There was a group of 10 adults, 2 littles that came to dine on September 9th. We were in town for the doTERRA Convention. Poor Steven wasn't having a very good night. Between only half of our order printing in the kitchen, us giving him a bad time (all in good fun) and running out of ice cream for our dessert....He handled it all professionally and with a smile. He had to pull an all nighter for school after a 12 hour day. Hope he got some sleep.
(4)
Nick P.
Had made a reservation for 17 family members. When we got there they had no reservation for us. Spoke to Nicholle the manager and she took care of us immediately. Could not thank her enough. Especially as it was a birthday lunch. The food and service is great.
(5)
Joy N.
There's something for everybody. The menu is really diverse and the food is great. The view really can't be beat!
(4)
Meagan B.
While I love the location and the view, the food is just okay. I want to love it, but nothing has blown me away yet. And I'm sad they got rid of their regular rolls. I love dipping bread in oil and balsamic, but there's just isn't doing it for me, and I preferred their original ones with butter. Though that's not a deal breaker. Honestly I'd go here more often if the options for kids were better. Everything is greasy and"kid food like", and I want something more substantial for my kids. The last time we went there however, the service was awesome. I loved our waitress. She was extremely sweet, funny, and amazing with our kids. We'll still go here again, I'm sure, but I really would love some fresh new options for my kids!!
(3)
Marco E.
Affordable place with great location and view for a lunch date in Salt Lake City! We were a party of 3 for a Saturday Lunch. Waiting time only 15min and we got a window seat. Staff was very friendly but the kitchen took a bit to deliver. I am glad we ordered an appetizer to share. I'll come again if I am back in town.
(5)
Rosie S.
This is one of my favorites. Such a beautiful view of the whole city. Sometimes the service is slow. I would just be sure to tell them you want the food brought out when it is done, doesnt need to be at the same time, because I swear we always have one hot plate and one cold. The manager here is a gem! Great place.
(4)
Vida A.
My mom wanted to celebrate her birthday with a family late lunch here so she made reservations and they took a credit card to secure the reservation. They had a nice corner table set up with a balloon, it was very nice with views on both sides of us. Let me also say that none of us are mormon and she had a huge gift card to use. Loss of two stars is one for no alcohol. The other is our server was trying but fell a little flat not clearing dishes and such. Also I should mention that me and my baby were first to arrive and the surrounding tables had not been bussed or swept. It was so bad I had to ask for them to sweep as we would have been sitting in crumbs and fries on the floor. We started with the calamari and the dip, both were great. I had the pigpen sandwich and it was a monster and delicious. The others had steak and they enjoyed there food. The rolls are weird. The desserts are all sugary goodness. Place is very cute and light. If you are around this place is nice but I would never come back due to the location.
(3)
Thomas C.
Great food, Great View, Great Service and an affordable price. What more could you ask for. My wife and I went here for our 25th wedding anniversary. It was the perfect choice. There was just the two of us, we had a table by the window. Glad we had reservations because even on a Tuesday evening it was very busy. But the service did not suffer. This is our new favorite spot to bring visiting guests.
(5)
Chuck S.
Some unique entrees. The fish tacos are really good and the chicken salad sandwich is great with a large serving and beer batter fries. There's no Sysco here. The complementary bread before the meal with oil and balsamic are awesome. All is a little pricing but hey you're downtown over looking Temple Square.
(4)
Jason F.
In order to get to this restaurant you need to enter the Joseph Smith Memorial Building and go to the elevators that are located at the back of the lobby. This restaurant and another are located on the tenth floor of the building which is also the top floor. When exiting the elevators turn right (West) and you can't miss them. The menu has a good selection of choices including salads, pastas, specialty dishes, and the usual fare of hamburgers and sandwiches. There should be something for everyone at this restaurant. The salad I had was tasty especially the dressing but some of the additions like the grapes were rather tasteless. The burger and fries are good as well. The burgers are not cooked to order unless you specify how you want it cooked. The ABLT is well made and the ingredients were fresh. The dinner rolls they serve are also very tasty. I'm not sure if the lunch menu differs from the dinner menu at all, although I would hazard to guess that it does. Prices range from $7.00 to $15.00 per entree. Both the view and the food are good.
(4)
sybril s.
On top of the Joseph Smith building, this restaurant has a spectacular view especially during the winter. It was December when I went there and it was snowing, just absolutely beautiful. Now, the food... is rather "standard". The wait for the waiter to get the check... or anything, was pretty difficult. Right about when we decided to just leave the money on the table and leave, the waiter showed up. By then we've already gathered enough cash so we didn't have to wait to charge it on the card. Definitely go up there for the view, take a few pictures. I'd rather go somewhere else to eat walking a few blocks away.
(2)
L N.
Went to eat at "The Garden" restruant at temple square, don't waste your money. It has million dollar views but food and service were poor at best.
(2)
Sue G.
My husband and I actually ate here quite a number of months ago - so . . .I can't remember the details. What I do remember is how very, very disappointed we were with our seating. This was our first time here - as we were traveling through and in SLC for a week. We called and made reservations and asked for a window table with a view; we were going to a nice event following dinner. Well . . . we were seated at a window-type table - right next to (sort of behind!) a huge column - so . . .no view to speak of (at least not without leaning way out of the chair and trying to look around it!) There were other tables for 2 that were much better located with a view available when we were seated. Seeing the empty tables, we did ask if we could be reseated - and were told "No" - they were reserved (just as ours was!) This was so disappointing as we had so looked forward to this. The food was fine - but our disappointment with our seating seemed to overshadow our experience - we did work to not let it completely spoil our evening. Our server was pleasant - not super efficient.
(2)
Bobby H.
I got the mess burger which was pretty tasty. I think instead of putting fry sauce on the burger they should do BBQ. We had a pretty big group here and everyone seemed to like their food for the most part. It was not amazing, but was decent. Don't come here for the food, come for the view. The food is good enough to make the trip worth it.
(3)
Nikita G.
