The Best Burger in Utah County

December 2nd, 2009

By: Mindika Thiebaud

In the last year or so Utah County has seen an influx of new trendy burger joints. I’ve been shocked by the hype and excitement. I personally would never stand in line for 24 hours or sleep out in the cold for a burger; no matter how delicious I thought it would be. Don’t get me wrong, I’m a food lover, but let’s be real folks!

Fortunately for me, I think the best burger in Utah County doesn’t come from one of the new joints on the block. In fact its home has been a staple of the county for more than 20 years; a Utah icon, a family & friend tradition. Even better, I’ve never had to wait more than 5 or 10 minutes for it. Drive through, take out or sit down, Burger Supreme located on University Parkway in Provo, reins supreme!

Their burgers are thick and juicy. Made from fresh, never frozen beef, delivered daily. They’re charbroiled, which in my opinion is the only way to have a hamburger, then piled high with fresh toppings. Their fries are thick, but not too thick, crispy and like heaven dipped in their original recipe fry sauce. But it doesn’t end there. Variety is always key for my family.

We love options, and Burgers Supreme delivers. From the Guacamole Burger, Western Burger, Gyro Sandwich, Teriyaki Chicken, salads, shakes…you name it, the options are plenty. They have also started catering. This last summer we were lucky enough to have them cater our huge neighborhood 4th of July bash! Deliciousness delivered!

Now I’ve heard many loyal patrons of above mentioned trendy joints, argue tradition, nostalgia, etc…etc… for their love of a burger. I get that! I sympathize with nostalgia, but when it comes to taste bud satisfaction there’s just no contest. Burger Supreme takes the buds every time.

Mindika Nordfelt Thiebaud is a local food blogger. Her love affair with food and cooking began as a child when she got her first “easy bake” oven. She grew up as an Air Force Brat traveling the world with her family, experiencing food and cooking from all parts of the globe. She did however spend every summer of her life in Utah visiting family, and feels as though Utah has always been her home. She moved here 17 years ago to attend college and has never left.

Mindika is married to Arnold Thiebaud. They have 1 little girl, Reese, who is 1 year old and they are expecting their second child next summer.

Posted in Utah County Raves, provo utah | 3 Comments »

Shoga Japanese Sushi Restaurant

September 18th, 2009

Shoga A Modern Sushi Bar and Restaurant

The Best Sushi Restaurant in Provo Utah.

Shoga Restaurant and Sushi Bar fresh sushi is the best way to describe this hidden gem in the Utah county dining scene. After trying all of the competitors for the last several years of living here, My dining companion and I were lucky enough to “stumble in” after a trusted recommendation.

The decor is modern simple and quaint, this quiet sushi bar tucked “literally” behind the Chevron on the corner of State and University Parkway.

This little Japanese Restaurant and Sushi bar is fantastic place to have a quiet date with your wife, ( my favorite dining companion) ever time we have visited the experience has been positive, the servers friendly and prompt and we usually sit at the bar and are able to talk to the Owners.

These two sushi chefs (owners) are fantastic, the seafood is the best I have had in the area. Fresh is the term that comes to mind as fresh as it can be in Utah flown in daily. I have visited other sushi restaurants and the tuna is several days old, not here this is spot on every day (This has been consistent with four visits over the course of 45 days) Below you can sample some of items at Shoga Restauant and Shushi Bar.

Menu Items

Shoga serves a core menu of soups, salads, noodle dishes, Don-Buri, teriyaki meats, steaks and of course a wide variety of sushi rolls. The best part of the menu is “Shoga Special Rolls” my favorite “The Shoga Special Roll” and “Black Eye Roll Unagi”

Shoga Special Rolls

Seaweed and Chuka-Ika

Japanese salads.  This salad just rocks, great flavor and the seaweed has the perfect texture $4.25

The Shoga Special Roll

This roll is a monster, a full meal, absolute flavorful built from Tempura, green onion, avocado, and hamachi. Topped

with fresh tuna, crab salad, cilantro, and bell peppers, with house sauce and sesame oil $13.95

Black Eye Roll Unagi,

Cucumber, shishito, topped with spicy tuna, black tobiko and unagi sauce $11.95

Mango Tango Roll Unagi,

Avocado, bell peppers and cucumber, topped with mango and unagi sauce $10.95

Dessert

Mango Coconut Mousse

Layers of spiced sponge, mango and passion fruit mousse, topped with honeycomb and mango glaze $5.95

Consistancy Quality Specials

Shoga currently offers these specials

(check the website for updated specials for lunch and dinner )

Current Specials Sushi Lunch Special 2 Traditional rolls 1 Miso soup (until 3:00 p.m.) $9.75

Sushi Happy Hour Buy one Specialty roll, get one Traditional roll for half price! Mon-Wed after 4:00 p.m.

