Road to RootsTech 2025: SLC Restaurant Recommendations
- Kylee Turner
- Mar 3
- 5 min read
With RootsTech 2025 just days away, we know you are all thinking about the amazing classes, keynote speakers and people that you will meet at the conference this year. But there’s one important question that might not have crossed your mind yet—but definitely should: Where am I going to eat? As a fellow foodie, I can tell you that finding great spots to dine is always at the top of my list when traveling. To make your time at RootsTech even more enjoyable, we have curated a list of our favorite restaurants in Salt Lake City, some with a historic flair!
Caffe Molise
Caffe Molise is a highly-rated Italian restaurant featuring a delicious menu created with local ingredients, live jazz performances on Friday evenings and a Neo-Renaissance architectural design.
A little bit of history: The restaurant is located inside the historic Eagles Building, which was constructed from 1915-1916 and was first home to the Fraternal Order of Eagles, from which it received its name. Over the years, the building was also home to the American Legion, an insurance company, dance clubs and a dance-theatre group called Sonder. For more on the history of The Eagles Building, check out their website here: https://www.caffemolise.com/were-moving.
Our menu favorites include the Gnocchi di Patate and the Orecchiette al Salsiccia—but in all honesty, you can’t go wrong! We recommend making a reservation at https://www.caffemolise.com/. Enjoy!
Restaurant Info:
Distance from Salt Palace Convention Center: 0.5 miles
Walking time: 9 minutes
Driving time: 2 minutes
Price: $30-$50 per person
Address: 404 S West Temple, Salt Lake City, Utah 84101
Hours:
Sunday-Saturday
11:30 AM - 3:00 PM
Sunday–Thursday
5:00pm–9:00pm
Friday-Saturday
5:00pm–10:00pm
Photos courtesy of https://www.caffemolise.com/
City Creek Center Restaurants
Looking for lots of options for a quick bite? Stopping by the City Creek shopping center may be your best bet. City Creek features many favorite Utah chain restaurants, including Chick-fil-A, Cafe Rio, J. Dawgs, Costa Vida, Kneaders and Seven Brothers. City Creek is also home to one of Utah’s three Cheesecake Factories, making City Creek a prime location for good eats of every variety.
A little bit of history: Since City Creek Center was built in 2012, it does not fit into the “historical” category in the same way as some of our other recommendations, the design elements in the center pay tribute to Utah’s history and environment. As part of the self-guided City Creek Architectural Tour, you will see sculptures, animal tracks and water features all replicating the landscape of Utah. In addition, the facade of the popular retail store, ZCMI, can be spotted on Main Street. To participate in the self-guided tour, visit: https://shopcitycreekcenter.com/pages/architectural-tour.
Restaurant Info:
Distance from Salt Palace Convention Center: 0.4 miles
Walking time: 5-10 minutes
Price: $5-$30 per person
Address: 50 S Main St, Salt Lake City, UT 84101
Hours:
Thursday
10:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Friday & Saturday
10:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Sawadee Thai
Sawadee Thai is an authentic, family-owned Thai restaurant, carrying the awards of Best of Utah for 11 non-consecutive years. They specialize in curries, seafood, noodle dishes, stir fries and soups.
A little bit of (personal) history: Though I don’t know much about the history of the building itself, I am always impressed by the warm and classy environment. The restaurant features a beautiful exposed brick interior, authentic decor and often welcomes local jazz musicians to perform, but the real star of this restaurant is the food. For the last few years, my husband and I have made it our mission to find the best local Thai food. Our search expanded through Weber and Davis county, then eventually we found our way to Salt Lake to Sawadee Thai, as per the recommendation of my parents. We tried our go-to dishes and fell in love with the restaurant. Since then, we find every excuse possible to eat there when we are in the Salt Lake area, and have introduced our friends and family to the restaurant as well. So, friends, please enjoy Sawadee!
Our menu favorites include Crab Sawadee, Tom Kha Chicken Soup, Pad Thai, Masaman Curry and Red Curry. For the menu and more information about the restaurant, please visit: https://www.sawadeethaiutah.com/home.