Beautiful refreshing ambience and a view of the Temple Square right from the 10th floor of a gorgeous building. I ordered Salmon, which was amazing, with all the flavours they had and the corn on the top, just felt perfect. My friends ordered lasagne, they weren't much fans of it, but they liked it. The menu is very limited and they have daily specials. We so wanted to order a special that was listed on other weekday :(. Overall a beautiful place to dine with moderate rates.
(3)
Chris W.
I was never interested in this restaurant before. I went one Saturday ONLY BECAUSE the Roof was booked solid and I wanted the view and they were having a Father's Day special of filet mignon and dungeness crab cakes. Their regular menu held nothing that interested me, but this special sounded worthwhile. I get there at 8PM and they're all out of their special. HUGE disappointment. We considered leaving but decided we might as well stay. The restaurant was 90% empty on a Saturday night...not a good sign. Tried the waitress recommendation of some chicken dish and it was a complete waste. My date tried the fish tacos, which were ok but definitely very overpriced. Will never be returning. The retractable roof they open on nice days is fun for a few minutes. The view is worthwhile only at sunset. There is a fun feel to being on the top floor of the building. But just skip this and go to the Roof; far better food, well worth the price differential.
(2)
V Y.
Good food, great view, and good value. Food - A wide range of choices. I had the turkey dinner special. Great turkey, really done very well, plus stuffing, mashed potatoes, green beans, and an interesting sauce of cranberries, mandarin oranges, and spices. My better half had the chicken alfredo, a decent version with grilled chicken and a nice pink cream sauce. View - Excellent view of the entire West Valley toward the airport and Temple Square. Really a great place to watch the sun set and city lights come up. Value - Good price to quality ratio. Would try it again. Ambiance - This could have been improved. Lighting was very bright, which would be ok for lunch, however it would have been nice to be a touch dimmer for dinner hour. It seemed popular with all tables full while we were there.
(4)
S T.
I go here mainly for the pear and gorganzola salad. If you travel as frequently as I do, eating unhealthy gets old so a nice fresh and tasty salad is refreshing. Every time I'm here, the service has been really slow. This last time, it took them 30 minutes to get my salad out!
(3)
Maria A.
Incredible view and great feel to eat up there very fresh and airy feel as well as great service.
(5)
Grace S.
A prototypical LDS restaurant. They didn't serve caffeinated iced tea. Food was a bit odd. I had a turkey and avocado sandwich on white bread. It was blah/ok, nothing memorable. My side salad greens were quite wilty. My lunch guest from out of town had their fish tacos. The fish was skewered on a wooden stick and arranged like a tent over the tortillas and rice. Plating was quite odd. Service was good. The server was friendly and brought extra avocados for my lunch guest. We enjoyed the views of the LDS temple and downtown. We also were treated with a tour of the lobby downstairs (although we didn't really ask for one).
(3)
Mel L.
Face it, you're not really coming here for the food, you're coming here for the view. That said, the food is not bad. Honestly; I had the romano encrusted chicken pasta and it was pretty good. The chicken was not dry and the pasta was not overly saucy (because those are two things that would drive me nuts). The pineapple upside down cake was yummy. Service was friendly and helpful but a tad bit slow considering there were very few other tables. Overall, I would come back.
(4)
Ann L.
Someone picked The Garden Restaurant to eat at, not my choice at all. Sure, the views are nice to see the Temple & Downtown UT but you can just go to the windows outside the restaurant & see it for FREE then eat elsewhere. FREE bread- just one big round piece per person. Tasted ok, greasy. I got the Early Bird Special before 6pm Roasted Pacific Salmon $17 served w/ Strawberry Gelato. Salmon was fine, stuff under it was gross - what was it? Strawberry Gelato was nice w/ a brittle candy I liked. Lots of Teenagers going to their prom also dined there that evening. That should tell you how good the food is.
(2)
Chris R.
Incredible view of the city and Temple. Go for dinner for a stunning sunset. Food was very, very good and prices were quite reasonable. I had the smothered burrito and it was delicious and huge. My friends had Salmon and Flat Iron steak. They raved about it. Service was quick and thorough. Elegant restaraunt but not snooty. Dress was casual (seemed a bit strange since it was a very classy looking place).
Sauntered up to the Garden just before closing time. Got a great table next to the window so the view was lovely. Split the lemon pepper chicken with couscous- I was surprised when the chicken came out warm but the couscous was chilled. I might have missed that info on the menu but I don't remember seeing it. I actually preferred when the couscous had warmed up a little- then the flavors balanced nicely. The Garden reminds me a little bit of every other restaurant on the top floor of a building in a downtown urban area. You go because of the view and the ambiance and the food is usually passable. I would love to try it again when the retractable roof is open.
(3)
Anne Marie S.
Ok... The Shrimp Bruschetta Thingy appetizer was AMAZING!!!! Yum Yum Yum... Nuff said there. The 8oz sirloin steak was aight (MEH)... It would have been nice if the bread was warm but it was still good. The gelato was light and really tasty. Service was excellent!!!! Wait - did I mention the shrimp bruschetta.. good good good
(4)
Randal S.
Papa's got a brand new bag, and The Garden has a brand new menu. It made a huge difference. The cooks got some say in the new menu and as far as the food goes, I give it a 5star rating. The view is captivating as well. You overlook Salt Lake City from the 10th floor. The only downside to the restaurant is the funny music, it is hotel lobby/elevator music which some people dig....like old folks. Back to the food though which is the real highlight. The shrimp and chorizo bruschetta is bomdiggity-diggity, and that's no joke. Other highlights on the new menu include the meatloaf sandwich with carmelized onions and aioli, as well as the orange shrimp salad.
(4)
Kris B.
Nice open setting, especially when the retractable roof is opened up. Views of the temple and the surrounding areas are great, especially at night. Prompt service with good food. The chicken romano alfredo pasta combined tomato and alfredo sauce quite well. A good alternative to the Roof (which is right across the hall).
(4)
Leanne A.
