Desert Bistro

A wonderful dinner, we joined them during their new winter hours. cocktails, bread and appetizers and entrees were all excellent, as was the service. Highly recommend for your next dinner out in Moab.

This place completely checks out. Me and my fiancé ordered the bacon covered dates, the fall salad, and the bison special and it was the best meal we've ever had! The service was top notch and the atmosphere was great. Oh and the dessert was delicious 🤤

Absolutely amazing! We sat outside in late November on their covered patio. Blankets were provided and heaters… It was such a cozy experience. We had one of the specials that evening;the bison with goat cheese, and grilled pears. One of my favorite meals ever!

We celebrated our anniversary at Desert Bistro, and it was truly an unforgettable experience. From the moment we walked in, the staff made us feel special and welcomed. We brought the first layer of our wedding cake with us, and their pastry chef so kindly revamped its decor up for us with care such a thoughtful touch that meant a lot. The food was absolutely top-notch; I had the Chilean Seabass and my wife had the Bison every dish was beautifully prepared and bursting with flavor. The cocktails were equally impressive and left a lasting impression. The entire evening felt intimate, warm, and perfectly tailored for a celebration. We’re so grateful for the kindness of the staff and the exceptional service. Highly recommend Desert Bistro for any special occasion or just a great night out in Moab.

If you’re in Moab, you must go here. Their food is amazing. I especially loved their appetizers: the bacon-wrapped figs, bison empanadas, and pumpkin ravioli were excellent.

We came here after a long day of hiking at 2 national parks. We were famished and wanted to grab some good food before all of the restaurants closed. Although this is a nicer restaurant, they welcomed us even in hiking clothes! All of the selections were fresh and delicious. It's a pricey place, but know that going in. This is not a chain, but a nice local restaurant. Though not on the menu, they had a great selection for ny children and were very accommodating. We had an appetizer, salad, kids meals, meal, dessert, and coffee. This has been the best meal of our trip. Most expensive as well, but we considered it a treat. Our waitress, Shelby, was absolutely delightful! My husband loved his bison and I loved my filet.

If I could give it more stars I would!! Fantastic food quality and presentation, excellent service, and great atmosphere. The cuisine to me is Utah - fresh, local, with some southwestern flair. Price was reasonable for the quality, I left feeling like it was money well spent. The Chef is very creative and put Moab on a plate for me with the special of the night a pistachio crusted bison filet with blackberry sauce. Great job !! Reservations are recommended. You can park right across the street in the public lot then walk over.

Best place in Moab for a nice quiet dinner- Breweries and Main Street dining is fun and has its place, but if you want quiet high quality dining in Moab, this is the place. Prices are higher than average, and portions are not huge- just right in my opinion. All the food was cooked perfectly- even scallops and sea bass which are challenging to cook. We were too full to order dessert, but they looked and sounded delicious. Highly recommend reservations- and even then it can be challenging to get in. Real tasty warm homemade bread to kick things off was a nice treat too.

We ate at Desert Bistro three of our six nights in Moab! Generally the food in Moab is average to poor and Desert Bistro is really the only fine dining choice. They have the best wine selection in town (by far) and the food is both innovative, fresh, and well executed. We especially liked all the appetizers with different flavors and the fish and game specials. This place is very expensive, probably owing to the tortured supply chain necessary to serve only one fine dining restaurant in a huge radius. However, we feel it's worth the trip at least once, and we were so unimpressed with Moab dining establishments in general that we went three times. If you are interested in more info about the Moab area and the national parks and wild lands around Moab, you can check out www.wanderin2wonder.com/canyonlands and www.wanderin2wonder.com/arches.

We dined on Thanksgiving and had a wonderful time. We made reservations late around 830pm - with two kids, this is late. They did their best to accommodate us a little earlier which we appreciate very much. Everyone we encountered at the restaurant were so friendly. We sat on the patio. It was enclosed and heaters were one. If you were near a heater you did not even need a jacket. Otherwise, they did provide blankets. They were super sweet to our kids. No formal kids menu, but they made butter noodles, so, check, kids all set (& with the promise of dessert). I was torn between so many items on the menu (Pumpkin Mascarpone Ravioli!, Hand-made Agnolotti Pasta etc.!) and their Thanksgiving option. I went with the turkey - it's my tradition. It was amazing and comforting. If you get to the fall menu, I hope you can try the other options. My husband went with the Market Fish (not a meat eater), and highly recommended it. We will return and try more of their menu options!

