UtahDinersGuide.com

Review by Dan Purdon

Angels of Philly is a fresh-faced new addition to the downtown Provo dining scene, housed in a prime location right between Comedy Sportz and Los Hermanos, two of the most popular date spots in the area.  I had no idea they had snuck in there until just last Friday night, when my wife and I were conveniently searching for a place to eat on Center St.

We walked through the glass doors and were struck by the spacious high ceilings and the small fountain next to the entrance.  You could tell that one wall was the original building’s antique brick, which worked fabulously for the atmosphere.  It felt like walking into a downtown sandwich shop that had been there for twenty years, not just two weeks.

We walked up to the counter and looked over the menu.  I knew I wanted the classic cheddar cheesesteak, which was of course Angel’s pride and joy.  I just didn’t know whether to get the regular or the large.  When I told this to the owner/grillmaster, he held up a package of normal-sized hoagies, and then a bag of huge loaves that probably exceeded a foot long!  I was pretty hungry, but that was an awfully big bun!  (And there was quite a price difference, too - the large was close to $9.)

Sensing my inner turmoil, the owner smiled and said, “Once you taste it, you’ll regret not getting the big one”.  That was all I needed.  I ordered a large cheddar cheese steak and an order of beer-battered fries to split, and my wife ordered a hoagie.  Incidentally, beer-battered fries are a delicious luxury that I really would like to see more of around here!  Kudos to Angels for evangelizing these crispy tubers.

I watched as the owner and his assistant head back into the grill area to prep our meat and veggies.  Then I noticed there was a whole additional sitting room back there, so I decided to go explore.  They had set up the grill area to be viewable from the outside, so customers could watch close-up as their juicy steaks were being chopped and fried with onions, peppers, and cheese.  Both the owner and his assistant were very friendly, taking time to chat with me even as they worked the grill.

Soon our food was ready, and I got back to my table.  I was impressed anew at the sheer magnitude of my sandwich, which was now stuffed to the hilt with grilled onions, peppers, and fresh steak.  It looked beautifully messy like a good Philly should.  And one bite was all it took to convince me of the owner’s advice - I was definitely going to polish this off.  The cheddar was tangy, the steak juicy, the veggies savory, and the bread was not too soft, not too hard.  The whole thing was hot, melty, meaty, and good.  It was one solid sandwich!

The beer-battered fries didn’t disappoint, either - other than the fact that we didn’t get a whole bucket of them!  They were crisp, flavorful, and cut thick like a steak fry.  I’m used to thin-cut battered fries, but the thick cut seemed to work just as well.  In fact, it makes them even better at handling sauces.  We had plain ketchup (which was still mighty tasty on them), but I bet they would be epic with some kind of gourmet specialty sauce.

We had a great experience at Angels of Philly, and we’ll definitely be dining there again.  If you’re on a lunch budget, check out some of their awesome specials - you can get a regular cheesesteak sandwich, fries, and a drink for $7.00, which is pretty hard to beat!

Pricing: Inexpensive - under $10 per person

Angels of Philly - 22 W. Center St

Review by Dan Purdon

Hidden away on 100 W just off of Center St., Sammy’s Cafe has all the markings of a local college hotspot. It’s open later than most area restaurants, it’s a small and cozy “hole in the wall”, and on weekends you can find live music or karaoke, depending on which day you go.  Sammy’s serves up the traditional American diner fare of burgers, fries, and shakes.

“Hole in the wall” may not be the perfect description of this restaurant.  It is small and somewhat hidden in the downtown district of Provo, but I feel like they took some significant care to develop their restaurant’s design and feel.  One thing I like about these independently-owned local restaurants is that they don’t have the sterile, focus-grouped feeling that chain restaurants do.  They have creative freedom to do what they wish.

Early Friday evening found me at Sammy’s for the first time.  It turned out that about 7:00 was the perfect time to show up, because my wife and I were able to walk right up to the register to order without a wait.  I got the Masterpiece burger and some sweet potato fries (which I can never turn down when I see them on the menu).  And if you scan Sammy’s online reviews, virtually every one mentions the “pie shakes” - milkshakes with actual slices of pie blended into them - so I had to try one.  At the clerk’s recommendation, I went with the chocolate cream oreo pie.  It was the first thing to come out, and wow, I must say that was one tasty shake!  The slightly salty pie crust actually tones down the ice cream’s sweetness just a tad, and it adds some great flavor and texture.  Avid sweet-toothers will probably be horrified at the thought of lessening the sweetness of ice cream, but just trust me here and try it out!  It’s Sammy’s unique claim to fame, and they are an awesome treat.

