European Restaurant : How Chef Fernando Soberanis Transformed The Grand America's Laurel Brasserie Into Utah's Most Welcoming Brasserie

There's something you should know about the French onion soup at Laurel Brasserie & Bar in downtown Salt Lake City. It simmers for more than 24 hours. Not because some recipe says so, but because Executive Chef Fernando Soberanis—who grew up on the second floor above his family's Italian restaurant in Acapulco—understands that time is an ingredient too.

The soup arrives topped with toasted gruyere, and you'll want to save some of those complimentary housemade rolls with creamy goat cheese butter to soak up every last drop. One reviewer put it simply: "French onion soup, steamed mussels & clams, butternut squash arancini, grilled utah peach & burrata. We also ordered the tuna tartare but we did not enjoy it as much as the others." That's the kind of honest feedback that matters—and at Laurel, they're nailing the classics.

This is what happens when a AAA Five Diamond hotel decides to throw out the rulebook on hotel dining. Located at 555 South Main Street inside The Grand America Hotel, Laurel Brasserie & Bar opened in December 2021 after a multi-million dollar transformation of the dated Garden Café. And it's become the kind of place where locals meet for happy hour as often as hotel guests stop in for Sunday brunch.

From Acapulco's Beaches to Salt Lake City's Kitchens: Chef Fernando Soberanis' Journey to European-Inspired Dining

Fernando Soberanis grew up in Acapulco, Mexico, where his family owned Antonio's Restaurant, whose menu featured dishes from his father's Italian heritage. His childhood played out on the beach—surfing and eating fresh fish—but the real education happened upstairs. His family lived on the second floor above their restaurant. He remembers the way his father dedicated himself to the restaurant business. Before school, late at night, Chef Fernando remembers stopping by the restaurant with his father, who also taught him how to cook.

At 17, Fernando moved to Salt Lake City, where his older brother was working at Little America Hotel. He spoke very little English. One day, picking up his brother from Little America, he was spotted by Chef Goetz, Little America's Executive Chef for many years. On the spot, he offered Fernando a supervisory role on his staff. The learning curve was brutal. Earning respect in the kitchen was challenging. Writing out the kitchen's daily log in an unfamiliar language was even worse. He remembers how some of the older cooks would add extra salt to his soups, never entirely trusting his skill.

But Fernando stayed. He left to build his resume in other kitchens around the country, but Salt Lake City kept calling him back. He returned, helping to open The Grand America's kitchen as a Sous Chef. Now the Executive Chef for all dining outlets, Chef Fernando is at the forefront of Salt Lake City's culinary culture. With over 25 years of culinary expertise, he's created a menu at Laurel that balances European fine dining techniques with the approachable warmth of American brasserie culture.

"Everything we do, it's made in-house," says Executive Chef Fernando Soberanis. "We're very focused on creating good relationships with local vendors and local products that we can use."

The All-Day European Dining Experience: Breakfast Through Late-Night Happy Hour

Walk into Laurel and you'll immediately understand why it works. The interior is decidedly casual, with upscale modern-day touches reminiscent of an East Coast eatery. Brooklyn-based Home Studios designed the space with flower-shaped lights, wicker cane chairs, black-and-white sketches, and a double-sided feature bar that faces both the dining room and a separate cocktail area. Cherry-red leather covers banquette seating that forms a strip down the centre.

But forget about the Grand America's reputation for being stuffy or expensive. One TripAdvisor reviewer captured it perfectly: "Being from out of town we didn't know how fancy/stuffy Laurel Brasserie might be. We were delighted to immediately see that it's a relaxed, yet refined environment. Loved the pancakes. Service was excellent. Free parking is a plus being in downtown."

The menu hits that sweet spot between elevated and accessible. There's nothing on it $30 or over, which is astonishing for an eatery at a posh hotel like The Grand America. Breakfast runs from lemon ricotta pancakes to avocado toast and quinoa kale hash. Lunch features potato gnocchi, short rib beef sandwiches, and Niçoise salad—all under $20.