Of the three foodie-worthy dinners that we enjoyed on our November 2024 visit to Southern Utah's Mighty Five national parks, Desert Bistro's was overall the least satisfying. The menu is very pricey for what you get -- probably because Desert Bistro is the one big fish in Moab's small pond of fine dining options. My appetizer salad of toasted cauliflower on endive leaves was very pretty but extremely dull. My duck confit ($44!) was just okay, as the fruit sauce was gloggy. My GF fared better with her picks of butter leaf salad with duck breast bacon and the agnolotti pasta ($40!). Service was excellent, and the dining room space was pleasant.

We were in Moab for a birthday getaway weekend and needed to find a place for a nice, relaxing and romantic dinner. Well the options in Moab are a little limited for fine dining however the Desert Bistro is a find in this small town and it's tucked away from the Main Street crowds. It's a small old house that only has a handful of tables available inside plus a nice patio area for outdoor seating if weather permits. Reservations are definitely recommended as it's a small place and you can tell the care and attention to detail is their focus. We were welcomed and seated promptly upon arrival at our reservation time. We had brought our own wine along to celebrate however we were pleasantly surprised at the expansive wine and cocktail menu available so we also enjoyed a bottle of wine from the restaurant. Zach was our server and he was warm and welcoming. He introduced himself and reviewed the menu and special with us before getting our drinks. The menu includes a small but nice collection of entrees to choose from however this evening there were two specials available and we decided to try both of them. One was a bison filet and the other was sea bass in a miso sauce with rice. Wow wow wow. The presentation was beautiful, the portions were just right and both entrees were DELICIOUS! We were very pleased with our selections. Be careful not to fill up with your entree as they have a nice collection of fresh made sweets for dessert and of course we had to try a couple of those too. Thank you Zach and Desert Bistro for such a wonderful dining experience in Moab. We'll be back again on our next visit.

Everything was as advertised. My fish was amazing. The beef tenderloin was mid. The homemade bread was amazing.

Very nice restaurant with fresh, high-quality ingredients, prepared very well. This may be about the only fine ding restaurant in town. I'm glad we experienced this place. Upon arrival we were greeted warmly and offered a table in the rear, outdoor, covered patio. Inside the walls are adorned with beautiful Navajo Rugs and it would have been enjoyable as well. Outside, the weather was perfect and sitting on their patio was such a pleasant and serene setting and prefect for the meal about to be served. The friendly waiter offered suggestions on his favorites. The fresh halibut was exceptional. Wine list was perfectly suited to the meal choices. Reservations required. When I could not get one on line (Tock) and I was never notified of any cancellations, I called the restaurant and made one over the phone. They worked us in.

Everything about Desert Bistro is perfect. The greeting, seating, serving, and food were beyond any criticism. We had martinis, wine, pasta, and the duck entrees. I was expecting a bit of stress and crowding given the difficulty in getting a reservation, but the atmosphere was extremely calm. It's a pure 5 star place.

Everything perfect here. Food and service very good. We order scallop, crab cake, special menus.

Recently six of us sat down for what turned out to be an exquisite meal together at Desert Bistro. We had a lovely corner table leaving us feeling cozy and together. Talking amongst ourselves, I could clearly hear the conversation despite wearing hearing aids. Our server (I wish I could remember her name, she's from Pennsylvania) was absolutely top notch. She was so very professional and listening to her describe the meals made me feel like I was watching a performing art. She was attentive but not distracting. She took our order only making notes in her head and she was 100% correct in the plates she served and to whom. The presentation of the food made me feel like I was attending a White House State Dinner. I'll post some photos. And the delicious taste of the fare was out of this world. Many of us ordered dessert which almost put us over the edge it was so good! I would recommend strongly to anyone asking, go have a wonderful meal at Desert Bistro. It's pricey but well worth the money spent.

