Wednesday, October 8, 2014

Park City Restaurants in Detail

Park City Restaurants in Detail

mostly rated spring-fall 2014. revised a little: 7 Oct 2016, 29 Aug 2018
See our site, "Best Park City Restaurants" for a more concise and practical dining guide: http://tastetestersclub.blogspot.com/2014/09/best-restaurants-in-park-city-best-food.html

At end of this list are smaller ones, including Best Duck in Park City, Best Trout in Park City, Best Other Seafood in Park City, and Best BBQ in Park City.  (Please see our site, Best BBQ in Utah, for the entire state; however, it does not include Park City.

Note: best fish and chips, ON MAIN STREET: Wasatch Brew and Pub

The best ambience for patio sitting outdoors, in order (the first three are best, the others are a virtual tie):
1. Riverhorse - tied for best. Also has our favorite indoor ambiance
2. OFF MAIN STREET: The Farm at the Canyons
3. Cafe Terigo - tied for best outdoors
4. OFF MAIN STREET: Windy Ridge Cafe
5. Bistro 412
6. Wahso Asian Grill
7. Zoom.
8. 501 Main
9. Bandits
10. Wasatch Brew and Pub
11. Purple Sage (last place for outdoor seating - in the back),  
12. Eating Establishment - Very nice indoor ambiance in the north room, by the large window

We recommend you order only B+ to A graded items.

Restaurants in alphabetical order:

Bandits Grill (least favorite of the Main Street restaurants)
a. salmon with mango salsa B / B+
b. salmon alone, grilled, B - -
c. trout, grilled, with almond crust and lemon-salsa sauce B/B+
d. yams C
e. ranch beans B
f. dirty rice C+
g. roast chicken C+
h. st. louis rib. C -
i. baby back rib. C
j. mashed potato: B/B+

Bangkok Thai
a. duck breast, alone. B-/B.
b. duck with thick honey ginger sauce. B/B+
c. honey ginger sauce alone. B/B+
d. coconut ice cream. A. chunky pieces make it unusual. B+
e. Valrona molten choc cake with strawberry, mint leaves. A (tied for best molten cake - very small serving but worth it. The mint leaf makes it sing with strawberry.) A-
f. Pad Thai B (best we've had, but most of us are not big fans of this dish; ground peanuts helped it) B
g. cod with mild (we also tried spicy the second time) chile sauce. B- (C+ chewy cod but B+ sauce)
h. coconut soup (best in state). A
i. lobster mango spring roll. B
j. sea bass. A (note they use the 3 flavor sauce - spicy, sweet, and sour: their's is Bangkok-style: leaning toward sweet (in south Thailand the same sauce is mostly spicy, in northern and north eastern Thailand it is more sour). B+?
k. Tom KHA soup. Primarily coconut flavor with herbs - amazing. (Ingredients: coconut milk, chicken, kaffir lime leaf, lemon grass, galangel, mushroom, green onion.) Look on their site for discount coupons. Pricey place. A

Billy Blanco's
a. fried chicken. B-/B
b. mashed potatoes and gravy (very salty). B/B+
c. chocolate cake (regular, not flourless: best regular chocolate cake in Utah). A
d. rice. A-
e. refried black beans. A-
f. ribs, rare place for smoked ribs in Park City. ribs alone: B-
g. ribs with carolina mustard sauce. A-
h. ribs with BBQ sauce. B-

Bird and Barley
a. fried chicken B +
b. roasted beets B
c. mac and cheese B
d. brocoli slaw B+/A-
e. crab cake D
f. ditto sandwich C - (tomato saves it)
g. ribs C-/C
h. mashed potatoes. B-
i. rotissery chicken. D
j. green beans. C+


Bistro 412, chef: Adam Ross
a. trout, cumin and lime-dusted (like a great bbq style rub). Best trout in state A+
b. baked brie in puff pastry shell with blackberry compote A+
    (the brie cheese alone is B+/A-)
c. ribs, fennel garlic rubbed. Tied with Milagro for best non-smoked ribs in state: B/B+ on ribs alone. With the red, BBQ sauce or with the apple sauce that comes with it: A 
d. liquor mint choc mousse. B-
e. duck 2 ways. A-
f. scallops with bacon. B+
g. vanilla creme brulee (great flavor, not best texture). B+/A-
h. chocolate moussse (with liquor taste). C+ 


