Honestly, it seems like this bar should have always been here. There is always a wait at Takashi so the need for a nearby bar has been a missing necessity for a long time—the opening of Post Office Space in the space that was formerly Kristauf’s actually shares an entrance with Salt Lake’s favorite sushi spot. So what could be more natural? A door is not the only feature shared by the restaurant and its sister bar—the unerring style that has always been a hallmark at Takashi is seamlessly segued into the bar. Glass panels subtly divide the space into more intimate sections and everything is served with the same attention to presentation that Takashi gives to his sushi. The drinks menu includes a well-edited list of wines, a short list of sakes, lots of beers—both local and imported. And even though at this point I’ve had enough original craft cocktails to make me scream—largely because alcohol restrictions in Utah mean that cocktails are more soft than hard drinks—the ones concocted at Post Office Place tasted good. I was drawn to the King Ghidorah—Big Gin, Green Chartreuse, lime and yuzu Kosho (a fermented paste of chilies, yuzu peel and salt)—because King Ghidorah is my favorite Godzilla monster, so much so that used to top my Christmas tree with a gold Ghidorah instead of an angel. Lots of the cocktails have Japanese ingredients I’ve never heard of, and that also makes this list more interesting than most. And, of course, with Chef Tommy Nguyen in the kitchen, the “bar snacks” here are fantastic—pushing the limits (pig ear, tongue, beef heart) with ingredients and variety (ranging from simple ceviche and root chips to dumplings and pates. You might spend so much appetite exploring drinks and bar snacks at Post Office Place that you give up your place in line at Takashi.
16 W. Market St., SLC
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