Eva ~ Downtown SLC

As culture in Salt Lake grows, so do our options as consumers to experience a great night out. At Salt Lake’s flourishing and widely popular tapas restaurant, Eva (314 South Main), diners get an exclusive chance to do what most only dream of. Eva offers ambiance, gastro-pleasure, and best of all it is cheap.
Cheap, some would say, is a questionable word, however the most appropriate to capture the attention of not only the hip 20-30 something crowd but also for anyone affected by the current economic stag mire. (By the way, it is affecting EVERYONE, including you.) The average small plate, or tapas, is around $8-10, with their specials running only a few dollars more. A must-have and my favorite dish is the gnocchi served in a light cream sauce with peas and shallot potatoes. In addition to Eva’s cheap food, the alcohol list is very reasonably priced and decently extensive. A beer list that has multiple “liquor store” level bottles is trumped only by the Bayou. Eva also offers a respectable wine list and offers a wide selection of specialty cocktails.
This little eatery is sweeping popular culture in Salt Lake; anyone who is out and about has either heard of or eaten there multiple times. Ambiance at Eva is a force all other tapas restaurants will have to reckon with. A perfectly lit space that has twenty foot industrial-esque ceilings, grey walls adorned with minimal local art, and simply set tables give Salt Lake a taste of big city chic. The table arrangement is comfortable and appropriately arranged to promote groups of virtually any size to enjoy the cheap and exquisite menu. Each table boasts a single candle, a minimalistic vase with a single trademark daisy, and a casual silverware/napkin setting. Being at a central and perfect downtown location Eva is in very close proximity to: the Gallivan Trax station, big business, Temple Square, Energy Solutions, Abravanel Hall, etc.
Dinner service begins at 5:30 pm and runs to 10:00 pm, bringing the trendy crowds as well as the run of the mill people. It is at dinner the best ambiance can be enjoyed, not to mention the larger dinner menu. Eva also serves a great lunch menu from 10:30 am to 2:00 pm; however, it is much too comfortable for the quick lunch and dash back to the office, although plenty of business-folk stop in at the lunch hour. In addition to the lunch and dinner hours, Eva does what most don’t: they offer a Happy Hour (more like Happy “3” Hours). During this late night sprawl, the menu dwindles to wood-oven baked pizzas, side plates, and the alcohol menu (at least until 1:00 am). Eva offers a one up to many other downtown establishments; they also offer their Happy Hour menu at the neighborhood bar next door. Cheers to You is a mainstay of downtown nightlife and now has a great ally in Eva. The patrons who call in phone orders from Cheers to Eva get barstool service. Their food is delivered to you. These delivered take-outs are payable by cash only. The Happy Hour can last all night or if business is slow that night, it might end a bit earlier.
The staff at Eva is more or less efficient. With one chef behind the counter cooking all food for the restaurant, it is possible to wait a fair amount of time for your food. The waitresses are always friendly and do their jobs well. It is worth your breath requesting them if they are available or even waiting for them to become so. The new talk of the town is Eva and is quickly becoming the must-do for Salt Lake night life.

Eva “Casual Fine Dining”
314 South Main
Salt Lake City, Ut
Lunch: 10:00 am – 2:00 pm
–Dinner: 5:30 pm -10:00 pm
–Happy Hour: 10:30pm – 1:00 am