Vuz Restaurant Bar and Winery

CLOSED! Is now called Cliff House Gastropub. Look them up for accurate times and menus.

The food was great– I had a lamb chop– very delicious. My date had the mac and cheese, which was also very good. Not a wine drinker, so I can’t comment there.
The only reason I do not give this place 5 stars is due to the seating. This was the main draw for me, a nice upscale restaurant (for me anyway) with a great view of the valley. When I called to make a reservation, they didn’t say anything about having no outside seating. I just assumed they would. When we got to the restaurant, they stated they were waiting on new furniture or something, or maybe we were too early in the season, I can’t remember. As soon as we sat down, we saw 1 party seated outside. When I mentioned this to the waitress and asked to have a table move outside, she asked her superior. She came back about 10 minutes later and acted a little annoyed but said they would move us outside.
Since my date (now fiancé) and I are not very picky, this wasn’t a big deal to us, but some people could be really perturbed by that kind of experience. Just make sure you check about outside seating and expect to spend $ 100+ for 2 people with an appetizer and dessert, even without any wine.

Ok, let’s start with the ambiance. It’s gorgeous. No question there. But, that’s where our good experience ended.
We went on a date with another couple and decided to try this place. It was awful. And unbelievably over priced. I don’t spending money on good food/​wine, but we were amazed at how mediocre this place was.
We had the crab cakes (not bad actually), Tomato Mozzarella (nothing to write home about), spring mix salad and caesar. The first course wasn’t bad at all, and the plating was modern and clean.
Entrees is where it went wrong for us. We had the scallops (very well cooked — and the only thing that was in our entrée course– but VERY over seasoned), Paella risotto (so overcooked and salty it was impossible to enjoy. not to mention the seafood did not taste fresh at all), Pork (the cassoulet was fine, pork overcooked), and the biggest disappointment was the tasteless filet. How do you ruin filet?
Dessert was also just fine, though if they’re running the «deconstructed s’more», do yourself a favor and pass. The key lime tart was fine though.
We’ve been told that the wine list is very good, and like I said, the patio is beautiful, but I dont’ think we’ll be back.

Vuz has so much potential that I am really bummed to give the restaurant a mere 2 star rating. I came here on a Friday night with a bunch of friends, but really the time to go is at sunset so you can enjoy the outdoor balcony. The restaurant itself is quite «new american» and cozy, with an open kitchen for culinary viewing.
There is also a bar that had a DJ going, so Vuz is not short on entertainment. So why the two stars? Food alone gives this restaurant a mere 1 star but being the softy I am, the setting caused a bit of grade inflation. Pricing is expensive with most entrees more than $ 30. I had the Arctic char with some kind of black rice side and a salsa type topping. The fish was tasteless and the combo of the topping was really unappetizing. Black rice was also cloyingly sweet.
Other nitpicks on service. First wine was OUT (this is a small wine list to boot). And even worse was the hair my friend found in his food. The kitchen was very gracious to replace, but I think that they should have comped his meal. Or offered some form of recompense.
At $ 50+++ per head, I think that Vuz is really expensive and not worthy of date night or a nice night on the town.

i was a bit iffy about trying this place due to the mixed reviews on Unilocal,but my friend and i decided to give it a try for lunch. we were greeted warmly in the front lounge and the interior was beautiful! our server was an older gentleman who was very nice and we had no problems with service. however our food was disappointing and not worth the prices (even the lunch prices). i won’t be coming back here although i will say it has a beautiful view.

I’m giving vuz 2 stars and here is why. I came here on a Tuesday with a group of friends for a birthday dinner celebration. We arrived at around 8 and the place was completely empty. Dead. Our table was the only occupants for about an hour when I noticed another table had come in.
Our table ordered the calamari and crab cakes for everyone to taste. They were generic fare nothing to rave about but the crab cakes did seem a little on the small side. I asked the server what was the best dish and he said the Kubuta (not sure how to spell it) Pork was his favorite. Big mistake, it was a disaster.
When my entrée came out and it looked promising. It was a braised piece of pork shoulder (I think) on top of beans and other vegetables I don’t remember. First off my pork had no flavor. It needed more salt or anything. Secondly, the beans seemed like they came out of a can. Maybe I came on a bad night but this is inexcusable. If I am going to be paying over a $ 100 for a meal I expect it to be over the top, Sly Stallone type of meal. I would not recommend this place to eat. I would however recommend it to have a few drinks if you are ever in Draper. So most likely not. Maybe I should have just eaten at the bar and gotten a $ 10 burger.
MEH… give it a try but don’t say I told you so.

