Driving through on a road trip and discovered this gem in the middle of Dixie Natl Forest. Our waiter was friendly and attentive, gave us good advice for visiting the area. Great ambiance and decor, with a gorgeous view of the sunset over the mountains. The presentation of the meal was beautiful. Braised beef was delicious, chicken enchilada likewise good. Maybe a little on the expensive side for rural Utah, well worth it nonetheless. read more

Hell's Backbone Grill & Farm - Chicken enchiladas - American Near Me - Boulder, Utah

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Good food for the middle of nowhere, but it would struggle with competitors in a city. Also, the value is not there. We ordered the chipotle meatloaf and for $28 it was a small piece. You can see in my picture that although the slice is lying sideways, with the biggest portion facing you, if you compare it to the small radishes on the side, it's a small piece. The flavor was decent, but the texture was horribly mushy. We also got the cilantro and pecan pesto papardelle and it was lack luster. All I could taste was cilantro, no pecan flavor to be found anywhere. I also disliked how they chopped up the pesto because it had long strands of herb that felt unpleasant in my mouth... I felt like I was pulling hair out of my mouth. The biscuits were good, a little dense for my liking, but the butter was what made them tasty. The best part of our meal was the deep fried brussel sprouts. I loved how the outer leaves got super crunchy. Unfortunately, dessert was disappointing. We got the Lemon Blueberry bread pudding... thank goodness for the creme anglaise, which was very tasty, because the bread pudding itself was tasteless and super dry. I wish they would've packed some more creme because it was the only thing that helped us eat it. Side note: please have your male employees clean their fingernails. The guy taking orders in the front had very dirty fingernails, which made me question how well he washes his hands, which is very important during this pandemic. Respectfully, an RN. read more

Hell's Backbone Grill & Farm - Meatloaf - American Near Me - Boulder, Utah

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A friend had told us we had to go to Hell's Backbone Grill & Farm, when we were on our road trip this past June. Happily we did! Ate outside on the deck for lunch and everything was delicious. We started with the Three sisters posole and a cup of soup. Then the Quinoa, black bean & mushroom burger, and the Spicy cowgal meatloaf both were worth the trip. The staff were all friendly! The setting beautiful! We'd make the trip across country again for the amazing food and driving Highway 12. read more

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I'm pretty sure the bison tenderloin was one of the top five best experiences of my husband's life. We ordered biscuits, a honey lavender lemonade, a salad, and the bison - all to share. The biscuits and lemonade were incredible. Very good salad, too. I only had one bite of bison before I realized I needed to order my own entree, because the husband was too happy and the food was too good to pass up. I got the lemony cluck, which was fabulous. The sauces!!! The sauces were out of this world fantastic! I am so glad we had the chance to experience such a top notch restaurant. The service, ambience, and setting were all great. read more

Must visit!! Everything from the 2 women co-owners and chefs to the amazing servers and staff to their fluffy sage biscuits is worth the drive to experience! Recently had the pleasure of visiting to celebrate a friend and ended up sitting in front of one of the owners (hi Blake!) who was dining with friends but still took the time to check in on a few guests while present. (If you're new to my Yelp reviews, I'm alllll about customer service and experiences so this just made my day!) Our party ordered a bit of everything: appetizers, mixed cocktails (really good) entrees and dessert and the ONLY negative thing we had to note was the pazole being forgettable. Or server Phil was awesome and knowledgeable of the menu. Manager Lacy was amazing and friendly (thanks for the note on the biscuits!!) and the outdoor dining area offered great views and cozy heat lamps, with the offer of blankets! That's a new one for me. The wait time wasn't bad at all considering being one of few upscale dining places near Escalante and Boulder that isn't taking reservations just yet for parties smaller than 10 persons. Their menu changes often because of their farm-to-table cooking style so do check online or by calling to see what's in season and the change of menu items. They can also make items vegan or vegetarian friendly without losing the quality and richness of the food! I will definitely be back within the month for more drinks and good eats! read more

