Felt Bar & Eatery team open sister bar in historic bank
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
Brownstone 22. Photo: Kim Bojórquez/Axios
The culinary minds behind the James Beard-nominated Felt Bar & Eatery have opened a new sister bar downtown — and it's inside a historic brownstone that once operated as a bank.
State of play: Brownstone 22 opened to the public on Thursday, offering a seafood-centric menu, Mountain West-influenced dishes and an array of martinis and classic cocktails.
- The bar's wine cellar is curiously placed inside the building's bank vault.
The intrigue: The bar is housed in the former Utah Commercial and Savings Bank Building, built in 1890 and designed by architect Richard K.A. Kletting, whose work also includes the Utah State Capitol and the original Salt Palace.
- The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1975.
What I tried: The New Zealand Elk Osso Bucco ($45), paired with a blackberry–jalapeño demi-glace, celery root smash, and roasted root vegetables, was one of the most delicious and visually striking dishes I've had this year.
- The server told me the elk is slow-cooked for 4-6 hours, creating fall-off-the-bone texture.
- My meal was accompanied by small plates like the shrimp arancini ($16) and the fiery salmon belly sashimi ($22) served with wasabi aoli and Thai chili peppers, which was far too spicy for me. (My embarrassingly low tolerance for heat is a core personality trait.)
- I paired my meal with a sugar-rimmed sidecar cocktail ($15), mixed with Cognac, dry curacao, lemon and miso.
- My friends were particularly impressed with the bistro burger complimented by bacon jam, candied bacon and aged white cheddar.
The vibe: The two-story bar features exposed brick, warm fixtures and some booth-style seating.
The bottom line: For a one-of-a-kind setting, great sips and bites and a side of history, this is your spot.