Like my opinion matters... Spark (restaurant review)

Went to Spark for lunch last week after our manager's meeting and really enjoyed it but didn't really plan ahead enough to take pictures so that I could do a review on it.  Spark is located in the new Wells Fargo building on University in downtown Provo and the interior is quite open, like an urban loft.  At lunchtime, there is a $10 special that is actually a 3-course meal-- soup, entree, and sorbet.  One thing you can say about Spark-- it isn't your typical down-home, Utah county, comfort food establishment.  And I'm saying that in a good way-- not that I don't love those kinds of places--but variety is nice.  This would be one of your urban, sophisticated type restaurants.... someplace you might consider after a concert or museum or the opera when you are feeling especially cultured and want to talk with a British accent.  Except that it is really good, so consider going anytime....

When I went last week, I got the lunch special which included a carrot soup (way better than it sounds), cajun chicken, and coconut sorbet to DIE for.  Yum!  Never used to like coconut that much, but I do now especially if it is fresh coconut.

Geri and I decided to go to lunch yesterday at the last minute and I suggested Spark because I wanted to get some pix to do a review--and to visit again just because I liked it.

I'd planned on getting the special but it was very similar to last week's special so I ordered the Kobe beef burger instead.  There's a definite void in my life caused by Stumpy closing and not having a hamburger to compare all other hamburgers to so the quest for the perfect burger must continue.  I don't know too much about Kobe beef (why it's good, where it comes from, etc) but I do know that they talk about it on Iron Chef and so it must be an elite type of beef.  This burger had cheese on it, carmelized onions, an aioli with a kick of jalapenos, plus the usual condiments.  The burger was served with truffle, parmesan fries that also had a distinct hint of garlic to them.  Actually, as I found out later in the afternoon (and continually throughout the afternoon) there was more than a hint of garlic.  My apologies to anyone that I met with during the afternoon--I was sucking on tic tacs to try and help...The fries were YUMMY!  And the burger was juicy and well flavored, really good actually.  I might even have given it a 5 star rating, except that a burger is supposed to be a down home food accessible to the masses.  This burger was an experience, more of a high-falutin' burger-- definitely really good, but at nearly $15, not accessible to the masses on a regular basis.  Worth trying though for a special occasion.  Taking all of this into consideration, I would give it a 4 star Plus rating. 

Geri ordered the white cheddar grilled cheese with tomato soup.  I considered ordering that while we were looking at the menu, so I was glad that she got it so I could see what it looked like.  I'm a grilled cheese fan anyway--especially for the more "adult" grilled cheese sandwiches not necessarily for the american cheese/white bread kind I liked as a kid.  This sandwich looked really good, and Geri confirmed that it tasted really good as well.  Said that it had a little zing to it that she really liked. 

Lots of other interesting and intriguing things on the menu to try and so I will come back for sure.  I really liked Spark and would like to see what is on their dinner menu.  I've heard rumors that it is also the spot to come to at night for dessert with friends. 

As to the quest for the perfect burger... I'm looking for possible contenders and I'm hoping to not have to pick a  burger from a chain like Five Guys.. even though burgers are great there.  If you know of a great burger, leave your suggestion in a comment here (or just tell me if you see me) so that I can continue my quest.