Utah Restaurant Reviews - Finicky Style... If you are in Utah, and eat food, we hope you'll find this site helpful! As the name suggests, we're finicky eaters. And since Jesse is the downright pickiest eater ever, we probably won't be reviewing anything too far off the food map. Finicky Foods... Where to eat in Utah!
Since we get hungry from time to time, stop back often and see where we've been!
August 21st, 2009
Los Hermanos has been open far longer than we’ve lived in Utah…and that is nearing two decades.
Jesse ( 3 Forks - I have had the same exact thing at Los Hermanos for years and years… two chicken tacos on flour tortillas.) I love the chips and salsa. *Remember I’m the finicky plain eater - the salsa is perfect for me…no weird chunks, not too hot or cool. Hmmm, I think that is the reason I go there.
As you probably know I like tacos. I’ve probably eaten more tacos in my life than anything else short of PB sandwiches and cereal. Of course I wouldn’t call myself a connoisseur of any kind. But I know tacos. The Los Hermanos tacos are really pretty plain and simple. Lettuce, cheese, chicken that isn’t super flavored - I want to call it boiled because it isn’t grilled and is always a little soggy. And I promply remove the tomato. Try to disregard some of my taco tirade below, because I hear the rest of the menu is great.
Normally I wouldn’t have anything to blog about here. What can you say when the food tastes exactly the same for 17+ years? Well, the food indeed tastes exactly the same. I always (and now Vanessa copies) pull out some chicken, lettuce, and cheese, mix in some salsa, and then eat it with chips after eating the tacos. Well, this is the first time there was barely anything to pull out. There certainly wasn’t as much chicken as past visits… and Vanessa even claims the tortillas are now smaller. The worst part is, while the tacos are shrinking, the prices are growing and growing and growing! I think the first tacos I ever had cost me about a buck fifty each. Today’s new price: $4.49 - yes, each! My guess is that they are catching on to how cheap the tacos have been. But they are losing forks for the shrinking tacos. Those are probably the most expensive tacos in town now, and certainly not the best. If it wasn’t for the chips and salsa, I’d be going for the better tacos elsewhere.
Vanessa ( 3 Forks - Slowest visit ever, tasty food, where’s the beef er tacos?)
I’ll speak for Vanessa until she reads this… Tacos getting smaller, price getting bigger… But she likes the chips and salsa and my secret eating method. And she loves me. 5 forks for Jesse…make that 6! 3 Forks for Los Hermanos - C’mon guys at least keep the taco size the same as it was!
Did I mention that the last 20 times we’ve been to Los Hermanos the tacos hit the table before we were done with the chips? This visit was our slowest ever. Not only did it take the server (probably his first job out of high school) a good 20 minutes to greet us (after asking another server for assistance), we had a second round of chips show up and about 10 minutes later came the (small) tacos.
What do you think of Los Hermanos?
 Loading … Los Hermanos - Provo (also in Lindon)
16 w. Center St.
Provo, UT 84601
(801) 375-5732
Map/Directions
June 16th, 2009
Applebees is a family restaurant serving primarily American dishes. The chain was recently acquired by IHOP.
Jesse ( 2 Forks - Ordinarily it may be ok, but horrible service made this visit a mistake) I used to dine at Applebees about once a year but haven’t been in about five. But this visit…I’m not sure where to begin… Vanessa told me long ago she wasn’t a fan of Applebees. However, she had a gift certificate so we decided to see if she could be won back as a fan. It just happened to be the night that they were understaffed in the kitchen and dining areas. The only people happily served were at the bar. Apparently a server can’t make the first raspberry lemonade so we had to wait a good 20 minutes for the bartender (who obviously makes his money from tips keeping bar patrons happy). However, our server was capable of making the second lemonade and as it was notably better I’d have to say it was the only positive aspect of the evening…except of course kissing Vanessa later 
I opted for the Parmesan Shrimp and Sirloin ($13.95 which is on the upper middle price of the menu). The server checked with the cooks to make sure they could make it plain and pointed out it was a bigger portion than the regular, non-parmesan version. To my surprise and delight, it was nice and plain. Nevertheless, the steak was undercooked to about a medium rather than the medium well I requested (I should have swapped with Vanessa). And the shrimp were nothing more than ordinary though thankfully void of cheese. I opted for one side only, a baked potato, as the others just didn’t win my stomach. About 1/5th of the potato had a big rotten section I found only after eating the rest… YUK!
