Best Mac & Cheese in Utah
- 3 June 2018
(This repeats the rating at Best BBQ in Utah)
Check out our other tests at TasteTestersClub.Blogspot.com
We've had Mac and Cheese at over 4 dozen places. These are the top ones:
#1. Ruth's Diner, SLC A
#1 tie: Corner Bakery Cafe (if add bacon and tomatos) A
#1 tie: Romano's Signature Truffle mac and cheese A
#4. Red Robbin, national burger chain, served with pork riblets. A- with riblets (B+/A- alone)
(lately served with breaded chicken - not good!)
#5 Even Stevens Sandwiches, national chain, with tomatoes, cilantro, creamy sauce A-
#6 Communal, Provo (smoked cheese, peas, ham) B+
#6A Garage Grill, Draper. 3 cheese with ale B/B+, plus king crab leg B+
#7. Pizzaria 712 (same owners, similar recipe). B/B+
#8 Famous Dave's: B/B+ (jalapeno, 4 cheeses, and corn)
OUT OF BUSINESS: Big Bones BBQ, Spanish Fork. B+
#9 O'Shuck's Pub and Grill, Park City (west side location only) B+
#10. Blue Street BBQ, American Fork B+
#11. Golden Corral B+
#12. Purple Sage, Park City B
We've tested it at every BBQ place (and numerous other restaurants) in Utah - these are the only really good ones we've found.
Tuesday, June 25, 2013
Monday, June 17, 2013
Best Chicken Salad SANDWICHES in Utah
Best Chicken Salad Sandwiches in Utah
- 19 May 2021
Check out Best Sandwiches in Utah, Best Cheesesteaks in Utah, Best Steak Sandwiches in Utah, Best Burgers in Utah, Best Restaurants in Utah, and OTHER FOOD REVIEWS at TasterTestersClub.BlogSpot.com
BEST CHICKEN SALAD SANDWICHES IN UTAH
1. Trellis, Thanksgiving Point, Lehi A
On grilled sourdough bread, also has perfect amount of and chocked full of apples and grapes and the lesser proportioned celery
2. Nauvoo Cafe, Salt Lake City. A-
This place is at the old Hotel Utah, downtown. When we had it, it was loaded with the necessary fruits, but on the top floor of the same building, at the Garden Restaurant, it was supposedly the same sandwi
ch, from the same kitchen, but lacking many fruits.
3. Corner Bakery Cafe, national chain. D.C. Chicken salad (sliced almond, cranberry, celery, green apple, raisins. A-
Great croissant. Nice moist filling. BUT no fruit or nuts in it - It would be an A if it had those.
- 19 May 2021
Check out Best Sandwiches in Utah, Best Cheesesteaks in Utah, Best Steak Sandwiches in Utah, Best Burgers in Utah, Best Restaurants in Utah, and OTHER FOOD REVIEWS at TasterTestersClub.BlogSpot.com
BEST CHICKEN SALAD SANDWICHES IN UTAH
1. Trellis, Thanksgiving Point, Lehi A
On grilled sourdough bread, also has perfect amount of and chocked full of apples and grapes and the lesser proportioned celery
2. Nauvoo Cafe, Salt Lake City. A-
This place is at the old Hotel Utah, downtown. When we had it, it was loaded with the necessary fruits, but on the top floor of the same building, at the Garden Restaurant, it was supposedly the same sandwi
ch, from the same kitchen, but lacking many fruits.
3. Corner Bakery Cafe, national chain. D.C. Chicken salad (sliced almond, cranberry, celery, green apple, raisins. A-
4. Kneaders, locations throughout northern Utah. B
Salt Lake Valley and Utah ValleyGreat croissant. Nice moist filling. BUT no fruit or nuts in it - It would be an A if it had those.
5. Arbys, national chain. B
We got it on whole wheat-white flour blend bread. Needs more fruit in 2021. It used to have perfect amount of and chocked full of apples and grapes, small-chunks of pecans, leaf lettuce, and the lesser proportioned celery - Without the fruit it's only a C -. THIS IS A SEASONAL SANDWICH ONLY.
NO LONGER SERVING IT OR OUT OF BUSINESS:
We got it on whole wheat-white flour blend bread. Needs more fruit in 2021. It used to have perfect amount of and chocked full of apples and grapes, small-chunks of pecans, leaf lettuce, and the lesser proportioned celery - Without the fruit it's only a C -. THIS IS A SEASONAL SANDWICH ONLY.
6. Village Baker
7. Honey Baked Ham Co.
7. Honey Baked Ham Co.
8. Apple Spice Junction
NO LONGER SERVING IT OR OUT OF BUSINESS:
Was #1: OUT OF BUSINESS: Cafe 300, Provo. A+
Their one NOT on the menu and only occasionally served is the best one we ever tested. It is chocked full of luscious grapes, apples, craisens, pecans, etc. on a croissant. They serve it when catering as well. The sandwich on their regular menu rates merely a C.(no longer serving it: Mimi's Cafe, national chain A)
4B. NO LONGER SERVING IT: Antonelli's, Orem A-
(Was #5): Chef's Table, out of business Orem B+++
Eloise is the name of it, and it gets its crunch from the crisp iceberg lettuce, rather than slices or cubes of apples and celery. No fruit and only a few thin slivered almonds. $12, (not available in summer unless special-ordered in advance with another menu meal.)
5. BYU Food Court pastry shop, Provo B+++
Its secret weapon is the "craisen" and is called the "Craisen Chicken Sandwich." It uses semi-dried cranberries (craisens) with other good stuff.
6. Station 22, Provo B++
It was at its best in 2013. It now uses ciabatta bread instead of croissant. Has nice but small apple cubes and unfortunately, soft, small, dry grapes that are like soft raisins, instead of sliced real grapes (that unfortunately turn bad quickly, which is their reason for discontinuing grapes). Menu says chicken is smoked - it used to be, but doesn't seem that way now, rather, it has interesting spice blend that it was either marinated or cooked in. $8.99
7. Great Harvest Bread Co., national chain B+
White meat chunks are too big - make them smaller or add dark meat, which is more moist and tastier for some of us. We also prefer cracked wheat bread - not as strong of a wheat flavor as their honey whole wheat and not as flavorless as regular white bread is in general.
8. Paradise Bakery and Cafe, Salt Lake, Sandy and American Fork. B+
"Chicken Walnut Salad Sandwich" comes standard on molasses wheat bread, which is very good, but it's better if you request it on their amazing, yummy, buttery croissant (which alone rates A-). Try it both ways! They add plenty of walnuts - a great touch. But to make this an A they would have to add more fruit (apples and grapes are the standard - big chunks like Trellis does, and tone down the strong mayo flavor. $8.99.
8A. NOT TESTED WITH OTHERS ON THIS LIST, BUT IT GRADES AT A "B:"
Honey Baked Ham B+
(filling alone B/B+)
9. Thanksgiving Point Deli, Lehi. B
Has some fruit.
11. Coffee Pod, Provo. B
Pecans and a nice filling are the hallmark of this sand. However, it could use a lot more fruit and better quality bread, and better yet, a croissant, in our opinion.
12. Jason's Deli, national chain, in Murray. B
Pineapple and red onions highlight this sand. Good but not great. It comes in a wrap but we requested wheat bread.
13. Quisnos, national chain. B - -
Adding dijon (mustard) is not a good idea for chicken salad sands, plus there is no sticky filling to hold the ingredients together. Some nice ingredients, however.
14. Cafe Fresh (inside Good Earth, Orem). C
While heathier and not as fabulous tasting, they do have sandwiches, smoothies, and cookes there that are great.
15. Enliten, Provo, C. But it has B-/B, POTENTIAL (see note here:)
It's a B IF YOU GET IT ON THE CROISSANT. On the herbed foccacia (their "default" bread) they're a C. They have the right idea for the ingredients of the chicken salad - only they put in WHOLE grapes and big chunks of apple and way too much big chunks of celery. They need to slice the 2 fruits and cut way back on the celery, in our opinion.
