Hell's Backbone Grill & Farm

Unpretentious perfection in the high desert. Kind, attentive staff. Inventive, mouth-watering dishes made from local ingredients. An impressively curated wine list. All in an almost unbelievably beautiful setting. And it somehow gets better and better every time I visit. Can’t wait to come back!

We stopped in at the food truck(not the restaurant) for breakfast! The food truck serves breakfast and lunch and is the cutest thing! Lots of tables outside to sit and enjoy the beautiful day. They even have a section where you can buy food mixes(like blue corn pancakes), relish, coffee beans, and I believe jellies. My friend got their biscuits and gravy and boy was it loaded with sausage! I got their sausage and egg biscuit. It was hearty and filling. We both also got some coffee and I got a blueberry muffin to go. Coffee was great and the blueberry muffin was full of blueberries. Highly recommend you add this local spot to your trip.

We had to go twice, the food was so good. We had the juniper pulled pork sandwich from their food trailer that is open Thursday to Monday until 1:30pm each day. The seating area is wonderful and the staff very friendly. I cannot recommend this restaurant enough, it is one of the best roadside sandwiches I have ever had.

One of the best meals I’ve had in Utah, maybe ever. Of course, the food is outstanding: true farm-to-table, organic, inventive. But it really is the vibe that makes this a 5-star meal. I was dining alone, and one of the owners, Blake, went out of her way to bring me multiple cookbooks to read. The waiters were so gracious. I cannot wait to come back.

Yall this place is worth the hype. Food was incredible. Service was very friendly. An amazing experience. We had cocktails, dinner, and dessert — everything was so flavorful and fresh. 1,000/10

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.

I’d also give this place 4.5 stars. The ambiance was fantastic, the servers were very attentive and friendly. The owner was making the rounds to each table. The food was incredible. I ordered a seared trout and it was so good. Perfectly cooked and the skin was crisped to perfection. My husband got the meatloaf which he loved as well.. the side veggies were also delicious. I’m giving it 4.5 stars because the wait was incredibly long. It took 45 min to get our appetizer (goat cheese fondue - delicious but the portions were small - probably wouldn’t get again) and another 30 minutes to get our meal. It’s hard to enjoy yourself when you’re starving! But I’d still go back again.. maybe on a less busy weekend.

W O W !! Where to start? We came here to celebrate and stay on the property for a vacation. It was a special dinner, and the staff made sure to make it just that. Morgan created the most gorgeous bouquet of flowers for our table - truly a treasure we are happy to take home. And this is all before we get any food or drink! The Hellfire Margarita and Rosemary Margarita were outstanding, the depth of flavor so present. The seasonal Shishito peppers and focaccia with tomatoes were incredible. We got the Colorado Chile and Jenchiladas for entrees - amazing!!! I’ve never had such a delicious meal in terms of every single thing ordered. Plus the service was top notch. We had the privilege of meeting founding co-chef Jen and her friend on the way out - solidifying a wonderful evening and experience. We can’t wait to bring friends back here!! Don’t miss this place!!

Service was great other than having to ask for water refills. The food was beautiful, interesting, flavorful, and I assume, really nutritious! I had the meatloaf. Moist and tasty. Wife had the salad with perfectly cooked chicken. We shared the pumpkin apple soup which was incredible. The recommended gingerbread dessert was beyond words! Only tip I have is that you might not want to show up wearing a MAGA hat!

