Desert Edge Brewery
550 S. 700 East
(Inside Trolley Square)
2.5 plates out of 5
U Discount-no
In the never-ending search for a good beer accompanying a decent burger, few restaurants bit the hunger mark.
The Desert Edge Brewery, located in Trolley Square, tries valiantly with its vast assortment of brews and burgers to hit the mark.
Does it succeed? That depends on what you're looking for.
Trying to achieve a certain degree of zest, the Desert Edge Brewery mixes many distinct Southwestern flavors into its fare. The menu-loaded with burgers, salads and sandwiches-almost qualifies as a quality menu for the open-minded stomach.
With every item decently priced below $10, any student can go down and have a decent lunch on a quiet Saturday with family or friends. But, make sure to plan plenty of time for sitting around-while waiting close to 20 minutes for the server to come grab your order, the only reading available are the beer and dessert menus. Make sure to check out the four beers on tap, as the Pub Pils and Latte-day Stout quench all thirsts. Priced decently at $3.50 a pint or $9.50 for a pitcher, the beer is a hard deal to pass up.
Daily fresh pasta, either hot or cold, comes as a side dish with all sandwiches from the grill. Best to try the feta, ham, and spinach on the weekend or the six-veggie pasta on Monday.
The black bean veggie burger comes with the pasta, house green salad, or soup of the day. At $7.50, this vegetarian dish is well suited for a good cheap meal. French onion soup can be substituted for $1.50 more.
The usual pub appetizers are served only after 2 p.m. Check out the pub nachos or the Asian chicken skewers. All appetizers are priced under $7.
Local favorites include the balsamic chicken sandwich with sautéed mushrooms or grilled turkey with provolone on rye, both nicely priced at under $8. Be sure to ask the waiter or waitress for his or her favorite item if you can't make up your mind.
While there are more than 10 salads to choose from, no omnivores should go hungry when leaving the pub, either. All priced below $10, best bets include the smoked turkey and cheese tortellini or the Southwestern chicken ranchero cheese.
With a prime Trolley Square location and respectable food, The Desert Edge Brewery manages to almost fulfill any appetite. In addition, the brewery offers delivery for orders more than $100 with an 18 percent gratuity, and carryout for those who wish not to wait for a table.
Also check out the Brewery's other restaurants, the Red Butte Café and the Café Martine, both located within minutes of the U.
cedwards@chronicle.utah.edu
