Utah Food Reviews

Service

Rating:

The service started off pretty good but just kept going downhill after we were seated. We ordered the “feast for two.” Devin ordered the lasagna after the server assured him there were not any mushrooms in it. I got the fettuccine alfredo. When we got our food, it didn’t take long for Devin to find that the lasagna did have mushrooms, and lots of them. The server should know the menu better than that. If she didn’t, she should have found out before making promises. Fortunately, she brought a different entrée at no additional charge. Later, we were asked what kind of cookie we wanted for desert. We made are selection only to be told a few minutes later that they were out. Not impressed.

Food

Rating:

Their garlic bread is really good but everything else is so-so. The pasta sauce isn’t overly flavorful. The pizza is pretty good but you can find something just as good but at a better price somewhere else. Their homemade root beer is a popular item as well as their apple beer.

Atmosphere

Rating:

It is a nice clean place. It is family friendly but doesn’t get too noisy. They are able to accommodate large groups. We definitely like the over-sized booths. When we were there they had someone going around making balloon animals for kids and whoever else wanted them. There is plenty of room in the waiting area at the front which many restaurants don’t have.

Our Recommendations

If you get the feast for two, there is no need to upgrade to the full salad bar. There is plenty to eat with what it already comes with.

Location: 150 East 800 North, Provo, Utah

www.brickovenprovo.net

Me and my wife enjoy eating at places where we both agree that the food is good, the service is friendly, and restaurant is clean. Smokehouse BBQ is a great place to hang out with friends and has an inviting atmosphere in an rustic style restaurant.

Service

Rating:

When entering Smokehouse restaurant, you simply pick your seat and an employee comes and asks what you want. We’re seasoned Smokehouse fans and have a seat we regularly sit at near the window. The food generally arrives quickly and looks great.

Atmosphere

Rating:

Since this restaurant is a mix of fast food and a typical sit down restaurant, it’s a little noisier then you would think when a few people are there eating and having a good time. I believe it could look a little cleaner, but Smokehouse’s location puts it in a somewhat older neighborhood that you would expect to look older inside.

The Food

Rating:

Let’s put it this way. My wife is an “exception vegetarian” who orders a beef brisket sandwich. Smokehouse is one of the only exceptions she has in terms of breaking the vegetarian diet and downing some good meat.

As a meat-eater myself, I really enjoy the beef brisket sandwich over chicken and pulled pork. The only reason why I didn’t give the food category a 5 was because of the amount of grease/moisture from the meat that makes the bread soggy. We generally get the meat in a side dish and put it on ourselves.

Bottom Line

If you’re looking for a great fast food sit down restaurant, give Smokehouse BBQ a try. Most basic meals are around the five dollar mark and fill even the hungriest of appetites. If you’re not a fan of soggy bread, ask for the meat on the side and make a BBQ sandwich to your liking.

Overall Rating:

After trying nearly every meal the Olive Garden, we decieded to venture out and taste the Italian flavor of Ottavios located in Provo, Utah. They also have a close-by location in American Fork Utah. When we arrived, the wait was about 5-10 minutes even though there didn’t seem to be a line or waiting list. We figured they were preparing our table or assigning a waiter to us.

Service

Rating:

The waitor was prompt and kept our waters full and bread loaded. That’s pretty much all I want out of a waitor. When we were finished with the meal, he didn’t come around with the famous circular dessert tray and “sell us” on some dessert. The last thing that I want to do when eating at a restaurant is be in a position of being pressured to buy something I don’t want. We asked for take-home containers which the waiter quickly put the remainder of our meals in. I would have given him a full 5 - stars, but he really didn’t stand out as the best waiter I’ve had, but he wasn’t the worst either.

The Meal

Rating:

We really enjoyed eating the “free” filler bread before our meal came out. They provide you with oil, vinegar, and parmesan cheese. I’m not a fan of the vinegar, but my wife is.

The starter bread

The starter salad

When you find the meal you want, you get to choose either a soup or salad. I got the ceasar salad, while my wife got the minestrone soup. The salad was fresh and crisp while the soup was also hot and tasty-however my wife did mention that it was a bit too hot.

The main meal was delicious and portioned for more than two people. I got lasagna, and my wife got a 4-cheese penne pasta. By the time it came out, I had my fill of bread and salad so I couldn’t eat much. This was the same as my wife. The plate was very hot, and the food itself was a great temperature. I really liked that the lasagna did not have mushrooms in it as I am not a fungus fan.

Four-Cheese Penne

Lasagna

Atmosphere

Rating:

I really enjoyed the quiet and dimly lit surroundings. There was an employee fully dressed as an authentic Italian playing the accordian (and singing Italian). He was a little loud when roaming near your table, but was nice when heard in the background.

Final Thought

Overall, we enjoyed our visit and found it to be worth our money. I believe with two meals, the tip, and tax was about 25 dollars. We generally get water as well to save on costs when eating out.

Overall Rating:

Contact Information

Ottavio’s Ristorante Italiano
ottavios.com
77 East Center Street
Provo, Utah 84606
801.377.9555

We love to try different kinds of pizza and thought it’s time to try out the “meat lovers” pizza at Papa Murphy’s.

Service

Rating:

We have been to the Provo location several times since living here in Provo. It usually takes between 5-10 minutes for the pizza to be made, depending on how busy the place is. If you call your order in ahead of time, it ensures it will be ready when you get there and you have the convenience of going through the drive through to pick it up. We have always had a good experience when ordering. The staff is friendly and courteous and always willing to make a specialty pizza with various combinations.

Food: Chicago Style Pizza

Rating:

The Chicago Style Pizza is huge! It is a double layer pizza with lots of meats and cheese. It takes a while to cook (around 30 minutes as opposed to about 15 minutes for a regular pizza). It is a good pizza if you like meat. The down side to this pizza is that it is a little difficult to get the center cooked enough without overcooking the outer crust. Since it is so thick, the center tends to be a little soggy.

Atmosphere

N/A

Our Recommendations

Always use a coupon. You can usually find them online and they rarely expire. Call your order ahead if it is a busy night like Friday night or if they are running a great special. They usually have their special posted on their street sign. Often times they make dozens of their specials for the day so if there is a wait, this may be a fast alternative. Go for a single layer pizza instead a stuffed. They cook faster and more evenly. Don’t be afraid to ask if they can do something special, like two different sauces. The gourmet vegetarian pizza is my favorite.

Location:
895 South University Avenue Provo, UT 84601