If it was possible to give zero stars I would. I made a reservation several weeks ago for my husbands birthday. We were guests of the hotel & I thought we could finish the weekend on a high note. Not so much. We arrived a few minutes before our reservation time to check in. We were greeted by a very rude older woman who offered no greeting or pleasantly. We waited & waited, watching table after table (who had arrived after us) be seated. My husband & I decided if the level of service was this poor prior to even sitting then why would we spend over $100. We notified to concierge who did her best to assist us. 30 minutes after our reservation time (bags already in the car) they offered us a table. No apology or comp of some sort to make up for ruining my husbands birthday. Safe to say we will not return to the Garden cafe or Grand America Hotel for that matter. Service is everything & they get an epic fail from us.
(1)
Michael M.
The Garden Cafe Sunday brunch at the Grand America Hotel used to warrant five stars -- it was outstanding. Unfortunately, they have had considerable turnover in the kitchen, and management has made choices to save cost. The quality of the food including seafood, desserts, fruits, etc. have all suffered. The delicious crab that used to be of high quality, is now third rate and at times left as a largely barren tray of ice. The delicious desserts that were unique and worthy of a five star brunch and a fifty dollar price tag? Gone. Now the desserts are largely the same drab fare you'd expect at a $15 to $20 brunch. The delicious station towards the back of the restaurant that used to be full of fresh blackberries, raspberries, blueberries, and tasty Danish pancakes (aebleskiver), is now a giant cooking station for paella. Paella? Was there really a high demand for paella as a Sunday brunch item? We sat back in that area this morning for brunch. I didn't see a single person take any. I did hear a few people stop and ask the person at the station where they could get the Danish pancakes. Another disappoint for this change, is how the paella cooking station makes that entire room of the restaurant have a strong, unpleasant stench. You know how when you come out from Benihana's, you stink like Benihana's for the rest of the day? After spending this morning in that room with the paella cooking station, we all stink of paella. At least Benihana's smells appetizing for lunch or dinner. Paella is not an appetizing smell for breakfast. Sadly, we need to find a new spot for Sunday brunch when in SLC.
(1)
Laurence B.
Dinner for two on Sunday night. Everything we had was terrific from the bread and butter to the steak. Service was spot on with our server timing everything right so we never had to wait very long at all for anything. The decor here is pretty dated, everything done in green like you are in the Land of Oz. We wanted to come to the Garden Cafe for the Manilla clam appetizer that was mentioned in the Salt Lake Tribune as being one of the top dishes of the year. Indeed it was quite good and worth going just for that. Despite the decor, with all of the other elements being so good, I'm giving it five stars.
(5)
Alan M.
The country pate with pickled vegetables was great. The lamb loin was overcooked and the garnish wasn't well balanced. The coconut "pot du creme" was very nice and light. The mint green, floral, ornate design of the restaurant is beautiful.
Can't get enough of their awesome fresh made fruit juices. Service was a bit lacking this time around but the food made up for it. Great selection of desserts, and their hot items were superb and flavorful.
(4)
James C.
Had a reservation at 1:30 this past Sunday. The food was excellent but unfortunately our server went MIA. After waiting for a while, we got up and went to the receptionist and asked if she could assist us with getting our check. She could not find the server either so she went and ground the manager. He was quite gracious. When I pulled out my wallet to pay he said that He would comp our meal. Kudos to him.
(3)
Lisa M.
We come here at least once a year for Sunday brunch and I always look forward to our visits as the food is so amazing. They have several stations of food around the restaurant which sometimes varies but there is always crab, shrimp, and oysters. There is always an omelet and crepe station. A smoothie station. A dessert bar. And an area with salads, prime rib, fish, potatoes and more. If they don't have what you want you can order it. I always order Eggs Benedict and it's no extra charge. Would highly recommend.
This is a good place for brunch if you roll out of bed feeling a little fancy with 49 dollars to spare. The price is on the higher side but hey, it's The Grand America. The place is all elegant with chandeliers and people playing live classical music. From your table, you can see their immaculate garden outside the window, making you wish your home garden looks like that. You can totally see what you are paying for. The food spread is good. If you can eat a lot, it is totally worth the price. They have the egg station, crepe station, sushi and seafood section, a large desserts and pastries section and even grilled food and gelato stalls outside. You will never run out of things to eat. But here's when the magic stops. For the first dish, I headed to the egg station for omelettes. First, the egg chef was like a zombie. He just stood there staring blankly and did not greet or smile at all to me. Maybe he had a bad night sleep, so I ordered the omelette with onions, tomatoes and mushrooms. It ended up tasteless. My brunch companion said the same thing for her omelettes. This is like going to a Thai restaurant and being served bad rice. Not a good start. It did not help that our server took more than 15 minutes to bring us coffee. Other food fared much better. The sushi spread is nothing to shout about but I like the crabs and the octopus bites. You can tell they put a lot of details in food presentations too. I had this tasty potato salad with bits of kobe beef topped with kale chips in a plastic sphere. My favorite section is the desserts section. The cakes and pastries look exquisite. This must be the best desserts spread I have ever been to. Overall, I don't hate this brunch but I don't love it. At least not enough till I want to part with my hard-earned 49 dollars for it. Although I would come here again for the environment if I have special occasion to celebrate.
(3)
Monica V.
Despite having a reservation, there was a 15min wait to be seated and the hostess only said it'd be a minute. Not a huge deal, but there's an expectation of higher quality in service when dining at certain establishments... The space was very nice and clean and the layout of the different food options had some good variety. Was the quality top tier? No. They ran out of the king crab and oysters at around 1pm, so don't make a brunch reservation later in the day and expect the same items... But you will still pay the same price. Out of everything I had, the desserts were definitely the best, but everything else was pretty average.
(3)
Danae P.
I am on business and was looking for a place to have lunch and read the paper. I came in early, just as it opened for lunch. Despite the fact that there were three of us seated in the whole place, the service was horrible. The waitress took 20 minutes to come to my table to ask what I'd like to drink. I found her to be quite rude during my whole meal. I wasn't offered dessert or coffee, and was just handed the check. I would not recommend the place.
Okay. Disclaimer. The food was amazing(for a buffet. SO many choices (I went for the Sunday buffet because why else would I go?)! Shrimp stations, freshly made paella stations, crepes, omelettes, roasts, etc. A little pricey, but it is the Grand America, so that was a given. The big problem is the service. I'm not sure why they hired the hostess (nepotism, something???), but she is terrible at her job. We had reservations that were made two or three days prior and we stayed at the hotel, so paying guests + reservations seems like it would lead to good service, right? Wrong. We got there and the hostess glared at us and asked if we had a reservation. We said yes and she told us she would be with us shortly. Twenty minutes later, after she's shown in 5 groups (yes, I counted them) without reservations (since we were just standing awkwardly near the booth, we could hear all the conversations), she finally deigns to tell us that we can go in. Did we look like rabble? I don't know. But basic courtesy seems like it should be part of a $50 per person meal. The entire experience left a sour taste in my mouth and it was really hard to enjoy the food after that. Reading through other reviews, it seems like I'm not the only person who has had that experience, so I guess the moral of the story is to not make reservations? Which seems stupid. It's really unfortunate because otherwise, it would be a great Sunday brunch experience, but it just... wasn't.
(2)
Felipe Z.
This place...! This is the place...! Ahhh. Delicious Sunday brunch memories are made here, kids. The live music provided by that awesome band of 3. Modern tunes, with a contrabass, guitar and drum set. The best! A kids station, cheeses and meats, sea food galore including sushi (and pretty good too!), a whole section on more hearty foods including potatoes and lots of kinds of meats: Roast beef, ham, salmon, mahi-mahi (or maybe the fish is seasonal). Salads, lox, breads, SO MANY YUMMY DESSERTS, omelet station, breakfast station with crepes, fresh juices & smoothies, and a fantastic paella! Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa...! And the servers? Sooo nice. Everyone is experienced, nice, cordial, and fun. Yes, it's expensive. But every penny you spend, you spend it happily, because it's a beautiful place, with an awesome atmosphere, great food, and great service. Not even little kids annoy anyone, everyone is too high on their own great brunch experiences to care about other things. There's no real dress code, and you see it all, although I would say there's more of a predominant part that dresses a bit nicer/dressy. But I would still consider it casual. This brunch buffet has nothing to be jealous of other places around the west.
This is a pretty good buffet brunch. Not amazing, just pretty good. There were a lot of options but it seemed like they food was created by someone who lacks culinary skill. The BBQ ribs wre pretty dry. The crepes were not made to order. The crab legs were no where close to fresh. There were lots of dishes that were innovative and interesting but not well made. There were a few bright spots: sushi, kids maccaroni and cheese, and the blueberry croissant was to-die-for. But for a $49 brunch champagne should be included. Or at least one glass. I don't feel like it was up to par with other expensive brunches I have been to.
(3)
Mandy R.
I ate breakfast here twice while staying nearby for a trade show (my colleagues were staying at The Grand America). First, the hostess here is awful. She's super sour and acts like everyone is bothering her. I don't know if she's even capable of smiling. Second, I've never experienced slower, more inefficient service anywhere, but especially not at a FIVE STAR hotel. It shouldn't take an hour and fifteen minutes to eat breakfast because service is so slow. Forgotten cream for coffee, forgotten drinks, just awful. And the food? Marginal at best. I had eggs Benedict the first morning. The eggs were horribly over cooked with hard-cooked yolks and the hollendaise sauce was congealed because the plate had sat under a hear lamp for far too long. If we hadn't already been waiting for 45 minutes, I would have sent it back. The second morning, I just got the two-egg breakfast w/ bacon, toast, and potatoes. I ordered the eggs over easy and they came out with raw egg whites. They had only white bread for toast (no bread choices here!), and it came out ice cold so the butter they gave you couldn't be melted on it. The rest of my plate was Luke warm. I've had better food for half the price at IHOP. When back in Salt Lake, I will DEFINITELY skip this place.
(1)
Derrick L.
This review is for the Sunday brunch buffet. I've been to many buffets and this is one of the better ones. For the price I would say it's worth it. They even have a live band playing music :) The atmosphere of the place is very classy. I love the seafood selection they have (Large succulent shrimps, king crab legs, oyster, mussels, clams and even lobster ravioli). They have made to order crepe and omelette station. One bad thing is the hot food stations, I felt like they overcooked their prime rib, pork and chicken. The dessert sections looks amazing... Maybe because they got the red valvet cake (not chocolate btw) Oh and the cantaloupe juice they have are so darn gooood
(5)
Angie L.
went here with my bf and parents for sunday brunch. we all loved it so much and it is our new favorite place for brunch! i've been wanting to try this place for years and now that i've gone i can't believe i've been missing out on this for so long! the service was impeccable as expected from our server and all staff. the selection of food was huge and there was something for everyone. i didn't discover the juice bar until the end when i was too full. definitely worth going for first as you can't beat fresh squeezed juice to have with your brunch. i loved the seafood selection the best, but managed to try a little bit of everything else. everything was fantastic and it was an amazing meal!
(5)
Nathan M.
Came here for our honeymoon and got the Sunday brunch the next day - best meal of my life. Ended up being $100 for the 2 of us, but the memories were worth it. Crab, sushi, and lobster for my wife and steak and chicken for me. Omelette bar for anyone that likes omelettes and live music. The hotel is absolutely beautiful. One of those places were I feel like I'm out of my league cause I'm not that classy of a person. Top notch meal in top notch surroundings. Save it for a special occasion.
(5)
Julie V.