Located at the top of the Joseph Smith Memorial building in Temple Square with an amazing view of the Temple. Pricey, but well worth the cost, and there are coupons available (10% coupons given on most bus tours and available at the Family History center or free appetizer when $25 purchase). First time having fried dill pickles, very artfully arranged with carrots, celery, and condiments. Tomato bisque soup was excellent as were our sandwiches (vegetable hummus). A bit chilly (a/c was very high!), but lovely atmosphere and friendly, helpful staff. Free bread/antipasto. Look to spend an average of $10 per entree. Note: Given the area and LDS ownership, it is strange that soda (all types including regular, decaf, diet) were offered but no coffee. Seems like they should either 100% uphold standard or not at all. Strange double standard. Attire is casual/formal and the location recommends guests be "informally formal". =P
(4)
Shirley H.
Located on the 10th. floor of the Joseph Smith Memorial Building, the restaurant has amazing views of the LDS Mormon Temple and downtown SLC. Came here once a few years back and it's my second time here for lunch. The Garden Restaurnat serves pretty much the standard cafe dishes where you can find anywhere else, soups and salads, sandwiches and burgers, a few pasta and meat dishes, and some desserts. Tried the Fried Dill Pickles appetizer - nicely battered dill pickles, crispy and flavorful. I'd love it more if it's fried zucchini or mozzarella instead. Lasagna was excellent and the Cajun Chicken Sandwich had quite a kick to it. For causal dining, this is a good place for lunch. For more fancy and romantic dinner, I think the Roof next door on the same floor probably will be a good choice.
(3)
Willy W.
What a great place to eat after spending an afternoon wandering around downtown Salt Lake City. The Garden is located in the Joseph Smith building and offers a great view from the 10th floor especially at/after sunset as the temple lights up. Note: You can see out pretty well w/o even having to step foot in the restaurant or the more expensive Roof across the hall. We ordered a chicken raspberry salad and a cuban panini. Prices are very affordable considering the accommodations. On top of that we were able to score a free appetizer (deep fried pickles - an Elvis favorite) via TXT msg sign outside. I tasted it despite not being a pickle fan and thought it was well made... sort of reminded me tempura. All in all, pretty good food and service and the view certainly helps...
(4)
Kayla S.
The view of the Temple was absolutely stunning! Prices were not bad, and the portions were huge. The crispy romano chicken sandwich and iced herbal tea were delicious.
(5)
Shari S.
2.5 stars that's getting bumped to 3 for the fantastic view. We came to SLC to work on genealogy, so we didn't want to stray very far from the library. The Garden, right there in Temple Square, seemed like a great choice. (Especially after we decided not to go back to JB's right next door, but really, they ended up being much the same.) There were a few other restaurants close by, but this was the only one with decent vegetarian options. (This, along with "bland but hearty cuisine," seems to be a Utah thing.) If you're a tourist who will be downtown, you ought to come to the Joseph Smith Memorial Building anyway to check out the old hotel stylings and the view from the 10th floor. An observation area sits between the two restaurants there, so you don't have to eat to see the view. Inside The Garden everything is white and made pleasant by the natural lighting from the windows and skylight above. Service was sincerely friendly. I have to give a thumbs up to any restaurant that offers refillable flavoured lemonade, and our raspberry lemonades were especially delicious and replenished quickly. The bread - we both chose white over wheat - was dense and dry. The kind of thing I'd expect to get with a big turkey supper... in 1882. My husband chose the Asian burger and I went for the veggie sandwich. Both were beautifully presented. His had sweet potato fries on the side and mine came with thick potato chips. Alas, these chips were thick-cut, a little translucent, and kind of rubbery... and I was horrified to realize that they were the base of The Garden's "Irish Nachos" instead of tortilla chips. Eww. The burger and sandwich themselves? Blaaaaaaaand. Heavy and not really tasting of much. I was amused that my husband's "Asian burger" had provolone cheese on it, but what it didn't have was the advertised chili aioli - or if it did, it tasted of nothing but "wet." The highlight, raspberry lemonades aside, would be the fried dill pickles, a signature offering. These are done as spears, not rounds like most places, sprinkled with herbs and served with two kinds of salad dressing. (Ranch and... Thousand Island?) The pickles burst with a sour leap of flavour with each bite. The Garden was worth trying, and I applaud a menu that seems more ambitious than others in the area. I'm really glad we got to see the building. But next time I think we'll just keep pizza delivery on speed dial.
(3)
Ifred M.
Food is simply disappointing, way overpriced, nice view though that you can enjoy for free maybe with your own food that for sure will taste better than anything this restaurant has
(1)
Bonnie Y.
i am surprised that there's no one writing review for this place? i was recommended to try this place when i went to SLC for a business trip... i wanted to go to temple square for a tour, so this restaurant which is on the 10th floor is right on! i got there early so i had a window seat which oversees the temple square... had tomato soup, which is a bit too salty, chicken & shrimp penne pasta, which is very tasty... and a lemonade... light and relaxing, price is reasonable too!!!
(4)
Greg P.
Located on the 10th floor of the Joseph Smith Memorial Building, most people come to see the view of the Temple and surroundings. It's worth it, as the view is fantastic, especally at night. I would like to mention that there is an observation deck that you can visit (no charge) outside of restaurants if you just want to look. Food is pretty standard, but not bad. Servers were friendly.
(3)
Jake P.
This place is never my first choice, but sometimes I find myself here because someone I am with wants to eat here and I'm not exactly sure why. The few times I have eaten here they take WAY TOO LONG to bring the food out. I'm sorry, the views get boring after a while, so BRING OUT THE BEEF and BRING IT SOON! Last night it took an hour! Seriously, an hour??? I must have had about 5 refills on my water and licked the plate that my roll was on about 10 times before my average tasting meal arrived in front of me. I ordered the burger and it was on the bad side of average. It was dry, which I hate. I could have rolled the dice and asked for another burger, but I didn't have another hour to waste. The garden fries were average. The amount of fry sauce they give you is an embarrassment. I think I dipped about 3-4 fries and then the fry sauce was gone. The dinner roll was okay, as good as a dinner roll can be I guess. Oh, the views are nice. I thought I had left something at the restaurant so when I got home I called them to check. I called about 10 times in a row before someone finally answered. Seriously, 10 minutes of solid calling before they picked up. It was 7:30pm when I called, what are you doing that you can't answer the phone? Crappy service, below average food, overpriced and a lot of time wasted while they drag their lazy feet around the kitchen. 2 stars instead of 1 because I do like the views, which are free if you visit the observation deck.
