AMERICAN DINING
Café Diablo (Open seasonally) This café offers buzz-worthy dishes like rattlesnake cakes and fancy tamales. Save room for dessert. 599 W. Main St., Torrey, 435-425-3070. $$$
Hell’s Backbone Grill Owners Blake Spalding and Jen Castle set the bar for local, organic food in Utah. Now the cafe has gained national fame. They garden, forage, raise chickens and bees, and offer breakfasts, dinners and even picnic lunches. 20 N. Highway 12, Boulder, 435-335-7464. $$ – $$$
Capitol Reef Inn & Café This family spot strives for a natural and tasty menu—and dishes like fresh trout and cornmeal pancakes achieve it. Be sure to look at the great rock collection and the stone kiva. 360 W. Main St., Torrey, 435-425-3271. $ – $$
Eklectic Café This is what you hope Moab will be like—vestigially idealistic, eccentric and unique. Linger on the patio with your banana pancakes, then shop the bric-a-brac inside. 352 N. Main St., Moab, 435-259-6896. $
Sunglow Family Restaurant This pit stop is famous for its pinto bean and pickle pies. Yes, we said pickle. 91 E. Main St., Bicknell, 435-425-3701. $ – $$
BAR GRUB & BREWPUBS
Moab Brewery A beloved watering hole for river-runners, slick-rock bikers, red-rock hikers and everyone who needs a bite and a beer, which is nearly everyone in Moab. All beer is brewed on site. 686 Main St., Moab, 435-259-6333. $$