SLC - stay in Sandy or Downtown?

We've stayed at the Homewood Suites off Ft. Union the last 2 years and thought they were great and very convenient to both LCC and BCC. On the way to the canyons, you pass 2 ski shops where you can pick up cheap lift tix. If you want to ride the ski bus, it's a short walk from the HS, but we've always preferred to drive. We've stayed in units facing the courtyard, since I was afraid the outer units might get some street noise, although the hotel is set back off the main drag a block or so.

This year we're considering staying in the HS downtown, mainly because we'll be in SLC only from Dec. 26-31 -- very high season -- which may mean we'll be more interested in trying Pow Mow or Snowbasin (and definitely Deer Valley, since this years we're without our son, the boarder) to minimize crowds.
 
We stayed at the Residence Inn Cottonwood last year. Friendly staff, good rooms and very convenient for BCC/LCC - only a couple minutes drive to the bottom of BCC. We also drove up to Park City from there and it was easy. Has a kitchenette and there is a pretty good breakfast buffet included in the price also. But may be pricey - they just quoted me $199/night for March and this year we don't have enough points to stay for free, otherwise we would be back there again.
 
NeedhamSkier":r0afsjya said:
We stayed at the Residence Inn Cottonwood last year. Friendly staff, good rooms and very convenient for BCC/LCC - only a couple minutes drive to the bottom of BCC. We also drove up to Park City from there and it was easy. Has a kitchenette and there is a pretty good breakfast buffet included in the price also. But may be pricey - they just quoted me $199/night for March and this year we don't have enough points to stay for free, otherwise we would be back there again.
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Yeah, they're definitely pricey -- I checked them out once for another user. They are, however, extremely convenient to the canyons, they're a short (but steep) walk to a major Ski Bus park-and-ride, and have both Cafe Trio and Loco Lizard next door for nights that you don't feel like cooking.
 
Let's stop saying that the south end of the valley is nothing but fast food and chains, OK? Here's what I could think of without looking up anything. (A few were mentioned earlier in the thread.)

None of these restaurants are chains;
all range from very good to excellent to spectacular - I have personal experience with all of them (save for one);
none are downtown or even that close to downtown;
all are on the east side (ie: closest to the Cottonwoods) and range from Sandy thru Midvale and Murry to Cottonwood Heights and a little bit of the southeast end of SLC (the closest to downtown are the last two at 15th & 15th)

Sandy & Draper
Café Trang
Aroma (brand new Indian in Draper – haven't eaten there yet - with a new Thai soon to open a couple of doors down)
Joy Luck
Mizumi
Tiburon Fine Dining
Royal India
Szechuan Garden (order from the Szechuan/authentic page of the menu)
Taste of Punjab
Bonsai Japanese Steak House (tepanyaki style, incorrectly aka hibachi)
Carvers Steak House
Mekong Thai <------ Nevermind! They closed within the past month

Midvale / Murray / Millcreek / Cottonwood Heights
Suehiro
Epic Casual Dining
Asian Star
Tsunami
Porcupine Grill
Market St. Grill & Oyster Bar
Loco Lizard
Francks
Tuscany
Pine
Lugano
Log Haven
Café Madrid
Bangkok Thai Talay
EJo (Korean)
Citris Grill
Mazza (Middle Eastern/Turkish/Greek)
Paris Bistro


Oh, since I've seen it written a bit and it bugs me, one other minor correction detail for visitors : there are no bars/clubs/restaurants/gas stations/subermarkets/motels/etc at the mouth of Little Cottonwood Canyon (Alta & Snowbird) as there are at the mouth of Big CC. The closest are at 9400 S. 2000 E.

[Edited to put some in Midvale originally incorrectly listed in Sandy]
 
Susan and Peter H (Tirolerpeter) heartily agree with Marc C.. Susan doesn't go near snow, but definitely works her way through restaurants. One of the reasons she was willing to move to Draper UT with me was that she wouldn't wither away from the lack of decent dining opportunities. BTW, take it from Susan, who has dined in some of the finest digs in NYC, New Orleans, Seattle, etc., "Tiburon" is right up there with all of them, and far exceeds "Galatoire's" in N.O. for food, wines, and service.
 
Those are some long SLC restaraunt lists to totally forget about the RED Iguana for mexican food, between downtown and the SLC airport. It's the best mexican I've had north of the border (the Arizona/Utah border).
The absolute Worst. Meal. Ever. in my experience was at Samba Grill in Gateway Center. One other important tidbit about Utah dining, if it's chain restaraunt in Utah but no locations anywhere else STAY AWAY.
the UTA busses might be fine for day skiers, but if you're on vacation, it doesn't pay to spend valuable time on a slow bus. in my opinion Sandy isn't enough closer to the ski areas to make it a better choice over the hotels, walking/light rail access to dining. compared to downtown. I DOUBT there's a brewpub in Sandy, there's a couple downtown.
 
Pajarito-Bred":b7vcznm3 said:
Those are some long SLC restaraunt lists to totally forget about the RED Iguana for mexican food, between downtown and the SLC airport. It's the best mexican I've had north of the border (the Arizona/Utah border).
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Agreed, but the list accumulated south valley restaurants, not downtown.

Pajarito-Bred":b7vcznm3 said:
I DOUBT there's a brewpub in Sandy, there's a couple downtown.
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Au contraire: Hopper's (mediocre) and The Bohemian (exceptional). (Actually, Cottonwood Heights and Midvale, respectively.)
 
I've done the "stay in Sandy, chase the snow" trip twice. Sandy was amazingly convenient. Cheap discount tix at Canyon Sports and easy access to BC & LC canyons and the Highway North for that must do trek to Powder Mountain. There's a good steak place named Carver's Chophouse and a good sports bar named Iggy's near Automall Drive. If you feel the need to hit SLC you can cab or bus it.
 
Well I am surprised that no one has been talking up Chuck-a-Rama!
My image of post-ski Utah dining has been permenantly stained by letting our Greyhound charter bus driver stop there after skiing LCC on our college trips, before those 18-hour all-night rides south to Arizona. Geez that was, um, 25 winters ago. But still not 26 winters ago, based on the brown ragged bareness of the Wasatch peaks as of yesterday.

I'm not going to believe there's actually a brewpub in Sandy until I see it with my own eyes.
 
Admin":1cf3ih9r said:
Pajarito-Bred":1cf3ih9r said:
I DOUBT there's a brewpub in Sandy, there's a couple downtown.
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Au contraire: Hopper's (mediocre) and The Bohemian (exceptional). (Actually, Cottonwood Heights and Midvale, respectively.)
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Actually actually, they're both in Midvale, and each no more than a 1/2 mile from the Midvale/Sandy line and I dare any non-local to know when they've crossed the town line (most locals wouldn't know, either). Essentially, they are in Sandy.

[Edited from original post for clarity]
 
If you don't mind not drinking alcohol and are truly hungry, Chuck-O-Rama (sp?) is a tasty belly buster. As "Seniors" (over 60) my wife and I pay $9.95 for dinner!
 
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