This pains me dreadfully. I was very much looking forward to dining here. I love so much of their philosophy, heard the food was spectacular, designed our trip around dining here even. But reality sometimes lets you down. We were seated pretty promptly. We were greeted not long after. Our server, Henry, bless him, we just didn't seem to click. We can be friendly and chatty with servers, and maybe that wasnt his vibe? I don't know, it was awkward from the start. We ordered drinks and two apps for the table. It took a while for both, but we were VERY happy with them. We finished our apps. Time passed. We finished our drinks. More time passed. We finished our waters. Even more time passed and we had been visited zero times in about 40 minutes. 40 minutes AFTER finishing our apps. We watched helplessly, growing cranky, as our server visited other tables up the staircase five, six times each in the same timeframe (we were on the lower patio area). A runner came to deliver our main courses only to find the appetizer course still taking up the table space. She adapted quickly, but there was no reason our server should ignore us all that time. THEN the server shows up asking if we needed refills. YES. For some time now. The mains were delicious, the food was gorgeous. We enjoyed the food. Our server stopped by a bit more regularly after that, but seemingly every other person in the building stopped by to chat with us. Our server never really warmed to us and spent oodles of time with his other tables. Overall, I will remember the best trout I ever had, with one of the most disappointing experiences I ever had. Such a letdown. I am harboring some sadness and resentment for how bad it was, when it could have been so amazing. Other tables seemed to have a great night. Not mine.

Beyond amazing! My favorite restaurant of all time. It's so good it keeps me coming back year after year. I'll travel to remote Utah just to eat here. The owners are outstanding and really know how to make an experience remarkable. From the delectable food to the attentive and personalized service, you can't find a more welcoming and delicious place. On top of that, the Boulder Mountain Lodge is a truly peaceful and beautiful place to stay and just steps away from this amazing food. Last year, they also added Little Bone food truck, and now I can eat every meal off their delicious menu every day of my trip. My favorites are the Blue Corn Pancakes for breakfast, the Crispy Farm Squash Salad, and the Cowgal Meatloaf for dinner, and Chocolate Chile Cream Pot for dessert. It is worth the trip just to eat here, but on top of that, it is set in the most beautiful landscape of all time. Come visit.... you won't regret it.

This place came highly recommended to us. Small eatery on a backcountry road. They own one of the most unique menus. We did the steak and some salad.... I recommend it. There are other unique items on the menu that were worth trying, but we weren't in the area long enough. Our service was outstanding! The waiter took very good care of us and also made sure to explain the unique menu.

First, a shout-out to Phil, who treated us like royalty. His recommendations were lovely, and he explained today's vegetables to those of us who ordered them. Water glasses are large, and were continually filled. Ambiance is fun, eclectic and stylish. The silverware and plates are mix-and-match from many classic styles. The light shades are different colanders. Food was very very good. Pan-seared trout, arugula pesto pasta with smoked trout, "jenchiladas", and panna cotta to share afterwards. Marvelous. Much of what is served is grown on site, and it is oh-so-obvious. Highly, highly recommend.

We took the epic 12 road and stopped here because it was recommended so many times. We did not realize it was such a fancy place, we rolled in kind of hot. The food was absolutely amazing- I got the trout and lemon potatoes. What was really sweet is how they went above and beyond to keep my 16 month old entertained. He was in fits bc we had been on the road for so long, then I rushed out and left my purse... THEY MAILED IT TO ME! I have never met such sweet people, they were even willing to meet me in salt lake to get my purse back to me. The carrot puree and bison steak, also amazing! I wish I had gotten my food to go and eaten at those picnic tables while my kids run a muck. They really were in the car for so long! Worth the stop!!

We stumbled upon there food truck outside of their main restaurant for lunch while driving hwy 12 and we were so glad we did. In an area of Utah we're a lot of food just blends together, they stand out. I highly recommend stoping in for coffee/breakfast/lunch if your driving through or stopping at their main restaurant for dinner.

