Wendy B.
Yelp
This is what a road trip is all about. Country roads, vast expanses of nothing but beautiful scenery, hidden burroughs that whisper of great connections to history now forgotten, and mom and pop businesses that are the backbone of middle American life.
The town of Loa in Central Utah is a perfect example. Here is where I now vamp to the tune of "You can be in such a hurry to get where you are going, you fail to see what is right in front of your face."
Distracted by boarded up, crumbling Victorians, highway cones and torn up pavement, dead weeds and even more dead hollyhocks, I nearly missed the grey brick and Pepto bismol pink walled building that bears a sign that says, "home style cookin', trailer park, laundromat , showers". This is Country Cafe. This is a *must* stop.
The exterior foretold the inside, with the mismatched diner furniture, some fishermen sitting around the table exaggerating fish stories, cedar walls, a chalkboard announcing, "Welcome Hunters" and a list of the day's specials and pies, and a smiling frazzled haired waitress who made sure you were comfy. "Sit anywhere you like", she encouraged.
The menu was small. The prices comparable to city diner fare. There were books set by each table, all by the same author, all quick reads, snip-it's and quotes intended to amuse you while you waited for your meal. They were funny. I must get them.
The coffee was good. She kept it coming.
The 8 oz chicken fried steak was not 8 oz. It was more like 10 oz., and it was beautifully seasoned, lightly dusted, cooked perfectly. The country gravy was rich and creamy with generous lumps of good country sausage. We ordered more gravy just to make sure no bite was left naked. Two eggs and one big pancake finished our order. Glad we shared. It was filling. It was all good.
The love and warmth coming from its owners can be found in the food. Make sure you seek out this little place when you plan your next trip thru Utah. Yelpers, you got it right! Thanks to the tune of 5-star diner right.
Vamp..."You can be in such a hurry to get where you are going, you fail to see what is right in front of your face."......(I wrote that).