Sweetwater Kitchen

4.5 stars. It’s worth the short detour off hwy 12 to visit Sweetwater Kitchen— and if you’re looking for a place to stay and want to tap in to your inner hippie, check out the rooms at the resort. While you’re at it, drive up Hell’s Backbone to the top and check out the 5 star views. We enjoyed the food that was served at Sweetwater. The portions were abundantly sized. We began with a smoked trout dip the moved on to two different salads— the wedge being particularly excellent and then split a chicken pot pie. It was rich! No room left for desert. The service and setting were top notch. This is a fine establishment and my only recommendation would be to cut the serving sizes by a third. We plan on returning.

We came down in the end of July and I had heard about this place through the grapevine and wanted to give it a shot. It’s in a pretty obscure location which added to its charm and although a long ways away from any other business which was a nice change. The food was okay but the selection for meat was odd. Once you chose a weight of meat, the next person could not get the same weight. It was kind of like “we only have one 8oz ribeye today, so if someone else wants one they can get a 10oz or a 6oz” which was unusual The service was kind of frustrating which is why I am eating a 3/5 stars. My wife and kids all ordered steaks, and I wanted to try the adobo pot pie. The steaks were finished before the pot pie and I watched them sit under a heat lamp for several minutes until I finally flagged down a server and asked if they were our steaks and if so, we’d like to have them and that I’d wait on the pot pie. The server seemed really confused why I’d ask for such a thing and took a couple more minutes to walk 20’ and bring us the food that was ready. I finally received the pot pie and it was okay albeit a little homogenous in flavor (normally you can taste the ingredients with the seasonings but in this case every bite tasted uniform and lacked variance in flavor). My family was happy either way their steaks though. Overall, the atmosphere was fun. The service needs some work, and the food was so-so (not gross, but not memorable).

Highly recommend this restaurant for their high quality and lovingly prepared cuisine in a relaxed atmosphere and beautiful setting. All of our needs were anticipated by wait staff including the marvelous E. Our dinner for nine (both vegetarians and meat eaters) will be remembered by our family as the very best on our weeklong trek visiting Utah's national parks. Dessert (cheesecake and bread pudding for us) is not to be missed! Sweetwater Kitchen is about an hour leisurely drive from Capitol Reef National Park, through the Dixie National Forest (Aspen trees) with roadside pullouts for expansive vistas.

Splendid surprise in the desert. It’s a little out-of-the-way, but well worth the drive. It’s even a more incredible experience if you can spend the night. The restaurant is phenomenal, and the adjacent lodging accommodations are lovely. It was a welcomed restful night after being in the desert for a few days camping. The staff was phenomenal, and the trout taco absolutely blew me away!

With Hell's Backbone Grill just down the road, the gold medal is gone and other restaurants are just in competition for second place. That said, Sweetwater Kitchen is a fine place and a worthy contender. I went there twice for dinner during recent time in the area. Once, I have the NY strip steak; the other time, I went for the sumptuous chicken pot pie. Both were very tasty and well prepared. To go along with excellent salads. Sweetwater Kitchen is a very good restaurant, even as they were having some early-season staffing issues.

What a spectacular meal, and such an absolutely beautiful location. You definitely do not want to pass this place up. We had the House Bread, and it was baked fresh, and was hot when it came out, with three sides of infused olive oil and balsamic drizzle. We also had the Polenta Fries, and they were so delicious, and came with what tasted like a home made spicy ketchup. The Cheese Board comes with three different types of extremely tasty, fresh cheeses, toasted bread, jam, apricots, candied pecans, and pickled onions and green bell peppers--it was seriously heavenly, and they had sauteed fresh sage on it, which was insanely good. The Golden Beet Salad was amazing as well, with crisp, fresh lettuce, super fresh golden beets--which complimented the salad amazingly--goat cheese, candied pecans, dried cranberries, and a delicious oil based sauce, with pine nuts in it. We also had the Sweet Potato Enchiladas and they were very good, the tomatoes were so fresh, and you can tell that they do not use beans from a can. The Vanilla ice cream tasted so perfect, almost like they made it fresh, and the apricot sauce on top was to die for--the ice cream also had candied pecans on it. Each dish was sprinkled with small, edible flowers, and it was just seriously all so wonderful. They get everything fresh here, and local, and they even have a huge garden on the property where they grow some of their ingredients. So glad we came here. Wow!! And the person cooking was very friendly and even came out and served our food. I think he might be the owner, but I am not sure. This is such a wonderful place!:)

