SassyScoops.com has had a long run: 3 years, 20 different Sassies, countless guest Sassies, girls’ nights out and over 100 features on local places here in Utah.

Emily and I (Vanessa) just wanted to say THANK YOU. Thank you for reading our features, thank you for trying out the places we suggested, thank you for your feedback, thank you for your support and thank you for supporting LOCAL BUSINESS.

With one of us having another child and moving out of the country and the other continuing to be more and more busy with growing children and career opportunities, we sadly need to close up shop. There will be no more posts on SassyScoops.com.

The reason we put so much time, work and heart into this site is because we believe in local. We believe in community, we believe in supporting those around us, we believe it is essential to help all of us thrive. We think it is an important and beautiful part of our country, and the movement to put more importance into it continues to need your help and support.

Your local community, business owners, farmers, shops, restaurants, etc. NEED YOU.
Please always consider supporting local, it is so vitally important for you to do so.

Thank you for everything,

Vanessa Brown (INeverGrewUp.net) & Emily Hill (IsThisReallyMyLife.com)

P.S. We always wanted to design our “quick guide” so you could quickly and easily browse all the places we have featured. We never got around to it but in our very last post (this post), I have linked to all the reviews, added the city where they are located and split them into categories: Food, Shopping, Family Activities, Wellness, Photography & Other.

You can find them all below.
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FOOD

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• Daylight Donuts in Sandy
• Communal in Provo
• The Sweet Tooth Fairy in Orem, UT
• Pallet restaurant in Salt Lake City
• Norma Jeane’s Diner in Provo
• The Pie Pizzeria in South Jordan
• One Sweet Slice in South Jordan
• Sammy’s Cafe in Pleasant Grove
• City Cakes & Cafe in Salt Lake City
• The Copper Onion in Salt Lake City
• Station 22 Cafe in Provo
• Harmons Grocery Store
• Gourmandise Bakery & Cafe in Salt Lake
• Rich’s Mighty Fine Burgers & Grub in Salt Lake
• Smashburger in Draper
• Mini’s Cupcakes in Salt Lake
• Da HotDog King in Salt Lake
• Dolcetti Gelato in Salt Lake City
• Frida Bistro in Salt Lake City
• Yogurtland in Orem
• Red Riding Hood’s Basket (delivers to Salt Lake County)
• Surefire Pizza (brick oven pizza that comes to YOU)
• Utah Kernels Gourmet Popcorn in Orem
• Red Iguana in Salt Lake City
• Swirly Girls Gourmet Bakery in South Jordan
• Wabi Sabi Japanese in South Jordan
• Legends Pub & Grill in Salt Lake City
• Adobos Caribbean Grill in Sandy
• Hoppers Seafood & Grill in Midvale
• Sweet Lizzie’s in Tooele
• TCBY in Sugarhouse
• The Blue Plate Diner in Salt Lake City
• Schmidt’s Pastry Cottage in Salt Lake City
• Settebello Pizzeria Napoletana in Salt Lake City
• Shirley J (food line, store in Orem, buy online anywhere)
• Cupcake Chic in Orem
• Rockwell Catering (caterer that serves Utah)
• Over The Top Gourmet Cookies in South Jordan
• San Gelato Café in South Jordan
• Tony Caputo’s Market & Deli in Salt Lake City
• Dippidee in American Fork
• Red Butte Cafe Catering in Salt Lake City
• Dream Dinners in Orem
• My Dough Girl/Ruby Snap in Salt Lake City
• Wild Grape Bistro in Salt Lake City
• Easy Street Brasserie in Park City
• Raw Melissa Desserts (available at Good Earth, Whole Foods and online)
• The Sweet Tooth Fairy in Provo
• Farnsworth Farms in Sandy
• Maestro’s Gelato Cafe in Provo
• Rock Creek Pizza Co. in Riverton
• The Counter in Salt Lake City
• Flour Girls & Dough Boys in American Fork
• Blue Lemon in Highland
• The Chocolate in Orem

