This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Once upon a time, the only buzz in Salt Lake City was from the beehive that adorns our state flag and honeybees that flew busily through my backyard orchard.
Way back then, this was not a coffee town. When I was a young reporter, I drank coffee from a vending machine for 10 cents. It was beyond ghastly, as you can imagine. But now, thank goodness, an artisan coffee buzz is much easier to come by for those of us who enjoy a little kick in the morning. We're like a real city, with locally owned coffee shops and kiosks within pretty easy reach of most of us.
One of the newest players is Publik Coffee, which first set up shop at 975 S. West Temple. Publik Coffee House and Roastery remains the mother ship, a two-story building with an industrial design where the beans are roasted and which also offers meeting space in keeping with the theme of "publik," which means community in Dutch.
Two baby Publiks have since joined the family: Publik Avenues in a small building at 502 3rd Ave. and Publik Kitchen in a Victorian-style house at 931 E. 900 South. The latter formerly housed a deli that served sandwiches and such, but Publik owner Missy Greis has renovated the space and expanded on the mother ship menu, along with offering table service. The foundation is still coffee and bread, but there are more options that go beyond breakfast.
The opening of Publik Kitchen in the 9th and 9th neighborhood was a pretty big deal because previously there had been no breakfast spot in the immediate area. And it has proved popular, with waits on the weekends for a table in this cozy space. Once the weather is reliably nice, the patio might relieve some of the pressure or make it even more crowded.
The menu isn't extensive, but there are lots of options that make it bigger than it looks thanks to the variety of breads and spreads. Where the downtown and Avenues locations offer toast, granola and oatmeal, Publik Kitchen offers French toast, a basic breakfast of eggs and meat, a variation on hash, a couple of sandwiches and a salad. In a neighborhood full of boutiques, it's a boutique diner with high-end ingredients, most of them locally sourced.
The breads, for example, are made by Red Bicycle Breadworks in Park City, and the jams by Amour Spreads, founded by a Salt Lake City couple and cooked up in a site near Liberty Park. The flavors are exotic, from heirloom tomato to orange habañero, and there's always a rotating seasonal jam. On a recent visit, it was apricot.
The hummus is made by Salt Lake City-based Laziz Foods, and the teas are from The Queens Tea, also in Salt Lake. Local suppliers provide the bacon and sausage as well.
If you want to build your own meal, choose a bread for $2 (organic peasant, mocha, olive rosemary or gluten free), then add a spread or two (cream cheese, peanut butter, hummus, goat cheese or cinnamon butter, $2 each) and/or a jam for $1. Throw on an egg ($1.25) or avocado ($2), add some bacon ($3) and, bingo, it's breakfast or lunch.
The same quality ingredients are used in the set menu items. The Publik breakfast ($7) offered a choice of toast; bacon, sausage or avocado; and two eggs any style. The sausage was mildly spiced and properly juicy, and the eggs came cooked to order. I tried the hash ($10), which is deconstructed, with the sautéed sliced red potatoes cooked with peppers and onions on the side, two perfectly poached eggs and the sausage.
I've also sampled the hummus and seasonal vegetables on toast ($9), which left me feeling like a super-healthy super foodie. A thick slice of rosemary olive toast came slathered with hummus, a tangy sprinkling of goat cheese, sliced cucumbers and radishes and an emerald cap of spicy watercress. On the side was a small salad of fresh red leaf lettuce studded with pickled red onions, dressed with a sherry-spiked vinaigrette.
I still look forward to sampling the chicken salad melt ($11), which includes bacon, cheddar cheese and house-made mayonnaise, maybe just before a 24-mile bike ride.
Naturally, there's a full menu of coffees and teas ($1.75 to $4.50), and cocoa that comes with a toasted marshmallow ($4). That's a hit with the kids. The coffee is drip ($2.25 for a bottomless cup) or cold brew ($3) and is worth savoring.
The design is casual, with wood floors and lots of natural light, although the space can be noisy. While most seating is at tables and booths, there is a coffee counter at the front, banded by strips of copper and backed by white tile, that is fronted by several stools.
While the table service is friendly and efficient, paying at the register on your way out the door can be time-consuming, if no one is immediately available to take your money.
Publik Kitchen is a perfect addition to the hip 9th and 9th neighborhood. While the menu is small, everything on it is quality, and if you believe in buying local, you can eat and live that philosophy here in style.
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Publik Kitchen
Food • HHhj
Mood • HH
Service • H
Noise • bb
This small diner, in a Victorian-era house in the walkable 9th an 9th neighborhood, is a welcome addition for anyone who likes to eat breakfast all day. The foundation of the menu is a selection of breads made by a Park City bakery, to which diners can add a variety of spreads and jams. Or they can select from set menu items that range from French toast to a traditional breakfast with eggs and meat. Most of the food is locally sourced, and it's all premium quality. It's a popular spot, so be prepared to wait on weekends.
Location • 931 E. 900 South, Salt Lake City; 385-229-4205
Online • publikcoffee.com
Hours • Monday-Friday, 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.; Saturday-Sunday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Children's menu • No
Prices • $$
Liquor • No
Reservations • No
Takeout • Yes
Wheelchair access • Yes
Outdoor dining • Yes
On-site parking • No
Credit cards • Yes