George P. Lamb opened Lamb’s Grill in Logan on February 22, 1919. He moved it to downtown Salt Lake City in 1939. The restaurant is still located in the historic Herald Building at 169 S. Main Street.
When Mr. Lamb retired in 1973, he sold his restaurant to longtime employee Theodore John Speros. Mr. Speros kept the original fixtures and much of the original menu. He had a great reputation in the community for providing free meals and coffee to those without money, and served as President of the Utah Restaurant Association.
Mr. Speros passed the business on to his son John and daughter Estelle in 1977. Theodore continued to be closely involved in the day-to-day operations of the restaurant until his death in 2006.
John Speros sold Lamb's Grill to restaurateur Francis Liong in 2011. Mr. Liong agreed to keep all 30 employees on the payroll, and while he has made a few updates, much of Lamb's Grill remains the same as it's been since 1919.
Lamb's Grill is the oldest continuously operating restaurant in the Beehive State.
It's been in business nearly 100 years!
The interior looks much the same as it did in 1939.
Though the restaurant has changed ownership a few times since George P. Lamb, the interior, with its red upholstery, rich wood wainscot and distinctive bar, is preserved.
Big business happens at Lamb's Grill.
Lamb's Grill has traditionally been a place where people meet to get things done. In the 1940s, the Salt Lake Tribune had its own table, and Utah legislators had their own dining rooms (one for Democrats, one for Republicans). Lamb's Grill has always been a popular lunch spot for Utah business owners, attorneys and other political heavyweights.
The 2002 Olympic Bid was born at Lamb's Grill.
Lamb's Grill is where the 2002 Olympics bid got its start. Jack Gallivan (then publisher of the Salt Lake Tribune), Max Rich (then Salt Lake Chamber of Commerce President) and Governor Cal Rampton met at Lamb’s Grill to come up with a proposal and plan for the 2002 Olympics. They wrote it out on a napkin...and the rest is history.
Whether you stop in for breakfast...
Lunch...
Dinner...
Lamb's Grill continues its tradition of the Lamb Shank special every Thursday.
Or dessert, the food is always amazing!
This is Lamb's famous rice pudding. Yum!
This video, posted by Zions TV on You Tube, shows some great old photos of Lamb's Grill and provides some updates about the new ownership.
Interested in some more Utah restaurant history? Check out these 15 Utah Restaurants that are loaded with Utah History.
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