Shoga Where: 374 E. University Pkwy., Orem

Hours:

11 a.m.-10:30 p.m. Monday-Thursday,

11 a.m.-11 p.m. Friday-Saturday,

2-9 p.m. Sunday Prices:

$4-$20 Info:

801-802-8388

www.shogarestaurant.com

Shoga is a laid back environment there is no white table cloths the staff is friendly unobtrusive nor intrusive. The Chef’s, (Owners) are easy to talk to and they have fun, it is obvious they enjoy their business and do a great job managing the quality of the seafood.The menu even though covers the basic core items expected at a restaurant with a specific type of cuisine, the special part of the restaurant is in the signature dishes and special items, a few of which are listed above. Visit Shoga Restaurant and Sushi Bar, and enjoy.

caio!

Monty Cassel

Restaurant Pros

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What I Learned About Memory Foam Mattresses

May 2nd, 2009

I’ll be honest with you, I have never thought about buying a memory foam mattress until recently spending a few nights on one at a friends house.  I’ve seen the commercials about memory foam, and of course have heard some of the “good” and “bad” things about them, but have just always been happy with my old spring mattress and didn’t really think I could get a better night’s sleep just from getting a better mattress.  Well, I was proved wrong…dead wrong!

The mattress I had the pleasure of sleeping on was a memory foam mattress made by Rocky Mountain Mattress.  Because I enjoyed it so much, I have been doing some research to see how their mattresses might compare to others on the market and have run into a lot of industry terminology that confused me at first.  So let me explain a few things:

1.  What is a 4lb. or 5lb. foam?  The pound rating of a memory foam speaks to how dense the foam is or how much a cubic foot of it weighs.  The higher the pound rating or density, the more supportive the foam will be and the longer it will last.

2.  What is the ILD of memory foam?  ILD refers to how firm the the memory foam is – ILD measures the amount of force, in pounds, required to indent a 50″ inch disc into a 15″x15″x4″ memory foam sample and make a 1″ indentation.  Typically softer ILD’s range between 12-18, medium firm ILD’s range between 20-28, and anything over a 30 would be considered firm.

Once you know these elements you can probably shop around pretty knowledgeably, but just knowing the pound rating and ILD isn’t enough.  I have spent a lot of time on the phone talking to different sales reps with different companies and have also found that the reps at Rocky Mountain Mattress have been the most helpful and educated when it comes to speaking about a memory foam mattress, in my opinion.

So without having purchased a memory foam mattress yet, I wanted to offer this review of Rocky Mountain Mattress because their mattress I slept on was extremely comfy, and their staff has been exceptional.

Once I make my purchase, I’ll offer another review after having slept on my mattress for a few months.

Posted in Utah County Raves, provo utah | No Comments »

Chuck-a-Rama Restaurant in Orem, Utah

January 5th, 2009

Price:
Kid Friendly:
Food Quality:
Cleanliness:
Promptness:
Location:

408 S State St
Orem, UT 84097
(801) 225-9300

When they say, “The choice is yours at Chuck-a-Rama” they aren’t kidding.  We hit this Orem, Utah restaurant on a Saturday night…and for those of you who’ve tried to get seating at a restaurant at 7:00 on a Saturday night…you’ll know that we appreciated the fact that we were able to be sitting and eating after only a 5 minute wait.

The food was good, the salad was fresh, and the atmosphere was loud…which was nice for us with our two toddlers.  Chuck-a-Rama in Orem, Utah certainly wasn’t a formal dining experience, but it was quick, it was good (fresh rolls with honey butter…mmm), it was filling, and it was an excellent value with kids under four eating free.  If you need a quick bite on a busy weekend, this buffet is a decent option.

Posted in Utah County Raves, orem utah | 2 Comments »

Carabba’s Italian Grill in Orem, Utah

November 16th, 2008

Price:
Kid Friendly:
Food Quality:
Cleanliness:
Promptness:
Location:

Carrabba’s Italian Grill in Orem, Utah
683 University Pkwy
Orem, UT 84097
(801) 765-1222

I know we’re supposed to give a fair and objective opinion at Utah County Reviews, but I have to admit that if I am looking forward to a fancy night out, Carabba’s in Orem, Utah is one of my very favorite restaurants in Utah County. In my opinion, the Steak Marsala is the best steak in Utah County (sorry, Outback), and when it’s paired with their fettucine alfredo, it is an absolutely heavenly indulgence. Carabba’s hits every detail “spot on” even before your meal arrives with an excellent house salad and delicious warm Italian bread dipped in herbed olive oil.

While this restaurant is not cheap whether you’re counting your pennies or your calories, it is a necessary occasional luxury (and is definitely worth getting a babysitter). We love Carabba’s…and don’t worry, you can always take some home in a box!

