Embedded in the rhythm of the Salt Lake City culinary culture, Laurel Brasserie & Bar is a place that may not be accidentally stumbled upon, but, happily enough, it has been. As soon as you enter the doors you realize why locals have continued to recommend it: there is a self-assured comfort to the setting, a menu that is not overly-technical, French and yet Pacific-West sensible, and a bar program that makes hanging around more than a possibility. Assuming that you are a type of person who likes a meal and thinks that it should taste like home and look like a well-designed postcard, Laurel is the place where these two worlds can meet. This essay is written in that salt-and-seeking spirit of Salt & Seek, since wonderful discoveries must be shared.
A room that welcomes you
Laurel Brasserie Bar SLC is well balanced between the warm and the polished. Imagine bare brick, lighting that is placed low, wooden details, and chairs that are comfortable to sit in and have a chat with, not to eat in a hurry. That is its unusual blend of cozy and elegant, which will suit any occasion, such as a casual evening out with a partner or a small achievement. The sound level is kept at the perfect hum: it is not very loud, but active enough to make you feel alive, yet so soft that your group can, indeed, hear one another. The employees contribute to the environment: hospitable and not obtrusive, informed, yet not reading from a script. It is as though you are being hosted by a person who is welcoming you.
A menu that tells you a love story to the produce of the season.
The nature of the menu is what makes Laurel special since it features ingredients. You will come across meals based on traditional French craft, braises, confits, cuts with a knife, however the taste is renewed with local ingredients and innovations. Starters are light and citrus-focused dishes to arouse the palate, and more indulgent small dishes to have with friends. Mains are the type of food that are good to eat slow: tender proteins that are accompanied by well-thought-out sauces, vegetables that are not yet out of season, and sides that are not intended to be a side.
The reason why their weekend brunch is highly loyal is that they have good egg dishes, pastries that are buttery enough, and creative additions that do not make the brunch look one-dimensional. In case you are fond of a decent steak or a perfectly roasted fish, you will hardly be disappointed with the mains at Laurel. The kitchen is also consistently satisfying to vegetarians and flexitarians, and has pleasing options that are not haphazardly assembled.
A program of Bar where experiments are encouraged.
The bar at Laurel is to be mentioned separately. Cocktails are well blended, as well as home blended, ingredients and the willingness to bend towards the nostalgic as well as to the progressive. Things such as a perfectly balanced Old Fashioned, can be cozy alongside seasonal beverages that have unexpected combinations – think of using herb syrups, fermented shrubs in the house, and citrus pairings that enhance richer flavors. The wine menu is slightly tilted towards small producers with the focus on the bottle that does not steal the show and complements the menu. In case of beer drinkers, there will be a choice of local brew with well-known imports.
Complementary rather than competitive service.
The service at Laurel is so simple to be overlooked and difficult to forget. Servers read between the lines, provide timely recommendations without coercion and attend to people just enough. It is the type of place that the crew can recall the likes of a returning customer and a waiter will suggest a less popular bottle from a series of questions that have taken less than 30 seconds to answer which he or she will hit the nail on the head. When you come as a first-time visitor, ask the staff what they are currently enjoying; they usually direct you to some of the most memorable things on the menu.
The reason why locals and visitors adore it.
Laurel strikes a balance: it is fancy enough to wear on special occasions, and casual enough to use on weeknight dates. It has a seasonal menu and a well-considered drink program that keeps it always interesting, though you can always be passionate on your return visits because the quality is always the same. The restaurant is used in dates, dinners out with friends, celebratory evenings, and bar evenings. It is one of those reliable places that continue to impress you despite being in the care of a crew that is concerned with the art.
A small note from Salt & Seek
Being curious consumers and thoughtful explorers, Salt & Seek champions are the kind of places that acknowledge that and thus Laurel Brasserie & Bar is such a place. You want a well-written dinner, a great cocktail or a warm-up place to party, Laurel is a Salt Lake City discovery that should be bookmarked. Examining the food scene around the city, you will want to add Laurel to your list of places to visit, and you can file this particular place to your list of favorites.
Final thoughts
Laurel Brasserie and Bar is a type of restaurant that is ambitious but heartening. It is competent but not boastful, generates memorable scenes without being dramatic, and it is a reliable source of hospitality in Salt Lake City. To food lovers seeking food that is not dumb but clever and not too rich, a drink program that not only informs but amuses, a room that is like a cushy landing, Laurel provides, and Salt and Seek is glad to wholeheartedly assent.
Make a reservation, order something you have never ordered, and leave the eating to do the rest. Any ways the best things are discovered once tasted.