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FAMILY ACTIVITIES

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• Incredible Pizza in Draper
• Tracy Aviary in Salt Lake City
• Invert Sports (boats/jet skits/etc to rent anywhere in Utah)
• Visit Salt Lake Connect Pass
• The Leonardo museum in Salt Lake City
• Let’s Make Music! in Sandy
• The Living Planet Aquarium in Sandy
• Utah Museum of Natural History Science Camps in Salt Lake City
• Timpanogos Storytelling Festival in Orem
• Utah Museum of Natural History in Salt Lake City

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WELLNESS

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• Aveda Salon in South Jordan
• Shanta Yoga in Pleasant Grove
• Spotted Owl Soap & Body Products
• REMEDEZ HairSpa in Provo
• PEARL by Adult Dance and Fitness in Midvale
• The Front Climbing Club in Salt Lake City
• Beauty by Crystal in Sandy
• Utah Family Acupuncture & Herbs in Salt Lake City
• Live and Thrive hula-hooping (classes everywhere)
• Transformation Training with Laura Butters in South Jordan
• Bodhi Yoga in Provo
• Beehive Soap & Body Care

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SHOPPING

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• Flowers on Main in Lehi
• ShayBee’s boutique in Springville
• Thanksgiving Point Emporium in Lehi
• The UPS Store in Lehi
• Oopsie Daisy Boutique in South Jordan
• Sweet Pea Boutique in Tooele
• the r house couture(order online)
• Ten Thousand Villages in Sugarhouse
• Blend Fashions in Pleasant Grove
• Blickenstaff’s toy & candy store in Provo
• Zion’s Mercantile in Provo
• Anastasia’s Attic in West Jordan

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PHOTOGRAPHY

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• Sharon Johnson Photography
• Crystalyn Life Images
• Mommy Models by Emily of Winkfotos
• West Light Images
• FotoFly Photo Studio

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OTHER

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• Salt Lake Acting Company in Salt Lake City
• The Grand America Hotel in Salt Lake City
• ClearPlay
• Noah’s in South Jordan
• Salt City Derby Girls in Salt Lake City
• Yanni Voices
• Birth Mother Baskets
• Anchor Restoration

Tracy Aviary has been a fixture in Salt Lake City’s Liberty Park since 1938.  Its 8 acres are home to over 400 birds.  FOUR HUNDRED!!!

(Have we discussed my irrational fear of birds?  No?  Well, they scare me.  Especially the one that goes nuts in my dryer vent every single morning.  And the one that laid eggs in my barbecue.  I start screaming and slamming doors to give them notice to vacate the premises about 5 minutes before I head in their direction.)

Where was I?  Oh yeah…

I’m proud to report that I was not freaked out even once.  I didn’t run screaming in fear (though a few of the ducks did when my boys started chasing after them).  Tracy Aviary is safe and human friendly.

Tracy Aviary is open 363 days a year (only closing for Thanksgiving and Christmas) and offers daily Free-Flight Encounters and Keeper Talks.

They also have great classes for kids, specifically their Pre-K/K series.  The information on those classes, along with upcoming dates and registration can be found here.  As a mom who will (finally) have everyone except my youngest in school full time this year, I’m definitely looking forward to their fall schedule.

There was much rejoicing from my motley crew when we finally spotted the flamingos.

There was slightly less rejoicing when one of them stuck his hand in some bird poop shortly afterwards.  Just between you and me, he TOTALLY deserved it.  Karma at its finest, my friends.

It’s funny that I didn’t “get” this sculpture until we got home and looked at the pictures.  The bird shadows on the ground are delightful, no?

Though I haven’t been to the aviary this century, I thought it was pleasant and well maintained.  It will be less than a century before our next visit, I’m sure.

Tracy Aviary

589 East 1300 South  Salt Lake City, UT 84105

(801) 596-8500

http://www.tracyaviary.org/

Facebook here

Twitter here

So what did the Sassies think of Tracy Aviary in Salt Lake City, Utah? Read on to find out!
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QUESTION

What was your first impression?