Boneyard
a. Amis pretsel C+
b. ditto with mustard sauce C/C+
c. pork belly burger B
d. ditto, bun C+
e. ditto, burger meat B -
f. pork belly alone: B- / B
g. fried green tomatos alone C+
h. ditto with corn salsa B-
i. ribs, oven cooked with rootbeer bbq sauce. B
j. fish and chips B- (batter thicker than fish)
 

Burgers and Bourbon, Park City
a. Kobe Dog (The most expensive dog in the state- over $12, plus they only have valet parking - another $5 minimum, and by the time you pay tax and a tip at the table it's $20+ for a blasted hot dog. Is it worth it? The dog is kobe-style beef and is an A-, but not quite as good as Nathans and Oscar Mayer Classic - the two best dogs you can buy at stores of over 60 brands we've tested. This one is 3rd best for the meat alone. The buns are poppy-seed and the fixin's are nice. Overall a B+. The chile rates only a C+ so the chile dog gets a B/B+. 
b. "Ginormous" Raspberry chocolate cake. $14, huge slice. One of the best chocolate cakes in the state in our opinion. (See our dessert menu for a detailed rating.) A- alone. vs. A+ with fresh raspberries and whipped cream. 
(Second time we got it,in August 2014, they provided the same cake we believe, with a B grade standard choc, with side of great raspberry sauce to drench it.)
c. western burger B
Note: We got other items - a weird cheese sandwich (open-faced with strong herb in it -grade D), gelato shake (grade C-), and cornbread (grade C-). $90 including valet.) But it's at a 5 Star hotel - the Montage. 

Butcher's Chop House
a. shrimp and grits (starter):
cajun shrimp: B+/A-. Grits (thick cream taste, likely made with white cheese). C+/B-

Cafe Terigo
a. crispy duck leg and thigh B +
b. ditto with wine plum sauce? A - -
c. ditto with greens B + +
d. iddot with grapes B + +
e. trout, lightly breaded  A - / A
f. ditto with hollandaise sauce A
g. hollandaise sauce alone A -
h. sauted brussel sprouts A - / A
i. "chocolate creme brule" but it's like a great pudding; should be eaten same day - not as good next day!). A


Chimayo

a. ribs. (second best in Park City). B/B+
b. focacia bread, herbed. A-
c. cilantro oil with break (and with meats). A
d. trout. B/b+
e. trout fajitas B++
f. veges with trut A
g. veges with ribs C+

Collie's Sports Bar and Grill
a. fish and chips. B - -
b. green chile over cheddar/jack blend covered fries. B+

Daly's
a. fish and chips B if fredsh, C if old
b. fries A-?
c. choc chip cookies B+?
d,margharia pizza B/B+?

D Pub & Rec, Park City
a. chocolate chip cookies. A-. 
Note: This is at the same Montage Hotel, so if you go to Daly's, check out that raspberry chocolate cake above at Burgers and Bourbon. As for the cookies:  2 big ones for about 5 bucks. 
b. fish and chips (they used fresh cod but it wasn't not fresh when we tested it, with the characteristic alcohol odor and taste) C if old, B if fresh 
c. margharita pizza B?

Eating Establishment
a. BEST LUNCH ITEM: grilled vege-cheese sandwich (cheese, lightly toasted thick light wheat bread, sauteed mushroom, sauteed onion, fresh avocado). A
b. GREAT LUNCH ITEM: clam chowder (best in state). A
c. fish and chips. C
d. fries. B-/B (C second time)
e. pork chop, bone-in, grilled with bourbon glaze. B
f. mashed potatoes. B
g. green beans. C+
h. BEST RIBS IN PARK CITY - DINNER ONLY: (second best oven ribs in state after Milagro's). B/B+
i. slaw. C+
j. rolls. D