As we sat at the bar enjoying the pie shake, a server came over from the kitchen with our burgers.  I didn’t expect this, but but they kept all the burger toppings in an island that was set up right in the middle of the bar seating.  When the server brought out everyone’s burgers, he would prep each one to the customer’s preference.  Kind of like the Subway model for burgers.  My masterpiece burger came automatically with guacamole, bacon, mushrooms, and BBQ sauce, and I added lettuce and tomato.  The burger was mighty tasty - I was wary at first of the BBQ sauce/guacamole combination, but it worked just fine with the savory hamburger meat, mushrooms, and bacon.  The sweet potato fries were nice as well, served up with Sammy’s own fry sauce recipe.

All in all, I was pleased with Sammy’s.  The servers were all outgoing, friendly, and very helpful.  The food was solid.  The price was a little more than I would expect to pay for burgers and fries outside of a full-service sitdown restaurant, but we still left the place satisfied.  And I do have the distinct feeling that the memory of the pie shakes alone would be enough to bring me back here again.

Pricing: moderate (for a burger joint) - approx. $10 per person for burgers, fries, and drink

Sammy’s Cafe, 27 N 100 W, Provo

Review by Dan Purdon

While many Asian foods share common ingredients and cooking techniques, it’s a fact that every single country puts its own unique spin on cuisine.  Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Thai, Vietnamese - every one has its own delicious personality.  Today I’m focusing on local purveyor of Korean food, Sam Hawk.  Korean food is known for its bold and spicy flavors paired with many flavorful sides, including the infamous Kimchi.  But don’t worry, even if you’re not a spice fiend, you’re sure to find something that you’ll enjoy.

I walked into the unassuming plaza storefront at about seven in the evening with my wife and a group of adventurous friends.  (The entire glass front of the restaurant is covered in white paper, so at first glance you may not even realize that it’s a restaurant).  We were seated immediately and began looking over the menu.

I decided to go with the Korean “classics” of Bibimbap (assorted veggies, meat, and a fried egg with a spicy sauce on the side… also very fun to say!) and Bulgogi (sauteed thin-sliced meat with a savory-spicy sauce and assorted vegetables).  My personal favorite is the Pork Bulgogi and the Stone Bowl Bibimbap, which is served in a rustic stone bowl that stays sizzling long after it reaches your table.  I also decided to try the Kimchi Jigae, which is a spicy Kimchi Soup.  And to top it all off, a nice mug of ginger tea.

The ginger tea came out first, and it was wonderfully spicy and full of sweet ginger flavor.  It had a nice kick to it, but this actually seemed to relieve spiciness from the meal itself.  It’s a very interesting property.

Our Stone Bowl Bibimbap came to the table next.  We mixed all the ingredients up, poured on some spicy sauce, and dug in.  Very carefully.  It was amazing how long the bowl kept the contents sizzling hot - even when I got to the bottom of the it, I still had to be careful not to burn my tongue!  The rice blends with the julienned veggies, fried egg, and meat to deliver a satisfying, hearty meal all in one bowl.  And the spicy sauce does a great job of bringing all the flavors together.

The Pork Bulgogi also came out sizzling, this time on a cast iron platter.  Bulgogi is served with romaine lettuce and extra spicy sauce on the size.  Just wrap the Bulgogi meat in the lettuce, throw on a little extra sauce if desired, and eat it like a taco… a healthy, refreshing, lettuce-shell taco.  This really is the only way to do it - the cool, crisp lettuce and the warm, savory meat combine in a way that’s almost magical.  I don’t think I’ve ever talked to one person who didn’t like Bulgogi - if you’re new to Korean food, try it!

Our Kimchi Jigae came out in a large metal tureen.  The soup was nice and Kimchi-red, with large chunks of tofu and green onion floating inside.  One taste was all I needed to tell that this was the spiciest dish of the night - it’s not for the weak of tongue!  The soup tasted just like Kimchi (except warm, of course), and there was a lot of it.  So if you’re a fan of the infamous fermented cabbage, you’ll love it.  I am a big fan of Kimchi, but I was already so full from the other two dishes that there was no way I could get to the bottom.  I had to throw in the towel and get a to-go container.