My favorite married couple ever Nadine H and Benson H recommended I try this place out when I landed in SLC, so I made sure to take their advice! I'm so glad I did! Food and service was great, and it definitely makes for a fun night out! There's also no need to dress any better than business casual which is nice, and price is so affordable, especially for a restaurant in such a nice hotel! Vinh H and I tried: APPETIZERS 1. Pot of clams. This was pretty good, but to be honest...I've had much better even at a typical Maggianos. It was nice to use for dipping bread in, but the clams didn't quite meet adequate expectation for me. 2. Coppa Ravioli. SO GOOD!!!!!! I really recommend this. I really enjoyed it and I know Vinh H was scarfing down his part, which definitely says a lot considering his elitist fine-dining background. ENTREES 1. Lamb. Vinh H ordered this. I don't personally eat lamb because lamb's aroma is too pungent for me to actually take a bite of! It's not this place, and it really is just me. Vinh H really enjoyed it, but he did say he wished it was more tender and not quite so cooked on the outside. 2. Wagyu Beef. SO YUMMY! I got it medium rare, and I've been missing it since. It was so amazing. The only thing wrong with it is that it makes every other beef item I eat inferior! DESSERTS 1. Creme Brulee. Seriously the best I have ever had! AHH, it's made with Tahitian vanilla bean and the aroma makes for the most saliva-induced experience!! A must try for any creme brulee lovers! What's awesome is it's really reasonable in price! 2. Fruit crisp. Chef Jeff's noted dessert! I did enjoy it, but it's a bit sweet for my preference. I didn't really enjoy the texture either, but Vinh H did enjoy it, so I guess it depends on how sweet you like your fruits! +1 Star: The absolute best creme brulee I've ever had. I'm a huge fan of creme brulee and to have beat my previous favorite location is just a huge achievement for me. Vinh H also agreed---it's just so amazing. +1 Star: Super reasonable prices. Nothing left me feeling ripped off and portions were just right. I was stuffed by the end of the night! +1 Star: They have a good wine list, and I really appreciate it at a place like this. +1 Star: Great service. The manager made sure to constantly check up on us, and when I asked her about recommendations, she was more than helpful in everything! +1 Star: Pretty location. It's really fun to be able to walk around the hotel, especially because it's so pretty! :) P.S. They're remodeling right now, so they've temporarily relocated to another side of the hotel. You might have to ask around, but the food's definitely worth it even if you can't get the equivalent fine dining experience.
(5)
Betsy W.
Came here for lunch during a work meeting. I had the steak salad and it was pretty darn good. Granted, I was starving...perhaps if the service was a bit more attentive I would have gone with four stars.
(3)
Margaret N.
Went here when I was staying at the Grand America... Very fancy! Was served rolls and butter before my meal came out and they were amazing!!!! Rolls were surprisingly crispy and soft in the inside, so yummy! Had their halibut for my entree. It was a bit undercooked for my liking.... At the end, they brought out mini desserts for me to sample. A marshmallow, a jelly candy and a mini apple tart. The tart fell apart before I could eat it, but the jelly was good! Not a huge marshmallow fan so I didn't really eat it... Overall service was great though!
(4)
James W.
Overall our stay at the Grand America was good but the breakfast buffet was really disappointing. For $19 per person my wife and I had high expectations. It was average at best. And we thought the $19 would include orange juice but even if it didn't , no big deal. So when we got our bill and the orange juice was $7 each we felt a little ripped off. It was really good orange juice but $7? Really? I joked with my wife that if we would have brought our kids we would have been $50 just for orange juice. Back to the buffet - we have had the breakfast buffet at the Paris in Vegas a few times and they have a crepe bar with fresh crepes. I didn't expect crepes but I at least expected someone would be cooking fresh pancakes vs the stack that was in the warmer that weren't fresh at all. To their credit they did have a guy making fresh omelettes, but I say blah to omelettes and they had a bunch of fresh berries which were good. The buffet either needed to be priced at around $8 or it needed to have more wow factor.
(2)
Chris L.
Service was very slow but it was right after brunch. The pork sandwich was all fat and had to be sent back. French dip was very good. We had the cheese board to start it was weak. Sounds like brunch is the program here flow yelpers.
(2)
Annie S.
I wanted a very special place to have breakfast with my family on the morning of my son's wedding -- something that we would all enjoy and provide wonderful memories. We found all of these things at the Garden Cafe at the Grand America. The buffet was heavenly -- everything fresh and delicious. The service was warm and friendly, and they allowed us to remain and visit after we were done eating without rushing us away, even though they were changing over for lunch. When I made the reservations online, we asked to be seated in a semi-private area and we pleased with our seating. My son commented during the meal that the Cafe had the atmosphere of being at Disneyland -- with excellent decor, service and food. We each decided that we needed to come back for the lunch buffet. We will definitely be back!!
Thoroughly enjoyable dinner. Service was attentive and very friendly. Wannabe sommelier is in the process of revamping the wine list, and provides an excellent variety of choices. Prawns were perfectly cooked and delicious, scallops were succulent, sweet and grilled to perfection. Definitely worth a visit when you're in Salt Lake City.
(5)
Shannon B.
Went for Sunday brunch and it was overall amazing. The service, the food, the selection...all top notch! They brought cheese cart and fresh honeycomb to our table for us to sample, which was delightful. The desserts were a sugar addicts dream come to life. Can't wait to go again!
(5)
H. W.
This is our favorite buffet in town; we really like the Sunday brunch. We think the food they offer is better than some famous buffets in Vegas. The multiple serving stations can satisfy people who like meats or seafood, breakfast type of food, fresh juice, desserts...and even if you are vegetarians, there are many choices for you as well! (My parents are vegetarians, and they enjoy the buffet a lot). Great atmosphere, tasty food, and friendly servers!
(5)
Charles S.
Full Disclosure: I attended a wedding luncheon buffet. I did not eat off the menu, so I can't necessarily speak to that. However, the luncheon food was splendid! There was a made-to-order pasta bar where you chose your ingredients and pasta and they prepared it right there. They also had salmon, pork medallions in a demi glace, roasted chicken and a wonderful salad bar. The Antipasto selections were fabulous! There were a few things I have never seen, much less eaten, before and I tried them all. Each was a little slice of heaven. The desserts were also very good. The chocolate fondue with fresh strawberries, freshly made cannoli, chocolate cake and tarts were all superb! The service was impeccable. Upscale adn attentive, yet friendly and fun at the same time. That's a tough balance to strike, but they succeeded on our visit.
(4)
Carol M.
We were very disappointed in our New Years Eve dinner at the Garden Cafe in Grand America Hotel. We thought we couldn't go wrong dining at Grand America. They had a set menu for New Year's, which I hadn't seen on their website as we made the reservation. Crab cake was OK, but deep fried. There was not a salad option, only Lobster Bisque. We may not be familiar with Lobster Bisque, but it was nasty! My husband's main entree of fish was over cooked. I had the rib-eye steak which was on a watery potato mash. I don't care for Chocolate but the only dessert option was Chocolate. Our waitress was very attentive, until time for the bill. It was hard to be excited as several staff came by and asked about our meal. Not a memorable meal at all. We won't be back.
(1)
Vida A.
Let me tell you the sunday brunch is one of the best in the America. I have had brunch at Bellagio and it's good but the lines make you wait at least an hour. Come hungry because you are paying over $45 per person and a lot of food. I love the crab legs already open for you, ceviche, clams on a half shell, and shrimp. Then the sushi which is always being rolled fresh, stay away from the fried egg rolls, not good. The omelet station is awesome but no the eggs benedict. Prime rib melt in your mouth and the cheese and salami selections are great. Service is great. Class act and great food.
(5)
Brenda G.
We went to the Sunday brunch with our 3 year old. She was free! Not only that, they had an entire buffet table, complete with silver spoons and the fancy serving containers, for children! It was on a low table so our little one could get her own food. They had a watermelon with fruit kebobs, pizza, mac and cheese ("the best!" by our little connoisseur ) some other stuff she didn't choose, cookies, and house-made chocolate marshmallows! Our food was spectacular as other reviewers have experienced, but our favorite was the traveling cheese guy. A very knowledgeable server had a cart containing various LOCAL cheeses. He explained each one, asked which we would like, then prepared a plate with our choices and some roasted grapes, honey nuts, and a sort of fig chutney as pallet cleansers and simulators. He checked back with us later to see if we liked our selections. It was wonderful. I see this restaurant is classed as not good for children. I dispute that whole heartedly. it was the best time Becky ever had in a restaurant. Everyone was so kind to her. Granted, she is not especially disruptive, but even if she were (how could she be with the royal treatment she received?) I think there was enough cheery noise and hubbub that it wouldn't have been too bad.
(5)
Dave N.
Best crepe I've had. Banana and Nutella. I think it might be my new favorite breakfast in SLC. Great service and a very classy atmosphere!
(5)
Chris H.
Sunday brunch is fantastic. They have quite a selection and everything tastes great. Great crab and probably the best shrimp I've ever had.
(5)
Douglas S.
Very good breakfast buffet and the service is the best that I have had in Utah. Peaceful place to spend a morning.
(4)
Danae P.
I am on business and was looking for a place to have lunch and read the paper. I came in early, just as it opened for lunch. Despite the fact that there were three of us seated in the whole place, the service was horrible. The waitress took 20 minutes to come to my table to ask what I'd like to drink. I found her to be quite rude during my whole meal. I wasn't offered dessert or coffee, and was just handed the check. I would not recommend the place.
Can't get enough of their awesome fresh made fruit juices. Service was a bit lacking this time around but the food made up for it. Great selection of desserts, and their hot items were superb and flavorful.
(4)
James C.
Had a reservation at 1:30 this past Sunday. The food was excellent but unfortunately our server went MIA. After waiting for a while, we got up and went to the receptionist and asked if she could assist us with getting our check. She could not find the server either so she went and ground the manager. He was quite gracious. When I pulled out my wallet to pay he said that He would comp our meal. Kudos to him.
This is a good place for brunch if you roll out of bed feeling a little fancy with 49 dollars to spare. The price is on the higher side but hey, it's The Grand America. The place is all elegant with chandeliers and people playing live classical music. From your table, you can see their immaculate garden outside the window, making you wish your home garden looks like that. You can totally see what you are paying for. The food spread is good. If you can eat a lot, it is totally worth the price. They have the egg station, crepe station, sushi and seafood section, a large desserts and pastries section and even grilled food and gelato stalls outside. You will never run out of things to eat. But here's when the magic stops. For the first dish, I headed to the egg station for omelettes. First, the egg chef was like a zombie. He just stood there staring blankly and did not greet or smile at all to me. Maybe he had a bad night sleep, so I ordered the omelette with onions, tomatoes and mushrooms. It ended up tasteless. My brunch companion said the same thing for her omelettes. This is like going to a Thai restaurant and being served bad rice. Not a good start. It did not help that our server took more than 15 minutes to bring us coffee. Other food fared much better. The sushi spread is nothing to shout about but I like the crabs and the octopus bites. You can tell they put a lot of details in food presentations too. I had this tasty potato salad with bits of kobe beef topped with kale chips in a plastic sphere. My favorite section is the desserts section. The cakes and pastries look exquisite. This must be the best desserts spread I have ever been to. Overall, I don't hate this brunch but I don't love it. At least not enough till I want to part with my hard-earned 49 dollars for it. Although I would come here again for the environment if I have special occasion to celebrate.
(3)
Monica V.
Despite having a reservation, there was a 15min wait to be seated and the hostess only said it'd be a minute. Not a huge deal, but there's an expectation of higher quality in service when dining at certain establishments... The space was very nice and clean and the layout of the different food options had some good variety. Was the quality top tier? No. They ran out of the king crab and oysters at around 1pm, so don't make a brunch reservation later in the day and expect the same items... But you will still pay the same price. Out of everything I had, the desserts were definitely the best, but everything else was pretty average.
(3)
Lisa M.
We come here at least once a year for Sunday brunch and I always look forward to our visits as the food is so amazing. They have several stations of food around the restaurant which sometimes varies but there is always crab, shrimp, and oysters. There is always an omelet and crepe station. A smoothie station. A dessert bar. And an area with salads, prime rib, fish, potatoes and more. If they don't have what you want you can order it. I always order Eggs Benedict and it's no extra charge. Would highly recommend.
