Red Iguana article in the NY Times

[PassTheDutchie]

This makes me hungry.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/25/bu...uana&st=Search

Build a 2nd Restaurant in the First’s Shadow?
By IAN MOUNT

Red Iguana is a family-owned Mexican restaurant in Salt Lake City. Founded in 1985 by Mexican immigrants Ramón and María Cardenas, the restaurant describes its menu of moles, chile verde and enchiladas as “pre-Hispanic food, imperial Aztec cuisine and Moctezuma’s table.” Besides its sit-down restaurant business, the 130-employee company also has catering and fast-food operations.

THE CHALLENGE To expand to a new location while surviving a disruptive public works project — a light rail line down the middle of Red Iguana’s street — just as the restaurant was experiencing a rush of business from being featured on the Food Network’s “Diners, Drive-ins and Dives.”...

[Parvo]

I want to bathe in their mole.

[Skidog]

I want to bathe in their mole.

2nd!!!!!!!!

fucking 8 character limit.

[leroy jenkins]

OK I've never been to Red, but Ive been to all the Blues, they were ok, nothing all that much better than many hole in the wall mexican joints in colorado or texas Ive been to. Is Red really all that much better? People talk about all of them as if they are something amazing, meh.

I havent found ANYWHERE in SLC that has really great food, at any price. I havent been to La Caille but I've heard you're pretty much paying for the atmosphere there. Theres lots of pretty ok food around, but none that I will actually miss once I leave.

Compared to Denver, Santa Fe, Aspen, and yes even Bozeman, MT, the food in SLC is pretty mediocre.

I so miss La Parillija in Bozeman, and Johnny's in Aspen.

[PassTheDutchie]

Red is really, really good. I live in Chicago and am surrounded by more (authentic) Mexican food than I can shake a stick at. Iguana is as good as any of them... Except for the wait times.

[toast2266]

I don't make it to SLC as often as I'd like, but the RI is always on the hit list. Been to one of the Blue Iguana's as well; it was fine, but not even close to as good as the Red. Are they associated / owned by the same people?

[Hutch]

OK I've never been to Red, but Ive been to all the Blues, they were ok, nothing all that much better than many hole in the wall mexican joints in colorado or texas Ive been to. Is Red really all that much better? People talk about all of them as if they are something amazing, meh.

I havent found ANYWHERE in SLC that has really great food, at any price. I havent been to La Caille but I've heard you're pretty much paying for the atmosphere there. Theres lots of pretty ok food around, but none that I will actually miss once I leave.

Compared to Denver, Santa Fe, Aspen, and yes even Bozeman, MT, the food in SLC is pretty mediocre.

I so miss La Parillija in Bozeman, and Johnny's in Aspen.

Yes, Red is far better than any of the Blues. Mole Amarillo!

The Blue Iguana in PC is pretty disappointing.

[blowupthemoon]

My love affair with the iguana has definately been impacted by that north temple trax nonsense, but at this point I'll brave that construction warzone for my enchiladas amarillas and a jalapeno margarita.

X2 on the Blue, tried the one in PC a few months back, fills its role as the bastard stepchild to RI quite nicely.

[Parvo]

The Blue Iguana in PC is pretty disappointing.

It does not deserve the proud Iguana name.

[junto]

There is no association between the blue iguana and the red. Blue is just playing off of the red iguana's notoriety and is owned by the douchebag that bought the dead goat saloon and turned it in to a shitty titty bar.

[Pegleg]

Blue is just a pale, pale shadow of the glory that is Red. Red's mole is made with unicorn tears, I believe. I'd order it as a beverage if it was offered.

[Catfish]

La Parilla? Seriously Leroy? EASILY one of the worst restaurants i've ever been to and the shittiest of all of Bozemans shitty restaurants. Dave's is the best in Bozeman, tells you all you need to know about food here.

[leroy jenkins]

You list a sushi place as a good restaurant? Do they have anything other than overpriced appetizers? Seriously sushi can be good but its all just expensive appetizers.

Also I'm obviously not the only person that digs la parilla as there is a line every time I was there and hardly ever enough parking. Gimmie a jambalaya wrap and i'm happy. Not authentic mex or authentic anything, but damn tasty.

When I lived in Bozeman I was not thrilled with the food, but now that I'm in SLC I miss Bozeman's food. LP, the sort of cajun place whos name I can't remember thats across from the verizon store and mcdonalds, and Frank's were all a shitton better than just about anything in SLC.

[DasBlunt]

Best Mexican food in the world is in Tuscan AZ, Cafe Poca Cosa....unbelievable to even the most gnar-dog mexican food lovers/critique.

