Ever since Imi Kun closed his long-running restaurant Cosmopolitan 10 years ago, former customers have missed his global-inspired dishes.
Now those dishes are back in a new and improved restaurant, Cosmopolitan Grill, which opened a couple of months ago.
The executive chef and general manager of three restaurants in southern Utah recently opened his fourth, the new Cosmopolitan Grill, in St. George.
Located at 1091 N. Bluff St., Suite 1400, the new place is more spacious and includes all essentials for a high-quality bar, which was smaller at the previous Cosmopolitan.
Kun said the new restaurant perfectly fits all that he needs to run a bar and full-service restaurant without limiting the space for customers.
“I have here everything for the full service,” Kun added. “I have a bar, quite separate, so [it] does not bother the diners, and a dining area, and the style is perfectly matched for the current market.”
The menu reads like a culinary map, featuring flavors from Europe, the United States, Asia, Argentina, Mexico, and Philippines. Kun has also preserved a longtime fan favorite: Hungarian Tenderloin Goulash, a slow-simmered soup that includes beef, vegetables and sweet paprika. The restaurant also serves wine, beer and cocktails including Blue Lagune, Aperol Spritz, and Pina Colada.
Cosmopolitan Grill looks like a cozy European restaurant, with modern décor, soft lighting, and a spacious hall, making an environment ideal for both casual meals and special meetings, he said.
(Yaroslava Oleksiuk | The Southern Utah Tribune) The Cosmopolitan Grill opened in St. George in November 2025.
Kun aims to create a dining experience comfortable for a wide range of guests. While the previous Cosmopolitan focused on fine dining, the new Cosmopolitan Grill combines casual and upscale options, serving retirees, businesspeople, and casual diners. The chef said he works hard to find well-trained staff to provide high-quality service for all guests.
His main goal is clear:
“The guests smiling when they leave.”
Culinary journey
(Yaroslava Oleksiuk | The Southern Utah Tribune) The Cosmopolitan Grill opened in St. George in November 2025.
Kun grew up in Hungary, where his culinary journey started at age 14. After eighth grade, Kun took advantage of the free education offered in then-communist Hungary and began his studies. He spent 19 years earning degrees at culinary schools, learning as a server, cook, chef, and executive chef, preparing for a career as a restaurateur.
“My vision was to become a restaurateur, not just a chef or not just a server, a restaurant manager, but a restaurateur,” he said.
Kun first visited southern Utah in 1993 as part of a government sponsored trip. He decided to move here as an adult.
“Once we traveled to Utah and I fell in love with the country,” he said. “Absolutely a great place, [the] weather is mild, people are wonderful, crime is almost zero.”
Kun’s first U.S. restaurant was Ponderosa in Escalante, popular among European tourists visiting Bryce Canyon. It opened in 1997 and ran for five years before closing in 2002 because his children wanted to live in a bigger city. He then opened the original Cosmopolitan in Leeds, in November 2005, bringing the community international dishes. It remained open for 10 years, closing because of issues with the historic building in which it was located.
Before opening the new Cosmopolitan Grill, Kun owned and ran Aragosta from 2015 to 2025, serving Italian cuisine and seafood.
Since closing Aragosta, Imi searched for a new place where he could have more space for visitors, a full-fledged bar, and better visibility.
After finding the best spot for the restaurant and remodeling the space for three months, he opened Cosmopolitan Grill last November.
Among the most ordered international dishes in Cosmopolitan Grill are Chilean Sea Bass, Lobster Tail, the Ultimate Cheeseburger, and Fish and Chips, he said.
Reviewers on OpenTable applauded the menu and shared their thoughts on the dishes.
“Best fish and chips I’ve ever had,” Barbara from Salt Lake City wrote. “ [The] Batter wasn’t greasy and the fish was cooked perfectly.”
Another reviewer, Laura from Alabama, shared her excellent dining experience at Cosmopolitan Grill:
“Outstanding, as always! Prepared perfectly, in a lovely, comfortable setting.”
For Kun, cooking and serving delicious dishes is not about work, it is about his life purpose and the source of happiness.
Kun said he felt good in his career from the first day he started.
“When you go to work, and you feel good, that makes a big difference,” he said.