Just a Tip- Little ideas to really get into the culture of dining well.

I feel very passionate about restaurants. An intricate part of any restaurant is its waiting service. These dedicated individuals we call waiters, do much more then just serve us our food. They are in charge of creating an experience that we will either love or hate, the very future of their restaurant rides on how well they can accomplish their goal. I having been a server for about 2 years, can identify with these unsung heroes.

Little known fact about servers in utah, they are only paid $2.15/hr and everything else is made up for in tip. That is shocking to some to learn, you can see why it is important to always leave a tip with your server. Their very lives, and the lives of those who depend on them are hanging in the balance with each check.

My general rule is that; regardless of service rendered, I always leave as a base %15 percent. A lot of people in utah tend to think that %15 percent is a good tip, this is false. If the server gave great service and you think they deserve a good tip, try %30 percent. If that makes you a little uncomfortable, try thinking of it as a charitable donation. Utah is renowned for it low tipping  it could be because of the large LDS culture, they are generally very frugal and they deal a lot with %10 so.

What ever your personal belief may be, please leave your servers good tips, they are depending on you.
There are advantages to being a good tipper. The biggest one is that if you return, you could get the same server, and this time they are more likely to render even better service than before. They could even throw in some free stuff just to sweeten the deal. It pays, to pay well.

Pizzeria 712

From the outside 

Pizzeria 712 is one of the best, and most unique culinary experiences any one can have in Utah Valley. I talked about a trend that has been cropping up in restaurants lately in an earlier post. 712 is the definition of trendy. Upon entering the restaurant you can feel an atmosphere of classy. The new age music, coupled with the old world feel with its modern touches, the feeling is just awesome  The restaurant feels really big, but on the contrary it only has about 20 tables, if you count the romantically lit outside area.

Starters

One of the great things about Pizzeria 712 is that they use all locally grown ingredients, this means that the menu is constantly changing. Every time you go, you are bound to have a new experience, and apart from the generally great food, is what keeps me coming back.

Just for starters

After we got our drinks, our server brought us some pitta and garlic humus  It was the perfect thing to tide us  over. The timing was great, after the pita was gone, the server brought out our appetizer. We had the lamb brisket, covered in a horse radish cream sauce atop a bed of corn Flat bread. It was a flavor I was not expecting. After thoroughly enjoying the brisket, we got our pizza. We ordered the cauliflower  mozzarella  and white truffle oil pizza. It was in a word, unique. The garlic they used mixed so well with the truffle oil to create almost aromatic experience. When ever I came upon a slice of mozzarella, its as if I understood some secret of the universe that before was unknown. The flavor was unlike anything I had  
experienced before, and I loved it.

The pizzas are about 10" in diameter, so I would suggest splitting your pizza if your on a date. The pizzas usually cost around $13 average. With the appetizer  drink, and tip, it the total came to $40. It was well worth it for the experience, I would have paid a bit more.

The Main Event

I would highly recommend Pizzeria 712 to anyone looking for a unique and classy dining experience. My rating for the Pizzeria would be a 9.3/10, my only complaint was that our server seemed a bit aloof from us, I really enjoy more interactive service. Remember if you are going to eat here soon, make a reservation, the place is always packed with at least a 20 min wait.

Classy

EL GALLO GIRO- VIVA MEXICO!

If I were to sum up my experience at El Gallo Giro in one word, I would say, authentic! I absolutely love mexican food. Having lived there for two years, I know what real Mexican food should be. But like anyone who has ever experienced the real food of Mexico will tell you, it is very hard to find good authentic Mexican food this side of the border. El Gallo Giro delivers with its colonial Mexico ambiance and rich flavors, you'll feel as though you were in a "pueblito" eating at a "comida corrida."
Situated on the corner of 300 S in provo right next to chase bank, this little establishment is easily recognizable by its huge rooster sign.
Apart from the food being excellent, and the ambiance saturated with culture, the prices are not that bad. After drinks, and complimentary chips and salsa, the whole meal came to $7
I ordered a "panbaso" which is a dish straight out of Mexico Cities street cooking. Its basically two chili soaked buns filled with any meat you want, lettuce, potatoes, and onions. Oh and don't forget the sour cream. It was monstrous, I couldn't even finish my meal. The flavor was indescribable, I loved how the flavors complimented one another. It was exactly as I remembered it from my days in Mexico City. Oh and don't even get me started are the great drinks, they have freshly made "aguas" every day. I had a Horchata, basically a cinnamon and milk drink. It was amazing, ask anyone who has returned from mexico how hard it is to find a great Horchata and they will tell you. I was so surprised to find such an authentic little place right under my nose.
With its perfectly authentic feel, great service, and wonderful food, I give El Gallo Giro a 9.3/10- It is a must go for anytime you are craving the real mexican experience.

Mountain West Burrito

I have noticed recently a trend in the culinary industry. Small cozy places with one of kind food, they attempt to give off a hip vibe with their well designed yet simple menus, and they are likely into some sort of social cause.  

Mountain West Burrito epitomizes all that this new trend has to offer. The location for this hip hot spot is relatively small. They took over for the awful waffle's location, for those of you who knew the greatness of the awful waffle, just south of campus across from the very much over rated J- Dawgs. If you aren't looking for the place you might miss it, seeing as it is hidden away behind the dentist office, and sandwiched next to the gas station. 

Upon arriving I was immediately stuck by the vibrant sign and large menu. One of my favorite parts about this hip trend in food service is the simplicity of the menu. You have only four options to choose from as your entre and from there you can customize. I was given the impression that even though they didn't have much, what ever they had was bound to be good. The staple of Mountain West Burrito is that they use only fresh and locally grown ingredients. This is what perhaps drew me to try this little place.

I ordered the slow cooked pork burrito with lettuce, rice and all wrapped up in a flower tortilla. There couldn't have passed three minutes and it was done. I was taken by the efficiency of the place, it was great to order and then almost immediately be on my way. The 

Burrito itself was well made, but very big. The burrito brought to memory the burritos of places like Chipotle or Cafe Rio. I had a hard time finishing the whole thing, but none the less found it very enjoyable. The all natural ingredients were proportioned well, and the fact that they were fresh did make quite the difference. The flavor was great, and the burrito held together throughout the meal, unlike others I have tried.

          My only complaint is that, although the burrito had a good flavor, it had nothing to distinguish it from all the others. The flavor did not jump out at me, as much as I would have liked. I was hoping, due to the good reports I had received, that it would have been more memorable.

All in all I would say to my friends and family, that if they would like a complete, delicious, and quick meal, they should definitely swing by Mountain West Burrito. I would give Mountain West a  8.6/10