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I never leave yelp reviews, but was compelled to leave one tonight. That was the best dining experience I've ever had, by a landslide. Every aspect: The food, the ambience, the customer service, the vibe, everything. If you haven't dined here before, it's worth the long trip. Thanks to Nicholas, Blake, and the rest of the team. read more

You wouldn't expect amazing food in the middle of nowhere Boulder, but here it is. Hell's Backbone has beautiful landscaping as well as a pleasant inside with a rustic charm. We went for lunch on a Monday and it was nice and quite. The food was amazing. We got the goat cheese fondue to share between two people. It tasted fantastic and the apples and nectarines it came with were fresh. I ordered the farmy enchiladas which were honestly best enchiladas I've ever had. Tons of flavor and cheese. My wife ordered the BLT which was also excellent. They use tomato jam instead of tomatoes so it's not super tomato-y and adds more flavor. We also got some prickly pear soda which was good, albeit the only thing I felt may have been overpriced. The portions appeared small at first, but we were both stuffed by the time we finished our food. Overall, great atmosphere, friendly staff, and high quality food. Next time I'm in the Boulder area it will be at the top of the list for places to eat. read more

Hell's Backbone Grill & Farm - BLT with fresh vegetables of carrots and red cabbage - American Near Me - Boulder, Utah

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Our llama tour guide, Rusty, recommended this place to us and I am so glad he did! Everything we had was delicious! I was a bit bummed that they had run out of zucchini fritters, as I really wanted to try them, but the goat cheese fondue was super creamy and the fruit accompaniment was so tasty! I highly recommend saving room for the pear gingerbread dessert! It was beyond! read more

Hell's Backbone Grill & Farm - Pear gingerbread - American Near Me - Boulder, Utah

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During a photography workshop through Capitol Reef, we got the opportunity to dine at Hell's Backbone Grill. Several years prior, I had the opportunity to dine here on two occasions while visiting Bryce Canyon. Yes, it was over an hour drive each way, but this place is well worth it. When I found out it was one of our stops after a long day in the back country, I was very excited. When we arrived for our 6:30 reservation, the lodge grounds and the restaurant were a bustle of excitement and energy with people soaking in the beauty of the area. We were promptly greeted and seated. The ambiance is that of a slightly upscale country dining kitchen and I couldn't help but notice everyone, staff and patrons alike, had a smile on their face. Our waiter was excellent, courteous, pleasant and responsive for our large party (of ten) and juggled our table and at leas three others with skill, ensuring everyone had a stellar dinning experience. I was very happy to see that they carried a good reposado tequila and chose that as my drink option. Another in our party ordered an organic chocolate stout from England. He poured me a sample and, I must say, it was fantastic. I made a note to look for it when I get back to Colorado. As the drinks arrived, we were also served our complimentary black powder biscuits, with herbed butter. These are biscuits made with black pepper and are a culinary experience - a must have. They even use the trimmings from the biscuits as ingredients to some of their dishes. We ordered another round. :D For dinner, I started with the vegan three sisters posole soup, a delectable combination of black beans, green chiles and butternut squash, with just the right amount of zip to it. I followed this up with the Dinner Jenchiladas. You have a choice of organic mary's chicken, garden calabicitas or one of each. I elected to go with the chicken option this time. My friend chose one of each. We were both extremely satisfied with this wonderful culinary creation. They come in a spicy habanero corn cream sauce and are accompanied by organic fresh vegetables and a cilantro-pepita green chile rice. This is an awesome creation. My only disappointment is the recipe is not in either of their cook books! The service was attentive, timely and pleasant, the food fantastic, all contributing to a wonderful dining experience. If your in the area, or only kind of close (e.g. Bryce Canyon), give this place a try. You will not be disappointed with the drive out, the food or the overall experience. read more

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Best place in the entire world! Food is amazing, staff is amazing, atmosphere is amazing! Definitely recommend!!!!