Try the pizza off the bar menu. The Resturant has a pizza chief. Make sure he’s on shift before you order…

Might be better on weekends, we were there with a group (10 or so) on a weeknight and there didn’t appear to be enough wait staff. Made it tough with a large group. The food was ok, I enjoyed the ahi salad the most. The interiors are nice, and for outdoor seating I recommend going after dark when the fire pits and valley lights are probably prettiest.

This is in response to previous posts about service. Since they were posted, the management has changed. Between the tall serious guy and the short fast guy… nothing goes unnoticed. I’ve also noticed that most – if not all – the wait staff has changed. And the bar staff is FANTASTIC. Give it a try.

Overall, I’d say the food is good at this place, but not great. I really enjoyed the grilled flat bread with the hummus and olive spread. Both were very tasty. The meat lollipops were a definite disappointment. Although the flavor was good and I really enjoyed the sauce, they came in all shapes and sizes and were presented as if it was an afterthought. The lobster bisque was good, but the large chunks of lobster in it did not seem fresh. One thing I’ll give them — the portions are quite large. In fact, after sharing two appetizers and having the soup, I was full before the entrée even came out. My wife’s filet was incredibly tender and tasted good, as did my «pork and beans» dish — the pork was incredibly moist. I guess my hang up with this place is related to the prices, and it’s not that I won’t pay premium prices, because I will. It’s just that when I do, I expect perfection, and this just wasn’t it. It was definitely tasty, but not amazing.

My husband and I wandered in for lunch, this was the second day that they opened for lunch, we didn’t know what to expect but what a treat!
The décor is very cool and a nice view from the hill top location.
We both ordered the lunch specials and were impressed with the quality and presentation. Looking forward to going back for dinner.
We will ask for William’s station. He knew the answer to all of our questions and personally gave us a tour of the restaurant and bar.

The décor in this place is so cool. The location is great. The food… sucks. We went there on a double date with our friends and we were so excited that there was a nice restaurant in Draper. When the food came out it was such a let down. The food was old and the couple we went with both got sick the next day. I wil say the décor is so nice but the food is so over-​priced and not good.

Went here with my brother and sister in law before we left Utah. Interesting «Winery/​Restaurant» concept. Quaint, modern, American food. We all got the steak, which I can’t say was a bad steak but nor was it the best I’ve had. Oddly they didn’t serve a side of anchovies at request since they only order enough to make the dressing. Forgivable, but nevertheless disappointing. Best thing about it is the dramatic vista of the valley. You can see the new LDS Draper Utah Temple just off the patio if that’s your thing. Apparently the patio opens up in the summer to allow for extra seating. Includes a fire pit to keep your toesies warm :).
According to one of the owners, the menu changes. Wine is a little overpriced, considering most of the stock can be had at the nearby State Liquor Store for a fraction of the price. Obviously you pay for the service. We did not have an opportunity to do a wine tasting but we will definitely be back again to try something different on the menu. This is definitely Utah expensive. While moderately priced compared to some of the places we frequent back east, Vuz can and will set you back $ 100+ if you’re intending on drinking as well.
Reservations are apparently required here. Interesting considering how dead it was when we went. Will update this review once we get another crack at it when we’re in town.

With disappointment I must revise my review based on a recent second visit to Vuz. Despite a very trendy, and upscale atmosphere the food quality and service was not even close since my first visit over the summer.
I had the scallops dish, my date, the ribeye steak. Both dishes were at best, average quality and not worth the price. One would think that any scallops dish can’t go wrong but it was what was mixed with them that made the dish fail. The ribeye steak was no better than what I could get at a chain restaurant. Not even close to what would be reasonably expected for the Vuz price.
Secondly the service experience with our waiter, «Will»; left us raising our eye brows several times. Details follow: When he initially approached our table he walked up and point blank asked «would you like to order an appetizer?» Other than a quick name no intro or initial presentation. We weren’t asked if we had visited Vuz before. No try at details or info on the restaurant. No recommendations on dishes. And I was delivered the wrong soup.
With regret, this trip to Vuz was quite a let down from the five star rating I gave over the summer. Overall far off par for the three digits check.

Was super excited to have a higher end wine bar in Draper. Great atmosphere/​location. Beautifully and interestingly decorated.
Went there on a slow night. Hostess said there was a half hour wait. The place was less than full. Perplexed, I asked if we could wait in the bar. The bar also had a wait. Odd and strange since my voice echoed with the emptiness. Maybe they did not have the help but with an unemployment rate of 10%, why not?
Finally got seated ordered a bottle of wine. They did not have it. Ordered a second bottle of wine. They did not have it. Asked for them to bring whatever they have bottled on site. They said they have not bottled anything there yet. Was again perplexed since the sign on the front stated «winery.»
Service was slow and very disconnected. Two and a half hours after we entered we received our food. I must say the food was delicious. A bit pricy but great cuisine.
I sincerely hope they can pull it together.