SUMPTUOUS SURPRISE! My husband and I were so lucky to have stumbled upon this hidden gem! Best food we've had during our Utah trip by far! The chef concocted food combinations on par with what we typically experience in a cosmopolitan city restaurant. Don't pass this up if you're traveling along highway 12!!! Staff were delightful and ranch ambiance was just what we were looking for.

By far the best tasting meal I’ve ever had. The food was super fresh and flavorful. Beautiful scenery and dinner presentation as well.

WOW! So delightful, we absolutely LOVED eating here! We had some incredible appetizers (mushrooms with sausage and the beets) and the entrees were ON POINT (we got the new york, rib eye, and filet). The bread pudding was to die for! The service was wonderful and we even got to meet the local kitty. Great spot, would 100000% recommend it for anyone looking for some spectacular food!

my husband had the pork chop w/ veggies in a light pan sauce, perfectly cooked. highly recommended. i had the vegan dish which wasn't on the menu - the chef, thank you scott, created a light, very flavorful entree using local veggies, topped off with a generous rectangle of butternut squash and garnishes of sun dried tomatoes and pistachios. it all worked together beautifully. the visual presentations were like works of art. we took our time so we could savor each and every bite. we had to restrain ourselves from licking our plates clean. the red wine blend, seduction, got a robust thumbs up from my husband. we dined on the deck which overlooks stunning views to the south and west. the clouds - boulder has the best summertime clouds - were on full display, giving us a veritable light and shadow show. we soaked it all up. i adore sweet water kitchen. i love the talented, kind and very knowledgeable staff too. thank you thank you thank you...

It's a charming rustic lodge out in the country. The menu the night we ate there was pretty limited for vegetarians so beware. We shared an order of stuffed mushrooms which were outstanding. My husband had the shredded beef sandwich which he pronounced excellent. I had the only vegetarian option, chile relleno. It was okay but didn't have enough cheese or flavor. The prices are moderate and very good value.

Incredible local sourced food. Professional staff. Scenic view of the Dixie National Forest. Highly recommend!

A hidden gem with amazing view and tasty food!!! Was nervous on our way there- it's a 3-mile detour on our way from Capitol reef to Tropic. It's well hidden in trees and mountain. It's totally worth the drive! Didn't try their famous burger- heard beef from their own ranch. But everything we ordered is amazing! It's attached to ranch guest house. Wish we knew this place earlier and could have chosen to stay here! Next time!!!

I WOULD GIVE IT A 6 if I could! Absolutely a hidden gem! We were driving from Moab to Bryce Canyon, we made a longer drive to enjoy DIXIE natural forest park, and couldn't be more happy to stop here for dinner. Everything is from the farm, they are delicious and even better with the stunning view

Stopped by sweet water kitchen while visiting Boulder Utah. I was surprised to find out they offer suits, cabins, and yurts to rent for those planning an extended stay. Beautiful main lodge with amazing indoors/ outdoors sitting areas. The restaurant had a cozy ambiance and the staff was welcoming and cordial. We ordered a couple of their appetizers, burgers and chicken sandwiches and finished with the matcha tart. It is worth to mention their meats are farm raised , fed, and finished. Amazing food and amazing experience. Planning to go back during the summer for an extended stay. I must say, I have never had a most delicious dessert the matcha tart! On the way out we stopped by the lodge store I bought beautiful local souvenirs for our family. We absolutely love this place!!

Fantastic in every way. Scenery, food, service. We tried all the most popular well known restaurants in the Escalante/Boulder area. These guys were #1.