The Farm at the Canyons
Farm at the Canyons, Park City
a. sturgeon. As listed in our "Best Seafood in Utah" site, this is a bottom-dweller fish like catfish, and tastes like a cross between catfish and trout. Fantastic cream sauce and veges that come with it! A
b. smoked chicken and grits. Grits are the best we've ever had - the chef is from South Carolina and does them right. Fantastic subtle-tasting sauce in it. The smoked chicken gets a B. Total: B+/A-
c. grits with chicken A
d. veges with cream sauce that comes with sturgeon (like shaved artichoke hearts). A

501 Main
a. "bacon-lover's BLT"  wtih garlic ailoli. B/B+
b. bacon. alone B
c. pot roast sandwich with ciabatta bread. B+ 
d. pot roast alone C+
e. lobster bisque. B

Flannigan's Pub (family friendly)
a. fish and chips (fish only).  B-
b. fries. B+

Handle
a. fried chicken in Park City B+, with white cream gravy B++
b. best ribs in Park City, but are non-smoked - nice candy glaze. B/B+
c. best corn bread / hushpuppies in the state. A+
d. caramel pudding 
B+/A-, with cream A-/A

Jupiter Bowl cafe at Bowling Alley, Park City
a. Pork Belly A
b. Fried Chicken (#8 in state) B

Lift Grill and Lounge at Jupiter Bowling (at Kimball Junction)
a. pork belly. A
b. fried chicken - dark. B/B+
c. fried chicken - white with white gravy. B+
d. hapanero-mango wings. B
e. maple-chipolte wings. B+

Loco Lizard
a. green sauce B+/A-
b. red sauce A-
c. relleno B
d. rice C
e. beans B

Miner's Grill and Sports Bar
a. fish and chips (fish only) C+/B- (frozen, chewy cod. C-; batter. B)
b. fries. B-
c. wings with thai chile B
d. wings with jamaicn jerk. B
e. wings with dry rub. D+
f. wing with bbq sauce. C
g. gouda mac and cheese bites. D

O'Shucks Bar and Grill (not Main St. - go to the one with fuller menu at 8178 Gorgoza Pines Rd.)
a. fish and chips (best in Park City). Fresh B+
b. hot dog with peanut butter and bacon. B
c. mac and cheese. B+
d. chile. C 

e. tilapia sandwich B/B+
f. tuna sandwich B/B+
g. tuna alone with ssame crust B
h. cod with batter B
i. tilapia with batter B
j. new fish with new batter B-

Park City Chinese and Thai
a. Pad Thai. C+/B-
b. Walnut Shrimp. A
c. Pineapple fried rice with shrimp (plus cashews, eggs, lime chili sauce). B+/A-
d. pineapple upside down cake C-
e. orange chicken. C+
f. fried shrimp. A-/A
g. Asian sauced wings. C+?
h. brocolli. B+
i. crispy duck. C
j. sweet and sour soup. C
k. egg flower soup C
l. won ton soup. B
m. coconut soup. B-/B
n. duck fried rice (little duck and no duck flavor). C+

Purple Sage
a. meat loaf with salty tomato sauce B/B+
b. meat loaf alone B
c. mashed potatoes A-
d. trout, heavily breaded with cream sauce B+/A-
e. grilled asparagus A
f. duck breast confit with rub B -
g. snap peas A -
h. mac and cheese, strong cheese B
i. lavender creme brule alone B ++
j. ditto - with buleberries A -
k. ditto with straswberries A
l. ditto with strawberries and blue berries A
m. Lavender mousse. A (with berries: A)

Riverhorse
a. flourless choc cake, with oreo crust. A-
b. choc mousse. B+
c. sea bass A+
d. peach-stuffed pork chop (tough pork), with cream sauce.. B/B+
e. cream sauce alone (for pork chop). B+/A-
e. duck confit, crispy buttermilk fried. A-
e. spicy dusted popcorn at tables. B-/B

