You know that feeling when you’re on a lift and it’s like you’re ascending to heaven, drifting through the clouds and glints of sunlight, anticipating an ethereal summit? I had that, except I was anticipating lunch. A few weeks ago I had the opportunity to try the new Cloud Dine at Canyons Resort and I’m happy to say that I’ve found a new favorite lunch spot in Park City.
Cloud Dine was built atop Dream Peak in 2011, but completely redesigned and reopened in December 2014. At the top of the DreamCatcher and Dreamscape lifts, it’s a modern metal and glass structure with views of most of the 4,000-acre resort, with increased seating capacity of 316 seats and an expanded outdoor deck.
This cafeteria-style restaurant is all about made-from-scratch comfort foods. One of my favorite items included the chef’s pizza of the day, blazed in the wood-fire oven and topped with Jerk chicken, green onions, potatoes, carrots, and drizzled with coconut crème. Spicy sweet with a chewy crust. Another great dish was the smoked salmon pot pie—hearty and soul-satisfying in a hand-made crust. The best surprise—since I was there for lunch and did not know they had breakfast items—was the fresh donut. Oh, this donut. Light but cakey, crisp but melt-in-your-mouth, it’s worth every foot of elevation to get it.
Speaking of getting there…from the base, it does require four lift rides to get to Cloud Dine. This isn’t a big deal, just good to know so that you can strategize your day. I would recommend starting the day on the Dream Peak side of the resort, with a donut and coffee (the breakfast menu is limited to donuts, cold cereal and a few other items). Spend the morning exploring the dozens of runs off of DreamCatcher and Dreamscape, then head back up to Cloud Dine for lunch. In addition to the items mentioned above, there are variety of sandwiches (The Pig in a Parka: Kobe Pretzel Dog), fresh salads (all named after cloud formations) and hot chili and soups. Grab a seat early because this place is popular. Another thing I must note is that according to many reviews online, diners feel it’s a tad on the pricey side, BUT worth every bite. I agree.
After lunch, work your way back to the base and enjoy the rest of this expansive mountain!