Okay. Disclaimer. The food was amazing(for a buffet. SO many choices (I went for the Sunday buffet because why else would I go?)! Shrimp stations, freshly made paella stations, crepes, omelettes, roasts, etc. A little pricey, but it is the Grand America, so that was a given. The big problem is the service. I'm not sure why they hired the hostess (nepotism, something???), but she is terrible at her job. We had reservations that were made two or three days prior and we stayed at the hotel, so paying guests + reservations seems like it would lead to good service, right? Wrong. We got there and the hostess glared at us and asked if we had a reservation. We said yes and she told us she would be with us shortly. Twenty minutes later, after she's shown in 5 groups (yes, I counted them) without reservations (since we were just standing awkwardly near the booth, we could hear all the conversations), she finally deigns to tell us that we can go in. Did we look like rabble? I don't know. But basic courtesy seems like it should be part of a $50 per person meal. The entire experience left a sour taste in my mouth and it was really hard to enjoy the food after that. Reading through other reviews, it seems like I'm not the only person who has had that experience, so I guess the moral of the story is to not make reservations? Which seems stupid. It's really unfortunate because otherwise, it would be a great Sunday brunch experience, but it just... wasn't.
(2)
Felipe Z.
This place...! This is the place...! Ahhh. Delicious Sunday brunch memories are made here, kids. The live music provided by that awesome band of 3. Modern tunes, with a contrabass, guitar and drum set. The best! A kids station, cheeses and meats, sea food galore including sushi (and pretty good too!), a whole section on more hearty foods including potatoes and lots of kinds of meats: Roast beef, ham, salmon, mahi-mahi (or maybe the fish is seasonal). Salads, lox, breads, SO MANY YUMMY DESSERTS, omelet station, breakfast station with crepes, fresh juices & smoothies, and a fantastic paella! Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa...! And the servers? Sooo nice. Everyone is experienced, nice, cordial, and fun. Yes, it's expensive. But every penny you spend, you spend it happily, because it's a beautiful place, with an awesome atmosphere, great food, and great service. Not even little kids annoy anyone, everyone is too high on their own great brunch experiences to care about other things. There's no real dress code, and you see it all, although I would say there's more of a predominant part that dresses a bit nicer/dressy. But I would still consider it casual. This brunch buffet has nothing to be jealous of other places around the west.
This is a pretty good buffet brunch. Not amazing, just pretty good. There were a lot of options but it seemed like they food was created by someone who lacks culinary skill. The BBQ ribs wre pretty dry. The crepes were not made to order. The crab legs were no where close to fresh. There were lots of dishes that were innovative and interesting but not well made. There were a few bright spots: sushi, kids maccaroni and cheese, and the blueberry croissant was to-die-for. But for a $49 brunch champagne should be included. Or at least one glass. I don't feel like it was up to par with other expensive brunches I have been to.
(3)
Mandy R.
I ate breakfast here twice while staying nearby for a trade show (my colleagues were staying at The Grand America). First, the hostess here is awful. She's super sour and acts like everyone is bothering her. I don't know if she's even capable of smiling. Second, I've never experienced slower, more inefficient service anywhere, but especially not at a FIVE STAR hotel. It shouldn't take an hour and fifteen minutes to eat breakfast because service is so slow. Forgotten cream for coffee, forgotten drinks, just awful. And the food? Marginal at best. I had eggs Benedict the first morning. The eggs were horribly over cooked with hard-cooked yolks and the hollendaise sauce was congealed because the plate had sat under a hear lamp for far too long. If we hadn't already been waiting for 45 minutes, I would have sent it back. The second morning, I just got the two-egg breakfast w/ bacon, toast, and potatoes. I ordered the eggs over easy and they came out with raw egg whites. They had only white bread for toast (no bread choices here!), and it came out ice cold so the butter they gave you couldn't be melted on it. The rest of my plate was Luke warm. I've had better food for half the price at IHOP. When back in Salt Lake, I will DEFINITELY skip this place.
(1)
Derrick L.
This review is for the Sunday brunch buffet. I've been to many buffets and this is one of the better ones. For the price I would say it's worth it. They even have a live band playing music :) The atmosphere of the place is very classy. I love the seafood selection they have (Large succulent shrimps, king crab legs, oyster, mussels, clams and even lobster ravioli). They have made to order crepe and omelette station. One bad thing is the hot food stations, I felt like they overcooked their prime rib, pork and chicken. The dessert sections looks amazing... Maybe because they got the red valvet cake (not chocolate btw) Oh and the cantaloupe juice they have are so darn gooood
(5)
Angie L.
went here with my bf and parents for sunday brunch. we all loved it so much and it is our new favorite place for brunch! i've been wanting to try this place for years and now that i've gone i can't believe i've been missing out on this for so long! the service was impeccable as expected from our server and all staff. the selection of food was huge and there was something for everyone. i didn't discover the juice bar until the end when i was too full. definitely worth going for first as you can't beat fresh squeezed juice to have with your brunch. i loved the seafood selection the best, but managed to try a little bit of everything else. everything was fantastic and it was an amazing meal!
(5)
Nathan M.
Came here for our honeymoon and got the Sunday brunch the next day - best meal of my life. Ended up being $100 for the 2 of us, but the memories were worth it. Crab, sushi, and lobster for my wife and steak and chicken for me. Omelette bar for anyone that likes omelettes and live music. The hotel is absolutely beautiful. One of those places were I feel like I'm out of my league cause I'm not that classy of a person. Top notch meal in top notch surroundings. Save it for a special occasion.
(5)
Julie V.
My favorite married couple ever Nadine H and Benson H recommended I try this place out when I landed in SLC, so I made sure to take their advice! I'm so glad I did! Food and service was great, and it definitely makes for a fun night out! There's also no need to dress any better than business casual which is nice, and price is so affordable, especially for a restaurant in such a nice hotel! Vinh H and I tried: APPETIZERS 1. Pot of clams. This was pretty good, but to be honest...I've had much better even at a typical Maggianos. It was nice to use for dipping bread in, but the clams didn't quite meet adequate expectation for me. 2. Coppa Ravioli. SO GOOD!!!!!! I really recommend this. I really enjoyed it and I know Vinh H was scarfing down his part, which definitely says a lot considering his elitist fine-dining background. ENTREES 1. Lamb. Vinh H ordered this. I don't personally eat lamb because lamb's aroma is too pungent for me to actually take a bite of! It's not this place, and it really is just me. Vinh H really enjoyed it, but he did say he wished it was more tender and not quite so cooked on the outside. 2. Wagyu Beef. SO YUMMY! I got it medium rare, and I've been missing it since. It was so amazing. The only thing wrong with it is that it makes every other beef item I eat inferior! DESSERTS 1. Creme Brulee. Seriously the best I have ever had! AHH, it's made with Tahitian vanilla bean and the aroma makes for the most saliva-induced experience!! A must try for any creme brulee lovers! What's awesome is it's really reasonable in price! 2. Fruit crisp. Chef Jeff's noted dessert! I did enjoy it, but it's a bit sweet for my preference. I didn't really enjoy the texture either, but Vinh H did enjoy it, so I guess it depends on how sweet you like your fruits! +1 Star: The absolute best creme brulee I've ever had. I'm a huge fan of creme brulee and to have beat my previous favorite location is just a huge achievement for me. Vinh H also agreed---it's just so amazing. +1 Star: Super reasonable prices. Nothing left me feeling ripped off and portions were just right. I was stuffed by the end of the night! +1 Star: They have a good wine list, and I really appreciate it at a place like this. +1 Star: Great service. The manager made sure to constantly check up on us, and when I asked her about recommendations, she was more than helpful in everything! +1 Star: Pretty location. It's really fun to be able to walk around the hotel, especially because it's so pretty! :) P.S. They're remodeling right now, so they've temporarily relocated to another side of the hotel. You might have to ask around, but the food's definitely worth it even if you can't get the equivalent fine dining experience.
(5)
Laurence B.
Dinner for two on Sunday night. Everything we had was terrific from the bread and butter to the steak. Service was spot on with our server timing everything right so we never had to wait very long at all for anything. The decor here is pretty dated, everything done in green like you are in the Land of Oz. We wanted to come to the Garden Cafe for the Manilla clam appetizer that was mentioned in the Salt Lake Tribune as being one of the top dishes of the year. Indeed it was quite good and worth going just for that. Despite the decor, with all of the other elements being so good, I'm giving it five stars.
(5)
Heather G.
If it was possible to give zero stars I would. I made a reservation several weeks ago for my husbands birthday. We were guests of the hotel & I thought we could finish the weekend on a high note. Not so much. We arrived a few minutes before our reservation time to check in. We were greeted by a very rude older woman who offered no greeting or pleasantly. We waited & waited, watching table after table (who had arrived after us) be seated. My husband & I decided if the level of service was this poor prior to even sitting then why would we spend over $100. We notified to concierge who did her best to assist us. 30 minutes after our reservation time (bags already in the car) they offered us a table. No apology or comp of some sort to make up for ruining my husbands birthday. Safe to say we will not return to the Garden cafe or Grand America Hotel for that matter. Service is everything & they get an epic fail from us.
(1)
Michael M.
The Garden Cafe Sunday brunch at the Grand America Hotel used to warrant five stars -- it was outstanding. Unfortunately, they have had considerable turnover in the kitchen, and management has made choices to save cost. The quality of the food including seafood, desserts, fruits, etc. have all suffered. The delicious crab that used to be of high quality, is now third rate and at times left as a largely barren tray of ice. The delicious desserts that were unique and worthy of a five star brunch and a fifty dollar price tag? Gone. Now the desserts are largely the same drab fare you'd expect at a $15 to $20 brunch. The delicious station towards the back of the restaurant that used to be full of fresh blackberries, raspberries, blueberries, and tasty Danish pancakes (aebleskiver), is now a giant cooking station for paella. Paella? Was there really a high demand for paella as a Sunday brunch item? We sat back in that area this morning for brunch. I didn't see a single person take any. I did hear a few people stop and ask the person at the station where they could get the Danish pancakes. Another disappoint for this change, is how the paella cooking station makes that entire room of the restaurant have a strong, unpleasant stench. You know how when you come out from Benihana's, you stink like Benihana's for the rest of the day? After spending this morning in that room with the paella cooking station, we all stink of paella. At least Benihana's smells appetizing for lunch or dinner. Paella is not an appetizing smell for breakfast. Sadly, we need to find a new spot for Sunday brunch when in SLC.
Thoroughly enjoyable dinner. Service was attentive and very friendly. Wannabe sommelier is in the process of revamping the wine list, and provides an excellent variety of choices. Prawns were perfectly cooked and delicious, scallops were succulent, sweet and grilled to perfection. Definitely worth a visit when you're in Salt Lake City.
(5)
Shannon B.
Went for Sunday brunch and it was overall amazing. The service, the food, the selection...all top notch! They brought cheese cart and fresh honeycomb to our table for us to sample, which was delightful. The desserts were a sugar addicts dream come to life. Can't wait to go again!
(5)
H. W.
This is our favorite buffet in town; we really like the Sunday brunch. We think the food they offer is better than some famous buffets in Vegas. The multiple serving stations can satisfy people who like meats or seafood, breakfast type of food, fresh juice, desserts...and even if you are vegetarians, there are many choices for you as well! (My parents are vegetarians, and they enjoy the buffet a lot). Great atmosphere, tasty food, and friendly servers!
(5)
Alan M.
The country pate with pickled vegetables was great. The lamb loin was overcooked and the garnish wasn't well balanced. The coconut "pot du creme" was very nice and light. The mint green, floral, ornate design of the restaurant is beautiful.
(3)
Charles S.