We were in Moab to do some off roading with our Jeep. Whenever we travel we look for some fine dining and this restaurant did not disappoint. We ended up eating there two nights in a row. Ted, the maître d' was very gracious in accommodating us on the second night with no advance reservations. They have a very creative menu, taking classics like a wedge or Caesar salad and doing their own riffs on them. As an example the wedge had house-cured duck breast bacon that was simply outstanding. Dailey was our waitress on our second visit. She shared with me that she has been eating the Gorgonzola crusted Beef Tenderloin since she was twelve years old and returns to it time and time again. Having eaten it myself I understand why. Really terrific place to eat in Moab and also quite reasonably priced for the quality of the food and the service. The only regret I have is that we were to full to eat desert as they sounded wonderful and are also all homemade.

This is probably one of the top 5 best restaurants in Moab! My wife and I have our 10th anniversary dinner there. Even though it was a late reservation, everyone treated us as if it was still the busiest part of the evening (in other words, we did not feel rushed due to the staff's eagerness to go home, as often happens with late ressies). This is a top notch restaurant for foodies where you get to try a lot of excellent stuff and then talk about it. Bon Appetit!

First things first. Wow. The definition of you get what you pay for. We came to desert bistro on a friends trip in Moab. Saturday night was my birthday and so this was kind of our special meal for the trip. Planned and made reservations ahead, but even upon arrival, I think we probably would've been able to get sat because it wasn't that busy overall. Also, there's a 15% discount on your ticket if you get sat before 6 PM. Amongst my group of eight, we all got different things. I got the fish special which was perfectly crusted. I was able to try some of the beef tenderloin as well as the bison fillets. The bison was unbelievable. The only dish that was kind of weird was the pasta was not nearly what I would have expected. It kind of seems more like wonton soup. Another thing worth noting is that their bread was amazing. They mentioned that the chefs mom makes all the desserts and the pre-dinner bread. It was so good and so warm. Definitely made me feel like I should start making bread at home because wow. Everyone was very pleased with the cocktails and wine selection. I got the violet blues, which was very fun and really tasty. I will know that when we were looking to make a reservation for a larger party, there were some options online that would charge $20s a person for a reservation. We ended up calling in instead and were able to get a reservation. No problem and no fee.

What a fabulous restaurant! We dined there while visiting family in Moab. It is their favorite place to celebrate special occasions. Even though it was pricey ($450 for 4 pp), it wasn't overpriced for the service, ambience and the FOOD! Two of us had the Japanese sea bass special and the others had the bison tenderloin special. Both were delicious! Scallops as an appetizer were especially good! I'd highly recommend the Desert Bistro in Moab!

Was in Moab traveling through Utah and we decided to go here for dinner and I'm so glad we did. It was fantastic from food to service. The ambience outside was perfect on the patio with perfectly cooked meat as well as other options we got!

We looked up a restaurant near our hotel during our vacation in Moab. The staff were very friendly, great service and food was excellent! I had bison and it was cooked to perfection! The wine and pear sauce were nice. I thought goat cheese was a bit too much. But I cleaned up the plate nonetheless. Great date night dinner place!

Hands down the best food in Moab, if you have the $$$. Creative and inventive menu. Very helpful staff. Make reservations far in advance!

Had a great meal at Desert Bistro! Scallops appetizer had a nice kick from a citrus pepper (jalapeño?) sauce, really juicy and well flavored. My entree was the duck confit, which had a very well spiced sauce. The beet salad was solid too. Would've had dessert, but after a long day hiking was too tired. Would definitely come back again!

All three were exceptional!...Food, Service and Ambiance! A wonderful memory of our visit to Moab. Between Arches and Dessert Bistro--a very special visit from residents of Lititz, PA

Amazing dinner this Summer evening. We started with homemade bread (baked by owners) and a butter spread tray. Very good! My wife had the Pecan crusted Sea-bass and she loved it. I ordered the Gorgonzola crusted Beef Tenderloin and it was cooked to perfection. The sauces on all the plates were fabulous. Our Server Brit was so excited to share this with us. She is so passionate and professional. Thank you Brit and Chef!!

