Fresco Italian Cafe

Have not been here, but after reading the reviews I'm going to have to try it out. Sounds delish! more

My business partner and I went on a spur of the moment, no reservations but we went on July 24, 09 so it was not busy. Pros: Beautiful setting, attentive servers more

The food and service were hands down the best I've had in SLC. The eggplant gnocchi was excellent, and the lamb entree was perfectly done. Look forward to many more visits there! Pros: atmosphere, culinary excellence more

I went to this restaurant for the first time with my boyfriend's family last spring and the food was fabulous. Pros: delicious food, excellent wine list, cozy feel, experienced waiters Cons: can be loud if the table next to you is drunk, expensive more

------------ ------------ ------------ -------------- --------- ------- ------------- ----------- ------------- ---------- ------- ------ Pros: Food, ambience (cozy), and service Cons: Need reservation more

I went to dinner here with my girlfriend and her parents. What a great time!! The food is out of this world! The ambiance is spectacular. We have lived in Utah for about 10 years and have never been here before. We went on the word of a co-worker who is a regular here. We were not disappointed, we felt like we stepped into another world. Chef Sotelo is a master!!! GO EAT HERE!!! Pros: Food, Ambiance, service more

Fresco is a rare gem in salt lake city. Srumptious Italian food, superb service, and amazing ambience. I had eaten there in the past and was told of a new chef renewing Fresco's eating experience to what it used to be. I was rewarded with the BEST Italian food I have ever had in Salt Lake. I reccomend this establishment to EVERYONE. Even if Italian food is not your ""thing"" Fresco's new menu has something all can enjoy, not to mention the pure enjoyment of eating at this hidden gem. Pros: All more

My husband and I went to eat here on 9/22/07. The food was amazing. For starters we had the stuffed calamari which was delightful and for entrees I had the Mussels and my husband had the Gnocchi's. Both were superb. The dining room was very nice and cozy, we were able to talk to each other in a romantic setting. The wine list is fantastic. We have eaten at most of the fine dining establishments in salt lake city and the surrounding areas and this is by far the best place around!! The ambience is unbeatable, the food is amazing, the service is great, and our overall experience is unmatched. We will definatley be back to Fresco many times in the future. This is a must go - again and again!! Pros: Everything is amazing!! more

My husband and I went to this restaurant on 7/23/07 to celebrate a special occasion. We had reservations and were seated outside - upon request. I thought it was quite lovely outside but wished I would have seen more of the inside of Fresco's. Our waitress was great on suggesting some wonderful Italian wine for us. We started with the calamari it was unlike any other I have had. It wasn't breaded or fried - it was light and delicious! Then we got our salads and they were so fresh and tasted great. My husband had the Caesar salad and wasn't too impressed. Then our entrees finally arrived - don't go to this restaurant if you are in a hurry. Not only due to the preparation of the fresh food but also the service. My husband had the shrimp fettuccine that had excellent flavor!! I had the gnocchi and was pleasantly surprised. Our meals were the perfect portion. We then shared the tiramisu for dessert and it was quite tastey! Our waitress then succeeded again by recommending some great after dinner drinks - not that we need a lot of help in that area but I wanted to try something different. Overall it was a very enjoyable evening. The service was slow at times but luckily my husband and I had lots to talk about. My judgements were a little harsh on this quaint restaurant at first because there really is some strong competition in close proximity. It's worth trying once. Pros: the wine list, freshness of food Cons: service, more

Had dinner last night with 2 chef friends. The food was a huge disappointment, to say the least. Service was personable, but not spot-on which is what I expect at a pricey restaurant. Good wine list, but preparation of food was that of a good beginning sous chef who needs to go back and study the 'Seasoning' section of his class notes. Out of 6 diners, 2 had decent entrees. My penne with a veal Bolognese featured slightly underdone penne with the driest Bolognese I've ever had. It had no flavor, and the meat was ground into a sawdust texture. Even the addition of olive oil did not improve it. Shrimp and fetuccine was excellent, but the ribeye arrived overcooked, and the halibut served was nothing like the description on the menu. Desserts were good but not swoon-worthy. In addition, they arrived with a completely different preparation than what was described on the menu. When the shortcomings were mentioned to our waiter who was a personal friend of one of the guests, he shrugged it off as if it were no big deal. When you drive to a restaurant with gas at $3 plus a gallon, and pay top buck for your dinner, it IS a big deal. Lovely setting that could use someone in the kitchen who gives a tinker's damn. The salads and starters were off the hook, especially the antipasto plate. If the same attention was paid to the entrees, this place would rock. Otherwise, I'd rather go to Tiburon or Epic. Or just come for appys and salads, and skip the entrees and desserts. Pros: Lovely romantic setting, warm and intimate Cons: lackluster service, food and attention to seasoning more