I’m sure on an ordinary night the restaurant could earn 3 forks. However, poor and slow service with a lack of attention (I had to get our silverware as the server forgot and was too busy flirting at another table — hellooooo if you are understaffed, make it quick or you’ll get no tips) made this an unforgettable experience in a bad way. The manager showed up and checked some tables, also neglecting to stop at ours. Not that it would have made any difference. I’m sure Applebees has many happy patrons but don’t see another visit any time soon in the finicky crystal ball.
Vanessa ( 3 Forks - SLOW Service, but tasty food)
Well, Vanessa never got around to writing this… Perhaps it is because it isn’t on her top 10 list of restaurants or maybe she really is just too darn busy…
What do you think of Applebees?
Loading … Applebees - Draper Location
105 E 12300 S
Draper, UT
(801) 495-4460
Map/Directions
May 30th, 2008
Black Angus has been serving up steak, seafood and chicken for over four decades.
Jesse ( 4 Forks - Good food and service) I really can’t complain when someone else picks up the tab. Ok, I would still complain and do it all the time Vanessa’s dad won the check this time…in fact I was so far down the table I couldn’t even try. It was birthday time at Black Angus and Vanessa’s mom made the perfect recommendation: grilled salmon. Nice choice Mom!
Apparently Vanessa’s family dines there frequently so we all ate on some special discount. Great deal…great food! The salmon (about $9) was grilled perfectly and didn’t come with any special sauces. Thanks for listening!
This was the second visit to Black Angus in the past year. And fyi, my mom won the check last time I drew a blank, but Vanessa reminded me of a previous dinner a few months ago. Although it was a bit slow getting seated, I have to say it was good all the way around.
Vanessa ( 4 Forks - Good food, rarely crowded)
Sadly it has taken me too long to write this review (sorry Jesse) because since eating there twice in the last few months, I noticed the other day that all Black Angus’ in Utah have closed down. They are still open in other states.
So for the record they did have good food, good steaks and great garlic mashed potatoes but my new favorite item there was their chocolate cake Jesse and I went and got one late night. I am sure there is better somewhere else but that night it tasted moist, fresh and oh so good.
Thanks to Black Angus for many years of eating good food with my family.
What do you think of Black Angus?
Loading … Black Angus - Sandy Location
10290 S State St
Sandy, UT
(801) 569-1200
Map/Directions
For some reason Google Maps will try to send you somewhere else if you search for Black Angus in Sandy. But it’s right on State Street so you can’t miss it.
May 30th, 2008
Olive Garden markets itself as the family Italian restaurant. Just a decade ago it was the only major Italian chain in Utah. Now surrounded by several competitors in it’s class, Olive Garden still has customers waiting in line (and at least they have a big waiting area to keep you out of the cold weather-bonus!).
Jesse ( 3 Forks - Overall good experience) It seems like the number of restaurants with cloth napkins and average plates under $15 is dwindling. Olive Garden has a full menu of Italian flavors with dinners starting around $10 and up. Entrees are served with your choice of soup or salad and unlimited bread sticks.
I have to say that my attempts to shoot Vanessa were thwarted by a faulty straw wrapper. And that wasn’t the only thing out of the ordinary… I opted for the Mixed Grill ($14.50) instead of my age-old tradition of chicken parmesan. I was a little worried about the rosemary glace on the menu and against Vanessa’s warning went ahead and ordered it without the grilled vegetables.
Did I mention I ordered it without the vegetables? Yeah, I thought so. Oh well, I guess if you’re skewering food on the grill for the masses, removing the peppers and such is a little painful. When the server assistant removed the skewers the knife was pushed into the rosemary glace sauce… Urgh! Our server even saw me wiping it off with a bread napkin and didn’t offer a new one. The raspberry lemonade was a little boring compared to the great lemonade I had just up the street at Mimi’s last week btw. Ok, and I’ll comment here, that the breadsticks are average to me…buttered and lightly sprinkled with garlic salt. I prefer the huge sticks at Pizza Factory. The grilled steak and chicken was surprisingly good, even with the sauce. I can’t say it was my favorite sauce, but I could eat it again.