Full Disclosure: I attended a wedding luncheon buffet. I did not eat off the menu, so I can't necessarily speak to that. However, the luncheon food was splendid! There was a made-to-order pasta bar where you chose your ingredients and pasta and they prepared it right there. They also had salmon, pork medallions in a demi glace, roasted chicken and a wonderful salad bar. The Antipasto selections were fabulous! There were a few things I have never seen, much less eaten, before and I tried them all. Each was a little slice of heaven. The desserts were also very good. The chocolate fondue with fresh strawberries, freshly made cannoli, chocolate cake and tarts were all superb! The service was impeccable. Upscale adn attentive, yet friendly and fun at the same time. That's a tough balance to strike, but they succeeded on our visit.
(4)
Carol M.
We were very disappointed in our New Years Eve dinner at the Garden Cafe in Grand America Hotel. We thought we couldn't go wrong dining at Grand America. They had a set menu for New Year's, which I hadn't seen on their website as we made the reservation. Crab cake was OK, but deep fried. There was not a salad option, only Lobster Bisque. We may not be familiar with Lobster Bisque, but it was nasty! My husband's main entree of fish was over cooked. I had the rib-eye steak which was on a watery potato mash. I don't care for Chocolate but the only dessert option was Chocolate. Our waitress was very attentive, until time for the bill. It was hard to be excited as several staff came by and asked about our meal. Not a memorable meal at all. We won't be back.
(1)
Vida A.
Let me tell you the sunday brunch is one of the best in the America. I have had brunch at Bellagio and it's good but the lines make you wait at least an hour. Come hungry because you are paying over $45 per person and a lot of food. I love the crab legs already open for you, ceviche, clams on a half shell, and shrimp. Then the sushi which is always being rolled fresh, stay away from the fried egg rolls, not good. The omelet station is awesome but no the eggs benedict. Prime rib melt in your mouth and the cheese and salami selections are great. Service is great. Class act and great food.
(5)
Brenda G.
We went to the Sunday brunch with our 3 year old. She was free! Not only that, they had an entire buffet table, complete with silver spoons and the fancy serving containers, for children! It was on a low table so our little one could get her own food. They had a watermelon with fruit kebobs, pizza, mac and cheese ("the best!" by our little connoisseur ) some other stuff she didn't choose, cookies, and house-made chocolate marshmallows! Our food was spectacular as other reviewers have experienced, but our favorite was the traveling cheese guy. A very knowledgeable server had a cart containing various LOCAL cheeses. He explained each one, asked which we would like, then prepared a plate with our choices and some roasted grapes, honey nuts, and a sort of fig chutney as pallet cleansers and simulators. He checked back with us later to see if we liked our selections. It was wonderful. I see this restaurant is classed as not good for children. I dispute that whole heartedly. it was the best time Becky ever had in a restaurant. Everyone was so kind to her. Granted, she is not especially disruptive, but even if she were (how could she be with the royal treatment she received?) I think there was enough cheery noise and hubbub that it wouldn't have been too bad.
(5)
Dave N.
Best crepe I've had. Banana and Nutella. I think it might be my new favorite breakfast in SLC. Great service and a very classy atmosphere!
(5)
Chris H.
Sunday brunch is fantastic. They have quite a selection and everything tastes great. Great crab and probably the best shrimp I've ever had.
(5)
Douglas S.
Very good breakfast buffet and the service is the best that I have had in Utah. Peaceful place to spend a morning.
(4)
Betsy W.
Came here for lunch during a work meeting. I had the steak salad and it was pretty darn good. Granted, I was starving...perhaps if the service was a bit more attentive I would have gone with four stars.
(3)
Margaret N.
Went here when I was staying at the Grand America... Very fancy! Was served rolls and butter before my meal came out and they were amazing!!!! Rolls were surprisingly crispy and soft in the inside, so yummy! Had their halibut for my entree. It was a bit undercooked for my liking.... At the end, they brought out mini desserts for me to sample. A marshmallow, a jelly candy and a mini apple tart. The tart fell apart before I could eat it, but the jelly was good! Not a huge marshmallow fan so I didn't really eat it... Overall service was great though!
(4)
James W.
Overall our stay at the Grand America was good but the breakfast buffet was really disappointing. For $19 per person my wife and I had high expectations. It was average at best. And we thought the $19 would include orange juice but even if it didn't , no big deal. So when we got our bill and the orange juice was $7 each we felt a little ripped off. It was really good orange juice but $7? Really? I joked with my wife that if we would have brought our kids we would have been $50 just for orange juice. Back to the buffet - we have had the breakfast buffet at the Paris in Vegas a few times and they have a crepe bar with fresh crepes. I didn't expect crepes but I at least expected someone would be cooking fresh pancakes vs the stack that was in the warmer that weren't fresh at all. To their credit they did have a guy making fresh omelettes, but I say blah to omelettes and they had a bunch of fresh berries which were good. The buffet either needed to be priced at around $8 or it needed to have more wow factor.
(2)
Chris L.
Service was very slow but it was right after brunch. The pork sandwich was all fat and had to be sent back. French dip was very good. We had the cheese board to start it was weak. Sounds like brunch is the program here flow yelpers.
(2)
Annie S.
I wanted a very special place to have breakfast with my family on the morning of my son's wedding -- something that we would all enjoy and provide wonderful memories. We found all of these things at the Garden Cafe at the Grand America. The buffet was heavenly -- everything fresh and delicious. The service was warm and friendly, and they allowed us to remain and visit after we were done eating without rushing us away, even though they were changing over for lunch. When I made the reservations online, we asked to be seated in a semi-private area and we pleased with our seating. My son commented during the meal that the Cafe had the atmosphere of being at Disneyland -- with excellent decor, service and food. We each decided that we needed to come back for the lunch buffet. We will definitely be back!!
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Brunch Parking : Valet, Garage, Validated Bike Parking : No Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Upscale Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Danny R.
*This review is for the Grand America Sunday Brunch* Quite possibly the best brunch I have ever had is held at the Garden Café in The Grad America Hotel. We usually don't eat out on Sundays but we were in SLC during our travels and needed a place to eat before we headed to the airport. What a wonderful surprise this was! The food is delicious and varying. The atmosphere is clean, bright and charming. They string/drum trio that plays during brunch is outstanding! They frequently played covers of popular music in a classical fashion that were really quite good. I highly recommend!
(5)Heather G.
If it was possible to give zero stars I would. I made a reservation several weeks ago for my husbands birthday. We were guests of the hotel & I thought we could finish the weekend on a high note. Not so much. We arrived a few minutes before our reservation time to check in. We were greeted by a very rude older woman who offered no greeting or pleasantly. We waited & waited, watching table after table (who had arrived after us) be seated. My husband & I decided if the level of service was this poor prior to even sitting then why would we spend over $100. We notified to concierge who did her best to assist us. 30 minutes after our reservation time (bags already in the car) they offered us a table. No apology or comp of some sort to make up for ruining my husbands birthday. Safe to say we will not return to the Garden cafe or Grand America Hotel for that matter. Service is everything & they get an epic fail from us.
(1)Michael M.
The Garden Cafe Sunday brunch at the Grand America Hotel used to warrant five stars -- it was outstanding. Unfortunately, they have had considerable turnover in the kitchen, and management has made choices to save cost. The quality of the food including seafood, desserts, fruits, etc. have all suffered. The delicious crab that used to be of high quality, is now third rate and at times left as a largely barren tray of ice. The delicious desserts that were unique and worthy of a five star brunch and a fifty dollar price tag? Gone. Now the desserts are largely the same drab fare you'd expect at a $15 to $20 brunch. The delicious station towards the back of the restaurant that used to be full of fresh blackberries, raspberries, blueberries, and tasty Danish pancakes (aebleskiver), is now a giant cooking station for paella. Paella? Was there really a high demand for paella as a Sunday brunch item? We sat back in that area this morning for brunch. I didn't see a single person take any. I did hear a few people stop and ask the person at the station where they could get the Danish pancakes. Another disappoint for this change, is how the paella cooking station makes that entire room of the restaurant have a strong, unpleasant stench. You know how when you come out from Benihana's, you stink like Benihana's for the rest of the day? After spending this morning in that room with the paella cooking station, we all stink of paella. At least Benihana's smells appetizing for lunch or dinner. Paella is not an appetizing smell for breakfast. Sadly, we need to find a new spot for Sunday brunch when in SLC.
(1)Laurence B.
Dinner for two on Sunday night. Everything we had was terrific from the bread and butter to the steak. Service was spot on with our server timing everything right so we never had to wait very long at all for anything. The decor here is pretty dated, everything done in green like you are in the Land of Oz. We wanted to come to the Garden Cafe for the Manilla clam appetizer that was mentioned in the Salt Lake Tribune as being one of the top dishes of the year. Indeed it was quite good and worth going just for that. Despite the decor, with all of the other elements being so good, I'm giving it five stars.
(5)Alan M.
The country pate with pickled vegetables was great. The lamb loin was overcooked and the garnish wasn't well balanced. The coconut "pot du creme" was very nice and light. The mint green, floral, ornate design of the restaurant is beautiful.
(3)Tony L.
This restaurant is actually located within the Grand American Hotel, and you would just park in the hotel underground parking lot to visit them. The hotel itself felt like one of those oldie fancy hotels in vintage movies. They have a nice view to the garden. I was half expected most of the patrons to be in suits while making jokes in weird accents, but it turned out not to be that case. The most popular here seems to be the Sunday brunch buffet, and it is always a good idea to make reservation as well. When you first entered, they provide you with a guided tour for all of their buffet sections, from the kids to the hot plate areas. They have an interesting kid section here, and it was almost hidden if you got seated all the way in the back room area. There were stuff like chicken tenders and mac & cheese for kids, and they all seem rather happy seeing those food. For seafood, they actually have a very nice selection compared to most places in town. King crab, oysters, mussels, and shrimp with all of them having decent amount of freshness. Not much of a salad guy, so I passed on those. They have a crepe station, which can get crowded at times, but they were quite decent. The omelet station was better than the average hotel buffet style ones. For the hot food, their meats were not bad, but I had piece that was slightly overcooked. Not sure if it was seasonal, but they had an interesting area cooking a big pot of Paella. The flavor was great too. Dessert was probably the best part of the meal, and they have an awesome selection of them. Even if you went light on trying everything else they got, you will most likely end up needing two dessert stomachs to sample every dessert they got. Price as side, I was quite awe to find food at this quality in town, usually I imagine food at this level is only available after you start heading west for a few hours. I think Garden Café will be my brunch celebration location from now on.
(5)John C.
Can't get enough of their awesome fresh made fruit juices. Service was a bit lacking this time around but the food made up for it. Great selection of desserts, and their hot items were superb and flavorful.
(4)James C.
Had a reservation at 1:30 this past Sunday. The food was excellent but unfortunately our server went MIA. After waiting for a while, we got up and went to the receptionist and asked if she could assist us with getting our check. She could not find the server either so she went and ground the manager. He was quite gracious. When I pulled out my wallet to pay he said that He would comp our meal. Kudos to him.
(3)Lisa M.
We come here at least once a year for Sunday brunch and I always look forward to our visits as the food is so amazing. They have several stations of food around the restaurant which sometimes varies but there is always crab, shrimp, and oysters. There is always an omelet and crepe station. A smoothie station. A dessert bar. And an area with salads, prime rib, fish, potatoes and more. If they don't have what you want you can order it. I always order Eggs Benedict and it's no extra charge. Would highly recommend.
(5)Jann M.
We have eaten breakfast twice at this lovely Café in the Grand America. I had the Brioche French Toast and one month later I find myself dreaming about it. The food is of great quality and is served with a distinguished flair. The service is white glove and the price is reasonable for such a beautiful place. Save room for a treat from the Sweet Shop and don't forget to stop in the magical toy store and play.
(4)Zuhadi Z.