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THE SCOOP
Char: I swear it didn’t used to look like this. Wait. That was in the 80′s.
Kim: {coming soon}
Lindsey: How do I get into this place? I swear I have driven around this park 3 times and cannot find the entrance.
Vanessa: Wow, it has changed! The front building, exhibits, everything, looking fabulous!
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QUESTION

What did you like the most?

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Char: The flamingos were the highlight among the herd of boys I brought with me.
Kim: {coming soon}
Lindsey: I loved how open the aviary was. I have a toddler that is very sensitive to smells (the zoo is the nightmare) and he loved it! The peacocks were stunning!
Vanessa: The admission price, how cool it is with all the trees, in the inside buildings are very clean, the flow and organization of the place. Also the interactive, durable, very interesting signs, hands-on stuff for the kids to do, how clean everything is, the amazing birds. I LOVE THIS PLACE!
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QUESTION

What didn’t you like?

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THE SCOOP
Char: The bird poop that my kid put his hand in.
Kim: {coming soon}
Lindsey: Finding the entrance to the aviary was difficult for me. I drove around the park (stuck behind race and event traffic) several times.
Vanessa: The parts that were closed for construction, which didn’t take away from the experience BUT I can’t wait to go when it is all done. They need better signs on where to pull in so you don’t drive around Liberty Park one billion times!! I did miss having the staff out there to answer questions, have tables set up with fun things to show the kids. They didn’t have anyone out this day.
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QUESTION

Would you refer Tracy Aviary to a friend?

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THE SCOOP
Char: Probably.
Kim: {coming soon}
Lindsey: Yes! This is a great play date location. I can’t wait to meet up with other mamas this summer with our kids.
Vanessa: Yes, yes I do all the time. I tell my mom friends that it is cool in the summer, shady, very hands on for the kids, not that busy (if you don’t go on a free day or $2 day) and my kids like it more than the zoo!
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QUESTION

If you could only send out one tweet about the business, what would you say?

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THE SCOOP
Char: Want to do something different this weekend? Spend an afternoon with the kids @TracyAviary.
Kim: {coming soon}
Lindsey: The @TracyAviary is beautiful …and I am not just talking about the birds. Check it out on your next play date!
Vanessa: @TracyAviary is the perfect family outing, the admission price is very affordable and exhibits are very impressive.
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CHECK OUT THEM SCOOPS!

Here is the official SassyScoops.com rating for Tracy Aviary in Salt Lake City, Utah.
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Atmosphere	Family friendly	Location
Prices	Quality	Service

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Return to SassyScoops.com in a little bit for our follow-up post on Tracy Aviary!

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It has been only a couple years since I visited Tracy Aviary but I was so surprised by how much it has changed!

First let me tell you about the aviary. Tracy Aviary is a world of birds; I tell my kids that it is the “bird zoo.” The aviary has more than 135 species and 400 individual birds on display and covers 8 acres. They also have daily bird shows and bird feedings and fun classes. I always tell other moms that I enjoy it much more than the actual zoo because it is very shaded there. The kids can roam around more and it feels so much cleaner!

Like I said, it has changed so much since I was last there. The building where the welcome desk, ticket desk, gift shop, inside kids station are has been spruced up quite a bit. The grounds, which were always clean and well taken care of, have been stepped up quite a few notches. Also the inside exhibits flow so well and are extremely clean and welcoming. The interactive informational signs on the birds are written well and are clean, durable and kid friendly.

Things are divided up in different ways, one of them being by “region” so they have a South American Pavilion inside area and an outdoor Argentinian room designed to make you feel like you are standing outside a home. Then they have an Owl Forest, Marshes Land section and many more places.