Have eaten here before and it was a 5 star meal but this time cutting it back by two stars. First off this place is very accommodating if you have an animal thus arrived with 3 other adults, a child, infant and dog. I ordered the Bison meatloaf with Chipotle sauce. It was just ok. Not in the mood for an overpriced $65 bison steak and after having chicken the previous night and trout the other day, the 35.00 meatloaf was the only logical choice. The loaf had flair, was juicy and fell apart like ground beef, but would have preferred brown gravy vs the Chipotle sauce which made me feel like I was eating a beef taco. They also stopped by asking if we wanted buns, said yes to find out there was an additional charge. Now Bison isn't a better meat over cow in my opinion, but you can charge more for it because it's not a regular staple for most in Utah or anywhere else for that matter. The staff was great as usual and one of the owners stopped to ask about our meal that had not been completely delivered yet. It seems that out of control tipping has reached Boulder as we were whacked as a group (=6) for 22%. The meal and tip came to 273.00

I have been wanting to come to Hell's Backbone for years and it did not disappoint. Loved the relaxed outdoor seating and extremely friendly and welcoming staff. The Jenchiladas had so much flavor and combination of textures - would absolutely order again. The champagne chicken was succulent and came with an unctuous carrot puree. A gem in Boulder that I will not wait years to revisit.

Returned to our favorite restaurant in Utah -- scratch that, any where. The biscuits, deviled eggs and warm cabbage salad (new fav) were perfect starters. Cowgirl Meatloaf is delicious as ever, and thoroughly enjoyed the Jenchiladas. Dessert was the bread pudding, panna cotta and chocolate chili cream pot (ongoing fav). Service was excellent. Restaurant gets a little tight inside with all the happy customers but it makes it feel like a joyful place. We are so happy we made it down for Spring and hope to visit at least twice more before season ends.

What a memorable experience- the food was unforgettable and the setting was perfect. This was our first time and we're going to make a tradition to come here for our anniversary. It's so simple but my favorite items were the warm cabbage salad with goat cheese and the blue corn muffin. So flavorful... I wish I had extras right now. I cannot wait to come back. Bonus points- camping clothes are welcomed

Day 3 of their 2025 season and everything was on point. From my initial call to make a reservation to the goodbye hug from the owner as we left. The restaurant is comfortable and beautifully decorated. The biscuits and pumpkin apple soup were amazing. Presented on fun plates and tea cups. Entrees we ordered were the Osso Bucco and Bison Ribeye. Beautifully plated. Finished with the pumpkin bread pudding. Best dining experience we have had in all of Utah. The service was extremely attentive. We felt like everyone who worked in the restaurant came to check on us...From the host to server Mallory to the chef and owner. Very welcoming! Highly recommend! Hope to make it back again one day.

Hell's Backbone Grill is the most special place to dine, every visit is memorable and nearly flawless! I have dined here 6 times across 3 visits over the past 5 years, most recently in early July 2024. Ive tried most of their staple dishes and drinks and many of their seasonal ones, and they have all been creative, delicious, and thoughtfully sourced. The two standouts from my most recent visit are the Smoked Chimayo Chicken Lollipops- perfectly cooked with a delicious seasoning at a warm level of spice- and the Wiinuuch Bean Charro- a perfectly executed dish of Fremont beans that is one of the best dishes I've ever had! The outdoor patio is so lovely I've actually never set foot inside the restaurant! The view of the Boulder Mountain Lodge grounds is so peaceful. Service is always friendly and knowledgeable too- impressive considering they have to recruit to this very rural area! I also appreciate their mission and philosophy around food and the land. They are knowledgeable and willing to handle food allergies such as celiac. Check out their little store on your way out, or their online store!

This is by far the best restaurant for miles and miles around. You can check out my full guide to the Capitol Reef Area at www.wanderin2wonder.com/capitol-reef, but suffice to say, there are not a lot of food options and most of them are bad. Although Hell's Backbone is kind of far from Torrey and Capitol Reef, Scenic Byway 12 is a great drive as a day trip or you can hit Hell's Backbone for dinner as you finish "looping the fold". Same goes with day trippers out of Escalante area. The menu here is inventive, fresh, and well executed. They also have some good wines, which is even rarer in this part of Utah than good food! Service is attentive, friendly and quite competent. I can't say enough good things about this place and you should definitely make it a stop!