This is a good place for brunch if you roll out of bed feeling a little fancy with 49 dollars to spare. The price is on the higher side but hey, it's The Grand America. The place is all elegant with chandeliers and people playing live classical music. From your table, you can see their immaculate garden outside the window, making you wish your home garden looks like that. You can totally see what you are paying for. The food spread is good. If you can eat a lot, it is totally worth the price. They have the egg station, crepe station, sushi and seafood section, a large desserts and pastries section and even grilled food and gelato stalls outside. You will never run out of things to eat. But here's when the magic stops. For the first dish, I headed to the egg station for omelettes. First, the egg chef was like a zombie. He just stood there staring blankly and did not greet or smile at all to me. Maybe he had a bad night sleep, so I ordered the omelette with onions, tomatoes and mushrooms. It ended up tasteless. My brunch companion said the same thing for her omelettes. This is like going to a Thai restaurant and being served bad rice. Not a good start. It did not help that our server took more than 15 minutes to bring us coffee. Other food fared much better. The sushi spread is nothing to shout about but I like the crabs and the octopus bites. You can tell they put a lot of details in food presentations too. I had this tasty potato salad with bits of kobe beef topped with kale chips in a plastic sphere. My favorite section is the desserts section. The cakes and pastries look exquisite. This must be the best desserts spread I have ever been to. Overall, I don't hate this brunch but I don't love it. At least not enough till I want to part with my hard-earned 49 dollars for it. Although I would come here again for the environment if I have special occasion to celebrate.
(3)Monica V.
Despite having a reservation, there was a 15min wait to be seated and the hostess only said it'd be a minute. Not a huge deal, but there's an expectation of higher quality in service when dining at certain establishments... The space was very nice and clean and the layout of the different food options had some good variety. Was the quality top tier? No. They ran out of the king crab and oysters at around 1pm, so don't make a brunch reservation later in the day and expect the same items... But you will still pay the same price. Out of everything I had, the desserts were definitely the best, but everything else was pretty average.
(3)Danae P.
I am on business and was looking for a place to have lunch and read the paper. I came in early, just as it opened for lunch. Despite the fact that there were three of us seated in the whole place, the service was horrible. The waitress took 20 minutes to come to my table to ask what I'd like to drink. I found her to be quite rude during my whole meal. I wasn't offered dessert or coffee, and was just handed the check. I would not recommend the place.
(3)Joshua S.
A 5 star hotel merits a 5 star restaurant. The Garden Cafe, at dinner time, definitely merits that title. From the outset of the meal, I got the sense that only the highest quality ingredients went into each starter, entree and dessert. Bread Basket: think baguette the size of a bread stick and perfectly executed. Great texture, and delicious beyond my wildest expectations. Add the house butter, and I was on the verge of a Bob Wiley, "Oh Fay, this is so scrumptious. Is this hand shucked?", effusion. Bibb Lettuce Salad with candied walnuts, goat cheese and herb vinaigrette: pretty straight forward, with the exception of being better than any other version of the same salad I've experienced previously. Delicious. Grilled Pork Chop: poached cherries, silky thin carrot strings, tender green beans, atop corn bread chorizo stuffing. This chop replaces both Em's and The Copper Onions' pork chops as my favorite. Tender and delicious to the nth degree. Add the cherries, crispy carrots and the sauce and I was flying...oh so high...like a kite...tied to a skate. Grilled Scallop: atop andouille sausage grits, cauliflower, and lobster nage. Subtle flavor but eminently balanced and delicious. Tahitian Vanilla Bean Creme Brûlée: my brother ordered this, because in my bitterness toward most abominations disguised as creme brûlée, I couldn't, and still can't, bring myself to order it. This is creamy silk spun by the magic of the Elves with ingredients provided by the Hobbits. Pleasantly surprised doesn't begin to...never mind. Go. Please. Disclaimer: if you're expecting 5 star clearing dishes/switch out silverware/crumbing the table between each course type of service, you won't find that here, at least on week nights. But the servers are cordial and quite sharp.
(5)Valerie P.
Okay. Disclaimer. The food was amazing(for a buffet. SO many choices (I went for the Sunday buffet because why else would I go?)! Shrimp stations, freshly made paella stations, crepes, omelettes, roasts, etc. A little pricey, but it is the Grand America, so that was a given. The big problem is the service. I'm not sure why they hired the hostess (nepotism, something???), but she is terrible at her job. We had reservations that were made two or three days prior and we stayed at the hotel, so paying guests + reservations seems like it would lead to good service, right? Wrong. We got there and the hostess glared at us and asked if we had a reservation. We said yes and she told us she would be with us shortly. Twenty minutes later, after she's shown in 5 groups (yes, I counted them) without reservations (since we were just standing awkwardly near the booth, we could hear all the conversations), she finally deigns to tell us that we can go in. Did we look like rabble? I don't know. But basic courtesy seems like it should be part of a $50 per person meal. The entire experience left a sour taste in my mouth and it was really hard to enjoy the food after that. Reading through other reviews, it seems like I'm not the only person who has had that experience, so I guess the moral of the story is to not make reservations? Which seems stupid. It's really unfortunate because otherwise, it would be a great Sunday brunch experience, but it just... wasn't.
(2)Felipe Z.
This place...! This is the place...! Ahhh. Delicious Sunday brunch memories are made here, kids. The live music provided by that awesome band of 3. Modern tunes, with a contrabass, guitar and drum set. The best! A kids station, cheeses and meats, sea food galore including sushi (and pretty good too!), a whole section on more hearty foods including potatoes and lots of kinds of meats: Roast beef, ham, salmon, mahi-mahi (or maybe the fish is seasonal). Salads, lox, breads, SO MANY YUMMY DESSERTS, omelet station, breakfast station with crepes, fresh juices & smoothies, and a fantastic paella! Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa...! And the servers? Sooo nice. Everyone is experienced, nice, cordial, and fun. Yes, it's expensive. But every penny you spend, you spend it happily, because it's a beautiful place, with an awesome atmosphere, great food, and great service. Not even little kids annoy anyone, everyone is too high on their own great brunch experiences to care about other things. There's no real dress code, and you see it all, although I would say there's more of a predominant part that dresses a bit nicer/dressy. But I would still consider it casual. This brunch buffet has nothing to be jealous of other places around the west.
(5)Dave B.
Eating the buffet at the Garden Café Will make you feel rich. The architecture and decor is reminiscent of the 1940s and 50s. There's a reason they call this hotel the Grand America. I went there for brunch and they had so many great options. The food was presented in a clean, easily accessible, and fancy way. All of the food was nice quality. Dishes from seafood to steak gives you a ton of options, not to mention the sides. I even ate some of the more kid friendly food which was pizza and chicken wings. Even that fence here because of the half round serving dishes it came out of. All in all this is an expensive buffet but you will get your moneys worth because of the quality of the food. I would recommend the Garden café for large groups or even just for two.
(4)Will D.
My fiancé had the salmon and kale salad which was a good portion and was excellent. I ordered the seared ahi salad which was very good, but a considerably smaller portion. Luckily my fiancé is small so I had more to eat! We had the country pate for an appetizer which was ok. Four stars.
(4)Rachel R.
This is a pretty good buffet brunch. Not amazing, just pretty good. There were a lot of options but it seemed like they food was created by someone who lacks culinary skill. The BBQ ribs wre pretty dry. The crepes were not made to order. The crab legs were no where close to fresh. There were lots of dishes that were innovative and interesting but not well made. There were a few bright spots: sushi, kids maccaroni and cheese, and the blueberry croissant was to-die-for. But for a $49 brunch champagne should be included. Or at least one glass. I don't feel like it was up to par with other expensive brunches I have been to.
(3)Mandy R.
I ate breakfast here twice while staying nearby for a trade show (my colleagues were staying at The Grand America). First, the hostess here is awful. She's super sour and acts like everyone is bothering her. I don't know if she's even capable of smiling. Second, I've never experienced slower, more inefficient service anywhere, but especially not at a FIVE STAR hotel. It shouldn't take an hour and fifteen minutes to eat breakfast because service is so slow. Forgotten cream for coffee, forgotten drinks, just awful. And the food? Marginal at best. I had eggs Benedict the first morning. The eggs were horribly over cooked with hard-cooked yolks and the hollendaise sauce was congealed because the plate had sat under a hear lamp for far too long. If we hadn't already been waiting for 45 minutes, I would have sent it back. The second morning, I just got the two-egg breakfast w/ bacon, toast, and potatoes. I ordered the eggs over easy and they came out with raw egg whites. They had only white bread for toast (no bread choices here!), and it came out ice cold so the butter they gave you couldn't be melted on it. The rest of my plate was Luke warm. I've had better food for half the price at IHOP. When back in Salt Lake, I will DEFINITELY skip this place.
(1)Derrick L.
This review is for the Sunday brunch buffet. I've been to many buffets and this is one of the better ones. For the price I would say it's worth it. They even have a live band playing music :) The atmosphere of the place is very classy. I love the seafood selection they have (Large succulent shrimps, king crab legs, oyster, mussels, clams and even lobster ravioli). They have made to order crepe and omelette station. One bad thing is the hot food stations, I felt like they overcooked their prime rib, pork and chicken. The dessert sections looks amazing... Maybe because they got the red valvet cake (not chocolate btw) Oh and the cantaloupe juice they have are so darn gooood
(5)Angie L.
went here with my bf and parents for sunday brunch. we all loved it so much and it is our new favorite place for brunch! i've been wanting to try this place for years and now that i've gone i can't believe i've been missing out on this for so long! the service was impeccable as expected from our server and all staff. the selection of food was huge and there was something for everyone. i didn't discover the juice bar until the end when i was too full. definitely worth going for first as you can't beat fresh squeezed juice to have with your brunch. i loved the seafood selection the best, but managed to try a little bit of everything else. everything was fantastic and it was an amazing meal!
(5)Nathan M.
Came here for our honeymoon and got the Sunday brunch the next day - best meal of my life. Ended up being $100 for the 2 of us, but the memories were worth it. Crab, sushi, and lobster for my wife and steak and chicken for me. Omelette bar for anyone that likes omelettes and live music. The hotel is absolutely beautiful. One of those places were I feel like I'm out of my league cause I'm not that classy of a person. Top notch meal in top notch surroundings. Save it for a special occasion.
(5)Julie V.
My favorite married couple ever Nadine H and Benson H recommended I try this place out when I landed in SLC, so I made sure to take their advice! I'm so glad I did! Food and service was great, and it definitely makes for a fun night out! There's also no need to dress any better than business casual which is nice, and price is so affordable, especially for a restaurant in such a nice hotel! Vinh H and I tried: APPETIZERS 1. Pot of clams. This was pretty good, but to be honest...I've had much better even at a typical Maggianos. It was nice to use for dipping bread in, but the clams didn't quite meet adequate expectation for me. 2. Coppa Ravioli. SO GOOD!!!!!! I really recommend this. I really enjoyed it and I know Vinh H was scarfing down his part, which definitely says a lot considering his elitist fine-dining background. ENTREES 1. Lamb. Vinh H ordered this. I don't personally eat lamb because lamb's aroma is too pungent for me to actually take a bite of! It's not this place, and it really is just me. Vinh H really enjoyed it, but he did say he wished it was more tender and not quite so cooked on the outside. 2. Wagyu Beef. SO YUMMY! I got it medium rare, and I've been missing it since. It was so amazing. The only thing wrong with it is that it makes every other beef item I eat inferior! DESSERTS 1. Creme Brulee. Seriously the best I have ever had! AHH, it's made with Tahitian vanilla bean and the aroma makes for the most saliva-induced experience!! A must try for any creme brulee lovers! What's awesome is it's really reasonable in price! 2. Fruit crisp. Chef Jeff's noted dessert! I did enjoy it, but it's a bit sweet for my preference. I didn't really enjoy the texture either, but Vinh H did enjoy it, so I guess it depends on how sweet you like your fruits! +1 Star: The absolute best creme brulee I've ever had. I'm a huge fan of creme brulee and to have beat my previous favorite location is just a huge achievement for me. Vinh H also agreed---it's just so amazing. +1 Star: Super reasonable prices. Nothing left me feeling ripped off and portions were just right. I was stuffed by the end of the night! +1 Star: They have a good wine list, and I really appreciate it at a place like this. +1 Star: Great service. The manager made sure to constantly check up on us, and when I asked her about recommendations, she was more than helpful in everything! +1 Star: Pretty location. It's really fun to be able to walk around the hotel, especially because it's so pretty! :) P.S. They're remodeling right now, so they've temporarily relocated to another side of the hotel. You might have to ask around, but the food's definitely worth it even if you can't get the equivalent fine dining experience.
