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Hello, Eaters! Eight Settlers Lounge — at 44 Exchange Place in downtown Salt Lake City — is a new cocktail bar from the folks that brought Eight Settlers Distillery to Cottonwood Heights in 2020.

Last week, I visited Eight Settlers Lounge for lunch and chatted with co-owner Katia Dugala about how her latest project is “something completely different” from the distillery.

The origin story: In February, Katia and Radu Dugala opened Eight Settlers Lounge in the historic Newhouse Realty Building, deciding to make their new place about the settlers who came to Utah from around the world, instead of the ones that settled the area between Big and Little Cottonwood canyons and inspired the distillery. That international influence is reflected in the food and drink offerings at Eight Settlers Lounge.

The vibe: This cocktail bar is much bigger than what it looks like from the outside. It’s made up of three floors, each with its own feel and bar: the main floor is right in the middle of the action and has the biggest bar; the moody basement houses the Devil’s Gate Lounge (named for the Eight Settlers bourbon) where live music is played on the weekends; and the upper floor is a cozy hideaway with a fireplace. While the distillery is family-friendly, the cocktail bar is 21+.

The menu: The food menu at the distillery is centered around large plates, but the food at the cocktail bar is all about small plates that are meant to be shared. Created by executive chef Angelique Pereat, the cocktail bar’s food menu features a variety of influences, from Spanish to Turkish to Italian to South American. The dinner menu, served from 4 to 10 p.m., is a colorful array of tapas; think dishes like croquettes, paella, chicken lollipops, empanadas, sliders and much more.

The cocktail menu showcases Eight Settlers’ spirits, and is more “edgy” than the familiar mainstays served at the distillery, Katia Dugala said.

The hours: Eight Settlers Lounge is open daily from 11 a.m. to midnight.

Live deliciously,

Kolbie

P.S. Gluten-free folks will find a whopping 13 gluten-free dishes on Eight Settlers Lounge’s dinner menu — add this place to your “safe” rotation.

Pizza Madness - the championship

And then there were two. Pizza Madness, The Salt Lake Tribune’s bracket-style tournament to let you Eaters determine the best pizza place in Utah, is down to the final matchup — and the voting to get there was exciting.

One of the finalists, Pizza Nono, won in a blowout over Settebello Pizzeria Napoletana, 81% to 19% — with a lot of commenters singing the praises of Pizza Nono.

The other matchup came down to exactly one vote. That was the margin, with more than 300 Eaters participating, that put The Pie ahead of Bricks Corner.

Now the final is set — Pizza Nono vs. The Pie. Click here to access the ballot. The deadline for voting is Sunday at 5 p.m.

Food News

• Ritual Chocolate is accepting reservations for three upcoming events: a class called “Taste Chocolate Like an Expert” on April 23 from 6 to 7 p.m.; a truffle-making class on May 7 from 6 to 7 p.m.; and a Summer Solstice cacao ceremony on June 18 from 6 to 7 p.m. All of these events will be held in the Ritual Chocolate Tasting Room, at 2175 W. 3000 South, Suite 100, in Heber. To nab your spot, email info@ritualchocolate.com.

Openings:

• Ten is a new coffee shop located in the back of the hand roll restaurant Momomaru, at 636 S. 200 West in Salt Lake City, and owned by the same folks. When I visited recently, I could tell the news of Ten’s soft opening had gotten around, as the place was full of customers. I recommend the almond cake and the Hojichai, a warming, spiced blend of roasted green tea (hojicha) and chai.

• The Honey Baked Ham Company has re-opened its newly remodeled Orem location at 384 W. University Parkway. The restaurant chain is known for its glazed spiral-cut hams, which diners will now be able to pick up from the Orem location ahead of Easter.

Coming soon:

• According to a news release, Culinary Dropout is planning to open this summer at 765 S. 400 West in Salt Lake City, where the historic Utah Pickle Company Building used to be until it was demolished last May. Culinary Dropout is “known for bending the rules with inventive food, craft cocktails, and a deep love of music,” the release said.

Closings:

• An Eater reported that Vermillion 45 in Kanab has closed. The French/Italian restaurant is being replaced with a Mexican spot called Los Tapatios, at 210 S. 100 East in Kanab.

• Has a restaurant opened or closed in your neighborhood? Let us know at food@sltrib.com.

Dish of the Week

My favorite food ever is a grilled-cheese sandwich with tomato soup, so I couldn’t say no to the fancy grilled cheese ($22) at Eight Settlers Lounge, served “au cheval,” which the internet says is French for “on a horse” and refers to the practice of adding a runny fried egg to sandwiches, burgers and more.

This bougie grilled cheese (seriously, it had gold dust on it) was so “au cheval” that I had to eat it with a fork and a knife. It was gloriously gooey and decadent, and I loved dunking the bites of cheesy brioche in the tomato bisque that came alongside.

To drink, I ordered a cocktail called Brazil in the Rockies, which was a creamy and zingy blend of Eight Settlers’ Butler Vodka, passionfruit, sweetened condensed milk, cream, lime, nutmeg and coconut. The spices and dried coconut sprinkled on top were a nice touch.