So continuing The Professor™'s culinary tour of Central Utah, The Babe™, The Thug™, and I stopped last night in the small town of Boulder, Utah. Boulder is one of the most remote towns in the US. There sits the wonderfully quaint "Hell's Backbone Grill". For The uninitiated, Hell's Backbone is an amazing local road built by the CCC during the Depression. Well worth driving on. Hell's Backbone Grill is a little slice of heaven in this remote place. Run by two women, Jen & Blake, the restaurant is based off of Buddhist principles. And whatever they are doing is working well for them. This is one of our favorite places to eat in Utah. Dinner started off with a watermelon limeade, some 'gun powder' biscuits, a goat cheese fondue, a radish cheese plate, and a absolutely wonderful avocado-jalapeño soup. All fantastic, all yummy-noise inducing. We also had an amazing cornbread muffin that was just crying out for butter...which we indulged. The main course was their amazing Moqui MAC-N-Cheese along with cherry-cider braised brisket. The sauce on the brisket was heavenly, just the right thickness & consistency, just enough to let the flavor of the meat through w/out being overcoming. It was very, very good. Dessert came in the form of a dark pear gingerbread. Holy freaking flavor Batman... This was so awesome, so wonderful, so emotional. The perfect comfort food. The consistency of the gingerbread was perfect. Moist, tender, flavorful without being heavy, and drizzled in a caramel sauce. All while being sprinkled with ginger infused pear pieces. Awesome. Perfect. Lovely. Fantastic. Oh, and they also had a very good chocolate mousse & an award-winning lemon cake. The service was excellent, helpful, friendly, kind. We were even rewarded with a quick visit from Blake (who seems like a magic cross between Mary Poppins & Glenda, the good witch...only in grandmother form). Wonderful, fantastic, stupendous. Another Bucket List place... read more

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We ate here twice ... once for lunch and again for dinner. Both meals were exceptionally good with outstanding food and service. Food -- lunch included beef bone broth with poached egg, sausage and biscuits, BLT with an egg, pickles appetizer, and a turkey sandwich. Dinner included lamb meatballs, goat cheese fondue, Mac & cheese, Boulder braised beef, skillet fried trout, and the lemony cluck (Mary's chicken). All of the food was outstanding! Beer / cocktails -- good selection of draft beers. With dinner we had wine, as well as some cocktails. Their whiskey sour was outstanding and one of the best I have had. The fresh squeezed rosemary limeade margarita was also outstanding. With lunch, I tried their pickled everything bloody Mary, which was not as spicy, boozy or as flavorful as I prefer ... think heavy on the tomato juice, light on everything else type of Bloody Mary. Overall, we were pleasantly surprised at how great the cocktails, beer and wine selection were here. Service -- was outstanding for both meals. The recommendations, explanation of the menu, and overall quality of the service were exceptional. Given there is not much in the way of meaningful competition given the remoteness of this place, we were shocked and thrilled with both our meals here. read more

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If you find yourself in this part of Utah, this is definitely the place to eat. Everything was fresh, unique and amazing. Pricey but what a special treat!! read more

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My wife and I were on an extended camping trip during the Covid pandemic. Dining inside was out so we were always looking for outdoor dining. This fit the bill. We met the owner, Jen, and her friend when we went to a slot canyon called the Singing Canyon. So called because Buddhist monks stay at the inn and actually chant and sing for a month in the canyon. Her friend was signing a Buddhist chant when we arrived and we stopped to listen. Very moving. They told us about the restaurant and invited us to dinner. We were staying about 70 miles away and had just been over the Hell's Backbone (the Rt. 12 portion where there is no shoulder and a drop of 100 feet inches from your car) in the daylight and did not want to do it in the dark so we did not take them up on the offer. The next day however we decided to go back. We were not disappointed. My wife started with the Pumpkin Apple soup and I had the posole. We then shared zucchine pancakes with a pickled radish relish. The relish was good enough to eat by itself. They sell it by the bottle. For a main course I had the Veggie Delight over Pappardelle which was delicious while my wife had osso buco which said was perfection. Dessert was bread pudding which came in such a large portion that we shared it with a couple at the next table. It was too much in both volume and sweetness for our taste. We had a great time meeting the couple next to us who, it turned out, lived about 20 minutes from our house. Needless to say but our meal, talking, lingering over drinks and enjoying a beautiful autumn evening went well past sundown and our drive back over Hell's Backbone was taken at about 10 mph! read more