(5)Betsy W.
Came here for lunch during a work meeting. I had the steak salad and it was pretty darn good. Granted, I was starving...perhaps if the service was a bit more attentive I would have gone with four stars.
(3)Margaret N.
Went here when I was staying at the Grand America... Very fancy! Was served rolls and butter before my meal came out and they were amazing!!!! Rolls were surprisingly crispy and soft in the inside, so yummy! Had their halibut for my entree. It was a bit undercooked for my liking.... At the end, they brought out mini desserts for me to sample. A marshmallow, a jelly candy and a mini apple tart. The tart fell apart before I could eat it, but the jelly was good! Not a huge marshmallow fan so I didn't really eat it... Overall service was great though!
(4)James W.
Overall our stay at the Grand America was good but the breakfast buffet was really disappointing. For $19 per person my wife and I had high expectations. It was average at best. And we thought the $19 would include orange juice but even if it didn't , no big deal. So when we got our bill and the orange juice was $7 each we felt a little ripped off. It was really good orange juice but $7? Really? I joked with my wife that if we would have brought our kids we would have been $50 just for orange juice. Back to the buffet - we have had the breakfast buffet at the Paris in Vegas a few times and they have a crepe bar with fresh crepes. I didn't expect crepes but I at least expected someone would be cooking fresh pancakes vs the stack that was in the warmer that weren't fresh at all. To their credit they did have a guy making fresh omelettes, but I say blah to omelettes and they had a bunch of fresh berries which were good. The buffet either needed to be priced at around $8 or it needed to have more wow factor.
(2)Chris L.
Service was very slow but it was right after brunch. The pork sandwich was all fat and had to be sent back. French dip was very good. We had the cheese board to start it was weak. Sounds like brunch is the program here flow yelpers.
(2)Annie S.
I wanted a very special place to have breakfast with my family on the morning of my son's wedding -- something that we would all enjoy and provide wonderful memories. We found all of these things at the Garden Cafe at the Grand America. The buffet was heavenly -- everything fresh and delicious. The service was warm and friendly, and they allowed us to remain and visit after we were done eating without rushing us away, even though they were changing over for lunch. When I made the reservations online, we asked to be seated in a semi-private area and we pleased with our seating. My son commented during the meal that the Cafe had the atmosphere of being at Disneyland -- with excellent decor, service and food. We each decided that we needed to come back for the lunch buffet. We will definitely be back!!
(5)Vi T.
I had the honor to dine here with a few ladies for lunch. Heather K is super special so we got to meet the Executive Chef Phillip Yates and General Manager Ali Raafati, both of whom were really wonderful and accommodating. We were lucky enough to enjoy items from the buffet as well as the menu and everything was delightful. We started with this beautiful tower made of snow crab, ahi tuna, and avocado. Wow! It was almost too pretty to eat but someone finally took the plunge and started in on it. The tuna and crab were so incredibly fresh and the miso soy sauce was perfect. We picked the right dish to start. The buffet had everything you could dream of: cheese, smoked salmon, pastas, a variety of meats and seafood, ceviche, vegetables, and a decadent dessert table that I'll get to later. I couldn't pass up on a particular dish on their lunch menu. The braised short rib grilled cheese. Wow again. It is made with local Beehive cheese and Fontina, grilled balsamic onions, and savory, melt-in-your-mouth braised short ribs. My mouth is literally watering as I type. It is a serious sandwich and way too big for just me but wow. It is is served with two sides of your choice. I got the tasty tomato soup and fries. Even their fries are amazing. Perfectly salted and crunchy. Okay now the desserts. We were presented with the recipe for their to die for croissant bread pudding and rum sauce. One day when I'm feeling really fancy, I'm going to make it. Or at least attempt to make it. I absolutely love that the rum sauce is on the side so you don't have to worry about overly soggy bread pudding. There was a table full of tiny cakes and treats to choose from as well as a delicious chocolate sauce for fruits etc. Can you tell I loved the Garden Café? I cannot wait to go back!
(5)Pat W.
Thoroughly enjoyable dinner. Service was attentive and very friendly. Wannabe sommelier is in the process of revamping the wine list, and provides an excellent variety of choices. Prawns were perfectly cooked and delicious, scallops were succulent, sweet and grilled to perfection. Definitely worth a visit when you're in Salt Lake City.
(5)Shannon B.
Went for Sunday brunch and it was overall amazing. The service, the food, the selection...all top notch! They brought cheese cart and fresh honeycomb to our table for us to sample, which was delightful. The desserts were a sugar addicts dream come to life. Can't wait to go again!
(5)H. W.
This is our favorite buffet in town; we really like the Sunday brunch. We think the food they offer is better than some famous buffets in Vegas. The multiple serving stations can satisfy people who like meats or seafood, breakfast type of food, fresh juice, desserts...and even if you are vegetarians, there are many choices for you as well! (My parents are vegetarians, and they enjoy the buffet a lot). Great atmosphere, tasty food, and friendly servers!
(5)Charles S.
Full Disclosure: I attended a wedding luncheon buffet. I did not eat off the menu, so I can't necessarily speak to that. However, the luncheon food was splendid! There was a made-to-order pasta bar where you chose your ingredients and pasta and they prepared it right there. They also had salmon, pork medallions in a demi glace, roasted chicken and a wonderful salad bar. The Antipasto selections were fabulous! There were a few things I have never seen, much less eaten, before and I tried them all. Each was a little slice of heaven. The desserts were also very good. The chocolate fondue with fresh strawberries, freshly made cannoli, chocolate cake and tarts were all superb! The service was impeccable. Upscale adn attentive, yet friendly and fun at the same time. That's a tough balance to strike, but they succeeded on our visit.
(4)Carol M.
We were very disappointed in our New Years Eve dinner at the Garden Cafe in Grand America Hotel. We thought we couldn't go wrong dining at Grand America. They had a set menu for New Year's, which I hadn't seen on their website as we made the reservation. Crab cake was OK, but deep fried. There was not a salad option, only Lobster Bisque. We may not be familiar with Lobster Bisque, but it was nasty! My husband's main entree of fish was over cooked. I had the rib-eye steak which was on a watery potato mash. I don't care for Chocolate but the only dessert option was Chocolate. Our waitress was very attentive, until time for the bill. It was hard to be excited as several staff came by and asked about our meal. Not a memorable meal at all. We won't be back.
(1)Vida A.
Let me tell you the sunday brunch is one of the best in the America. I have had brunch at Bellagio and it's good but the lines make you wait at least an hour. Come hungry because you are paying over $45 per person and a lot of food. I love the crab legs already open for you, ceviche, clams on a half shell, and shrimp. Then the sushi which is always being rolled fresh, stay away from the fried egg rolls, not good. The omelet station is awesome but no the eggs benedict. Prime rib melt in your mouth and the cheese and salami selections are great. Service is great. Class act and great food.
(5)Brenda G.
We went to the Sunday brunch with our 3 year old. She was free! Not only that, they had an entire buffet table, complete with silver spoons and the fancy serving containers, for children! It was on a low table so our little one could get her own food. They had a watermelon with fruit kebobs, pizza, mac and cheese ("the best!" by our little connoisseur ) some other stuff she didn't choose, cookies, and house-made chocolate marshmallows! Our food was spectacular as other reviewers have experienced, but our favorite was the traveling cheese guy. A very knowledgeable server had a cart containing various LOCAL cheeses. He explained each one, asked which we would like, then prepared a plate with our choices and some roasted grapes, honey nuts, and a sort of fig chutney as pallet cleansers and simulators. He checked back with us later to see if we liked our selections. It was wonderful. I see this restaurant is classed as not good for children. I dispute that whole heartedly. it was the best time Becky ever had in a restaurant. Everyone was so kind to her. Granted, she is not especially disruptive, but even if she were (how could she be with the royal treatment she received?) I think there was enough cheery noise and hubbub that it wouldn't have been too bad.
(5)Dave N.
Best crepe I've had. Banana and Nutella. I think it might be my new favorite breakfast in SLC. Great service and a very classy atmosphere!
(5)Chris H.
Sunday brunch is fantastic. They have quite a selection and everything tastes great. Great crab and probably the best shrimp I've ever had.
(5)Douglas S.
Very good breakfast buffet and the service is the best that I have had in Utah. Peaceful place to spend a morning.
(4)Danae P.
I am on business and was looking for a place to have lunch and read the paper. I came in early, just as it opened for lunch. Despite the fact that there were three of us seated in the whole place, the service was horrible. The waitress took 20 minutes to come to my table to ask what I'd like to drink. I found her to be quite rude during my whole meal. I wasn't offered dessert or coffee, and was just handed the check. I would not recommend the place.
(3)Tony L.
This restaurant is actually located within the Grand American Hotel, and you would just park in the hotel underground parking lot to visit them. The hotel itself felt like one of those oldie fancy hotels in vintage movies. They have a nice view to the garden. I was half expected most of the patrons to be in suits while making jokes in weird accents, but it turned out not to be that case. The most popular here seems to be the Sunday brunch buffet, and it is always a good idea to make reservation as well. When you first entered, they provide you with a guided tour for all of their buffet sections, from the kids to the hot plate areas. They have an interesting kid section here, and it was almost hidden if you got seated all the way in the back room area. There were stuff like chicken tenders and mac & cheese for kids, and they all seem rather happy seeing those food. For seafood, they actually have a very nice selection compared to most places in town. King crab, oysters, mussels, and shrimp with all of them having decent amount of freshness. Not much of a salad guy, so I passed on those. They have a crepe station, which can get crowded at times, but they were quite decent. The omelet station was better than the average hotel buffet style ones. For the hot food, their meats were not bad, but I had piece that was slightly overcooked. Not sure if it was seasonal, but they had an interesting area cooking a big pot of Paella. The flavor was great too. Dessert was probably the best part of the meal, and they have an awesome selection of them. Even if you went light on trying everything else they got, you will most likely end up needing two dessert stomachs to sample every dessert they got. Price as side, I was quite awe to find food at this quality in town, usually I imagine food at this level is only available after you start heading west for a few hours. I think Garden Café will be my brunch celebration location from now on.
(5)John C.
Can't get enough of their awesome fresh made fruit juices. Service was a bit lacking this time around but the food made up for it. Great selection of desserts, and their hot items were superb and flavorful.
(4)James C.
Had a reservation at 1:30 this past Sunday. The food was excellent but unfortunately our server went MIA. After waiting for a while, we got up and went to the receptionist and asked if she could assist us with getting our check. She could not find the server either so she went and ground the manager. He was quite gracious. When I pulled out my wallet to pay he said that He would comp our meal. Kudos to him.
(3)Danny R.
*This review is for the Grand America Sunday Brunch* Quite possibly the best brunch I have ever had is held at the Garden Café in The Grad America Hotel. We usually don't eat out on Sundays but we were in SLC during our travels and needed a place to eat before we headed to the airport. What a wonderful surprise this was! The food is delicious and varying. The atmosphere is clean, bright and charming. They string/drum trio that plays during brunch is outstanding! They frequently played covers of popular music in a classical fashion that were really quite good. I highly recommend!
(5)Zuhadi Z.
