Park City's Dining Scene Has Officially Won Our Hearts
Unfortunately, some tourist-driven resort towns have perfunctory dining scenes—kitschy restaurants that pair so-so food with high prices because, well, they can. I was beyond delighted to discover that Park City is absolutely NOT that kinda city!
The best thing about summer dining in Park City is that nearly every restaurant has a patio (or fashions something that resembles a patio), which you might not expect in a town that’s arguably more well known for its winter tourist scene—and dining al fresco is one of my most favorite experiences. I must also make mention of the quality of the food and service in this town—both are phenomenal and sincere, which can also be hard to come by in tourist destinations. During my month-long stay, I enjoyed summer menu specials, casual vibes, and was sure to secure my spot at the more popular restaurants with reservations, which are highly recommended.
The following restaurants (in no particular order) are just a few of the standout dining experiences in the summer.
Purple Sage
Every western mountain town needs a restaurant that celebrates its heritage. Though the name may not immediately suggest it, Purple Sage is that place. Located in the historic Rocky Mountain Bell telephone building on Main Street, the decor is rustic western meets sophisticated dining. The menu focuses on bold and robust flavors, and crowd favorites include the award-winning meatloaf, sugar and chili cured duck, and the chile-rubbed flat iron steak.
During the summer, the restaurant features a special-a-day on weeknights, which include items like “Meatloaf Mondays (half-off the meatloaf) and “Farmer’s Market Thursday”, a three-course meal sourced from the local farmer’s market. When we were there, we had a special featuring bison, which was out of this world.
Expect some menu items to change seasonally (don’t worry, you can get the meatloaf year-round), but don’t overlook the menu staples. Choose from sitting in a cozy booth or dining community-table style. We recommend the patio if you’re there during summer of course, but the bottom line is, you can’t really go wrong dining here, no matter where you’re sitting or what you’re eating.
Silver Star Café
Named "Park City's Best-Kept Dining Secret" by USA Today (I might argue that it’s no longer a secret), Silver Star Café is equal parts quality live music venue and upscale restaurant. Located directly behind and overlooking the Park City Golf Club, at the base of the Silver Star ski chair at Park City Mountain Resort, and at the trailheads of the Spiro and Armstrong mountain biking and hiking trails, the Café has 360-degree mountain, town and golf course views. Can’t beat that.
Oh, but the owners, husband and wife team, Jeff and Lisa Ward, certainly try to give the views a run for their money. Every Thursday, Friday and Saturday, dinner guests enjoy fantastic live music—featuring all-acoustic folk, jazz, blues, Americana and bluegrass, with talented local singer-songwriters and musicians as well as nationally touring artists.
Pair live music with the sophisticated and upscale yet accessible menu, which includes dinner items like Pork Osso Bucco, Vegetarian Wild Mushroom Stroganoff and a Seared Elk Burger, and get ready to experience a most memorable dining experience. The Café is also open for breakfast and lunch (and my partner and I quickly became regulars here), but we absolutely recommend dinner reservations during the live music evenings.
The service is impeccable and the 50-seat dining room is cozy and comfortable, but definitely take advantage of the wrap-around porch in the warmer months for exquisite mountain views.
Five5eeds
A well-known breakfast and lunch spot among locals and tourists alike, Five5eeds’ menu utilizes local and seasonal produce to feature breakfast dishes like “The Hulk” Smoothie Bowl, an ultra-healthy take on your morning granola, and Avo On Toast, which is unlike your typical avocado toast in every way; you just gotta try it for its unique presentation.
Five5eeds’ owners hail from Melbourne, Australia, so the menu and culture definitely nods to some “down under” flair. The husband and wife duo opened Five5eeds to replicate Australia’s breakfast-all-day cafés they enjoyed while growing up, and though the menu is heavy on breakfast items (served all day, of course), they also offer lunch items like the house-made soup of the day and an Ahi poke bowl.
I had a chance to visit with Tiffany, one of the owners, and she was as kind and friendly as they come. The interior is contemporary and fresh (and was orchestrated by a leading interior design firm in Australia), featuring a room divider full of potted plants, minimalist decor and lots of warm wood accents.
Tip: Be sure to try their coffee. Though many people don’t think of Australia as a coffee mecca, Five5eeds owners are working hard to change that. All of the freshly-roasted coffee beans are imported from Australia, as well as the six-ounce Duralex glass that holds your expertly-made latte. You can’t enter the café without catching a whiff of freshly brewed joe.