My husband and I have become huge fans of Fresco's. We've been several times over the years, and have never had a poor experience. The current chef is new - I think they got him from Metropolitan? So is much of the wait staff. Everything is great - from the ambience: think cozy, romantic with an unpretentious wait staff and excellent food. The appetizers are some of my favorite dishes, and the portions are large. I've often ordered a salad with an appetizer for the entree. I like to go there anytime, but definitely for a special occassion. Try it out - you'll love it. Pros: Nice patio dining in the summer, amazing staff. Cons: The table inside can be a little too ""cozy"" if you like a lot of personal space - pretty close together. more

It looked cute from the adjacent bookstore window, however, in this case looks are deceiving. The food was either over-salted or bland. My wife ordered the Winter Squash Gnocchi which was a huge misnomer. Dry Gnocchi with Walnuts would be a more apt description. The squash was practically invisible and tasted like carrots, the glaze had only a hint of flavor. I ordered the risotto which wasn't bad, but very salty. Having lived in Sicily, I can say the food was authentic in style but lacked flavor. The service was terrible. We were immediately shunned for not ordering wine and were snobbishly treated by our waitress. Not once did she ask how the food was. Her interactions with us were sharp and quick. Given the low quality of food and service, the price was exorbitant. Pros: Cute, romantic from afar Cons: Poor food, bad service, overpriced. more

The atmosphere was very nice, if you had patio seating. Inside, it seemed a little cramped and stuffy. The food was okay, but not for the price we paid. I could have had the same meal at home with some rice and soybeans and a trip to seafood counter. The dessert was also disappointing. Pros: atmosphere Cons: price more

Interesting to find Fresco among the best brunches category. It's a lovely restaurant that opens at 5 p.m. Fresco doesn't serve brunch. more

From the moment we walked into the lovely little restaurant, everything was top-notch. The Butternut squash ravioli was INCREDIBLE, as was the Caesar salad and Chicken dish (amazing flavor!!). The Chocolate Trio for dessert featured frozen hot chocolate that was to DIE for. I will be return again and again. Bravo! Pros: Ambience, Charming, Food Cons: MAKE RESERVATIONS!! more

The food was merely average compared to dining in other major cities. However, the atmosphere is very unique and romantic. I found it to be similiar to my experiences in european outdoor cafe. The food is pricey, but really you are paying for the atmosphere. I would still recommend this restuarant as you cannot find these types of restuarants in Utah Pros: atmosphere, location more

Having eaten in many restaurants around the country and throughout the world, Fresco ranks as the restaurant with the finest food. Their northern Italian fare is simply the best. The sauces associated with their many recipes may be the secret to their remarkable dishes. Highly recommended Pros: Best taste, Best polenta, best sauces Cons: limited winter seatin more

We tried the polenta appetizer and it was delicious. Delicate textures and harmonizing flavors were present in all the dishes. I tried the daily risotto (a sweet corn and crab mixture) and it was fabulous. My guest tried the linguini and was truly impressed. The real treat was the dessert - I definitely recommend the warm chocolate tart (with vanilla bean gazpacho and raspberry sauce). The entire dinner was absolutely wonderful and worth the price! Pros: Cozy Ambiance, Friendly Service Cons: A bit pricey more

Really, the food was mediocre at best. I had the crispy chicken. The sauce was plain--not much flavor. Kind of a watered-down tomato paste served on some noodles. Appetizers were ok--nothing that special--a little disappointing. But, hey, if you like to pay high-prices, this is your place. Desserts were good, though. Our waiter was average, but getting our food took way too long. I don't know who's fault that is. We finally got out of there two-half hours later. I dreaded our party ordering desserts because it took just as long to get the desserts as it did our dinner. I've made far better dinner at home combining Ragu with some minced garlic and basil--and paid less for it. Oh well. I not going back, anyway. Pros: Atmosphere, Quaint, Desserts Cons: Slow service, Plain ol' food more

Great setting and great service! Reserve your seats for indoors, and in the summer find a nice spot on the patio. The italian foods, breads, etc. will really pleasure your palate. Bring your special date here to impress and romance. Remember to order the great tasting desserts. I reccommend the chocolate bread pudding! Mmmmm...tasty! Pros: Ambience, Great service, Tasty foods Cons: , Street parking more