6 Best Restaurants in Northern Utah, Utah

Famous for its pizza-size cinnamon swirl pancakes, this popular breakfast and lunch spot is often jam-packed with students from Utah State University or hikers headed to Logan Canyon, but it's worth the wait. The meat-lover's breakfast skillet with eggs, toast, ham, bacon, sausage, and cheddar will fuel you up before a big hike, while the burger on marble rye topped with caramelized garlic and onions, Swiss cheese, and garlic mayo is a lunchtime specialty.

It feels like you've wandered onto the set of The Andy Griffith Show at this quaint 1921 café—the oldest continually operating restaurant in Utah—with a menu specializing in old-fashioned comfort foods like pot roast and au gratin potatoes, chicken-fried steak, and hot turkey sandwiches with gravy. Save room for ice cream or a shake—or perhaps some sweet treats from the Idle Isle candy factory across the street. 

Set in scenic Ogden Canyon, this romantic restaurant with lace tablecloths, linen napkins, and mountain and forest views is a time-honored destination for classic Continental fare, such as slow-roasted prime rib, grilled mountain trout, and sage-stuffed lamb chops with mint jelly. The fireplace makes this a fun gathering spot for pre- or after-dinner drinks in winter.

Don't miss the ski museum in the bar.

A hot spot among artists, hikers, musicians, LGBTQ+ folks, and college students, this festive gastropub serves up elevated comfort fare, like blackened salmon tacos, barbecue chicken pizzas, meatless "wings" with buffalo sauce, and garlic-mushroom-Swiss burgers. There's an excellent tap and cocktail list, and in the basement, you'll find the hip and diverse Funk and Dive speakeasy, an inviting spot for cocktails and live music.

Just a little south of Brigham City, this down-home log-cabin-style eatery is one of the most celebrated family-owned restaurants in Utah, a favorite since the late 1940s. The Maddox family serves stick-to-your-ribs Western fare—the fried chicken, Porterhouse steaks and bison rib eyes are big enough to satisfy a ranch hand, especially if you factor in generous sides of vegetables, potatoes, and homemade soups, plus fresh-baked dinner rolls served with raspberry honey-butter. Reservations are a good idea, even on weeknights. Note that alcohol isn't served.

The oldest remaining saloon in the state—in operation since the 1880s—is a beloved favorite hangout for skiers in winter and bikers in summer. The menu doesn't stray far from beer and burgers, but after a long day of outdoor play, the burgers hit the spot. The exterior looks straight out of a classic Western movie, while inside the rustic accouterments draw the eye to every corner—think dollar bills pinned to the ceiling, comical signs, scruffy old boots, teapots, and rifles.