Finest good in the middle of nowhere center of the universe. Been enjoying it for years.

Located off the beaten path, this hidden gem was a pleasant surprise. Their farm-to-table concept with locally sourced fresh vegetables, fruits, meats are healthy & very tasty. Beautiful scenery, friendly service , cozy ambiance. We really had a wonderful time. Reservation only. Open Fri-Sun. Highly recommend!

Great view, accidentally showed up 30 minutes after the restaurant closed and they still fed us, the chicken sandwich is great, bottle of wine was fantastic, and they gave us a free dessert.

Love this place, but they can be hit or miss at times. I've been to the area several times and this spot as well. They don't always have enough of everything, the service can be slow, and depending on who makes the drinks, they could be a lot better as well. That said, the grounds are lovely, and the food is amazing. I also love that all the food is local, and grass fed.

This is an absolute MUST. We dined last evening and were planning on coming back but forgot about being closed Wednesday. My husband and I shared the bread and dipping oil and the beet salad and split the 15oz ribeye, the evenings featured cut (as was the strip). Our server, a kind student whose studying forestry and sustainability, and the neighbors sweet doggie who visits the patrons made the evening even more enjoyable.

Limited menu but delicious! Perfect for what we were looking for! Service was great and margarita was delicious!

An oasis of delicious delight. This place made our trip. The view, the ambiance, the friendly staff, the food, the drinks, the dessert. Everything was top notch A+ spectacular! If you're in the area this place is an absolute must. The food is fresh, locally sourced and exquisitely prepared with unique takes on every dish, even what would otherwise seem like traditional fare is bursting with flavor and texture, we just couldn't get enough. You can feel the love and care put into this restaurant. The owners are awesome and you can tell they love what they do. You can't go wrong. Trust me. We had mostly everything on the menu over the course of 3 nights. Good people, good vibes. Just the best! So happy to have found this spot and can't wait to come back.

Sweetwater is such a sweet spot. Amazing fresh organic food. Gorgeous views. Laidback vibe. Friendly staff. Exactly what was needed after a long day of hiking. We stayed in the associated Boulder Mountain Guest Ranch. Loved the salad, the trout.

Excellent staff, atmosphere, and DELISH meal!! We were running late and this team was kind and accommodating enough to seat us. Had a local brew, house bread (MUST get the recipe) and fish and beef tacos. We wish we could have stayed longer!

Drove over from Escalante for dinner and was blown away. The staff, the drinks, the meal and the atmosphere were exactly what I was looking for and more. I highly recommend the house margarita and spring salad. Fresh and beautifully plated ingredients. The tenderloin was incredible and complemented perfectly by potatoes, poblano peppers and mushroom/onion light gravy. I was fully satisfied by every bite and was going to pass on dessert but after seeing the Lisbon chocolate cake go by I couldn't resist... well worth it and the perfect finishing touch. Hats off to the chefs!!

Excellent local food! Love the trout dishes and steaks. Excellent views and service....will be back for sure!

This cozy restaurant came highly recommended by our AirBnB host in Boulder after an intense hiking/camping excursion to Reflection Canyon. We hadn't eaten a full meal in a couple of days and were eager for comforting and nutritious sustenance. My husband ordered the polenta fries and chicken enchiladas, while I ordered the freshly​ baked bread with herbed butter and veggie enchiladas. Everything was absolutely sublime. Warm, fresh, local, flavorful. I liked​ how my veggie enchiladas were more of a baked casserole. I was pleasantly surprised to see gluten-free and vegetarian options in such a small town. I would encourage Sweetwater Kitchen to take it a step further and offer at least one vegan/dairy free option (that is not a salad!) Overall: great service, warm atmosphere, excellent food. Stop by if you are in the area!

