The Tin Angel Café

WHAT I HAD:
Tapa- Espresso Crusted Beef Tenderloin
Appetizer- Spiced Almonds with Bleu Cheese
Entree- Pimenton Pork Loin
Dessert- Bread Pudding with Cranberry and Orange


Address: 365 West 400 South, Salt Lake City

I'm sure most of you have driven past the The Tin Angel Café, and it is easy to miss. It is right across from Pioneer Park on 400 South on your way to pretty much anything, but if you never make the stop you are heading the wrong way. Tin Angel Café is TINY, or should I say Cozy? and it has a slight tattoo parlor vibe going. Maybe there is an association there. It would seem they treat their food like a tattoo artist treats an arm– like art. The food was so un-complex and natural. They just let the flavors of the food do the talking. They are big on buying local ingredients when they can or anything organic and they will sacrifice low prices for it– and that is meant as a compliment. Even big namers like Coke or Pepsi are nowhere to be found, they use an all natural cola which I think tasted way better.

I couldn't shut up about the decor while we were there. I swear they must raid D.I. regularly to build their very eclectic serving-ware collection. They had vintage table runners, local artists adorning the walls (mostly of skeletons and devils), and their tattooed, chain wearing waiter even joins in and wears a vintage frilly apron.



The menu has sections you don't find on every restaurant menu– tapas, small plates, a wine list (just kidding). So there is the fun element of trying lots of different dishes and not being overly full. Unless you do what ES and I did and order lots of plates, an entree, and a dessert, then you may be rolling yourself out of the restaurant.
A note: when they say "one bite-" or "two bite-" tapa, it really is.

The food was wonderful, the atmosphere was dark and cozy but this isn't a restaurant you would take home to your mother.

The Robin's Nest

WHAT I HAD: The Natural- Portabello Mushrooms, Sweet Roasted Red Peppers, Artichoke Hearts, Red Onion, Spinach, Provolone, a Roasted Garlic Spread all on Ciabatta

Address: Heart of downtown Salt Lake. 311 South Main.

Many times at lunch I am starving (well that is everytime) but I can't put my finger on something I want to eat. Cafe Rio? Just had that. 5 guys? Too fattening. McDonalds? I'm not that starving. Once I visited the Robin's Nest I found my muse for lunch. Something intelligent, not too greasy, and not too ordinary.

You walk in and there is a wall of people. I would like to describe the decor/atmosphere. But being 5'3" all I saw was hair and coats. I think that had something to do with it being noon. Robin's Nest is deli style where you order, pay, they call out your name and you pick it up. For having so many people inside, I thought we'd be waiting forever, but they were surprisingly fast. We even found a seat. Their menu is mostly sandwiches, but I think they had a few salads and maybe a soup of the day. I ordered the Natural (they all have cheeky names) and that came with a side and a cookie. And that is not potato chips and some thawed out chocolate chip cookie. I had a delicious orzo pasta salad with a Mexican wedding cookie. My sandwich was vegetarian, but it had tons of flavor and great texture. I just ordered a half sandwich and ate every bit of it. A perfect amount of food for relatively cheap ($8).

I can finally end this quest for a cheap, fast, and most importantly, delicious, lunch.