I can't believe I haven't reviewed Carson Kitchen, one of my favorites in SLC (and Vegas) since 2021. The food: I haven't ever shut up about the Tempura Green Beans, and the "Just the Tip" cocktail. Both would make it on my Final Supper list. Service: Always kind and helpful. Ambiance: it's beautiful. Definitely loud on crowded nights, but go for lunch or a weekday and it will be quiet and perfect for conversation. The app and drink are often the first food I introduce visiting friends to. Just superb! read more

This will be my last time @ Carson Kitchen. Being close to the hotel was its charm point. Service has gone down. Portions are small for the quality and the price. read more

A fantastic spot for inventive, flavorful food. The menu is creative, with unique twists on comfort classics that really hit the mark. Everything we tried was well-prepared and packed with flavor, and the presentation was on point. The atmosphere is lively and fun, and the staff is friendly and attentive. It can get a bit busy, which makes it feel bustling, but that's part of the charm. read more

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First time dining at this restaurant. Chose it to try something different. Did not want a large portion so chose a shareable. Tried the black rice and oxtail and was not disappointing. Sufficient size and paired with a good drink. Sergio, the server was attentive, hospitable, and had great recommendations. Visited during the non-busy time in the afternoon but very clean and presentable location. Great twist to their Bill delivery. Love the book use. Enter your own comments or signature. read more

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We came before the dinner rush, so not busy at all. We told the staff it was our first time and they were all so nice explaining every dish, very friendly. We started with the following appetizers Devils eggs- so good with that crispy pancetta and caviar! Killer shrimp- excellent, crispy and great flavor Beet and goat salad - delish! Loved it Cauliflower- this one fell a little short, not a lot of flavor and the florets were too big. Chicken thighs- amazing, that Alabama sauce is TDF Sweet salmon - so yummy, again very good sauce We definitely want to come back to try other menu items. read more

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The quality of food is the best I've had in Utah. Carson's is at the top of my list! Very creative and obviously high quality ingredients. And get the Daddy Wags cocktail... a spicy grapefruit margi. We will be back! read more

Holy shit!! When I tell you I want everything on the menu, I want everything on the menu. We ordered... short rib steak, crispy chicken skins, killer shrimp, pork Belly, black rice and oxtail risotto and two drinks!! Our server was Nicky - who was awesome by the way. Food came out fresh, HOT and tasty!! These are about the very best chicken skins I have ever eaten in my life ... and I'm black! The smoked honey that's served with it was divine ... we also dipped the pork belly in it and the shrimp. Nicky brought us a new portion of honey for our steak and spicy tots!! I love when we travel and are able to experience new takes on food. This place is a plus. When in Salt Lake we will surely visit again!! read more

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We hosted a post convention event there and they did everything perfectly! hors d'oeuvres were all delicious and service was exceptional Location is perfect for walking to from the salt palace. read more

Carson Kitchen - New American Near Me - Salt Lake City, Utah

Service was very personal, the recommendations were spot on. Food and beverages are delightful.

Great staff and location. The establishment is roomy, clean and food was great. We came by for a corporate event and was not disappointed. Everything was great. The mains had steak and chicken. I don't know what was in the chicken but it was friggin amazing. Would come back again. read more

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Everything was so flavorful that we returned 2 days later for a quick brunch on our way out of Salt Lake City. Our son had the Mac'n Cheese twice. The burnt end hotdogs were bathed in a tasty barbecue sauce, and the rainbow cauliflower had several tastes emanating at the same time. You have to try the fried chicken skins in toasted honey. Overall a good selection and amazing tastes. read more

