Upscale comfort food, craft cocktails & Sunday brunch in a buzzy, industrial locale with pop art.
Kaushay Ford
Wow!!! If there was a sixth star, I would give it! We loved everything we had our first time out to Carson Kitchen!
Standout menu items were the Beets (sweet, salty, earthy, crunchy, absolutely perfectly balanced), and the short rib steak (cooked to the perfect temp, buttery, and a fantastic crunch on the edge to amp up the flavor)!
We also loved the Devil’s Egg (a couple of secret ingredients that really made these unique and SO so good!) and enjoyed the macaroni & cheese!
We ended things with the fruitcake buckle, and I’m so glad we did! The name may seem off-putting (we all know the fruitcake stigma), but it was more of a spice cake with fruit, pecans and the yummiest drizzle. Perfect sweet note to cap the night!
Our server, Genevieve, was so kind and made us feel like regulars even though we’d never been in before. Our glasses were never empty, food was brought out quickly, and she was so attentive to us. We left feeling like we’d made a friend. We also had the chance to chat with the GM Bob, who was so kind.
For an unplanned dinner we chose by a friend’s recommendation, we were more than pleased with our experience and genuinely can’t wait to come back!
… moreChristina Beebe
Loved our experience here! We made reservations for a Saturday night at 7, but it wasn’t necessary. There was plenty of seating. Our waiter was great and the drink options were great, too! It’s shareable plates so make sure to remember that when ordering. Everything was cooked to perfection. We had the pork, steak, and fish, and several appetizers. The fish is my typical go to at every restaurant, however, it wasn’t as good as the other dishes. Still great though!
… morePreceding Irvington
Carson Kitchen brings a fun, updated take on comfort food — blending creativity, bold flavors, and social-friendly dining. When it delivers, it hits hard: memorable dishes, inventive pairings, and a good mood all around. That said, there can be variability — some dishes overpromise, some underdeliver, and the environment isn’t always suited for quiet.
If you want a night out with friends or a casual special-meal vibe in downtown Salt Lake City and are open to small plates and “sharing-style” dining, Carson Kitchen is absolutely worth checking out. If you want predictability, quiet, or large, budget-friendly meals — maybe temper expectations.
… moreLindsay Cherrington
I REALLY hate leaving a review like this, but this was some of the worst food we’ve ever had. We are huge foodies and love and appreciate all foods and not picky whatsoever. We were so excited about the menu and wanted to try many things. First was the grilled oysters. Wow, all i can say is, I’ve maybe eaten one or two things in my LIFE that was absolutely disgusting… now i can add these to the list. Something was seriously wrong with them. I love oysters and i order them prepared in many different ways, I’m not new to what an oyster should taste like, and these were definitely rotten or something. I thought i was going to be sick after the first bite. Then we tried the deviled eggs, which was probably the only edible thing we got. They were fine. Lacked a lot of flavor, but were just okay. Then we got the pork belly, and that was also not edible. It was so dry, tough, and hard, you couldn’t even bite into it. Super disappointing. After 3 failed appetizers, we asked for the check and left.
… moreAngela Johnson
Our first time eating here. We arrived before the dinner rush and wow! The food was amazing! Orders are made to split and we ordered the bacon jam with havarti, the grape and burrata salad, and the Cocoa Espresso NY strip. Everything was perfect portions for 2 and beautifully presented. Our server, Nicky, was fantastic. She not only gave us recommendations of her personal favorites, which we always find so helpful when we go to a new place, but was also easy going and fun to chat with. Her recommendation for the lemon bar for dessert was the best! We will definitely be back, especially because they change the menu occasionally. Until then, I’m going to dream about going back and getting another lemon bar. Delicious!
… moreS Prudhomme
My son and I had a great experience at Carson Kitchen. The service was great, the staff were welcoming, and the food was fabulous! We started with bacon jam. It was delicious, as well as arriving promptly at our table. We were starved after a long day of travels and the fast service was appreciated! My son had a refreshing cider recommended by the waiter. For entrees, we shared the NY Strip and the mushroom flatbread. They were fabulous, very filling, and we’ll definitely visit this restaurant again.
… moreSally Ortega
I have been on the hunt for a truly great oxtail dish, and my search has officially ended at Carson’s Kitchen. The oxtail I had here was, without a doubt, one of the greatest plates of food I’ve ever had the pleasure of eating. It was cooked to perfection and packed with incredible flavor.
On top of the phenomenal oxtail, I also tried the pork belly, which was another delicious and well-executed dish. The food alone is enough to guarantee a return visit.
What made the experience truly outstanding, however, was the service. Sergio was incredibly helpful and attentive, guiding me to some great choices that paired perfectly with the meal. Everything from the welcoming location to the reasonable pricing was top notch.
… moreVivian K.
A fantastic American restaurant with a wonderful shared-dishes concept — the plates are served to the center of the table and everything is meant to be shared, which makes for a very social and enjoyable evening.
We had an amazing server (unfortunately, I don’t remember her name) who was truly on top of everything. Her recommendations were spot on and made the experience even better.
The wild mushroom flatbread and the warm spinach salad were absolutely outstanding — creative and perfectly seasoned. The pork belly was good, but the real standouts were the cocoa NY strip and the steak — simply phenomenal.
Huge compliments to our server for being so attentive and efficient. The only small downside was that it was a bit loud. Overall, though, a great night out.
… moreChristina Stinson
I had no idea this unique gem was downtown. Such a beautiful set up and loved sitting at the chef’s table. Getting to see the action of the kitchen was fun to see the food made. The atmosphere was perfect. Great service by Sergio and food by the chefs. I ordered the pot roast dip and baked mac & cheese. You can tell how carefully crafted these dishes are.
What’s great is I would feel comfortable coming here to celebrate a special occasion or just come hang out with friends. It’s quite perfectly balanced between upscale while still feeling inviting for everyday. 🙂
… moreCarlos Lopez
Across the street at the element hotel and Darrell was kind enough to tell us about Carson’s. Chelsea was absolutely amazing. She explained the menu to the key. She made great recommendations and I definitely and the rest of the table agreed that the mac & cheese and the salad were top right up there. The pork chop is the bomb. The risotto oxtail was delicious. What a party for our tastebuds.
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