As we reflect on 2025, we're filled with gratitude for the unforgettable moments, meaningful partnerships, and incredible recognition that made this year truly special. From celebrating beloved traditions to earning prestigious awards, here are the highlights that defined our year at Little America Hotel.

1. Valentine's Weekend Featured Special Dining Experiences

We kicked off the year with a romantic celebration that set the tone for months of culinary excellence to come. Throughout Valentine's weekend (February 14-16), guests enjoyed a thoughtfully crafted menu at The Coffee Shop , featuring comforting favorites elevated for the occasion, including a Filet Mignon & Salmon composed plate, Cupid's Heart, a velvet chocolate mousse with mascarpone cheese and fresh raspberries, and Sweethearts Coupe, caramel cream-filled mini profiteroles. Lucky H Bar created expertly crafted specialty cocktails available throughout the weekend, including the Cocoa Cupid, Mint To Be, and Blushing Margarita. With walk-ins welcome and no reservations required, we made it easy for guests to celebrate love in all its forms.

2. Mashed Named Lucky H the Most Underrated Buffet in Utah

National recognition came early in the year when Mashed featured Lucky H Buffet in their March 24 article "The Most Underrated Buffet Restaurant In Every State." The piece highlighted our specialty dinner buffets, particularly our Friday and Saturday Crab, Seafood, and Prime Rib Buffet, which features fresh crab legs, oysters, and smoked salmon. Curated by Chef Santiago Ramos and priced at $69 per adult, the buffet features a prime rib carving station and a dessert table with house-made pastries. This recognition celebrated what our local community has known for yearsthat Lucky H offers an exceptional dining experience that deserves wider acclaim.

3. Chef Santiago Celebrated Cinco de Mayo on FOX 13's The Place

Executive Chef Santiago Ramos and Sous Chef Miriam Aguilar were featured in a May 1st TV segment on FOX 13's The Place titled "Celebrate Cinco de Mayo all Weekend at The Coffee Shop at The Little America Hotel." The culinary team created a vibrant and flavorful menu offering classic dishes with a festive twist, with the star being the Smothered Burritoa hearty, savory favorite perfect for the holiday. Additional featured menu items included Chicken Quesadilla, Tres Leches Mexican Cake, and Sopapilla Cheesecake. The special Cinco de Mayo menu was available from May 2 to 5 at The Coffee Shop, with walk-ins welcome and no reservations required.

4. Mother's Day Brunch Delighted Families

As we do every year, we hosted a memorable Mother's Day celebration featuring our lavish brunch at Little America Hotel. Guests indulged in a tempting selection of tossed greens, seafood delights, savory roasts, sweet treats, and a dedicated children's station, all complemented by a delightful array of cookies, cakes, tarts, and pastries. With demand so high that reservations closed early, we also offered no-reservation, first-come, first-served Mother's Day menus at both The Coffee Shop and Lucky H Buffet to ensure every family could celebrate together.

5. Little America Swept Best of State Awards with Five Wins

On June 10, Little America took home the top award in five categories at Utah's annual Best of State Awards black-tie gala, the state's premier recognition program. Judged on excellence, innovation, and contribution to a better quality of life in Utah, these wins represent a massive achievement for Little America and a testament to the hard work and dedication of Chef Santiago Ramos and our entire team:

• Best American Traditional Casual Dining: The Coffee Shop

• Best Casual Dining Chef: Santiago Ramos

• Best Casual Dining Hotel Breakfast: The Coffee Shop

• Best Casual Dining Buffet: Lucky H

• Best Hospitality Services: Little America Hotel

This level of recognition across multiple categories for our two restaurants is genuinely exceptional. Chef Santiago brings flavor not just to the dishes we serve, but to the community our kitchens have cultivated through his decisive leadership, culinary expertise, and passion for made-from-scratch mealsskills he developed as a young boy learning from his mom in the kitchen. It's been 21 years since Chef Santiago first joined our team, and in that time, he has transformed The Coffee Shop and Lucky H into the locally beloved restaurants they are today.