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Great little place in Downtown Salt Lake. I had a flight out and decided to drop by with my boyfriend for a quick bite before the airport on a weekend in October 2024. Reservations via OpenTable made it easy but the dining room was mostly empty at 4pm anyway. We had the pick of seating and made sure we could see the football game on the TVs at the bar. Our waiter was very sweet and daresay, a bit self-degrading! At any rate, service was fast and we ordered bites to share Tapas-style from the menu which included: *Deviled Eggs *Pork Belly *Watermelon salad *Gyro Tacos There was no room left for dessert! that was about all. I loved the deviled eggs with caviar (so fancy) and the watermelon salad the best. I liked the Pork Belly but boyfriend begged to differ since he's more of an aficionado but I stick by my five-star review! The Gyro tacos hit the spot with some more protein - they were filling! I'd come back if I was in the area: I'm sure a lot of power lunches are conducted here being so close to businesses. I'm not sure about parking since we Uber'd, but there are plenty of lots around downtown. read more

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We ordered a number of things. It has potential, but I think we did not order well. The short ribs had good flavor but were overcooked. The beets were way too pickled-made your face pucker. The tacos had too much filling and too much sauce, but the flavors were good. The Mac and Cheese was delicious. They had canned Coke which is unfortunate. Come on! Can't decide if I would go back...the wait staff was great and she did take the beets off the bill which was so nice. read more

Carson Kitchen is consistently a good choice. The food is delicious and the cocktails are reliably solid. The space feels open and spacious, though it can get loud when the restaurant is full. Service is welcoming but not consistent -- it varies quite a bit in energy and attentiveness. Not bad by any means, but noticeable. On lower-energy service nights, I sometimes don't order a second cocktail. Overall, it's good value for money and a place I'll happily return to. read more

I found the food disappointing. I got the Secret Sunday Chicken. The chicken was a strange texture. The tater tots were nothing special. I had really high hopes for this place and experienced some great food in SLC. I would not return here. The only reason for 2 stars instead of 1 is with the lunch specials, the prices were really good. read more

I came for lunch after reading all the good reviews & they are so well deserved. The space is large and it wasn't crowded on a Sunday afternoon. I was taken care of by Sergio and he was very kind and helpful. The food was amazing!! I ordered the turkey burger and it came with two patties and it came a side of tater tots (perfectly crispy). I also ordered the beet salad and it was delicious and fresh with goat cheese, toasted quinoa, and mandarins on top. I am going to come back to try more from their menu. read more

Just had a phenomenal meal here at Carson Kitchen. Great service, perfectly seasoned food, nice menu.. Get that NY strip. A true 10/10 dish. read more

The food was excellent! Bacon Jam was my favorite. bacon was diced into very small pieces and cooked with a sweet, sour and salty sauce. Spread hot with cheese on the crispy bread, so tasty! The wild mushroom flatbread was DD 's favorite. And the Chicken thigh was cooked crispy outside and tender and juicy inside. DH loves it. The waiter was very friendly. Like the interior too. read more

Carson Kitchen - Bacon Jam - New American Near Me - Salt Lake City, Utah

Service was good, sat at the bar and the two fellas were prompt and friendly. The menu was so-so with not many great selections. I had the steak and a side of Mac and cheese. For the price of the entree, it wasn't really anything special. The Mac and cheese was equivalent to a boxed item from the grocery store. I had two glasses of mediocre wine and my bill was $112. Probably try something different next time visiting. read more

I wanted to give this place a try. The place itself is very pretty and has plenty of seating. Their menu is pretty limited but surprising. The black rice & oxtail risotto didn't look very appetizing, but actually it was good. I would recommend this as an appetizer. Secret Sunday chicken was also good. It was ok trying out this place; now to the next one. read more

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The food, service, and atmosphere were all excellent. The gyro tacos and flatbread were standouts and my kids' burgers looked great . Highly recommended. read more