I think Moab most likely has the best food in Utarda, but I will give Red Iguana a shot. Another great reason for a week in SLC.

[rideit]

Moab? Jesus. The taco cart by chile pepper is good...

[Danno]

I'm with pegleg, I think their mole is made with some unholy parts of a unicorn. I wish they would open one in Colorado.

As for the state of SLC food, I'm no expert, but I think Leroy is way off base. I have found some awesome eats in my limited time there. Great thai food, for one.

[advres]

We have ZERO good Mexican food in Boston and it is pretty depressing.

[Dickeymotto]

As for the state of SLC food, I'm no expert, but I think Leroy is way off base. I have found some awesome eats in my limited time there. Great thai food, for one.

Agreed, we have some great places here. Some of my favorites:
Soul and Bones BBQ (temporarily closed due to douche landlord)
Red Iguana
High West Distillery and Saloon
The Wild Grape
Sage's Cafe
Sonora Grill
Pat's BBQ
Tony Caputo's
Zucca Trattoria
Squatters (not the best food, but certainly a good burger and beer after a ride/ski day)
Lone Star Taqueria
Les Madeline's
Moochie's Meatballs
Jerimiah's (breakfast only, dinner sucks)
Bruge's Waffles and Frites
Ekamai Thai Curry
Market Street Grill
Cafe D'Bolla (best cup of coffee I've found anywhere)
Este Pizza
Tin Angel Cafe

Yep, no good food in Utah

[GimpToo]

^^^Agree on Market Street Grill, and some of the others too . . . LaCaille, although expensive, is worth it if you want a special experience . . .

[leroy jenkins]

Agreed, we have some great places here. Some of my favorites:
Soul and Bones BBQ (temporarily closed due to douche landlord)
Red Iguana
High West Distillery and Saloon
The Wild Grape
Sage's Cafe
Sonora Grill
Pat's BBQ
Tony Caputo's
Zucca Trattoria
Squatters (not the best food, but certainly a good burger and beer after a ride/ski day)
Lone Star Taqueria
Les Madeline's
Moochie's Meatballs
Jerimiah's (breakfast only, dinner sucks)
Bruge's Waffles and Frites
Ekamai Thai Curry
Market Street Grill
Cafe D'Bolla (best cup of coffee I've found anywhere)
Este Pizza
Tin Angel Cafe

Yep, no good food in Utah

I've only been to a few places on that list, I'll have to check the others out, but the fact that you include market street pretty much tells me what I need to know.

SLC has TONS of pretty ok places to eat. Not crappy, but not really great either.

Market Street fits this mold. Even the chica I know that works there agrees, the food is nothing special at all, you pay for the atmosphere and for the servers to wear collared shirts. The food is good, but hardly something I'll remember years from now.

Eggs in the City makes a pretty decent eggs benedict, but nothing special, and pretty spendy.


EDIT: I just looked up everything on your list. Besides Lone Star, theres nothing further south than 2000 S, half those places are in Ogden, we're talking about SLC food.

Is that it though, all the decent eats are downtown? Seems hard to believe. Is there a market street downtown thats that much different from the ones down south because that shit is mediocre. I'll try and remember to check those out, but I rarely find myself that far north. Last time was to take my ipod to the apple store for service maybe a year ago.

[Dickeymotto]

I've only been to a few places on that list, I'll have to check the others out, but the fact that you include market street pretty much tells me what I need to know.

SLC has TONS of pretty ok places to eat. Not crappy, but not really great either.

Market Street fits this mold. Even the chica I know that works there agrees, the food is nothing special at all, you pay for the atmosphere and for the servers to wear collared shirts. The food is good, but hardly something I'll remember years from now.

Eggs in the City makes a pretty decent eggs benedict, but nothing special, and pretty spendy.


EDIT: I just looked up everything on your list. Besides Lone Star, theres nothing further south than 2000 S, half those places are in Ogden, we're talking about SLC food.

Is that it though, all the decent eats are downtown? Seems hard to believe. Is there a market street downtown thats that much different from the ones down south because that shit is mediocre. I'll try and remember to check those out, but I rarely find myself that far north. Last time was to take my ipod to the apple store for service maybe a year ago.

I've only been to the Market Street downtown and it was quite good. BTW, only 4/20 on this list are in Ogden, not 50%. I live downtown, so naturally the places I eat the most are also downtown. This is just the list of places I really enjoy. There are just as many places that I have yet to check out that got just as good or better reviews then the ones on this list. So saying there is no good food in SLC when you practically haven't eaten anywhere is a pretty stupid statement to make. Did you read that on the internet or something and vicariously form an opinion?