If you're looking for a fancy dinner place in the small town of Moab, this is your place to go! They take traditional upscale dinner menu items and add a piece of Utah to it. You must make a reservation to dine here. I recommend making your reservation a few days or weeks in advance. We didn't know so we made a reservation one day before, but luckily there was opening at 9:30pm for us haha. The food here is delicious! Too be quite honest, there was no dish that I loved entirely (side and main), but there were components of each dish I loooved. More specifically, the Chilean sea bass, duck confit, and bison tenderloin were amazing!! But their sides were just okay. If you're vegetarian, the agnolotti is a good choice. It was a bit on the sweeter side, but the mushrooms were tasty. But the main star here were the appetizer scallops! Cooked to perfection, so plump and soft, and the sauce to accompany it was so good! As recommended by our server, use some of that sauce to dip your on-the-house bread. The ambiance here was really warm, gentle, and romantic. Plus the music was so soothing haha. Also, huge shout out to our server who was just the best! Answered so many of our questions and gave great recommendations.

On the positive side, pleasant setting and decor with several high quality Navajo rugs hanging on the walls. Very fine Margarita made with a good Reposado, superbly prepared sea scallops appetizer. Bison empanadas were nicely seasoned and tasty. Negatives: Some of the plates were just so-so, notwithstanding the decidedly high pricing. The cauliflower endive salad appetizer, in particular, contained a couple leaves of Belgian endive containing an insipid handful of chopped fruit and veggies for $16. Too few vegetarian or vegan options. The plates for a party of five arrived in an incoherent order. Overall impression was an establishment more preoccupied with attracting urban foodies than in providing genuinely excellent fodder.

My fiancé and I had our Elopement Dinner here and it was SPECTACULAR! The food did not disappoint! It's perfectly portioned and their rosemary butter and bread is delicious! Our waitress Becca was so attentive! Our glasses were never empty and let me just mention the cute cozy atmosphere. I loved this cute little place and hope to come back in the future. Thank you for such a great experience!

First time to Desert Bistro, was a short walk from our hotel (Homewood Suites), just my wife and myself. We were seated at a table in the corner of the restaurant, perfect spot, private, quiet. Service was exceptional, friendly, attentive and worked as a team to ensure we had a wonderful evening. We started with the sea bass ceviche special, followed by the house salad (which was definitely a cut above) and the wedge (the duck bacon was a unique treat). My wife had the scallop appetizer as her main (which she relished and was plenty for her). The bison tenderloin was cooked perfectly, the pairing with the potatoes and asparagus was perfectly executed. A wonderfully done meal front to back. We will be back!

Been to Moab many times, had no idea this gem was hiding just off the main drag. Will definitely be a must visit every time we return. The menu is eclectic, something for everyone, and the wine selection was outstanding!

We recently had the opportunity to have a surprise birthday dinner at Desert Bistro. Miceala worked with my husband on planning the surprise and even recommended that we sit outside stating at that time of year and that time of night, it would be lovely sitting outside. The surprise went off without a hitch and it truly was lovely to sit outside. The food was incredibly delicious! Most of us had the special which was a Chilean Sea Bass that was phenomenaL. My husband had the venison with a pear reduction- he couldn't stop talking about it!! It is a little pricey but WELL worth it. We plan to go back every time we are in Moab.

Cozy place great service and staff no complaints there... The bison was excellent. The duck confit was excellent as well. But on the downside we had crabcakes that were missing the crab. Caesar salad, that was shredded and not much dressing. The dessert described as a vanilla Pot de cream was more of a flan. The French 75 cocktail was fantastic. Should've gone with the bacon wrapped dates that everybody else had suggested in town. Main courses were really good though.

We had very high hopes for this place but ended up feeling disappointed. Appetizers: We were given three scallops on a pretty plate that we had to send back - they were translucent in the center which means they weren't completely cooked. They should be opaque. Since we were traveling, we didn't want to risk getting some sort of foodborne illness. Mains: My partner got the duck confit which was the best dish of the night. Well-cooked and delicious - the only part of our visit that was two thumbs up. I ordered the stuffed and roasted poblano pepper as I aim to stick to a vegetarian diet most of the time. Unfortunately, it was just a mishmash of vegetables clashing with an acidic slaw. Typically, I'll eat pikliz straight out of the jar, but this was just a waste of plants. Dessert: The dessert menu wasn't printed or available online, so our waitress verbally rushed through a list 5-6 dessert options, most of which we forgot as we deliberated. This was unfortunate, as we were celebrating a birthday and would have liked to splurge on a sweet treat had we been able to review our options. Drinks: We ordered a bottle of the featured orange wine. It was OK, but there are better bottles you can grab at the liquor store down the street. The ambiance was fine, however, as a mixed-race couple, it didn't feel as welcoming for my partner who is a POC.