Another great bonus about the Korean dining experience is the side dishes - and I love some of Sam Hawk’s side dishes!  They come out automatically with entrees, so don’t panic when the server shows up at your table with six things you didn’t order.  They’re complimentary!  My personal favorites are the black beans (not what you’re thinking - they’re sweet, and not mushy at all), the delicious sweet-soy marinated potatoes, and of course the kimchi.  You also get a good-sized bowl of purple rice, which has a slightly different flavor than the plain white stuff most of us are used to.

Sam Hawk has become my default destination for local Korean food.  If you’re never been there, give them a try.  (And if you’re never tried Korean food at all, definitely give them a try!  They’re a great place to cultivate a taste for it.)

Pricing: Moderate - $10-$15 per person (with drinks)

Sam Hawk, 660 N Freedom Blvd, Provo

Review by Dan Purdon

All-you-can-eat pizza places are typically near the bottom of the Pizza Restaurant Totem Pole.  I must confess, that’s the first thing that came to mind when I saw this restaurant, and it’s a good part of the reason that it took me so long to get around to visiting it.  But I kept hearing good things, and pretty soon I couldn’t keep away any longer.

My wife and I headed into Pizza Pie Cafe on a particularly hungry Wednesday night.  We paid for the two of us, and the bill came to a lean $14.  We grabbed a table next to the big line of pizzas.  At first, everything looked as expected.  There was a standard salad bar, a big line of various pizzas set up buffet-style, and another section for dessert pizzas.  But then something threw me for a loop: there was an entire to-order pasta bar as well!  You just tell the server what kind of pasta you want, and they boil it up for you.  Then you pick between five different self-serve sauces to go on top.  I sampled the spicy sausage, roasted red pepper, and carbonara sauces over bowtie pasta.  My favorite was the creamy spicy sausage sauce - I’d definitely go back for seconds on that one.

On to the pizza.  First I sampled the “Hillbilly” pizza, which is their all-meat specialty.  I must say, I was genuinely surprised at the quality - I didn’t expect this from $7 all-you-can-eat pizza.  The dough was fresh, soft and chewy.  And the ham, pepperoni, sausage, and bacon on this went together very nicely.  Many times the big delivery pizza guys will overdo the meat and it just ends up tasting like a bunch of salty beef and bacon.  But Pizza Pie Cafe’s version was just right.  It had plenty of meat to give you a little of each flavor in every bite, but it wasn’t overwhelming.  The other flavors were just as nice, too.  The favorites were all there, including Hawaiian, Alfredo, and BBQ Chicken.

As we began to wind down, I wandered over to the dessert pizza rack to finish off the meal.  I grabbed one raspberry and one cookie dough slice.  Again I was impressed at the quality of flavor - the raspberry pizza had a nice berry spread with a light glaze and graham crumbles over the top.  It tasted like a warm fruit tart.  And the cookie dough was one big gooey doughy mess of deliciousness.  Like s’mores, except in pizza form.  And with cookie dough.  It was an extreme guilty pleasure that I will be sure to repeat the next time I visit.  (And for this quality of pizza at that good of a price, there will definitely be a next time).

Pricing: Inexpensive, $5-10 per person

Pizza Pie Cafe 2235 N University Parkway

Review by Dan Purdon

Utah Valley has been fortunate to receive a plethora of culturally distinct dining options over the years, one of the newest of which is named Pho Noodle House, located on University Avenue in Orem.

First off, my culinarily-adept friends have told me that “Pho” is not pronounced you think it should be pronounced.  (Like the pho from “phone”).  In fact, you pronounce it more like “Fuh”, which opens up a whole world of fun double-entendre possibilities.  This has also been confirmed to me by a native Vietnamese person, so I’m pretty sure that they weren’t just messing with me.

Pho the restaurant is named after Pho the traditional Vietnamese noodle-soup dish.  This was my first experience with Pho, and I do love new experiences.  I couldn’t wait to try them.