Tracy Aviary

589 East 1300 South  Salt Lake City, UT 84105

(801) 596-8500

http://www.tracyaviary.org/

Facebook here

Twitter here

We also wanted to quickly mention their kids classes, specifically their Preschool and Kintergarden classes starting this fall. The classes are offered every other week over a three-month period. Each class will run as a weekday session and a Saturday session. Classes feature a special bird visitor, a fun craft or activity, a snackand an engaging story connecting with the age-appropriate themes. All are designed for parents to attend and participate with their children. Classes can be taken in the full series of six or registered for individually. You can get more information on them here.

Check back on Wednesday to hear what the other ladies thought of Tracy Aviary.

Everyone brought their kiddos, and while I have 3 really mellow girls, some of the other Sassies have older kids and boys. They just might have a completely different take on the place than I do. Stay tuned!

I have a confession to make. I eat a donut almost everyday. No joke. I am sure this is shocking to everyone, since I am clearly a petite little flower, who is constantly mistaken for an Olsen twin, but it’s true. I am obsessed with donuts. And Daylight Donuts is hands down my favorite donut shop in the entire state of Utah.

Have we mentioned the Bear Claw? A certain Sassy, whose name rhymes with Lindsey, said that it was so delicious, she almost swore. And she hasn’t sworn in four months! (I’m not even going to mention how weird that is.) This donut will change your life. I have even started an online petition to make the Daylight Donuts Bear Claw into the food pyramid.

And you might not know this, but it’s one of the best locations in the Salt Lake Valley to do cartwheels with your friends and family! (If only we could show you the video…you’ll just have to trust us!)

We loved the owner and her passion for donuts. It’s become a family affair, with Dave, her husband, coming into work at 2:30 AM to start making all the donuts from scratch. And you can definitely taste the love in their dough.

In fact, all this talk about these donuts makes me want to run out and get a dozen for my coworkers, right now. And by my coworkers, I mean my belly.

Daylight Donuts is giving away a DOZEN DONUTS to one of our LUCKY readers!

To enter, leave a comment telling us what your favorite kind of donut is.

For extra entries, do any of the following. Each counts as an additional entry. Please leave a separate comment for each one you do.

~ Check out Daylight Donuts on Facebook.
~ Check out SassyScoops on Facebook.
~ Follow @SassyScoops on Twitter.
~ Tweet about this giveaway with @SassyScoops in your tweet.
~ Update your Facebook status with a link to this giveaway.

Giveaway ends Friday, May 4th at midnight.

All SassyScoops winners are notified via email.

So what did the Sassies think of Daylight Donuts in Sandy, Utah? Read on to find out!
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QUESTION

What was your first impression?

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THE SCOOP
Emily: Wait, there’s a real, live donut shop in the Sandy/Draper area other than Beyond Glaze (which makes me gag)? Rock on! And how cute is this little shop with its tables, chairs and Diet Coke on tap!
Kim: Very bright, open, lots of space. Loved the yellow walls and simple decor. The smell was awesome and my mouth may have began watering the moment I walked in the door.
Kristina: Mmmmmm, donuts. *In my best Homer voice* The place is pretty plain, but really, what else do you need when there is a giant case of donuts in front of you?
Lindsey: I love a sweet shop with a fountain soda machine. Also? This is a great location!
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QUESTION

What did you like the most?

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Emily: Their bear claw was delicious as was their vanilla coconut cake donut. Oh, and the sprinkles and the orange cream and the fritter…all super yummy. I loved having a Diet Coke in one hand and a vanilla coconut donut in the other. Pure heaven. Plus the owner is super adorable.
Kim: Hands down the bear claw was my favorite. We learned that the secret of the bear claw is apple pie spice inside. So good. I also adored the cream filled chocolate doughnut. The cream was my favorite consistency and super delicious. I may have asked for a bite from Lindsey’s son’s cake doughnut, and it also was superb.
Kristina: THE BEAR CLAW. Seriously, your life will be changed by this donut. You will find religion after eating this donut, if you haven’t already. I think I saw a unicorn jump out of it. It was amazing. I really loved all of their yeast donuts. I’m not a huge cake donut fan, but I also loved the pumpkin donut with cream cheese frosting. The also have a fountain soda machine, which is awesome.
Lindsey: My favorite part of this whole review were the owners. Such nice people! After that, I thought the bear claw was delicious—light, yummy glaze, melt in your mouth. Thanks to Kristina for pointing out that I like yeast donuts over cake donuts. That makes donut selection a lot easier!
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QUESTION

What didn’t you like?

