It’s not easy finding an affordable restaurant in Park City. The real problem is with the value to quality ratio. You don’t often get what you pay for. You get an average meal and average service and spend up the wazoo for it. You leave jaded. By the time you blow your paycheck on dinner it’s easy to feel like your meal wasn’t worth the expense.

The summer two-for-one coupons you can find in the Park Record save the day!

All of a sudden your dinner is so much better because you just saved $25. But there are some restaurants that don’t need to offer coupons because they are already reasonable and delicious. Like Vinto Park City–

You know you’ve got a dining ‘find’ in Park City when a kid’s meal is cheaper than most side dishes at the other places. Yet the modern decor, wood and steel tables, over-sized, semi-circular booths, attentive waitstaff and open kitchen of this Italian eatery shout “chic” rather than “Chuck E. Cheese.”

Settle in with a glass of wine (nearly everything is $1 an ounce) then order the tender meatball appetizer with tomato sauce, Parmigiano-Reggiano, and grilled toast. For non-meat eaters, there’s the sun-dried tomato and goat cheese flatbread or the grilled artichoke hearts with wild arugula in a shallot vinaigrette.

The entree menu might look limited at first glance with just five pasta dishes and two “pane toscano” (Italian flatbread sandwiches) but the kitchen is happy to whip up whatever combination of ingredients you can imagine. Make sure you get at least one thin-crust, wood-fired pizza for the table. Ones like the Tuttabella (housemade sausage, fresh tomato, caramelized onion, garlic, roasted peppers, mozzarella) come stacked with fresh ingredients. The desserts like the delicate crispy Apple Crostata tart echo the artful blending of flavors to cap off your evening.

With coupons leveling the playing field this summer here are my top 10 choices for a night in Park City:

1. Chimayo – Park City Restaurateur Bill White adds eclectic southwestern flair to Main Street with this dark, sophisticated food den. Make sure you start with the signature margarita and finish with the Mexican chocolate fondue.
2. Prime Steakhouse– You’ll find no finer piece of meat in all the land than here at this upscale piano bar and steakhouse. A night out will cost you a paycheck but the standing 2-4-1 offer all summer long takes some of the sting out.
3. Silver Star Cafe – Just off the Park City Golf Course and Spiro Trail lies a little artists’ community. The café echoes the artsy vibe with walls decorated by local photographers and painters, and a menu featuring locally sourced Western fare. Save a few bucks and lunch on the outside patio. Or just come for a drink and the live music Thursday-Saturday in the summer.
4. Handle – Talisker on Main’s former chef jumped ship to helm this cozy spot inside the Gateway Suites (aka Sundance ticket office). Known for small plates with unusual twists, it’s surviving in a place where most restaurants go to die- ie. Renee’s, Jean Louis, Al Dente.
5. Goldener Hirsch– Tucked into the Silver Lake Village at Deer Valley Resort, the Hirsch is all Austrian fairytale from the Bavarian vines on the stucco to the wiener schnitzel and fondue. The small restaurant continually wins Wine Spectator awards and accolades from international travel publications. It’s the perfect date night spot.
6.  Bandits – Jeans and a T-shirt do just fine in this family friendly barbecue joint. The generous portions of meats and sides barely leave you enough room for dessert. But definitely leave room.
7.  Fletchers – Plaid accents and reclaimed barn wood complement the comfort food on this trendy menu. With a restaurant, bar and lounge, Fletcher’s is getting to be that place where the cool kids dine or at leastsit down for the blueberry white chocolate bread pudding. Only open Thurs.-Mon.
8.  Loco Lizard – You’ll find a modified version of Mexican food here so come without expectations. You’ll drool over the bottomless chips and salsa, as well as the mondo burritos and five-alarm mole. The patio’s open for weekend brunch, lunch and dinner in the summer.
9. Cafe Terigo – The tastes of northern Italy and the south of France find their way to Park City in this intimate café with one of the best patios on Main. Pan seared scallops on sweet corn risotto with roasted red pepper and arugula purees? Yum! Nothing’s cheap but everything is delish. Try a late lunch instead to keep you from chocking on dessert when the bill arrives.
10. Vinto– The modern decor, wood and steel tables, over-sized, semi-circular booths, attentive waitstaff and open kitchen of this Italian eatery shout family chic. The environment is boisterous and friendly and the food and prices satisfy all ages.