Sam O.
Yelp
Short Review: 5 Star from start to finish. Order anything and you will be happy and in love. Great Bang for the Buck, flavors, vibes, and Covid practices.
Walking into Varley felt good, almost as if I had returned home from being away for years. An impossible thought because this was the opening night, but it gives that vibe. The look of this place is incredible! Cozy yet classy, warm but with an edge, simple yet beautiful. I can honestly say that I have not been into a cocktail bar that looked and felt like this. I just want to go back.
The staff was perfectly on par. The waitress knew her stuff, she was attentive, helpful, and just happy to be there. I really respected that. If we had a question that she did not know, she would return in seconds with an answer that you would think she took a course at the university on the subject.
We had two shareable and two solo dishes. Starting us off was the NC BBQ Pork Rillette. Three fresh, doled up pork sliders that leave you wanting more. The Caroline Vinegar sauce on this alone I want to bottle up and pour into a tub to swim in later. Where did this come from? Wow. The vinegar pared with the Brussel sprouts slaw in a glorious fashion. I would expect every dynamic duo to look at this and give a thumbs up. This is a must-order. The flavor was subtle yet slapping my lips as the little pickled peppers came into play. I could FEEL the taste, something I thought impossible. To complement this sharable, a beautiful bright red Grilled Beet Hummus made its way to the table. For a second I was taken back to the meals they served in Neverland... those bright colored dishes that made you want to reach through the TV and devour. This dish took me there. The bright red color of the beets felt really good on my eyes. I LOVED the beet flavor with the diced cucumbers on top, the whole thing sleeping soundly on a grilled Scallion Roti Bread. Yum. Although this was a starter, I returned to it several times throughout the main course.
I ordered the Classic Americana Burger. Two Smashed Beef Patties with traditional fixings. The taste of this bad boy blew my mind. It was not a new taste, just one that I rarely experience in a restaurant, let alone a cocktail bar. I am convinced this burger is now the best-kept secret in Salt Lake City. If you are not familiar with the Maillard reaction, read up on it. A smashed patty is a party where all are invited and all have a part. The flavor is not burned out, the char does not overtake the rest of the experience, each ingredient makes its way to the front stage at just the right moments. I love the bun, not sure what kind it was but it didn't really matter. It contained and had a satisfying crunch, two things that have to be involved with a good burger. In short, this is a rad burger. It comes with a delicious pile of fries that somehow have a first crunch but feel soft. They have nailed the crispy/fresh ratio on these fries. I would imagine that they will have to fight off some pesk that is after their secret formula for the fry sauce. I know there is something else in there besides Mayo and Ketchup... maybe scallions? Garlic? Whatever it is, it is working really well.
My lovely girlfriend ordered the Grilled Pear and Goat Cheese Salad with added Grilled Chicken. She usually cannot handle the punch of the goat cheese so she swapped that out with one of the other 2 options they provided. Manchego Cheese. I watched her face as she began the journey. Pure joy. Honestly, PURE JOY. "I literally have not had a better salad." They do not mess around when it comes to their salads. Calling it a salad almost demeans it. The grilled chicken was resting on top, almost challenging us to try to eat it all. This is not one of those salads that place a few pieces of the bonus protein on top and calls it good, this is a treasure of ingredients liberally poured on. I had to have what she was having. The Grilled Chicken was juicy, full of flavor, and fresh. SO FRESH. The greens, grilled pears, arugula... So fresh. I kept asking her what kind of dressing was there because it didn't taste like a vinaigrette to me. It has such a sweet, almost sugary flavor on there. I am guessing the Pear-balsamic has something to do with it. Candied Walnuts adding a satisfying crunch, Grilled Pears keep things interesting, you would think they created a new species of salad here that is begging to be had by all. I want to take loved ones here and watch them eat.
We had lovely crafted mojito with fresh mint resting on top, I am not a drinker but from the happy and smiling faces around us, they know what they are doing. If the food is this good, surely the cocktails will blow your mind.
I wish badly that we had room for dessert, next time.
Such a great bang for you buck, 5 out 5, 10 out 10, 20 stars, whatever you want to call it. From the decor to the beautifully built drinks, It's just really really good. I see this becoming a downtown staple, we will be back.