My husband and I were leaving Capitol Reef later then we planned, headed for Escalante. We started looking for restaurant options, since we had not eaten all day, and noticed that everything was going to close by 9:00pm or before. We didn't think we would make it, but we got to Bolder at 8:45 and decided to go in. We try never to enter an establishment minutes before they close but they greeted us with open arms. Every single person was so gracious and kind. We apologized for literally being the last ones there and they responded with statements like "you have to eat" and "we are just happy you made it in time. " they could have been ugly to us or acted annoyed, but not once did we feel that way. They even encouraged us to stay longer and have a dessert. We would have if we were not so full from some of the best food we have ever eaten. Everything we tasted was delicious. I would go back today if I could. I had the pezole and the sliders. Each bite was amazing but y'all those biscuits are something to write home about. My husband had the filet and everything on his plate (yes, I stole a bite or two of each) was ridiculously good. Tender meat, flavorful mashed potatoes and the veggies hit the spot. We left with happy hearts and full tummies. Kindness matters, and while we were here we got a healthy helping of it. Thank you. read more

Hell's Backbone Grill & Farm - American Near Me - Boulder, Utah

It's popular because it's good and it's the only extremely good restaurant for a few hundred miles. Fresh food (how?!), good service. Just be prepared to pay top dollar, 'cause it ain't cheap. Highly recommend. read more

Been here a few times now. Have gotten their burgers each time. The flavor of the meat is amazingly delicious. The coleslaw is the best I've ever had. One of the disappointing aspects is the high price and the skimpiness of the meal. You get the burger and either coleslaw or potatoes, not both. Also, the amount of the mushrooms and onions, and the arugula was skimpy, especially in comparison to the poofy bun. Even though what I had was good, I went away feeling hungry, and a little cheated. read more

Stopped here on our way through to Bryce. What a find!!! A cute brunch spot in the middle of nowhere. Friendly staff and super fresh food. Everyone who was dining there at the time had eaten at the restaurant at least 3x during their stay. Boyfriend had the biscuits and sausage gravy-- amazing! I had the farmers breakfast with poached eggs. They have the best potato pancakes too which are a delight. The town is about 100 people (300 in the summer) and they were having an ice cream social and a talent show for the fourth of july (adorable). Definitely worth stopping for a bite and to have a walk around. read more

Hell's Backbone Grill & Farm - American Near Me - Boulder, Utah

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Epic! Absolutely epic! We stopped in for lunch on a Sunday and were seated immediately. Our server was attentive and friendly. What I want to review is the burger my husband had. I had a bite. One bite. And have been completely dumbfounded by the quality of the meat. Our server let us know how local the burger was, as in her families ranch local, and you could taste the love in the meat. It has been almost three weeks and I am still obsessed. Do not miss the opportunity to eat here! read more

After a long day of hiking at Bryce Canyon and Calf Creek Falls, this place more than hits the spot. What a surprise. Food is amazing, super fresh and clean. You walk out feeling full but only in a good way. I had the meatloaf. Lots of flavor with a little bit of spice complimented by lemony mashed potatoes. For me one of the best bites on my plate was the roasted cabbage. The service was way above what I expected in a small town like this. read more

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I'm hesitant to review because they are so wonderful I don't want the crowds getting any bigger. But their continued success is more important than any personal convenience. We were their in 2019 and again last week, and each time has been a very memorable experience. The food is incredible, and the ambiance and service superlative. We got to meet Blake, one of the owners, during last week's visit. She is an amazingly gracious and friendly host. We live a long way away, but if we lived close by we would visit at least weekly. Just amazing. read more

