A few of the Sassies had the recent opportunity to visit and review the new Blue Lemon restaurant location in the downtown Salt Lake City, City Creek Center. Many people have experienced the delicious “fast casual” style of the Blue Lemon location in Highland, and now many of us not lucky enough to live in Utah County can experience the delicious menu items right in the heart of downtown Salt Lake City.

The new Salt Lake City location opened in May of 2010 and boasts a large, open, modern feel. The restaurant is directly across the street from Temple Square and has lots of floor to ceiling windows, which make people watching (and judging, of course), easy and fun.

Blue Lemon prides itself on being “green” and environmentally friendly. Now, normally this would definitely turn me off, as I often try to make it my mission to destroy the earth, but the food was so delicious, and combined with the unique design of the building, I had no time to worry if eating there was going to make me a better person.

Blue Lemon also is set up cafeteria style, so you get your food quickly but with food and menu items that make you feel like you are eating in a gourmet, fancy restaurant, which is great because I’m not really classy enough to get into those places. I felt right at home at Blue Lemon, minus the eating on my couch in my Snuggie.

Lychelle, the gorgeous owner of Blue Lemon, told us she originally started the restaurant because she and her family were eating out a lot and had a difficult time finding healthy restaurants that also offered quick service. What started off as a hobby quickly turned into a full time business. And if I can get Lychelle’s flat stomach and gorgeous hair, I will quickly begin a regimen of eating only Blue Lemon cupcakes while watching The Biggest Loser.

Blue Lemon offers several different appetizers on their menu, and their Artichoke-Spinach Cheese Dip definitely topped the list. I may have enjoyed it so much that I stole the giant tub of it in the walk-in cooler and put it in my purse. They also offer several seasonal soups, and appetizer side salads.

They offer several sandwich options, including the Lemon Grilled Chicken BLT, a Turkey Burger, and Sassy Vanessa’s favorite, the Chipotle Pineapple BBQ Brisket. I had the pleasure to try the Blue Lemon Steak Griller, with gorgonzola cheese on top, served with garlic mashed potatoes. It was one of the best steaks I have had in a long time. They also offer Fiery Fish Tacos Fajita Style and Fresh Black Bean Ravioli. Everything we were served was so amazing and fresh, if Edward Cullen had the option of eating Bella or the Citrus Seared Atlantic Salmon, he would go for the salmon.

Blue Lemon also has a great in-house bakery, which serves sugar cookies with a great cookie-to-frosting ratio, several different flavors of cupcakes, cakes, brownies and seasonal treats. The City Creek location also serves coffees and hot chocolate.

You can find Blue Lemon at their Highland location, their City Creek location in downtown Salt Lake City, and on their website, Facebook, and Twitter.

NOW for the part you have been waiting for . . . the HUGE GIVEAWAY!

One (1) lucky SassyScoops.com reader is going to win a $25 gift card to Blue Lemon, which can be used at either the Highland or Salt Lake City locations.

Entering is super easy. Just leave a comment on this post for your chance to win.

You can earn EXTRA entries too:

1 entry ~ “Like” Blue Lemon on Facebook and leave a comment telling us you did.

1 entry ~ Tweet about this giveaway and leave a comment with a link to your tweet.

1 entry ~ Facebook about this giveaway and leave a comment telling us you did.

3 entries ~ Blog about this giveaway and include a link to your post.

Happy entering! This giveaway will end on Friday, January 28th at midnight MST.

All Sassy Scoop giveaway winners are notified via email.

Because the Sassies feel it’s important to spend as much time as possible with their families during the holiday season, they will be taking two weeks off to “review” Christmas and New Year’s with all its food, friends and fun. The Sassies will be back on January 4^th with more of Utah’s tempting treats and fabulous finds. Until then enjoy reading these handpicked reviews from scoops past. Happy holidays!

You’ve heard the buzz, you’re up on the scoop, it’s time for you to have your own night at Blue Lemon!  The sassies are giving away $50 to one lucky reader to spend at Blue Lemon Bistro on whatever your heart desires.

Are you going for the spicy fish tacos? Is your belly begging for mac ‘n cheese? Do your eyes demand the veggie lasagna?

Let the Blue Lemon treat you and your chosen companions to the freshest bistro fare this side of Lone Peak. Just leave a comment telling me what you think you’ll be ordering at Blue Lemon, and a dinner worth $50 could be yours!

My scoop? Don’t forget the delicious boutique root beer Blue Lemon has on tap, because nothing says summer to me like a glass of icy root beer.

* For an extra entry, tweet about this giveaway and leave a separate comment with the URL to your tweet!