Wandered into the SWK after a long day of hiking at Grand Escalante National Monument and had no chance to spruce up, no reservation, and no idea what was on the menu. None the less I was warmly welcomed into a log-framed dinning room and presented with an eclectic and delicious meal. The sweet potato and pork belly tacos were brilliant! Also the freshly made chocolate chip cookies and milk were outstanding. As for libations, I have no doubt that I partook of the best Bloody Mary in all of Utah.

Really amazing find out in the middle of nowhere. The steaks were amazing, and the chicken sandwich still managed to make us all jealous. Really great cocktails and wine selection, and the staff was amazing, friendly, and top-notch.

One of the best dining experinces i've had as far as food quality goes. I'm gunna get right down to it with the rankings of the dishes we tried. Night 1: Cocktails were all tasty, especially the gin 1's Appetizer: Stuff peppers (8.1) Appetizer: Trout Tacos - some of the best tacos i've ever had (9.7) Entree: One of the 2 burgers on the menu, wasn't the bison so just process of elimination. It was phenomenal though coming in around an (8.5) Night 2: Both cocktails and wine were great this night App: Felaffel Balls - nothing super stellar about them but sauce was awesome (7.2) App: Rustic bread with pesto cheese - so tasty with the cheese and the bread is super fresh, just need more cheese to be provided, we barely got any (7.6) Entree: Baked Chicken - came with asparagus and mashed potatoes, really tasty dish even though a little on the pricy side (8.3) Desert: Chocolate Chip Cookie (6.9) Desert: Rasberry Cheesecake - absolutely killer (8.9) **Besides the dining the place was very calm and cozy, perfect for a smoothe date if you willing to take the driver over and bust out the benjies. Waitress was very chill and informative, def coming back when i'm in Boulder again. Atmosphere is casual so you don't need to dress too fancy but you can if you want. Love the western theme in the joint. Day 3 Breakfast: You awake to a picnic basket downstairs if you stay over for the night. Best natural hard boiled eggs i've ever had, straight from the coop outside. Almond milk for coffee is sweet of you guys to provide, cereal/granola is a nice touch, organic local apples are juicy and sweet, and the home made corn muffins blew me away. Great way to kick off the day.

Visited Utah for a week and this was possibly my girlfriend's favorite stop (better than the parks). The restaurant is small and cozy, the cocktails were great, and the steak was amazing. It has a great ambiance and the servers give great recommendations. If you stay overnight, you'll get to pick up a breakfast basket to enjoy in the morning, and the coffee is good too! Highly recommend a visit!

Delicious!!! Perfect in every way. The setting is beautiful, the service was excellent (thank you Kyra) and the food was phenomenal. We had the butternut squash kale salad, trout taco, fried chicken sandwich and apple cobbler for dessert. Everything was incredible. Highly recommend this restaurant and we will definitely go back next time we visit Boulder.

Four adults and three children went there for dinner. I was very surprised at the prices on the menu. There is no way this is a two $ restaurant. For four adults two toddlers and a baby the bill was $140. My wife and I were shocked at the prices so we ordered the cheapest salad on the menu which were $10 each. That's all we had. The other couple shared a steak, and it was $75!!! The children were going to split a burrito but the server convinced us they were so small that they needed their own. When they arrive they were quite large and $10 each. I would never order a watermelon and cucumber salad to eat, but it was the cheapest thing on the menu. The price of the steak was not marked on the menu. It just said market price or something similar. The steak looked excellent and it was huge. But no steak is worth $75. I would not go back here again. The type of folks that dine here are looking for the "organic" food experience. There are lots of places I can get a steak for $20 or less.

Visited earlier this summer. What a great experience! Awesome food, reasonable prices and a great view from the patio! The staff was very friendly, knowledgeable and accommodating. All in all just a five-star-plus joint!

We were pleasantly surprised by all the dishes we tried. The homemade bread w/ herbed butter was warm & fresh. The chicken enchiladas were a great portion size with a delicious poblano sauce. The trout fillet, poblano polenta, and roasted brussel sprouts & fennel were all excellent. Both entree dishes were a touch on the salty side which may not be to everyone's liking. We don't normally do dessert but were tempted by the goat cheesecake ala creme brulee with blueberry sauce -- a great combination. Would definitely come back to try the tacos and bison burger.