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THE SCOOP
Emily: The only thing I didn’t really care for was this sticky bun sort of donut-y treat. It was a bit dry. By the looks of it, it should’ve been a lot gooier. Oh, wait. I’m also sad they aren’t open ’til midnight so I can get a late-night donut run in!
Kim: I didn’t like the fritter much, but I think that is more of a personal doughnut taste than anything else. My favorite doughnuts are plain Jane doughnuts.
Kristina: I did not love the sticky bun. Unfortunately, the dough was pretty dry, and it was light on the sticky part.
Lindsey: I did not like the cinnamon roll/sticky bun with walnuts. I wanted there to be more glaze and actually found it a little dry even though it was beautiful to look at.
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QUESTION

Would you refer Daylight Donuts to a friend?

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THE SCOOP
Emily: I already have and even told my dad we’ll be going there when he comes out for a visit in June. It’s on the calendar!
Kim: Absolutely. I wish they were a little closer to my house to make picking up doughnuts for special occasions and Saturday mornings a little easier.
Kristina: Absolutely. I stop by there on a regular basis and have brought in donuts to my coworkers. They pretty much already worship me, but this just took it to a whole new level.
Lindsey: Yes! These guys have donuts for everybody. My kids loved the variety of sprinkle donuts that were available.
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QUESTION

If you could only send out one tweet about the business, what would you say?

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THE SCOOP
Emily: Finally! A real donut shop in the south Salt Lake Valley! Daylight Donuts in Sandy is our new fave stop for baked goodies.
Kim: For melt-in-your-mouth bear claws and doughnuts, Daylight Doughnuts is the only way to go.
Kristina: Want something to knock the daylight out of you? Try the bear claw at Daylight Donuts.
Lindsey: Feeling a little “grrrrrr” today? Stomach growling? Try Daylight Donuts’ bear claw. It will cure you.
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CHECK OUT THEM SCOOPS!

Here is the official SassyScoops.com rating for Daylight Donuts in Sandy, Utah.
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Atmosphere	Family friendly	Location
Prices	Quality	Service

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Return to SassyScoops.com on Friday for our follow-up post on Daylight Donuts!

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When David and Holly, the owners of Daylight Donuts in Sandy, moved to Utah from the East Coast, Holly said she just could not find a decent donut.

She complained to her husband “a few times” when finally he just said, “Well, let’s open one then!”

And that’s exactly what they did.

Although Daylight Donuts is a franchise with over 900 locations, they are individually operated and have the freedom to dream up new donut flavors and sweet treats—like Holly’s favorite, the pumpkin cake donut with cream cheese frosting.

Known for (and named after!) their pillowy light texture, Daylight Donuts did not disappoint. In fact, the bear claw almost had me swearing. Almost.

Daylight Donuts

51 East 11400 South

Sandy, Utah 84070

(801) 572-8140

Daylight Donuts (Sandy, UT): http://www.daylightdonutsutah.com/

On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/daylightdonutsutah

They’re fairly new to both Sandy and Facebook, so show them a little love—or “like” rather—online!

What did the rest of the Sassies think of Daylight Donuts? Tune in on Wednesday and find out.

For Seemingly forever I have heard from lots of my friends, “You need to try Communal!” We were so lucky to be able to review such a beautiful, stylish, and delicious restaurant in our own backyard. While Communal is swanky, and you may have to sit next to your neighbor unless you plan in advance and reserve a private table, it is everything you want in a restaurant without breaking the bank. The prices are reasonable for all of the locally grown delicious food. You won’t be disappointed.

Communal is beautiful from the outside in with artwork from local artists adorning the walls. See a piece you like? You can buy it on the spot and take it home with you. Love that Communal is an art gallery and restaurant in one.

