What we can do
The Malt Shop is a small shop. We're not a banquet hall, we don't have a private room, and we can't host a wedding reception for two hundred people. What we can do is host a party of up to about thirty people — a birthday, a team dinner, a family reunion, a Scout troop, a book club — in the shop, or cater a smaller event elsewhere in the valley. We've been doing both since long before "catering" was a word people used in Ephraim, and we've gotten good at it.
For parties in the shop, we can usually reserve a section of booths and tables for a set block of time. For parties of fifteen or more, we may suggest an afternoon or early-evening slot rather than the Friday-night dinner rush, both because the shop is busier than usual and because your group will be happier with the room. For parties of twenty-five or more, we'll usually suggest a full buy-out of the shop for the duration, which is possible on certain days and worth asking about.
Party packages
We keep the packages simple because the food is simple. Three standard options, and we're happy to build a custom package if none of them fit.
Option 1 — The Burger Party
The classic. Everybody gets a burger of their choice (King Burger, cheeseburger, hamburger, or grilled chicken sandwich), an order of fries, and a shake or malt in whatever flavor they want. Served either at the counter with assigned seating or as a buffet line if the group is larger. This is the option most birthday parties choose, and it's the one the Little League teams ask for at the end of the season.
Typical price: $18–22 per person depending on burger choice and flavor. Minimum 10 people, maximum 30.
Option 2 — The Malt Bar
For groups that want to focus on the drinks. We set up a malt station and spin malts to order for an hour — guests come up, pick a flavor from the wall, and we make it in front of them. Pair it with a lighter food offering: fries, onion rings, tater tots, and a few platters of sandwiches cut into halves for sharing. This works especially well for adult gatherings, office parties, and family reunions where the point is to visit rather than to eat a full meal.
Typical price: $15–20 per person depending on food selected. Minimum 10 people, maximum 25.
Option 3 — The Counter Takeover
For the group that wants the whole experience. You get the shop for two hours on a weekday evening (typically Tuesday or Wednesday, when we're slowest), the full menu, and as many malts as your group can drink. We'll set up a reserved section for gifts or cake if you're bringing one, and we'll provide plates, napkins, and a cutting knife. This is the option for milestone birthdays, retirement parties, and reunions.
Typical price: $25–30 per person, plus a small room fee depending on the day. Minimum 15 people, maximum 35.
Birthday parties for kids
We do a lot of kid birthdays, and we've gotten the formula down. A typical kid party runs about ninety minutes: guests arrive, order at the counter, eat, and then the birthday kid gets to come behind the counter and spin their own birthday malt with a little help from whoever's working. That last part is the whole reason to do it here instead of at home, and we've never once had a kid turn it down.
We don't do decorations, party favors, or a character visit — that's on you, and honestly most parents prefer it that way. What we provide is a reserved section, food, malts, and someone who will help make sure the birthday kid feels like the most important person in the shop. Because on that day, they are.
For kid parties, the Burger Party package is the usual choice, though some families prefer to order à la carte and just pay for what the kids actually eat. We're happy to work it either way. Just let us know when you call which direction you're leaning.
Catering for off-site events
We cater smaller events in the valley — typically within a thirty-minute drive of Ephraim. Weddings, family reunions, church functions, and community events are the usual requests. We can bring burgers, sides, and malts in insulated containers and set up either a simple buffet or a malt bar. We can also deliver boxed meals for larger events if we have enough lead time.
For off-site catering we ask for at least two weeks' notice, and we'll want to talk through the menu, the headcount, the timing, and the venue before we commit. We're a small operation and we don't have a dedicated catering team — the same people who cook for you at the shop will be the ones cooking for your event. That's a limitation, but it's also the thing people like about us.
How to book
The best way to book a party or event is to call us at (435) 283-4101 during service hours. We'll ask you for the date, the number of people, the general shape of the party (birthday, team dinner, reunion, etc.), and any dietary restrictions we should know about. We'll tell you what we can do, what it will cost, and what we need from you. If it's a go, we'll hold the date with a small deposit — usually $50 — that comes off the final bill.
For smaller bookings — say, a group of eight or ten people at the counter — you can usually just call ahead a day or two and we'll set aside the space. No deposit needed for those. For anything larger, or for anything happening on a weekend, please give us at least a week. If you're planning a kid party during the school year, two weeks is better — Saturdays fill up fast.
We don't do online party bookings. This is a phone call kind of thing, and honestly, the conversation is part of the fun. Talk to us about what you're imagining, and we'll tell you honestly whether it's something we can pull off.
"We've hosted everything from Little League championships to a proposal at the counter. Whatever it is you're celebrating, we've probably done it before." — The Nielsen family