Dozens of silk lanterns fly like butterflies around the exterior of this Asian inspired epicurean shrine in Park City, Utah.
Main St. may be lined with top-rated restaurants in a ski resort that rivals Aspen at this time of year (forget booking a hotel room during Sundance!) but it’s impossible to miss the bright burgundy lights on this historic brick building that evokes1930’s Shanghai but with a backdrop of the Rocky Mountains. This is not your average Chinatown eatery; it’s much more exotic. Did I tell you the name? It’s Wahso.
Chef Chris Griffin and local restaurateur/owner Bill White are behind the restaurant’s identity: “Wild West meets Jazz-era Orient.” The décor is inspired by the style tenants of a Chinese city that was once called the ‘Paris of the East,’ and Wahso indeed embodies Shanghai during an earlier limelight. Think Art Deco design amidst an orchid garden. It is this magical contrast that drew me. It’s hard to believe that the arid Utah landscape and rugged mountains are a stone’s throw away from the ornate décor and Buddha statues. Bill White has created a space that takes guests back in time and surely to a different time zone. Wahso’s sophisticated cuisine caters to the refined tastes of Park City’s adventure seekers. Don’t expect your typical Rocky Mountains plate of elk and bison; simply stated, the food is a transformative experience and all the more so considering that guests’ days are typically spent schussing the slopes. 
Chef Chris aided by Sous Chef Patrick O’Shea, delivers dichotomous dishes like Red Curry Lamb Shank with Creamy Polenta, Crispy Collard Greens and Candied Ginger Gremolata or Togarashi Seared Scallops with Bacon Dashi and Crispy Leeks. A Miso Black Cod in a Mushroom Ginger Broth was heavenly and easy on the waistline. Warm Sake is the favored drink at Wahso and pairs well with dessert specialties like a Toasted Coconut Crème Brulee or the infamous Bananas Foster. Or for that matter why not order a carafe while perusing the stellar menu? You’ll need some mental stimulation while making your decision.
The welcoming tone of Wahso balances the formality of white tablecloths; so do the smiles of the servers, their enthusiasm for the food and plenty of inside knowledge on the best runs on overload.
Far East cuisine in the “Wild West?” At Wahso, 7000 feet above sea level, yes. More sake, please!