Restaurant Info:
Distance from Salt Palace Convention Center: 1.5 miles
Driving time: 5 minutes
Price: $10-30 per person
Address: 754 E South Temple St, Salt Lake City, UT 84102
Hours:
Monday-Thursday
11:00am-3:00pm, 5:00pm-9:00pm
Friday
11:00am-3:00pm, 5:00pm-9:30pm
Saturday
12:00pm-9:30pm
Rodizio Grill Brazilian Steakhouse in Historic Trolley Square
Rodizio Grill is a Brazilian steakhouse specializing in rotisserie-grilled meats, gourmet salads and authentic side dishes, located in Historic Trolley Square. Their rotisserie-grilled meat selection includes beef, poultry, seafood, lamb and pork, served fresh and hot to your table. Unlike other steakhouses, this restaurant is all-you-can-eat, allowing you to enjoy a taste (or two) of the entire menu.
A little bit of history: In 1906, a railroad tycoon named E.H. Harriman purchased the Utah Light and Railway Company, as well as the land formerly used as the Territorial Fairgrounds. Under his direction, a trolley fleet building, known now as Trolley Square, was constructed to house nearly 150 street cars. The building featured a 50,000 gallon water tank to be used in case of a fire, which is still a staple of Trolley Square today. The trolley car system covered 146 miles, from Centerville in the north to Holladay in the south. Over time, the old trolley barn fell in disrepair and was near demolition when a local family purchased the building in 1972. Architect Wally Wright then took to redesigning the building into Salt Lake’s version of Ghirardelli Square, adding pieces from other historical buildings in the Salt Lake area. The Square now holds 40 boutiques, restaurants and businesses, all with a unique historical flair. For more information on the history of Historic Trolley Square, visit https://www.trolleysquare.com/history.
Our menu favorites include the Pão De Queijo and all of the meats! If you are feeling adventurous, try a Coração de Frango Temperado, otherwise known as chicken heart. To view their full menu, visit https://www.rodiziogrill.com/main-menu.aspx.
Restaurant Info:
Distance from Salt Palace Convention Center: 1.9 miles
Driving time: 6 minutes
Price: $30-$50 per person
Address: 600 South 700 East, 2nd Floor, Salt Lake City, UT 84102
Hours:
Monday - Thursday
12:00pm-9:00pm
Friday
12:00pm-10:00pm
Saturday
11:00am-10:00pm
Photos courtesy of https://www.rodiziogrill.com, https://www.trolleysquare.com, https://www.okland.com
Ruth’s Diner
Ruth’s Diner, named after founder Ruth Evans, is the second-oldest restaurant in all of Utah. The restaurant serves breakfast, sandwiches, salads, a few Tex-Mex options, American dinner entrees, desserts, beverages, and of course, hamburgers. Enjoy the beautiful canyon views and delicious food!
A little bit of history: The diner was originally called Ruth’s Hamburgers, and opened its doors in downtown Salt Lake City in 1930. After the demolition of the original building, Ruth purchased an old trolley car, moved it up Emigration Canyon to the east of the city, and reopened her restaurant to the public. The restaurant celebrated its 95th year in 2025. For more information and fun stories about Ruth, please visit: https://ruthsdiner.com/diner-history/.
Our menu favorites include the famous Mile High biscuits (served with breakfast), and just about anything on the breakfast menu. If you've got a couple extra days in Salt Lake or find you've got a little extra time one morning, trust us, this is the place to go. To view the full menu, please visit: https://ruthsdiner.com/
Restaurant Info:
Distance from Salt Palace Convention Center: 7.3 miles
Driving time: 20 minutes
Price: $10-$30 per person
Address: 4160 Emigration Canyon Rd, Emigration Canyon, UT 84108
Hours:
Monday, Thursday & Sunday
8:00am-9:00pm
Friday & Saturday
8:00am-10:00pm
Thinking of eating at one of our suggestions? Let us know which restaurant you’d like to try. We can’t wait to see you there!
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