My wife and I walked into the modern-yet-cozy restaurant early Saturday evening and were seated immediately.  After a good look over the menu, we ordered a bowl of Pho (of course) filled with steak and brisket.  (The more daring of you can get Pho filled with tripe, tendon, or all kinds of seafood - the kind of stuff you’re likely to find in actual Vietnam!)  We also ordered an entree of barbecued pork with vermicelli noodles and a “Jalapeno Bomb” appetizer.  Give me a break, we can’t get everything super-authentic.  I was in the mood for a little spice.  We ordered a boba tea drink to cool off the Jalapeno, too.

Our Jalapeno Bomb arrived quickly.  Picture entire jalapenos stuffed with a mixed veggie-and-tuna filling and deep fried to crispy perfection, served with a sweet dipping sauce.  They were spicy, crispy, and full of love.  The dipping sauce brought an especially nice flavor out of the filling, a deliciously sweet counter to the heat of the jalapeno.  And don’t worry too much about the heat - the frying process takes it down a few notches, so it’s really not bad.

Our Pho and vermicelli came out right on the Jalapeno Bomb’s tail.  The Pho’s presentation is really something to behold.  It comes out with a dish of fresh Thai basil leaves, fresh lime slices, fresh bean sprouts, a sweet plum sauce, and a spicy red chili sauce - all of which are there to be used at your whim.  I was excited - I had a food experiment on my hands!  I started by trying just the Pho broth.  It was subtle and savory.  I tried a piece of thin-sliced steak with some noodles.  It was soft, and it blended very well with the broth’s flavor.  Then I began filling my spoon up with Pho broth, adding a little of one condiment, tasting it, filling it again, trying another condiment, until I had sampled how every single ingredient changed the broth’s subtle flavors.  And satisfied that they were all very good options, I threw in all the bean sprouts and basil leaves together with a healthy amount of plum sauce and a squirt of lime.  I was in flavor country.  Towards the end of the bowl, when my taste buds were getting tired, I threw in a dollop of hot chili sauce.  That woke them up.

Our vermicelli dish featured thin-sliced barbecued pork coated in an Asian sauce that almost brought tears to my eyes.  This is how pork should always taste.  So tender, lightly smoky from the flame grill, with the flavors perfectly balanced within its deliciously sweet n’ savory coating.  I can’t tell you how much I appreciated this pork, it was amazing. It came with fresh veggies, chopped nuts, and a spring roll, all resting on a vermicelli noodle bed.  But still, the pork was totally the star of the show.

A quick word on the boba tea drinks here - we ordered a Lychee boba, which comes out in the form of a slushie with a huge straw and large tapioca balls at the bottom.  The slushy beverage tasted exactly like a sweet lychee fruit, like you had just bitten into a real one.  If the other flavors are half as good, I want to give them all a try.

Pho Noodle House was a great place to expand my culinary repertoire.  It reminds me of the first time I had Thai food years ago - it all tasted so new and fresh to me, opening up a whole new world of food possibility.  In fact, Thailand and Vietnam aren’t too far away from each other, so they share a lot of ingredients and flavors in their cuisine.  If you’re like me and have fallen in love with Thai food (but never tried Vietnamese), you will find a lot of the same fresh flavor combinations that will rock your world while still feeling pleasantly familiar.

Pricing: Moderate, $10-20 per person (including drinks, appetizers)

Pho Noodle House, 908 S State Street, Orem

Review by Dan Purdon

Do you have a local restaurant that you pass all the time but still have never set foot into?  Maybe it’s even in walking distance of your house.  But for whatever reason, you’ve never found a chance to walk in the doors.

Such was the case with me and Saigon Noodle House.  Perhaps it was because it was so close to my house that I never went there.  Which is odd, considering I’m looking for new restaurants to review every single week.  It would be much more efficient to start close and move outward… but I think that’s just it.  Eating out is an adventure for me, especially when trying new spots.  And it doesn’t feel much like an adventure when all you need to get there is a 2-minute walk.

It certainly wasn’t that I was avoiding Saigon Noodle house - in fact, whenever I saw it I reflected on how strange it was that I hadn’t been there yet.  Finally, fate provided me with a chance to try them out.  My car was in the shop on Friday, and I needed a place to review.  All of a sudden, being only two minutes away became a very nice selling point.

