Gary's Asian Bistro — Restaurant in Millcreek

Second great experience at the new Gary’s Bistro.

Such a great locally owned spot for foodies who enjoy next level Chinese.

Tonight my selections were Won Ton Soup, black bean fish, jasmine tea & Moon Pear sake for desert. The Black Bean fish is savory, tender with accents from the crisp NOT over cooked green onions & small pieces of perfectly cooked green beans and some spice from a pepper but weirdly I can’t identify the pepper- but that’s the point right; it’s suttle not overpowering. I can already tell I’ll be craving this entree a few days from now. It’s rare to get black bean sauce that is not thicken with any additive and balances so well with a white fish ( again it’s so good I sincerely didn’t ask what kind of fish) it melts in your mouth. I’m sure it’s good over any side but I enjoyed the entree with simple white rice. This was a new entree choice for me & I loved it.

Last visit I had cashew shrimp that was by far the best version of that classic I’ve ever been served. I have won ton almost every Chinese order & Gary’s is perfect. Obviously the wontons are hand made, and crave able which is why I am back.

The service is overseen by the Owner who greets & seats each guest. Clearly this local entrepreneur has used his YEARS - DECADES of experience to raise the bar for the service staff & entire front of house to match the talent he’s cultivated in the kitchen. I appreciate the discipline and ownership when it’s present in locally owned establishments & Gary’s does this very well. I would bring guests here and know the service would be consistent. Everything you want nothing you don’t even when they are housing a busy dinner service.

Atmospheres is inviting, yet a large family birthday party didn’t disturb my party of one in a semi private 2- top area. Again very well thought out. For groups of 4-6 probably enemies could fit 7 in the high backed overstuffed jade green booths that line the sides of the dining room. Sitting by myself I linger over my moon pear sale & I notice many parties also stay after paying content in their comfortable posh booth long after dinner is over. They enjoy drinks. There is no desert but I am glad for the sake.

Please welcome this newish addition to our collection of neighborhood haunts surrounding our beloved Mt Olympus home base.

Thanks Gary for making the east bench just a little more tasty & comfortable at the end of a snowy March evening. You know your craft well- I...

Gary is a veteran restauranteur in SLC who has a devoted following that includes my wife and I and about 10,000 people who love delicious Chinese food!

"Gary's Asian Bistro" is his latest tour de force, and as soon as you walk in you realize that it's a restaurant that has been carefully designed inside to make you feel at home in everything from a suit and tie to Birkenstocks and hiking shorts. If you weren't hungry when you arrived, the incredible aromas coming from the kitchen will fix that.

Gary's is high-end Americanized Chinese. (For the people criticizing the "Americanized" part of that, there are several "Chinese hot pot" restaurants on State St. that will amaze, mystify and sometimes revolt you with their exotic ingredients. Gary's is for people who want to eat without having to do a zoological analysis of what they're eating.) My wife and I are devoted lovers of the Won Ton Soup, Pot Stickers, Pork Lo Mein and Walnut Shrimp, but anytime we've ordered anything else from the menu, it's been consistently delicious.

Gary and his lovely wife Siri are personally in house, on deck and in charge, and the speed and efficiency of the kitchen and the servers shows it. The two of them ran a very tight ship during their many years owning Asian Star in Sandy, and nothing has changed now except that the food gets to you even faster because their new restaurant is slightly smaller, and the servers don't have as far to walk.

And for the people who are complaining about being "banned," if you don't want to be banned, don't be doofuses. Don't walk in there with a party of four adults, order one plate of pot stickers and then sit there for two hours during their dinner rush. There's a place to do that, and it's called Starbucks. Gary's Asian Bistro is a place to DINE. As in, to tuck a napkin into your shirt collar and dig in to multiple dishes at once. It's the kind of place that's worth skipping lunch for, just so you'll be ravenously hungry when you walk in, because Gary, Siri and their crackerjack crew of cooks and servers will make you glad that you worked up an appetite.

We can't...

We were excited to try this new restaurant in the Olympus Cove neighborhood. Upon arrival, I was surprised to find the waiting room completely packed. Initially, I stopped at the takeout desk by mistake and was redirected to the reception host. Having two separate counters felt a bit confusing, and I noticed others making the same error. A reconfigured layout or clearer signage might help with this.

The hostess estimated a 20-minute wait, but it ended up being closer to 30. I think an online reservation or notification system would improve the experience, allowing guests to explore the mall while waiting. This could also free up space in the crowded waiting area, which could potentially be converted into additional seating.

Once we were seated, we were given a table right next to the waiting area with a view of the kitchen entrance. This placement was disappointing for a first visit, as it didn’t allow us to fully experience the restaurant’s ambiance. It felt like we were on the fringe of the action. I’d encourage the restaurant to reconsider this seating location, as it left me wondering if it was due to having small children, bad luck, or something else entirely.

Despite these issues, the table was comfortable, and the service from the waitstaff was excellent. There was a gentleman who seemed to be managing operations (possibly Gary), and while he was clearly ensuring everything ran smoothly, I would’ve appreciated a brief introduction.

The food was a classic American-Chinese experience, but with high-quality ingredients especially the meat the quality of the chicken and beef was excellent and great flavors. We’ll definitely try takeout in the future. While this visit was a 3-star experience, I see potential for 4 or 5 stars with a few adjustments. I recommend giving this place a try and sharing...