Everyone needs to go at least once!! My favorite dining experience in Utah. The food and atmosphere are incredible. 100% worth the drive! Go hungry because you'll want a little bit of everything. I believe the menu changes slightly throughout the summer depending on what's in season. We went a few summers back (July 2021) and dream of going again! We tried the biscuits, pickle platter, pozole, jenchiladas, trout, and brownie and it was all delicious. Can't wait to see what's on the menu next time we visit!

This place is amazing, farm to table food. Everything we eat was so fresh and you could taste it. The service is outstanding, the whole wait staff smiling and ready yo help. The owner went every table, making you feel so welcomed. The ambiance fits right in with food and service

Absolutely incredible food! The flavors are out of this world! Charming relaxed atmosphere. What a gem!

I have nothing but good things to say about Hell's Backbone. This restaurant brings the ideal ambiance to an exceptional meal. The staff is extremely friendly and they really made the experience memorable. I am itching to get back to enjoy another meal at Hell's Backbone. If you're in Southern Utah I highly recommend enjoying a meal there!

Made the journey over from Torrey while visiting capital reef, and so glad we did! We had a pretty large group, and had Nick as our server. He was great at helping us all. He made wonderful recommendations on what drinks to get with each dish. Overall he really added to the experience. We ordered a variety of starters, and they were all great. The star for me was the biscuits. They were great on their own, but even better with the sage butter. Everyone loved their main dishes. I personally had the wagyu flat iron steak and wish I could go back and have it again right now. You could tell they really think about every thing they put on the plate and it all went together perfectly. Few things to note - if you drive over from Torrey be prepared to go slow over the mountain pass, especially once it's dark. There was a lot of wild life and cows. If you are seated out side there were a lot of mosquitoes once it got dark. It wasn't bad through most of the dinner. But the last 10-15 minutes we all got a lot of bites. They also have a cute little stand out front where you can purchase some cookbooks, mixes for a lot of their popular dishes, and a variety of jams. Definitely worth checking out!

So welcoming, unique, and tasty! I particularly loved the Desert spiced cauliflower w/ chickpeas. I would go back there just for that. The trout was a bit dry, but all its fixings were fabulous. They had run out of the jasmine rice, which was to our benefit as they replaced it with both the mashed potatoes and green rice, yum. The servers were friendly w/out being obsequious or intrusive. It was down home, but with style.

Wow. What a gem of a place. Excellent service. Food was so fresh and perfect. Can't wait to come back. BTW we made reservations two Months in advance!

Came in with high expectations that were exceeded. Service impeccable and flavors surprising and delightful.

The food was very delicious and fresh from their local garden, service was on point and the area was just scenic and out of the way and a breath of fresh air high in the boulder mountain range Very comfortable and inviting atmosphere

* Disclaimer: I visited in Oct 2023 * Hands-down the best meal of my life. Best dining experience I've had. The type of place that you leave and wonder, did I dream that? Hell's Backbone is the perfect stop mid-way through the Rt 12 drive. It's a cute little restaurant nestled on farmland, with both indoor and outdoor seating. I sat outdoors and would recommend the same, weather-permitting. The food is farm to table and tastes SO fresh. I went three-course: biscuits with jam, champagne grape chicken, and chocolate bread pudding. Every bite was amazing, but I have a feeling you can't go wrong with any of the entrees or the desserts. But definitely don't skip the biscuits! Service was amazing. The staff were some of the friendliest and most attentive people I've met. One of the owners was also checking in on tables, and I get the sense this happens frequently! You can tell they care about this place and want to make it a full community experience. As I was traveling alone at the time, it was wonderful to feel "at home" for a couple of hours. I can't say enough good things about this place and recommend it constantly! It's a bit on the pricey side but worth every penny. And keep in mind you'll likely need a reservation in advance, so build in some buffer to your drive if you're coming from far away as cell reception in the area is spotty.

This is the most magical place - this is our 10th year visiting and the food and the staff continue to make this an amazing experience! All the food was fabulous - had the special both nights and was not disappointed. Will be back tomorrow for night number 3

Excellent service, relaxing and pretty ambiance, food really tasty! I think there could have been a few other dinner options. Loved the salad with dried corn!!

