Pago — Restaurant in Salt Lake City

A Culinary Gem Celebrating Local Delights!

I recently had the pleasure of dining at Pago, located in the vibrant 9th and 9th area of Salt Lake City. As an avid supporter of local businesses, Pago's commitment to partnering with locals and serving the freshest, organic products instantly won me over. This restaurant truly exemplifies the essence of farm-to-table dining.

The menu at Pago is a delightful reflection of the changing seasons, ensuring that guests are treated to the best ingredients available throughout the year. Each dish is carefully crafted to showcase the flavors and textures of the quality produce sourced from local farms and artisans. It's an experience that encapsulates the true essence of culinary artistry.

One of my all-time favorites at Pago is the Heirloom Tomato Salad. The combination of whipped ricotta, fregula tabouleh, pistou, and preserved lemon creates a harmonious medley of flavors that dances on the palate. The freshness of the tomatoes shines through, making it a refreshing and delightful starter.

The Roasted Local Mushrooms is another standout dish. The earthy mushrooms paired with beluga lentils, piperade goat cheese, aleppo chiles, and scallions creates a symphony of tastes. The balance of flavors and textures is impeccable, leaving a lasting impression.

For pasta lovers, the Rigatoni all'Arrabbiata is a must-try. The handmade pasta is cooked to perfection, and the spiced pork and beef meatballs add a savory punch to the dish. The pesto and Parmesan elevate the rich tomato sauce to new heights, making it one of the best tomato sauces I've ever had.

Now, let me tell you about my absolute favorite dish at Pago—the Cacio e Pepe. The handmade bucatini pasta, tossed with smoked black pepper, ricotta whey, and pecorino, creates a simple yet extraordinary flavor profile. The dish is a celebration of the timeless combination of cheese and pepper, executed flawlessly. Each bite is a revelation, and I find myself craving it even as I write this review.

The ambiance at Pago is warm and inviting, with a friendly and attentive staff that enhances the dining experience. The restaurant's commitment to sustainability and supporting local producers adds an extra layer of satisfaction to every bite.

If you're a food enthusiast seeking an exceptional dining experience in Salt Lake City, Pago is an absolute must-visit. With their ever-changing menus, you'll always be surprised and delighted by the culinary wonders they create. Prepare to indulge in the freshest, most delicious dishes that celebrate the essence of local ingredients. Pago has truly earned its place among the city's...

One star for the space, one star for how the food tasted. Minus four stars for service. We had a reservation at 6:30 and were promptly seated. There were maybe 3 tables inside and the patio was busy. The girl that came seated us asked if we wanted water. Ten minutes later the server brought it. We ordered a pre dinner cocktail for myself and wine for our other guest. We started with the goat cheese toast. (VG) Table X sourdough, apple butter, fennel, watercress, olive oil, lemon. It was exceptional. My only problem. It took 50 minutes to arrive. The server only came by once at about 45 minutes and the shock on his face was palpable. I think he forgot to ring in our food. Idk. Then he asked about any additional items.

We then got the winter wedge (steamed cabbage) and the squash and burrata.

The winter wedge was well cooked and the blue cheese on the side was a perfect mixture of profiles. Picture provided

I got the squash and burrata. Although it was good. I definitely won’t order again. The squash was terribly undercooked and it didn’t stand out like the other dishes. Our server would know that if he ever came back. Like ever. It had been an hour and a half and we had a piece of toast and about 4-6 ounces of vegetables. We were starving. We wanted to leave soo bad. I put my card on the table before the check came out. So we sit for another 20 minutes. Server drops the check and doesn’t notice my card already put on the edge of the table. So I put my card in. And it feels like another 20 minutes before he came back and ran our check. Felt like forever at this point. We’ve been at “dinner” for two hours and have barely ate a thing. Not by choice I left 20 percent out of moral understanding. Not for a job well done. Had this review been just about the service we received. I’d sum it up in three words because that’s about the amount of time we interacted with anyone. We watched two tables beside us sit, eat and leave before we received...

Update: May 2022 I happened to dine here again due to a business meeting. I'm upgrading my previous review from 3 to 5 stars.

Atmosphere was as expected, and especially cozy. Since I haven't traveled to SLC in a while, there was definitely a sense of nostalgia. The sour dough bread was fabulous - freshly baked, warm and moist. Goat cheese toast was equally good, especially accented with the jam on the bottom. The salad was unpretentious and honest, while the meat bolognese truly highlighted the textures of the pasta as well as the various meat within. The cheesecake was also surreal.

Not sure what has happened but the restaurant really felt different than before. And I'm so happy for what Pago has become today.

I really wanted to like this place. Went in with high hopes. Rustic interior with family-style atmosphere, modern American cuisine with a redacted menu. What could go wrong?

Price point was relatively high but definitely in the forgivable range if the food was good. Decent wine selection with reasonable prices.

First, service was super slow. Friendly crew but it took almost an hour till we got our main course.

Second, random ingredients and tastes appeared in random places. I had the duckbreasts. All was good but with burnt brussel sprouts and vinegar dipped mushroom... just didn't go well. And slightly tough duck. For dessert, I had the chocolate cremeux which had a thick banana cream squirted on top which surprising did not go well together with the chocolate. Almost absurd since those two tastes are supposed be made in heaven.

Third, the hamachi crudo... awesome but with so little for that price... hmmm...

Left quite disappointed. Perhaps I shouldn't have had such expectations. But then, that's what the rest of the reviews and pics on Google insinuate. Won't be returning...