Was in Salt Lake City for business this week, and stayed in a cute boutique hotel in downtown called the Peery Hotel. Across the street is Valter’s Osteria, run by Valter himself. Valter’s a cordial, warm, and convivial host who makes you feel like an old friend immediately, and the atmosphere he creates coupled with the food makes for just the experience a weary traveler needs. Valters’s from a town near Firenze (Monte San Sevino) and thus his cuisine is rustic Umbrian and Tuscan, but elegantly prepared and presented with fantastic service and table side delivery. Pastas are made in house fresh, a great wine list with more than decent nero d’avola and chianti by the glass, and an authentic family-run feel that I’ve not experienced anywhere west of the Mississippi.

Two glasses of wine, dessert (lovely pistachio gelato), a hot chocolate with biscotti, grappa, bread with bagna cauda, and dinner were $75–not cheap by any stretch, for but for table side service by professionals, home made pastas, and flavors hard to find anywhere this side of the Atlantic? A good deal indeed.

Dinner was fresh gnocchi boscaiola–a lovely gravy of porcini and other assorted mushrooms served as a sampler with some handmade ravioli. One version was squash with sage butter, the other spinach with ricotta and lemon zest. My server Paul also gave me a taste of a gnocchi with white truffle sauce that was rich without being oppressively creamy–light and flavorful that left you just needing to “fare alla scarpetta” (sop up the sauce with bread).

Dessert was gelato, biscotti, authentic Italian style hot chocolate, and grappa. Lovely!

If you’re in the SLC area, make the trip to see Valter. You’ll not regret it. Dinner hours only.