3 Best Restaurants in Southwestern Utah, Utah

A charming patio overlooking Ancestor Square with contemporary Southwestern art on the walls provides a romantic setting for enjoying contemporary American fare with an emphasis on seasonal ingredients, many from the owners' private organic garden. Consider sage-smoked quail with a tamarind glaze, followed by a juniper-brined bone-in pork chop with stuffed pears and smoked-tomato relish, and don't pass up the standout sides that include sweet cornbread pudding, truffle potato chips, and Stilton fritters. The white chocolate cheesecake tower is a standout among several excellent desserts.

Try to snag a table on the tree-shaded semicovered patio at this contemporary upscale bistro on the west edge of downtown—it's especially romantic for enjoying a margarita or a glass of cider from neighboring Etta Place Cider. Run by a husband-and-wife team with extensive experience at some of Salt Lake City's top restaurants, this locavore-minded eatery specializes in creatively prepared dishes focused on both "hunted" (elk filet, duck breast) and "gathered" (wild mushrooms, mountain trout) ingredients.