lake City, UT 84111
(801) 359-8490
Website: www.bayleaf-cafe.com

Downtown SLC recently welcomed the opening of the Bay Leaf Cafe. An ambitious new eatery serving up an unusual mix of comfort foods spanning various continents: all days breakfast, southern classics like hoppin’ john, Asian items like congee and bulgogi, the list is long and varied. Seriously, check out their eclectic menu here.

It is not only the menu that’s unique, their opening hours are too. The restaurant opens 6am through 6pm weekdays, but plans to open continuously from Friday 6am through Sunday 6pm. Wow. I’d love to hear from anyone who has been down so far.

Vinto
418 E 200 S, Salt Lake City, UT 84111
(801) 539-9999
Website: www.vinto.com

Out of seemingly nowhere, information has been popping up all over the place about Vinto, a new downtown Pizzeria. Check out mentions in both The Tribune and Salt Lake Magazine. The praise seems universally excellent to date, with Kathy Stephenson noting “In fact, (chef/owners) Ruiz and Harries, spent six months just perfecting their pizza dough”. A possible challenger to Settebello’s claim to downtown’s best pizza?

Fall Dine O’ Round
Various locations, September 11th-27th
Website: www.dineoround.com

Thirty-one of Salt Lake City’s best restaurants extend a special invitation to enjoy dining at an exceptional price during the 7th annual Fall Downtown Dine O’ Round. In addition to the regular menu, participating restaurants offer a three-course dinner for $15 or $30 per person; some also offer a two-course lunch for $10.

“With more than a dozen new restaurants opening in the past few months, dining in Utah’s Capital City has never been more dynamic,” said Jason Mathis, executive director of the Downtown Alliance. “This Salt Lake tradition is a great way to enjoy restaurants like the New Yorker, Squatters, Metropolitan and Bambara while sampling new spots like Donovan’s, Gracie’s, J. Wong’s, Tipica and the Sandbar Mexican Grill.”

Asian, Italian, Lebanese, American, Austrian and Mexican cuisines—and specialty restaurants featuring seafood, steak and vegetarian fare—provide savory selections to satisfy any world traveler and cuisine connoisseur, all in downtown Salt Lake City. Indulge the frugal foodie in you during Downtown Dine O’ Round…it’s an ideal way to explore new restaurants or enjoy old favorites. There are no coupons, no punch cards and no strings attached. Dine O’ Round restaurants this fall are as follows (*denotes lunch special offered):

Bambara
Biaggi’s Ristorante Italiano
Caffe Molise*
Cedars of Lebanon*
Christopher’s Seafood and Steakhouse*
Donovan’s Steak and Chop House
Este Pizzeria*
Eva*
Gracie’s*
Iggy’s Sports Grill/Downtown*
J. Wong’s Asian Bistro
Lamb’s Grill Café
Lumpy’s Downtown
Market Street Grill*
Market Street Oyster Bar*
Martine
McGrath’s Fish House*
Metropolitan*
Red Rock Brewing Company
Settebello Pizzeria Napoletana*
Squatters Pub Brewery*
Star of India
Takashi
The Garden Restaurant at Temple Square
The Melting Pot
The New Yorker*
The Sandbar
Tin Angel Café*
Tipica
Tucanos Brazilian Grill*
Vienna Bistro*