written by: Tony Gill
photos by: Adam Finkle
It’s the most wonderful time of the year. Go ahead and look out your window. The sun is shining. The flowers are blooming. Or maybe a wintry mixture of precipitation is pooling into ever deeper, muddier trenches. It’s shoulder season after all. But there’s one thing you won’t see: throngs of tourists clogging the streets and queuing up at your favorite institutions. Rain or shine, shoulder season is local season, so go native and live like a true Parkite for a few weeks.
When you’re finished up recreating on soggy spring trails, head to Prospector Square to refuel and get a taste of Park City’s organically growing food scene. Those in-the-know know the heart of Park City beats outside Main Street’s hegemony. Here are a few favorites in the town’s wishes-it-was Brooklyn enclave in Prospector Square.
Freshies Lobster Co.
Even if you have trouble trusting mountain-town seafood, put your faith in Lorin and Ben Smaha. They’re true New Englanders—from New Hampshire and Maine respectively—so you can trust their saltwater savvy. Before opening their year-round location, the pair had been selling delicious, authentic lobster rolls, complete with the traditional hot dog bun, out of a food truck at the Silly Market since 2009. Get your right-coast fix with the perfect summer sandwich and a bowl of chowder.
Shore to Door in 24. It’s not just a poetic platitude, it’s a commitment to serving the freshest seafood you can get in a landlocked high desert. At Freshies these crustaceans have wings, so the lobster is on your plate nearly as quickly as if it never left Maine
1897 Prospector Ave, Park City 435-631-9861, freshieslobsterco.com
El Chubasco
El Chubasco is a veteran Park City establishment celebrating its 20th anniversary this year. Such longevity deserves mention in a place where restaurants come and go in the blink of an eye. The authentic fare features varied tastes from Mexico’s Michoacán state and the whole menu clocks in at reasonable prices. The standout chile relleno is under $10 and pairs awfully well with a Dos Equis at one of Chubasco’s outdoor high tops.
50 Shades of salsa. Okay, so it’s more like 20 shades, but that’s still a lot of salsa choices. Dipping your chips in one of the 20 varieties at El Chubasco is a highlight, but the dirty little secret is you can smother your burrito free of charge with your favorite flavor enhancer.
1890 Bonanza Dr, PC 435-645-9114 elchubascomexicangrill.com
Momo Haiku
Park City always needs fresh takes to imbue diverse cultures and reasonable prices into the local food scene. Momo Haiku answers the call by bringing an urban ramen house experience to the mountain town culinary landscape.
The menu serves up an intriguing mix of Asian-fusion flavors with favorites like pork belly steamed buns, bánh mì and ramen, all at a price that is hard to beat anywhere in Park City.
1890 Bonanza Dr, PC 435-121-6942
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