Rouser Restaurant — Restaurant in Salt Lake City

I had breakfast at Rouser multiple times during my stay, and it was so good that I’m still thinking about it. Unfortunately, we didn’t have time to try dinner since we had other plans each evening, but it’s already at the top of my list for the next time I go out for dinner. If breakfast is any indication, I’m sure dinner is just as exceptional.

What really impressed me was the attention to detail and the fact that almost everything on the menu is made in-house. The English muffins on the breakfast sandwich, the fry bread paired with the smoked salmon, and the brioche used for the French toast—all prepared from scratch. You can absolutely taste the difference. The only thing they don’t make themselves is the sourdough bread, and even that they’ve sourced thoughtfully from Leavity, which is an excellent bakery. It’s clear they’ve put a lot of effort into every aspect of the menu.

As for the dishes, the breakfast sandwich was perfectly satisfying—simple but elevated with fresh, high-quality ingredients. The smoked salmon on fry bread was a standout for me, with its crispy, savory base and a smoky richness that felt unique. The açaí bowl was refreshing and vibrant, and the French toast was pure indulgence—soft, buttery, and just sweet enough without being over the top. And then there’s the coffee—smooth, rich, and exactly what you’d hope for to kick off your morning.

The atmosphere in Rouser is relaxed and welcoming, but it still feels special, like the perfect mix of casual and upscale. The staff were incredibly friendly and efficient, which only added to the experience.

If you’re staying at the Asher Adams or just visiting Salt Lake City, I can’t recommend Rouser enough for breakfast. I’m already looking forward to going back—not just for breakfast again, but to finally see what they do for dinner. This place is a gem, and they’ve clearly set a high standard for food and service. I'm excited that they are here in SLC.

Update:

Came back to Rouser with a larger group for a business dinner meeting, and every single person walked away impressed. We had a reservation for 6 people, and despite the size of our party, the staff handled everything smoothly from start to finish. They seated us in a comfortable area where we could easily talk business without feeling cramped, yet still be part of the lively ambiance.

One detail that stood out right away was how our server managed to check on us regularly without hovering—no easy task for a big group. They quickly took our drink orders and then explained the specials, making sure everyone had a chance to ask questions about the menu or request modifications. We appreciated the professionalism, which set the tone for a productive but relaxed evening.

From a business-dinner standpoint, Rouser really gets it right. The pace of the meal was well-managed, and we never felt rushed or overlooked. It allowed us to focus on our conversations while still savoring the excellent food.

Overall, I can’t speak highly enough of Rouser. It’s rare to find a place that strikes the perfect balance of attentive service, consistently good dishes, and a pleasant atmosphere, especially when you’re coordinating a larger group. For anyone in Salt Lake City seeking a spot that can handle both professional gatherings and a great meal, Rouser is definitely worth a visit. Five stars...

I went here last night for dinner, and while it wasn’t a terrible experience, it fell short of expectations, especially given the cost—over $100 per person after tip. For those prices, you’d expect a refined dining experience, but the quality just wasn’t there.

Appetizers: We started with the baked goat cheese, which turned out to be more like tomato soup with a dollop of goat cheese on top. It came with “fry bread,” though it was nothing like fry bread I’ve had before. If you want great fry bread, I’d recommend heading to Black Sheep in Provo instead.

The octopus was another letdown. It was surprisingly chewy and flavorless, served with a generous amount of sauce—but the only way to get the sauce was to eat the lettuce underneath.

Main Courses: I had the scallops, my husband ordered the ribeye, and my mother-in-law tried the gnocchi. The gnocchi was disappointing—it all looked the same unappetizing shade of gray-brown. Even though there was broccolini in the dish, good luck finding it. You eat with your eyes first, and this dish was far from appealing. While the gnocchi texture was nice, they were large and overly salty.

The scallops were beautifully cooked, but the accompanying mushrooms were so salty that it made the dish borderline inedible—except for the fact that I love salty food. I also had fresh shaved truffle added at the table, but somehow the truffle lacked any noticeable flavor. I didn’t even think that was possible, but there it was.

The ribeye was delicious, which aligns with advice we’d gotten beforehand to keep it simple and stick to their charcoal-grilled proteins. I should’ve followed that recommendation.

Service & Details: While the atmosphere was nice, the service lacked the polish you’d expect from a fine dining establishment. My napkin wasn’t refolded after I left for the restroom—a small detail, but one that’s standard in fine dining. Drinks didn’t arrive until we were halfway through our appetizers, which was frustrating.

We weren’t offered a dessert menu, so I’m not sure if they even have one. I ordered an espresso instead, and it was served cold, in a coffee cup, with teaspoons instead of proper espresso spoons or sugar cubes. It felt like no one there had ever served espresso before. Worse yet, the espresso was bitter—easily the most bitter I’ve had, and I drink it regularly.

Overall: I’d rate this experience a 2.5/5. If the restaurant wants to justify its prices, it needs to refine its dishes and train the staff on the little details that elevate fine dining. Those small touches matter, and until they address them, I wouldn’t...

Let’s start with the positive. It’s a Beautiful space.

I was here for a 5pm reservation on a Sunday before a Jazz game. And frankly I’m sad to write this review. TLDR: hard pass, all of the little details added up to make me bummed that I spent almost $200 on this experience.

Arrived at 4:55pm and Host and staff didn’t even acknowledged that we existed. We stood in the valet atrium until another couple arrived around 5:05. They were promptly greeted and seated. We were seated after them.

Ordered a glass of wine and husband got one of their saltwater IPA beers. Beer was served in can next to glass (pour your own style) and the Malbec was perfect. At this price range, pour my beer. I don’t need to hear my other half complain all night that he ordered a 5% IPA in a can and had to twist his wrist to get it in a glass.

We ordered the grilled oysters and they were fantastic. It was slightly odd that the order came as 5 but I easily shrugged that off.

Next up was main courses and I had the scallops and he got the short ribs. Scallops weren’t cleaned properly so they were gritty and ruined the whole dish. Plating was excellent to superb. The radish, sauce and mushrooms were all incredible. Short ribs was not fall apart and appeared to be more of a bite of steak.

I had to run to the bathroom before the game and was appalled. The toilet was full of piss. Like 2 people hadn’t flushed. I noticed the auto flush was broken so maybe this was the problem. The I washed my hands and noticed the auto soap was broken as well. So some sad generic soap container was left on the sink ledge. To top it off washing your hands in the sink and faucet makes you touch the bottom of the sink because there’s not enough room to wash your hands without touching either the faucet or sink. Just another detail that made me sad in the price point of this experience.

A month into operation, okay sure I get it we all have issues but these were big red flags to me. I’ll wait to go back. Maybe they’ll lower prices, but it’s a hard pass...