16. Sundance deli. C
Eloise is the name of it, and it gets its crunch from the crisp iceberg lettuce, rather than slices or cubes of apples and celery. No fruit and only a few thin slivered almonds. $12, (not available in summer unless special-ordered in advance with another menu meal.)
5. BYU Food Court pastry shop, Provo B+++
Its secret weapon is the "craisen" and is called the "Craisen Chicken Sandwich." It uses semi-dried cranberries (craisens) with other good stuff.
6. Station 22, Provo B++
It was at its best in 2013. It now uses ciabatta bread instead of croissant. Has nice but small apple cubes and unfortunately, soft, small, dry grapes that are like soft raisins, instead of sliced real grapes (that unfortunately turn bad quickly, which is their reason for discontinuing grapes). Menu says chicken is smoked - it used to be, but doesn't seem that way now, rather, it has interesting spice blend that it was either marinated or cooked in. $8.99
7. Great Harvest Bread Co., national chain B+
White meat chunks are too big - make them smaller or add dark meat, which is more moist and tastier for some of us. We also prefer cracked wheat bread - not as strong of a wheat flavor as their honey whole wheat and not as flavorless as regular white bread is in general.
8. Paradise Bakery and Cafe, Salt Lake, Sandy and American Fork. B+
"Chicken Walnut Salad Sandwich" comes standard on molasses wheat bread, which is very good, but it's better if you request it on their amazing, yummy, buttery croissant (which alone rates A-). Try it both ways! They add plenty of walnuts - a great touch. But to make this an A they would have to add more fruit (apples and grapes are the standard - big chunks like Trellis does, and tone down the strong mayo flavor. $8.99.
8A. NOT TESTED WITH OTHERS ON THIS LIST, BUT IT GRADES AT A "B:"
Honey Baked Ham B+
(filling alone B/B+)
9. Thanksgiving Point Deli, Lehi. B
Has some fruit.
11. Coffee Pod, Provo. B
Pecans and a nice filling are the hallmark of this sand. However, it could use a lot more fruit and better quality bread, and better yet, a croissant, in our opinion.
12. Jason's Deli, national chain, in Murray. B
Pineapple and red onions highlight this sand. Good but not great. It comes in a wrap but we requested wheat bread.
13. Quisnos, national chain. B - -
Adding dijon (mustard) is not a good idea for chicken salad sands, plus there is no sticky filling to hold the ingredients together. Some nice ingredients, however.
14. Cafe Fresh (inside Good Earth, Orem). C
While heathier and not as fabulous tasting, they do have sandwiches, smoothies, and cookes there that are great.
15. Enliten, Provo, C. But it has B-/B, POTENTIAL (see note here:)
It's a B IF YOU GET IT ON THE CROISSANT. On the herbed foccacia (their "default" bread) they're a C. They have the right idea for the ingredients of the chicken salad - only they put in WHOLE grapes and big chunks of apple and way too much big chunks of celery. They need to slice the 2 fruits and cut way back on the celery, in our opinion.
16. Sundance deli. C
Sunday, June 9, 2013
Best Chocolate Bars in the World
Best chocolate bars in the world
Best chocolate bars sold in America
Tested May-June 2013, with Dark Choc and Hazlenuts tested Jan 2014
updated 12 March 2014, 27 March, 30 April 2015
updated 13 June 2018
Best chocolate bars sold in America
Tested May-June 2013, with Dark Choc and Hazlenuts tested Jan 2014
updated 12 March 2014, 27 March, 30 April 2015
updated 13 June 2018
See our other FOOD RATINGS, including Best Ice Cream in the U.S., at TasteTestersClub.Blogspot.Com
5 categories tested:
- Milk Chocolate bars
- Milk Chocolate with Almonds
- Milk Chocolate with Hazlenuts
- Dark Chocolate
- Dark Chocolate with Hazlenuts
Note: Most of these are available in local deli’s or on the internet. We purchased them all in Utah deli's, mostly at Tony Caputos downtown and Liberty Heights Fresh Market, Trader Joes, and Whole Foods Market. Some of these may have a mailorder division. Tony Caputos has the largest variety of chocolates we have ever seen.)
IN ORDER
Best Milk Chocolate
A+
Irapa. 40.5% cacao. Venezuelan Single Bean. Origin: “Rio
Caribe”
Melissa. 45%. Patisserie Chocolaterie Pralus, Francois Pralus, master chocolatier
Esmeraldas. 42% Original Beans
Scharffen Berger 41% extra rich milk
Scharffen Berger 41% extra rich milk
Trader Joes Belgian 33% "Product of Belgium"
Weinrich's 32% 1895 Lait
Weinrich's 32% 1895 Lait
Purugina (rated separately from when the above were tested, but this brand would rate an A+, yet not necessarily at this spot.)
A
Amano. 30%. Ocumare (their specialty is dark chocolate)
Moonstruck. 31%
Amedei. Toscano Brown
A-
E. Guittard. 38% Orinoco
B
TCHO 53% (rates between here and Trader Joes above, probably right here) (note: TCHO has 3 other milk chocolates rating lower, below) Tested separately than others on this list but would rate about here.
Chocolov 33%
Chocolov 33%
Valrona 29% (a great chocolate cooking powder used by chefs
worldwide)
Le Lait 32%,"Finest Milk Chocolate," Weinrich's 18
Le Lait 32%,"Finest Milk Chocolate," Weinrich's 18
Madecasse 44 Madagascar chocolate
Feodora 37% Schoolhouse Project
Blanxart 44% Filipinas
Theo 45%
Godiva 31%
365 (at Whole Foods Markets) 39% Organic
Milka Alpine
Blanxart 34% With Organic Cocoa and Sugar
B -
TCHO MC 53%, lush cacao and fudge notes
Crev (actually B- -) All Natural Truffle Bar
Crev (actually B- -) All Natural Truffle Bar
C+
Trader Joes 34% Mini bar, Super Smooth Belgian
Puerto Cabello 43%
Lumi 40% from Artisan Chocolat, Fusion Bar
C
TCHO Classic 39%, caramel notes (no caramel in it however). Tested separately than others on this list but would rate about here.
Green & Blacks 34% Organic
Green & Blacks 34% Organic
AS OF FEBRUARY 2018, NOT SOLD THERE: Trader Joes 32% Fair Trade Organic – Belgian
TCHO Classic. Tested separately than others on this list but would rate between here and top of C's.
TCHO Classic. Tested separately than others on this list but would rate between here and top of C's.
Sees
C-
Cadbury, Dairy Milk, UK version (better than U.S.)
Kara (actually C- -)
Whole Foods 34. Organic, Tanzania (actually C- - -)
D
Whole Foods 32% Madagascar, Premium Belgian
Sacred, 50% Raw, Naturally Dairy Free Coconut (replacing milk)
Buffalo 40% Laverstoke Park Farm, from Artisan du Chocolat
Best Milk Chocolate with Almonds
A
Trader Joes
A-
Green & Blacks 37%
B+
Theo. 45%
Dove
B
Ritter Sport
B-
Artisan du Chocolate Almond Milk (this was not tested with the
others. While getting a B- rating, it could be in a different spot, but should
rate about here.)