(2)
Antonio L.
Giving it a 3.5 stars... Just finished @ the temple and needed a good place to eat. This place was recommended earlier in the week to me, so it was on my "to try" list. Located on the 10th floor in the Joseph Smith Memorial Building, I was seated along the windows of the restaurant. A very picturesque view of downtown and wonderful setting. They've got some great sounding entrees on the menu, and even better deals for early dinner (4-6PM). I was able to order from the early dinner menu. Wheat Roll: Served before the soup, it was a fresh roll served with butter. It was soft and and mild in flavor. Beef Stew Soup: Great flavor of the soup! The seasoning was excellent, but I think some might say it was overwhelming. But this is my review. There were small cubes of beef, which weren't plenty. But fairly satisfying. Sirloin Steak: It was a little over cooked. I asked for medium and I got a medium well. Just a very light shade of pink, very close to well done. It was fairly moist topped with fried onion strips. Just an OK steak. What made it even more special was the dipping sauce it came with. It gave the meat so much flavor, so make sure if you order the steak, use the dipping sauce! Baked Potato: Your typical baked potato. Served with sour cream and chives and topped with 2 butter balls. Not much of a sour cream and chive person, so enjoyed it with just the butter and salt. The potato was was soft, but not mushy. It was baked to perfect. Service was great from being seated by the hostess to being served. Somewhere along the line I lost my waiter, and the hostess refilled my soda and gave me my check. In most cases, if the waiter was going to leave or take a break, he/she would have at least informed the customer. But that didn't happen in this situation.
(3)
Devin W.
Walking through the Joesph Smith Memorial building was a bit discouraging, but as I made my way up the elevator, reached the top floor and turned to the right and saw the view of the city I was astonished. The Food was remarkably good, I start with the Fried Pickles, then the Asian Burger. The service is remarkable and the rolls top it all off. Oh yes and the whole roof opens up for everyone the gaze into the sky.
(4)
Sara V.
Visited the evening of 8/19. Only two servers and the hostess on the floor. They were running and probably doing the best they could to say the least. Food v overpriced for what it is. My pumpkin ravioli excellent but v small portion and no sides included. My sister's hot salmon dish served on cold couscous. Won't return.
(2)
Jeanne F.
Worst dining experience I have ever had in my life. NO concept of customer service. They need to walk across the street to Nordstrom and learn something. Will never return! Only one star as there isn't an option for zero.
(1)
Elizabeth R.
I really enjoy eating at the Garden. I don't eat beef or chicken so I can't speak to many of the items that the other reviewers disliked, but their shrimp salad, vegetable lasagna and salmon burger are delicious. There have been times where the wait staff was not incredibly attentive when it was busy but they're friendly and I've experienced much worse service from other SLC restaurants. I'm not quite sure why one of the reviewers finds walking through the building "discouraging" since the first floor has a gorgeous stain glass ceiling and a second renaissance revival style (it used to be a hotel). Also, I'm highly amused at the reviewer who thinks she'll get more authentic and memorable food from Cedar's - a restaurant that serves $15-$20 dishes with canned green beans.
(5)
Gilbert A.
This place is a must for the view. Awesome vistas of temple square from the 10th floor. The food is all right nothing special we got a meatloaf sandwich and a fettuccine Alfredo. The meatloaf was ok It was meatloaf could have used a better spread or something. The pasta was a little dry for my taste. The service was good and the views spectacular.
(3)
Morgan V.
The Garden Restaurant has a spectacular view of Temple Square and other parts of downtown SLC. I've enjoyed many meals there over the years. Pricing is very reasonable considering the location. That said, I have to say that my last two visits have been disappointing. The menu changed at some point along the way and my favorite dishes disappeared. The quality of the food seems to have diminished somewhat. During a recent visit, the rolls served as appetizers were hard as rocks and the rest of the meal was unmemorable. Service, while very friendly, has been slow on my last two visits. In each case, the server was apologetic but the restaurant was hardly bustling, so I'm not sure what was going on. This is a great location... always impresses visitors from places other than California and New York. I just hope they can pick up their game food-wise.
(3)
Helena C.
Nothing special. I've been twice. Both times I was surprised by the friendliness of the service and how the servers went out of their way to help keep our 2 little kids happy (bringing their food early and even treats at the end). I"m afraid the food will keep us from going again. The second visit reminded me just how liberal they are with the salt. The artichoke soup (thick like mayonnaise) and chicken parmesan as well as the braised tri-tip were so salty I couldn't finish. The fettucini was the most soggy, over-cooked pasta I've ever tasted. The desserts and rolls are good though. I'd rather forgo the view and spend $15 a plate somewhere for more authentic, memorable food a couple of blocks away. Cedars of Lebanon, Sette Bello, Atlantic Cafe, etc.
(2)
Jody C.
I eat here during every Salt Lake visit -- partially because of their spinach salad. For lunch I usually get the meal-sized spinach salad but at dinner I have the smaller one that comes with a meal (for a couple dollars extra). Dinner entrees are a good value -- large portions and well-cooked. Desserts are good too but I often don't have room. Raspberry lemonade is to die for! Updated review 12/12 -- they're recently changed their menu and some of my favorites aren't there any longer. (no meal-sized spinach salad, for one). Food is still good, and you have the option of getting fries with your sandwich for an extra $1. Bonus to that is they have fry sauce! Entrees are very good; large enough portions to fill you but not so much that you waddle away. They have bread and balsamic vinaigrette/oil for dipping. That's great for dinner, but for lunch I'd rather have the rolls & butter they used to have.
(4)
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Address :15 E S Temple St,10th Fl
Salt Lake City, UT, 84150
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : No Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch Parking : Validated Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : No Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes
Katey K.
There was a group of 10 adults, 2 littles that came to dine on September 9th. We were in town for the doTERRA Convention. Poor Steven wasn't having a very good night. Between only half of our order printing in the kitchen, us giving him a bad time (all in good fun) and running out of ice cream for our dessert....He handled it all professionally and with a smile. He had to pull an all nighter for school after a 12 hour day. Hope he got some sleep.
(4)Nick P.