Menu items are hit and miss, meaning that if you know what to order, the food is amazing.
Order the wrong thing, however, and it’s overpriced and mediocre.
Have the pork. Have the lobster bisque.
Stay away from the seafood risoto (hate to say it, but it’s too salty), and the lamb chops (meh)
Appetizers are good, but overpriced for the amount of food.
(yes, yes, fine dining. I get it. but to qualify for that label, ALL the food has to be amazing, not some of it).
Overall, yes, I’ll go back— I’ll just be very selective about what I order.

First, let me say that the restaurant and especially the wine bar are stunning. Very architecturally interesting, especially the fire pits on the outside decks. Those are sexy. Also, the service was quite good. We were three diners (my mother, my husband and myself).
Now for the rest:
We started with the calamari, which is breaded in cornmeal and fried (not specified on the menu). The only saving grace was the dipping sauce. This is a total pass. Next, the starters. The upside to Vuz is that all «Big Plates» are served with soup or salad, which helps with the overall price tag. My mother & I had the Caesar Salad, which was fair. My husband ordered the Lobster Bisque for $ 3 extra, which was actually excellent, with big chunks of lobster meat. For our entrees, I’ll begin with the best of the bunch, the Filet Mignon, which was very good. Well cooked, presented and not drowned in sauce for $ 36. My mother, a self-​described «Pescatarian», ordered the swordfish. She actually said she thought she was going to be sick once she took a bite. Our server was embarrassed and quickly took away the smelly, gross dish. She then ordered the scallops, what I ordered. My scallops were served luke– warm, which was not ideal, but I didn’t want my husband to eat alone. The dish was acceptable, but for $ 32, should have been delicious. Even though the scallops were large, cleaned of grains of sand and well-​cooked, the succotash it was paired with was mediocre. Because of the mishap with our entrees, our server kindly comped our two desserts: a slice of German chocolate cake and raspberry cheese cake, both completely forgettable.
Do yourself a favor, for this price (or perhaps a bit more), go for a drink here and then to Tiburon in Sandy for an always-​excellent meal.

And that’s a four stars that’s veering toward five, instead of a four stars veering toward three.
Ate here on a Thursday night, and I’m still stuffed.
We were four, and we got the best table in the place. It’s table P-​9 in the bar (I hesitate even to mention it by number, because all Unilocalistas will want to book it). It is along the north wall, tight against the glass, with a view from one side of the SLC valley out past the main deck and fire pit. From the other side, well, do what my buddy Matt W. and I did, which was put the beautiful women on the other side table of the table so you can gaze at them. Seriously. It’s the best table in the joint.
Next, get Brendan to be your waiter. Seriously. This guy was all over our meal in the best possible way, describing the specials with great detail, making sure every glass was filled, offering recommendations, but never being intrusive. When we said we could use a little more spicy butter for our bread? Three tins materialized as if by magic. Ditto clean forks without asking forr them. Brendan needs to open a waitering school. That’s how good he was. When you book, make sure you ask for him to be your server. And no, I am not his long-​lost cousin.
And the food? Copious, if a bit hit and miss. The hits were the special pork I didn’t eat, and the lamb rack that I did. The duck tacos were pretty darn good. The lobster bisque very rich and creamy. The salads less to write home about, and the lobster/​mac/​cheese combination (much better than it sounds) was four stars if not five.
You can bring your own wine for a modest ten dollar corkage fee. We did.
Great vibe, good food, excellent company, and a sunset over the Oquirrh. as my grandmother of blessed memory would say, what could be bad?