Certainly the reputation of this restaurant precedes any visit--and that reputation is spot on. This is the epitome of farm-to-table dining. The farm is outside; the menu is perfectly seasonal; and the food is homey and lacking any hint of the kind of pretension that could seep in after ~ 20 years of global accolades. The owner/proprietors are as lovely and kind and welcoming as you could hope for and the ambiance is perfect. Whether a family dinner after a day in the red rock or a romantic dinner away from the city, this is the perfect place. read more

This place was hopping on a Wednesday and was my birthday dinner. We arrived from Escalante about 5:45 and the wait was about an hour so we ordered takeout and it was ready in 10-15 minutes. We ate at some tables in the grass area and trees right next to the restaurant and it kind of felt like we were eating on some New England farm in the fall. We had the deviled eggs and biscuits (wow! so tasty and moist) to start. I had the meatloaf which had great flavors accompanied by some mash which was really good. My wife got the braised beef which had a great balance of acidity, sweetness (tomatoes), and bitter (collard greens). The side veggies were fresh and prepared really well. What a gem in a small town. read more

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My two neighbors in South Carolina recommenced this restaurant as a must during our Utah trip. It was a great experience where we not only enjoyed our food but also the ambience and staff of this very unique restaurant. Went back for breakfast which was equally enjoyable. Highly recommend! read more

The food we were served was beautiful, excellently prepared, full of outstanding flavor and served in a peaceful surrounding. The atmosphere was uplifting and yet contemplative. The staff is the most helpful and friendly without ever interrupting the flow of conversation. I would encourage anyone within 100+ miles to make a reservation and create a memory! You will be so happy you took the time!!! read more

It is such a gem on the as beautiful scenic US-12. When my friend introduced me to this place, the least thing I was expecting to find on this back country route is legit fine dining. The menu was very unique and creative. We had a cheese plate with local made sharp cheddar, served with sea salt and butter, on fresh radish. I would never have thought radish and butter pairs so well with cheese, nor see other restaurants tried this before. For the main course I had the meat loaf and my friend ordered elk steak. Both dishes were served with carrot purée, beets, grilled broccoli, greens sauté and mashed potatoes, all from the garden. The elk steak was served with mushroom sauce. Everything was done really well and elegantly. For dessert I ordered a panna cotta with nectarine compote. It was very refreshing and delightful, especially after a heavy meatloaf. My friend ordered a chocolate chile cream pot. The chocolate was very thick, almost like a fudge, and was exploding with flavor. Overall the food was very delicious, better than a lot of fine dining restaurants in urban hubs. And usually I care about quality of food more in term of rating a restaurant, but with this restaurant I also have to mention the environment. It's located right at the entrance of burr trail and in the middle of US-12. The view is simply amazing. And the owner of the restaurant was very friendly as well. I would definitely going back again, and I also strongly recommend this place if you ever travel through grand staircase or nearby national parks. read more

Over rated and over priced. Save your time and money and go to the taco truck or go get Pizza at outfitters in Escalante.

Delicious!!! Prices $15-20 per meal. Homemade apple pie/tart $9. Food was delicious!!! Trout was to die for. Burgers all delicious. read more

Hell's Backbone Grill & Farm - Burr grill burger w potatoe wedges. - American Near Me - Boulder, Utah

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Fantastic locally sourced food in a clean, rustic atmosphere. Professional staff. Highly recommend!