If SWK were in any city , it would be one of the best in the city. They play with seasonal, classic, and fresh flavors in a way you can't find in this area. Everything was amazing! We will definitely come back when we're back in Utah.

This place is truly a gem. Everything is local, delicious, and inspired. I had the enchiladas, which were incredible, with homemade tortillas and cherry tomato salsa. The Mousse with cherries from the property was also top notch. We tried all of the restaurants in Boulder, and Sweetwater Kitchen is by FAR the best. I would be happy to go back any time!

They grow lots of veggies on site for the restaurant. We really enjoyed the 2 meals that we had there. Homemade bread with honey, yogurt and homemade granola, and yummy blueberries. Really good soup and gourmet grilled cheese too. The little store in the lodge sells lots of organic and gluten free products, as well as ice cream, kombucha and coconut water.

We have gone to many of the restaurants in the area, and this is by far our favorite. We visited on taco Tuesday, but I couldn't resist ordering the ribeye. It was fantastic. The rest of my group ordered the tacos, and between the four of them sampled each choice. They said they were all excellent, but agreed the pork belly was their favorite. Don't skip the delicious house bread with wonderful herbed butter, and the goat cheese cheesecake is also a must have. The only complaint I have is that it's located in Boulder Utah, and I live in Michigan....I will be wishing it was a lot closer to home so I could go often.

After returning over the Hogsback to our cabin, we got cleaned up, and went to dinner at the ranch's Sweetwater Cafe. Brie was a wonderful server, and made great suggestions about the evening's menu. I had the Bacon Carbonara, but unfortunately, I wasn't a real fan. Not only wasn't it anything like a Carbonara that I had ever had or made, but the bacon was a little burnt, and that overpowered the rest of the dish, though nothing on the plate really had much taste to it anyway. Probably just a one-off because everyone else's meals were really good. Sue had a really nicely spiced Golden Beet Salad with a Trout Taco. Lucas enjoyed a Bacon Burger that was really done well; in fact it was outstanding. And Jill really liked her Squash Taco. As a suggestion, there is a need for more selections on the menu.

The spaghetti and meatballs and was the best I've had! My husband and son split the 27 ounce t-bone. It was cooked perfectly topped with grilled mushrooms, onions and peppers. The service was friendly and personable. Well definitely be back again.

My husband and I celebrated our anniversary here and we were thoroughly impressed! First of all...the regular old bread is AMAZING! I kept trying to convince myself to stop eating it during the meal and then ended up taking the last piece in a to-go box because I was so obsessed! Our appetizer (bone marrow) and entrees (fried chicken and trout penne pasta) were also delicious! We were graciously comped dessert when the waitress accidentally got out order wrong. This was no big deal because it gave us more time to enjoy the lovely views and ambiance (along with still-warm chocolate chip cookies and glasses of milk)! The free breakfast included in our stay was also very tasty. Thank you Sweetwater!

This Restaurant at the Boulder Mountain Guest Ranch is Awesome!!! It's very small and quaint but the food is unbelievably good! The presentation is gorgeous and the taste of all we had was definitely worth every penny we paid. We had the Butternut squash salad (amazing!) and the Airline Chicken (great flavors). Then we had the Pork shank with corn pudding and mashed potatoes, OMG, so good! I also had Trout that was good and the Pork Belly Tacos (our absolute fav!) The Chef is Scott and he even shared a bit of his recipe's with us.

Very good meal tonight. We loved the drive up to the place and ate some great tacos and salad and drank a good glass of wine. Service was informal but just right for the place.

I stayed at BMGR and ate breakfast, lunch and dinners at the Sweetwater Kitchen and could not have been any more pleased. Everyone in our group raved about the food after each meal. The meals were all fairly simple, but because of the fresh and cleanly produced ingredients - many coming from their own gardens - and they chef's obvious love of his job, it was delicious. I would recommend the food here to anyone!