An elegant surprise in the wilderness
Hell's Backbone Grill is like an oasis of civilization in the midst of Southeast Utah's wilderness canyon country, a place of serenity and organic, made-from-scratch, delicious food where one would not expect it. Friendly service, paintings of local scenes by local artists on the walls, a creative menu and an on-site kitchen garden make for a terrific dining experience.    [07 Mar 2002 21:09:41]

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Recommended Dishes: Spice-rubbed filet mignon, local trout, any kind of posole, everything for breakfast, Boulder burger with homemade buns, Cream of Jalapeno soup (a prize-winner), Chocolate-chile torte

     ­Dolly Spalding   

CRAP (Pardon my French)
I 'dined' here once; never again. They make a big deal (on the menu) about their beef, and then only offer one steak, the fillet. It took over an hour to get the steak, and had nothing with it; no salad, no potato, no vegetable. It cost over $20, and was an average steak, at best. Ordering, waiting and eating took over an hour and a half, and I only got one coffee refill. Absolutely terrible place to eat.    [09 Feb 2003 05:24:39]

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Recommended Dishes: would not recommend anything

     ­Anonymous   

Hard to believe the high quality of ingredients they manage in this remote place. I think the previous reviewer must have eaten there before they were open for the season. On April 18, 2003, my wonderfully flavored steak came with poblana crema, lemon-y mashed potatoes and fresh, perfect spring vegetables.    [28 Apr 2003 15:45:41]

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     ­Anonymous   

Worth the drive from anywhere
We ate there in April of 2001 and 2002, missed last year but are on our way back for Mother's Day week-end 2004. Breakfasts are delightful-fresh fruit, lovely waffles, good, strong coffee. We had lamb for dinner one year and it was superb. Blake is a charming and attentive host, Jen serves innovative, Southwestern selections. Nearly everything is local when possible.    [17 Apr 2004 22:24:27]

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     ­Sally & Craig, Park City, Park City, UTAH   LWFF at earthlink dot net

Worfth the drive from anywhere
We stumbled on this place in mid July 2004, little knowing we had found one the true gems of the American West. Coming from San Francisco good restaurants are hardly unusual; great restaurants are and this is a great restaurant. I would rank it with Chez Panisse. Everything is home grown and as fresh as possible. Beef was superb, veggies outstanding. Desserts to die for, as is the home made sage bisquit. My wife and I are seriously considering making a two day drive to resample this place in the Fall --- it really is that good.    [26 Jul 2004 00:48:04]

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Recommended Dishes: Lemon potatoes

     ­David Fischer   

Where the food is heavenly...
Boulder, Utah, is an intentional destination. You cannot go there on accident. The place pulls you in and Hell's Backbone Grill will keep you there, for extra days, will draw you back year after year, season after season. It is not just food served; it is food lovingly prepared with good blessings. An oasis in the desert. Thank you, thank you, Jen and Blake.    [21 Jun 2005 13:35:08]

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Recommended Dishes: a few days in a row, trying a bit of everything

     ­Melissa O'Neil   

Unfriendly, pretentious, vastly overpriced
We arrived at 5:15 and were told the restaurant did not open until 5:30. We suggested having a drink at the bar but were told to go away and take a walk around the "nature preserve" (a swamp). We came back 20 minutes later and were seated.

The food descriptions were of the cutesy, we-get-our-pepper-from-a-special-pepper-farm-our-salt-comes-from-a-subterranean-salt-mine, etc.

My pork chop was tough; my potatoes were cold and when I told the waitress she looked at me as if I just ate a live frog from the swamp.

The restaurant is nothing to look at. From the road, the first thing you notice is that all the roofs are made of rusting corrugated iron.

Message: restaurants with rusting roofs should hold their pretentiousness in great check, especially when serving mediocre food.

Avoid this one.    [21 Mar 2007 23:24:52]

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Recommended Dishes: None

     ­Anonymous   

Food Review
I ate their once and would not recommend it to anyone to spend their hard earned money. Way too overpriced for what you get. I had the meatloaf with cheese sauce because it was the least expensive item on the overpriced menu and it was nothing I would write home about. The cheese sauce that they raved about might as well have been from a jar of Cheezewhiz. The market price of the "grass fed beef" is way overpriced. They claim all this locally raised and grass feed beef and organic crap. It's just a way to get a higher price for their menu items. I question their "organic vegetables" and "grass fed beef" Where's the beef feeding on the grass in southern Utah? If you don't order liquor with your meal, you might as well forget about good service. I can't believe that people fall for this hype and patronize this restaurant if the truth were really known! But it makes a great story to sell magazines.    [01 Apr 2007 19:13:23]

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Recommended Dishes: Salt & Pepper

     ­Anonymous   

Remote, Rural and Remarkable
Our group of 4 adults ordered different items from the varied menu: tortillas, chicken, UT trout, meat loaf. Every dish was delicious. We had our choice from a number of vegetable side items, equally outstanding. The place was crowded on a Wednesday night in early May.

The ‘aged-look’ galvanized roofing is not a cheap building material; is popular in other regions. The buildings and decor fit the Boulder, UT location.

This is not a family chain restaurant. The price of our meals were not out-of-line for the quality of food and the level of service. This is Boulder, Utah (pop. under 200), in one of the most rural and remote locations in the continental U.S. We will return again whenever we return to this area.    [04 May 2007 20:13:31]

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     ­Annette & Larry, http://educscapes.com   

Wonderful
This is not a fancy big-city restaurant. But really, if you want a place with a million different kinds of steak and seafood, then what are you doing hanging out in rural southern Utah anyways?

This restaurant has wonderful food with an emphasis on organic and locally grown/raised ingredients. The restaurant is small and unpretentious. The prices are somewhat high--although worth every penny--and the service is fairly slow--but incredibly friendly. But again, if you are too rushed to settle down, enjoy your surroundings and eat a lovely, made-from-scratch meal, then please just keep right on driving past Hell's Backbone Grill and leave their few tables open for people who can appreciate food that is really made with care.

They even make Brussels sprouts taste delicious, and I hate Brussels sprouts!    [31 Oct 2007 22:49:45]

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Recommended Dishes: The Cowgirl Meatloaf, Potato Pancakes (Breakfast), and the Chocolate-Chile Cream Pot mmmm....

     ­seldomseenshake