Had made a reservation for 17 family members. When we got there they had no reservation for us. Spoke to Nicholle the manager and she took care of us immediately. Could not thank her enough. Especially as it was a birthday lunch. The food and service is great.
(5)Joy N.
There's something for everybody. The menu is really diverse and the food is great. The view really can't be beat!
(4)Meagan B.
While I love the location and the view, the food is just okay. I want to love it, but nothing has blown me away yet. And I'm sad they got rid of their regular rolls. I love dipping bread in oil and balsamic, but there's just isn't doing it for me, and I preferred their original ones with butter. Though that's not a deal breaker. Honestly I'd go here more often if the options for kids were better. Everything is greasy and"kid food like", and I want something more substantial for my kids. The last time we went there however, the service was awesome. I loved our waitress. She was extremely sweet, funny, and amazing with our kids. We'll still go here again, I'm sure, but I really would love some fresh new options for my kids!!
(3)Marco E.
Affordable place with great location and view for a lunch date in Salt Lake City! We were a party of 3 for a Saturday Lunch. Waiting time only 15min and we got a window seat. Staff was very friendly but the kitchen took a bit to deliver. I am glad we ordered an appetizer to share. I'll come again if I am back in town.
(5)Rosie S.
This is one of my favorites. Such a beautiful view of the whole city. Sometimes the service is slow. I would just be sure to tell them you want the food brought out when it is done, doesnt need to be at the same time, because I swear we always have one hot plate and one cold. The manager here is a gem! Great place.
(4)Vida A.
My mom wanted to celebrate her birthday with a family late lunch here so she made reservations and they took a credit card to secure the reservation. They had a nice corner table set up with a balloon, it was very nice with views on both sides of us. Let me also say that none of us are mormon and she had a huge gift card to use. Loss of two stars is one for no alcohol. The other is our server was trying but fell a little flat not clearing dishes and such. Also I should mention that me and my baby were first to arrive and the surrounding tables had not been bussed or swept. It was so bad I had to ask for them to sweep as we would have been sitting in crumbs and fries on the floor. We started with the calamari and the dip, both were great. I had the pigpen sandwich and it was a monster and delicious. The others had steak and they enjoyed there food. The rolls are weird. The desserts are all sugary goodness. Place is very cute and light. If you are around this place is nice but I would never come back due to the location.
(3)Thomas C.
Great food, Great View, Great Service and an affordable price. What more could you ask for. My wife and I went here for our 25th wedding anniversary. It was the perfect choice. There was just the two of us, we had a table by the window. Glad we had reservations because even on a Tuesday evening it was very busy. But the service did not suffer. This is our new favorite spot to bring visiting guests.
(5)Chuck S.
Some unique entrees. The fish tacos are really good and the chicken salad sandwich is great with a large serving and beer batter fries. There's no Sysco here. The complementary bread before the meal with oil and balsamic are awesome. All is a little pricing but hey you're downtown over looking Temple Square.
(4)Jason F.
In order to get to this restaurant you need to enter the Joseph Smith Memorial Building and go to the elevators that are located at the back of the lobby. This restaurant and another are located on the tenth floor of the building which is also the top floor. When exiting the elevators turn right (West) and you can't miss them. The menu has a good selection of choices including salads, pastas, specialty dishes, and the usual fare of hamburgers and sandwiches. There should be something for everyone at this restaurant. The salad I had was tasty especially the dressing but some of the additions like the grapes were rather tasteless. The burger and fries are good as well. The burgers are not cooked to order unless you specify how you want it cooked. The ABLT is well made and the ingredients were fresh. The dinner rolls they serve are also very tasty. I'm not sure if the lunch menu differs from the dinner menu at all, although I would hazard to guess that it does. Prices range from $7.00 to $15.00 per entree. Both the view and the food are good.
(4)sybril s.
On top of the Joseph Smith building, this restaurant has a spectacular view especially during the winter. It was December when I went there and it was snowing, just absolutely beautiful. Now, the food... is rather "standard". The wait for the waiter to get the check... or anything, was pretty difficult. Right about when we decided to just leave the money on the table and leave, the waiter showed up. By then we've already gathered enough cash so we didn't have to wait to charge it on the card. Definitely go up there for the view, take a few pictures. I'd rather go somewhere else to eat walking a few blocks away.
(2)L N.
Went to eat at "The Garden" restruant at temple square, don't waste your money. It has million dollar views but food and service were poor at best.
(2)Sue G.
My husband and I actually ate here quite a number of months ago - so . . .I can't remember the details. What I do remember is how very, very disappointed we were with our seating. This was our first time here - as we were traveling through and in SLC for a week. We called and made reservations and asked for a window table with a view; we were going to a nice event following dinner. Well . . . we were seated at a window-type table - right next to (sort of behind!) a huge column - so . . .no view to speak of (at least not without leaning way out of the chair and trying to look around it!) There were other tables for 2 that were much better located with a view available when we were seated. Seeing the empty tables, we did ask if we could be reseated - and were told "No" - they were reserved (just as ours was!) This was so disappointing as we had so looked forward to this. The food was fine - but our disappointment with our seating seemed to overshadow our experience - we did work to not let it completely spoil our evening. Our server was pleasant - not super efficient.
(2)Bobby H.
I got the mess burger which was pretty tasty. I think instead of putting fry sauce on the burger they should do BBQ. We had a pretty big group here and everyone seemed to like their food for the most part. It was not amazing, but was decent. Don't come here for the food, come for the view. The food is good enough to make the trip worth it.
(3)Nikita G.
Beautiful refreshing ambience and a view of the Temple Square right from the 10th floor of a gorgeous building. I ordered Salmon, which was amazing, with all the flavours they had and the corn on the top, just felt perfect. My friends ordered lasagne, they weren't much fans of it, but they liked it. The menu is very limited and they have daily specials. We so wanted to order a special that was listed on other weekday :(. Overall a beautiful place to dine with moderate rates.
(3)Chris W.