Incredible hidden gem. We walked in on the busiest weekend in Moab with no reservations, and they managed to seat us in 15 minutes. Menu in awesome, food was incredible. We had the Baramundi dish and the Bison Tenderloin. One of the best meals we've ever had. Chocolate mousse for dessert is a must.

Wonderful experience! Was advised this was legit "fine dining experience" and this was indeed the case. Service on point. By my count, there were 3 tables per server and attentiveness was consistent with that level of staffing. Food was REALLY good. Definitely come here if you want a good meal in Moab!

Exceptional food experience every time I come! I stop here as a half way point to visit my sister in AZ from CO and it is a beautiful experience every single time. Great service too, tku Elisa!

Absolutely delicious and excellent service . Beautiful presentation and great menu choices . Our server really explained everything beautifully.

We sat outdoors in 90° weather. The outdoor covered patio has fans and mist-makers- my whole table was comfortable. We ordered bacon-wrapped dates, SO good! Also they make the bread in-house, 10/10. I ordered the grilled chicken, the side salad dish that came with it was amazing. Our server was Lauren: she was so friendly, attentive, spoke clearly, and was knowledgeable about the menu. Totally recommend! Love this place.

Outstanding on many fronts. Four of us stopped in for dinner before spending a few days in MOAB hiking and off-roading. Some research suggested Desert Bistro as the best restaurant in town. It exceeded our expectations. From the Chilean Sea Bass to the Filet, all four dinners, the appetizers and desserts were superlative. And our server was very knowledgable and kind. I highly recommend this restaurant.

Excellent! Excellent! Excellent! Everything (minus the crab muffins that had way more breading than crab). From start to finish, it was exceptional (minus the crab muffins). The bread (with all the spreads curated by Nancy; the chef's mom) sea scallops, wedge salad, duck confit and apple dessert were excellent. The service from Alyssa and Bridget were amazing and we can't wait to return when we come back to Moab. And the ambiance inside and out is stunning! Excellent service, food and ambiance. You will not be disappointed. Though they recommend reservations, you can walk in but I would strongly suggest making a reservation. Enjoy!

Visited Moab area for Arches. Found this gem. Food was amazing! Service was phenomenal. Scallops and the beet salad were some of my favorite items, but really everything was made very well, with lots of care. Small, intimate building, may have been a house in the past. Total 9-10 tables in the whole place. I would definitely eat at this place again.

Absolutely delicious and incredible service . A must for fine dining in Moab . The dishes were all so creative and beautifully presented. Homemade bread is over the top!

Desert Grill is a fabulous choice for finer dining. Great outdoor area but inside has a casual but elegant Southwestern vibe. Cocktails and wine list excellent. We had a sea bass entree with a delicious citrus sauce with excellent vegetable pancake. Meat dishes excellent as well. Very professional and attentive staff. They do take reservations and can get very crowded particularly for outdoor space. On the pricey side but for a great meal it's definitely worth it.

Savory seasonal selection, not touristy. Off the Main Street with quiet ambience with attentive service. Looked like where locals go for a nice bite and good wine selection.

On our 2-week tour of the Utah National Parks, this was our favorite restaurant and dining experience! We enjoyed it so much, we came back a second time. | Atmosphere | The lovely patio is charming and lovely. The outdoor tables are spacious too and even with 4 people we had plenty of room for everything. It's for sure where you want to sit, unless it is cold (as the heaters weren't that effective given the open space). | Food | Almost everything we tried during our two visits was exceptional. Our server informed us the owner is very hands-on in creating the menu and trying out dishes until they are perfected, and it showed. The meal comes with house-made bread and a trio of dipping pleasures: pats of herb-seasoned butter, tapenade (we asked for more, it was so good) and a pomegranate-infused vinegar & oil. The bacon-wrapped and chevre stuffed dates were a tasty starter. The bison empanadas were also good. The one miss was the mascarpone pumpkin ravioli; it was way too sweet. Both nights we enjoyed the Fall Salad. It is an amazing combination of ingredients that blend very well together, including pumpkin seeds, apples, cranberries, figs, pears, celery, and applewood smoked bacon. The simple yet perfect red wine and lemon vinaigrette was so good we asked if we could get the recipe. For mains the stuffed poblano pepper is in my top-rated vegan entrees I've tried anywhere. It is chock full of deliciousness (all sorts of veggies and a flavorful sun-dried tomato pesto) and the tomatillo-basil sauce added just the right amount of tanginess. The chicken breast was amazing too....it's not your ordinary standard fare. The marinated chicken was flavorful, juicy and tender, and the accompanying lingonberry "jam" made it delightful and reminiscent of a wonderful Thanksgiving meal. I also had a taste of my companion's gorgonzola-crusted beef tenderloin and it was tender and tasty. | Wine | They have a nicely curated selection of wines, with quite a few being from California and a couple offerings from Utah. A bottle comes chilled table-side. | Service | Both our servers (a different one each night) really made the dining experience phenomenal. Two completely different personalities (our first server was highly entertaining!) but what they had in common is a high-level of knowledge about their offerings and they provided flawless service.

Nice dining room off the Main Street in Moab. The elk shank and bison tenderloin were both wonderful. Attentive service. Highly recommend.

Elevated Southwest American restaurant, great for a special occasion or for a nice dinner out. We came to celebrate a double birthday dinner, and we were wowed by the service here! Our waitress was absolutely wonderful, so sweet, and very knowledgeable about the whole menu. My group had such a hard time choosing between all the specials and the menu items that we decided to split the truffle pasta as an appetizer - it actually worked out great! For entrees, everything was beautifully presented and everyone loved their dishes... the bacon-wrapped bison was a winner, but the daily Hawaiian fish special and lamb osso bucco were also fantastic. Be sure to make reservations in advance; I noticed a few walk-ins that were turned around until 9PM. The restaurant is also pretty accurate with timing - we arrived 15 min early but had to wait until our reservation time to be seated. Great dinner overall!

Amazing wait staff & service (shout out to Ted) -- excellent recommendations. We had the bacon wrapped dates (about 6 in a portion) --delicious The Wedge salad (great if you love blue cheese) And the bison filet The food, cozy dining area outside, & service-- Everything was excellent. Nice to sit outside on a cool autumn night.

Delicious food, great wine. Amazing service from Bailey! Lovely ambiance! The bacon wrapper dates were incredible! Best restaurant in Moab!

We have found it a challenge to find polished creative food in Moab as most food joints focus on pizza, burgers, and coffee. This place offers a delicious fun menu and pleasant staff. When I'm back in town, I will certainly revisit this wonderful place. One thing that I did notice was that the specials were the same every day that I came back.

Maybe one of the best restaurants I've been to in recent memory. Just lovely throughout, from the bread and the spreads, to the scallop appetizer and the main entrees, every bite is exciting. I rarely see a stuffed pepper on the menu, especially one with so many ingredients! But they all work so well together, deep flavors and great mouthfeel. Would order again and again, except the chicken and risotto was exceptional as well, so choosing between the two would be so tough. You get the sense that every entree is probably fantastic so you really can't go wrong.

Our trip to Moab is never complete without a stop at this quaint and wonderful bistro. The food and service are amazing. I had the pork tenderloin entree which was cooked perfectly and so very tasty!

Finally got a reservation to try this place. Food, service and ambiance were all excellent. Tables are really spaced far apart making dinner space more intimate. The flavors were unique and great pairings, but my opinion is that perhaps it might just be a little too heavy on flavor of spices and sauces that it overpowered the underlying food. Definitely the best in Moab, I'll make advance reservations and will be back.

A wonderful surprise in an otherwise mundane dining area...Moab may be great for adventure but not so much for food experiences...except for Desert Bistro. We found the service to be top notch and the food to be creative, diverse and well executed. Great drink and wine list as well. And the ambiance was comfortable and tasteful. A solid five stars, especially considering the remote location

Desert Bistro was a pleasant surprise during our stay in Moab. We ordered the bison empanadas and smoked sausage as starters. For mains, I had the elk chops and two of the guests ordered the bison filet. Admittedly the elk wasn't amazing, the sides were great, but the elk was a little dry on the outside the best moist and tender parts were close to the bone, but I chalk it up to elk being elk. I give five stars for two reasons 1) the service was really nice 2) the bison filet was absolutely amazing---cooked really well and the duxelle and sauce were on point. If you get a chance, while in Moab, get reservations! It's by far the best spot in Moab. Most other spots are tourist centric.