Meditrina

As the year 2011 opens and begins to roar forward, a mention to one of Salt Lake's greatest achievements in culinary art. Meditrina has a menu that reflects the current trend in tapas dining. It seems that the chef duo at the restaurant have taken otherwise plain items and moulded them into delicacies.

When you enter the pocket size restaurant you are always greeted by a warm and inviting hostess. The next step was a little more daunting. After being greeted the guest is given a rough estimate for a wait time and kindly ushered to the waiting, well, "area" --for the lack of better description. The small size of the restaurant limits the amount of space it can offer it's prospective guests which can be somewhat invasive into the diners experience. If there are quite a few parties waiting for tables it seems more or less as if you are standing on top of the table or two situated parallel to the waiting area. However uncomfortable it may be to sit at the elbows of the diners it is very much worth the wait. Enjoy a glass of wine or a beer while you wait for your wry own cozy table. Once seated the scrabble-tile server will greet you and tell you about what specials the kitchen has for the evening.

The wine list has a selection on par with the menu and has an easy to read feel. The only problem is: which wine do I get. That question is answered with the specials menu. This menu has a special 3 ounce pour trinity. Each of which has a different role to play in your meal. Wine is offered by the glass but for larger parties of like-minded drinkers there is a great selection of wine by te bottle. Another virtue of the wine list is the two pour size options. A 3 ounce "half" pour and a 5 ounce pour. In addition to the fantastic wine option come a list of both local and "imported" beer.

Once you've chosen the glass of wine or beer to begin your dinner, the next step is to determine how to delve into the creative and inspired morsels. My last visit began with what many would consider an entrée, however a light cheese dish seemed more appropriate. Brie and a blend of mushrooms served with a delicious bruschetta. Each bite of the delicious cows milk delight mixed with an encore of mushroom give the pallette reason to dance. Each subsequent course would be a succession of flavour trails into ultimate taste bud exhaustion. That is no to say it will be the end of your life as you know it however it most certainly leave you wanting more. Some o my favourite dishes include the barbecue prawns over a cheddar polenta, the crab stuffed pequillo peppers, and the duck with mapled apples. A must do dinner with a friendly staff and inventive food.

How can we end the discussion without addressing dessert. The most popular of the small dessert menu is the drunken Oreos. This wine soaked cookie served with vanilla ice cream and a port reduction has a bitter, sweet, and creamy finish to end the night well. Try them and beware: they are addicting.

Eat well and drink well, but always remember good food is worth the price.

Meditrina
1389 South West Temple Street

Open nightly from 5:00.

This restaurant can be done on the scant but is best enjoyed as a splurge for a leteral food-gasm.