Valrhona 40%
Cadbury, UK (actually B--)
C+
Chocolov (actually with almonds AND toffee)
C
Lindt
C-
Vosages 45
Hersheys (actually C- -)
Estonia brand (actually C---)
D-
Moonstruck, Mayan, 31%, has diced almonds
Divine 26% (unfair rating – this bar we tested was sold past
due from the retail shop – it was rancid)
Best Milk Chocolate with Hazlenuts
A
Amedei 32%
B
Perugia - carmelized hazlenuts
Ritter Sport 50%, Equador chocolate
NOT TESTED WITH MANY ON THIS LIST: TCHO 53%
Trader Joe's 33%, Swiss Milk Chocolate with 30% whole hazlenuts
Milka 30%
Best Dark Chocolate
A
Purgina Italian
NOT TESTED WITH OTHERS ON THIS LIST, ONLY TRADER JOES BELOW: Purgina 56%, with almonds
Chocolove Cherries and Almonds in Dark Chocolate 55%, Belgian Choc (Boulder, Colorado, USA)
Trader Joes 54% Belgian Dark Plain
Trader Joes Small 56%
Trader Joes 73% super dark chocolate (with almonds)
Trader Joe's "Dark Chocolate Bar"
Lindt - 49% (France)
Alter Eco 60% ortanic (San Francisco)
Trader Joes's Dark Chocolate 56% (too dark in taste)
Lily's Almond 55% no surar, with stevia, (Santa Barbara, California, USA)
Blanxart 62%
Note: not tested with the above, but fitting somewhere here in the A's, are the following two:
Scharfenberger semi-sweet
Scharfenberger dark chocolate
B+
THESE 2 NOT TESTED WITH OTHERS ON THIS LIST:
TCHO Ghana 70%
Ghiradelli 60%
B
Godiva 72% (Germany, via New York)
Godiva "Solid Dark Chocolate"
Dove (New Jersey, USA)
THESE TWO NOT TESTED WITH MANY ON THIS LIST:
B-
NOT TESTED WITH OTHERS:
Hageland 53% Belgian
Ratraic signature dark milk
C
NOT TESTED WITH OTHERS ON THIS LIST: Williams Sonoma 72% cacao, "Devils Food"
365 Organic 56% (Italy, via Texas)
Theo 70% (with sea salt)
Moonstruck 68% (with sea salt)
Chocolov 55% (with sea salt)
Sees (San Francisco, California USA): "Sees Classic Dark Chocolate with almonds"
Sees 62% Premium Extra Dark
Hershey's Special Dark 45% (Pennsylvania, USA)
DC Dream (100% Dairy Free)
Kara
C-
El Rey "Bucare 58.5%
Food of the Godes "Jamaican" C-
Trader Joe's 72% Belgian
Dark Chocolate and Hazelnuts
B+
Weinrich's 1895, 45% cacao, with whole hazlenuts
B
Ritter Sport (whole nuts)
Trader Joes Swiss Dark with 30% whole hazel nuts. Cacao is 50% minimum cocoa mass (better than their milk chocolate version, and better than TCHO's 54% milk chocolate version)
B-
Poco Dolce (not nuts, but flavored with hazelnut butter) (San Francisco)
Alpine (actuall grades B- -)
Lindt (too milky flavored, actually grades B- - -)
TRIED BUT UNGRADED:
Salazon
Chocolat Bonnat 55% Voiron, France
Ghiradelli Intense Dark, Evening Dream 605
Valrhona LeNoir 56%
Cadbury Bournville "Classic Dark Chocolate" 36%
Amedi Toscano Black 63%
IN ORDER, LAST 3:
Ghiradelli 72%
Ratraic
Davao 62% Dark Milk Chocolate
A SMALLER TEST
13 Aug 2008
1. Scharfenberger Milk, 41% cacao
2. Cacao Reserve, Java 37%
3. Cacao Reserve, Arribas 50%
4. Milka
5. Ghiradelli
6. Russel Stover, Triple Choc Mousse
7. Russel Stover, French Cafe Vanilla Creme
Individual company brands.
(Note: This list is still being built)
TCHO company
MILK
53% bar, Classic. B++
39% bar, Lush and fudgy B
MILK HAZLENUT
53% bar B-/B
DARK
Ghana 70% - chocolaty B+
Equador 65% - nutty B/B+
Peru 68% - fruity B
Madagascar 67% - bright B
Best Milk Chocolate with Hazlenuts
A
Amedei 32%
B
Perugia - carmelized hazlenuts
Ritter Sport 50%, Equador chocolate
NOT TESTED WITH MANY ON THIS LIST: TCHO 53%
Trader Joe's 33%, Swiss Milk Chocolate with 30% whole hazlenuts
Milka 30%
Best Dark Chocolate
A
Purgina Italian
NOT TESTED WITH OTHERS ON THIS LIST, ONLY TRADER JOES BELOW: Purgina 56%, with almonds
Chocolove Cherries and Almonds in Dark Chocolate 55%, Belgian Choc (Boulder, Colorado, USA)
Trader Joes 54% Belgian Dark Plain
Trader Joes Small 56%
Trader Joes 73% super dark chocolate (with almonds)
Trader Joe's "Dark Chocolate Bar"
Lindt - 49% (France)
Alter Eco 60% ortanic (San Francisco)
Trader Joes's Dark Chocolate 56% (too dark in taste)
Lily's Almond 55% no surar, with stevia, (Santa Barbara, California, USA)
Blanxart 62%
Note: not tested with the above, but fitting somewhere here in the A's, are the following two:
Scharfenberger semi-sweet
Scharfenberger dark chocolate
B+
THESE 2 NOT TESTED WITH OTHERS ON THIS LIST:
TCHO Ghana 70%
Ghiradelli 60%
B
Godiva 72% (Germany, via New York)
Godiva "Solid Dark Chocolate"
Dove (New Jersey, USA)
THESE TWO NOT TESTED WITH MANY ON THIS LIST:
B-
NOT TESTED WITH OTHERS:
Hageland 53% Belgian
Ratraic signature dark milk
C
NOT TESTED WITH OTHERS ON THIS LIST: Williams Sonoma 72% cacao, "Devils Food"
365 Organic 56% (Italy, via Texas)
Theo 70% (with sea salt)
Moonstruck 68% (with sea salt)
Chocolov 55% (with sea salt)
Sees (San Francisco, California USA): "Sees Classic Dark Chocolate with almonds"
Sees 62% Premium Extra Dark
Hershey's Special Dark 45% (Pennsylvania, USA)
DC Dream (100% Dairy Free)
Kara
C-
El Rey "Bucare 58.5%
Food of the Godes "Jamaican" C-
Trader Joe's 72% Belgian
Dark Chocolate and Hazelnuts
B+
Weinrich's 1895, 45% cacao, with whole hazlenuts
B
Ritter Sport (whole nuts)
Trader Joes Swiss Dark with 30% whole hazel nuts. Cacao is 50% minimum cocoa mass (better than their milk chocolate version, and better than TCHO's 54% milk chocolate version)
B-
Poco Dolce (not nuts, but flavored with hazelnut butter) (San Francisco)
Alpine (actuall grades B- -)
Lindt (too milky flavored, actually grades B- - -)
TRIED BUT UNGRADED:
Salazon
Chocolat Bonnat 55% Voiron, France
Ghiradelli Intense Dark, Evening Dream 605
Valrhona LeNoir 56%
Cadbury Bournville "Classic Dark Chocolate" 36%
Amedi Toscano Black 63%
IN ORDER, LAST 3:
Ghiradelli 72%
Ratraic
Davao 62% Dark Milk Chocolate
A SMALLER TEST
13 Aug 2008
1. Scharfenberger Milk, 41% cacao
2. Cacao Reserve, Java 37%
3. Cacao Reserve, Arribas 50%
4. Milka
5. Ghiradelli
6. Russel Stover, Triple Choc Mousse
7. Russel Stover, French Cafe Vanilla Creme
Individual company brands.
