On Center Street in Downtown Provo, Guru’s Café attracts students and locals with its wide-ranging menu and casual atmosphere.
Guru’s also has a bakery next door to the main restaurant, serving house-made pastries and desserts. The business has also expanded, with locations now at the Provo Airport and the Utah Valley University campus.
Menu items range from about $11 for a salad to $22 for shrimp fettuccine. While the prices may be higher than other college students' options, some say that the quality of the food makes it worth it.
“Guru's has a large menu that caters to all tastes and dietary requirements. Guru's has a vibe that is very unique to the Provo area and has been here for over 20 years,” Brett Wimmer, one of Guru’s owners, said.
Located around the BYU campus, Guru’s sees students looking for a place to eat as well as study. Arianna Carson goes there a few times a week to get schoolwork done.
“I usually go to Guru's a minimum of three times a week. The atmosphere is calm enough to study, but lively enough to stay awake and focused. It’s nice to work because of the bakery side that is usually quieter, and it’s easy to study at the smaller tables,” Carson said.
During major campus events, Guru's often sees a noticeable increase in customers. On the day of the BYU vs. University of Utah football game, the restaurant saw an increase in business during lunchtime.
“A lot of BYU students come into Guru's, especially now that we are included in the starving student card. We are normally much busier on game days with BYU fans & the fans from the opposing team coming in to eat,” Parmley said.
Guru’s is one of many businesses contributing to the increased popularity of Provo's downtown.