This time last year, romantic residents of our local community would have been frantically making last-minute reservations with any Salt Lake City restaurants that still had space for two on Valentine’s Day.

One year later and in the midst of a global pandemic, those same romantic residents might be feeling a little warier about the Salt Lake City restaurant scene. However, many Salt Lake City restaurants have adapted to the “new normal,” going to great lengths not only to save your Valentine’s Day but to save their businesses.

So, in the spirit of Saint Valentine and in the spirit of helping those local businesses who are working double-time to continue to provide delicious food and memorable dining experiences to our communities, we are highlighting a few of the best Salt Lake City restaurants whose efforts deserve recognizing.

Read our guide to the best Salt Lake City restaurant patios for outdoor dining below, and then get out and go support them — and the best part is, you won’t even have to brave the cold.

Caffé Molise

Caffé Molise has quickly become a local favorite within the Salt Lake City restaurant scene — and for very good reason. Conveniently located downtown at 404 S W Temple, Caffé Molise has reminded Salt Lake foodies just how good local can be.

Caffé Molise is all about focusing on what is grown locally within the Salt Lake area, implementing seasonal ingredients throughout their menu. Of course, as Caffé Molise’s name is a homage to the Molise region in Italy, everything on their menu is influenced by regional Molise cuisine.

Enjoy Molise’s contemporary Italian dinner menu and award-winning wine list outside on their expansive garden patio or available balcony spaces throughout the winter with the help of powerful heaters.

Open for lunch from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. and dinner from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. (though 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday), call 801-364-8833 to make a reservation, or find a table online by visiting their reservations page here.

Wasatch Brewery Restaurant

If you are a Utah local, you will be very familiar with Wasatch Brewery. However, you might not know Wasatch Brewery also operates a fantastic Salt Lake City restaurant too.

Found at 2110 Highland Drive on 21st in the Sugar House neighborhood, the Wasatch Brewery Restaurant offers all of your favorite Wasatch beers alongside their creative Brewpub food menu.

This Salt Lake City restaurant hasn’t let the cold weather change any of their favorite rituals, as restaurant-grade heaters allow diners to enjoy a nice cold one outside on their patio all winter long.

Open from noon to 10 p.m. from Monday to Friday and 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. on weekends, you can make a reservation by checking out what’s currently available on Open Table today!

Arlo

There aren’t Salt Lake City restaurateurs who would have chosen to open a new restaurant mid-pandemic, but then again there aren’t many Salt Lake City restaurants quite like Arlo. Arlo officially opened their doors in July of 2020 and haven’t looked back since.

Arlo’s take on elevated casual cuisine draws from several global influences, creating its very own unique Salt Lake City restaurant experience. Expect creative and artistically-plated contemporary dishes from Chef and Owner Milo Carrier, a Salt Lake City native.

Diners can expect Arlo’s concise dinner menu to change regularly as produce comes in and out of season, which will also give you plenty of reason to visit time and time again. And, with outdoor seating made available through an outdoor tented area, you can stop by anytime!

Housed in what was formerly Em’s restaurant, visit Arlo at 271 Center Street in Salt Lake’s Capitol Hill neighborhood. Reserve a table online here to experience this exciting new restaurant.

Silver Star Cafe

While technically not a Salt Lake City restaurant, the Silver Star Cafe is located in neighboring Park City, just a short trip away.

Being located at the foot of the Park City Mountain Resort, Silver Star Cafe tries hard to create a welcoming restaurant experience for all, whether you are celebrating a landmark achievement or a long day on the ski hill. While their contemporary menu features several impressively crafted fine-dining dishes, Silver Star will not turn their nose up at you if you walk in wearing full ski-gear.

Instead, Silver Star focuses on high-quality service, ambiance, acoustic music, and of course food. And, with a creative outdoor yurt dining experience set-up for the colder months, Silver Star Cafe certainly delivers on creating a unique experience.

Find out what it’s like to have dinner in a yurt this winter by booking a table with Silver Star Cafe here.

With so many different styles, cuisines, and influences, the Salt Lake area is heaven for food lovers. However, there’s much more to enjoy here than just the Salt Lake City restaurants though. If you are thinking of relocating to the Salt Lake area, get our local expert advice on how to do it right — reach out to us here to start a conversation.