Every appetizer at Communal was delicious, from the bread to my personal favorite, the Fennel Tart.

For the seafood lovers, I couldn’t help overhear every other Sassy Oooo and Aaaaah over how delicious the salmon was. I refrained but trust in the other Sassies’ opinion.

While the Rib Eye was so pretty and the house sauce delicious, I have to admit it was not my favorite. However I would highly suggest trying the Christians Farm 100% Berkshire Pork. Have you ever had pork melt in your mouth? “Pork that melts in your mouth?” you say. Yes, that is what I said. This menu item, by far was my favorite.

We ended the evening with a sampling of desserts. While all of them delicious, and the cookies too, I found the Vanilla Pot de Creme a little too “eggy” tasting. However, the Allred Farms Apple Fritter with Apple Cider Glaze won my heart so much I asked for more. You can’t go wrong with that dessert.

I am about to tell you one of the best kept secrets Communal has to offer. Okay, not really, but More than one Sassy was heard to exclaim, “That toilet paper was AWESOME!” So I bravely asked, and an answer I had:

Communal is giving away a $100 gift certificate to one of our LUCKY readers!

To enter, leave a comment telling us what you look forward to trying most, or if you have been to Communal, what is your favorite thing about their restaurant.

For extra entries, do any of the following. Each counts as an additional entry. Please leave a separate comment for each one you do.

~ Check out Communal on Facebook.
~ Check out SassyScoops on Facebook.
~ Follow @SassyScoops on Twitter.
~ Follow @HeirloomGroup on Twitter.
~ Tweet about this giveaway with @SassyScoops in your tweet.
~ Update your Facebook status with a link to this giveaway.

Giveaway ends Friday, April 20th at midnight.

All SassyScoops winners are notified via email.

So what did the Sassies and guest Sassies Gerberta and Cyndi think of Communal in Provo, Utah? Read on to find out!
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QUESTION

What was your first impression?

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THE SCOOP
Cyndi: Trendy with a friendly, low key vibe. The décor was both streamlined and homelike and our greeting was extremely friendly (unlike the rushed and sometimes brisk greetings you get at more basic restaurants). From the first moment, it felt like a comfortable place to be.
Emily: Love the decor and the open kitchen! And it smells sooooo good in here! Does anyone else know this treasure is in Provo?
Gerberta: Beautiful old building, gorgeously simple interior decor. The open atmosphere inside is welcoming.
Jenny: I love walking into this restaurant. I love the service, the ambiance, the food, everything. And I LOVE that it’s in Provo!
Kim: A little smaller than I imagined it would be. Cozy. Warm. Inviting.
Lindsey: It’s kinda small? Is our whole group going to fit? Oh and, I really like the façade of the building. The logo on the door is rad. This place has GREAT artwork.
Stephanie: Mmmm…Where’s the parking? Also, I like the cool sign on the outside. Plus, the exposed kitchen in the middle of the restaurant??? It’s awesome.
Vanessa: It’s beautiful! The communual tables are not stuffed, you have room to breathe and move around. And if you still are nervous to try those types of tables there private tables as well.
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QUESTION

What did you like the most?

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Cyndi: I liked that the blend of flavors for the food was more unique than you would generally find. I felt brave enough to try things I might not otherwise have because what was offered seemed so unique and delicious. It would have felt like a shame to stick with the safe stuff. Sometimes it is easy to get into a meat and potatoes rut with food, but I liked that the server was able to fully answer our questions and describe the dishes in a way that sold them without being pushy. And, of course, everything was really delicious.
Emily: Um, what didn’t I like? Okay, maybe the lamb, but everything else was so tasty! My faves were the Tomato Jam, Mushroom Ragu, Ricotta, Crostini appetizer, some scrumptious tart appetizer, mashed potatoes, house fries, Christians Farm Berkshire pork…holy crap, it was all good!
Gerberta: I love how they purchase most of their food from local farmers. Every person we talked to was friendly and informative. The food was beautiful and tasty. I loved the salmon (in some amazing mushroom sauce) and mashed potatoes but my favorite thing was probably the house fries—they were perfectly seasoned and just the right thickness. The apple fritters were light and cinnamony and I could easily have eaten about four servings worth if I wasn’t already full from dinner.
Jenny: Where do I begin? The menu is seasonal, so it’s nice to see what’s available to order. The salmon never disappoints. My favorite surprise from our review night was the Spinach & Kale Caesar Salad (I’m STILL thinking about it). Also, it needs to be said: Communal knows how to WORK a potato—in many delicious ways.

