Brunch and Lunch in Downtown Salt Lake City, Every Day From 11 to 4

There is a version of lunch in downtown Salt Lake City that involves microwaves & a quiet breakroom. This is the other version.

Lake Effect serves brunch and lunch every day from 11am to 4pm at 155 W 200 S, in a 114-year-old room with art nouveau chandeliers and a cocktail program that does not take the afternoon off. Same kitchen, same bar team, same attention to detail as dinner. Better light.

Weekday Lunch Downtown, Without the Sad Desk

Most downtown lunch options are built for speed. Ours is built for the hour you actually have. Bring a client, a coworker or nobody at all. The menu covers a quick sandwich and a long, two-course afternoon equally well.

A few dishes that earn the walk from the office:

• The Lake Effect Club Sandwich. Housemade focaccia stacked with bacon, chicken, mortadella and Manchego, with a garlic and chipotle aioli. Every other club sandwich now owes it an apology.
• Chilaquiles. Salsa roja or salsa verde, black beans, guacamole, crema, tomato and two eggs. Quietly one of the best plates in the building.
• Shrimp and Lobster Grits. Gulf shrimp and lobster over creamy grits in a saffron lobster reduction with roasted red peppers. Rich enough to justify the meeting you skipped.

We are a short walk from the Salt Palace Convention Center and from the Gallivan Plaza and Courthouse TRAX stations, which makes us an easy lunch for conference crowds and anyone working downtown.

Weekend Brunch With Live Music

On Saturdays and Sundays, brunch comes with a soundtrack. Live music plays while brunch is served, with no cover and no separate ticket. It turns a weekend brunch reservation into an actual outing rather than a meal before errands.

The weekend menu is the same as the weekday one. The room is a little louder, the tables move faster, and booking ahead is a good idea if you have a specific time in mind.

What to Order at Brunch

• Avocado and Beet Hummus Toast. Seeded wheat bread, beet hummus, avocado and za'atar, with a fried egg yolk that does the sauce's job for it. Radish, sprouts and pepitas bring snap and crunch, and a lemon vinaigrette cuts through the richness.
• Loaded Potato Nachos. Crispy potatoes in place of chips, crema Mexicana, chives and gorgonzola, with bacon and cheddar on request. Order it for the table before the mains. It does not last.
• Churro French Toast. Thick-cut, coated in cinnamon sugar, with a chocolate dip, whipped cajeta mascarpone, berries and streusel. For the table member who claims they don't want dessert at noon.

The menu also covers vegetarian and gluten-free diners. Ask your server what is running.

Brunch Cocktails Worth Ordering

The house Bloody Mary is built from scratch: Alpine "Lake Effect" Vodka, house Bloody mix, dill, garlic, chili and lemon. If you would rather tequila carried it, order it as a Bloody Maria.

Beyond that, there are mimosas in eight flavors, a mezcal Michelada for the savory-minded, and a rotating set of house brunch cocktails you will not find on any other brunch menu in Salt Lake City. Not drinking? There are mocktails built with the same care as everything else.

Plan Your Visit

• Hours: Brunch and lunch daily, 11am to 4pm. Dinner follows at 5pm, and late night runs until 1am.
• Where: 155 W 200 S, downtown Salt Lake City.
• Reservations: Walk-ins welcome. Weekend tables fill quickly, so reserve ahead.
• Age: Lake Effect is 21+.
• Menus: See the full brunch and lunch menu.

Frequently Asked Questions

What time is brunch at Lake Effect? Every day from 11am to 4pm.

Is brunch only on weekends? No. Brunch and lunch are served daily. Saturdays and Sundays add live music.

Do you take reservations for brunch? Yes. Walk-ins are welcome, but reservations are recommended on weekends.

Is there parking near Lake Effect? Street parking and nearby lots are available, and the Gallivan Plaza and Courthouse TRAX stations are a short walk away.

Can kids come to brunch? No. Lake Effect is 21+ at all times.

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