Café Diablo

A legendary, now-closed culinary landmark in Torrey that introduced high-end Southwestern dining to the Capitol Reef region.

Café Diablo was, for over a quarter of a century, the unexpected culinary crown jewel of Torrey, Utah, serving sophisticated, Southwest-inspired cuisine to weary hikers, local ranchers, and national park travelers. Founded in June 1994 by Chef Gary Pankow, a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America in New York, the restaurant quickly established itself as a legendary oasis in the high desert. Located along Scenic Byway 24, just a few miles from the red sandstone cliffs of Capitol Reef National Park, the restaurant occupied a low-slung, yellow building that gave little hint of the meticulously styled plates waiting inside. Pankow operated the kitchen with a focus on bold flavors and artistic presentation, earning the restaurant a dedicated following and a coveted spot in the travel guide "1,000 Places to See Before You Die".

The menu at Café Diablo was defiantly regional, characterized by Pankow's playful, vertical food presentations and deep appreciation for local ingredients. The most famous dish on the menu was the free-range rattlesnake cakes, a novelty that ate like a crab cake but featured real rattlesnake meat, served with crunchy pistachios and a smoky ancho-rosemary aioli. Other celebrated entrees included the fresh Utah trout crusted in pumpkin seeds, chipotle-glazed baby back ribs slow-roasted in a molasses and rum reduction, and the "painted chicken" which arrived on plates decorated with colorful, hand-drawn sauces. Pankow maintained an on-site kitchen garden where he grew fresh herbs and garnishes, ensuring that every plate was finished with local color. The dining experience was enhanced by the restaurant's outdoor patio, where gas heaters kept the chill of the desert nights at bay while guests enjoyed prickly pear margaritas under a canopy of stars. Inside, the walls were lined with eclectic local artwork, including a notable collection of whimsical coyote sculptures and paintings.

After nearly two decades at the helm, Pankow sold the restaurant in 2013 to transition to a career in leatherwork and upholstery, and Café Diablo eventually closed its doors permanently in late 2020. Though the original restaurant is gone, its historic location at 599 West Main Street remains a vital culinary destination for the region. The building now houses Hunt & Gather, a highly regarded slow-food restaurant established in the summer of 2020 by Chef Chet Saign and his wife Nancy. Hunt & Gather continues the legacy of elevated dining in Torrey, focusing on sustainably sourced wild game, prime beef, and organic local produce. While the rattlesnake cakes are a thing of the past, the spirit of creative, high-desert gastronomy lives on in the very same space, making it a worthy successor to one of southern Utah's most beloved dining landmarks.

Coffee & Craft — Roadside fuel stops curated by Basecamp West. The best coffee shops, craft breweries, diners, and eateries worth the detour on your next Western road trip.