A couple “heads up” tips, however:

1. Not the best place for kids:  it’s not Carraba’s fault on this one, just a bit nice to take a “terrible-two year old”.  We’ve taken kids once; if they sit you in a booth where you can keep the kids in it’s not terrible, but if you are seated at a table in the middle of everyone else, better bring your patience and lots of games for the kids to keep the occupied.
2. Timing is everything: although Carrabba’s in Orem is fairly prompt once you’re seated, you better plan to wait if you go on a Friday or Saturday night.  Going at about 5:00 worked great for us with a group of about 20 people.  But at around 5:30 on it’s chaos (and they don’t really take reservations).  I say “really” because it seems like its on a case-by-case basis depending on the mood of the manager.  In addition to the traffic, there isn’t a great deal of space to just hang out and wait – it’s a struggle to even put your name in when the place is packed.  So – go early or go somewhere else is our recommendation.

What do you all think of Carrabba’s Restaurant in Orem, Utah?

Posted in Utah County Raves, orem utah | 6 Comments »

4 Reasons I’m Glad to Live in Utah County (PICS)

November 4th, 2008

Had the chance today to visit Rexburg, Idaho for a few hours.  I went to school there for a few years and really enjoyed my time camping, hiking and snowboarding at Grand Targee.

HOWEVER, as we came back home, I thought about Why I’m Glad I Live in Utah County:

1. Four Seasons: Even though some may not like all the snow, I love how there are four distinct seasons in Utah County.







2. Good regulation of traffic: I know, I know, this is very debatable depending on the time of day and location; but as we got on the freeway, I noticed how effective the traffic lights were to pause an influx of all the vehicles attempting to merge.  Thanks for adding the traffic meters and the car pool lane to make driving a bit easier in Utah County.



3. Oh How Lovely are the Mountains! Mt. Timpanogus, Mt. Nebo – picturesque!



4. So much to do, so little time: from hiking the Timpanookee trail, to fishing in Provo Canyon, to visiting the magnificent BYU campus, to eating at the number of fast food restaurants in Utah County – there is a lot of great family activities in Utah County.

What do you love about Utah County?

Posted in Utah County Raves | 9 Comments »

El Azteca Mexican Taco Restaurant in Provo, Utah

October 31st, 2008

Price:
Kid Friendly:

Food Quality:
Cleanliness:
Promptness:
Location:

(See Key for Rating Break Down)

El Azteca Mexican Taco Shop

46 West 1230 North

Provo, Utah

375-9690

El Azteca Mexican Taco Shop is conveniently located right off Bulldog and University Avenue in Provo, Utah.  The price is around $7 for a good size meal that’s filling.  They have free refills on drinks too!  It’s a great place for kids with booth seating to keep things closely knit .  It’s fairly clean – the salsa area was a bit cluttered but this can be expected. The promptness was probably our favorite thing about El Azteca in Provo.  We had barely sat down to wait for our Mexican food and our number was called (probably 5 minutes max).  The workers were friendly and seemed happy to be there – which is a plus too.

Posted in Utah County Raves, provo utah | 14 Comments »

The Italian Place Restaurant in Provo, Utah

October 19th, 2008

Business Name: The Italian Place

Location: 281 W. Bulldog Blvd. (1230 N.) Provo, Utah

Phone: (801) 377-2230

Hours: Mon-Sat. 11:00am – 10:00pm

UtahCountyReviews.com recently discovered a fast food restaurant in Utah County.  It’s called “The Italian Place“.  The Italian Place has been building Steak & Steak and Everything Cheese Sandwiches for over 30 years in Provo and Orem. The first Italian Place opened in Provo, Utah in 1972.  This upper scale fast food restaurant has been serving famous Steak & Everything Sandwiches to their faithful customers ever since. (pic source)

We visited this Provo restaurant last Wednesday and here are some of the things we liked:

• Fast and Friendly Service (unlike a neighboring fast food restaurant)
• Extremely Clean
• Take Home Menus with contact information

Have you been to this Provo, Utah fast food restaurant?

What did you think?

Posted in Utah County Raves, provo utah | 6 Comments »

Utah County Massage and Salons

August 7th, 2008

UtahCountyReviews.com aims to find the best companies in Utah County and get the feedback of people who use their products and services.  We’ve put together these questions for massage therapists in Utah County and will be continuing to add information as it is received.

We’ll be interviewing massage therapists in Alpine, American Fork, Cedar Hills, Highland, Lehi, Pleasant Grove, Saratoga Springs, Lindon, Orem, Provo, Springville, Spanish Fork, and Payson.  We invite you to leave a review on a spa you have an opinion on.

Thanks to our sponsors for their support.

What is best to look for when finding a quality massage therapist?

Reliability – you want to find a message therapists who is flexible to your busy schedule, someone that can treat you before work, after work, or maybe even on a lunch break.

- What are the main differences in the types of massage?

- Why are the costs so different depending on who you go to?

Atmosphere is definitely an important issue.  If you’re looking for a quality massage, a peaceful, tranquil location is ideal.

- What is a reasonable price point for a quality massage?

$65 per hour

- Is it better to have the massage therapist come to you or to visit a salon?

A salon is recommended because it allows you to get away from home, escape and relax.

- Where is the best place to get a massage in Utah County?

More to come – we’d love visitor feedback.

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