One of the things I miss most about moving away from the East Coast is the vast array of incredible restaurants. Utah is great for lots of reasons, but one area the state is lacking in is fine dining. Don’t get me wrong, there are tons of great fast casual options, but sometimes you want something just a little more…extra.

Last night, I was invited to check out Las Botellas Comida Cantina in Riverton, Utah, and it is exactly what I’ve been missing. Walk into this hip establishment and you will see exactly what I mean.

Upscale and trendy, this place is more than just a restaurant. It’s an experience. Modeled after Las Vegas high-end restaurants, the venue had a great vibe to it. This wasn’t a place you come to sit down, eat, and leave. It was one to settle in and take in the sights all around you. Fire dancers, energizing music, and more were all on the docket for the evening, with Mexican-inspired cuisine prepared by their Michelin Star experienced culinary team interspersed.

Looking at the menu, there were many options we could choose from. I don’t drink alcohol, so I opted for a refreshing Casa Horchata served in a terracotta pot that was so good. For those wishing for non-alcoholic options, there are plenty available. For those that wish to drink, there is an extensive menu of cocktails, impressive margaritas, beer and wine to select. The presentation on every drink I saw was quite impressive.

We began our meal with table side guacamole, always a favorite, made to our specifications, served with house made chips.

It was difficult to choose just one perfect thing to try, so we opted for several dishes and shared family style at our table to be able to sample a variety.

I’ll be honest, fresh fish in a landlocked state is a little scary sometimes. Especially after living so close to the ocean where there are definite rules to follow when eating seafood. We opted to try the Tuna Tostada from the Raw Bar. I was a little apprehensive about it until I saw it and gave it a try. It was fresh and delicious, the homemade tortilla loaded with avocado, jicama, mango, and tuna in a sesame shoyu marinade. It was definitely worth getting!

Next was the Cochinita Quesadilla. It was packed with Yucatan style barbecue pork, cilantro, pickled onion, queso Oaxaca, and the most delicious cashew salsa. The combination of flavors were perfect and something I could eat very frequently!

The steak A La Roca was the next to be sampled. This is their take on fajitas served over a hot lava stone. Very cool presentation and very yummy served with roasted onions, poblanos, salsa fresca, cashew salsa and house made tortillas. So, so good!

My favorite of the evening were the Beef Barbacoa Enchiladas. Enchiladas are always a go-to for me in restaurants. This one did not disappoint! Filled with braised short ribs, guajillo salsa, queso, shaved onion, cilantro and crema, these enchiladas had a nice smoky flavor which was an incredible spin on one of my favorite dishes.

A surprising addition to the menu were the assortment of fine steaks. Filet, ribeye, Wagyu, Tomahawk, and lamb were all tempting options. We chose the 45 Day Dry Aged 20oz Bone In Ribeye to share. It arrived tender and flavorful, cooked to perfection. While not a typical option in Mexican-inspired cuisine, this was not your typical establishment, so it worked for sure.

Although we were pretty full from trying all those great meals, we had to save a bit of room for dessert. We tested their flourless chocolate cake which was absolutely decadent with hints of cayenne. Wow, I am in love! We also tried their Tres Leches and we were not sorry! We could not decide which was best. We most definitely will need to come back and try them again to help us decide. Next time, too, I will have to try the coconut flan–it looked incredible!

All throughout the evening, as we were eating or in-between courses, there were always entertainers making the rounds. Dancers and fire-dancers made their way to different tables. It was unlike any experience I’ve ever had anywhere in Utah, reminiscent of Las Vegas and New York experiences, but still completely unique. Tremendous upscale dining with a very exciting atmosphere. It created the perfect ambiance to a great evening out. I highly recommend Las Botellas for special occasions, trying something extraordinary, or even just because you deserve it!

You can learn more about Las Botellas Comida Cantina, explore their menus, and make your own reservations to experience this incredible restaurant by visiting them online. They are also available for special events and private parties, so be sure to ask about them!