This ‘craveable’ new restaurant is opening in downtown Eagle to 5-star reviews
A new mixed-use development in downtown Eagle is kicking into high gear for food-and-drink enthusiasts.
After kick-starting buzz with free preview meals, fast-casual restaurant Vessel Kitchen plans to formally unveil its first Idaho location Thursday on the ground level of the Hemingway, 55 E. State St. The regional chain’s grand opening follows the April rollout of Sire Song Wines’ Winemaker’s Loft and Bistro on the third floor of the mid-rise building at the corner of Eagle Road.
With 10 locations in Utah, Vessel Kitchen is a growing brand with an interesting, flexible concept. Drawing culinary influences from around the globe, the menu is filled with new American food geared for active, healthy lifestyles: protein-packed bowls, flavorful salads, naan tacos and scratch-made sides.
It’s no high-end restaurant. Entrees hover around $15. But it’s definitely not another burger-and-fries joint, either, founder Roe’e Levy told the Idaho Statesman in March. The customizable menu is set up to accommodate various eating preferences and dietary restrictions. Levy was an executive chef at the Promontory Club private community in Park City before starting Vessel Kitchen in 2016. The chain has plowed its path to success “by creating meals that are both nourishing and craveable,” according to a press release.
Signature bowls include the Hash Hash (braised beef, sweet potato hash, horseradish crema, feta and pickled onion) and The Pioneer (shredded chicken, sweet potato hash, Peruvian green sauce, Israeli pico de gallo and micro cilantro).
Blending seamlessly into the patio-addicted Boise area, Vessel Kitchen will offer both indoor and outdoor seating. The restaurant is designed for traditional dining or for grabbing quick meals to go. Vessel’s website promises “a fine dining vibe at fast-casual affordability, speed and convenience.” Customers order at the counter. Food is brought to the tables.
“Vessel is more than just a restaurant; it’s a hub for people who want to eat well and live better,” Levy said in a prepared statement. “The energy, the active culture, and the welcoming community in Eagle make it the absolute perfect fit for our next chapter. I’m incredibly proud to bring Vessel Kitchen to Idaho.”
Hours will be 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
On opening day, Vessel Kitchen will celebrate starting at 10:45 a.m. Giveaways, live music and more are planned throughout opening week, according to the press release.
In recent days, Vessel welcomed members of the community to complimentary preview meals. The unsurprising result? Positive ratings on Google — mostly the 5-star kind. “Fantastic food,” one review gushes, “portions are larger than I was expecting. Lovely customer service. Will definitely be back.”
Will the kind words keep coming? Most likely, based on the 4.5-star rating from more than 1,000 reviews of Vessel’s location in the 9th and 9th neighborhood in Salt Lake City.