(Note: This list is still being built)
TCHO company
MILK
53% bar, Classic. B++
39% bar, Lush and fudgy B
MILK HAZLENUT
53% bar B-/B
DARK
Ghana 70% - chocolaty B+
Equador 65% - nutty B/B+
Peru 68% - fruity B
Madagascar 67% - bright B
Tuesday, June 4, 2013
Best French Toast in Utah
Best French Toast in Utah
-revised 24 Mar 2021
Also see Best Breakfasts in Utah, Best Omelettes in Utah, and other food ratings on our site: TasteTestersClub.blogspot.com
In reality, the Top 6 could be a tie, but if pushed, this is how we'd rate them. Try all 8; they're amazing. You'll never mess with other places again. (In addition to these 25, we've also tested over a dozen other places, none of which rated over a C.)
-revised 24 Mar 2021
Also see Best Breakfasts in Utah, Best Omelettes in Utah, and other food ratings on our site: TasteTestersClub.blogspot.com
In reality, the Top 6 could be a tie, but if pushed, this is how we'd rate them. Try all 8; they're amazing. You'll never mess with other places again. (In addition to these 25, we've also tested over a dozen other places, none of which rated over a C.)
FIRST LEVEL - TOP 6
1. Traditions Mobile Cafe A
2. Ruth's Diner, SLC. Get ONLY their Banana bread french toast - not their others. A
3. Guru's, Provo: almond and cornflakes crusted French toast with cream cheese center B+
(don't get their "traditional french toast," a C+)
4. Slate Restaurant, Provo Marriott. Brioche French toast with carmelized bananas and walnuts with maple syrup B+
(don't get their "crunchy" French toast - C)
5. Mimi's Cafe, now Mimi's Bistro and Bakery, Midvale. If they still have it, get their Cinnamon Brioche - really a Cinanamon roll - rates a B+.
6. Village Inn, national chain. Vanilla battered French bread (upgraded significantly from their former plain french toast that was a C). B+
No longer served after 2015: orange cranberry french cakes: B)
SECOND LEVEL - ALL THE REST
7. Black Bear Diner, chain, "bearclaw" (cinnamon bun french toast) B
(regular french toast: C)
8. O'Hana Gril, Springvillel B
9. Joe's Cafe, Orem - plain but good - almost pudding like in texture, the way we like it, not overcooked C+/B-
10. Denny's, national chain. B; seasonal apple crisp french toast, served with apple syrup B+/A-. Their banana bread french toast: C+ (more of a dessert than a French toast).
1. Traditions Mobile Cafe A
2. Ruth's Diner, SLC. Get ONLY their Banana bread french toast - not their others. A
3. Guru's, Provo: almond and cornflakes crusted French toast with cream cheese center B+
(don't get their "traditional french toast," a C+)
4. Slate Restaurant, Provo Marriott. Brioche French toast with carmelized bananas and walnuts with maple syrup B+
(don't get their "crunchy" French toast - C)
5. Mimi's Cafe, now Mimi's Bistro and Bakery, Midvale. If they still have it, get their Cinnamon Brioche - really a Cinanamon roll - rates a B+.
(Note their plain french toast rates a C, so don't get it. Also, Orange cream pain perdu style rates a C/C+ and is more of a dessert.) Thus:
6. Village Inn, national chain. Vanilla battered French bread (upgraded significantly from their former plain french toast that was a C). B+
No longer served after 2015: orange cranberry french cakes: B)
SECOND LEVEL - ALL THE REST
7. Black Bear Diner, chain, "bearclaw" (cinnamon bun french toast) B
(regular french toast: C)
8. O'Hana Gril, Springvillel B
9. Joe's Cafe, Orem - plain but good - almost pudding like in texture, the way we like it, not overcooked C+/B-
10. Denny's, national chain. B; seasonal apple crisp french toast, served with apple syrup B+/A-. Their banana bread french toast: C+ (more of a dessert than a French toast).
11. IHOP, national chain. plain french toast rates C+/B-
NO LONGER SERVED THERE: One line, introduced in summer 2013. is much better: Brioche French Toast with 3 separate toppings.We prefer in this order two of them: banana foster (A), cinnemon (A-). Bioche French Toast alone B-, but the toppings made it sing.
12. Sundance Foundry Grill. (it may have changed since testing in 2013:) C, but with their real maple syrup: B
13. BYU's Legends Grill. B-/B. Thick, whole grain.
14. Belgian Waffle and Omelette Inn, Midvale. Cinnemon-walnut French toast: B -
15. Magleby's (plain french toast rates a C, but, their) banana french toast: B-
NO LONGER SERVED THERE: One line, introduced in summer 2013. is much better: Brioche French Toast with 3 separate toppings.We prefer in this order two of them: banana foster (A), cinnemon (A-). Bioche French Toast alone B-, but the toppings made it sing.
12. Sundance Foundry Grill. (it may have changed since testing in 2013:) C, but with their real maple syrup: B
13. BYU's Legends Grill. B-/B. Thick, whole grain.
14. Belgian Waffle and Omelette Inn, Midvale. Cinnemon-walnut French toast: B -
15. Magleby's (plain french toast rates a C, but, their) banana french toast: B-
16. Kneaders. Grade B- (too much cinamon; without it, making it at home with their recipe, but with no cinamon, it rates B+!)
17.. Cracker Barrell C+/B- (but with their butter and real maple syrup: B+)
18. Marley's Gourmet Sliders (tested in 2014:) C+ with butter or alone; C- with their white sauce they serve
19. Communal, Provo (formerly number one, but in summer 2014 they stopped making their own bread and started buying frozen Texas Toast!). If you're lucky to find apple topping in the right season, try it with their terrific, sweetened diced apple topping Grade of French toast alone: C
Note: Their newer berry topping is good as well.
20. BYU food court. C Average
21, Original Pancake House, SLC, Lehi, and Sandy, national chain C (fruit and whipped cram brings it up to a B/B+)
22. Callies, Orem C
OUT OF BUSINESS: Cafe 300, Provo. Secret custard recipe and terrific French bread makes this sing! Grade: A
OUT OF BUSINESS. WAS RANKED HIGH: El Azteca, Provo. Horchata French toast. (most recent time it slid from an A to a B+ because the bread was too soggy, soaking too long in the horchata, and the bread was not as good as before, as this time it was a horizontally sliced torta (Spanish sandwich) bun. Grade: B+
18. Marley's Gourmet Sliders (tested in 2014:) C+ with butter or alone; C- with their white sauce they serve
19. Communal, Provo (formerly number one, but in summer 2014 they stopped making their own bread and started buying frozen Texas Toast!). If you're lucky to find apple topping in the right season, try it with their terrific, sweetened diced apple topping Grade of French toast alone: C
Note: Their newer berry topping is good as well.
21, Original Pancake House, SLC, Lehi, and Sandy, national chain C (fruit and whipped cram brings it up to a B/B+)
22. Callies, Orem C
OUT OF BUSINESS: Cafe 300, Provo. Secret custard recipe and terrific French bread makes this sing! Grade: A
OUT OF BUSINESS. WAS RANKED HIGH: El Azteca, Provo. Horchata French toast. (most recent time it slid from an A to a B+ because the bread was too soggy, soaking too long in the horchata, and the bread was not as good as before, as this time it was a horizontally sliced torta (Spanish sandwich) bun. Grade: B+
OUT OF BUSINESS: Amber Family Restaurant, Spanish Fork B/B+
OUT OF BUSINESS: Baked, Provo B
(but with added syrup, whipped cream and strawberries, it became a B++)
(but with added syrup, whipped cream and strawberries, it became a B++)
Best Omelettes in Utah
Best Omelettes in Utah
-Revised 30 Jan 2019
Also see Best Breakfasts in Utah, and other food ratings on our site: TasteTestersClub.blogspot.com
Note: We've tested them at a couple dozen places. These are our favorites.
1. Roots Cafe, SLC.
a. The Gardener. grade: A
2. Belgian Waffle and Omelette Inn, Midvale. Best here: avocado, mushroom, and 3 cheese blend. (was #1 since 2000 until Cafe 300 came along late 2012. With it going out of business n 2018, we discovered our new fave, Roots, we in summer 2018).
