Cafe Diablo - Torrey

After seeing many outstanding reviews and even reading about this restaurant in a Utah travel book, we had to stop by. The owner/waiter sat us immediately in the shade outside, and the adorable seating area and views were perfect. So was the owner 's dog, Sage, a total well behaved sweetheart that lounged around throughout the meal. We ordered strawberry basil mojitos and blue margaritas, which came out very quickly and were super fresh and delicious. I ordered the chicken enchiladas and others at the table had stuffed tomatoes, Cuban sandwiches, and vegetarian quesadillas. All the options on the menu were unique takes on traditional foods, such as serving avocado fries instead of potato fries or serving the enchilada like a sandwich between two tortillas rather than wrapped up. Our food was beautifully plated and SO DELICIOUS. After I finished my enchiladas, I looked up from my plate and said, wow, I wish I was still eating those. True story. And, don 't even get me started on the avocado fries with spicy dipping sauce out of this world! The only complaint is that the lunch menu was very small with limited vegetarian options. Otherwise, great food, great drinks, and an extremely friendly owner who seems to run the whole thing by himself, clearly content to be in the restaurant business after spending several years as a professional cowboy in the rodeo. I definitely recommend this place if you are passing through!

So last night, The Babe, The Professor, The Thug and I drove down to Torrey to partake in the sin of gluttony Cafe Diablo. The Babe I have eaten here before but it has been a few years. First off, if you haven 't been here you should really make an effort. It 's a 'bucket list ' experience. We tried almost everything on the menu and nothing disappointed. The rattlesnake cakes were wonderful, the melon salad fantastic. The empanadas were awesome, especially with the black beans caramelized onions. But the buffalo tartare was beyond the pale. Wonderful, sublime, smooth, melt-in-your mouth sensation. A dark earthy flavor that wasn 't overwhelming but kept enticing more more. The pear ravioli was wonderful. Light, smooth, rich flavorful. The pumpkin encrusted trout was awesome. And the elk filet was perfectly medium rare. It was the Robert Downey Jr. of meat. So very good...all of the flavors were fantastic and wonderful, never overpowering each other but blending together in tsunami sized waves of flavor. Oh, and did I mention they have dessert? Very wonderful deserts created by Chef Al in SLC. Merely the best key lime cheesecake, passion fruit dark chocolate dome, and a three layer mousse that is the smoothest thing ever. And ice cream. Vanilla Bean and a Chai Tea. And as great as the food is, the service was even better. Wonderful food, atmosphere, and experience. The only thing lacking was someone to roll us out to the car...

Cafe Diablo is a heavenly spot out by Capitol Reef NP. It 's Southwestern cuisine taken to a whole other level. One can literally taste the Southwestern desert, from their prickly pear/cactus ice cream to their rattlesnake cakes made with pistachios. They have bison ragu and elk sirloin. It 's an unforgettable dining experience. The rattlesnake cakes with aioli dipping sauce are addictive. One gets the sense the cooks at Cafe Diablo could easily master the Chopped kitchen, if they got snake as a basket ingredient. They 're a substantial appetizer. Their house pasta/risotto are also phenomenal. The butternut squash risotto&pumpkin ravioli show that they can master vegetarian dishes as well as the meats of the Wild West. The staff is friendly&attentive, it 's all about gourmet dining on the frontier (with spectacular views),and the prices are affordable (about $20 an entree) Their entire menu is so great you 'd wish they 'd make a cookbook. As for the prickly pear ice cream, it 's light and refreshing. Who knew cactus was a good dessert? An amazing gourmet getaway in the Southwestern desert. And don 't forget dessert!

Ahhh. Haven't had a meal like that in ages. It was so nice sitting outside next to the garden with a beautiful mountains view with friendly service and fantastic food. We tried to order different foods than everyday fare so first had bison tartare, which melted in your mouth. Next we tried the rattlesnake cakes, full of flavor with great sauces. Lastly was the elk. Omg it was so tender and the sauce was to dye for.

Pleasant surprise in Torrey, UT near Capitol Reef national park. This is a small town, and there aren't a lot of dining options. We were out hiking all day and developed a bit of a craving for a margarita on the rocks. Cafe Diablo obliged us with fine version, served in a glass rimmed with black salt. Very tasty and satisfying. We were able to sit outside and enjoy some fine weather and cool drinks. We skipped the rattlesnake and had a spinach salad, which was on the sweet side with strawberries, walnuts and a salty/sweet queso. Topping it off were some breadcrumbs made from banana bread. Interesting, crunchy and flavorful. We had a sirloin steak which was well cooked, served crusted in rosemary and pine nuts, with a wine pan sauce. Horseradish mashed potatoes and a zucchini fritter rode along. The steak had good flavor, and both the crust and sauce seemed unnecessary additions. Maybe it was to get a little more of a southwest feel, with the piney rosemary flavor and the pinon. I'd keep it simple. Almost chicken fried, almost southwestern, this was a little bit lost in translation. Let's taste the beef. Pumpkin ravioli with pears, walnuts and a gorgonzola sauce was again on the sweet side but had some balance from the creamy and tangy cheese sauce. The pasta was freshly made and the dish was simple but well executed. Dessert was a treat. We ended up with a nectarine tart. I'm partial to fruit desserts and this was a fine choice. It was advertised as being served with a prickly pear ice cream, so there was something for both of us. More than a simple tart, this was nectarines soaked in merlot, baked in a tart shell filled with marzipan. House made prickly pear ice cream rode in on a crispy pastry shell, and brought along a friend, a delicious gingerbread cookie. This was a good find and a pleasant experience in Torrey. They are creative with their dishes and do a fine job. Definitely worth a try.