6 Best Restaurants in Northern Utah, Utah

The pride and joy of Utah State University dairy students, this historic ice-cream shop on campus has been making ice cream "from cow to cone" for 100 years. The luscious creations use milk from cows that live on USU's farm and a recipe and production process that's been perfected over the last century. Savor a scoop or two of lemon custard, blue mint, praline pecan, or huckleberry to fully grasp what all the fuss is about.

Located within Garden City's distinctive Conestoga Ranch glamping resort, this rambling and scenic seasonal restaurant (housed in a tent with a firepit overlooking the property's covered wagons) is the most distinctive dining destination in town, and one of the most upscale too. Serving creative American fare throughout the day—including a popular brunch on Sundays—this open-air eatery offers delicious pancakes with maple-macerated berries, shrimp with smoked-cheddar grits, an array of wood-fired pizzas, and other enticing dishes.

The thick-crusted artisan breads served in this airy, verdant, and much beloved bakery are fantastic on their own or in an impressive roster of freshly prepared sandwiches, like the bacon, avocado, egg, and provolone on ciabatta or the banh mi on a crisp baguette, available vegan or with pork belly. Some of the most creative fare incorporates house-made organic bread as an ingredient, from bread pudding to panzanella, and there's an ever-changing array of ethereal pastries. Look for local honeys, jams, and other Cache Valley specialties for sale near the register.

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. 

This chic little Japanese spot has a modern focus, offering much more than just sushi rolls (although the phenomenal rolls alone, such as the smokin' hot machi with rosemary-smoked hamachi, fennel, Thai chili, orange slices, and citrus soy, would keep the doors open). Tona goes light on the sauce and heavy on the freshest ingredients, with an expansive menu that features artfully plated grilled mackerel with a raspberry-soy glaze, udon with chicken and tempura prawns, and flash-seared ahi with freshly cut pineapples.