A new venture by the Crafts family brings unique space and service to downtown Salt Lake City.
The historic space at 357 West 200 South got a fresh coat of paint and some new brilliant clients over the holidays. Now reopened as The Tasting Room, the unique wine bar offers a one-of-a-kind wining and dining experience.
Owners Ryan and Kaleb Crafts (of Culinary Crafts fame) envisioned turning the space into the kind of bar they’d always wished they could find in the city.
“I love to go out, but I don’t love the ‘party’ scene you find at many bars. I want energy and excitement, sure, but I also want to be able to hear the table conversation. I want to be able to relax in a private nook with friends or meet total strangers at a communal table. When I go out, sometimes I just want to enjoy my favorite drinks and dishes, but other times I want to be introduced to something amazing and new. I want it all, basically. The Tasting Room is a wine bar for people like me who want to enjoy their olive oil cake (with caramel sabayon and poached pear) and eat it too.”
Ryan Crafts, The Tasting Room
With the added expertise of co-owners Liz Frome and Terry Lyman, the Crafts brothers set out to bring that dream atmosphere to life. The fully renovated Tasting Room will feature an extensive wine list with over 200 vintages, including some selections that can’t be found anywhere else in the state, as well as a few blends made exclusively for the Tasting Room. The carefully curated offerings include a wide array of wines from all over the globe, at varying price points, for diverse tastes, and available by the flight, glass, or bottle.
If wine is not your mood, you can always enjoy the custom cocktails, zero-proof cocktails, coffees, teas, or local Utah beers. The menu features elevated bar snacks and high-end small plates, all made with fresh, local ingredients. Desserts include such sweet surprises as a red wine milkshake or a hazelnut coffee cream chocolate tart. The food is sophisticated and luxurious but decidedly unfussy. A unique floor layout allows patrons to choose their own experience, from a secluded room or booth to an open bar or a communal table.
The Tasting Room will be open from 3 pm to 1 am on Fridays and Saturdays, and from 4 pm to midnight all other days. Walk-ins and reservations are welcome.