This is a good place for brunch if you roll out of bed feeling a little fancy with 49 dollars to spare. The price is on the higher side but hey, it's The Grand America. The place is all elegant with chandeliers and people playing live classical music. From your table, you can see their immaculate garden outside the window, making you wish your home garden looks like that. You can totally see what you are paying for. The food spread is good. If you can eat a lot, it is totally worth the price. They have the egg station, crepe station, sushi and seafood section, a large desserts and pastries section and even grilled food and gelato stalls outside. You will never run out of things to eat. But here's when the magic stops. For the first dish, I headed to the egg station for omelettes. First, the egg chef was like a zombie. He just stood there staring blankly and did not greet or smile at all to me. Maybe he had a bad night sleep, so I ordered the omelette with onions, tomatoes and mushrooms. It ended up tasteless. My brunch companion said the same thing for her omelettes. This is like going to a Thai restaurant and being served bad rice. Not a good start. It did not help that our server took more than 15 minutes to bring us coffee. Other food fared much better. The sushi spread is nothing to shout about but I like the crabs and the octopus bites. You can tell they put a lot of details in food presentations too. I had this tasty potato salad with bits of kobe beef topped with kale chips in a plastic sphere. My favorite section is the desserts section. The cakes and pastries look exquisite. This must be the best desserts spread I have ever been to. Overall, I don't hate this brunch but I don't love it. At least not enough till I want to part with my hard-earned 49 dollars for it. Although I would come here again for the environment if I have special occasion to celebrate.
(3)Monica V.
Despite having a reservation, there was a 15min wait to be seated and the hostess only said it'd be a minute. Not a huge deal, but there's an expectation of higher quality in service when dining at certain establishments... The space was very nice and clean and the layout of the different food options had some good variety. Was the quality top tier? No. They ran out of the king crab and oysters at around 1pm, so don't make a brunch reservation later in the day and expect the same items... But you will still pay the same price. Out of everything I had, the desserts were definitely the best, but everything else was pretty average.
(3)Lisa M.
We come here at least once a year for Sunday brunch and I always look forward to our visits as the food is so amazing. They have several stations of food around the restaurant which sometimes varies but there is always crab, shrimp, and oysters. There is always an omelet and crepe station. A smoothie station. A dessert bar. And an area with salads, prime rib, fish, potatoes and more. If they don't have what you want you can order it. I always order Eggs Benedict and it's no extra charge. Would highly recommend.
(5)Jann M.
We have eaten breakfast twice at this lovely Café in the Grand America. I had the Brioche French Toast and one month later I find myself dreaming about it. The food is of great quality and is served with a distinguished flair. The service is white glove and the price is reasonable for such a beautiful place. Save room for a treat from the Sweet Shop and don't forget to stop in the magical toy store and play.
(4)Joshua S.
A 5 star hotel merits a 5 star restaurant. The Garden Cafe, at dinner time, definitely merits that title. From the outset of the meal, I got the sense that only the highest quality ingredients went into each starter, entree and dessert. Bread Basket: think baguette the size of a bread stick and perfectly executed. Great texture, and delicious beyond my wildest expectations. Add the house butter, and I was on the verge of a Bob Wiley, "Oh Fay, this is so scrumptious. Is this hand shucked?", effusion. Bibb Lettuce Salad with candied walnuts, goat cheese and herb vinaigrette: pretty straight forward, with the exception of being better than any other version of the same salad I've experienced previously. Delicious. Grilled Pork Chop: poached cherries, silky thin carrot strings, tender green beans, atop corn bread chorizo stuffing. This chop replaces both Em's and The Copper Onions' pork chops as my favorite. Tender and delicious to the nth degree. Add the cherries, crispy carrots and the sauce and I was flying...oh so high...like a kite...tied to a skate. Grilled Scallop: atop andouille sausage grits, cauliflower, and lobster nage. Subtle flavor but eminently balanced and delicious. Tahitian Vanilla Bean Creme Brûlée: my brother ordered this, because in my bitterness toward most abominations disguised as creme brûlée, I couldn't, and still can't, bring myself to order it. This is creamy silk spun by the magic of the Elves with ingredients provided by the Hobbits. Pleasantly surprised doesn't begin to...never mind. Go. Please. Disclaimer: if you're expecting 5 star clearing dishes/switch out silverware/crumbing the table between each course type of service, you won't find that here, at least on week nights. But the servers are cordial and quite sharp.
(5)Valerie P.
Okay. Disclaimer. The food was amazing(for a buffet. SO many choices (I went for the Sunday buffet because why else would I go?)! Shrimp stations, freshly made paella stations, crepes, omelettes, roasts, etc. A little pricey, but it is the Grand America, so that was a given. The big problem is the service. I'm not sure why they hired the hostess (nepotism, something???), but she is terrible at her job. We had reservations that were made two or three days prior and we stayed at the hotel, so paying guests + reservations seems like it would lead to good service, right? Wrong. We got there and the hostess glared at us and asked if we had a reservation. We said yes and she told us she would be with us shortly. Twenty minutes later, after she's shown in 5 groups (yes, I counted them) without reservations (since we were just standing awkwardly near the booth, we could hear all the conversations), she finally deigns to tell us that we can go in. Did we look like rabble? I don't know. But basic courtesy seems like it should be part of a $50 per person meal. The entire experience left a sour taste in my mouth and it was really hard to enjoy the food after that. Reading through other reviews, it seems like I'm not the only person who has had that experience, so I guess the moral of the story is to not make reservations? Which seems stupid. It's really unfortunate because otherwise, it would be a great Sunday brunch experience, but it just... wasn't.
(2)Felipe Z.
This place...! This is the place...! Ahhh. Delicious Sunday brunch memories are made here, kids. The live music provided by that awesome band of 3. Modern tunes, with a contrabass, guitar and drum set. The best! A kids station, cheeses and meats, sea food galore including sushi (and pretty good too!), a whole section on more hearty foods including potatoes and lots of kinds of meats: Roast beef, ham, salmon, mahi-mahi (or maybe the fish is seasonal). Salads, lox, breads, SO MANY YUMMY DESSERTS, omelet station, breakfast station with crepes, fresh juices & smoothies, and a fantastic paella! Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa...! And the servers? Sooo nice. Everyone is experienced, nice, cordial, and fun. Yes, it's expensive. But every penny you spend, you spend it happily, because it's a beautiful place, with an awesome atmosphere, great food, and great service. Not even little kids annoy anyone, everyone is too high on their own great brunch experiences to care about other things. There's no real dress code, and you see it all, although I would say there's more of a predominant part that dresses a bit nicer/dressy. But I would still consider it casual. This brunch buffet has nothing to be jealous of other places around the west.
(5)Dave B.
Eating the buffet at the Garden Café Will make you feel rich. The architecture and decor is reminiscent of the 1940s and 50s. There's a reason they call this hotel the Grand America. I went there for brunch and they had so many great options. The food was presented in a clean, easily accessible, and fancy way. All of the food was nice quality. Dishes from seafood to steak gives you a ton of options, not to mention the sides. I even ate some of the more kid friendly food which was pizza and chicken wings. Even that fence here because of the half round serving dishes it came out of. All in all this is an expensive buffet but you will get your moneys worth because of the quality of the food. I would recommend the Garden café for large groups or even just for two.
(4)Will D.
My fiancé had the salmon and kale salad which was a good portion and was excellent. I ordered the seared ahi salad which was very good, but a considerably smaller portion. Luckily my fiancé is small so I had more to eat! We had the country pate for an appetizer which was ok. Four stars.
(4)Rachel R.
This is a pretty good buffet brunch. Not amazing, just pretty good. There were a lot of options but it seemed like they food was created by someone who lacks culinary skill. The BBQ ribs wre pretty dry. The crepes were not made to order. The crab legs were no where close to fresh. There were lots of dishes that were innovative and interesting but not well made. There were a few bright spots: sushi, kids maccaroni and cheese, and the blueberry croissant was to-die-for. But for a $49 brunch champagne should be included. Or at least one glass. I don't feel like it was up to par with other expensive brunches I have been to.
(3)Mandy R.
I ate breakfast here twice while staying nearby for a trade show (my colleagues were staying at The Grand America). First, the hostess here is awful. She's super sour and acts like everyone is bothering her. I don't know if she's even capable of smiling. Second, I've never experienced slower, more inefficient service anywhere, but especially not at a FIVE STAR hotel. It shouldn't take an hour and fifteen minutes to eat breakfast because service is so slow. Forgotten cream for coffee, forgotten drinks, just awful. And the food? Marginal at best. I had eggs Benedict the first morning. The eggs were horribly over cooked with hard-cooked yolks and the hollendaise sauce was congealed because the plate had sat under a hear lamp for far too long. If we hadn't already been waiting for 45 minutes, I would have sent it back. The second morning, I just got the two-egg breakfast w/ bacon, toast, and potatoes. I ordered the eggs over easy and they came out with raw egg whites. They had only white bread for toast (no bread choices here!), and it came out ice cold so the butter they gave you couldn't be melted on it. The rest of my plate was Luke warm. I've had better food for half the price at IHOP. When back in Salt Lake, I will DEFINITELY skip this place.
(1)Derrick L.
This review is for the Sunday brunch buffet. I've been to many buffets and this is one of the better ones. For the price I would say it's worth it. They even have a live band playing music :) The atmosphere of the place is very classy. I love the seafood selection they have (Large succulent shrimps, king crab legs, oyster, mussels, clams and even lobster ravioli). They have made to order crepe and omelette station. One bad thing is the hot food stations, I felt like they overcooked their prime rib, pork and chicken. The dessert sections looks amazing... Maybe because they got the red valvet cake (not chocolate btw) Oh and the cantaloupe juice they have are so darn gooood
(5)Angie L.
went here with my bf and parents for sunday brunch. we all loved it so much and it is our new favorite place for brunch! i've been wanting to try this place for years and now that i've gone i can't believe i've been missing out on this for so long! the service was impeccable as expected from our server and all staff. the selection of food was huge and there was something for everyone. i didn't discover the juice bar until the end when i was too full. definitely worth going for first as you can't beat fresh squeezed juice to have with your brunch. i loved the seafood selection the best, but managed to try a little bit of everything else. everything was fantastic and it was an amazing meal!
(5)Nathan M.
Came here for our honeymoon and got the Sunday brunch the next day - best meal of my life. Ended up being $100 for the 2 of us, but the memories were worth it. Crab, sushi, and lobster for my wife and steak and chicken for me. Omelette bar for anyone that likes omelettes and live music. The hotel is absolutely beautiful. One of those places were I feel like I'm out of my league cause I'm not that classy of a person. Top notch meal in top notch surroundings. Save it for a special occasion.
(5)Julie V.
My favorite married couple ever Nadine H and Benson H recommended I try this place out when I landed in SLC, so I made sure to take their advice! I'm so glad I did! Food and service was great, and it definitely makes for a fun night out! There's also no need to dress any better than business casual which is nice, and price is so affordable, especially for a restaurant in such a nice hotel! Vinh H and I tried: APPETIZERS 1. Pot of clams. This was pretty good, but to be honest...I've had much better even at a typical Maggianos. It was nice to use for dipping bread in, but the clams didn't quite meet adequate expectation for me. 2. Coppa Ravioli. SO GOOD!!!!!! I really recommend this. I really enjoyed it and I know Vinh H was scarfing down his part, which definitely says a lot considering his elitist fine-dining background. ENTREES 1. Lamb. Vinh H ordered this. I don't personally eat lamb because lamb's aroma is too pungent for me to actually take a bite of! It's not this place, and it really is just me. Vinh H really enjoyed it, but he did say he wished it was more tender and not quite so cooked on the outside. 2. Wagyu Beef. SO YUMMY! I got it medium rare, and I've been missing it since. It was so amazing. The only thing wrong with it is that it makes every other beef item I eat inferior! DESSERTS 1. Creme Brulee. Seriously the best I have ever had! AHH, it's made with Tahitian vanilla bean and the aroma makes for the most saliva-induced experience!! A must try for any creme brulee lovers! What's awesome is it's really reasonable in price! 2. Fruit crisp. Chef Jeff's noted dessert! I did enjoy it, but it's a bit sweet for my preference. I didn't really enjoy the texture either, but Vinh H did enjoy it, so I guess it depends on how sweet you like your fruits! +1 Star: The absolute best creme brulee I've ever had. I'm a huge fan of creme brulee and to have beat my previous favorite location is just a huge achievement for me. Vinh H also agreed---it's just so amazing. +1 Star: Super reasonable prices. Nothing left me feeling ripped off and portions were just right. I was stuffed by the end of the night! +1 Star: They have a good wine list, and I really appreciate it at a place like this. +1 Star: Great service. The manager made sure to constantly check up on us, and when I asked her about recommendations, she was more than helpful in everything! +1 Star: Pretty location. It's really fun to be able to walk around the hotel, especially because it's so pretty! :) P.S. They're remodeling right now, so they've temporarily relocated to another side of the hotel. You might have to ask around, but the food's definitely worth it even if you can't get the equivalent fine dining experience.
