Bentnote Gastro Pub

A quick synopsis:
Atmosphere: 5
Staff: 5
Live Entertainment: 5
Food 3.5, but potential to be great.
We stopped in for our very first visit about 7:00 on a Friday night. When we arrived there were only 2 other tables seated and a few people sitting at the bar. The atmosphere was amazing and the live music was excellent. I’d go again just to sit and listen to the music.
Our waitress was great; very attentive without overdoing it. For a gastropub, the beer list could have been a little deeper, but there are some solid local choices. The menu has a little of everything, with the typical gastropub fare, but with a number of interesting items. We tried the baked potato eggrolls, which were good, but we probably wouldn’t order it again. They were a little bland, but came with sour cream, bacon, and chives. They could use a sauce though (a bacon jelly would be awesome).
I tried the Chicken Newport, which is a chicken breast topped with crab and avacados. It was good, but lacked the right seasoning to make it great. The accompanying caesar salad was really good. My wife had the chicken pasta, which was also good, but needed a little seasoning.
This place has tremendous potential. We’ll definitely go back soon to try something different.

I really, really, REALLY wanted to love this place. The Layton/​Ogden area has so very few decent places to eat and get a good beer. Slackwater up in Ogden has been the only place my husband and I have found with a great beer selection and great food, but it’s about half an hour away so we don’t go as often as we might if it were nearby. I was absolutely thrilled at the prospect of a «date night» place so much closer… which sadly made it that much more of a letdown when we tried it out.
Our server was obviously new and nervous, so I won’t hold it against him that he walked away after my husband ordered a beer without getting MY order, and then took a good 10 minutes to come back so I could order one. He was very friendly, and aside from the beer-​ordering, our service was the fastest I’ve ever experienced at a UT restaurant. The musician playing was kinda meh, and it was a little sad that he was playing to a crowd of about three tables in such a large area, but it was nice to have the music.
But the menu. THE MENU. If you’re going to call yourself a gastropub, well good lord, have some decent beers! A gastropub, by definition, is a restaurant with high end beer. There is no excuse, even in Utah, to offer only beer I can go pick up myself at Smith’s or the base class six. You would think a gastropub would offer some good craft beers you can’t find just anywhere (again, see Slackwater), but it was all just Flat Tire, Harp, Pacifico… nothing special at all. The domestic beer column is full of things like Bud, Coors, Corona… really? The wine menu is pretty extensive and they had a full bar… but if you are a gastropub, you are expected to serve good beer. I was left wondering if the owners even drink. They definitely don’t know their beer.
The food was really not much better. It wasn’t terrible, but there was absolutely nothing memorable about it at all. What other restaurants do right is specialize. They’ll do burgers, or pizza, or whatever, and offer some unique flavor combinations you can’t find elsewhere. That’s how you get repeat business – you make yourself known for something people can only get at your particular restaurant. Bent Note serves a little of everything, but none of it stands out. I can get a regular burger anywhere. Tons of places serve steak, or fish, or pepperoni pizza. Jack in the Box has served me a chicken-​on-​ciabatta sandwich just as good as the one I ate at Bent Note. The burgers my husband seasons and grills at home are more flavorful than what Bent Note served. Again – it wasn’t bad food – it just isn’t worth going back for.
Bent Note is clearly ambitious – the place is HUGE and they obviously expect large crowds. Unfortunately, I just don’t see them drawing that kind of business with what they offer now. As a restaurant, they’re okay; nothing special, but okay. But as a gastropub? Epic fail.

Bent Note Gastropub will be opening soon. The food was delicious! The menu has everything salads, sandwiches, pizza, burgers and pastas. They also serve steaks, chicken, pork chops, halibut and salmon. The owner, manager and our waitress aware all very nice and open for suggestions to make our dining experience better. Our food took a little time to prepare but I’m sure it will be better for the opening. We will be back!

The beef burguignon was delicious; so tender! The demi-​glaze on the meat was perfect. Mashed potatoes had a nice buttery flavor.
My husband tried the Chicken Newport. It is a grilled chicken breast that is topped with real crab, sliced avocado, Swiss cheese, and a citrus butter sauce. Very good.
Both entrees came with soup or salad. The chicken soup I had to begin my meal was clearly homemade with a lovely herbaceous flavor. Meal also included a fresh baked baguette. Each of our meals cost $ 18.95.
Desserts are made in house and change upon the daily whim of the chef. We tried the pumpkin cake. It was actually more like a pumpkin bread pudding.
Live music was wonderful. Wonderful local talent. Nice place for a date night.