Another sensational dinner at Hell's Backbone Grill. Our waitress, Kat, recommended the Farm Crisp for dessert and it was DELICIOUS. It was an apricot crisp that is not to be missed. I'm going backwards here, so now the dinner. I had the Frisky Trout for the second time this year because it is THAT good. "Frisky" for the creek it comes from presumably, and not its frolicsome or playful taste. Dinner pal had the Jennchilada. It never disappoints. And now for appetizers. We tried the radishes, smooth and yummy, and the dinner biscuits, because we have to have them. Every time. Always. Everything went well with a bottle of Willamette Valley whole cluster Pinot Noir. An excellent dinner in a lovely environment.

We have consistent experience here. The food is good, especially given where they are--quite middle of a dessert. Great ambiance. I feel like the spring/summer menu has better main dishes while fall menu has the best dessert.

I am giving 4.5 stars but rounding up- we went twice and felt it was great but maybe could have been better. The atmosphere is elevated casual- My boyfriend and I were dressed up because it was my birthday dinner the first time we went, and we were visiting from SLC for a road trip. A lot of other patrons were dressed casually. Tables were a little cramped together so you definitely end up hearing other people's conversations. Service was good, but don't expect the kind that you get at high end fine dining places. It was more small-town friendly which was perfectly fine, but definitely have the right expectations. I felt like they should have maybe asked if we were celebrating anything, but it's not a huge deal. Biscuits with butter and their homemade jam were amazing-- the peach jam and the crabapple jam were both so yummy. I highly recommend those. Award-winning Salad-- it was good but I am not sure I would order it again. The best part about it was the fresh peaches but it otherwise seemed less "Award-winning" than it was hyped up to be. Bison pot pie special-- sadly, the meat was dry and it seemed like it really needed some kind of gravy or sauce on the inside. The portion and presentation were great, though. Beef pot roast special-- Also a bit dry. I felt it was high quality meat that they used, but maybe something about the preparation made the beef dry. Jenchiladas-- definitely quite spicy, but SO delicious. Calabacitas and beef were both tried and they were both amazing. Cocktail-- I had a peach-and-gin cocktail and it was scrumptious. I would order that again and again but it was a drink of the night so they might not have it all the time. Drip coffee-- MUST TRY. We got it after our dinner meal and it was honestly some of the BEST drip coffee either of us ever had.

We have been coming here every October since we moved to Utah and It's just so amazing every single time. We love the seasonality and the fact that they use their locally grown food in every dish. I had the champagne grape chicken this time, along with the pumpkin soup, warm cabbage and beet salad and my hubby had the ribeye and garden salad, plus The lollipop hickory smoked chicken and of course we always get the gingerbread pudding with butterscotch sauce. Everything was cooked to perfection and just a little tip....if you are a foodie who likes to cook, most of their recipes are in cookbooks they have written, so you can make them yourself. Also if you are gluten free you can indulge like you've never indulged before!! It's just the best place and October is a spectacular time to go. The staff was sooo good, knowledgeable, fun and accommodating We love, love, love this place and the people who have made it so special!!!

Perfection!! We try to make the trip here twice a year if possible. We always expect the very best so you would think at some point we would be disappointed BUT we never are. Amazing people, tranquil and peaceful setting with absolutely exquisite food and service. It is a bright light in our world. Everyone here makes this a truly unforgettable experience! Make this place a priority destination