3. Joe's Cafe, Orem - vege omeletgte - with sauteed veges and cheese. Using the ingredients (which they saute), they are the only ones we've found that do a vege omelette right, and with the right quantities of each.
4. Denny's Vege-Cheese omelette. Ditto.
4A. Denny's Philly omellette. same omelette but with pieces of prime rib added
5. Mimi's Cafe Le California Avocado BLT Omelette B+
6. Ruth's Diner. Asparagas, tomato, and smoked gouda. B+
B-minus omelettes:
a. Slate Restaurant, Provo. Nice touch as they make it in front of you. best is spinach, tomato, onion
b. Guru's. OK but ask for EXTRA CHEESE. It adds to the flavor and makes it more moist. Fortunately they add it inside, unlike some places. .
Weak: dozens we've tried. The most recent ones that we have re-confirmed include:
Village Inn. C-
IHOP
Historical note: (former number 1:) OUT OF BUSINESS: Cafe 300, Provo. Our fave was a custom one. Here was our write-up:
" - you have to request it: avocado, mushrooms, and 3 cheese blend.
Note that the house omelettes that come with the whole kitchen sink at most cafes - everything from bacon and ham to onions and green peppers are OK, but for a great omelette we recommend you stick to 2 or at the most 3 veges, plus cheese, and eat the meats on the side. And always order with cheese!"
-Revised 30 Jan 2019
Also see Best Breakfasts in Utah, and other food ratings on our site: TasteTestersClub.blogspot.com
Note: We've tested them at a couple dozen places. These are our favorites.
1. Roots Cafe, SLC.
a. The Gardener. grade: A
2. Belgian Waffle and Omelette Inn, Midvale. Best here: avocado, mushroom, and 3 cheese blend. (was #1 since 2000 until Cafe 300 came along late 2012. With it going out of business n 2018, we discovered our new fave, Roots, we in summer 2018).
3. Joe's Cafe, Orem - vege omeletgte - with sauteed veges and cheese. Using the ingredients (which they saute), they are the only ones we've found that do a vege omelette right, and with the right quantities of each.
4. Denny's Vege-Cheese omelette. Ditto.
4A. Denny's Philly omellette. same omelette but with pieces of prime rib added
5. Mimi's Cafe Le California Avocado BLT Omelette B+
6. Ruth's Diner. Asparagas, tomato, and smoked gouda. B+
B-minus omelettes:
a. Slate Restaurant, Provo. Nice touch as they make it in front of you. best is spinach, tomato, onion
b. Guru's. OK but ask for EXTRA CHEESE. It adds to the flavor and makes it more moist. Fortunately they add it inside, unlike some places. .
Weak: dozens we've tried. The most recent ones that we have re-confirmed include:
Village Inn. C-
IHOP
Historical note: (former number 1:) OUT OF BUSINESS: Cafe 300, Provo. Our fave was a custom one. Here was our write-up:
" - you have to request it: avocado, mushrooms, and 3 cheese blend.
Note that the house omelettes that come with the whole kitchen sink at most cafes - everything from bacon and ham to onions and green peppers are OK, but for a great omelette we recommend you stick to 2 or at the most 3 veges, plus cheese, and eat the meats on the side. And always order with cheese!"
Wednesday, May 22, 2013
Best Breakfasts in Utah
Best Breakfasts in Utah
- Revised 28 Jan 2019
Check out our OTHER FOOD REVIEWS, including Best Omelettes in Utah and Best French Toast in Utah at TasterTestersClub.BlogSpot.com
Note that all these places have some if not many mediocre breakfasts. But the meals below are the winners. from dozens of places and hundreds of breakfasts we've tried.
12-way tie for First Place: (IF YOU ORDER THE RIGHT THINGS!)
OUT OF BUSINESS: 1.(tie) Cafe 300, Provo. Omelettes and French Toast (note our post, "Best Omelettes in Utah." a. Their omelettes (and everyones) is better when limited to 2 or 3 veges with cheese and meat on the side. Customize it as "Avocado-Mushroom-cheese" for a great omelette!
b. Custom order the Play Misty for Me (not on menu): sausage gravy over bacon over eggs-over-easy over whole wheat toast.
c. their French toast is among the top 3 in Utah (see our French Toast test)
1.(tie) Blue Plate Diner. Sugarhouse, SLC. Eggs Benedict
1. (tie) Left Fork Grill, Murray
a. amazing breakfast sandwich - they make their own sausage
b. great buttermilk pancakes
c. best huevos rancheros in the state!
1. (tie) Belgian Waffle and Omelette Inn
a. Customize an omelette as "Avocado-Mushroom-cheese" for a great omelette!
1(tie). Village Inn
a. sausage benedict: poached eggs, English muffins, grilled green and red cubed bell peppers, grilled onions, pepper jack queso on top. A
g. CUSTOMIZED: scrambled egg fajita crepes (sub out the chicken for bacon.) It comes with grilled red and green bell peppers, grilled onions, pepper jack cheese inside, and pepper jack queso sauce on top of the crepes. A
1. OUT OF BUSINESS: (tie) El Azteca, Bulldog Ave. Provo location. Horchata French Toast + cuchi cuchi quesadilla (custom added scrambled eggs to their spinach-tomato-cheese, apple pico quesadilla
1.(tie) Communal, Provo. their Salmon Hash & Eggs (note their French toast dropped from #1 to #21 when they quit making their own bread. See our "Best French Toast in Utah" list.
1.(tie) Original Pancake House. Sugarhouse, SLC. California Eggs Benedict + several pancakes (best pancakes in the state, followed by Cafe 300). Our fave: pecan pancakes
1 (tie) Slate, Provo
brioche French Toast. alone B+. with banana foster A-
e. crunchy French Toast. Alone C+, with fruit C+, with syrup B-
f. broken yolk sandwich B/B+
g. Farmer's Omelette (bacon C+) B/B+
h. housemade corned beef B-/B
i. stuffed tomato (scrambled eggs, feta, tyme, s and p, italian sausage, spinacy, tomato with no seeds, baked) A
j. hashbrowns and black pepper. BEST IN STATE A-
1. (tie) Guru's, Provo
a. breakfast burrito A-
b. Cowboy Benny (rates a B- BUT MAKE IT AN A- with these requested changes: substitute the biscuit for whole wheat toast, order the eggs over EASY (runny yellow - or they'll cook it too hardl they usually do even with this request), and ask for extra sausage gravy with chunks of sausage over everything.
c. blue cakes. Best blueberry pancakes in the state. Worth trying: Original Pancake House in SLC (their pecan pancake) and Denny's buttermilk from scratch pancakes as of 2016
d. bananas foster pancakes (perfect, mild fosters sauce)
e. almost crusted French toast with cream cheese center, on whole wheat bread
1. (tie) Joe's Cafe, Orem
a. n/a
b. pancakes
c. Belgian waffle - order the blueberry with no blueberry sauce, just the berries and whipped cream
d. hashbrowns (B+/A-)
e. vege omelette (sauteed veges and cheese)
1. (tie) Egg and I, Salt Lake valley, several locations
Egg and I
1. Jerry Sports Grill, Orem. Breakfast sandwiches, especially the hoagie with bacon, sausage, ham, and eggs.
2. Sundance Foundry Grill. Joe's Scramble. The secret is the sliced mild Italian sausage, along with veges and scrambled eggs. Also get their Trout Benedict. The dry, salty trout perfectly compliments the rest of it.