I was never interested in this restaurant before. I went one Saturday ONLY BECAUSE the Roof was booked solid and I wanted the view and they were having a Father's Day special of filet mignon and dungeness crab cakes. Their regular menu held nothing that interested me, but this special sounded worthwhile. I get there at 8PM and they're all out of their special. HUGE disappointment. We considered leaving but decided we might as well stay. The restaurant was 90% empty on a Saturday night...not a good sign. Tried the waitress recommendation of some chicken dish and it was a complete waste. My date tried the fish tacos, which were ok but definitely very overpriced. Will never be returning. The retractable roof they open on nice days is fun for a few minutes. The view is worthwhile only at sunset. There is a fun feel to being on the top floor of the building. But just skip this and go to the Roof; far better food, well worth the price differential.
(2)V Y.
Good food, great view, and good value. Food - A wide range of choices. I had the turkey dinner special. Great turkey, really done very well, plus stuffing, mashed potatoes, green beans, and an interesting sauce of cranberries, mandarin oranges, and spices. My better half had the chicken alfredo, a decent version with grilled chicken and a nice pink cream sauce. View - Excellent view of the entire West Valley toward the airport and Temple Square. Really a great place to watch the sun set and city lights come up. Value - Good price to quality ratio. Would try it again. Ambiance - This could have been improved. Lighting was very bright, which would be ok for lunch, however it would have been nice to be a touch dimmer for dinner hour. It seemed popular with all tables full while we were there.
(4)S T.
I go here mainly for the pear and gorganzola salad. If you travel as frequently as I do, eating unhealthy gets old so a nice fresh and tasty salad is refreshing. Every time I'm here, the service has been really slow. This last time, it took them 30 minutes to get my salad out!
(3)Maria A.
Incredible view and great feel to eat up there very fresh and airy feel as well as great service.
(5)Grace S.
A prototypical LDS restaurant. They didn't serve caffeinated iced tea. Food was a bit odd. I had a turkey and avocado sandwich on white bread. It was blah/ok, nothing memorable. My side salad greens were quite wilty. My lunch guest from out of town had their fish tacos. The fish was skewered on a wooden stick and arranged like a tent over the tortillas and rice. Plating was quite odd. Service was good. The server was friendly and brought extra avocados for my lunch guest. We enjoyed the views of the LDS temple and downtown. We also were treated with a tour of the lobby downstairs (although we didn't really ask for one).
(3)Mel L.
Face it, you're not really coming here for the food, you're coming here for the view. That said, the food is not bad. Honestly; I had the romano encrusted chicken pasta and it was pretty good. The chicken was not dry and the pasta was not overly saucy (because those are two things that would drive me nuts). The pineapple upside down cake was yummy. Service was friendly and helpful but a tad bit slow considering there were very few other tables. Overall, I would come back.
(4)Ann L.
Someone picked The Garden Restaurant to eat at, not my choice at all. Sure, the views are nice to see the Temple & Downtown UT but you can just go to the windows outside the restaurant & see it for FREE then eat elsewhere. FREE bread- just one big round piece per person. Tasted ok, greasy. I got the Early Bird Special before 6pm Roasted Pacific Salmon $17 served w/ Strawberry Gelato. Salmon was fine, stuff under it was gross - what was it? Strawberry Gelato was nice w/ a brittle candy I liked. Lots of Teenagers going to their prom also dined there that evening. That should tell you how good the food is.
(2)Chris R.
Incredible view of the city and Temple. Go for dinner for a stunning sunset. Food was very, very good and prices were quite reasonable. I had the smothered burrito and it was delicious and huge. My friends had Salmon and Flat Iron steak. They raved about it. Service was quick and thorough. Elegant restaraunt but not snooty. Dress was casual (seemed a bit strange since it was a very classy looking place).
(4)Jonathan B.
I went there for my mother-in-laws birthday so the company was great but the food din't live up to expectation... Nor was it all that good. I had the Early Bird Specials Flat Iron Steak ordered to medium rare for $17.00. The steak was hard to cut and chew and though there was gravy and one other sauce it was kind of bland. I had to add both salt and pepper to make it bearable to eat. The mashed potatoes were good however they too need salt. The asparagus was cold and the entrée was served with some hard pasta sticking out of the potatoes. If you weren't careful, it could impale you through the heart. My wife had the Romano Encrusted Chicken Pasta $14.00, also a special. According to her the chicken was OK but the sauce had a strong taste of balsamic vinegar. So much so she choose to eat the pasta with out it and leave the remaining. The strawberry gelato was the best part of the meal. That being, I'd recommend you eat at Sizzler's on 4th south and go to the Garden for the view just outside the restaurant. Presentation won't be the same but the food will be and less. The service was very friendly and they validate for parking, that's why they get a 2 rather than 1. And expect to see large groups of kids there for prom. I didn't expect it and they were there anyway.
(2)Jonna C.
Sauntered up to the Garden just before closing time. Got a great table next to the window so the view was lovely. Split the lemon pepper chicken with couscous- I was surprised when the chicken came out warm but the couscous was chilled. I might have missed that info on the menu but I don't remember seeing it. I actually preferred when the couscous had warmed up a little- then the flavors balanced nicely. The Garden reminds me a little bit of every other restaurant on the top floor of a building in a downtown urban area. You go because of the view and the ambiance and the food is usually passable. I would love to try it again when the retractable roof is open.
(3)Anne Marie S.
Ok... The Shrimp Bruschetta Thingy appetizer was AMAZING!!!! Yum Yum Yum... Nuff said there. The 8oz sirloin steak was aight (MEH)... It would have been nice if the bread was warm but it was still good. The gelato was light and really tasty. Service was excellent!!!! Wait - did I mention the shrimp bruschetta.. good good good
(4)Randal S.
Papa's got a brand new bag, and The Garden has a brand new menu. It made a huge difference. The cooks got some say in the new menu and as far as the food goes, I give it a 5star rating. The view is captivating as well. You overlook Salt Lake City from the 10th floor. The only downside to the restaurant is the funny music, it is hotel lobby/elevator music which some people dig....like old folks. Back to the food though which is the real highlight. The shrimp and chorizo bruschetta is bomdiggity-diggity, and that's no joke. Other highlights on the new menu include the meatloaf sandwich with carmelized onions and aioli, as well as the orange shrimp salad.
(4)Kris B.
