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Show TheSalt Lake Tribune THE MIX Friday September 6. 2002 Portofino: Fast, Fresh Italian — Now That’s Using Your Noodle DAILY SPECIAL BY BYANNE WilSON SPECIAL TOTHETRIBUNE Inventive cooks know that “fast o< don't have to be four-letter — in the restaurant industry, fast food usually means fat-laden burgers looked around Salt Lake County and saw that Italian restaurants are popuJar, but not necessarily inexpensive aes it was a niche he and bis partners Flora Lee The a la carte menuis nicely bal anced for its size: a by Donna L. Barstow Ss. ol, from per) dishes and clear them away. While it’s fast and cheap,the décor, oversized white china and partialservice make Portofino feel like more than a typical fast-food restaurant. Evenbetter, most of the food is quite good, especially consideringthe price. A large portion of spaghetti and meatbalis, tossed with a light but tasty marinara sauce, costs less than $5. And you can bein and outthe door in less than 30 minutes. Portofino has a few limitations —a relatively short menu, a few underseasoned dishes, noise during busy Diners order at the counter, get their own drinks and take a number to their tables Servers dressedin a casual uniform of whenit's ready, which is usually less but people who need a quick fix of is packed. Fresh pasta, madelocally by a sup- KarenJane Restaurant and Wine Bar, 224 S, 1200 East; 581.0688. Hours: Monday through Friday, 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.Prices; Entrées from $7 to $18. Liquor: Full bar, winelist. KarenJane is the old Brumby’s, trans- formed by the same ownerinto a casual restaurant with an expanded —— a 322-4631 wwwaltalodge.com the cheese menu list a and caoe e a week, is the key to Portofino's speedy preparation. With the sauces already made, it takes only minutes to cook and serve fresh pasta, which tastes a whole lot better than dried. the large meat balls as well a the tasty sausage. It i: also good on the fiv cheese ravioli ($5.85), whichhasa pungent fillin meof Portofino's aresalads, which are unifor grilled fresh tomate covered porch allowat least a few din- dishes run is gone, it is gone (exactly what hap- eggplant, zucchini, mush. mushroom the gamut ravioli from ($6.96) @ Wilson is The Tribune's res reviewer. The newspaper cov ‘ost of meals at restaurants r¢ andthereis no connection bereviews and restaurant Wilson welcomesfood and tion, anc wild to or the chocolate- coconut although both would 'y were not served so 0 fills a nichethat diners not have knownwasthere. This ze of fast and fresh Italiar makes food that says “pronto” in any language “The seafood salad ad mix more typical $6.5 rooms and onions for $5.85) the pasta to boot. You c » news, comments andsuggestions ld make a wonderfi (write99@aol.com. nutritionally balanced and delicious, from the grilled vege- restaurants, The Pagodais stil cook at their table. Fun for a crowd and an effective ice-breaker, cooking tarian sandwich to one made with tendertri-tip steak. Diners cansit in Jumbo fried dinner onebite at a time is entertain. ing and delicious. Reservations are a good idea large rattan chairs, surrounded by hugeplants, and eat while serenaded by the sounds of water fountains and appear on the menu. Every dinnerincludes a generous salad and a deli- alternative music sold at Dancing cious homemade dessert. Crane Imports. Singing Cricket Café, 673 E. Simpson Ave. (2240 South); 4870056. Hours: Monday through Saturday, The Pagoda, 25 ESt.; 3555-8155. Hours: Tuesday through Thursday, 510 p.m.; Friday and Saturday,5 p.m. 10:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.; Sunday, noon to to midnight; Sunday, 3-10 p.m. Prices: 4:20 p.m.; Prices: Nothing over $7. Li- Entrées from $6.25 to $10.75. Liquor: Yes. The Pagoda doesn't offer the most trendy or authentic Asianfood, but in 55 years has built a reputation for reasonably priced, family-style food. One of Utah’s longest-running and operated by the Iwasaki f cialty for good eaten on the spot. Good choices arec mein (ask for pan-fried noodh foo yong and a newitem, battered chicken Greenhouse Effect, East; 483-0885. Hours: D tatsuta. a.m. Prices: Crépes for The Melting Pot, 340 S. Main St 521-6358. Hours: Sunday through Thursday, 510 p.m; Friday Saturday, 5-11 p.m. Prices: from $15 to $53 (for two). Li This national chain m and Entrées Liquor: No. An offbeat, late-night cof feehouse that serves delicious crépes made from aclassic Fillin: spicy a Thai chicken complemented with lots of melted cheese or sweet Utah with trendy r plete fondue menu, from cheese to chocolate. Diners can choose an elab- A roomy patio in the front of this bun orate three-course meal or simplify with a salad and a main course they galowis the perfect place to sip coffee