Jack Mormon Coffee

Jack Mormon Coffee

82 E St E, Salt Lake City, UT 84103

TL;DR 

- Price: Below $10

- Flavor: Unique

- Filling?: Coffee Break

- Parking: Avenues-style, neighborhood

It is very likely that you'll have to park in front of houses when you come here. It's pretty busy, but they get you in and out pretty quickly.

I was ready to order my usual Black Iced Coffee when something on the menu caught my eye: Cold Brew On Nitro.

After inquiring with the friendly staff, I learned that the primary difference is that they make it frothy at the top. When you drink it, it is very similar to drinking a Guiness. Pretty legit, I must say. It comes in one size for $4. 

Economically speaking, I won't make it a consistent purchase. But I could definitely see this being a special occasion or date drink. Special note: it was not bitter at all. They may have added sugar already. Those who like it black should probably double-check on that front.

The establishment is quite small, with only about 3-4 seats at the max. There is a long counter you can stand at to enjoy your beverage, if you aren't on of the lucky few to score a seat.

I need to come back to try their classic black coffee. The Nitro Cold Brew is great, but I need the original. Next time!

08/22 update!: their iced black coffee is pretty good. Not very bitter, so those looking to start going black needn't hesitate.

Oasis Cafe

Oasis Cafe

151 S 500 E, Salt Lake City, UT 84102

TL;DR 

- Price: $15+

- Flavor: Breakfast

- Filling?: Reasonably so

- Parking: Good

In addition to the parking on the street, there is a small parking lot behind the building. Good stuff!

I ordered the cappuccino. As you can see above, there's tons of foam and actually very little cappuccino. It was nice and strong though. Maybe that's why it was so small... People can't handle the full cup, haha. Just keep this in mind when you order a cup for $4.

I ordered the Eggs Benedict Florentine with server recommended salmon and avocado on it ($2 and $1.95 each) so it better be the business!

The egg was runny, just as I like it.  The smoked salmon had a very distinct flavor. The Hollandaise sauce was good and not overpowering. The tomato was fantastic: supported the flavors of the rest of the dish without getting drowned out. The avocado was, as most avocados are, suitably understated. So if you want to experience your avocado with full passion, don't be afraid to make it the main attraction of one of your bites.

Confessional: I don't actually know how I'm supposed to eat Eggs Benedict. I asked for a knife to be a classy gentleman but it seems to make everything fall apart on account of the English muffin. Maybe someone can direct me. If I had consent to eat this gloriously and viscerally with my hands, I will be extremely disappointed in myself.

The potatoes are lightly fried, so you get minor crispness every now and again. Light seasoning, so you might be able to eat them without too much ketchup.

Incredible props to my server for the avocado and salmon suggestion. Also, special shout out to the host for giving me the perfect seat. I could experience the majestic wind whilst not actually sitting outside.

By the way, there's a bookstore next door where you can get aura readings. Interesting little place, I learned that the receipt from Oasis Cafe gets you a $5 discount on a reading. Good teamwork, y'all.

So I will probably skip the cappuccino next time, on account of economic inefficiency, but I really enjoyed the Eggs Benedict and wouldn't mind returning for a second go. I imagine their other menu options are quite delectable as well.

Takashi

Takashi

18 W Market St, Salt Lake City, UT 84101

TL;DR 

- Price: $20+

- Flavor: Fresh, twist

- Filling?: Depends

- Parking: Unclear, walked

First thing first: Takashi is bumpin'.

Bear in mind, I came around 6 pm on Saturday. It was super busy. It seemed that they don't take reservations, which threw me off. Thankfully I was alone on this visit so I could sit at the counter without the long wait.

My sushi chef was Chris. Cool guy, very pleasant. I love seeing the intricate process of rolling the sushi and slicing the fish. If you have never sat at the counter during busy times, I recommend the experience. If you're extroverted, unlike me, you will have a great time talking with the chefs as well.

I ordered the Kampachi special sashimi, Ramon's roll, and the Little Mermaid roll. 

Pro-tip: spicy flavors help amplify the appetite.

The Kampachi (amberjack with balsamic and jalapeños) was powerfully fresh. The balsamic was really apparent. I love Amberjack. I don't like using wasabi on this, it overpowers the fish. Stay away from the wasabi and you're good (unless there are health precautions; a common belief in my family is that the wasabi helps to kill bad stuff in raw foods).

Ramon's roll (Tuna, cilantro, avocado, and spicy sauce with fresh chili peppers on top; akin to a super spicy tuna) was pretty spicy, not sweat inducing after one piece. I really liked the powerful tuna flavor. It's very smooth and savory. I would absolutely order this again. Best spicy tuna I've ever had. 6 pieces in, I started to feel it. Last piece gave me a kick in the pants on the way.

The little mermaid roll (tuna with spicy sauce, scallops, shiso, wasabi tobiko) was a bit more subtle than Ramon's roll. The tobiko on top was a really nice touch. The fish wasn't as strong as in Ramon's roll. Scallops felt wonderfully fresh in my mouth. The flavor of the tuna carried it, the scallops brought a nice texture, and the tobiko drove it home.

I'm starting to get in the mindset that I used to use too much wasabi. I guess it was that familial belief. But I feel like the guy who puts hot sauce on everything. I endeavor to eat without wasabi. Keep me honest.

Takashi was delightful. Ramon's roll is the best spicy tuna roll I've ever had. Will return with my friend, whose weakness is spicy tuna.

Blue Copper Coffee Room

Blue Copper Coffee Room

179 W 900 S, Salt Lake City, UT 84101

TL;DR 

- Price: Below $10

- Flavor: Strong

- Filling?: Snack

- Parking: Pretty good

I got their 16 oz Iced Coffee. It was very strong (as I like it) but was not very bitter. Excellent quality.