My wife and I walked under the big green canopy sign, through the door and into the cozy restaurant.  It was bright on the inside, with painted fans and statues of Buddha decorating the room.  The hostess invited us to choose our table, so we sat down near the large front window.

The majority of the menu read like any American Chinese restaurant, with favorites like General Tso’s and Moo Goo Gai Pan.  But they also had many of their namesake noodle dishes, in the form of noodle soups and pan-fried noodles.  We decided to try some of both.  We ordered the House Special Pan Fried Noodles, General Tso’s Chicken, and Moo Shu Pork.

Our waitress brought out some crispy fried wonton strips with a lightly sweet dipping sauce as an appetizer to munch on while waiting for our entrees.  No sooner had we finished than our three plates arrived, plus a bowl of rice.  It was served family style, with very generous helpings of each dish.

The General Tso’s Chicken was still very crisp in spite of being soaked in a lightly spicy sauce.  The texture was pleasing and the sauce was well-seasoned, with a couple of whole Thai chilis thrown in to spice things up a bit.  There was also some sliced watercress in the mix, which added a nice extra flavor/texture dimension.

Our Moo Shu Pork was a nice mix of chopped vegetables, sliced pork, and egg.  This was served with, for lack of a better term, Asian tortillas.  (Seriously, I even looked this up and could find no better term than this.  And “Moo Shu Pancakes” just doesn’t sound right.)  You wrap the filling in this tortilla with a little Hoisin sauce, and eat it like a burrito.  It was delicious.

Lastly, our House Special Pan Fried Noodles were a medley of vegetables and meats in a light savory sauce, all on top of a bed of crispy pan-fried noodles.  There was shrimp, pork, beef, and chicken, not to mention a whole host of veggies, but somehow the sauce made it all work together just fine.  It was very nice, I’d recommend it again.

We were both quite satisfied with quite a bit of food left over, so we had to take it home.  Next time, I’ll know that it really only takes one dish per person here!  The portions are generous, the price is very fair, and the flavors are solid.  Now that I’ve finally tried this place out, I know for a fact that it will be a constant temptation not to go there!  And I don’t even have to walk the two minutes if I don’t want to, because they do cheap takeout!  With free delivery after 3!  Arg, I’ve opened Pandora’s Box…

Pricing: inexpensive, $5-10 per person

Saigon Noodle House, 440 W 300 S, Provo

Review by Dan Purdon

I often find myself in a bit of a dining predicament.  You may find yourself in the same situation.  You’re relaxing at home, just minding your own business when your stomach starts to growl.  You really don’t feel like dirtying the kitchen to make food, so you decide to eat out somewhere.  You pick a place and get all excited, and your stomach gets set on eating at that particular restaurant.  And maybe you even get all the way there before you realize that it’s past nine o’clock.  And they’re closed.

Highly disappointed, you start thinking of “plan B” - a restaurant open past nine - and you finally pick somewhere that you think is open until ten.  You head over, and even though it’s only 9:30, the place has closed early.  You’re getting desperate now, because it’s getting to that time of night.  The time where even if you make it into a place before the open sign is turned off, you know you will have to endure the evil stares from the staff, who have to stay there until you leave.  (It is during this time that you must check your food especially carefully…)

And so, ten o’clock passes with no success, and you finally end up eating Wendy’s alone in your car, crying into your frosty.

All I’m saying is, our options are limited ’round these parts after nine o’clock.  And that’s a problem for me, because I’m a night owl.

Luckily, this week I came across a happy discovery of late-night cuisine in Brigham’s Landing - Pastorero.  It was past ten when I cruised by the parking lot, and I noticed the “open” sign blazing into the night.  I happily stopped in with my wife to sample their Mexican fare.  It was a nice cozy interior, with soft lighting and some interesting art pieces on the wall.  A couple groups of people were chatting away at their tables.  I stepped up to the counter and ordered some tacos Al Pastor, because after all, it’s in the name of the restaurant.  My wife ordered carne asada with queso and mushrooms.  We took a seat and waited for our entrees to come out.