and contemplate the magic of nature Ranger itdits JaSMINE TAT ai China Bistro & Sushi Bar Sunday Brunch em jot made in t plier whodelivers atleast three times faux-finish walls in warm tones oforange and brown. A few taties on the ¢ Special Lodging Packagefree brunch with overnight stay! t and toma of a fine-c plemented b: pastries is served in the corner of an meal with this salad and a bowl of o's excellent chicken curr shrimp) needed either The downside is that once something 9:30 am - 2:00 pm L The fettucine alfredo ($4 depending on whether it plain or with chicker visits). In addition to twoversionsof lasa gna (meat with five cheeses and a vegetarian blend ofricotta cheese, import store that feels like a retreat from the world. The food is nN ombined rich, satisfying dish. pened with the lasagna on both of our quor: No. A menu of hot and cold sandwiches,salads, soups, coffees and A L while the chee: saltiness Portofino’s elegant sign suggests it is a cut abovefast-food dining, andits interior design furthers that notion with a tile floor and nicely painted, sauce and apple-cider glazed salmon ing over $ Liquor: No Reservations:No. Child's Menu: Yes. Takeout Yes. Wheeichair Accessible: Yes Outdoor Dining: Yes Parking: On-sitelot Credit Cards: All major. those ¢’ area a food theme of sorts. wine list, complete dinners at afford able prices and an eclectic menu. Good falafel, roast chicken with a rosemary with a pancettaflavored sauce all than 10 minutes, even whenthe place 3300 South. 474-1835. Hours: Monday through t Thursday, 11 a.m. fo 10 p.m. Satur Prices: Noth wiches. There isn’t any fine dining among the bunch, which gives the SECOND HELPINGS Where: 2991 E made gna for$2.95. times and no wine, which Acord says doesn't fit with the fast-food concept ers toeat outside. Portefina Pastaria te macaroni and cheese or meat lasa shirts bring thefood hordes of diners, thanks to a bunch of restaurants offering everything from quick-Mex to burgers,pizza and sand- ($5.2 spaghetti, khaki pants and Italian food for a few bucks will like what’s happeninghere. The restaurant opened in April ina rejuvenated strip mall that now draws chicken salads and 10 pasta dishes. Nothing costs more than $7, and kids can choose black Portofino T. der at the counter, but servers bring the food to the table on china (not pa- with Some of the pasta dishes are uce, which te with bi couple of soups, five cousin “Steen Bush) ) t cae it iy could fill with their new saiares is quick dining, but with food made from ingredients: fresh (not dried) pasta, quick homemade sauces and good greens, with everything at least minimally garnished. Diners or- pappardelle kkk ey Recommended by ABCTV News "Good Morning Utah”, « Weddings & Conferences The Deseret News and The Salt Lake Tribune's "Dining Out" 2002 City Weekly, "One ofThe Best Chinese Restaurants” Salt Loke Magazine, “One ofThe Best Restaurants In Salt Lake.” nahh Featuring authentic Chinese, Szechwan and Mandarin presents Cuisine; plus a Japanese Sushi Bar with Sports Programming. in concert Mon-Thur:I: EeeTae Fri-Sat:taney Sun: 4:00-9:00pm Night Ranger Elegant Atmosphere + Creek Side Patio Dining September 13, 2002 Ogden Amphitheater 343 Historic 25th Street in downtown Ogden. Doors open at 7:00 p.m. Concert begins at 8:00 p.m. ‘Tickets are now onsale at the Abravanel Hall Box Office (355-2787), or any Smith's ‘Tix Outlet. Call 467-TIXX, 1.800-888-TIXX. o purchaseonline at www-smithstix.com For VIP tickets (first 20 rows of Abravanel Hall) and a pre-concert dinner at ‘The Grand America Hotel, call 333-5679. For your convenience, ride TRAX toandfrom the concert. Proceeds benefit Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Utah's Caring Foundation for Children. FY, Cree available at: * On line at www.ogdencity.com + Phone order- Visa or Mastercard - (801) 629-8248 (8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Mondaythru Friday) * Ogden City Community Services building at 1875 Monroe Biva. ((8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Mondaythru Friday) Brought to you by Ogden City eet ett Openingfor Night Rangerwill be Kap Brothers Tickets are $16, $29 and $38 810, Highland Circe» Salt Lake City, UT « Tet (007 270-6688 THEmeg JO MUCH TO DO Friday, September 6 Ipm-8Spm ARUP Blood Drive UnionPacific Building Grand Hall please remember your picture LD.) 5pm-9pm Utah's American Idol, Aaron Karr Concert and CD release Tprn-9pm Guitarists Lindsey Bagley and Tamara Forbes Wednesday, September11 6pm-7pm Olympic Legacy Plaza "Never Forget" Candelight Vigil featuring a performance by Thurl Bailey Sponsored by Citadel Communications Radio Stations Mira. Gateway For more inf » RE RO + the Gateway Concierge at (801) 456-0000 for the First Howe, Always Fre an Sunday, Downtown off 400 Wes Oe Ree |