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Hello, Eaters! Gossip Kitchen, whose main location is at 152 E. 200 South in downtown Salt Lake City, is a new joint undertaking from two chefs: Batsaikhan Ariunbold, aka Soy, the owner of Mint Tapas & Sushi; and Carmine Delli Bovi, the owner of what was previously Carmine’s Italian Restaurant.
What was Carmine’s, at 2477 Fort Union Blvd. in Cottonwood Heights, was renovated and is now Gossip Kitchen 2.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Gossip Kitchen in downtown Salt Lake City is pictured on Monday, June 8, 2026.
Both chefs are bringing cuisine they’re familiar with to the table. At Gossip Kitchen, Japanese and Italian food combine not so much as a blend (like the Japanese-Italian fusion known as “itameshi”) but as two sides of the same coin. I visited the downtown location recently and had a nice chat with Ariunbold.
The origin story: Ariunbold, originally from Mongolia, came to the U.S. in 2004 to serve a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Las Vegas. After his mission, he stayed in the U.S., went to college, and then started working in restaurants.
Ariunbold got his start as a dishwasher at Wolfgang Puck Bar & Grill, moved up the ranks in the industry and eventually became a sushi chef, opening a handful of restaurants in Utah before opening Mint (which now has five locations) in 2019. Ariunbold met Delli Bovi through mutual friends, and the two of them decided to team up, opening Gossip Kitchen in February and Gossip Kitchen 2 in May.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Salt Lake City’s Gossip Kitchen, featuring a “speakeasy” in the back, is pictured on Monday, June 8, 2026.
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The vibe: With its exposed brick, abstract woodwork and moody feel, Gossip Kitchen downtown is like a cool Brooklyn basement spot, Ariunbold said.
Both Gossip Kitchen locations have speakeasies (there’s no secret password, just request a table in the back). Downtown’s has cute little tables and copper-colored velvet chairs — it’s all very modern and chic. Ariunbold said Gossip Kitchen 2’s speakeasy has couches and more of a lounge feel. He said he imagined that people would have dinner in the main restaurant and then have a drink in the speakeasy.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) The Beef Tataki with seared A5 Japanese wagyu, garlic ponzu and caviar at Gossip Kitchen in downtown Salt Lake City, Monday, June 8, 2026.
The menu: Half elegantly plated Japanese tapas, half Italian favorites like thin-crust pizzas and housemade pastas. More substantial dishes on the Japanese side include the Atlantic salmon with yuzu sauce, and the beef tataki, made with seared A5 Japanese wagyu.
There’s also wine, sake, spirits, beef and cocktails, including two $25 “premium” cocktails — I didn’t partake, opting to get one of the more moderately priced drinks instead.
When you visit, I suggest mixing and matching Japanese and Italian dishes, like I did. To read more about my dinner at Gossip Kitchen, scroll down to “Meal of the Week.”
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Salt Lake City’s Gossip Kitchen, featuring a “speakeasy” in the back, is pictured on Monday, June 8, 2026.
The hours: Sunday through Thursday, 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and 5 to 9 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and 5 p.m. to midnight.
Live deliciously,
Kolbie
Food News
• Woodbine Food Hall, at 545 W. 700 South in Salt Lake City’s Granary District, is holding a film series called ”Movies in the Alley” this summer in the space behind the food hall. Tickets for the movies are $5 each, and some food and drink vendors will stay open late for moviegoers. The schedule is “Jaws” on July 3, “Monty Python and the Holy Grail” on Aug. 7, and “Office Space” on Sept. 4, according to a news release. Movies start at dusk.
Openings:
• JD Flannel Donuts & Coffee is now open in Foothill Village at 1400 S. Foothill Drive, suite 112, in Salt Lake City, according to an Instagram post. This doughnut shop has one other location, in California, and makes from-scratch doughnuts in flavors like Triple Chocolate, Brown Butter Sea Salt and Maple Bacon, with gluten-free and vegan options available.
• Chicken Salad Chick, which bills itself as “the nation’s only fast-casual chicken salad restaurant concept,” has opened its first Utah location, in Pleasant Grove at 2093 W. Pleasant Grove Blvd., a news release said. Chicken Salad Chick serves about a dozen different flavors of chicken salad, served with crackers or in sandwiches.
• The Great Greek Mediterranean Grill, a national fast-casual chain, has opened a new location in Hurricane at 68 S. 1400 West, suite 1, according to a news release. The restaurant’s menu features Greek-inspired dishes like rice bowls, salads, baklava ice cream, pita wraps and more. The Great Greek Mediterranean Grill also has Utah locations in Draper, Pleasant Grove, Layton and Cedar City.
• In more news about Greek food, Meráki Greek Grill opened a new location in Orem on June 1 inside University Place, at 575 E. University Parkway, space A-23, according to a news release. Meráki, a national chain, is known for its Greek meat skewers, gyros, signature bowls, sandwiches wraps and more, and also has Utah locations in Santa Clara and St. George.
• Has a restaurant opened or closed in your neighborhood? Let us know at food@sltrib.com.
Meal of the Week
For dinner at Gossip Kitchen on a Friday night, I ordered the jalapeno hamachi ($18), the Gossip ravioli ($28) and a cocktail called Summer in Winter ($16).
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) The Jalapeño Hamachi at Gossip Kitchen in downtown Salt Lake City is pictured on Monday, June 8, 2026.
The hamachi (yellowtail belly) looked gorgeous, first of all. It was served in a sculptural bowl that really elevated the whole dish, and the pieces of raw hamachi were cleverly arranged to look like a flower with a darker pink at the point of each “petal.” The jalapeno wasn’t overpowering (it could’ve been a little more pronounced, to be honest), and the citrusy ponzu sauce was bright and delicious. The server, Rayy, said this was one of Gossip Kitchen’s best dishes, and I can see why.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) The Gossip Ravioli with lobster ravioli, creamy lobster sauce and salmon at Gossip Kitchen in downtown Salt Lake City, Monday, June 8, 2026.
The ravioli was so decadent, with four large ravioli just luxuriating in the creamy lobster sauce. The sprinkling of saltier salmon pieces in the center played off the slightly sweet lobster filling really nicely. It came with a tiny portion of caviar on top (luxe!), although I could’ve done without the caviar if it meant getting another ravioli or two on the plate.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Gossip Kitchen general manager Cort Pratt prepares a Summer in Winter cocktail on Monday, June 8, 2026.
Finally, the cocktail I had was really beautiful, a pinkish lavender drink with a layer of frothy egg white on top. I’ve never had lemon juice, sauvignon blanc and lavender syrup combined in a cocktail like that before, and I thought it was so tasty, and slightly flowery. The name made me think of summer flowers with snow on top — maybe that was the idea?
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