We at What’s Cookin’ Utah have a mission.  Too many folks go through life eating the same old burgers and fries, and never learn what gems are hiding right in their neighborhoods.  There’s comfort in familiarity, but along that path lies stagnation.  We’re here to help you find a new place to eat for that Friday lunch, and we’ll probably help you do it on the cheap too.

So check out the reviews as we post them.  We’ll be out there sampling for you, taking all the risks so you don’t have to.  If we like a place, we’ll write it up here so you can take a look.  If we don’t like a place, we won’t bother making a post about it. 

This is your chance to go out and sample the local flavor.  Believe me, there’s a lot of it.  Sign up for our RSS feed and stay current as new posts go live.

Dear Reader, your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to go to 1435 N. Main St. in Springville. This mission will involve entering Joe Banditos Fiestaurant, ordering Steak Fajitas, eating them, and then giving your best effort to deny they are extremely delicious and highly affordable. You will see why this mission is….impossible. Should you break into joyous dancing and singing upon eating said fajitas, http://www.whatscookinutah.com/ will disavow any knowledge of your existence ( but secretly feel great for you!) This review will self destruct in 5, 4, 3, 2……

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There are several great things about Utah when it comes to restaurants. First, if you like Mexican food, whether it is authentic or Americanized, you are in the right place. Second, thanks to the rich religious heritage, Utah is possibly the most worthy state of the term “melting pot”. This means you have got plenty of other options if Mexican just isn’t your pot of tea. Third, rather than huge metropolis areas, we are mostly made up of small to mid-size cities that are sort of strung together along the Wasatch Front. Each individual city has one or two spots that are iconic to that area. No matter how long you have lived here, I’m willing to bet that right now you can think of the one or two in your area that I am talking about.

Since I live in Springville, it is natural that I should write about the icons here. Although Brand X Burgers and Art City Trolley qualify (watch for those reviews in the future), I have never seen local loyalty quite as strong as what Springvillites (or is it Springvillians? Springvillains? I don’t know) show for La Casita. Some folks eat there once a week, on the same night every week without fail. Some probably more. Read the rest of this entry »

Its tough to find a real good pizza in utah county, Nicolitalias is pretty much the only real option. Burgers are a different story. I can think of 10 places to get a great burger around here, but I only have one absolute favorite, Burgers Supreme. I really can’t say enough about how consistently delicious their food always is, but I will try. Read the rest of this entry »

When talking about pizza and sandwiches in Utah, Cobblestone Cafe and Pizzeria is in a class all its own. Although you are welcome to get your regular ol’ toppings like pepporoni, sausage, ham, and veggies on your Cobblestone pizza, you are really missing out if you don’t indulge your adventurous side and go for one of the many gourmet pizza flavors that they have to offer.

Pizza is pizza, right? Well, not exactly. The family run business prides itself in offering interesting twists on traditional styles. For example, The Angler starts out with all the basic elements such as sauce, cheese, and onions. Enter the interesting twist. Sea salmon and capers Read the rest of this entry »

I generally like to stay away from the large chains, but many people in Utah have no clue that Jason’s Deli is exactly that since there are only two in Utah. Although the Murray location has been open for a while now, the Orem store is considered brand new and much of the population of Happy Valley is just now “discovering” this sandwich sensation.

The atmosphere does a good job of making you feel like you are somewhere beyond your average sandwich shop, but not out of your element. Read the rest of this entry »

I think anyone who has grown up, or even lived outside of Utah for an extended period of time, has at one point or another felt the pinch of being pretty limited to large corporate chains when you need some pizza, especially in Provo. Well, my friends, no longer do you have to settle for mass-produced and conveyor-belt-cooked pies. Nicolitalia is so good, that one man alone could never possibly describe the awesomeness, so, we will attempt to get the point across with two people. That’s right, for the first time ever on this humble weblog, you will read the opinion of both Cameron and Matt in the very same post. Are we allowed to do that? I don’t know, but if anyone is deserving of this preferential treatment, it is Nicolitalia Pizzeria. I have never met anyone who has tried the pizza and didn’t love it. If such a person exists, please stand and be counted by leaving a comment, and even then I may just find it impossible to believe you. So, without further ado… Read the rest of this entry »

Watch out, Cold Stone! There is a new hot spot for the masses battling a sweet tooth in the unofficial Dessert Capital of the World. In the land of green jello and brownies, this east-coast-inspired dessert bar offers a refreshing change of scenery by serving up 16 variations on the somewhat unconventional dessert item of, you guessed it, rice pudding. If you are like me, you are thinking “Do people really want to go get a bowl of rice pudding for dessert?” The answer is a resounding “Oh yes,” and if you are like me, you too will be convinced after just one taste.

The first thing you notice as you walk in is the familiar design of an ice cream parlor, but with a very modern and chic, in fact futuristic, twist. That ambiance is the product of glowing white walls, vivid color splashes, and tables that hang from the ceiling. I mean, really, tables that sit on the ground are so 6 months ago. Read the rest of this entry »

It may surprise you to learn that the best burger south, north, east, or west of the point of the mountain does not come from a large chain or gourmet restaurant, but rather from an obscure corner of the clubhouse at Thanksgiving Point Golf Course. Unless you are an avid golfer, chances are you have never heard of or much less tasted the food at Hall of Fame Grill. Let me tell you that regardless of your handicap, you are sure to score a hole in one with the food here.

The grill stays congruent with the peaceful atmosphere of the rest of the clubhouse, with warm wood tones and venetian plaster walls that make you feel like settling in and staying a while. Read the rest of this entry »

Rib City Grill apparently has been strictly a Florida franchise up until two or three years ago. That would explain why when the American Fork franchise opened recently, nobody had ever heard of it. But in the wake of Smoke House Pizza & BBQ and Goodwood Barbecue Company success, it is no surprise that Rib City is generating a lot of interest in Utah County… Read the rest of this entry »