When I say all-day dining, I mean it. Laurel serves breakfast starting at 6:30 a.m., lunch from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., dinner until 9 p.m. on weeknights (10 p.m. on weekends), and two daily happy hours: 4-6 p.m. and 10 p.m. to midnight. That late-night happy hour? With half-price pizzas and most items under $10, it's become one of downtown Salt Lake City's best-kept secrets.

What to Order: Customer-Verified Favorites

Start with the pigs in a blanket. Trust me on this. These Snake River Farms piggies are grass-fed beef franks wrapped in Executive Pastry Chef Xavier Baudinet's dreamy croissant dough and served with a spicy mustard sauce you'll want to hold onto and put on the rest of your meal.

The steak frites is exactly what you want from a brasserie. Laurel's Steak Frites is a marvelous example of simple, straightforward bistro fare: tender and juicy grilled skirt steak with béarnaise butter and high-quality, properly cooked hand-cut French fries on the side. One diner raved: "For my entree, I had the steak frites which was cooked well, packed with flavor, and tender. The fries were also quite good--crispy and well seasoned."

But if you're choosing just one dish? Both chefs had the same answer for their favorite dish on Laurel Brasserie & Bar's menu: the Branzino. A dish of Greek origins, Chef Fernando was inspired by his travels to visit family in the Mediterranean when composing this dish. The fish is flown in directly from Greece and served on a bed of rice with authentic Turkish and Greek flavors.

For pasta lovers, the handmade rigatoni bolognese and chicken lasagna both get consistent praise. One reviewer noted, "A cozy, nicely decorated place with good food and cheerful, good service. The menu includes a few pizzas, lasagna, salmon and steak. Price and quality ratio was good!"

And those pizzas from the exhibition oven? Grab a bar stool or table in the bar and enjoy a Margherita Pizza, Wild Mushroom & Blue Cheese Pizza, or perhaps the zippy Diavola Pizza with picante soppressata, mozzarella, parmesan, and hot chile oil.

Sunday Brunch with Live Music: Downtown Salt Lake City's Best-Kept Secret

The Grand America serves up an opulent Sunday brunch in the Laurel Brasserie & Bar with live music at a price – $55/adult; $27.50/kids 5-12 – that isn't so opulent. Every Sunday from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., the restaurant transforms into a celebration of European buffet culture.

Jazz series every Thursday and variety of genres on Fridays and Saturdays! The outdoor patio becomes the real star during warm weather, where you can enjoy your meal while live musicians play. One couple who visits 2-3 times a year for business wrote: "Laurel Brasserie & Bar is hands down one of our favorite dining spots in Salt Lake City! Nestled conveniently inside the Grand America Hotel—our go-to place to stay when we travel to SLC—this gem never disappoints."

A TripAdvisor reviewer captured the brunch experience: "Come hungry, as the buffet offers everything from seafood to sweets. We also thoroughly enjoyed the band! Trying to guess the next popular song by the instrumentals was a fun game." Another simply stated: "Best brunch I have had since being in Utah. The bar tender Shara and waiter, Nick, were amazing and very welcoming."

Bonne Vie Patisserie: Your Morning Coffee Stop in Downtown SLC

Right as you enter Laurel, you'll pass through Bonne Vie—the hotel's beloved French patisserie that got a complete refresh. The iconic Bonne Vie Macarons are made in-house fresh daily, using the traditional French style, with only four simple ingredients yet achieving delicious results. The space features duck-egg-blue millwork, a checkerboard marble floor, and crushed velvet chairs in pastel tones.

Open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily, Bonne Vie serves grab-and-go coffee, house-made flaky croissants, golden pastries, and creamy gelato. It's become a morning ritual for downtown workers and hotel guests alike—the kind of place where you stop for an espresso and end up leaving with a box of macarons for later.

The Bar Program: Utah Spirits Meet European Cocktail Traditions

The double-sided feature bar is Laurel's social heartbeat. The double-sided bar is great for drinking cocktails with Utah-made spirits, like the Laurel Leaf Old Fashioned mixed with Beehive barrel-aged gin. The cocktail program highlights six local distilleries and six local breweries, featuring names like High West, Dented Brick, and Alpine Gin.