Deadline: Midnight on Thursday, May 14th.

The giveaway winner was Dania, this giveaway is now closed!

So what did the SassyScoops.com girls think of Blue Lemon and the restaurant’s “pure, clean food with a twist?” Read on to find out!

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QUESTION

What was your first impression?
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THE SCOOP

Allison: Looks like a trendy NYC eatery–hooray for being in Utah!
Carina: Very clean and modern design; the mini subway tiles are to die for.
Emily: Modern, crisp, welcoming design complete with WiFi–awesome!
Jyl: I loved the shi shi design from the blue tiled walls and green stained cement floors to the fabric on the booth seat backs.
Marie: Clean, fresh, beautiful design.
Quinn: Blue Lemon has a really fresh, open atmosphere with a posh, unique look.
Rachael: There is not much that would lure me into a journey from SLC to around the point of the mountain just for dinner–but Blue Lemon would.
Vanessa: The atmosphere was very different from most restaurants; it was open, clean, inviting and fresh.

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QUESTION

What did you like the most?

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THE SCOOP

Allison: Loved the drinks…that pebbled ice and raspberry drink? Come on!
Carina: I liked the butternut squash soup. Don’t skip the kid’s menu–the mac and cheese is delicious.
Emily: The grilled balsamic chicken panini with a side of sweet potato fries and Asian dipping sauce was scrumptious, and don’t forget the raspberry Blue Sky soda followed by an icy Diet Coke (and repeat)!
Jyl: Was it the couscous salad or citrus salmon? It must have been the butternut squash soup that could just have easily been on the dessert menu… scrumptious!
Marie: Butternut squash soup!
Quinn: Honestly, the cute little holder in which the fries arrived; it’s like a vase of sweet potato fries–love it.
Rachael: I really loved the atmosphere, design and mojo that they’ve put all over that place, but most of all I loved the food and felt healthy eating it! (Or should I say inhaling it…did someone say butternut squash soup?)
Vanessa: I loved the food, everything tasted fresh and healthy but with loads of flavor.

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QUESTION

What didn’t you like?

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THE SCOOP:

Allison: It was a little pricey. I’d go for a girls lunch where I wasn’t paying for more than myself, but I wouldn’t take the whole family!
Carina: The Acai berry smoothie; maybe it’s just too healthy for me.
Emily: I second the Acai berry smoothie, but then again the only thing I order from Jamba Juice is the oh-so-healthy Chocolate Moo’d!
Jyl: I wish they had a bowl of lemons in addition to the bowl of limes in the drink area and the ordering process were a bit speedier.
Marie: The salmon was a more expensive dish; it would have been nice to get a little side dish of something like veggies or rice.
Quinn: I wish that regular french fries came mixed with the sweet potato fries but the AMAZING dipping sauce makes up for it (mostly).
Rachael: I don’t like the fact there isn’t a Blue Lemon restaurant five minutes from my house!
Vanessa: I like how the menu is simple although I wish it had a few more things from which to choose.

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QUESTION

Would you visit again?

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THE SCOOP:

Allison: Yes, I’d go back…by myself.
Carina: I would go back, especially for a low-key lunch with colleagues.
Emily: I’ve returned once and already have two more visits scheduled in the next month or so!
Jyl: I’ve been back twice since my first visit and have referred all my friends, so that’s a definite yes!
Marie: Yes, and I have!
Quinn: Absolutely. I have recommended it to many friends and family.
Rachael: Definitely (and I’ve already been back once!). I’m making my dinner group go there for our next night out. (Did I just say “dinner group?” That is so grown up!)
Vanessa: For sure! I have been over a dozen times since it has opened and tried just about everything on the menu.

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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:

Allison: Finally, Utah has a restaurant that doesn’t feel like Utah!
Carina: Blue Lemon Bistro is a must for the butternut squash soup – on the sweet side but ever so tasty.
Emily: Blue Lemon converted me to butternut squash w/ their fab soup and made me a believer w/ their grilled balsamic chicken panini! YUM!
Jyl: Want to die & go to heaven? Visit the Blue Lemon Bistro & try the Butternut Squash Soup! Mmmm!
Marie: You gotta try Blue Lemon Bistro, a fun fresh restaurant located in North Utah County. Get the soup, it’s slurpalicious!
Quinn: U haven’t lived until u’ve tried @Blue_Lemon. Everything is fresh, healthy & delicious! U’ll want to go back again & again (wishing ur stomach was bigger).
Rachael: I feel cooler because I went to The Blue Lemon! Kind of like I have a new very cool hangout!
Vanessa: Finally, a healthy place to eat that has flavor…AND crushed ice!

