The Foundry Grill at Sundance Resort — Restaurant in Pleasant Grove

My spouse and I ate at The Foundry Grill for a dinner this past week. It was our anniversary and we love coming up to Sundance. We came up in 2019 for our anniversary to take a lift up the mountain and ate at The Owl Bar. That was nice. This time, however, was a let down. At The Foundry Grill, we left feeling underwhelmed and disappointed -- like the experience should have been more for what it cost and for the service we received. Here are some thoughts from our experience:

The reservation. When we did our reservation online, there was a prompt that asked if this reservation was for a special occasion. It offered up celebrations to click on. I clicked on "Anniversary" and figured that perhaps since their online reservation platform was soliciting this information for them that maybe they would acknowledge the occasion during our meal. They did not. We did not expect fanfare but I was left curious as to why they would request certain information if there's not a plan in place to acknowledge it.

The food. In general, the food was fine but when we paid the $145 check at the end though we were a bit deflated and wondered if it had really been worth that price. We ordered the mushroom toast as an appetizer. It was delicious. We ordered the 12oz Prime Denver Steak and the 8oz Flat Iron steaks along with the potatoes. The potatoes tasted good. The steaks, which totaled around $80 together, were fine but not worth what they cost, in our opinion. I've had a similar quality 8oz from Sizzler. Furthermore, we have literally never sent food back at a restaurant before, but when we ordered both the steaks medium rare and the 12oz steak came out very, very rare inside, we requested it be cooked a little longer. Additionally, both steaks had significant difficult-to-cut gristle (even the steak knives were having problems cutting through it) and the 12oz had a fair amount of fat on it. At the end we ordered the lemon meringue dessert.

The service. When we arrived, we were told that a certain server would be waiting on us. A different server came to bring us water. We waited a few more minutes and our assigned server finally came. She took our order, brought our food & a dessert, brought our check. In between those interactions, we did not see her at all. Another server, Justin (I believe), brought us sauces for the meat. When we needed steak knives for our steaks (instead of the butter knives that we had at the table), we looked around for a little and finally saw a server, Justin again, and reached out. When we needed a cooking adjustment on the steak, again, our server was still not around so we waited and Justin came out again and he came by to help us. The server who filled our waters came by a few times. At the handful of moments when we needed help, it seemed like we had to wait to see anyone who could assist us and then we would have to wave or call out a little to get their attention. It was uncomfortable to do that. The outdoor seating was closed for the rain and it did not seem like a very busy night at all. There were only about 20-25 guests seated inside and 5-6 servers. Also, there was a moment in the restaurant where there was a bit of load, raucous laughter that was coming from the kitchen. A few tables around us made eye contact with each other because it seemed out-of-place and momentarily derailed the calm atmosphere.

In the end, when we received and paid the final check ($145 -- which included a 17% tip), we felt like the cost did not reflect the quality of the food or service. I think we came to The Foundry Grill with high expectations for the experience and left feeling that we could have spent less elsewhere and had a better experience and better food. We will most likely never choose to come back to...

A well deserved upgrade. This is a rare five star review. It also gives me a chance to go overboard covering what is the best burger I've had in Utah. The restaurant has been getting better and better over the last few years. Today was sort of an anniversary meal. We took a very nice bottle of wine that was doing very well being a 14 year old CA Pinot that many would not think would age as well as it has. This atmosphere has always been a place where you could be comfortable in anything but the most casual of clothing. It's easy to forget what a great view sits outside the window. We started with the fried brussels sprouts. They were yet another preparation that even those who hate brussels sprouts should love. The wife had the salmon, cooked properly, and we got the grits. Both were excellent, but this review is all about the burger. They've done slightly different versions of the burger for years. It's been good, but never great. This was the first time I'd seen the meat update. It's advertised as Black Angus Wagyu burger. In order for this to be true, it's a mix of meat from both breeds. I was worried because Wagyu is more about being trendy than being flavorful. Those who know me know that, for me, it's all about beef that actually tastes like beef. Too many burger have bland tasting meat, and it's all about the toppings. They delivered it cooked medium rare to rare. That's just as I asked for. The grind on the beef was not overly fine. That gave it some texture. The flavor was the essence of beef. The Gold Creek white cheddar was perfectly melted. The toppings were on the side. All I cared about was adding some of the excellent pickled onion. That created a nice accent. The bun was good. The meat was nicely seasoned. Everything came together to create a burger that's as good as anything I've ever made, even when I'm grinding mixed cuts into my burger meat. That's a real testament to what is very close to the perfect burger. Now, the fries. They were the garlic fries. Delicious. This is no regular fry with a sprinkling of garlic powder, you can see, and taste the minced roasted garlic. I like that they didn't feel they had to supply some fancy locally prepared ketchup. It was obviously Heinz. That's the flavor we all grew up with, and it's what makes fries taste right. Well done. The service and pacing was perfect. The desert was good, but not as good as I hoped. Other than that, near...

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ½

A Memorable Meal in a Hidden Gem — Once You Find It

Our family recently dined at The Foundry Grill at Sundance Resort, and while the experience ultimately delivered a fantastic evening, getting there was a bit of an adventure.

The drive up through Provo Canyon into Sundance is absolutely beautiful — Utah showing off. However, finding the actual restaurant was surprisingly tricky. There’s major construction going on near the entrance, and signage directing guests to The Foundry is minimal (or missing altogether). We had to call the restaurant for directions, which was challenging with the limited phone service in the area. Fortunately, we got through, and a staff member helpfully guided us to walk behind the construction zone to find the entrance.

Once inside, the experience shifted completely. The Foundry itself is housed in a gorgeous rustic building that feels steeped in history, with modern alpine touches. There’s a boutique, deli, and sundries counter attached — a charming surprise that added to the atmosphere.

We were dining as a family — my wife, three of our kids, and myself — and we weren’t sure what to expect from the food. We ended up ordering a wide range of items, and not one disappointed. The standout? The signature Tomahawk steak — I’ll admit I had low expectations going in, but it was absolutely superb. Rich, perfectly cooked, and well-seasoned.

Our server, Ashlee, was a joy — warm, enthusiastic, and knowledgeable about the entire menu. Her passion for the food added to the evening, and she struck the perfect balance between friendly and professional.

The vibe is casual mountain resort — relaxed, but refined. My youngest son Axel was in a T-shirt and shorts, and we didn’t feel out of place at all. Some guests wore jackets, but it was definitely a mix. No pressure, just good energy.

After dinner, the twinkling lights on the trees outside created a magical finish to the evening. We took photos together in front of them, and it capped off the experience beautifully.

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🌲 Final Thoughts:

Despite the confusing arrival and lack of signage, The Foundry delivered an exceptional dining experience in a breathtaking setting. If they improve the guest wayfinding, this place could easily earn a solid five stars.

Tip for future guests: Call ahead for clear directions, and don’t be afraid to wear something casual — it’s the...