One guest noted: "The signature Laurel Old Fashion was incredible. The gelato was extraordinary also. The service was impeccable. It was a pleasant experience."

Thanks to Utah's unique alcohol laws, happy hour deals apply only to smaller bites and drinks—but that's actually perfect for Laurel's approach. You can sample multiple menu items without committing to full entrees, and those half-price pizzas during the 10 p.m. to midnight window make it the ideal late-night stop after a show or event downtown.

What Makes Laurel Special: European Fine Dining Without the Fuss

Here's what's remarkable about Laurel: it's everything you'd expect from The Grand America's culinary standards, but none of the intimidation factor. With a menu inspired by European fine dining combined with a modern American approach, Laurel Brasserie & Bar is a gathering place for life's big moments and everyday meals.

The service team deserves recognition too. Multiple reviews mention staff members by name—servers like Rob, Anna, Nick, bartender Shara, and Maître d' Brent who make the experience feel personal. "During our most recent visit, we were fortunate to have Rob as our server. His attentive and friendly service truly made our meal special. The hostess was also wonderful, welcoming us warmly and seating us promptly."

One celiac diner wrote: "We were very happy with our meal here and felt very impressed with how delicious everything was. They had gluten free bread for our sandwich and hamburger. We felt confident in how knowledgeable our server was and he was so kind and accommodating." That attention to dietary restrictions—handled with genuine care rather than reluctant accommodation—speaks volumes.

Planning Your Visit to Laurel Brasserie & Bar

Address: 555 S Main Street, Salt Lake City, UT 84111 (inside The Grand America Hotel, with separate street entrance)

Hours:

• Breakfast: Monday-Saturday 6:30-10:30 a.m., Sunday 6:30-8:30 a.m.
• Lunch: Monday-Saturday 11 a.m.-2 p.m.
• Dinner: Monday-Thursday 5-9 p.m., Friday-Sunday 5-10 p.m.
• Sunday Brunch: 9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
• Happy Hour: Daily 4-6 p.m. and 10 p.m.-midnight
• Bar: 11 a.m.-midnight daily
• Bonne Vie Patisserie: 6 a.m.-6 p.m. daily

What to Order:

• French onion soup (simmered 24+ hours)
• Steak frites with béarnaise butter
• Branzino (Chef Fernando's favorite)
• Pigs in a blanket with spicy mustard
• Any pizza from the exhibition oven
• Pumpkin arancini during happy hour

Insider Tips:

• Make reservations via SevenRooms or call (801) 258-6708
• Free parking validation in Grand America Hotel garage
• Outdoor patio opens in spring with live music Thursday-Saturday
• Late-night happy hour (10 p.m.-midnight) is when locals come
• Sunday brunch books up—reserve early
• Three private dining rooms available for groups up to 150

Instagram: Follow @LaurelBrasserieSLC for seasonal menu updates and live music schedules

Why Laurel Matters to Salt Lake City's Food Scene

Having visited Laurel Brasserie & Bar three times so far, I'm betting that this fine restaurant is going to become very popular with locals, not just with SLC visitors staying at The Grand or Little America. That prediction, written shortly after opening in early 2022, has proven true.

Laurel represents something important in Utah's evolving dining landscape: the idea that European-inspired fine dining doesn't have to mean stiff white tablecloths and $60 entrees. It can mean a neighborhood brasserie where you grab pizza at the bar after work, bring your family for Sunday brunch with live jazz, or celebrate an anniversary without feeling like you're playing dress-up.

Chef Fernando Soberanis—that teenager who arrived in Salt Lake City speaking barely any English, who had salt added to his soups by skeptical line cooks, who spent years building his skills across the country before returning home—has created exactly what downtown Salt Lake City needed. A place that honors European culinary traditions while embracing the warmth and accessibility that makes Utah's food scene special.

As one regular visitor put it: "We've come here twice now, and it has been absolutely incredible! The food was to die for, and the service was amazing."

Book your table at Laurel Brasserie & Bar and discover why this European restaurant in downtown Salt Lake City has become the gathering place where locals and visitors alike celebrate life's big moments—and everyday meals that deserve to be savored just as much.