3. Mimi's Cafe, national chain
a. pain perdu French toast (not their original French toast)
b. Le California Avocado BLT Omelette B+
c. strawberry waffle perdu A-
d. croissant breakfast sandwich (brie cheese, scrambled egg, bacon, spinach, dried tomato - but sub it out for real tomato) A
4. Tortilla Bar, Orem NOW OUT OF BUSINESS.
5. IHOP, national chain.
a. Garden Crepes with scrambled eggs and veges inside and hollandaise on top
b. brioche French Toast. (The brioche French Toast alone rates a B- but the 3 different toppings (only one still served) pulls it up to a B+/A-.)
c. Ham and scrambled eggs, swiss cheese is too strong and Denny's eggs are better. B-
6. Taco Bell, national chain - 3 items only:(we tried them all)
a.waffle taco sausage
b. waffle taco bacon (A-)
c. A.M. Bacon Taco (B+)
IN DETAIL:
1. Waffle taco with sausage A
2. Waffle taco with bacon A-
3. A.M Bacon taco B+
At Taco Bell, the items go downhill from here:
4. Crunch Wrap Bacon. Voters grades ranged from C+ to B+
5. Sausage Melt. Voters' grades ranged from C- to B-
6. Egg sausage burrito. Voters grades ranged from C to B-
7. cinnebon. B-
8. egg sausage burrito. Voters grades ranged from C to B-
9. egg bacon burrito. Voters grades ranged from C to C++
10. egg steak burriot. Voters grades ranged from C to C+
11. caramel apple empanada (lunch item) C
Worth mentioning: Taco Bell's competition, Del Taco throughout the western U.S., has a better-than-average breakfast burrito of eggs and cheese with their meat sauce. It beats out their other breakfast offerings with an A- grade.
7. Village Inn, national chain. Breakfast crepe + BLT with egg + egg burrito
8. Denny's, national chain.
a. Apple pie French Toast (seasonal). It's really an apple crisp. It goes from a B to a B+/A- with fruit toppings.
b. Their standard French Toast rates a B, It is pulled up to a B+/A-
c. Grand Slamwich: mayo, maple spice spread, American cheese, shavedham, bacon, sausage, scrambled egg, potato, bread. C-
d. Moons Over My Hammy sandwich: ham, scrambled eggs, swiss and American cheese, grilled sourdough. B+
9. Penny Anne's Cafe, 3 locations Salt Lake Valley
a. own recipe pancakes B+
b. bacon, sausage, eggs, etc. B
c. wheat and marble rye toast if buttered and hot A-
d. we tried nearly all the pies - get the chocolate mousse and coconut pies!
old #9: OUT OF BUSINESS: Norma's Pies, American Fork. Bacon, sausage, or vege quiche WITH HOUSE-MADE SAUSAGE GRAVY
10. Del Taco, western chain. Egg burritos + breakfast burritos
11. Gandolphos, small national chain, and Rocco's, Provo (original location for Gandolphos with same recipes) - two best breakfast sandwiches by far:
a. Breakfast sandwich on Kaiser bun: pastrami, eggs, and American cheese (as much as we dislike American cheese) A- -
b. Breakfast sandwich on Kaiser bun: bacon, egg, American cheese, and sausage B+
12. Mickey D's (McDonald's), national chain. What? Really? Sausage Egg McMuffin is surprisingly good. (Their sausage patties rates #1, but anything with bacon on it is ruined by their cheap, pre-cooked bacon.)
13. Einstein Bagel, national chain. scrambled egg in bagel; optional other items with it.
14. Subway, national chain. We tried every sandwich in both flatbread and Italian white hoagie bread. The hoagie bread was almost always better. Nothing rated higher than a B/B+. We suggest you NOT GET the bacon, egg and cheese sandwich or the steak, egg, and cheese sandwich on either flatbread or hoagie bun. We also recommend you NOT get the Black Forrest ham, egg, and cheese sandwich on the flatbread - only get it on the hoagie. We recommend the cheddar-jack shredded blend for the cheese choice, and that you get tomatoes on it. We also tried them separately with avocado spread, which was OK if you like that, but the straight tomato was a bit better.
2011:
a. flatbread bacon and egg with cheddar/jack and tomato and cucumber A
b. English muffin with same fillers C-
Another test there:
a. Ham, salami, egg on flat bread B, with mayo B/B+. 2nd test: A-
b. am, salami, egg on Italian sub plain: B/B+, plus mayo B+
c. Cheese and egg on flat bread B-/B, plus mayo B-/B. 2nd test: B/B+
d. Cheese and egg on Italian sub B, plus mayo B/B+
e. Turkey, ham, bacon, egg on flat bread B-, plus mayo B-
f. Turkey, ham, bacon, egg on Italian sub B, plus mayo B/B+
g. Ham and egg on flat C. 2nd test: B
h. Ham and egg on Italian sub B, plus mayo B-
2nd test only:
i. Bacon and egg on flatbread C+
j. Steak and egg on flatbread C+/B-
k. Ham egg and cheese on Italian sub B+/A-
15. Marley's Sliders
a. sausage egg cheese slider B+
b. pastrami slider A -
c. bgreakfast burrito B+
d. cinnamon bun A
16. Popeyes, national chain
(breakfast served at airports and perhaps some other locations:)
a. sausage and egg breakfast bisquit (served at SLC sirport): sausage B-, egg B-; biscuit B-, combo B-/B
17. Magleby's, Springville, Provo
a. sausage gravy A
b. bisquit B+
c. combo of both above: A-
d. breakfast potato B-
e. scrambled eggs C
f. raspberry lemonade B/B+
g. real oj B+A-
h. banana french toast B-/B
i. with bananas B/B+
j. with banana and whtie syrup B/B+
k. regular french toast C+
l. FT with raspberry B-/B
m.FT with raspberry and cream B+
n. FT combo above plus whtie suace C++
o. pancake C
p. white omelette (strong asiago chese, spinach, and tomato) C
- Revised 28 Jan 2019
Check out our OTHER FOOD REVIEWS, including Best Omelettes in Utah and Best French Toast in Utah at TasterTestersClub.BlogSpot.com
Note that all these places have some if not many mediocre breakfasts. But the meals below are the winners. from dozens of places and hundreds of breakfasts we've tried.
12-way tie for First Place: (IF YOU ORDER THE RIGHT THINGS!)
OUT OF BUSINESS: 1.(tie) Cafe 300, Provo. Omelettes and French Toast (note our post, "Best Omelettes in Utah." a. Their omelettes (and everyones) is better when limited to 2 or 3 veges with cheese and meat on the side. Customize it as "Avocado-Mushroom-cheese" for a great omelette!
b. Custom order the Play Misty for Me (not on menu): sausage gravy over bacon over eggs-over-easy over whole wheat toast.
c. their French toast is among the top 3 in Utah (see our French Toast test)
1.(tie) Blue Plate Diner. Sugarhouse, SLC. Eggs Benedict
1. (tie) Left Fork Grill, Murray
a. amazing breakfast sandwich - they make their own sausage
b. great buttermilk pancakes
c. best huevos rancheros in the state!
1. (tie) Belgian Waffle and Omelette Inn
a. Customize an omelette as "Avocado-Mushroom-cheese" for a great omelette!
1(tie). Village Inn
a. sausage benedict: poached eggs, English muffins, grilled green and red cubed bell peppers, grilled onions, pepper jack queso on top. A
g. CUSTOMIZED: scrambled egg fajita crepes (sub out the chicken for bacon.) It comes with grilled red and green bell peppers, grilled onions, pepper jack cheese inside, and pepper jack queso sauce on top of the crepes. A
1. OUT OF BUSINESS: (tie) El Azteca, Bulldog Ave. Provo location. Horchata French Toast + cuchi cuchi quesadilla (custom added scrambled eggs to their spinach-tomato-cheese, apple pico quesadilla
1.(tie) Communal, Provo. their Salmon Hash & Eggs (note their French toast dropped from #1 to #21 when they quit making their own bread. See our "Best French Toast in Utah" list.
