This story is an excerpt from the Utah Eats newsletter, edited by Salt Lake City Tribune food and beverage reporter Colby Peterson. To receive the full newsletter in your inbox every Wednesday, visit sltrib.com/newsletters to become a subscriber.
Hello foodies!
We just got back from a trip to Moab (our first hike to Delicate Arch!), and during our stay we were amazed at how many local eateries there were in this cute little town. Whether you're spending the day in Arches National Park or hiking or biking one of the many nearby trails, these food recommendations will help you when you need to refuel.
Best breakfast: Jailhouse Cafe, 101 N. Main St., Moab, 435-259-3900, JailhouseCafeMoab.com
According to the restaurant's website, the cafe is located in a building built around 1885 as a private home that was sold to Grand County in 1892 to become the county's first courthouse. At the time, part of the building housed prisoners, hence the nickname “The Jail.”
(Colby Peterson | The Salt Lake City Tribune) Ozzie's whole grain waffles at Jailhouse Cafe in Moab, Monday, June 17, 2024.
This cozy cafe has been serving customers for over 30 years and serves food hot and fast. I enjoyed an Ozzie's Whole Grain Waffle ($14.95) with crushed walnuts and chopped fruit, slathered in butter and syrup and thoroughly enjoyed it.
Best post-trip pint: Moab Brewery, 686 S. Main St., Moab, 435-259-6333, TheMoabBrewery.com
We arrived in town hot and hungry and this homey brewpub was just what we were looking for.
The Pork Quesadilla ($13.49) made with pulled pork, cilantro, pico de gallo, cheddar and jack cheeses, and served with salsa and sour cream was a real treat, and paired perfectly with a pint of Juicy Johnny's Hazy IPA, whose fruity notes contrasted nicely with the smokiness of the pork.
Best steak: The Broken Oar, 53 W. 400 North, Moab, 435-259-3127, TheBrokenOarMoab.com
We were lucky to be seated on the east-facing patio of this rustic American restaurant, where we could watch the red rocks glow as the sun went down. The lights and birds chirping made this an ideal dining spot.
I ordered the sirloin ($32), a flavorful 8 ounces of Angus beef cooked medium, served with red skin garlic mashed potatoes and grilled asparagus. The potatoes were rich and earthy, the asparagus perfectly cooked but still bright green and slightly chewy.
(Colby Peterson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Milt's Stop & Eat in Moab, Sunday, June 16, 2024.
Best old-fashioned lunch: Milt's Stop & Eat, 356 S. Millcreek Drive, Moab, 435-259-7424, MiltsStopAndEat.com
This traditional American walk-up restaurant was opened by Milt Galbraith in 1954 (its website says it's the city's oldest restaurant), and you can probably guess that the food hasn't changed much in those 70 years.
I ordered the Mushroom and Swiss Burger ($8) and fries ($4, both pictured above), which were delivered piping hot and wrapped in brown paper. The whole thing tasted of pure nostalgia, enhanced even more by the chocolate milkshake I ordered to go with it.
Best Neapolitan pizza: Antica Forma, 267 N. Main St., Moab, 435-355-0167. Also has a location at 251 E. Main St., Vernal, 435-374-4138, AnticaForma.com
Check out the “Food of the Week” section of the newsletter for more details.
Live deliciously,
Colby
Food News
(Adelaide) Pictured is a new dish at the Adelaide restaurant: Fire-Kissed Salmon Arugula Fennel Salad.
• Adelaide, the signature restaurant at Le Méridien and Element Salt Lake City Downtown, will begin serving all-new seasonal menus, including a breakfast menu, a brunch/lunch menu, a dinner menu and two prix fixe menus, according to a news release. New menu items include Dungeness crab cake croquettes, fire-roasted salmon with arugula and fennel salad (pictured above), bone-in Iberian pork chop and Creole spice barbecue shrimp. To make reservations, visit AdelaideSaltLake.com.
• Through Aug. 4, Via 313, serving Detroit-style pizza in Orem, Lehi, Riverton, Sandy and Murray, will donate $1 from every margherita pizza and lunch side order to the Utah Pride Center as part of the pizzeria's “Better Giving Through Pizza” initiative. For more information, visit Via313.com.
Job type:
• Signs for Encanto Restaurant, a Columbia fast-casual eatery, have gone up in the windows at 1500 East and 1500 South. Details about the restaurant are scarce, but we'll let you know when we know more.
• We've got our eye on Piko Mexican Grill, a new eatery under construction at 500 South and 500 East in Salt Lake City. More details to come.
• A new Great Harvest Bread Company store is expected to open in late July or early August at 2145 E. 2100 South, Suite 1113 in Salt Lake City, according to the CEO.
This week's dish
(Colby Peterson | The Salt Lake City Tribune) Antica Forma Pizza at Antica Forma, Sunday, June 16, 2024.
Anyone who reads this newsletter knows that I love pizza and would never say no to wood-fired pizza. At Antica Forma in Moab (which, according to their website, means “old form” in Italian), they create authentic Neapolitan pizza with a dough made from finely sifted 00 pizza flour that's left to rise for 24 hours, a sauce made with San Marzano tomatoes, and fresh, hand-stretched mozzarella.
I was craving pepperoni, so I ordered the Macellao (meaning “meat lover”) pizza, which comes with mild sausage, pepperoni, ham, house-made mozzarella, basil, and olive oil ($21.95). In the end, my companion's pizza was much better, so we swapped. He ordered the Antica Forma pizza ($20.95, pictured above), which comes with caramelized balsamic onions, house-made mozzarella, basil, and prosciutto. The combination of sweet onions and salty ham was delicious.
