Get FREE email communications from Fodor's Travel, covering must-see travel destinations, expert trip planning advice, and travel inspiration to fuel your passion.
Sorry! We don't have any recommendations for Dinosaurland and Eastern Utah right now.
Because the towns in eastern Utah are small, dining options are generally more casual and less innovative than in urban areas. The area has only two brewpubs: the refreshingly trendy Vernal Brewing Company, which opened just off Vernal’s Main Street in 2013, and Grogg’s Pinnacle Brewing Co., between Helper and Price; happily, both turn out good food and beer. Price has a mix of ethnic restaurants (with surprisingly low prices) that represents its immigrant railroad and mining history. Vernal, a farming and ranching town, has good steak houses and tasty diner eats. The best dining in this part of the state can be found in upscale lodges—Falcon's Ledge Lodge, between Duchesne and Roosevelt, and Red Canyon Lodge and Flaming Gorge Resort, both near Flaming Gorge—which pride themselves on having gourmet menus. Bear in mind that most locally owned restaurants are closed on Sunday, so plan ahead or you'll likely be stuck eating in motel restaurants or fast-food joints.
With tall ceilings and a second-floor mezzanine, this downtown pub looks like a reformed Wild West saloon and serves up American fare and Utah-made microbrews all day long. It's best known for its generous breakfasts and juicy burgers, and while you're here, make sure to browse the eclectic assortment of gift items for sale on the upper level. Local bands deliver live music on some weekend evenings.
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.
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.
Found in a historic building along Main Street, this casual diner has the feel of an old-time soda fountain and serves up home-style American fare for breakfast, lunch, and early dinner (it closes at 7 pm). Full of local color, this has been the spot for big portions and low prices for decades. Sit at the counter or at a table, where you can read old newspaper clippings under the glass tops. Most lunch and dinner options come either à la carte or as a meal (with your choice of soup, salad, or their famed curly fries).
This small, casual pub between Helper and Price is out of the way but worth the drive for its huge selection of burgers, pizzas, salads, and steak-house favorites. Start your meal with one of the many appetizers, and make sure to try one of the craft beers on tap. This place has quite the following, so be prepared for a wait on busy nights.
Sign up for Travel Tips & News
Thank you for your interest!