[leroy jenkins]

Actually, I said nowhere in SLC has truly GREAT food. There are countless places that are ok to halfway decent, I can enjoy eating at these places and not feel like I've wasted my money, but so far nowhere has been memorable. I go to the places people say are great and in reality they are just sort of ok.

I hate to take things here, but I grew up in a little place called Ahhhssspen and have worked and dined at five star restaurants (I don't mean 5 stars on yahoo.com). I've served people that have TV shows on food network. Rent is extremely high in Aspen so it is very hard to stay in business unless your food kicks serious ass. Maybe I am just spoiled. Funny thing is even the fairly cheap local deli in Aspen is far better than anything in SLC, but the biggest difference is if you are willing to spend the money you can get truly world class food. In SLC if you are willing to spend the money you get a fancy as place with such a romantic setting with a pond and an extravagant driveway and still eat food that tastes like it came from Sysco.

I'll be happy to admit I'm wrong if someone can point me in the right direction though.




Honestly, its also not just Assspen being so great. If I think of the top meals of my life they are a few in aspen, one run down old looking roadhouse type building in Idaho that kept all steak sauce in the back and would only let people use it after they at least tasted their steak without it, and a couple random places in spain that made killer traditional spanish food like paella.

I'm sure I sound condescending, but I think the bigger problem is most American's just don't really know great food and are happy to settle for run of the mill fare and tell themselves its wonderful.

Again though, I am eager to admit I am wrong, a not uncommon consequence to me running my big mouth is being proven wrong, and I am hopeful that will happen. I'll make a point to get to Red Iguana before too long.

[DasBlunt]

We have ZERO good Mexican food in Boston and it is pretty depressing.

You have to drive down to Port Chester NY, down near Greenwich CT. Las Brisas. IMO one of few out east worthy.

It is a regional style (I forget what), but everyone knows regional type Mexican food places are the best. The ones that are like typical Chinese places suck. Too much and too many styles on the menu.

[advres]

You have to drive down to Port Chester NY, down near Greenwich CT. Las Brisas. IMO one of few out east worthy.

I'd rather hang myself than make that trip for good mexi!

[brutah]

Actually, I said nowhere in SLC has truly GREAT food. There are countless places that are ok to halfway decent, I can enjoy eating at these places and not feel like I've wasted my money, but so far nowhere has been memorable. I go to the places people say are great and in reality they are just sort of ok.

I hate to take things here, but I grew up in a little place called Ahhhssspen and have worked and dined at five star restaurants (I don't mean 5 stars on yahoo.com). I've served people that have TV shows on food network. Rent is extremely high in Aspen so it is very hard to stay in business unless your food kicks serious ass. Maybe I am just spoiled. Funny thing is even the fairly cheap local deli in Aspen is far better than anything in SLC, but the biggest difference is if you are willing to spend the money you can get truly world class food. In SLC if you are willing to spend the money you get a fancy as place with such a romantic setting with a pond and an extravagant driveway and still eat food that tastes like it came from Sysco.

I'll be happy to admit I'm wrong if someone can point me in the right direction though.




Honestly, its also not just Assspen being so great. If I think of the top meals of my life they are a few in aspen, one run down old looking roadhouse type building in Idaho that kept all steak sauce in the back and would only let people use it after they at least tasted their steak without it, and a couple random places in spain that made killer traditional spanish food like paella.

I'm sure I sound condescending, but I think the bigger problem is most American's just don't really know great food and are happy to settle for run of the mill fare and tell themselves its wonderful.

Again though, I am eager to admit I am wrong, a not uncommon consequence to me running my big mouth is being proven wrong, and I am hopeful that will happen. I'll make a point to get to Red Iguana before too long.

its utah dude..... mormons would rather go to applebee's than a mom-n-pop diner. but there is great food in slc. if you want asssssspen-type food, go to park city, or up mill creek. serious coin though. And just because some movie star ate at your restaurant doesn't make it good. no one cares that you waited on joan rivers....... oh and park city has great eats and movie stars eat there too, so they must be legit!

Log Haven
tuscony
mill creek inn

^^^these are good ones close to you.^^^^

I live close to downtown so my restaurant choices are close by.

how can you even shit on salt lake food when you admit that you rarely go north of 2000 south??? anywhere where the mormon population is as high as sandy isn't going to have good food. mormons have too many kids to give a shit about good food, that's why there are like chili's every 10 miles that far south.

i agree with you that overall salt lake city is lacking, but there are some great places to get some food. but you actually have to look for them...... you just sound ignorant and retarded trying to shit on the local eats when you just look in sandy........