I took the time to check out the salsa/hot sauce bar, and I came back to the table toting as many little plastic cups full of sauce that I could carry.  Our tacos arrived - mine was a platter of 6 tacos on corn tortillas, generously garnished with lots of fresh-chopped cilantro, pineapple, and veggies.  The pork itself looked delicious, with that flame-roasted sauce-drenched quality about it.  I tried one without sauce and it was nice, but with sauce it reached all new peaks of flavor.  My favorite was the avocado-lime sauce - it would be delicious on any south-of-the-border fare, I’m sure!  It bound the pork and pineapple flavors together beautifully.

My wife’s carne asada was a nice hearty platter of marinated steak, cheese, and mushroom served with two warm tortillas.  It made for some nice big burritos, and is very nice with heaps of hot sauce and salsa to take on all that queso fresca!

As we walked from Pastorero, another place’s still-lit open sign caught my eye: the Cocoa Bean Cupcake Cafe!  It sounded like the perfect place to stop and grab a dessert to finish the night off right, so we walked inside.  And indeed, it was a cupcake cafe - about a half-dozen different designer cupcakes filled the display case in front of us, with flavors like Orange Dream and Raspberry Chocolate Cheesecake.  The rest of the menu was a spread of every choco-centric beverage imaginable, plus fruity Italian sodas.  It really is the Cocoa Bean Cafe - Frappes, Lattes, and Espressos, all wrought from the cocoa bean, which is roasted in a process similar to coffee.  Intriguing.

Never one to pass up a tasty-sounding beverage, I ordered a Mint Truffle Frappe.  We decided on a “Better Than Whatever” cupcake to share, which had a good-sized icing cap and was sprinkled with toffee bits.  We took our goodies home and broke them out post-haste.  The Mint Truffle was delicious - cold, smooth, not too sweet, and not too dark, all with a refreshing minty overtone.  The chocolate flavor itself was markedly different from your average chocolate drink - you can tell that the roasting process does something to it.  A good something, in my opinion.

The cupcake was an even bigger surprise.  I had eaten a cupcake from a store in Tennessee that reminded me greatly of the Cocoa Bean Cafe.  Their cupcakes were big, exotically flavored, and piled with inches of icing, just like Cocoa Bean Cafe’s seemed to be.  But the cupcakes themselves were so overpoweringly sweet that it was impossible to finish one, or even a half of one.  I am glad to say that this is not the case with Cocoa Bean Cafe.  The Better Than Whatever cupcake was rich, moist, and chocolaty without being overpowering.  And even the icing was tempered nicely, with a nice creamy flavor that paired perfectly with the chocolate.  I’m officially a fan.

So next time you find yourself stranded in the “past ten” zone in Provo, here are two beacons of hope for your late-night cuisine.  And yes, this concludes the very first “double-decker review” from this author - twice the reviews at half the price!  Enjoy. 

Pastorero Pricing: Inexpensive, less than $10 per person

Cocoa Bean Cupcake Cafe Pricing: Inexpensive, approx. $5 per person (cupcake and drink)

Both are at Brigham’s Landing, 1774 N University Parkway

Review by Dan Purdon

“Shabu Shabu”.  For those who have experienced it, the name inspires thoughts of bubbling stewpots, wonderful smells, and platefuls of tasty food.  (Whereas those who have never experienced it simply say: “what, is that some kind of dance or something?”)

You may have noticed the new Shabu Shabu House on State Street in Central Orem.  I noticed it as I was walking away from the site of a previous review, Cafe Paesan.  (They’re right next door.)  I made a mental note to come back ASAP!

If you’ve never had it before, Shabu Shabu is a style of Japanese dining where you briefly cook meats and veggies in a pot of savory bubbling broth right at your table.  There are many similar dining styles in Asia, not the least of which is the Chinese hot pot.  But one of the tastiest parts of Shabu Shabu is the dipping sauces that you get to use on your freshly cooked fare.  They really kick the flavor up to the next level.

From the second you walk in, Shabu Shabu House makes it clear that they’re not messing around - they’re all about Shabu Shabu.  The stone tabletops conceal ceramic heating elements that can be used to fire hot pots for every single person at the table - that’s right, every person can have their own!  (Although I would recommend sharing one and trying some sushi, too.)  The tabletops, hot pots, and diningware are all very attractive, and the atmosphere as a whole is modern and elegant.

My wife and I ordered pot stickers for an appetizer along with a large pork Shabu Shabu and a “Crunch Roll”, one of their specialty sushi rolls.  And, as is my habit, whenever I see salmon nigiri sushi on a menu I simply must order it.  There is no room for argument with my stomach on this one, so I gave up trying long ago.

