(This is a duplicate of a post I forgot to designate as being specific to Utah.)

I'd like to recommend a fabulous restaurant in Torrey (just outside Capitol Reef National Park) -- Cafe Diablo. To get an idea of the menu items and their cost, check out their website: http://www.cafediablo.net/

All of the flavors were distinctive, as was the presentation. Lots of outside seating. This restaurant would compete well with the better restaurants of large cities. I wish they were in my hometown area.

The pumpkin seed trout was very good. The cocunut-crusted calamari (not shown on the online menu) was fabulous. And the peanut butter ice cream was to die for!

We ran into that tourist trap this summer and it was far less than acceptible. It was too expensive, it had a 70's atmosphere, smelled like cigarette smoke, and the McFood was run of the mill. If anything was "to die for" it was getting out of the place!

Interesting. We'll be trying this place out in a couple of week. Mixed reviews on the site below. I'll let you know our experience when we get home.

http://chefmoz.org/United_States/UT/...958081697.html

Interesting Jor. Your's is the first negative comment I've ever heard about Cafe Diablo. I've been to Torrey many times, but haven't tried it yet myself. I'm always there in the off season when they are closed. Oh well.

I would also be interested in an updated review from Fodors.

While on the topic of Torrey, might I ask if anyone has recently stayed at either Torrey's Best Western or the Boulder View Inn in Torrey, and what did you think?

Thank you.

jor, fess up now. Did you really go to this restaurant or did you post this because you felt the original post was some sort of advertising?

Dayle, looks like we were not the only unsatisfied people. Read on...

"What a let down.
Have been wanting to eat at Cafe Diablo for a very long time, many recommendations. Came in on a Sunday, very busy. We ordred cocktals, an appetizer, a salad and two entrees. The salad was brought first after waiting 15 minutes because the app wasn't ready. Salad was very good. Empanada app finally came and was o.k. Twenty minutes after app was removed entrees came. Ribs were very dry and over spiced. Flank steak was said to have been marinated, very bland. At no time did the server or the owner/chef, who was on the floor all night, attempt to explain or console us. While waiting another ten minutes for our check, the owner had the gall to ask us if we'd seen the desert tray. If you can't handle the business stop seating people, greed is quite unbecoming. [27 Jul 2004 12:07:05]

Guy "

That's funny jor, the only bad review of the six on the review site that I posted the link to in my post above.

Got anything NEW to add or is this it?

I'd be interested in any OTHER reviews you can come up with as I'm contemplating 2 meals at this joint.

How much newer do you need than a july 27, 04 review? A review from last weekend? You don't need a third critical review anyway. My opinion is valid and we did not like the place. Have fun.

to clarify: I did not give Cafe Diablo a negative review. I have never eaten there, but will look forward to trying it.

My apologies jor...you are right...the most recent review carries the most weight along with yours. Perhaps there's been a change of chef. I'll give it a try too and let you all know what I think in a couple of weeks. Hopefully things have improved.

I'm glad this restaurant will be reviewed again. However, may I ask again:

While on the topic of Torrey,has recently stayed at either the Best Western or the Boulder View Inn in Torrey, and what did you think? Both are supposed to have excellent views. Thank you.

Wanderluster: I'll be staying at the Best Western for one night next week and will report back on it (and Cafe Diablo) when I return.

I was in Torrey in August. Had a meal at Cafe Diablo. Was underwhelmed.

Before my diatribe on the restaurant I must say that our accommodations in Torrey were first rate. We stayed at the Skyridge B&B. Wine and appetizers at 5:00 in the common room - fabulous breakfast in the morning. Rooms are beautiful - in fact the whole house is. Proprietors are very nice people and experienced at running B&B's.

Now to Cafe Diablo:
Entrees were way "over-constructed" - and once "de-constructed" were not very thrilling.

The servings were huge (locals seemed to be taking uneaten portions away in bags for future meals - okay if you have a kitchen but not if you're staying in a B&B and therefore feel wasteful leaving so much food on your plate).

My husband had the "ribs" - plated in a most annoying way - the rack was rolled and the roll placed in the middle of the plate on its end with a "branch" of rosemary sticking out. Cute - NOT. Flavour of the "marinade" did not reach to the centre of the rolled rack and thus it had a very bland taste.

More importantly for me - the margaritas come in teensie weensie stubby little glasses filled with ice. I ordered premium tequila and would have enjoyed a properly made drink.

I disagree with the original poster and feel that is definitely not on par with restaurants in larger cities but does have "large city" entree prices.

When you're the only "show" in town I guess you can get away with it.

It is not "the only show in town". The Capitol Reef Inn and Cafe has gotten excellent reviews and looks pretty good. We'll be staying there and dining there so we'll let you all know.

The initial post sounds like a scripted advertisement. Go back and read it. How cheesy can you be? The only thing he left out was the phone number. Oh, It's in the web site!

Phrases like flavors were destinctive, presentation, would compete with the better restaurants of large cities, fabulous, to die for. Give me a break dude? Put it on your web site.

Just don't expect too much at the Captiol Reef Cafe. I had two meals there on my last trip. Food is better than you would expect, but service is erratic. Typical, very small town cafe type place. Lots of large families, local and tourist. Decent value for the price.

Thanks Dayle,
We're relatively easy to please. Plus we'll be heading to Torrey after spending a few nights at the Boulder Mountain Lodge where we'll be dining at Hells Backbone Grill. Now there's a great meal! We ate there last year - dinner and breakfast and the food is amazing! This time, we're staying at the Lodge. It's so great finding a place like that out in the middle of wild Utah. Can't wait! Thanks again.

Glad to see the response to my initial post about Cafe Diablo, including the dissenting views.

For the record, I have no financial interest in the restaurant. It's just my opinion based on one meal late at night when the service was great, possibly because the tail end of the evening rush ended just as I arrived.

Regarding my comment that it would compare well with the better restaurants in major cities, I stand by that. I never said that it would compare well with the best restaurants. It's not a 5-star restaurant. However, considering the teensy weensy size of Torrey and even nearby Moab and the restaurants available in those two towns, Cafe Diablo was surprisingly good quality to my wife and me.

wanderluster,

I stayed at the Best Western you're asking about for one evening. It's a generic, clean, fairly well maintained hotel. It fit our needs very well -- a comfortable bed and a clean room for the night.

A new black top was being applied to the entire parking lot when we were there a couple of weeks ago. I can't comment about the restaurant because we ordered only orange juice and coffee.