As a food writer and restaurant reviewer, I'll admit that I wouldn't be able to eat out at many of Utah's high-end restaurants were it not for my employer footing most of the bill.

Set aside recession-era household budgets, or high gas prices: Special occasions can warrant spending more for a meal out, whether or not fine-dining restaurants are a regular part of your dining routine. Per The Tribune's restaurant rating system, that means the average entrée costs more than $25.

Along with the price tag, other fine-dining touches also set aside destination dining, such as amuses bouches, intermezzi, multiple courses, prix-fixe menus, wine pairings, fine plate settings and professional-caliber service.

To help you make your fine-dining plans, here are The Tribune's top picks for restaurants that are consistently worth the splurge.

Chez Betty

This 20-year Park City veteran keeps itself relevant with well-crafted dishes such as lamb chops with a green peppercorn demi glace, a retro iceberg wedge and banana cream tartlet. Entry to the restaurant is via an apartment building lobby, but once you're inside the cozy restaurant, the less-than-flattering lobby is long forgotten. The service is professional, friendly and way above par.

1637 Short Line Drive (in the Copperbottom Inn), Park City; 435-649-8181; chezbetty.com.

Blue Boar Inn

This Swiss-style, family-owned inn exudes charm while Executive Chef Eric May creates good food such as fondue for two, house-cured gravlax, prime rib, duck confit and braised lamb shank. Brunch or dinner are worth a trip to Midway, or stay the night at the inn.

1235 Warm Springs Road, Midway; 435-654-1400; theblueboarinn.com.

Cucina Toscana

Cucina Toscana is Valter Nassi, and Valter Nassi is Cucina Toscana. The amount of passion that Nassi puts into this bustling trattoria is incomparable. You can't go wrong with any of the pastas, including the pillowlike gnocchi. Half and full orders are available on many of the pasta and meat dishes to ensure there's still room for dessert.

307 W. Pierpont Ave., Salt Lake City; 801-328-3463; cucina-toscana.com.

Forage

Chefs Viet Pham and Bowman Brown are winning awards right and left for their impeccable technique, imagination and quality ingredients. The small space is minimally decorated. After all, the point is to highlight the chefs' food, right? The tasting menu includes dishes such as diver scallops, spot prawns, smoked duck, elk tenderloin, poached quince and elderflower semifreddo.

370 E. 900 South, Salt Lake City; 801-708-7834; foragerestaurant.com.

Glitretind

Named for the second highest peak in Norway, this opulent restaurant inside Stein Eriksen Lodge at Deer Valley aims for grandeur at 8,200 feet. Inside, the heavy wood and neutral-tones decor is reminiscent of a European chalet. Outside, the mountain views are breathtaking. Executive Chef Zane Holmquist heads up the kitchen to make new American cuisine. Proteins come in the form of Pacific ono (wahoo), Muscovy duck breast and filet of Washington beef ($34-$44), among others. Desserts sound good on the page but don't quite live up to their descriptions. Service is impeccable and just what you'd expect at this level of dining.

Stein Eriksen Lodge, 7700 Stein Way, Park City; 435-649-3700; steinlodge.com.

Log Haven

This rustic log house is the place for a memorable dining experience — and it's just a few miles from the city up the canyon. Chef Dave Jones crafts New American food in full or half portions such as bison carpaccio, fried quail, tempura short ribs, steelhead trout, elk steak and pork loin. Coffee panna cotta and frozen coconut souffle are just two of the menu's sweet endings.

6451 E. Creek Canyon Rd., Salt Lake City; 801-272-8255; log-haven.com.

The New Yorker

This downtown Salt Lake veteran succeeds in providing a first-class, and inviting, experience year after year. Chef Will Pliler expertly crafts dishes such as onion soup gratinée, Caesar salad, filet mignon and Grand Marnier soufflé, while service is superlative.

60 W. Market St. (350 South), Salt Lake City; 801-363-0166; newyorkerslc.com

The Restaurant

The rustic mountain setting of Canyons resort is a jaw-dropping backdrop for The Restaurant's seasonal, modern dining. Located inside the Waldorf Astoria Park City, The Restaurant's kitchen offers outstanding dishes such as its charcuterie plate of varied cured meats, expertly prepared sweetbreads, Moroccan-spiced chicken, honey-lacquered duck breast and beignets with two sauces for dessert. The wine list is impressive, as is the service.

2100 Frostwood Drive (Waldorf Astoria Park City), Park City; 435-647-5566; parkcitywaldorfastoria.com.

Silver

Opulence runs through Silver, one of Park City's newest dining options. A cobalt mohair-upholstered banquette extends from floor to ceiling. Chairs are upholstered in metallic alligator-skin-looking fabric and chain curtains accented with "S"s line the stairs to the top floor, complete with a bar that serves up signature cocktails ($8-$50) and offers a live DJ. The new American menu starts off with Australian wagyu carpaccio, foie gras french toast, and meatballs ($10-$17), to name a few. Chicken, duck, red trout, short ribs, lamb and halibut make up the entrée selections ($24-$48). Desserts end on a playful note with s'mores, pound cake and apple brown betty ($8-$14).

508 Main St., Park City; 435-940-1000; silverrestaurant.com/

Talisker on Main

The über-exclusive Talisker Club has opened its first public restaurant — on Park City's Main Street. Executive Chef John Murcko has designed dishes that combine old with the new: a trout fillet atop cioppino, veal marrow bones alongside hashy veal shank ragout and nutty quinoa next to rack of lamb and sausage ($28-$38). For dessert, a chocolate tart is flavored with fleur de sel caramel and Bananas Foster ice cream, or salty pistachios meld with lemon in another sweet finale.

515 Main St., Park City; 435-658-5479; taliskeronmain.com.

Takashi

Chef Takashi Gibo and his wife, Tamara, take great pains to make this Japanese-sushi venue as perfect as it can be. Attention to detail is paramount as the kitchen turns out perfect cuts of high-quality fish in rolls, sashimi and nigiri, as well as other menu items such as fresh shishito peppers.

18 W. Market St., Salt Lake City; 801-519-9595; takashisushi.com.

The Tree Room

Everything about this canyon restaurant works in harmony to create a romantic dining experience. The rustic building and interior — accented with beautiful American Indian art — blend perfectly with the incredible mountain setting. Executive Chef Mark Shoup's local/seasonal menu is artful and approachable — think hanger steak with white cheddar polenta, lamb chops with asparagus and achiote-spiced pork loin with white bean purée and tomatillo sauce. The wine list, too, is expansive but not overwhelming.

Sundance Resort, Sundance; 801-223-4200; sundanceresort.com —

Worth the splurge?

O Have we missed your favorite restaurant? Let us know your favorite special occasion restaurants. Email food@sltrib.com and write "worth the splurge" in the subject line.