At one point our server came to the table in the middle of dinner and almost gave us the check for another table (perhaps a little too busy or preoccupied). So the last downfall came when she returned with our bill and dropped my credit card and a mint on the ground. After stepping on the card a few times she almost kneed me in the head when I reached down to grab it. - I’m just glad Vanessa enjoyed…it’s been a rough week for that trooper. Probably a bonus my straw was defective
P.S. I can’t remember how many months ago I wrote this (note that Vanessa probably can’t remember what she ordered), but I “accidentally” ordered the same thing again when we returned for our two-month wedding anniversary. I know, thanks. And again it was pretty good. The only problem was that the potatoes just seem to be previously frozen. Still edible, but not the best. Hurry up and write Vanessa!
Vanessa ( 4.5 Forks - Love the breadsticks, classic good Italian food)
Interesting that Jesse doesn’t think I remember what I ordered…but I do, because I order the same thing almost everytime I go! I love Olive Garden. The breadsticks and salad are my favorite. I usually almost fill up on those before my food comes out, but then I always have a great leftover meal to take home.
The first time Jesse wrote about this we went to Olive Garden on a not so happy day due to some health issues that I was facing. I was crying and Jesse took me there to cheer me up and it did, thanks Jesse. The 2nd time was under much happier circumstances and we even had a gift card to use. Both times I left very full and very happy, love Olive Garden.
So on to my meal, my favorite meal there is their 5 cheese ziti, yumm, my mouth is watering thinking about it. I like it because it’s cheesy and baked, so the top layer is a little crusty with some bread crumbs and cheese. It’s kind of plain dish but oh soo good. The only draw back to Olive Garden (which also atests to how good it is) is there is always a wait, weekday or not!
What do you think of Olive Garden?
Loading … Olive Garden - Sandy Location
10540 S. State St
Sandy, UT
(801) 523-6148
Map/Directions
Hmmm. Google doesn’t like Olive Garden I guess… The Sandy Location is just north of 106th on the west side of State Street.
May 30th, 2008
Apparently there are a few (3) Buona Vitas around the state. My opionion about the restaurant leads to my confusion of what kind of restaurant Buona Vita really is… It has the feel of fast casual - like you might see at a Bajio for example. Yet the price and setup is more like a sit-down restaurant. Nevertheless, the name gives away that the food is Italian.
Jesse ( 2 Forks - No great reason to return.) If it hadn’t been on the way home, I don’t think I’d ever have stopped by. I’ve never heard of the restaurant in Provo or Park City. Though new, they certainly didn’t get the word out about this Draper location. It is “hidden” off the freeway and off 123rd South. So either patrons know the other locations or I’m not in the loop. Hmmm.
So why the lackluster review? For starters the food wasn’t spectacular. I know, you’re thinking it isn’t some fancy restaurant. Well, that is point number 2. It not only lacks elegance, but the drink station is a popular hangout for employees. Our table was a little too close to the busy bread table, and the gang of servers hovering around the drink station. Just something that shouldn’t be in a restaurant with prices this high ($30 dinner for two). So, it wasn’t horrible…just a little too average and nowhere I plan to return anytime soon. It’s worth the extra 2 miles to go to Johnny Carinos or Olive Garden.
Vanessa ( 2 Forks - Good lasagna, pricey, so-so service)
Having driven by watching Buona Vita being built for many months, I was pretty excited to try it out. I have always thought Draper needed a good Italian Restaurant. The atmosphere was nice, almost too nice for it being located in a strip mall. The bread came with an interesting spread/dip. I still can’t decide if I liked it…kind of did, kind of didn’t…let’s just say it was, different. I ordered the basic meat lasagna. Sometimes fancy Italian restaurants will do something different to spice up their lasagna and make it ‘their own.’ Usually for finicky eaters, this is not a good thing. I was pleasantly surprised however at how much I liked their lasagna. It was basic good lasagana, and it was so good that I ate the entire thing, a rare feat for me. The service was so-so with a lot of employees standing around. As I have driven past it since that time I have never seen it look very busy.
If you are in the mood for a good dish of lasagna, I suggest you try it out, otherwise I would make the drive somewhere else for good food and cheaper prices. If only Jesse liked lasagna, I might be stopping by for take out from time to time as I still remember how good it was.
What do you think of Buona Vita?
Loading … Buona Vita
12434 Minuteman Dr
Draper, UT 84020-9259
(801) 571-9695
Map/Directions
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(3 votes, average: 4 out of 5)