(5)Laurence B.
Dinner for two on Sunday night. Everything we had was terrific from the bread and butter to the steak. Service was spot on with our server timing everything right so we never had to wait very long at all for anything. The decor here is pretty dated, everything done in green like you are in the Land of Oz. We wanted to come to the Garden Cafe for the Manilla clam appetizer that was mentioned in the Salt Lake Tribune as being one of the top dishes of the year. Indeed it was quite good and worth going just for that. Despite the decor, with all of the other elements being so good, I'm giving it five stars.
(5)Heather G.
If it was possible to give zero stars I would. I made a reservation several weeks ago for my husbands birthday. We were guests of the hotel & I thought we could finish the weekend on a high note. Not so much. We arrived a few minutes before our reservation time to check in. We were greeted by a very rude older woman who offered no greeting or pleasantly. We waited & waited, watching table after table (who had arrived after us) be seated. My husband & I decided if the level of service was this poor prior to even sitting then why would we spend over $100. We notified to concierge who did her best to assist us. 30 minutes after our reservation time (bags already in the car) they offered us a table. No apology or comp of some sort to make up for ruining my husbands birthday. Safe to say we will not return to the Garden cafe or Grand America Hotel for that matter. Service is everything & they get an epic fail from us.
(1)Michael M.
The Garden Cafe Sunday brunch at the Grand America Hotel used to warrant five stars -- it was outstanding. Unfortunately, they have had considerable turnover in the kitchen, and management has made choices to save cost. The quality of the food including seafood, desserts, fruits, etc. have all suffered. The delicious crab that used to be of high quality, is now third rate and at times left as a largely barren tray of ice. The delicious desserts that were unique and worthy of a five star brunch and a fifty dollar price tag? Gone. Now the desserts are largely the same drab fare you'd expect at a $15 to $20 brunch. The delicious station towards the back of the restaurant that used to be full of fresh blackberries, raspberries, blueberries, and tasty Danish pancakes (aebleskiver), is now a giant cooking station for paella. Paella? Was there really a high demand for paella as a Sunday brunch item? We sat back in that area this morning for brunch. I didn't see a single person take any. I did hear a few people stop and ask the person at the station where they could get the Danish pancakes. Another disappoint for this change, is how the paella cooking station makes that entire room of the restaurant have a strong, unpleasant stench. You know how when you come out from Benihana's, you stink like Benihana's for the rest of the day? After spending this morning in that room with the paella cooking station, we all stink of paella. At least Benihana's smells appetizing for lunch or dinner. Paella is not an appetizing smell for breakfast. Sadly, we need to find a new spot for Sunday brunch when in SLC.
(1)Vi T.
I had the honor to dine here with a few ladies for lunch. Heather K is super special so we got to meet the Executive Chef Phillip Yates and General Manager Ali Raafati, both of whom were really wonderful and accommodating. We were lucky enough to enjoy items from the buffet as well as the menu and everything was delightful. We started with this beautiful tower made of snow crab, ahi tuna, and avocado. Wow! It was almost too pretty to eat but someone finally took the plunge and started in on it. The tuna and crab were so incredibly fresh and the miso soy sauce was perfect. We picked the right dish to start. The buffet had everything you could dream of: cheese, smoked salmon, pastas, a variety of meats and seafood, ceviche, vegetables, and a decadent dessert table that I'll get to later. I couldn't pass up on a particular dish on their lunch menu. The braised short rib grilled cheese. Wow again. It is made with local Beehive cheese and Fontina, grilled balsamic onions, and savory, melt-in-your-mouth braised short ribs. My mouth is literally watering as I type. It is a serious sandwich and way too big for just me but wow. It is is served with two sides of your choice. I got the tasty tomato soup and fries. Even their fries are amazing. Perfectly salted and crunchy. Okay now the desserts. We were presented with the recipe for their to die for croissant bread pudding and rum sauce. One day when I'm feeling really fancy, I'm going to make it. Or at least attempt to make it. I absolutely love that the rum sauce is on the side so you don't have to worry about overly soggy bread pudding. There was a table full of tiny cakes and treats to choose from as well as a delicious chocolate sauce for fruits etc. Can you tell I loved the Garden Café? I cannot wait to go back!
(5)Pat W.
Thoroughly enjoyable dinner. Service was attentive and very friendly. Wannabe sommelier is in the process of revamping the wine list, and provides an excellent variety of choices. Prawns were perfectly cooked and delicious, scallops were succulent, sweet and grilled to perfection. Definitely worth a visit when you're in Salt Lake City.
(5)Shannon B.
Went for Sunday brunch and it was overall amazing. The service, the food, the selection...all top notch! They brought cheese cart and fresh honeycomb to our table for us to sample, which was delightful. The desserts were a sugar addicts dream come to life. Can't wait to go again!
(5)H. W.
This is our favorite buffet in town; we really like the Sunday brunch. We think the food they offer is better than some famous buffets in Vegas. The multiple serving stations can satisfy people who like meats or seafood, breakfast type of food, fresh juice, desserts...and even if you are vegetarians, there are many choices for you as well! (My parents are vegetarians, and they enjoy the buffet a lot). Great atmosphere, tasty food, and friendly servers!
(5)Alan M.
The country pate with pickled vegetables was great. The lamb loin was overcooked and the garnish wasn't well balanced. The coconut "pot du creme" was very nice and light. The mint green, floral, ornate design of the restaurant is beautiful.
(3)Charles S.
Full Disclosure: I attended a wedding luncheon buffet. I did not eat off the menu, so I can't necessarily speak to that. However, the luncheon food was splendid! There was a made-to-order pasta bar where you chose your ingredients and pasta and they prepared it right there. They also had salmon, pork medallions in a demi glace, roasted chicken and a wonderful salad bar. The Antipasto selections were fabulous! There were a few things I have never seen, much less eaten, before and I tried them all. Each was a little slice of heaven. The desserts were also very good. The chocolate fondue with fresh strawberries, freshly made cannoli, chocolate cake and tarts were all superb! The service was impeccable. Upscale adn attentive, yet friendly and fun at the same time. That's a tough balance to strike, but they succeeded on our visit.
(4)Carol M.
We were very disappointed in our New Years Eve dinner at the Garden Cafe in Grand America Hotel. We thought we couldn't go wrong dining at Grand America. They had a set menu for New Year's, which I hadn't seen on their website as we made the reservation. Crab cake was OK, but deep fried. There was not a salad option, only Lobster Bisque. We may not be familiar with Lobster Bisque, but it was nasty! My husband's main entree of fish was over cooked. I had the rib-eye steak which was on a watery potato mash. I don't care for Chocolate but the only dessert option was Chocolate. Our waitress was very attentive, until time for the bill. It was hard to be excited as several staff came by and asked about our meal. Not a memorable meal at all. We won't be back.
(1)Vida A.
Let me tell you the sunday brunch is one of the best in the America. I have had brunch at Bellagio and it's good but the lines make you wait at least an hour. Come hungry because you are paying over $45 per person and a lot of food. I love the crab legs already open for you, ceviche, clams on a half shell, and shrimp. Then the sushi which is always being rolled fresh, stay away from the fried egg rolls, not good. The omelet station is awesome but no the eggs benedict. Prime rib melt in your mouth and the cheese and salami selections are great. Service is great. Class act and great food.
(5)Brenda G.
We went to the Sunday brunch with our 3 year old. She was free! Not only that, they had an entire buffet table, complete with silver spoons and the fancy serving containers, for children! It was on a low table so our little one could get her own food. They had a watermelon with fruit kebobs, pizza, mac and cheese ("the best!" by our little connoisseur ) some other stuff she didn't choose, cookies, and house-made chocolate marshmallows! Our food was spectacular as other reviewers have experienced, but our favorite was the traveling cheese guy. A very knowledgeable server had a cart containing various LOCAL cheeses. He explained each one, asked which we would like, then prepared a plate with our choices and some roasted grapes, honey nuts, and a sort of fig chutney as pallet cleansers and simulators. He checked back with us later to see if we liked our selections. It was wonderful. I see this restaurant is classed as not good for children. I dispute that whole heartedly. it was the best time Becky ever had in a restaurant. Everyone was so kind to her. Granted, she is not especially disruptive, but even if she were (how could she be with the royal treatment she received?) I think there was enough cheery noise and hubbub that it wouldn't have been too bad.
(5)Dave N.
Best crepe I've had. Banana and Nutella. I think it might be my new favorite breakfast in SLC. Great service and a very classy atmosphere!
(5)Chris H.
Sunday brunch is fantastic. They have quite a selection and everything tastes great. Great crab and probably the best shrimp I've ever had.
(5)Douglas S.
Very good breakfast buffet and the service is the best that I have had in Utah. Peaceful place to spend a morning.
(4)Betsy W.
Came here for lunch during a work meeting. I had the steak salad and it was pretty darn good. Granted, I was starving...perhaps if the service was a bit more attentive I would have gone with four stars.
(3)Margaret N.
Went here when I was staying at the Grand America... Very fancy! Was served rolls and butter before my meal came out and they were amazing!!!! Rolls were surprisingly crispy and soft in the inside, so yummy! Had their halibut for my entree. It was a bit undercooked for my liking.... At the end, they brought out mini desserts for me to sample. A marshmallow, a jelly candy and a mini apple tart. The tart fell apart before I could eat it, but the jelly was good! Not a huge marshmallow fan so I didn't really eat it... Overall service was great though!
(4)James W.
Overall our stay at the Grand America was good but the breakfast buffet was really disappointing. For $19 per person my wife and I had high expectations. It was average at best. And we thought the $19 would include orange juice but even if it didn't , no big deal. So when we got our bill and the orange juice was $7 each we felt a little ripped off. It was really good orange juice but $7? Really? I joked with my wife that if we would have brought our kids we would have been $50 just for orange juice. Back to the buffet - we have had the breakfast buffet at the Paris in Vegas a few times and they have a crepe bar with fresh crepes. I didn't expect crepes but I at least expected someone would be cooking fresh pancakes vs the stack that was in the warmer that weren't fresh at all. To their credit they did have a guy making fresh omelettes, but I say blah to omelettes and they had a bunch of fresh berries which were good. The buffet either needed to be priced at around $8 or it needed to have more wow factor.
(2)Chris L.
Service was very slow but it was right after brunch. The pork sandwich was all fat and had to be sent back. French dip was very good. We had the cheese board to start it was weak. Sounds like brunch is the program here flow yelpers.
(2)Annie S.
I wanted a very special place to have breakfast with my family on the morning of my son's wedding -- something that we would all enjoy and provide wonderful memories. We found all of these things at the Garden Cafe at the Grand America. The buffet was heavenly -- everything fresh and delicious. The service was warm and friendly, and they allowed us to remain and visit after we were done eating without rushing us away, even though they were changing over for lunch. When I made the reservations online, we asked to be seated in a semi-private area and we pleased with our seating. My son commented during the meal that the Cafe had the atmosphere of being at Disneyland -- with excellent decor, service and food. We each decided that we needed to come back for the lunch buffet. We will definitely be back!!
(5)