Utah has a unique and bustling food scene. This year, there were multiple new openings. We checked out some of the new restaurants and also visited some tried and true favorites.

Here’s a list of the places we checked out this year.

1. Fillings & Emulsions

Chef Adalberto Diaz Labrada baked his first cake at age 9 using a pressure cooker. And he’s been baking ever since.

His passion for baking sweet treats led him to open up Fillings & Emulsions in Salt Lake City — an “eclectic Latin bakery with a French flair.”

One of his favorite things is to share something he made “with somebody and see the reaction. Right? Like, giving somebody something to try and then say, like, ‘this is so good, right?’” he said. “It’s a great feeling.”

Last year, he was nominated as a semifinalist for a James Beard Award for outstanding pastry chef or baker.

What I ordered:

I’ve tried a few different things from Fillings & Emulsions. The macarons are amazing.

I love the layered desserts like the almond croissant or the pain au chocolat croissant. The guava cream cheese brioche is also tasty. The savory hand pies are also quite a treat.

I highly recommend even just the simple sourdough. It’s crackly on the outside and soft and pillowy inside.

Storefront information:

• Website: fillingsandemulsions.com
• Address: 1395 South 300 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84115
• Hours: M-Sa 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Closed Sundays.

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2. Mazza

The two-time finalist for the prestigious James Beard Award celebrated 25 years of business this year.

“You feel that you’re fulfilling a certain role within our community, and that’s a very satisfying feeling,” Sabbah told me about how it feels to be a staple in the Utah community for more than two decades.

What I ordered:

I tried the Mushroom & Cauliflower Kabseh while my friend ordered the Maghmoor & Rice. Both dishes were delicious and offered up their own unique flavor profiles.

We also shared the Baba Ganooj & Pita. The pita bread comes out all warm, and then I dipped it in the fresh roasted eggplant blend — it’s a real treat.

If you haven’t tried out Mazza yet, I highly recommend it. You can sense the passion for the food and you can taste the quality in ingredients when you check it out for yourself.

Storefront information:

• Website: mazzacafe.com
• Location: 1515 S. 1500 E., Salt Lake City, UT 84105
• Hours: M-Sa 4:30 p.m.-9 p.m. Closed Sundays.

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3. Central by Saffron Valley

Central by Saffron Valley is one of the hottest new restaurants in Salt Lake City, serving up Indian fare inspired by the railways of India and showcasing a train theme in its stunning downtown location.

The train theme runs deep throughout the restaurant, with some dishes served from tins often used on the Indian train system. There are platforms marking each table, and there’s even a giant train in the middle of the restaurant.

“I think every Indian has a beloved story or two about their train experience growing up,” owner Lavanya Mahate said. “It’s literally a journey and it’s built on connection, community, gathering, and good food. And who doesn’t love a good electric train, right?”

What I ordered:

When I sat down to talk with Mahate, we shared lunch together at Central.

Here’s what we ordered:

• Cauliflower Manchurian: The cauliflower comes out all crispy and covered in delicious Indo-Chinese garlic chili sauce.
• Railway Veg Cutlets: These are a tasty treat I enjoyed more than I would have expected. It’s golden beet and veggie patties served with tangy, tasty chutney sauces.
• Paneer Butter Masala: You can’t go wrong with a classic. Paneer is like an Indian cottage cheese and the butter masala packs a punch of curry flavors.
• Tandoori Lamb Chops: Mahate’s vegetarian, so I got these all to myself. The lamb is tender and juicy and smoky.
• Saffron Fruit & Nut Biryani: This was my personal favorite and the star of the show. The nutty textures and saffron flavors make this dish shine.
• Chai creme brulee: It was everything you hope when you see the name. The spices were perfectly blended and the top was nice and crispy like a creme brulee should be.

Storefront information:

• Website: centralbysaffronvalley.com
• Location: 454 E 300 S, Salt Lake City, UT 84111
• Hours: T-Su 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m., 5-10 p.m. Closed Mondays.

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4. Rosati’s

Rosati’s Chicago-style, deep-dish pizza has finally arrived in Utah.

The Chicago establishment, known for its delicious thin crust as well as its Chicago deep-dish, recently opened a location in Orem, Utah.

“We’re getting people from all over the state coming in,” one of the owners, Katie Jacobson said. “It’s amazing how many people have Chicago connections.”

What I ordered:

When I went into the Orem pizza spot, I ordered one of the owner’s (Mike Sonnenberg’s) favorites — thin crust with pepperoni, olives and sausage.

It was delicious, arguably one of the best pizzas I’ve ever had in my life.

I went back to try to the deep-dish as well, which is just as cheesy and packed with flavor, as you would imagine. It’s almost akin to a lasagna. Because of all the layers, it takes a while to make the deep-dish, so if you order that, just be prepared to be patient.

The thin crust is the real star though.

“Their deep-dish is amazing, but Rosati’s is actually known for its thin crust,” one of the owners, Heidi Sonnenberg said. “It is what people keep coming back for. People come in wanting to try the deep dish and they’ll keep coming back for the thin crust.”

Storefront information:

• Website: myrosatis.com
• Address: 775 E. University Pkwy, Orem, Utah 84097
• Hours: Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m.-9 p.m.; Friday through Saturday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m.; Closed Sundays

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5. Crispy Cones

Crispy Cones started in a tent in Rexburg, Idaho, and in a few short years, it now has more than 20 locations across the U.S.

The European-style shop serves up a new ice cream experience with cones handcrafted from freshly-made dough, grilled rotisserie-style and then coated in sugar and cinnamon. The pastry cone is then slathered in cookie butter, Nutella or whatever spread you like.

Premium soft serve ice cream made with 10% butter fat is poured into the gourmet cones, and then the dessert is then loaded up with fresh fruit, chocolate treats or whatever toppings the heart desires.

“I’m trying to bring that European vibe here, and people love it,” franchise owner Andrei Popa said.

What I ordered:

I ordered the Cookies a la Mode, which comes with the following:

• A rotisserie-style grilled cone coated in cinnamon sugar
• Cookie butter
• Vanilla ice cream
• Cookie dough bites
• Oreo chunks

The cone was warm and crispy on the outside with soft, pillowy dough on the inside. The ice cream was creamy and smooth, while the dough bites and cookie bits added a little special crunch. I truly enjoyed the decadent dessert and will be going back to try more.

• Website: crispycones.com
• Address: 129 E 13800 S. Suite A3, Draper, UT 84020
• Hours: Monday-Thursday, noon-11 p.m.; Friday-Saturday, noon-midnight; Sunday, 2-10 p.m.

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