Don't miss this unique restaurant offering in the heart of escalante/Boulder area- I would never have known this gorgeous restaurant existed in such a remote destination without the recommendation from seasoned locals. The food is hearty, farm to table, locally sourced (farms listed on the menu). You won't leave hungry! The entrees are dense and filling. We got the bison pie, pork tenderloin, braised beef & trout and all were fine dishes. The pork tenderloin had the most delicious, finger-licking barbecue sauce I have ever tried- more chutney like in texture. Some parts of the chop were a touch dry however. The bison pie had big juicy chunks of decadent bison- yum! The braised beef was tender and well executed- but the polenta was so bland and boring as a companion. Every carrot I ate was the most delicious carrot I have ever tried! Veggies on point. The cocktails were also delicious from presentation to taste, balanced and my whiskey sour was perfect foam to drink ratio. For appetizers, the goat cheese fondue was a unique take on a classic fondue super flavorful beautiful presentation & the biscuits and butter were amazing and fluffy! Tamale was quality with a juicy brisket interior but the edges were a little over cooked/too baked. I do wish the service had been better for a place with such high accolades. We had to wait twenty minutes for a table despite having a reservation and shuffled awkwardly around different parts of the restaurant. The bottle of wine we ordered was brought out only once we were halfway done with dinner (how long could it possibly take to bring out a wine bottle?)! We asked for some extra butter and waited for that for 10 minutes as well. And then they don't replace the silverware so your dirty fork and knife you reuse for the main course. So if you're not in a rush or too into supreme service ultimately quite minor and forgivable- but should be noted! Definitely a sweet spot in the dessert for quality food I would recommend to others to try!

From the ambience"outside", to the service, Thank you Izzy, to the food, OMG Beyond Incredible, to the desert, ugh amazing. We have traveled 3000 miles from Florida, in the past 3 weeks. This restaurant has outdone them all. Hidden Gem. Congrats to Hells Backbone who after over 20 years continues to outdo the concept of service and Incredible Food. Mwah.

One of the best meals I've ever had. The space is so peaceful and quaint. We had the hollandaise asparagus, biscuits,, jenchiladas, lemony cluck, and three different desserts. Everything was so obviously fresh and absolutely delicious. I wish this place was easier to access, but I think that's part of what makes this place so special.

Impressive - but the food offerings were not as great as the offerings at the Sweetwater Kitchen 11 miles away on Hells Backbone Road. The service was all that was expected; and the ambiance was crowded & noisy.

Fantastic Restaurant! 3 visits in three nights and food and service were excellent each night!

This place is unlike any other! It is an oasis in so many ways. I am happy to return often, despite the 11 hour drive. Sensational food, impeccable, friendly service. And the owners rock! Little Bone food truck was a great addition.

A diamond in an unexpected place. We were driving from Bryce Canyon to Richfield through Utah 12 Scenic Byway. AMAZING. From the setup to the decor, the drinks, the food, the service. We loved every part of our visit!

Wow is an understatement. Everything had such beautiful complexity that encompassed the season. I've been wanting to try this divine spot for years. It was worth the wait and drivr. Definitely best restaurant in Utah.

This is a great place in the middle of nowhere. The food is phenomenal. The location is superb.