Had the house garden salad with smoked trout. Salad was crisp and farm fresh with an excellent house dressing. Trout was tender and flavorful. Pricey, but great food. However, I can't recommend the cherries jubilee. Took to go and was disappointed to find it was cherry raisins, not recommended, especially for the price. read more

The best restaurant in all Of Utah. Everything is sourced locally and the whole community is rally involved. The flavors come alive in all of their dishes. This is a must stop if you're within 70 miles! read more

We were refused service after being seated and served pre-dinner drinks because the owner discovered that we did not agree with her political beliefs. Although we were asked to leave and treated with 50's era intolerance, we quietly refused to leave and stated that ours would be a peaceful protest of this unimaginable treatment. I will never recommend any establishment that treats their customers with such disdain. read more

Great food off the beaten path! It is popular though so try reservations. We were out on the patio and it sprinkled while we were eating and the heaters came on immediately. So that was very nice, never got chilly. Blankets were handy! Had the meatloaf. I'm a sucker for meatloaf so couldn't pass it up! read more

Well, looks like the post that I responded to below has since been deleted. It was a real smarmy smart ass asking how I dared question the supremacy of HBG. and it was the dude's sole Yelp. Hmmm... I ain't saying cuz I ain't knowing, but Yelp just deleted a load of fictitious posters and good old solo Yelper ain't here no more, so you can draw your own conclusions. Anyway, it ticked me off, because I'm not saying that HBC isn't good. It is good. Really good. And I will totally go back. I'm just exercising my Yelp-given right to give my honest opinion of the place. Sometimes owners will contact you to try to correct or ameliorate a deficit that you identify. that's cool. it's someone's business, it's important to them. and I guess Yelp reviews are important too. probably not all important, but they do matter, especially to a higher-end joint. but it ain't cool to all ambush you with a fake Yelp review and be all like "i'm like best friends with the owners and i get good service. so what's your problem?" anyway, all i was saying is that place is always saying what an uber-zen vibe it gives off, but in the half dozen times I've eaten here, I always felt like I was crashing a private party. The waitstaff is all hanging out with their friends who are eating there and then you come in bust up all the fun and they have to force themselves to deign to come over and take our order or bring us some ice tea. So, with a few minor tweaks this place could go from okay to great. Hopefully they will make the tweaks, because I think that everyone wants to like this place. read more

What a wonderful place! Any lover of food will be charmed, as we were for each of a dozen meals over the course of an extended stay in stunningly beautiful Boulder, Utah. I'd give it six stars if I could. I highly recommend you come for both breakfast AND dinner. Repeatedly, if possible. Order the blue corn flapjacks with bacon on the side. Thank me later. For dinner, I especially loved the pozole and the pork chop. The biscuits are jaw-dropping. Service is small-town friendly, and warm smiles will be met with much more of the same. You may even find that your server is an Olympic-class telemark skiier, or a great songwriter who'll be singing later that night. If you're in town for more than just a meal, ask nicely and you might be able to arrange an informal tour of the restaurant's organic farm which provides most of the restaurant's ingredients. With regards to the prices, yes there are cheaper options in the area, but they are largely cooking the factory farmed food products from Sysco you can find everywhere else. Why come all the way out here to eat food trucked in from the place you are trying to escape from, to save a few bucks? Don't let the ridiculous negative reviews posted here make you miss out on a very special experience. Home is where the heart is, and this place has it in spades. As an urban foodie I recognize the tone of many of these reviews for what they are; people who had a spoiled or disappointing childhood need a therapist, not a restaurant. Approach this place with an open mind, an eye for local flavor, or an appreciation of people who are dedicating their lives to fighting the overwhelming tide of Food, Inc. and asking very little in return. A very, very special place indeed. read more

