2041 SOUTH 2100 EAST
SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH 84108
(801) 463-1151
JOHN BOUZEK, OWNER
People only complain about one thing at the Blue Plate Diner: the wait to get a seat. This diner is the choice spot of Sugar House residents. Located just blocks from Sugar House Park and near the highway, its easy access may be its only downfall.
Blue Plate offers both traditional and untraditional breakfast fare, attracting pretty much any demographic nearby, from a crowd of firemen to a hipster vegan couple living down the street. On the traditional side their corned beef hash is a favorite, made with brined corned beef that’s been boiled and sliced thin in-house. The beef is served tender, almost crisp, and topped with cheese, fried eggs, and a side of toast. Rye pairs well, if you are looking for recommendations.
For more classics, try the Classic Blue, house Benedict, or any omelet.
After that, things get a little more trendy. The menu includes five variations of Benedict, from the SMA (spinach, mushroom, and avocado) to the country Benedict with smoked ham, buttermilk biscuits, and country gravy. Pancakes come in a variety to choose from as well, from vegan pancakes to country corn cakes, all with your choice of fruit, nuts, coconut, or chocolate chips. The corn cakes are especially good, with a little more texture than traditional pancakes and the flavor of cornbread. Try them with blueberries for a real treat. The tofu vegetable scramble and vegan tofu breakfast burrito satisfy the vegan crowd, while the pork chili verde burrito and the huevos rancheros satisfy those walking in extra hungry.
The vibe is just as funky as some of the menu items, with vintage decor salvaged from around Utah, including its soda fountain built in 1949. The diner is even older than some of the random objects lined up above the bar, as it was built around the turn of the twentieth century.
Blue Plate doesn’t just fill a niche in Salt Lake, it fills every seat, the whole neighborhood, and beyond with exactly what anyone would want in a comfort food diner. Perhaps they do it too well.
(SERVES 4–6)
2½ cups black beans
2½ cups garbanzo beans
½ cup raw old-fashioned oatmeal
½ cup water
1 cup finely chopped white onion
1 cup finely chopped celery
1½ teaspoons salt
¾ teaspoon black pepper
½ teaspoon granulated onion (or ¼ teaspoon onion powder)
½ teaspoon granulated garlic (or ¼ teaspoon garlic powder)
1 tablespoon chili powder
3 cups panko bread crumbs
½ cup all-purpose flour
Coarsely puree the black beans and garbanzo beans. Bring raw oats and water to a boil and cook for five minutes. Add oats and all other ingredients to the beans. Let cool for 10 minutes then mix by hand. Measure out 5-ounce portions and smash to flatten into patties. Brown both sides in a pan with oil. Serve with a vegan bun, green leaf lettuce, sliced red onion, and tomato.
PANCAKES
This city loves its pancakes. And we have a wide variety, from lemon pancakes at the Lazy Day Cafe to the fluffy pancakes that live up to their nickname: “Heavenly Hotcakes.”
Here are some words of wisdom on pancakes in Salt Lake City:
Go to the Park Cafe for pancakes the size of your head. Choose from buttermilk or multigrain, then blueberry or banana. A pancake sandwich is also a fun find here.
Drive up the Big Cottonwood Canyon to Silver Fork Lodge for their famous sourdough pancakes made with a sourdough starter over fifty years old.
The lemon pancakes at Lazy Day Cafe have a cult following and are served with their house-made buttermilk syrup.
Penny Anne’s is like visiting your grandma’s house—that is, if your grandma has the best recipe for fluffy pancakes. Pancake lovers and haters enjoy a short stack here.
Oasis Cafe serves up a grand German pancake with blueberry compote, worth sharing if you want something savory too.
Vertical Diner has a variety of vegetarian and gluten-free pancakes including raspberry and chocolate chip.
For a more unique hotcake, try the cinnamon roll pancake at Faustina, the cornmeal pancake at Blue Plate Diner, or Caribbean pancakes from Caffe Niche.
For a classic diner stack, hit up the Coachman’s or The Original Pancake House.
