6 Best Restaurants in Vernal, Dinosaurland and Eastern Utah

Antica Forma

$$

With a branch in Moab, as well, this popular pizza spot offers Neapolitan-style pies with scrumptious crusts and high-end touches, including house-made fresh mozzarella. There's also a long list of pastas and appetizers, and it's all served from a spacious downtown location that can get absolutely mobbed on Friday and Saturday.

251 E. Main St., Vernal, Utah, 84078, USA
435-374–4138
Known For
  • house-made pizza dough, including a gluten-free option
  • beer and wine available (not a given in rural Utah)
  • personal-size pizzas, enough for one hungry person or two less-ravenous people
Restaurants Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun.

Betty's Cafe

$

This friendly, no-frills diner has the look of a fast-food joint but brings in tons of locals and tourists alike for meals that will leave you full all day. While lunch is tasty here, too, this is the best spot in Vernal for breakfast.

Dinosaur Brew Haus

$

This friendly joint serves higher quality food than your average sports pub, with an emphasis on burgers and sandwiches. Snack on peanuts and watch a game on one of the TVs while you wait for your food, or drop a coin in the jukebox and shoot some pool. For the kids, there's a small children's menu with cheap meal deals. The interior is fun and unfussy, with green-and-white checkerboard floors, wooden tables, and a bar you can sidle up to. 

Recommended Fodor's Video

Plaza Mexicana

$$

Festive, colorful interiors and authentic Mexican specialties make Plaza Mexicana a sure bet if you need a break from Vernal's ubiquitous diners and steak houses. There are about 20 varieties of burritos to choose from, as well as a large selection of seafood options. While this isn't the cheapest Mexican food in the region, it's among the best.

55 E. Main St., Vernal, Utah, 84078, USA
435-781–2931
Known For
  • huge portions
  • fantastic homemade salsas
  • extensive menu

Swain Brothers Restaurant

$$$

This spacious steak house right downtown has a gigantic menu, venturing far from your favorite cuts to pastas, seafood, and Mexican dishes. The atmosphere is hip, with friendly service, and there's a full bar with signature cocktails.

Vernal Brewing Company

$$

One of the rare breweries in this corner of the state, this gastropub also stands out for its creative takes on pub favorites, including burgers, pizza, and sandwiches. Located downtown, the interior has a big-city warehouse feel, with large windows, tall ceilings, and exposed pipes. Choose from an array of VBC's craft beers brewed on-site, and even get a growler to go. For the kids, there's a varied children's menu and house-made sodas in several flavors.

55 S. 500 E, Vernal, Utah, 84078, USA
435-781–2337
Known For
  • innovative burger menu (try the "VBC," with candied bacon and onion marmalade)
  • chicken skillet pie
  • hip atmosphere
Restaurants Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun.