Jacencius
Google
Hell’s Backbone Grill & Farm, the on-site restaurant at Boulder Mountain Lodge, was unfortunately the weakest part of my stay. My family loves the lodge deeply, and we may return every year, but the restaurant did not work well for me.
The service team is large—many more servers than one might expect in a typical restaurant—and most of them were genuinely kind and attentive. However, one older lady rubbed me the wrong way with her manner, which stood out against the otherwise friendly staff.
The food itself was not a good match for my dietary preferences. The menu leans heavily toward meat dishes and offers very few vegetable-forward or lighter, healthier options. Because of that, it was difficult for me to find something suitable.
During my first dinner, I ordered the Trout ’n Herbs. I don’t recall tasting many herbs, but I certainly remember the jasmine rice—so mushy that it could have been labeled “mushy jasmine rice.” Hoping to avoid the rice on my second visit, I tried the meatloaf instead. What a mistake. The portion was enormous, taking up most of the plate, and it ended up waking me up during the night; I had heartburn.
For this type of heavy, unbalanced food, one would expect regular pricing. Instead, the dishes were far more expensive than I felt was reasonable. I dined there only to accompany my family, but the value simply wasn’t there for me.
I deduct one star for not offering healthy choices for people like me, and another star for the high pricing.
My family’s connection to the lodge is strong, and I know we may return again. I sincerely hope that someone from the restaurant reads this review, and that next time the jasmine rice won’t be mushy and the menu will include more healthy options. Others may love it, but for my tastes, I would choose to dine elsewhere until those changes happen.