I came here with a few coworkers for dinner. It wasn't very crowded but we had a reservation anyway. We ordered a few apps to share including the tempura green beans and the hot dog burnt ends. I really enjoyed the tempura green beans, I love how lightly coated they were. The hot dog burnt ends were kind of weird lol, I don't really know how I feel about them. The BBQ sauce was tasty. For dinner, we shared plates including the beet salad, the short rib, New York strip, mac 'n cheese, and risotto. I really loved the beet salad, mac 'n cheese, and risotto. I thought the steak was cooked super well. The mac 'n cheese was really creamy and cheesy. The beet salad was really fresh and the dressing was acidic but a little sweet to round it out. We also ordered the doughnut bread pudding and the brownie with bacon ice cream. Holy moly. Both the desserts killed it!! The texture of the bread pudding was so on point. Soft and pillowy. The brownie was fudgey and super rich, which I thought was so so delicious.. I honestly thought dessert might have been the best course! Service was really wonderful. Everyone was very friendly and attentive. I would 100% come back! 10/10 recommend! read more

Incredible experience. Loved the vibe loved the food. Everything was AMAZING. Burnt end hot dogs so good. read more

Carson Kitchen - Striped Bass Baked Mac & Cheese - New American Near Me - Salt Lake City, Utah

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What an amazing meal served to us by the amazing Nicky and the chef! We had lovely deviled eggs then the pork chop was out of this world- it was cooked perfectly with a crispy crust, beautifully moist center with freshly made chutney and parsnip purée. Bob the manager was very helpful to both his team and the patrons. This is one of my new favs! read more

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Really more like a 3.75. Service was good, not great. We had to ask for more water and the waiter told us all the entrees are family style. We would disagree. The Steelhead trout was really portioned for 1 person. While the BBQ Chicken thighs we got was a humongous portion, probably good for 4 people. The food was tasty but so weird that there was no starch served or even offered as a side. Some rice/quinoa/couscous would have really balanced the plate out and allowed us to savor the sauces a little more. And only fresh veggies were salads. Main entrees were just protein and sauce. Cocktails were good and appreciate the additive free tequila, Lalo. read more

Carson Kitchen - BBQ chicken thighs, we cut it into smaller pieces to share - New American Near Me - Salt Lake City, Utah

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The service and atmosphere are great! Chelsee, our server did amazing. And the food was delicious. We love coming here and will be back again soon. read more

Carson Kitchen - Pot Roast Dip and Butternut Bolognese - New American Near Me - Salt Lake City, Utah

We had a party at 12 so we were a complex group to begin with. The service was Top Notch, with the server walking us through how to order since it was family style. The food blew us away. Everything was so good. Tempura green beans, brussel sprout salad, pork belly bites, chicken thighs, fish, steak, mac & cheese... It was all delicious and so well executed. The food came in waves, which was perfect for our group, the cocktails were all made really well and well balanced, and we never had a moment where we had to ask for anything. Five stars all around. Shout out to our server - don't recall her name but it was the night of 12/22, she had a backwards hat on and she was awesome. Also - for what it's worth, we are from LA and we are foodies and this place hit all the right notes. read more

Sergio is amazing, great guy! Be sure to try the deviled eggs they are other worldly!!!

Really good food. We came during a not so busy time so we were seated very quickly. Our waiter / waitress were really nice and attentive. Food came out decently quick. Everything was well made and very flavorful. Been here before and it seems like the menu had some changes but everything was still amazing. The inside is very modern. Can't go wrong coming here! read more

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Fabulous food and terrific service I highly recommend Carson's and we will be eating here again next time we visit Salt lake.

Amazing, the food, the drinks, the service it was all fantastic! Our sever was so helpful letting us know how large the side portions were (and he was right). The food was just an amazing experience, very innovative and delicious. If you love the Culinary Arts, you will love thus place. read more

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The ambiance is more casual than expected but the food is top notch. Expertly prepared with lovely flavors. Extra points for good wine offerings and a solid music playlist. read more

Carson Kitchen - Oxtail black rice risotto - New American Near Me - Salt Lake City, Utah

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The food was amazing and our service by Nicky was suburb! They do family style and we did try a lot of items and all were excellent. There was not a bad option! It's 5 stars from me!! read more

