13 Best Fine Dining & Upscale Restaurants in Salt Lake City (2023)

Do you have a special occasion coming up? Birthday? Anniversary? Dinner with the in-laws? Or you’re simply in the mood for a really nice dinner? If you’re in Salt Lake City and you’re looking for the best fine dining and upscale restaurants in town, you have come to the right place.

The Very Best Fine Dining (and Upscale Restaurants) in SLC

In this guide, we’ve included both fine dining restaurants and upscale options– the difference between the two can be a fine line, but we’ve indicated price points for each of these highlighted restaurants in the information footers below each write-up. Business casual is suitable for all of these restaurants, and we’ve included a variety of locally-loved spots that all serve phenomenal food. Enjoy!

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13. Log Haven

Log haven serves food in one of the most gorgeous settings in Salt Lake City. Located a few miles up Millcreek Canyon, this romantic New American restaurant serves great upscale cuisine in a beautiful log mansion. Menus change seasonally, but you should always start with an order of their regular appetizer, the alpine nachos– made with homemade potato chips, forest mushrooms, speck, and fontina. Ask your server for highlights on their current menu.

12. Franck’s

A hidden gem situated in Holladay, Franck’s is one of the best upscale restaurants in Salt Lake City. A once home converted into restaurant, Franck’s is quaint, friendly, and the food is comforting and vibrant. Start with one of their signature soups or crispy Brussels sprouts, made with tarragon, parmesan, almonds, and an apple cider vinegar reduction. Not sure about your main dish? Franck’s meatloaf is their most popular entree, made with a blueberry-lavender sauce, confit blueberries, and crispy onions. And if you happen to be a burger lover, Franck’s features a completely new high-end burger special every Thursday that many consider the very best in town.

11. Current Fish and Oyster

Current Fish and Oyster is one of the best fine dining restaurants in Salt Lake City, and it’s also one of our favorite spots for fresh and delectable seafood. With a gorgeous, modern restaurant and a well-rounded menu filled with dreamy seafood offerings, Current is a must-try. Always start with the calamari, which is different than any calamari you’ve ever tried from the grilled cooking method to the lemon aioli to the fingerling potato accompaniment. The smoked fish dip is to die for, and favorite entrees include the cioppino (seafood stew) and the poached tuna melt (lunch only).

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10. Finca

Finca serves truly delightful Spanish food in Salt Lake City. Recently re-opened in 2020, we are thrilled to see this beloved restaurant serving up pintxos and tapas again in the Salt Lake valley. Start with the tosta de boquerone (toast with white anchovies), Jamon Serrano, or the patatas bravas. We’ll never say no to croquetas or the Moroccan lamb skewers, and for dessert get the life-changing Spanish churros with their homemade chocolate dipping sauce. Bonus points for having one of the most gorgeous patios in SLC.

9. SLC Eatery

SLC Eatery is just a couple of years into the Salt Lake City food scene, but it’s no doubt one of the best places for a really nice meal in town. With small plates and even a dim sum style cart that regularly passes each table, plan on indulging in a variety of tastes and textures. The menu at SLC Eatery rotates seasonally but favorite mainstays include the oysters, grilled calamari, and the Eatery Burger, served with life-changing mini hasselback fries.

8. Table X

If you’re looking for a restaurant that truly leans on the fine-dining end of the spectrum, visit Table X– one of the best fine dining restaurants in Salt Lake City. Not only is the restaurant contemporarily gorgeous, but the food is always fantastic, with seasonally changing menu items, many of which are sourced by the gardens located on-site. At Table X you can indulge in a five-course or seven-course tasting menu, and whatever you do, don’t resist indulging in copious amounts of their wonderful Table X bread, some of the best in the entire valley.

7. Pago

Pago has been one of the best fine dining restaurants in Salt Lake City for years, and still going strong. Not only is the environment perfectly quaint and special, but the food is always eyebrow-raising quality (in the best way possible). You can dine here for dinner or even brunch on the weekends. Menus change seasonally, but our current favorites include the strawberries and beets, kale caesar salad, Rotolo pasta, and the Pago burger with truffle and parmesan frites.

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6. Manoli’s

If you’re a fan of Mediterranean cuisine and you’re feeling fancy, head straight to Manoli’s and don’t look back. This Greek restaurant in the heart of Salt Lake City serves swoon-worthy dishes made with local and seasonal produce. Don’t be afraid to try a dish or two (or three or four) that might be new to you here– we promise everything will be delicious and more. Favorites include the yemista (piquillo peppers and feta), garides (grilled shrimp with polenta), paidakia (grilled lamb riblets), or the lamb and beef burger.

5. HSL

It’s no secret that we’re big fans of HSL (Handle Salt Lake), situated on the outskirts of downtown Salt Lake City. You’re here for some of the best New American dining in the valley, and we promise your first visit won’t be your last. Menu offerings rotate several times each year, but our all-time favs include the buttermilk biscuit, general tso’s cauliflower, the fried chicken with shelling beans, and the HSL burger. Headed to Park City? Check out their sister restaurant, Handle, which serves similar killer cuisine on historic Main Street.

4. Oquirrh

Oquirrh is fairly new to the Salt Lake City dining scene, but they’ve quickly stolen our hearts as one of the best fine dining restaurants in town. Owned and operated by husband and wife team Andrew and Angelena Fuller, Oquirrh is equal parts sophisticated and welcoming, with the perfect combination of nostalgia and sophistication in every dish. Take advantage of rotating menus and specials, but if you’re lucky to spot them try the milk braised potatoes, lasagna bolognese, or the show-stoppingpot pie.

3. Veneto

If you’ve ever visited Italy, you know that each region has immense pride and focus on their respective culinary specialties, and a meal at Veneto is nothing short of a gastronomic journey to this northeast region. When you enter Veneto you’ll instantly feel transported to Italy. The ambiance is calm yet stunning– you’ll never be rushed here, and the cuisine is truly something to marvel at. Detail and precision are key elements to every single dish, and the warmth from this family-owned restaurant is permeable. Dishes change frequently at Veneto, but whether you choose to indulge in their tasting menu or dishes a la carte, you’re in for an unforgettable meal.

2. Takashi

If you’re in the mood for a fantastic sushi dinner that is worthy of a celebration meal, then Takashi is your move. Serving the best sushi in the state of Utah, this downtown restaurant never disappoints. The fish is fresh and delicious, and the menu has a wide variety of options from sushi to sashimi to entrees like flank steak and braised pork ribs. Menu favorites include the deconstructed azekura, torched sablefish, the nigiri sampler (our very favorite menu item), and the crunchy ebi, sunshine, and summit sushi rolls. Always save room for their house-made panna cotta– some of the best panna cotta you will ever consume.

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1. Valter’s

Our top pick for the best fine dining in Salt Lake City is Valter’s Osteria. You’re here for Italian cuisine at its finest, in a fine dining setting, with incredible service. A meal for two is a splurge (even without drinks), but you’ll never regret dining here– ever. Favorite menu items include the chopped agnelli salad, tutta pasta di valter (pasta sampler), lasagna (Valter’s family recipe), butternut squash and sage ravioli, “pizza” carne, and the chicken piccata. The lemon gelato served with local honey and salt is an absolute must!