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The world needs a lot more restaurants like Hell's Backbone Grill: healthy, locally-sourced, sustainably-raised ingredients in what would otherwise be a food desert. If more chefs and restauranteurs had the skill and ingenuity that Blake Spalding and Jen Castle have, too, the world would be a healthier and happier place. I came in for dinner right at opening time (5:00) and was so impressed to see staff picking herbs from the garden. Talk about fresh. That put me in a good mood and I was excited to see what deliciousness awaited. First came out a hot-out-of-the-oven cornmeal biscuit with flavored butter. I am not a big fan of either cornbread or biscuits, so this wasn't my favorite dinner roll in the world, but I could certainly appreciate that it was fresh and a different take on the standard bread course. At the recommendation of my waiter, I ordered a cup of the spicy chicken pozole to start. I was a little disappointed with this dish, oddly. It had the classic guajillo-ancho flavors and heat, yet it lacked a certain depth of flavor that I love in a good pozole. Whether the missing flavor was due to lack of porcine fat (this was a chicken-only pozole), more garlic, or more salt, I'm not quite sure. I just know that I wasn't over the moon about this stew. For my entree I ordered the lemony cluck, and I'm sure glad I did. It was a skin-on roasted chicken breast with rice and grilled asparagus, broccoli, cauliflower, beets, and butternut squash, all in a lemony chicken broth. This was, on the whole, delicious. The broth was wonderful, with the perfect balance of acid and umami, and each vegetable was expertly and individually cooked. The chicken was oddly the weakest link, but still quite good; I just thought it needed more lemon flavor itself and may have been just a thin hair overcooked. The deep bowl that the dish was served in made for a clumsy eating experience, but that's just me being picky. Overall, I was pretty happy with my meal. It was certainly refreshing to see such fresh, delicious food in the middle of nowhere. There was a great balance of vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, pasta, fish, white meat, and beef options. I would certainly dine here again any time I visit Capitol Reef National Park--it is worth the drive! read more

Hell's Backbone Grill & Farm - Lemony cluck. Delicious! - American Near Me - Boulder, Utah

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Hell's Backbone was fine given the limited choices in the area, but ultimately overpriced for what it is. The service was great, and the surrounding property is picturesque. The meatloaf was good, as well as the steak, but we preferred other local restaurants after trying all of the options in the area. read more

It was about 3 years ago when I visited this restaurant. I was doing the Great American Road trip by myself and was hauling myself from the Hopi Reservation in Arizona all the way up to Torrey, Utah. I had no idea just how breath-taking the scenery was in Southern Utah, and after spending close to 9 hours of driving, I decided I had to stop somewhere for eats. As I was driving along the two lane highway, it was around sunset and I figured I might as well eat before it gets too dark and driving through all those dark valleys with no lights and deer running around...well I thought it would be a good idea to eat and hit the highway again while there was still some daylight. I spotted the terrace and outdoor deck area from the road and saw the gardens and it looked just so damn inviting that I had no choice but to pull in. Well, I stopped here and very glad that I did. I think they were in the midst of getting tents ready for a wedding the very next day, but no matter, the service and attention I received was very warm and courteous. I had no idea what this place was or how it was about sustainable slow foods or anything. It's only afterwards while waiting for my table I spotted the review from the New York Times framed on the wall and then I surmised, "A-ha, this is supposed to be a joint of some repute". I think I had the steak for dinner and the chocolate pot for dessert, I do remember being satisfied, that the prices were a little on the high side, but if you're on vacation, who cares? How many times are you going to come here in your life? The scenery was spectacular, the gardens were serene, a very gentrified and well-to-do crowd but very casual nonetheless. I had a wonderful evening and dinner by myself on the deck overlooking the pond and gardens while ruminating on my trip and the taking in the scenery and sunset. I'd like to one day go back to that part of the world, there just seems to be so much to take in, not sure when I'll go but when I do, I'm definitely eating here again! read more

We've been a couple times and love the food here. I wish the staff were more welcoming and friendly though. Especially as we live locally, you think the staff would be more welcoming as we're not tourists. But oh well, here's a haiku we wrote about our most recent experience: Turn down the music Turn up the bloody mary Keep the food coming read more

Exceptionally healthy, fresh and delicious food. They offered gluten free options and even had vegetarian dishes. The trout and meatballs were super tasty. The owner came out to greet all the guests. The outdoor seating was a bit chilly but we managed. The staff offered us blankets which helped tremendously. I recommend you stop and eat here. read more