Rock & Reilly's Pub
a. fish and chips B-/B

Sammy's Bistro
a. charbroiled mahi fish sandwich with great "slaw" (the menu says cabbage, cilantro, mango salsao, and tomatillo aioli) and fresh mangos in bun. Tied for best fish sandwich in state, along with salmon sandwich at The Harvest, Thanksgiving Point. (If it had bigger mahi fillet in it, it would get an A or A+.) A-
b. chivito club. pork tenderloin sandwich with bacon and egg. Grade B. With slaw in it. B+
c. pork tenderloin. C
backon, pre-fab. C-
d. bun. B+
e.Pulled pork sandwhich. B-
f. Pulled pork sandwich with slaw added. B+
g. slaw alone. B+/A-.
h. Killer wings: buffalo. (one of best buffalo syle in state) B+ 
i. Killer wings: thai. Too mild of flavr. B-
j. Killer wings: BBQ. C-
k. homemade carrot cake. Too sweet. C+/B-
l. Blueberry and pear slab pie (berry pies change flavors weekly). See Windy Ridge Cafe across the street for best mixed berry pie in the state). B
j. spaghetti and meatballs. B/B+
k. marinara sauce (too cheesy). B
l. spaghetti with sauce alone. B
m. meatballs alone. Best so far we've had in state. B+
n. meatballs, if considered meatloaf. (Italian seasoning takes     it out of strong meatloaf consideration). B
o. grilled cheese, havarit and cheddar, on buttered grilled bread.C+
p. tomato basil soup. C+

Shabu
a. miso black cod B+ / A-
b . egg foo young C+ / B-
c. szechwan style kurobata short ribs B (flavor B/B+; texture: B -)
d. corn bread with sauce A -
e. flourless chocolate cake A-
f. ginger peach pie A
g. sea bass (cooked in Asian broth) B+
h. watermellon salad (watermellon with slaw) B+ / A-

Silver
a.  cobia.(best heavy fish in town) alone: B/B+ With tomato sauce:A-/A
b. bread. A. With chives oil. A+
c. trout sprinkled with seasoning (third best trout on Main St.), with veges of red peppers, cucumber,and green olives, and churron sauce (like bernaise sauce): A-/A
d. trout with churon suce only: B+
e. churron sauce alone: B
f. pommegranite sauced brussel sprouts, deep fried: B alone. B/B+ with the sour pomegranite sauce
g. goose fat fingerling (young) potatoes. B+/A-. With chive oil also: A-/A
h. chive oil: A+
i. veges served with cobia: mixed mushrooms with bonito - fermented tuna fish): B

Spencer's (farmer's market and catering) (435-645-8483)
a. pulled pork C-/C
b. St. Louis ribs. B-/B

Talisker on Main, Park City 
a.Valrona choc mousse with pistachio flavor. B-
b. trout, with yogurt. B/B+ with cream sauce. Trout alone: B
c. corn and veges with it. A
d. fried chicken breast with cream sauce (same chicken recipe as at Handle, as Handle's chef came from Talisker; however the cream sauce was better at Handle when we last tried it in November 2014). A-
e. breast with no sauce. B
f. leg with no sauce. A-

350 Main, Park City
a. 3rd best trout in Utah, pistachio coated
b. decent key lime pie, tastes like half-cheesecake. B

Wahso Asian Grill
a. black cod. A+ (chargrilled with herbs)
b. duck breast. C

Wasatch Brew Pub
a. potato cream soup A
b. fish and chips - among best 5 in Utah (5th place) of the dozens we've tested (see our site: "Best Fish and Chips in Utah." Best beer batter in the state, from their own ale. B/B+
c. tartar sauce C/C+
d. fries. B
e. mac and cheese. C+
f. banana creme brule pie (like cheap pudding but decent crust). C-

Windy Ridge Bakery
a. chocolate torte (with orange flavor). B+
b. best mixed berry pie in state. A
c. apple almond r ound B-
c. pecan tart B/B+, with chocolate B++
d. cheesecake (chiffon-like) B-/B, with raspberries B+
e. choc torte B+
f. decadence cake B+
g. brownie B
h. lemon pound cake B/B+
i. Mexican wedding cake B
j. walnut raspberry cooke C