Our pot stickers arrived quickly, and they were clearly fresh from the fryer.  We gave them a second to cool off, then tried them with some of our sesame sauce.  The crispy outside presented a great contrast to the savory pork and vegetables inside, and the sauce was an excellent way to bring it all together.

Soon thereafter our waiter brought us trays of meat and vegetables to get our Shabu Shabu pots started.  He flavored the boiling broth, and we threw in carrots, cabbage, spinach, tofu, and mushrooms to get the party started.  We also started cooking our pork, which was sliced super-thin - each piece only took 10-20 seconds to cook completely.  Really, if you get this, don’t overcook it!  Just dip it in the broth with your chopsticks, swish it around a bit, and bring it right back out.  And let me tell you, Shabu Shabu pork in particular is amazing when coated with some sesame dipping sauce.  We also had ponzu dipping sauce, which I think went very nicely with the vegetables.

And for the record, my pieces of salmon nigiri sushi were delicious! They had nice thick pieces of salmon with just the perfect amount of rice.  It was full, flavorful, and just what I want from a good piece of salmon sushi.

Our specialty rolls were very pleasing, too.  Our crunch roll was indeed crunchy.  It had tempura asparagus, tuna, tobiko, and a savory sauce combination that bound it together very well.  Our friends ordered a Lily roll, which was a salmon roll topped with strawberry and kiwi.  Not only was it pretty, it was surprisingly tasty, too!  Very refreshing and lightly fruity.

Our service was great, the atmosphere was solid, and the food was hot, flavorful, and fresh.  How could I not come back here again?

Pricing: moderate, $10-20 per person (and the sky’s the limit if you eat a lot of sushi!)

Shabu Shabu House - 73 S State Street, Orem

Review by Dan Purdon

If there’s one thing we never seem to be short of, it’s Italian restaurants.  Think about it.  In the Provo-Orem area alone, you have an almost endless parade of different places to get your pasta fix.  Want an easy-access chain restaurant?  You can hit Macaroni Grill, Carrabba’s, or the Olive Garden in no time.  Want a local place?  Hit Gloria’s Little Italy, La Dolce Vita, or the new Cafe Paesan.  (Although the last one probably won’t stay local for long).  And don’t even get me started on pizza places!  Buffet?  Gourmet?  Delivery?  Dessert?  You name it, and chances are it can be yours in less than a five minute drive.  So in short, we have no shortage of places to turn to when in need of carbs, cheese, and tomato sauce.

And yet, it is the very center of this sea of marinara in which Terra Mia has chosen to open its doors.  In order to do this, you must be one of two things (or a little of both):

a.) Crazy.

b.) Absolutely convinced that you have something new and unique to offer.

So which one is it for Terra Mia?  I decided to put this question to rest last Friday.  Due to an unusually cluttered schedule, I strolled in with dining buddies in tow about a half hour before closing time.  The restaurant was mostly empty, with a few scattered tables lingering in conversation.  The surprisingly high ceiling towered above us, complimented by a live tree planted in the very center of the dining area.  (OK, one point for uniqueness there).  The soft lights made for an interesting glow effect through the tree’s leaves, and it was surrounded by a set of raised bar tables.  It was clear that I must sit there, for no other table would do.

We stepped up to the counter and ordered.  Determined to try a little of everything, my wife and I ordered a pizza margherita, a pasta dish (Penne Terra Mia), some Focaccia Rustica, and a dessert combo of Gelato and cream puffs.  We paid, received a number for our table, and sat down underneath the softly glowing tree.

Before we had time to think, our server came out with a big plate of Focaccia Rustica.  It was thin like a pizza crust, and lightly drizzled with olive oil and salt.  I tried a piece.  It was warm; clearly fresh from the oven.  It had a wonderful crisp exterior with a pleasantly chewy inside.  We grabbed some on-table condiments and whipped up a balsamic vinegar, olive oil, and Parmesan dip for it, and it was simply delicious.