Kim: I loved almost everything that passed my lips. From the soda that I bummed off of Steph to the mashed potatoes that I wanted more and more of (and I am not even a fan of mashed potatoes!) You can’t go wrong with anything on this menu.
Lindsey: While looking at the menu, I just couldn’t decide what to get. I texted my brother in DC (former BYU student and Communal connoisseur) and he texted back with one word: “POTATOES.” Well, it turns out we ordered every single potato on the menu and man oh man, they were incredible. I fell in love with the Boulangère Potatoes long before they were served because our server (who could recognize that I was struggling with what to order) gave us the folklore of said potatoes…and I love a good story. Apparently, long ago in France, the town bakeries were all used by the townspeople to cook the dinner meal in their ovens which were still hot from cooking bread all day. The meats were put on the top shelf of the oven and the potatoes under them to ensure they caught all the delicious meat drippings. Let’s just say that Communal’s Boulangère Potatoes did not disappoint legend.
Stephanie: Honestly, that is a hard question. There were about 5 things I liked the most. First, our waiter, or experience coordinator, or food service professional was just wonderful. He was extremely knowledgeable about the menu, which is a must. I truly enjoyed the lamb. It is difficult to make perfectly seasoned lamb (in my opinion) and this didn’t disappoint. I quite possibly fell in love with the Boulangère potatoes and the vanilla pot de creme is literally the thing that dreams are made of. If your dreams are filled with awesome
Vanessa: The food; quality, flavors, perfection in cooking, stories behind the dishes, uniquness in how they were prepared. The customer service: superb, helpful, geniune, really blown away. How you can tell the owners love what they do, love Provo, love food, love having people in their resturant.
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QUESTION

What didn’t you like?

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THE SCOOP
Cyndi: The prices. Although the food was delicious and the ambiance friendly and unique, it is definitely a special occasion kind of place for most budgets rather than a spur-of-the-moment Friday night date decision or an option for a family eating out. The smaller size of the restaurant requires guests to have to plan ahead of time to dine there in order to get a spot. Between the prices and the availability factor, it is a bummer that such good food is not as accessible.
Emily: Probably that it’s in Provo and with I-15 construction, that means an hour drive. Also, I’m not a fan of the whole communal seating thing, so I’d have to get a reservation for a more private table (and there are only a couple of those). I do remember not loving the steak, which is sad because I’m a huge fan of a good steak. Pallet’s is still my fave of all time (so far).
Gerberta: I didn’t like how the sides were a separate cost from the main courses. Also, the cost was definitely more than I would pay for a typical dinner out (but reasonable for a special occasion).
Jenny: My very favorite drink—sparkling water—is not on the menu. Sparkling water with lime is the perfect drink, and Communal is my favorite place to eat…I wish the twain would meet.
Kim: Honestly? I can’t think of one thing that I did not enjoy at Communal, and believe me I tried it all, a few times.
Lindsey: I wasn’t a huge fan of the steak—which is usually my go-to ordering option. I found the steak served too rare for my liking.
Stephanie: I wasn’t a huge fan of the bread pudding. It wasn’t bad, just more french toast like. We didn’t have to sit in the communal seating area but I imagine I would not care for it. But, I will say the chairs in that area are not cramped together and seems spacious. Plus, you can reserve a private table.
Vanessa: The brussell sprouts; I am mad at myself for not sending them back and letting them know of the problem. They were quite awful and it must have been a big mistake that they were sent out like that. I also felt like the main dishes available were all quite heavy sounding; I wish they would have had one option that was lighter.
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QUESTION

Would you refer Communal to a friend?