Windy Ridge Cafe
a-1. meatloaf. B+ (best in state; 2nd best is the Garden at Joseph Smith Memorail Bldg, SLC)
a-2. meatload with mushroom gravy. A-
a-3. trout with sliced nuts and sauce made of cream, butter, and citrus (sour from the citrus). Grade B-.
b. key lime pie. B++ 2nd best in state after Costa Vida
c. cheese sandwich on house white bread, grilled with no butter or oirl, with sliced tomato added. B
d. cornbread. A-
e. mashed potatoes. B-
f. mashed potaotes with mushroom gravy.B/B+
g. mushroom gravy alone. A-
h. trout. B-
i. veges. B
j. ribs, oven-baked with BBQ sauce. B (3rd best in Park City after Eating Establishment and Bistro 412.)
k. slaw. B/B+
l. apple pie. C-
m. dark chocolate decadence. A - (3rd best in state behind Zoom and Chef's Table)
n. house salad. (if it had fruits and nuts it would be an A.Excellent dressing.) A-


Yaki Yami
a. chocolate teriyaki and jalapeno glaze sounds good, but not enough glaze, B-
b. chocolate teriyaki sauce alone (best teriyaki sauce ever - we're just not big fans of teri sauce) C+
c. black cod with miso sauce. A-/A 
d. lamb lollipops. A
e. ribs. Not smoked, but the jalapeno glaze and chocolate teriyaki are worth mentioning. It needs more much jalapeno glaze to bring up the grade some. The chocolate in the teriyaki is not discernible as chocolate but makes it the best teriyaki we've had, as we are not huge fans of straight teriyaki sauce. B

Zoom
a. dark chocolate decadent (flourless) cake with sour cherry compote: A+ (cake alone also an A+)
a. ribs, non-smoked, braised with house BBQ sauce C-





In order:
Best Ribs in Park City
(8 of the 11 are oven cooked and 3 are smoked, where noted below)  

1. Handle B/B+
2. Eating Establishment B/B+
3. Chimayo, jalapeno glazed. B
4. Billy Blanco B
5. Bistro 412, garlie fennel rubbed, with two sauces (If you don't love garlic and fennel, this will be rated lower. If you absolutely love it, it will be rated higher, even up to #1) B
6. Spencer's (smoked, farmer's market and catering) B-/B
7.  Windy Ridge B -/B
8. Boneyard B-/B
9Yaki Yami, chocolate teriyaki and jalapeno glaze sounds good, but not enough glaze, B -
10. Shabu, Kurbata short ribs: C+
11.. Zoom C -
12.  Bird and Barley C- (smoked)
13.  Bandit Grill - St. Louis ribs. C- (smoked) (their sauce is a D)

Best Duck in Park City - alphabetical order

Bistro 412, Park City
Duck 2 Ways: (savory herbs). Order breast "medium." 
a. breast, sliced, pan roasted B
b. duck leg confit: A

Cafe Terago, Park City
a. crispy confit duck leg and thigh with grapes and liquor-infused plum? sauce. A - -
b. duck alone: B+
c. duck alone with greens B ++
d. duck alone with grapes B ++

Riverhorse, Park City
a. fried leg and thigh with buttermilk crust. A - 

Bangkok Thai, Park City
a.duck breast slices with ginger honey sauce. very thick sauce. B+ with sauce. B-/B duck breast alone. (See our site, "Best Restaurants in Utah" for more great items at this restaurant.)

Park City Chinese and Thai, Park City
a. duck breast and leg. Roasted by another restaurant, then they deep fry it. Chewy, less than average flavor. C -
b. duck fried rice. Very little duck in it - which makes it tasteless compared to the fried rice.
grade C.


Purple Sage, Park City
a. duck breast, sugar and chili cured, sliced B -

Best Trout in Park City

#1 TIE: Cafe Terago.A

#1 TIE: Bistro 412. A

#3 350 Main, pistacho coated, A-/A

#4 Silver. A-/A (with the veges and churron sauce). Trout alone with sprinkled seasoning: B+ .

