Restaurant chain Twigs Bistro & Martini Bar opening first Utah location

Washington-based Twigs Bistro & Martini Bar is opening its first Utah location in September at the fast-growing Station Park in Farmington.

Servers at the chain's nine restaurants in Washington and Oregon are known for greeting regular diners by name, along with remembering the favorite menu item or beverage of their customers.

The chain also is known for its 36 signature martini menu drinks and its martini classes.

The Utah location is Twigs Bistro's 10th store.

The Twigs Bistro chain received a full-service Utah liquor license in July — and was placed on a waiting list for one of the state's scarce club licenses.

Under both permits, an eatery is allowed to serve all types of alcohol. But with restaurant licenses, owners must erect a barrier or Zion curtain to keep bartenders out of public view. And the wait staff may not serve alcoholic beverages without an order of food.

Owner Trevor Black said he was delighted to obtain a restaurant license, and is hoping a club permit becomes available at some point. Currently 10 applicants are waiting for a single club permit that should become available in September, based on the state's population. Some applicants have been on the waiting list for more than two years.

Black said he is planning at some future date to open more eateries in Utah.

In November, he will open a restaurant in Meridian, Idaho.

The family-owned chain opened its flagship restaurant in 2001 overlooking the atrium at Riverpark Square in Spokane, Wash.

Over the years, the chain has been awarded Best Martinis, Best Cocktails, Best Happy Hour, Best Fries and Best Pizza from Spokane Coeur D' Alene Living, Northwest Woman, Pacific Northwest Inlander and The Spokesman Review.

Its cuisine is American with meals prices at $30 and under.

Station Park developer, CenterCal Properties, has opened more than 500,000 square feet of restaurant and retail space on site since August 2011, and is continuing to build an additional 500,000 square feet of space.

"We are pleased to be bringing this award-winning restaurant from the Pacific Northwest to Farmington," said Fred Bruning, CEO, CenterCal Properties. "We are sure the rave reviews Twigs has earned in Oregon and Washington will soon be shared by Twigs patrons from Utah."

In June, nine new stores and eateries opened at the Farmington mall, located west of Interstate 15 at the intersection of Highway 89, Legacy Parkway and the Frontrunner Commuter Rail.

dawn@sltrib.com —

Twigs Bistro & Martini Bar, Farmington

Where • Station Park, 870 W. Fourbush Place

Cuisine • American, $30 and under

Opening • September