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THE SCOOP
Cyndi: I would absolutely refer this business to a friend, but definitely with the caveat that it is pricier. For a comfortable, delicious experience though, it can’t be beat.
Emily: Heck yes! I’ve already told a few about it and plan to go there to celebrate the next special occasion…like surviving 24 hours without wanting to duct tape my children to the ceiling fan.
Gerberta: Absolutely! This is the perfect place for a nicer date night or lunch with friends.
Jenny: Of course. This is always my first recommendation for dinner in Provo.
Kim: I would most definitely. It is a beautiful restaurant and would be perfect for celebrating an anniversary. I liked that private tables can be reserved in advance for such occasions.
Lindsey: YES! The husband and I have already decided it will be the place for his birthday dinner.
Stephanie: Yes. And my husband too. I already told him we need to go back there for a date. I’d go tonight if he’s game.
Vanessa: Yes, to the right person. The person who loves community, food, quality, fabulous customer service and who is up for trying something a bit new.
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QUESTION

If you could only send out one tweet about the business, what would you say?

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THE SCOOP
Cyndi: I don’t care who your Grandma is, @CommunalProvo’s desserts will put hers to shame.
Emily: @communalprovo is my new favorite dinner place in Utah County. It’s even worth the horrific traffic.
Gerberta: Try @CommunalProvo for a special date night; the food tastes as good as it looks!
Jenny: @communalprovo restaurant in Provo—yes, Provo—is the best dining experience in Utah.
Kim: Be daring and have a seat at the @CommunalProvo table, you may make a friend for life.
Lindsey: When ordering at @CommunalProvo go all-in for the potatoes. Order every variety. You won’t be disappointed.
Stephanie: Add a little class and taste into your date night, girls’ night, or Wednesday night @communalprovo
Vanessa: The @communalprovo is a must try in Utah, I am dying to try their brunch, so impressed with the level of quality and customer service.
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CHECK OUT THEM SCOOPS!

Here is the official SassyScoops.com rating for Communal in Provo, Utah.
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Atmosphere	Family friendly	Location
Prices	Quality	Service

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Return to SassyScoops.com on Friday for our follow-up post on Communal!

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I’m not sure who started the trend of communal seating in restaurants, but Communal in downtown Provo seems to have it down to a delicious science!

Their communal seating seems to have just the right amount of space between diners; in other words, you’re not sitting on your neighbor’s lap or elbowing them in the side while cutting into your melt-in-the-mouth pork chop. They do offer the option of a private table but you’ll want to plan a reservation for that one.

Communal boasts a delicious (I think I already said that but it is that good) seasonal menu and supports local and sustainable as much as possible:

At Communal we understand that being part of a community carries with it responsibility. We take that seriously. We focus much of our time on building partnerships with local farmers, purveyors & artisans who share those same values.

This is what you will feel when you walk through the door at Communal. Our values. Expressed through genuine hospitality & caring cooking. We look forward to finding you a seat at our table.

And it shows in both their service and their food.

I bet this guy is putting together their salmon braised with mushrooms, or maybe the Boulangere potatoes. Perhaps it’s the onion tart with Rockhill Creamery Gouda and bacon. Mmmmm…

Now I’m hungry.

Communal is open:

• Tuesday through Friday for lunch (11:30am – 2:30pm) and dinner (5:00pm – 10:00pm)
• Saturday for brunch (9am – 2pm) and dinner (5pm – 10pm)

I suggest trying lunch, dinner AND brunch. Yep, it’s that good. But you’ll have to wait for our Wednesday review to find out exactly what tickled our taste buds!

Communal online: http://communalrestaurant.com/
On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Communal-Restaurant/113556015328267
On Twitter: @CommunalProvo