Nice open setting, especially when the retractable roof is opened up. Views of the temple and the surrounding areas are great, especially at night. Prompt service with good food. The chicken romano alfredo pasta combined tomato and alfredo sauce quite well. A good alternative to the Roof (which is right across the hall).
(4)Leanne A.
Located at the top of the Joseph Smith Memorial building in Temple Square with an amazing view of the Temple. Pricey, but well worth the cost, and there are coupons available (10% coupons given on most bus tours and available at the Family History center or free appetizer when $25 purchase). First time having fried dill pickles, very artfully arranged with carrots, celery, and condiments. Tomato bisque soup was excellent as were our sandwiches (vegetable hummus). A bit chilly (a/c was very high!), but lovely atmosphere and friendly, helpful staff. Free bread/antipasto. Look to spend an average of $10 per entree. Note: Given the area and LDS ownership, it is strange that soda (all types including regular, decaf, diet) were offered but no coffee. Seems like they should either 100% uphold standard or not at all. Strange double standard. Attire is casual/formal and the location recommends guests be "informally formal". =P
(4)Shirley H.
Located on the 10th. floor of the Joseph Smith Memorial Building, the restaurant has amazing views of the LDS Mormon Temple and downtown SLC. Came here once a few years back and it's my second time here for lunch. The Garden Restaurnat serves pretty much the standard cafe dishes where you can find anywhere else, soups and salads, sandwiches and burgers, a few pasta and meat dishes, and some desserts. Tried the Fried Dill Pickles appetizer - nicely battered dill pickles, crispy and flavorful. I'd love it more if it's fried zucchini or mozzarella instead. Lasagna was excellent and the Cajun Chicken Sandwich had quite a kick to it. For causal dining, this is a good place for lunch. For more fancy and romantic dinner, I think the Roof next door on the same floor probably will be a good choice.
(3)Willy W.
What a great place to eat after spending an afternoon wandering around downtown Salt Lake City. The Garden is located in the Joseph Smith building and offers a great view from the 10th floor especially at/after sunset as the temple lights up. Note: You can see out pretty well w/o even having to step foot in the restaurant or the more expensive Roof across the hall. We ordered a chicken raspberry salad and a cuban panini. Prices are very affordable considering the accommodations. On top of that we were able to score a free appetizer (deep fried pickles - an Elvis favorite) via TXT msg sign outside. I tasted it despite not being a pickle fan and thought it was well made... sort of reminded me tempura. All in all, pretty good food and service and the view certainly helps...
(4)Kayla S.
The view of the Temple was absolutely stunning! Prices were not bad, and the portions were huge. The crispy romano chicken sandwich and iced herbal tea were delicious.
(5)Shari S.
2.5 stars that's getting bumped to 3 for the fantastic view. We came to SLC to work on genealogy, so we didn't want to stray very far from the library. The Garden, right there in Temple Square, seemed like a great choice. (Especially after we decided not to go back to JB's right next door, but really, they ended up being much the same.) There were a few other restaurants close by, but this was the only one with decent vegetarian options. (This, along with "bland but hearty cuisine," seems to be a Utah thing.) If you're a tourist who will be downtown, you ought to come to the Joseph Smith Memorial Building anyway to check out the old hotel stylings and the view from the 10th floor. An observation area sits between the two restaurants there, so you don't have to eat to see the view. Inside The Garden everything is white and made pleasant by the natural lighting from the windows and skylight above. Service was sincerely friendly. I have to give a thumbs up to any restaurant that offers refillable flavoured lemonade, and our raspberry lemonades were especially delicious and replenished quickly. The bread - we both chose white over wheat - was dense and dry. The kind of thing I'd expect to get with a big turkey supper... in 1882. My husband chose the Asian burger and I went for the veggie sandwich. Both were beautifully presented. His had sweet potato fries on the side and mine came with thick potato chips. Alas, these chips were thick-cut, a little translucent, and kind of rubbery... and I was horrified to realize that they were the base of The Garden's "Irish Nachos" instead of tortilla chips. Eww. The burger and sandwich themselves? Blaaaaaaaand. Heavy and not really tasting of much. I was amused that my husband's "Asian burger" had provolone cheese on it, but what it didn't have was the advertised chili aioli - or if it did, it tasted of nothing but "wet." The highlight, raspberry lemonades aside, would be the fried dill pickles, a signature offering. These are done as spears, not rounds like most places, sprinkled with herbs and served with two kinds of salad dressing. (Ranch and... Thousand Island?) The pickles burst with a sour leap of flavour with each bite. The Garden was worth trying, and I applaud a menu that seems more ambitious than others in the area. I'm really glad we got to see the building. But next time I think we'll just keep pizza delivery on speed dial.
(3)Ifred M.
Food is simply disappointing, way overpriced, nice view though that you can enjoy for free maybe with your own food that for sure will taste better than anything this restaurant has
(1)Bonnie Y.
i am surprised that there's no one writing review for this place? i was recommended to try this place when i went to SLC for a business trip... i wanted to go to temple square for a tour, so this restaurant which is on the 10th floor is right on! i got there early so i had a window seat which oversees the temple square... had tomato soup, which is a bit too salty, chicken & shrimp penne pasta, which is very tasty... and a lemonade... light and relaxing, price is reasonable too!!!
(4)Greg P.
Located on the 10th floor of the Joseph Smith Memorial Building, most people come to see the view of the Temple and surroundings. It's worth it, as the view is fantastic, especally at night. I would like to mention that there is an observation deck that you can visit (no charge) outside of restaurants if you just want to look. Food is pretty standard, but not bad. Servers were friendly.
(3)Jake P.