The remaining places rate below a B+, in order:

Talisker - trout alone: B. Eaten with yogurt: B/B+

Cisero - with Italian style seasoning and marinated. B. 
(Eaten with good veges and cornbread underneath it: B+)

Windy Ridge Cafe, nut crusted. B-

Chimayo. nut-crusted trout alone: B-. With fajitas B 

Riverhorse. pistachio crusted trout alone: B-. 
(eaten with black veges: B)

Purple Sage. corn battered. B-

Bandit Grill. Breaded. C+ ("lemon butter sauce" is not creamy and has some salsa in it; even with the sauce the trout is a C+)

Best Other Seafood in Park City
1. Only catish: Spur Bar and Grill. (works also as fish and chips). B/B+ 
2. Only sturgeon: The Farm at the Canyons A
3. #1 tie for Best sea bass, Riverhorse. A+
4. #1 tie for Best sea bass, Bangkok Thai. A+
5. #3 best sea bass: Shabu B+ (stewed in Asian broth)
6. #1 best black cod (sable fish) (chargrilled with herbs on top), Wahson Asian Grill, A+
7. #2 best black cod (in miso sauce). Yaki Yami. A
8. #3 best black cod: Shabu B+
9. Best scallops: Bistro 412 B+/A-
10. #1 Best fish and chips: O'Shucks (east side: Main St. has no Fish and Chips). B+
11.. #2 Best fish and chips: Wasatch Brew and Pub: B/B+ (great batter)
12. Best heavy fish (cobia) - Silver. A-/A eaten with tomato sauce. B/B+ alone.

Best Desserts in Park City
NOT IN ORDER:
1. Zoom  - flourless chocolate cake. Grade A. Pastry Chef Callie Varner does amazing work.
2. Riverhorse - chocolate mousse. B+ SEASONAL - DISCONTINUED IN FALL
3. Riverhorse - flourless chocolate cake. B+ SEASONAL - DISCONTINUED IN FALL
4. Shabu - peach-ginger pie (and second best flourless choc cake). A
5. Burgers and Bourbon - chocolate raspberry cake. A
6. Wahso - coconut creme brulee served in a half coconut. A
7. Cafe Terigo - chocolate creme brulee (like home made chocolate pudding). A
8. Windy Ridge Cafe - key lime pie (best in Park City, 5th best in Utah). B+
9. Bangkok Thai - chocolate molten cake. A-

Tuesday, October 7, 2014

Best Crabcakes in Annapolis / Best Crab Cakes in Annapolis / Best Cream of Crab Soup

Best Crabcakes in Annapolis

rev. 9 April 2018

Also see our site: Best Restaurants in Annapolis at:
tastetestersclub.blogspot.com/2014/09/best-restaurants-in-annapolis.html/

See all our sites about Annapolis food:
1. Best Restaurants in Annapolis
2. Best Crabcakes in Annapolis
3. Best Cream of Crab Soup in Annapolis
4. Best Key Lime Pie in Annapolis

5. Best Ice Cream in Annapolis

19 places tested for crabcakes

TOP 4 for Crabcakes ARE BASICALLY A TIE:

A
Deep Creek, Arnold, MD A+
Jerry's, Bowie, MD. Crab Bomb (broiled, vs. fried below) A+
Miss Shirley's A
Jack's Chinese (for those liking pronounced herb flavors) A

A-
Carrol's Creek. A-
Grumps (served in crab benedict with pieces of chopped tomato) A-

B+
Edgewater Cafe (faint can flavor, mild spices)  B+
Jerry's. Fried crab cakes (note that the broiled ones are above and ranked higher). B+

All those below are hurt by the strong canned crab flavor; nearly all come from south east Asia:

B/B+
Les Folies (canned flavor) B
Iron Rooster B (in  2015 it was an A, at 3rd place)
Boatyard B/B+ (not canned)
Joe and Stan's Saloon B/B+
G & M (in Lithicum, near BWI airport); overcooked May 2016 earned this grade B/B+

B
Main Ingredient B
Adams Ribs B
Cantlers, Riverside (overcooked on outside when we tested  it, but one of only a couple places with fresh crab, along with Boatyard Grill) B
Dock Street Pub B
Yacht Club B-

C-
Chick and Ruths C-
Kevin and Mike's C-