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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.
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.
If you hanker for the nostalgia, and the prices, of an old-fashioned hamburger stand, you're in luck. Order at the window and eat outside at picnic tables, or have friendly carhops deliver your meal right to your vehicle. Be aware that this place can get packed and there could be a wait.
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.
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.
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).
In what used to be a Greek coffeehouse in the early 1900s, this low-key café is a reminder of Price's strong Greek heritage. The menu features traditional recipes from Crete, including gyros and dolmades. The baklava and other desserts are among the best Greek pastries in the state.
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.
Open since the 1930s, this family-run soda fountain is delightfully old-timey, with a black-and-white checkerboard floor and sparkly red stools. Many people come for the ice-cream treats, and there's also a pretty long list of burgers, sandwiches, and other diner staples. While there, you can buy knickknacks, crafts, and house-made preserves—and make sure to ask about Marion, the woman who started it all.
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.
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.
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.