This place is never my first choice, but sometimes I find myself here because someone I am with wants to eat here and I'm not exactly sure why. The few times I have eaten here they take WAY TOO LONG to bring the food out. I'm sorry, the views get boring after a while, so BRING OUT THE BEEF and BRING IT SOON! Last night it took an hour! Seriously, an hour??? I must have had about 5 refills on my water and licked the plate that my roll was on about 10 times before my average tasting meal arrived in front of me. I ordered the burger and it was on the bad side of average. It was dry, which I hate. I could have rolled the dice and asked for another burger, but I didn't have another hour to waste. The garden fries were average. The amount of fry sauce they give you is an embarrassment. I think I dipped about 3-4 fries and then the fry sauce was gone. The dinner roll was okay, as good as a dinner roll can be I guess. Oh, the views are nice. I thought I had left something at the restaurant so when I got home I called them to check. I called about 10 times in a row before someone finally answered. Seriously, 10 minutes of solid calling before they picked up. It was 7:30pm when I called, what are you doing that you can't answer the phone? Crappy service, below average food, overpriced and a lot of time wasted while they drag their lazy feet around the kitchen. 2 stars instead of 1 because I do like the views, which are free if you visit the observation deck.
(2)Antonio L.
Giving it a 3.5 stars... Just finished @ the temple and needed a good place to eat. This place was recommended earlier in the week to me, so it was on my "to try" list. Located on the 10th floor in the Joseph Smith Memorial Building, I was seated along the windows of the restaurant. A very picturesque view of downtown and wonderful setting. They've got some great sounding entrees on the menu, and even better deals for early dinner (4-6PM). I was able to order from the early dinner menu. Wheat Roll: Served before the soup, it was a fresh roll served with butter. It was soft and and mild in flavor. Beef Stew Soup: Great flavor of the soup! The seasoning was excellent, but I think some might say it was overwhelming. But this is my review. There were small cubes of beef, which weren't plenty. But fairly satisfying. Sirloin Steak: It was a little over cooked. I asked for medium and I got a medium well. Just a very light shade of pink, very close to well done. It was fairly moist topped with fried onion strips. Just an OK steak. What made it even more special was the dipping sauce it came with. It gave the meat so much flavor, so make sure if you order the steak, use the dipping sauce! Baked Potato: Your typical baked potato. Served with sour cream and chives and topped with 2 butter balls. Not much of a sour cream and chive person, so enjoyed it with just the butter and salt. The potato was was soft, but not mushy. It was baked to perfect. Service was great from being seated by the hostess to being served. Somewhere along the line I lost my waiter, and the hostess refilled my soda and gave me my check. In most cases, if the waiter was going to leave or take a break, he/she would have at least informed the customer. But that didn't happen in this situation.
(3)Devin W.
Walking through the Joesph Smith Memorial building was a bit discouraging, but as I made my way up the elevator, reached the top floor and turned to the right and saw the view of the city I was astonished. The Food was remarkably good, I start with the Fried Pickles, then the Asian Burger. The service is remarkable and the rolls top it all off. Oh yes and the whole roof opens up for everyone the gaze into the sky.
(4)Sara V.
Visited the evening of 8/19. Only two servers and the hostess on the floor. They were running and probably doing the best they could to say the least. Food v overpriced for what it is. My pumpkin ravioli excellent but v small portion and no sides included. My sister's hot salmon dish served on cold couscous. Won't return.
(2)Jeanne F.
Worst dining experience I have ever had in my life. NO concept of customer service. They need to walk across the street to Nordstrom and learn something. Will never return! Only one star as there isn't an option for zero.
(1)Elizabeth R.
I really enjoy eating at the Garden. I don't eat beef or chicken so I can't speak to many of the items that the other reviewers disliked, but their shrimp salad, vegetable lasagna and salmon burger are delicious. There have been times where the wait staff was not incredibly attentive when it was busy but they're friendly and I've experienced much worse service from other SLC restaurants. I'm not quite sure why one of the reviewers finds walking through the building "discouraging" since the first floor has a gorgeous stain glass ceiling and a second renaissance revival style (it used to be a hotel). Also, I'm highly amused at the reviewer who thinks she'll get more authentic and memorable food from Cedar's - a restaurant that serves $15-$20 dishes with canned green beans.
(5)Gilbert A.
This place is a must for the view. Awesome vistas of temple square from the 10th floor. The food is all right nothing special we got a meatloaf sandwich and a fettuccine Alfredo. The meatloaf was ok It was meatloaf could have used a better spread or something. The pasta was a little dry for my taste. The service was good and the views spectacular.
(3)Morgan V.
The Garden Restaurant has a spectacular view of Temple Square and other parts of downtown SLC. I've enjoyed many meals there over the years. Pricing is very reasonable considering the location. That said, I have to say that my last two visits have been disappointing. The menu changed at some point along the way and my favorite dishes disappeared. The quality of the food seems to have diminished somewhat. During a recent visit, the rolls served as appetizers were hard as rocks and the rest of the meal was unmemorable. Service, while very friendly, has been slow on my last two visits. In each case, the server was apologetic but the restaurant was hardly bustling, so I'm not sure what was going on. This is a great location... always impresses visitors from places other than California and New York. I just hope they can pick up their game food-wise.
(3)Helena C.
Nothing special. I've been twice. Both times I was surprised by the friendliness of the service and how the servers went out of their way to help keep our 2 little kids happy (bringing their food early and even treats at the end). I"m afraid the food will keep us from going again. The second visit reminded me just how liberal they are with the salt. The artichoke soup (thick like mayonnaise) and chicken parmesan as well as the braised tri-tip were so salty I couldn't finish. The fettucini was the most soggy, over-cooked pasta I've ever tasted. The desserts and rolls are good though. I'd rather forgo the view and spend $15 a plate somewhere for more authentic, memorable food a couple of blocks away. Cedars of Lebanon, Sette Bello, Atlantic Cafe, etc.
(2)Jody C.
I eat here during every Salt Lake visit -- partially because of their spinach salad. For lunch I usually get the meal-sized spinach salad but at dinner I have the smaller one that comes with a meal (for a couple dollars extra). Dinner entrees are a good value -- large portions and well-cooked. Desserts are good too but I often don't have room. Raspberry lemonade is to die for! Updated review 12/12 -- they're recently changed their menu and some of my favorites aren't there any longer. (no meal-sized spinach salad, for one). Food is still good, and you have the option of getting fries with your sandwich for an extra $1. Bonus to that is they have fry sauce! Entrees are very good; large enough portions to fill you but not so much that you waddle away. They have bread and balsamic vinaigrette/oil for dipping. That's great for dinner, but for lunch I'd rather have the rolls & butter they used to have.
(4)