PARK CITY CLASSIC

Park City Classic: No Name Saloon & Grill

Home of the world-famous buffalo burger and rooftop bar by Jen Thorn photos by Deb DeKoff

IT'S Friday night on Main Street in Park City. When it comes to drinking, dining and dancing, the options abound in this silver mining town turned charming ski resort. As my husband, Levi, and I navigate crowded sidewalks, Main Street stretches before us — Western chic juxtaposed with untamed Wild West.

Out from the posh art galleries and fine-dining establishments rises No Name Saloon & Grill. It’s iconic. Once nicknamed “The Alamo” because of its Spanish architecture dating back to the early 1900s, the brick building emanates the ghost stories of miners who came to wet their whistles on Main Street more than 100 years ago. The sign hanging over the entrance reads “America’s Last Authentic Miners Organization of Debauchery.”

The scene ranges from those quenching their thirst after an epic day outside to longtime locals — with their silver hair and popped Polo shirt collars — gathering to reminisce about the days gone by and “what once was.”

Levi and I cozy up to the bar and ask the bartender what he recommends from the drinks menu. He returns a few minutes later with two tequila sodas splashed

with pineapple. They are surprisingly crisp and refreshing and hit the spot. Although we already know what to order — based on the recommendation of every Park City local and the multiple dining awards No Name has won — we peruse the menu. It’s classic bar fare with a little Western flair. The bar has everything from mozzarella sticks and nachos to its signature tater tots, offered “sweet,” “stab ’n grab” or “loaded” — the latter including bacon, shredded cheddar cheese, sour cream, jalapeños and chopped parsley. Many Friday nights have ended at No Name with an order of loaded tater tots.

Tonight, we are kicking things off with the world-famous buffalo burger — voted “Best Burger” by the Best of Park City annual awards so many times that the staff has lost count. “It’s so good!” our server raves. He tells us they serve more than 300 buffalo burgers on an average night.

You can order your buffalo burger five ways. Each is made with a half pound of ground buffalo meat, dripping with goodness and served with house-made buffalo chips (signature chips served up with No Name’s very own Southwestern-style salsa). We wash down our burgers with a locally brewed beer on tap from Uinta Brewing. In addition to No Name’s robust list of spirits, its drink menu also features Utah distilleries and breweries and changes seasonally.

We sit back and take in the colorful crowd around us. Led Zeppelin jams play in the background, and feet clad in everything from cowboy boots and moon boots to stiletto heels start to groove to the beat. No Name is “the bar that made Park City famous,” with good, warm-your-belly comfort food and a laid-back, fun atmosphere. You’ll find people from all walks of life and every background — unless you’re not 21. And if that’s the case, you

ELEVATE YOUR EXPERIENCE

by snagging a coveted rooftop table.

NO NAME’S ROASTED RED PEPPER HUMMUS

3 cans garbanzo beans 1 teaspoon cumin 3 tablespoons tahini 1 cup lemon juice Two 12-ounce jars red peppers, drained 3/4 cup olive oil Salt and pepper to taste

Add all ingredients to a food processor and run until fully blended and creamy. Add small amounts of water if needed to help fully incorporate and blend ingredients. Add salt and pepper to taste, and garnish with fresh roasted red pepper slices. Serve with pita bread, chips, celery and carrots.

are in luck, because Diversified Bars & Restaurants (DBR), the locally owned company that runs No Name Saloon, recently opened a familyfriendly eatery next door called Annex Burger with the same menu.

DBR saw a need for more family dining establishments on Main Street, and thus the Annex was born, with the motto “Kids are people too.” Annex’s menu offers everything No Name serves, but with the addition of kid-friendly items such as sliders, quesadillas, chicken fingers and corn dogs.

We order another round of drinks, make our way past the shuffleboard table and go upstairs to the heated rooftop — the crown jewel of No Name. Walking through the crowd, we can’t help but notice the incredible collection of museum-worthy objects lining the walls: everything from a mounted buffalo head and mining tools to vintage Coca-Cola posters and gas station collectibles.

A motorcycle suspended from the ceiling particularly catches our eye. This is not just any motorcycle. It’s a 1942 Harley-Davidson XA — a flattwin, shaft drive motorcycle made by Harley-Davidson exclusively for the U.S. Army during World War II. Apparently, this hog was acquired through Caesar’s Motorcycle Empire in Midvale. After speaking with one of No Name’s managers, we later learn that Caesar Boswell, the Empire’s owner, was a staple in the Salt Lake City community for decades. Described as part James Dean and part Fred Sanford, Boswell for years would visit local hospitals and homes on his motorcycle dressed as Santa Claus during the holidays. His personality and zest for life made him famous throughout the motorcycle industry. Eventually his love for “anything on two wheels” led him to the 1942 XA. It was such a unique piece that he himself drove it up from Salt Lake City for its installation and christening at No Name.

We then take in the sweeping views of Main Street nightlife. The crowd is a mix of locals and a rowdier bunch planning to party all night. The rooftop patio is open 365 days a year, rain or shine, and boasts two big-screen televisions, a bar, music and heat lamps to stay warm during the winter months. No visit to Park City is complete without enjoying a beverage, or two, on the rooftop bar at No Name Saloon.

After some socializing and G-rated debauchery, it’s time to depart. As we maneuver through the crowd of late-night revelers and those partaking in the shot-ski, Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin’” starts to blare over the sound system. Table by table, patrons join in with the chorus, and for just a few minutes, we postpone our plans to go home and sing at the top of our lungs. This is how a quick dinner or drink often turns into an all-night affair at No Name. But isn’t that the magic of a great bar? It transports you to a seemingly different place and time, makes you forget your worries and brings people together with good food, good drinks and good music. And that is what No Name Saloon does best.

NO ONE KNOWS YOUR NAME, NO PROBLEM:

This bar is always a place to find new friends.

No Name Numbers

335

NUMBER OF BUFFALO BURGERS SERVED ON AN AVERAGE NIGHT AT NO NAME SALOON

40

NUMBER OF TATER TOT ORDERS IN A DAY

30

POUNDS OF FISH ’N CHIPS CHEFS COOK IN A DAY

12

NUMBER OF CASES OF SLICED POTATOES COOKS GO THROUGH IN A DAY