The SassyScoops.com ladies were pretty excited to check out Blue Lemon. With all the buzz about that restaurant we had to see if it really lived up to the hype.

Blue Lemon is a restaurant in north Utah County that serves a healthy menu without sacrificing anything in the taste department. Their food is clean, all natural with no preservatives and never fried. I heard whisperings the butternut squash soup is to die for and the vegetable lasagna is unbelievable. We shall see…

Blue Lemon is located at

11073 North Alpine Highway

Highland, UT 84003

801.756.7993

Blue Lemon website

Blue Lemon on Twitter

Blue Lemon on Facebook

Blue Lemon blog

(I was told the blog’s first post is TODAY and the site will have posts at least three times a week and feature fabulous recipes, tips from their chef and awesome discounts for readers!)

Lychelle, the owner of Blue Lemon, is a friend of mine so I was able to interview her and ask her all the questions I really wanted to know about Blue Lemon. It gave me a great “behind the scenes” look into owning a restaurant.

Why did you decide to open a restaurant? What is the story behind Blue Lemon? What are your dreams for Blue Lemon?

We decided to start Blue Lemon because we got tired of trying to eat healthy.  Not that there aren’t a lot of options and restaurants out there, but we found it became increasingly difficult to find those healthy options for myself and especially for my kids.  We wanted to create a place that would suit the whole family.  We found that anytime we were going someplace healthier, we were either leaving the kids at home or taking the kids somewhere else to eat, which usually meant fast food.  So thinking a restaurant might be fun (what were we thinking!) we decided to try and open up something that was healthy for the whole family and so delicious even kids would eat it.  The other big thing for us was to be able to teach people how to eat “clean.”  That’s why we decided to put in a demo kitchen, which I think will be a great success as time goes on.

The biggest question I get asked is whether or not Blue Lemon means something.  It doesn’t.  We were just thinking of fun names to call it so people would think “fresh” and “healthy” when they heard the name.  The funny thing is I think we succeeded in that, however in reality lemons turn blue when they go bad, so it actually doesn’t mean that at all.  Kind of funny in the end.

We are hoping to take Blue Lemon more places.  We’ve had a lot of people interested in franchising, but as of now we’d like to have owner-operated multiple locations.  We’ll see what actually happens though.

What has been the most challenging part of opening a restaurant? What have you learned about yourself in opening Blue Lemon?

The most challenging part of opening the restaurant…to answer honestly (but you may not want to print this) is the constant comments you get from people! And I’m not talking about the positive comments either.  They’re the “trying to be helpful but really not at all helpful” comments.  For example, the one I received today complained about the size of our fish tacos. Apparently somebody’s husband doesn’t roll out the door when he eats our fish tacos so she’s worried we’re going to under!  It’s very funny really.

We get a lot of comments where people say they want us to stick around for a while so they tell all their friends and neighbors and everyone, and it sounds positive, but then they say “because I just don’t want you to fail, or go under or something like that.”  We have a problem in this area with the notion that restaurants fail up here.  We’ve had about five different restaurants in the past five years or so come in and go out for various reasons.  Most of the problem is the high rent and not enough capital to sustain the business, so they assume everyone is the same way.

We have far exceeded our expectations and hope to stay current on what our customers want so that won’t happen.  But really we’re not going anywhere for a very long time!  Anyway, moral of the story is, wwe do our best within our healthy eating concept and hope people like it but realize that we can’t please everyone.

What has been the most rewarding thing in opening up the Blue Lemon? What aspect of owning a restaurant do you enjoy the most?

Selfishly we just wanted to have a great place to eat in our neighborhood.  That’s definitely the best part of owning a restaurant is having amazing food cooked for you all the time!  Trying out things and experimenting on different food is fun, too.  The people you meet are amazing and it is a wonderful feeling being able to create a place for people to have a good, sustainable job in this economy.  That is also very rewarding.

How do you believe using social media (e.g., blogging, twittering, using Facebook) has helped your restaurant become a success?

Let’s see, I actually don’t think it was until we started twittering that we really spread awareness about Blue Lemon.  There’s been a lot of talk about Blue Lemon in various parts of the state.  I even had my cousin email me from California the other day saying  she heard some ladies in her ward talking about Blue Lemon.  We’ve had a lot of people come into the restaurant because of what they’ve read online somewhere.  It’s been a wonderfully useful marketing tool for us to use, without spending marketing dollars.  It’s great!

Wednesday: Get the real “scoop” on Blue Lemon from the SassyScoops.com girls.

Friday: Learn how you can win a $50 gift certificate to Blue Lemon.