1.(tie) Original Pancake House. Sugarhouse, SLC. California Eggs Benedict + several pancakes (best pancakes in the state, followed by Cafe 300). Our fave: pecan pancakes
1 (tie) Slate, Provo
brioche French Toast. alone B+. with banana foster A-
e. crunchy French Toast. Alone C+, with fruit C+, with syrup B-
f. broken yolk sandwich B/B+
g. Farmer's Omelette (bacon C+) B/B+
h. housemade corned beef B-/B
i. stuffed tomato (scrambled eggs, feta, tyme, s and p, italian sausage, spinacy, tomato with no seeds, baked) A
j. hashbrowns and black pepper. BEST IN STATE A-
1. (tie) Guru's, Provo
a. breakfast burrito A-
b. Cowboy Benny (rates a B- BUT MAKE IT AN A- with these requested changes: substitute the biscuit for whole wheat toast, order the eggs over EASY (runny yellow - or they'll cook it too hardl they usually do even with this request), and ask for extra sausage gravy with chunks of sausage over everything.
c. blue cakes. Best blueberry pancakes in the state. Worth trying: Original Pancake House in SLC (their pecan pancake) and Denny's buttermilk from scratch pancakes as of 2016
d. bananas foster pancakes (perfect, mild fosters sauce)
e. almost crusted French toast with cream cheese center, on whole wheat bread
1. (tie) Joe's Cafe, Orem
a. n/a
b. pancakes
c. Belgian waffle - order the blueberry with no blueberry sauce, just the berries and whipped cream
d. hashbrowns (B+/A-)
e. vege omelette (sauteed veges and cheese)
1. (tie) Egg and I, Salt Lake valley, several locations
Egg and I
a. Seasonal Benedict A+ Jan 2016, consisting of:
1. sauteed spinach
2. sauteed onion pieces
3. bacon pieces on top
4. cooked canned green chile
5. sliced fresh avocado
6. jalapeno cornbread (thin sliced)
7. hollandaise sauce
8. poached eggs
b. turkey cranberry sandwich C
c. bisquit B
d. gravy B+
e. biscuit and gravy combo A-
f. sausage C-
g. grilled potatoes A
h. grits C+
i. chicken apple walnut sandiwch: chicken, apples, walnuts, celegry, green onion, mayo, lettuce, tomatto, grilled raisen bread B-
j. above sandwich filling (no bread) B/B+
k. tomato herb sandwich B-
l. french toast (similar to Joe's Cafe, Orem) C/C+
m.bacon B-
n.Parisian benedict (shredded swiss, ham, tiny sliced pieces of portabella mushroom, croissant (too think), poached eggs, hollandaise sauce, green onion, Total: B
o. potato soup C++
Left Fork Grill, Midvale
huevos rancheros (the best in Utah!) (contains an orange-colored sauce A-, plus stewed tomato, green vege strips - cactus likely, onion, crispy fried corn tortilla, perfect egg.) total: A
sweet corn scramble, with white cheese, a few cubed tomato pieces, and lots of corn. total: C+ With berry jam B-. With black beans B.
buttermilk pancake A (best in state so far)
bisquit alone B
gravy A
gravy and biscuit A
sausage A
eggs A
french toast B-/A, with syrup: same grade
The following are in no particular order - they all have good items (and bad) - so we recommend you get only the good items listed below.l. french toast (similar to Joe's Cafe, Orem) C/C+
m.bacon B-
n.Parisian benedict (shredded swiss, ham, tiny sliced pieces of portabella mushroom, croissant (too think), poached eggs, hollandaise sauce, green onion, Total: B
o. potato soup C++
Left Fork Grill, Midvale
huevos rancheros (the best in Utah!) (contains an orange-colored sauce A-, plus stewed tomato, green vege strips - cactus likely, onion, crispy fried corn tortilla, perfect egg.) total: A
sweet corn scramble, with white cheese, a few cubed tomato pieces, and lots of corn. total: C+ With berry jam B-. With black beans B.
buttermilk pancake A (best in state so far)
bisquit alone B
gravy A
gravy and biscuit A
sausage A
eggs A
french toast B-/A, with syrup: same grade
1. Jerry Sports Grill, Orem. Breakfast sandwiches, especially the hoagie with bacon, sausage, ham, and eggs.
2. Sundance Foundry Grill. Joe's Scramble. The secret is the sliced mild Italian sausage, along with veges and scrambled eggs. Also get their Trout Benedict. The dry, salty trout perfectly compliments the rest of it.
3. Mimi's Cafe, national chain
a. pain perdu French toast (not their original French toast)
b. Le California Avocado BLT Omelette B+
c. strawberry waffle perdu A-
d. croissant breakfast sandwich (brie cheese, scrambled egg, bacon, spinach, dried tomato - but sub it out for real tomato) A
4. Tortilla Bar, Orem NOW OUT OF BUSINESS.
5. IHOP, national chain.
a. Garden Crepes with scrambled eggs and veges inside and hollandaise on top
b. brioche French Toast. (The brioche French Toast alone rates a B- but the 3 different toppings (only one still served) pulls it up to a B+/A-.)
c. Ham and scrambled eggs, swiss cheese is too strong and Denny's eggs are better. B-
6. Taco Bell, national chain - 3 items only:(we tried them all)
a.waffle taco sausage
b. waffle taco bacon (A-)
c. A.M. Bacon Taco (B+)
IN DETAIL:
1. Waffle taco with sausage A
2. Waffle taco with bacon A-
3. A.M Bacon taco B+
At Taco Bell, the items go downhill from here:
4. Crunch Wrap Bacon. Voters grades ranged from C+ to B+
5. Sausage Melt. Voters' grades ranged from C- to B-
6. Egg sausage burrito. Voters grades ranged from C to B-
7. cinnebon. B-
8. egg sausage burrito. Voters grades ranged from C to B-
9. egg bacon burrito. Voters grades ranged from C to C++
10. egg steak burriot. Voters grades ranged from C to C+
11. caramel apple empanada (lunch item) C
Worth mentioning: Taco Bell's competition, Del Taco throughout the western U.S., has a better-than-average breakfast burrito of eggs and cheese with their meat sauce. It beats out their other breakfast offerings with an A- grade.
7. Village Inn, national chain. Breakfast crepe + BLT with egg + egg burrito
8. Denny's, national chain.
a. Apple pie French Toast (seasonal). It's really an apple crisp. It goes from a B to a B+/A- with fruit toppings.
b. Their standard French Toast rates a B, It is pulled up to a B+/A-
c. Grand Slamwich: mayo, maple spice spread, American cheese, shavedham, bacon, sausage, scrambled egg, potato, bread. C-
d. Moons Over My Hammy sandwich: ham, scrambled eggs, swiss and American cheese, grilled sourdough. B+
9. Penny Anne's Cafe, 3 locations Salt Lake Valley
a. own recipe pancakes B+
b. bacon, sausage, eggs, etc. B
c. wheat and marble rye toast if buttered and hot A-
d. we tried nearly all the pies - get the chocolate mousse and coconut pies!
old #9: OUT OF BUSINESS: Norma's Pies, American Fork. Bacon, sausage, or vege quiche WITH HOUSE-MADE SAUSAGE GRAVY
10. Del Taco, western chain. Egg burritos + breakfast burritos
11. Gandolphos, small national chain, and Rocco's, Provo (original location for Gandolphos with same recipes) - two best breakfast sandwiches by far:
a. Breakfast sandwich on Kaiser bun: pastrami, eggs, and American cheese (as much as we dislike American cheese) A- -
b. Breakfast sandwich on Kaiser bun: bacon, egg, American cheese, and sausage B+
12. Mickey D's (McDonald's), national chain. What? Really? Sausage Egg McMuffin is surprisingly good. (Their sausage patties rates #1, but anything with bacon on it is ruined by their cheap, pre-cooked bacon.)