6. Summer Menu Featured Seasonal Favorites on FOX 13

Chef Santiago Ramos and Sous Chef Miriam Aguilar returned to FOX 13's The Place to showcase The Coffee Shop's seasonal summer menu. The segment highlighted fan favorites, such as our Buffalo-Style Hot Chicken Sandwichdelicious, crispy chicken cooled down with a creamy ranch mayonnaise, all made in-house. Desserts were made from scratch daily, featuring seasonal ingredients. They included Raspberry Pie (handcrafted by Chef Blanca after 10 years of bakery experience), Neapolitan Ice Cream Cake, Peach Upside-Down Cake, and Creamy Mango Lemonade Pie. With our patio open, guests could enjoy their meals and desserts outdoors in a charming downtown setting throughout the summer.

7. Free Ice Cream Mondays Delighted Families All August

Throughout the month of August, The Coffee Shop offered a limited-time treat perfect for summer. Every Monday night, kids ordering from the Kids' Menu received a free scoop of ice cream with the purchase of an adult entre. We served hand-scooped dishes of delicious Farr's ice cream from the local Ogden, Utah creamery, including our exclusive flavor, Carol's Burnt Almond Fudge made specially for Little America, along with classics like vanilla, strawberry, and mint chocolate chip. This sweet summer tradition gave families another reason to gather together on warm Monday evenings for dinner and a cool treat at The Coffee Shop.

8. Halloween Transformed Lucky H into Spooky Pop-Ups

Throughout October, Lucky H transformed into two beloved Halloween-themed experiences. "The Count's Lounge" offered adults-only Dracula-themed cocktails and mocktails, including Halloween-inspired drinks like "The Poison Apple Mule," "Witches' Elixir," and "Sweet Fang," with tarot and palm readers on Friday nights from 7-9 pm. Our family-friendly "Boo-fet" featured festive bites and Halloween magic, with roaming witches delighting guests and families on Friday nights. Guests who came in costume received 20% off food, and with no reservations required and walk-ins welcome, these pop-ups became an instant Halloween tradition for the community.

9. Boutique Hotels Recognized Little America as a Top Salt Lake City Hotel

In October, Boutique Hotels featured Little America in their article "The Best Boutique & Luxury Hotels in Salt Lake City," recognizing us alongside our sister property, The Grand America. The feature highlighted our charming location in the heart of Salt Lake City, our sleek red brick building with expansive views, and our 850 guest rooms and suitesamong the most spacious in the city. The article praised our soothing neutral palette with elegant furnishings, our relaxing outdoor pool, newly renovated indoor pool, and fully equipped fitness center. Special mention went to The Coffee Shop, helmed by Chef Santiago Ramos, serving hearty American classics throughout the day, and Lucky H's succulent surf & turf buffet.

10. NorthStar Meetings Group Showcased Our Event Excellence

Our meetings and events capabilities received national recognition when NorthStar Meetings Group featured Little America alongside The Grand America in "Grand America Hotels & Resorts: An Extraordinary Hospitality Partner for Meeting Planners." The article highlighted our 699 rooms, situated on 10 acres of quiet garden grounds directly across from The Grand America, and our 25,000 square feet of flexible space, ranging from a radiant grand ballroom to an intimate coffee shop patio. For larger group events, planners can seamlessly employ both properties, with two hotel teams working in perfect harmony. This year alone, we hosted 312 events at Little America, serving an estimated 30,569 guestsa testament to our commitment to exceptional hospitality and event execution.

As we look back on 2025, we're grateful for the opportunity to serve our community with exceptional food and hospitality. For every birthday or anniversary dinner, lunchtime business meeting, and early morning breakfast, we've been here for you. Over the past 21 years with Chef Santiago, we've grown and evolved, but one thing has remained constant: our commitment to you.

We look forward to continuing this tradition for many more years to come.