On the Road: Vertical Diner (Salt Lake City, UT)

So, a couple of months ago I took a trip to Salt Lake City to attend a concert.  My road trip buddy this time out was one of my oldest friends, and someone I haven't traveled with in a couple of decades.  She wanted to attend the concert as well, and she was in desperate need of a weekend out of town.  The last time we hit the road, she was a lapsed vegetarian (my bad influence, I'm afraid), but over the years she has rebounded to become a vegetarian with vegan leanings.  Not exactly an ideal dining companion for someone like myself, but what the hell.  I'm a (relatively) nice guy and I enjoy a challenge.  I researched a lot of places that were vegan, vegetarian, or at the very least had very decent options for those types (SLC has become a very good place to eat for them, a surprising number of the highest rated restaurants on Yelp are geared that way).  But of course she had her own suggestions, and I decided to risk her favorite place in town despite the serious misgivings I had based on the menu and the reviews I'd read.  If you're wondering if I was pleasantly surprised, the answer is no.  I wouldn't go back to this joint even if I were offered a free meal.  Feel free to stop reading if you like, but if you want details you can find them below.

I didn't take this picture, it's from their Facebook page.  I just wanted out.

Treats and Tragedies on the Road: Salt Lake City, Day 3

When I travel, I always have a loose itinerary of places I want to eat at.  However, I do understand that not everyone shares my tastes or will necessarily be in the mood for a particular thing when it's available, though I'm usually pretty good at getting my way.  That having been said, I always have one must-go place every time I travel, one that I insist on checking out above all others.  I had just such a place in mind for this trip, and on our last morning in Salt Lake City, I would finally make it there.

Treats and Tragedies on the Road: Salt Lake City, Day 2

Day two of the trip was all about Lagoon.  It was the first time for both children going to a real amusement park (and they thought the rides at the Fair were impressive!), and my first time at one in over a decade.  I'm sure you don't want me to regale you with tales of roller coasters or amusement park food, which has been substantially corporate-ized since my last visit...

This was where I had lunch, for example...

Treats and Tragedies on the Road: Salt Lake City Day 1, Part 2

Back at the hotel, we had a short discussion about what to have for dinner.  I presented a few different options, knowing full well which one would be chosen.  I was with three Mexican food fans, so we just had to go to the most famous Mexican joint in town, right?

Treats and Tragedies on the Road: Salt Lake City Day 1, Part 1

I've been taking a lot of two-to-three day vacations the last few months.  In June, the Roommate and I decided to take her kids to Lagoon because, frankly, the last few times we've hit the Western Idaho Fair, it's been too hot and far too smoky.  Plus, I like amusement parks and feel less self-conscious about being at one if I have children with me.  Don't judge me.  So, off we went.  Another early morning Starbucks run, another ugly drive (but at least a different ugly drive than the one I usually take), and since we were in town way too early to check in to our hotel we kept on driving right past Bountiful, through Salt Lake City, and into Draper, where I visited an IKEA for the first time.