With the arrival of fall comes the craving for hearty, soul-warming meals. For those seeking the perfect comfort food this season, these three restaurants offer dishes that will leave you feeling cozy and satisfied.
High West Saloon
Founded in 2006 by David and Jane Perkins, High West Distillery has become a trailblazer in whiskey innovation. Inspired by parallels between biochemistry and distillation, David, a former biochemist, embarked on this venture after visiting a Kentucky distillery. The family moved to Park City, Utah in 2004, drawn by its rich Old West history and whiskey heritage. High West Distillery also holds the distinction as Utah’s first legal distillery since 1870. In 2009, they delighted whiskey and food lovers by opening the High West Saloon just off Main Street in Park City.
Chef Michael Showers revitalized High West’s eateries in 2018 with his creative flair and nearly 30 years of fine-dining expertise. Passionate about local ingredients, he designed a seasonal, farm-to-table menu that perfectly pairs with the distillery’s acclaimed whiskeys, enriching the guest dining experience.
This season, a delicious and recognizable dish is the Whiskey & Sweet Onion Gratinèe. This savory, hearty soup combines caramelized onions with the distillery’s signature Double Rye, resulting in a rich, complex flavor profile. Topped with melted aged Gruyère cheese and served piping hot, it is a comforting and satisfying dish that adds depth to the rest of the menu.
“Comfort food is a term that we love as it doesn’t just apply to big, robust, heavy foods but we believe and practice the application as our menus make people comfortable,” explains Chef Showers. “Many of our dishes re-appear seasonally as we do have a stable of dishes that are highly recognizable. We make everything our own at all High West locations, but there will be recognizable components to help guests feel more ‘comfortable’ when navigating our menus. The best example is our whiskey gratinée soup, which is our rendition of French onion. For years, we only had it on the menu in the winter as it’s very robust, but our guests started asking for it year-round, so when our clientele speaks, we listen, and now it’s an annual staple on our menu.”
703 Park Avenue | Park City, UT 84060
www.highwest.com/pages/saloon
Windy Ridge Cafe
If you’re looking for classic comfort food, Windy Ridge Cafe is the place to be. Opened in 2002 by restaurateur Bill White, the Cafe was established as a respite for locals seeking to dine away from Park City’s bustling Main Street. Over the years, it has become a beloved spot for both Parkites and visitors.
Serving lunch and dinner, the Cafe is celebrated for its warm, welcoming atmosphere and delicious comfort food offerings. Adjacent to the Cafe on Ironhorse Drive stands the Windy Ridge Bakery, completed by White in 2005. The Bakery offers fresh pastry items, specialty cakes, and hearty soups, further enhancing the culinary experience provided by Windy Ridge Cafe.
For the ultimate comfort on a plate, try the taste of Thanksgiving dinner served any time of year with the hot turkey, made with house-roasted turkey breast that’s sliced so thin and tender you can cut through it with a fork. It’s served with mashed potatoes, toasted sourdough made by Windy Ridge Bakery, savory pan turkey gravy and of course, a heaping spoonful of homemade cranberry sauce.
“It’s not about trying to reinvent the wheel or set the next groundbreaking trend to me,” says Benji Fillmore, corporate executive chef, Bill White Restaurant Group. “Comfort food should make you feel safe and nurtured—nostalgic even. That’s the magic of it. Take one bite and suddenly you’re with family and friends, home, and loved.”
1250 Iron Horse Drive | Park City, Ut 84060
www.windyridgecafe.com/#comfort-food
Hearth and Hill
Hearth and Hill offers delicious and healthy American cuisine made with locally sourced ingredients. Led by restaurateur Brooks Kirchheimer, the restaurant has been winning awards since its opening in 2018. Executive Chef Jose Morales, originally from Maracaibo, Venezuela, creates culinary experiences that transcend borders utilizing seasonal and local products when possible. Hearth and Hill delivers several types of cuisines through the eclectic culinary team, including an 80% gluten-free menu.
Start your memorable meal with one of their signature cocktails and mocktails to get a taste of what they offer. Then, for those seeking a more refined take on comfort food, Hearth and Hill serves the Tomahawk pork chop that’s seasoned and grilled to perfection, and accompanied by a side of roasted vegetables. The tender and juicy pork chop is both rich and savory, delivering a sophisticated dish that’s warm and comforting during the cooler months.
“This has been another big hit on the menu,” says Morales. “We cure a big bone pork tomahawk over a two-day process, which gives it a nice, rare consistency, and serve it with a house-made pear barbecue sauce. It pairs great with its side of fingerling potatoes, which are braised in a lemon broth and seared in a balsamic reduction. It’s probably my favorite dish.”
1153 Center Dr. | Park City, UT 84098
www.hearth-hill.com
