As the gateway to several of the state’s mountain resorts, Salt Lake City boasts a booming dining and nightlife scene worthy of checking out including a new beer hall and downtown theater and several restaurants with private dining space that recently joined the scene.
>> The 185,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Theater opened in October. Highlights include a six-story grand lobby with retractable glass walls along Main Street; 2,500-seat Delta Performance Hall; multiuse, 150-seat Black Box theater; and Encore Bistro open for breakfast and lunch daily and dinner on performance nights with a menu customized to match the current show. artsaltlake.org
>> Located in what was Salt Lake’s original Ford auto dealership, Current Fish & Oyster has been generating buzz since it opened in 2015, landing on OpenTable’s 100 Best Restaurants in America list for 2016. The seafood emporium can host 50 in a private upstairs dining room. currentfishandoyster.com
>> Newly opened by three chefs in the Zions Park neighborhood, TableX is all about minimalist design and delicious dishes such as Morgan Valley steak tartare, Christiansen Farm Berkshire pork and Idaho rainbow trout. The private Garden Dining Room overlooks the restaurant’s vegetable garden and accommodates up to 14 guests. tablexrestaurant.com
>> Also with private dining options, HSL is the Salt Lake branch of Handle in nearby Park City and serves seasonal and local foods from beef cheek burgers to coddled duck eggs while Stanza Italia Bistro & Wine Bar specializes in small plates, fresh pastas and wine all served in a vast modern space. hslrestaurant.com; stanzaslc.com
>> Beer Bar is Salt Lake’s version of a late-night beer hall with more than 150 beers and a menu featuring house-made bratwursts, local breads and Belgian fries. Next door is sister nightspot BarX, first opened the year Prohibition was repealed in 1933 and totally refurbished by the current owners in 2010. beerbarslc.com