We had been waiting with great anticipation — and cautious optimism — for this restaurant to open, as decent restaurants in Draper are few and far between. Finally, we seized the opportunity, and joined another couple here for dinner on a beautiful Saturday evening. Things got off to a rocky start when my wife and I both ordered Diet Cokes while waiting inside for our table to be prepared. I don’t know how you can get Diet Coke wrong, but they sure did. We couldn’t finish them, but shrugged our shoulders and pressed on…
We were seated outside, with a great view of the south Valley. We were assured that, as the sun set, we would remain cozy, having been seated right next to a gas fire pit, which they turned on as we sat down. Unfortunately, the smell of gas distracted from everything else that was to follow.
We ordered calamari and crab cakes as appetizers. The calamari were cold, chewy little rings, covered with an overabundance of unappetizing corn meal that hit the palate like a spoonful of dry bread crumbs with every bite. We could not finish them. The crab cakes were puny and unremarkable.
Entrees: my wife ordered the filet, which turned out to be flavorless and stringy, like shredded beef you’d expect in a cheap taco. Seriously, you could take your fork and shred the meat from the side. I ordered lobster bisque as a starter, which was so salty I could not eat it. I did not see any lobster in it either. One of our companions shared my opinion, as he had ordered the bisque as well, so it wasn’t just me. For my entrée, I had the lamb chops, which were very small, and relatively tasteless. Eyes closed, I would not have been able to discern what meat I was eating.
Our friends were polite, and didn’t say much about their entrees, but we could tell they weren’t impressed. Halfway through our meal, the DJ set up a large speaker pointed right at us, and proceeded to blast annoying music, without so much as asking us if we would prefer to be able to carry on a conversation, even though we were the only guests seated in that entire section of the outdoor patio. Moreover, another speaker was blasting the Utah/​BYU game at the same time, so we had to endure a cacophany of a blend of loud house music and a college football game while we tried desperately to enjoy a relaxing meal with our friends.
The kicker was getting the bill, which amounted to over $ 60 per person, even though no alcoholic drinks were consumed. Summary: low quality, unappetizing, poorly prepared food at an exhorbitant price.
Will we be back?
What do you think???

I called Vuz for a reservation two days ahead. The hostess took extra steps to ensure that she had all necessary info, and also sent me a confirmation email showing the details of my reservation. Impressive, especially for an establishment which has been open a mere couple of months. One side of the building is Vuda, a wine-​themed bar/​lounge — very stylish as we walked through. The other side is Vuz (pronounced views), the restaurant. They have separate operating hours, so check before you go.
We were here on a weeknight, and it was still relatively busy. Parking lot is large, and restaurant is easy to find. Located at the top of Draper hill, Vuz aims for lofty heights to provide a great view, from nearly any seat in the place. They offer patio dining during the warmer months, overlooking the Draper valley, but we opted for inside seating.
We were greeted by our friendly, smiling waitress, brought water and shockingly good bread/​butter, and had our drink and app orders taken within moments of sitting. The dinner menu was tight, with relatively few American fare selections for their Grand Plates. They also offer a Small Plate selection for lunch, or lighter appetites.
Right up front the service was excellent and continued to be throughout the evening — all questions and concerns were answered immediately. The Manager on duty came to our table to ensure we were being well taken care of. He asked specific questions about our service and food, rather than the typical/​generic, «How’s everything going here?»
To no true surprise, the wine list was impressive. Our two wine drinkers opted for the French Cote du Rhone and Pinot Noir by the glass; both exceptional. Pours were somewhere between medium-​generous and generous. The offerings were vast, somewhat hard to find, if a bit pricey.
Our waitress explained that Vuz sources ingredients locally as much as possible, and they serve only meat which is free of antibiotics or hormones. Good news. We ordered up the Maryland crab cakes as an appetizer. There were four nickel-​sized cakes (as rightfully explained in advance to us) — so small, they were nearly indetectable. But these little bullets were absolutely fabulous. Tasty accompanying sauces, and quail egg on the side, a nice touch. Our friend, a native of Maryland, said that they were indeed legit (which is a rarity here in Utah). The spring salad was gorgeous, colorful, and fresh; corralled in its own cucumber cage, served with brie crostini and champagne dressing. Honestly, I was sufficiently satisfied, and could have stopped there. But, why?
Entrees — the Lamb, the Lamb… oh…the Lamb… exquisitely prepared flavors melt in your mouth. Luckily, I got a bite and a half, as hubby devoured both shanks in record time. We thought about ordering another, but it was wishful thinking at $ 40 a plate.
An order of Braised Kurobuta Pork brought two chops served with a white bean cassoulet and asparagus spears. Also a fabulous presentation and depth of flavor. Cooked to perfection — didn’t even require a knife.
The fish special for the evening was a halibut filet served with mushroom salad, and something called hibiscus air (as explained to us, it’s pretty much hibiscus vapor that is then infused into a sweet, floral sauce). My friend said it was very good, but the fish itself was a tad dry. Another friend ordered the Free Range Chicken, pan-​seared, which came with roasted potatoes and veggies. Tender and juicy, he devoured it, and stated that he could have eaten more. Which reminds me — entrees from their Grand Plates menu are not small portions. So be warned; it’s a lot of food!
Although they offered several desserts that sounded fabulous, it was only after the statement that Vuz employs their own on-​staff Pastry Chef that we somehow found the room to try the NY Cheesecake served with a berry red wine sauce. It was rich, creamy, and very good, and rounded out the meal nicely.
We can’t wait to go back and experience more of Vuz’s outstanding menu. It was a full spectrum dining experience that we will remember, return to, and recommend.