Dinosaurland and Eastern Utah Restaurants

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.