Three of us had a fabulous dinner at Carson Kitchen! From the food, to the service, to the ambiance, it really hit the mark. We arrived around 5:30pm during the week and were able to easily get a table. There were so many items on the menu that sounded good. Everything is served tapas style so we decided to try a variety of items: -"Devils Eggs" with crispy pancetta, caviar -Tempura Green Beans with pepper jelly cream cheese -Beet Tartare with pistachio, mandarin orange, goat cheese -Cocoa-Espresso NY Strip with red wine demi -Baked Mac & Cheese Everything was sooo good. There was not one thing that we didn't enjoy. The devils eggs were amazing, the steak cooked perfectly, the mac n cheese seemed to have a hint of truffle and was delicious. The portion size of tempura beans was huge! We all were stuffed by the time we left. Our server Fez was also the best. He checked on us regularly, gave some great recommendations, and made our evening a fun one. I'll definitely return and would recommend checking this place out! read more

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I tried Carson kitchen for lunch. It's near the Salt Palace convention center, so very convenient location-wise. I had the short rib steak and killer shrimp to eat, as well as Let's hug it out as my drink. The shrimp was delicious! Both crispy and saucy (5/5), and the steak was tender and tasty with an interesting and zesty pesto sauce. (4/5) and my drink was decent (3/5). My server was very attentive and gave me good food recommendations. Multiple members of the staff checked in on me throughout my lunch; their attentiveness was nice. The place also had a nice buzz to it so I could see if being a good spot for a date or drinks/bites with friends. Overall, I would definitely recommend Carson Kitchen, and I may come back the next time I'm in SLC. read more

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Delicious food, loved the vibe, server was awesome! I recommend the Devil's Eggs and the Mac & Cheese!!!

This place was really unique. Unfortunately the only picture I got was of the cowboy hotdogs and those were surprisingly good. The staff is the best part. The vibe felt fast casual when I felt like it should have felt a little more upscale. A good place to enjoy a meal and chit chat! read more

Carson Kitchen - New American Near Me - Salt Lake City, Utah

There's nothing I love more than a creative chef who can make you crave things you never realized were craveable. I mean, I've never felt hungry and thought "man, I could really go for some snake!" Carson kitchen is a food-lovers happy place. The menu is very shareable, which is the best way to eat, IMHO. We went hungry, and ordered more food than our stomachs were prepared for! The Devil's Eggs are a MUST. Hands down the best bite of the night. The filling is sinfully fluffy, and decadently topped with crisp pancetta and caviar. I've had deviled eggs countless ways, but never this luscious. The Hotdog Burnt Ends was clever, and what you'd expect - charred bits of hotdog swimming in sauce. They're really delicious but probably something you could make at home. The Mexican Street Polenta was perfectly cooked with a crispy edge and creamy center. Best I've ever had? No. Better than most? Absolutely! So I'd highly recommend if you're a fan. The Mushroom Flatbread was nice - it's cooked in a genuine pizza oven so the crust is ripe with smoky char texture that I crave from a crust. The use of toppings and fired method made it feel genuinely Mediterranean and made me long for the Amalfi Coast. The true standout though, and what I'll be going back for, is the Gin Riggies. It's a pasta dish featuring a silky tomato cream and a rabbit/snake sausage. The flavor was, well, I'm not sure how to describe it. It was AWESOME. So if you can get your head around the ingredients then definitely indulge!! Overall Carson Kitchen is a great destination - whether it's a date night or dinner with friends. read more

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A short walk from our hotel and an easy online reservation ensured we had a good start at Carson Kitchen. We were immediately seated at the counter which was a great place to sit. We were able to watch the activities in the kitchen and even chat with one of the chefs. Since it was late after a long day of travel, we opted to split a few options. We chose the short ribs for our entree and the Mac and cheese and warm spinach salad as our sides. The short ribs were cooked medium and were very tasty. The Mac and cheese had a nice crisp to the top. The spinach salad was fresh, cool spinach topped with a warm mixture of veggies. Very tasty. The amount of food was perfect. The staff was very helpful to us in navigating the menu. We watched chef Amati make these beautiful deviled eggs and commented on his artistry. He was so kind to make one for my husband. Husband can attest that they were as tasty as they were beautiful. read more