13. Einstein Bagel, national chain. scrambled egg in bagel; optional other items with it.
14. Subway, national chain. We tried every sandwich in both flatbread and Italian white hoagie bread. The hoagie bread was almost always better. Nothing rated higher than a B/B+. We suggest you NOT GET the bacon, egg and cheese sandwich or the steak, egg, and cheese sandwich on either flatbread or hoagie bun. We also recommend you NOT get the Black Forrest ham, egg, and cheese sandwich on the flatbread - only get it on the hoagie. We recommend the cheddar-jack shredded blend for the cheese choice, and that you get tomatoes on it. We also tried them separately with avocado spread, which was OK if you like that, but the straight tomato was a bit better.
2011:
a. flatbread bacon and egg with cheddar/jack and tomato and cucumber A
b. English muffin with same fillers C-
Another test there:
a. Ham, salami, egg on flat bread B, with mayo B/B+. 2nd test: A-
b. am, salami, egg on Italian sub plain: B/B+, plus mayo B+
c. Cheese and egg on flat bread B-/B, plus mayo B-/B. 2nd test: B/B+
d. Cheese and egg on Italian sub B, plus mayo B/B+
e. Turkey, ham, bacon, egg on flat bread B-, plus mayo B-
f. Turkey, ham, bacon, egg on Italian sub B, plus mayo B/B+
g. Ham and egg on flat C. 2nd test: B
h. Ham and egg on Italian sub B, plus mayo B-
2nd test only:
i. Bacon and egg on flatbread C+
j. Steak and egg on flatbread C+/B-
k. Ham egg and cheese on Italian sub B+/A-
15. Marley's Sliders
a. sausage egg cheese slider B+
b. pastrami slider A -
c. bgreakfast burrito B+
d. cinnamon bun A
16. Popeyes, national chain
(breakfast served at airports and perhaps some other locations:)
a. sausage and egg breakfast bisquit (served at SLC sirport): sausage B-, egg B-; biscuit B-, combo B-/B
17. Magleby's, Springville, Provo
a. sausage gravy A
b. bisquit B+
c. combo of both above: A-
d. breakfast potato B-
e. scrambled eggs C
f. raspberry lemonade B/B+
g. real oj B+A-
h. banana french toast B-/B
i. with bananas B/B+
j. with banana and whtie syrup B/B+
k. regular french toast C+
l. FT with raspberry B-/B
m.FT with raspberry and cream B+
n. FT combo above plus whtie suace C++
o. pancake C
p. white omelette (strong asiago chese, spinach, and tomato) C
17. Original Pancake House, Sugarhouse and Sandy
APRIL 2017 TEST:
a. Pecan pancake B, with maple syrup and butter B+
b. blueberry pancake B, with butter only (better with no syrup): B+
c. plain pancake B
AUGUST 2013 TEST:
a. pecan pancakes A
b. California Club Benedict (current bacon quality A-). (Formerly it was served with much more tomato, in small cubes, piled on, plus avocado, but now it only has a few slivers of tomatos. So ask the server for more tomatoes like it used to be. In 2008 when it was an A+). Now: B+
c. blueberry pancakes D
d. scrambled eggs (not fresh/real) D
e. nutella waffle B
f. belgian waffle B-
g. ditto with fruit B
h. french toast C
i. Greek omelette D
Nov 2008 test:
j. crepes D+
k. fruit topping: fresh banana, peaches, strawberries A+
k-1. above fruits plus whipped cream on waffle A+
l. thick bacon A+
m. basted egg (served cold on our test and too thick of cooked egg white) B-
AUGUST 2010 TEST:
a. swedish pancake B+
b. silver dollar buttermilk pancakes B--
c. blueberry pancakes A+
d. Belgian waffle C++
e. Sourdough pancakes B++
f. "Joe" (scramble with sausage, onion, spinach; REQUEST TOMATO on the side to add to it!) A-
g. Dutch treat with fruit variety B
h. hash browns "breakfast potatoes" A- -
i. banana foster french toast B
j. sausage links B+/A
k. buttermilk pancakes with fruit topping B+
NOVEMBER 2008 TEST:
a. crepes D+
b. belgian waffle C+/B-
c. fresh banana, peaches, strawberries and whipped cream for waffles A+
f. toast C+
g. California bendict: chopped cubed tomato, avocado, basted eggs, English muffin, great hollandaise sauce, great bacon but ask for it more crispy: A
OCTOBER 2008 TEST:
a. bacon, chicken, avocado, tiny amount of tomato, sadly, no cheese - which they need to add!) B-
b. sausage links B-
sausage patt C-
potatoes C
plain pancakes A (voted B in April 2017)
LIKELY NO LONGER SERVING BREAKFAST (but still in business:)
Wingers (their only two great items out of all tried)
a. Trash Hash: A+ with hollandaise sauce; A with hollandaise sauce plus white gravy; A - with with gravy alone.
b. Veggie Scramble (ask for more tomatoes in it). B+/A-
OUT OF BUSINESS:
Baked, Provo
a. french toast breakfast sandwich B+
b. "best breakfast sandwich" (bacon B/B+, sausage B-/B, ham C+) total: B/B+
c. sourdough pancakes C+
d. ditto with whipped cream and strawberries or just whipped cream B+
e. house made whipped cream A
f. buttery syrup A
g. pancakes with buttery syrup B+
APRIL 2017 TEST:
a. Pecan pancake B, with maple syrup and butter B+
b. blueberry pancake B, with butter only (better with no syrup): B+
c. plain pancake B
AUGUST 2013 TEST:
a. pecan pancakes A
b. California Club Benedict (current bacon quality A-). (Formerly it was served with much more tomato, in small cubes, piled on, plus avocado, but now it only has a few slivers of tomatos. So ask the server for more tomatoes like it used to be. In 2008 when it was an A+). Now: B+
c. blueberry pancakes D
d. scrambled eggs (not fresh/real) D
e. nutella waffle B
f. belgian waffle B-
g. ditto with fruit B
h. french toast C
i. Greek omelette D
Nov 2008 test:
j. crepes D+
k. fruit topping: fresh banana, peaches, strawberries A+
k-1. above fruits plus whipped cream on waffle A+
l. thick bacon A+
m. basted egg (served cold on our test and too thick of cooked egg white) B-
AUGUST 2010 TEST:
a. swedish pancake B+
b. silver dollar buttermilk pancakes B--
c. blueberry pancakes A+
d. Belgian waffle C++
e. Sourdough pancakes B++
f. "Joe" (scramble with sausage, onion, spinach; REQUEST TOMATO on the side to add to it!) A-
g. Dutch treat with fruit variety B
h. hash browns "breakfast potatoes" A- -
i. banana foster french toast B
j. sausage links B+/A
k. buttermilk pancakes with fruit topping B+
NOVEMBER 2008 TEST:
a. crepes D+
b. belgian waffle C+/B-
c. fresh banana, peaches, strawberries and whipped cream for waffles A+
f. toast C+
g. California bendict: chopped cubed tomato, avocado, basted eggs, English muffin, great hollandaise sauce, great bacon but ask for it more crispy: A
OCTOBER 2008 TEST:
a. bacon, chicken, avocado, tiny amount of tomato, sadly, no cheese - which they need to add!) B-
b. sausage links B-
sausage patt C-
potatoes C
plain pancakes A (voted B in April 2017)
LIKELY NO LONGER SERVING BREAKFAST (but still in business:)
Wingers (their only two great items out of all tried)
a. Trash Hash: A+ with hollandaise sauce; A with hollandaise sauce plus white gravy; A - with with gravy alone.
b. Veggie Scramble (ask for more tomatoes in it). B+/A-
OUT OF BUSINESS:
Baked, Provo
a. french toast breakfast sandwich B+
b. "best breakfast sandwich" (bacon B/B+, sausage B-/B, ham C+) total: B/B+
c. sourdough pancakes C+
d. ditto with whipped cream and strawberries or just whipped cream B+
e. house made whipped cream A
f. buttery syrup A
g. pancakes with buttery syrup B+
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