I came here with much anticipation as a fan of the two co-owners and the advocacy they have been pursuing in their remote town of Boulder, UT - both in the food and environmental movements (read their article on the New Yorker if you're curious). And as a foodie, very much looked forward to trying their award winning cuisine after a hard day of hiking. If I could give half stars, this would actually be a 3.5 star review. I didn't have the solid five star experience I was so sure I would have because of the way we started our dining experience. They open at 4 pm for dinner and I've read that there is often a line even at that time. We arrived closer to five and had to wait about forty minutes. The system was that the host would text you when your table is ready and we were asked to sit in a nearby field with picnic tables instead of lurking around the waiting area (still being pandemic times, ya know). We did as we were asked but as we approached the forty min mark, my partner thought we should stand closer since we hadn't received a text yet. Then we noticed that the three parties after us were all getting seated/helped before us. A couple that was one party after us received a text message about ten minutes before us (but I think they might gotten take out?). An elderly couple that was two parties behind us was already seated and placing orders. And the party of 8 (the party immediately after us) was getting seated as we approached the host. Flustered, I asked the host why all these people after us were getting seated. She said that a table with eight seats opened up and so she was seating them first and that she was about to get to us. I pointed out that the party of two that was two parties after us were already seated but she did not have a response for that. What I haven't yet mentioned is that everyone is white or white passing and we are Asian. I asked if there was some bias happening here and if we were receiving this treatment because we aren't white and the host denied this was the case. Both of us in a huff, she led us to the table. She was not apologetic. I wanted to leave at this point but by then it was getting late and there weren't too many food options. My partner and I were both visibly ruffled by this experience and we were both feeling embarrassed and angry. We quickly ordered and wanted to eat as fast as possible and leave. The owner, Blake, was making her rounds as I think she usually does and she stopped by our table and asked how we were. I told her honestly about our experience and she quickly denied that there was any racism taking place because they are an anti-racist establishment. She said it was just the way things happened with larger parties. She ignored my point about the elderly couple like the host. She asked us to understand because they recently opened up and things were still rough around the edges. It was a non apology and it honestly left me feeling worse. After a few moments, she came back and then actually apologized and then asked us our names and tried to connect with us. I appreciated that additional gesture. The host later came by and also apologized. So yea. It was an unnerving start to our dinner but I'm glad I spoke up and I hope it might have sparked conversations about bias/unconscious bias among their team. In terms of food, we got the juniper lamb posole and the handmade pappardelle with smoked trout. Blake also gave us black powder biscuits on the house. We ordered the dark magic pear gingerbread for dessert. The food tasted fresh and it was nice to eat a hearty meal after a long hike and days of camping. The dessert was very decadent and too heavy for our liking. Wish they served it with more icecream to cut the heaviness of the gingerbread. Would I ever go back? Not sure but it was a character building experience to say the least.

Not what it used to be. Came down for our anniversary dinner last night. Ordered drinks, 3 apps, and 2 mains. Food was just okay and not worth the price. Probably won't be back again which is a shame because it was a favorite destination for years. The one highlight was our nice server.

I've been wanting to go here for YEARS!! I finally got the chance when I invited myself to a rendezvous in Escalante. After a very soggy hike I was ready. I started with a delicious fruity cocktail and the pozole. It was thick, warm and hearty which caused my clouds to lift right away. A cat was napping on a railing between patrons. This cat did some greetings earlier but had perfect restaurant cat behavior, friendly but restrained. I had the steelhead trout for my entree which was cooked perfectly with skin!! Crispy and perfect! I finished with a plum bread pudding, which is my dessert weakness. I loved everything about the whole experience! Can't wait to find an excuse to go back. I hope the cats will still be around (outside, of course) now that they have opened the dining room.

The pairing of blue sky, brilliant yellow sandstone and spectacular food means you're experiencing a memorable meal at Hell's Backbone Grill in Boulder, Utah. Our waiter on our first night from Kent, OH is our spirit animal and idle. Wonderful service. Cozy ambience with perfect music. Dinner and dessert to die for. We love HBG and all its peeps!

amazing food amazing staff amazing owners worth the drive every time for such an amazing experience!

Starting off the hostess and service from all staff was warm and absolutely stellar. The food is amazing, great flavor and texture all around. We got the zucchini guacamole to start which was served with tortilla chips and carrots. For our mains we got the bison steak as well as the beef pie. And we finished off with the fruit crisp. We're from out of state but we'll definitely be back with more friends or family on another road trip!

The food is so fantastic, if you are within 500 miles you gotta come here. The service is also second to none

HBG continues to be my favorite restaurant west of the Mississippi. Incredible food, prepared with care. The staff is amazing. We have eaten here for at least 10 years, and every visit is worth the 4 hour drive. Thanks to the pandemic, the addition of a new porch, and comfortable outdoor dining makes eating here even more of a treat. This is a place one MUST visit at least once in your life.

This hidden gem is not to be missed. Whether you are staying at the Lodge or elsewhere, it is worth taking time for dinner here. I have been multiple times, before and after Covid. The staff is amazing, the food creative and delicious, and the atmosphere unbeatable.