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I came here last weekend with a couple of coworkers after hearing some solid recommendations about this place. It wasn't super crowded when we arrived, though we'd made a reservation just to be safe. The ambiance is cozy and slightly upscale without being stuffy -- dim lighting, rustic wood tables, and a soft playlist of old-school jazz playing in the background. I liked the vibe immediately. We decided to start with a few appetizers to share because, honestly, everything on the menu sounded tempting. We ordered the tempura green beans, hot dog burnt ends, and spicy Korean-style wings. The tempura green beans were hands down my favorite out of the apps. Lightly battered, crispy without being greasy, and perfectly seasoned. They came with a creamy dipping sauce that added a little tangy kick. The hot dog burnt ends, on the other hand, were... interesting. I wasn't sure what to expect when I ordered them, and I still don't know how I feel about them. They were smoky and drenched in this thick, sweet BBQ sauce that was actually pretty good, but the texture threw me off a little. Not bad, just... unexpected. The Korean wings, however, were incredible. Perfectly crispy skin, sticky spicy-sweet glaze, with a touch of heat that lingered just enough to make you want another bite. For our main courses, we went all out and shared a few different plates so we could each try a little bit of everything. We got the beet salad, braised short rib, New York strip, truffle mac 'n cheese, and wild mushroom risotto. The beet salad was so fresh -- roasted beets with arugula, goat cheese, candied pecans, and a bright vinaigrette that was both tart and subtly sweet. It was a perfect palate cleanser before digging into the richer dishes. The short rib was fall-off-the-bone tender, sitting on a bed of creamy mashed potatoes with this insanely flavorful red wine reduction. Every bite melted in my mouth. The New York strip was cooked medium rare, exactly how I like it, with a perfect sear on the outside. It came with roasted garlic cloves and a side of house-made steak sauce that, honestly, wasn't even necessary because the meat was so flavorful on its own. Now, the truffle mac 'n cheese deserves its own paragraph. It was unbelievably creamy, the kind of dish that makes you close your eyes for a second after the first bite. The truffle wasn't overpowering, just a subtle earthy note that paired beautifully with the gooey cheese sauce and perfectly cooked pasta. I wish I didn't have to share it, if I'm being honest. The wild mushroom risotto was equally outstanding. Rich, savory, with perfectly cooked rice that was neither too soft nor too firm. It had a hint of white wine and was finished with a generous grating of Parmesan on top. It was one of those dishes where you think you're full but you keep going back for another spoonful. And then came dessert. We were already pretty stuffed but had been told not to skip dessert here, and I'm so glad we listened. We got the doughnut bread pudding and the brownie with bacon ice cream. The bread pudding was warm, soft, and custardy with little crispy edges -- topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream that slowly melted into the nooks of the pudding. Absolute heaven. The brownie was thick, rich, and fudgey, served warm with a generous scoop of smoky bacon-infused ice cream. I was skeptical about the bacon ice cream at first, but it actually balanced out the sweetness of the brownie and gave it a really interesting savory note. Easily one of the most memorable desserts I've had in a long time. Service throughout the evening was phenomenal. Our server was friendly, patient, and gave really thoughtful recommendations without being pushy. Drinks were refilled promptly, plates cleared at the right moments, and dessert arrived just when we thought we couldn't eat another bite but somehow found room. All in all, this was an outstanding dining experience from start to finish. Great food, excellent service, and a warm, inviting atmosphere. I'll definitely be coming back and probably ordering that mac 'n cheese all to myself next time. Highly recommend this spot if you're in the area -- easily a 10/10 experience read more