It was a pretty quiet place. Very nice hang out spot with instrumental music in the background and minimalist decor.

I'm sorry. I haven't done this place justice. I came here after eating an exorbitant amount elsewhere and was only able to try their coffee. But... their coffee is stupendous. Their service is awesome, also. Definitely going to come back and try their pastries.

Dolcetti Gelato

Dolcetti Gelato

902 E 900 S, Salt Lake City, UT 84105

TL;DR 

- Price: Below $10 per person

- Flavor: Very distinct, unique

- Filling?: Dessert

- Parking: Street parking in avenues, seems reasonable

Woman working the front was super friendly; she was very open to giving samples. The samples she suggested were incredible. Black current was really a blast of flavor. Their star was definitely the coconut mango sticky rice gelato. I can't even handle how accurate this tastes. Even the texture was similar to the classic dessert.

I love their sizes. Having survived the Super Size era, it's nice to see smaller sizes. This gave me the opportunity to sample their delectable looking macarons.

Macaron nonsense from Milton:
Nutella is the business. Best. Wow. My words... I want to wax poetic like Cyrano. I want to shout to the heavens from the highest mountaintop.

The lime is divine. The little piece of lime reminded me of of what was to come but I wasn't ready for this. No one could be ready for this. I started with the Nutella and was expecting Nutella to be the good one to which the others would be weighed, measured and found wanting. Nope, lime showed up and showed me what's up.

Whoaaaaa, what is this cookie butter? Wooooow. Their consistency is stellar. Every flavor has knocked it out of the ballpark.

The dulce de leche has such powerful flavor. The filling is so distinct. I can't believe it.

The key to my heart is found in the macaron. I have found a new favorite place to get them, along with delicious gelato.

By the way, their decor is something to behold. Terrific little place with great staff. I expect to gain a lot of weight after having found Dolcetti Gelato.

Faustina

Faustina

454 300 South, Salt Lake City, UT 84111

TL;DR 

- Price: Between $14 and $20

- Flavor: Brunch/Breakfasty!

- Filling?: Yes

- Parking: Solid!

Special Note!: Parking not limited to the street, you can turn in to more parking behind the building

By the way, the entrance is not at the front! Go in through the patio (so parking on the street could actually result in more walking overall).

The setting is absolutely beautiful. The indoors area was pretty empty when I went because everyone was seated in the nice patio outside.

Small soliloquy moment: I order coffee because I like it. I like the taste, I like the caffeine, I like the health benefits. I order cappuccino to relax and enjoy myself. It is my unwinding drink. It is the cheat meal of my caffeinated drinks. Faustina did not disappoint. I love when restaurants give you a rectangular prism of sugar rather than the little paper packets. The flavor was excellent. I really enjoyed the foam as well. The cup was really modern. Only complaint was the size. Maybe it was the work week but I downed that sucker fast.

I was torn between two options: Smoked Chicken Hash or Steak and Eggs. The waitress helped me make up my mind, mentioning the strong flavors of the SCH. It looked incredible with the gravy, vegetation and egg on top and some of the sweet potatoes and tomatoes peeking out of its egg dress.

She wasn't kidding about the flavor. The chicken and sweet potatoes were very bold. I wish the egg were runnier, but that's a personal preference, it is still delicious. The gravy is really nice, too. A lot of places use gravy as the main attraction to cover up laziness in seasoning the actual food. This gravy was very subtle, complementing everything rather than trying to steal the spotlight.

This is my favorite kind of breakfast meal: eggs, gravy, meats, sweet potatoes, vegetables, all in a bowl and consumable with just a fork. I like knives, don't get me wrong, but there's something to be said about a dish that I can scarf down with just a fork.

What a comfortable place to just sit down and enjoy a relaxing brunch. Steak and Eggs, you're my next target.

Avenues Bistro on 3rd

Avenues Bistro on 3rd

564 3rd Ave N, Salt Lake City, UT 84103

TL;DR 

- Price: Between $9 and $16

- Flavor: Refreshing, Simple

- Filling?: Yes

- Parking: Street parking in avenues, could be sketchy in busy times

What a cozy place in the avenues! The staff immediately greeted me warmly upon entry. I came here at almost 3 pm, which is more of a chill-out time than a meal time, so parking and getting seated was easy.

First surprise was the cuteness of their glasses. As you can see on the left, they're tiny! I was provided a carafe immediately as well, so refills would not be an issue.

Unfortunately, the waffle maker was broken today. Ah, well, life happens.

I decided to go with the Bistro Lunch Special (grilled cheese) and opted for their gazpacho instead of the salad.

Before it arrived, I could already smell the grilled cheese. The aroma was divine. Scent-wise, I was satisfied already. 

The gazpacho was supremely refreshing. Slight umami amidst mild sweetness. I could see myself ordering a pitcher and enjoying it all day, especially during the summer.

The grilled cheese... wow. I didn't think the flavor could match the smell. It was very cheesy but not too heavy. The cheese pulls and stretches: excellently melty.

I tried dipping and it was interesting. I wouldn't do it again because the flavors dilute rather than complement each other.

Dessert time... mmm... I ordered the Opera Cake. It was very simple. 4 layers of chocolate with cake in between. Though simple, the chocolate were great. The cake does a wonderful job of supporting the chocolate layer. It was very moist, not dry at all. This would go incredibly with coffee. The raspberries and cream were a nice touch.

I did notice that they use organic maple syrup. Also I overheard that they just got their patio back, which is fantastic for this beautiful summer.

Their service is very friendly, their food is great, and the environment is very relaxing. I will have to return to try their breakfast next time.