Our pizza and pasta arrived in no time.  The penne pasta came with a hearty Italian sausage and tomato sauce, plus two generous slices of white bread.  The margherita pizza was on a crust similar to the focaccia, and was topped with fresh tomato, imported mozzarella, and fresh basil.  Both dishes were fresh, flavorful, and filling.  By this point, I was very certain of one thing: the guys at Terra Mia know how to do bread.  And if you’ve got good, fresh bread, you’re already 75% of the way to an excellent meal.

Bellies rapidly filling, we were about to throw in the towel when we remembered there was still a dessert course to go!  Our server brought out a beautifully presented plate of two cream puff and two flavors of gelato.  We chose chocolate and hazelnut for our gelato flavors - which just happens to be one of my favorite taste combinations on this green Earth.  It didn’t disappoint.  The chocolate was deep and rich, and the hazelnut delicate and creamy.  Chunks of dark chocolate and chopped hazelnuts added an extra dimension of texture as well as a flavor boost.  The cream puffs were filled with a delicate lemon pastry cream that served as a perfect closer to the meal.

So it appears that Terra Mia does have something unique to offer this valley of ours.  Their bread is amazing, their atmosphere is unique, and their ingredients are fresh and authentic.  I did some poking around after getting home, and I discovered that not only are many of Terra Mia’s ingredients imported from Italy, their massive wood burning oven was imported directly from Naples, too!  They have clearly done the work to set themselves apart, and I can see myself dining here many times in the future.

Pricing: Inexpensive to Moderate - $7-12 per person

Terra Mia - 1050 S 750 E, Orem

Review by Dan Purdon

Since Cafe Rio was sold to another company, the folks that started said Mexican restaurant chain decided that they weren’t content to just sit back on their haunches.  (Although that’s what I’d do if I just sold a successful restaurant chain).  No, they are clearly gluttons for punishment, so they decided to start up a new restaurant based loosely around Cafe Rio’s model.  (Nothing frozen, everything made fresh).  And the result is Cafe Paesan, an Italian Bistro-style restaurant in central Orem.

The first thing to hit me as I walked in was the Italian-style decor - one large wall is occupied completely by a renaissance-style painting, and there are large Tuscan archways built into the dining area.  The order flow is pretty much exactly like Cafe Rio - line up, tell the nice man what you want, and watch it get put together assembly line-style before your eyes.  I wanted to try a little of everything, so my wife and I got a caprese pizza, a grilled chicken salad with pesto dressing, and a pasta dish with Italian sausage and tomato cream sauce.  I was particularly looking forward to the pasta, which had clearly just been made that day - large racks full of fresh fettuccine strands took up an entire counter behind the glass partition.

We watched them saute up the pasta, bake the pizza in a big ceramic oven, and mix together the salad in about, oh, a minute’s time?  Two minutes tops.  Before we knew it, we were sitting under a rustic archway ready to dig in.

The pasta was fresh indeed.   It was tossed in a rich, creamy tomato sauce with tasty Italian sausage and kalamata olives, and served with a generous piece of flatbread.  If you’ve never tried fresh pasta, let me warn you: it will spoil you forever!  And the flatbread itself was very soft, flavorful, and satisfying.  I think this bread will be to Cafe Paesan what the fresh tortillas are to Cafe Rio.  It is served with just about every dish.  My salad had romaine lettuce, croutons, carrots, and small zucchini strips, and it was topped with the great combination of grilled chicken and flavorful pesto.  It even had (what I believe were) fried sweet potato strips on top, which gave it some extra texture and flavor.  Last but definitely not least, the caprese pizza was topped with fresh mozzarella and balsamic marinated tomatoes.  It was simple, fresh, and very delicious.  And trust me, when they ask you if you want pickled peppers on your pizza, do it! Don’t be afraid, they aren’t spicy - they’re actually quite sweet and flavorful.  It adds a great dimension to the pizza.

I really can’t find anything bad to say about Cafe Paesan.  You can’t find fresh, hand-made pasta and pizza doughs in many full-service restaurants, much less fast food places!  And with everything under $10, what more can you really ask for?  I will say this, though: if you’re really hungry and looking to get full, it’s best to go with a salad or pasta dish.  The pizzas and sandwiches are more of a “light lunch” kind of portion.

I definitely see Cafe Paesan exploding the same way that Cafe Rio did.  I think it’s just a matter of time.

Pricing: Inexpensive, under $10 per person

Cafe Paesan - 69 S State St, Orem