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I'm headed in about a month to the four corners area. I've asked separately for recommendations for Santa Fe, but would love anything else in the following areas:

1. Southeaster Utah: Moab area.
2. Northeastern Arizona: Monument Valley, Canyon de Chelly area
3. Southwestern Colorado: Telluride, Ouray, Silverton, Durango, Mesa Verde area
4. Northern New Mexico: Chaco Canyon, Taos, etc.

We have no set itinerary, so we'll go to places just for the food. Any non-food recommendations are welcome, as well.

Thanks,
Jonah

Jonah, it's been over 4 years since I enjoyed a trip of 4,733 miles (plus 50 miles via tow truck) through the Great American West that included areas 1, 2 and 4 on your list, so I remember very little about what we ate. But oh what an adventure we had! Here are the restaurants that I remember favorably. Other than that, I think we ate a lot of Clif bars and lots of national park lodge food.

Gallup, NM - Earl's Restaurant (as much for the spectacle as for the food - local vendors walk table to table in the restaurant selling their wares)
Jemez Springs, NM - Los Ojos Restaurant & Saloon for a green chili burger
Flagstaff, AZ - Bigfoot BBQ
Grand Canyon National Park (south rim), AZ - Bright Angel Restaurant
Kanab, UT - rocking V restaurant I remember the polenta cakes that I had at this place were fantastic. Menu has probably changed by now.
Moab, UT - la hacienda restaurant

For non-food info and ideas see here and here

First, if you haven't been to the area, there really isn't a heck of a lot of options in the area. I have been in the area several times and I cannot make a lot of recommendations. Let me cast a little wider net for some ideas in the region.

Here are some personal favorites although none are real close:


TORREY, UT

Since you mention Cafe Diablo, I would also mention the Sundrop Restairant in a nearby town. They are famous in that region for their sweet pickle pie and their sweet bean pie. Order the four pie sampler.

Cafe Diablo is one of the few upscale restaurants near a national park that actually matches the hype. It is one of my favorite Utah restaurants.

If you end up staying near Capitol Reef, head to the orchards at dawn. Beside looking at the petroglyphs, you will likely see a lot of wildlife including nests of owls.

ALBUQUERQUE
viewtopic.php?f=15&t=25494&hilit=albuquerque

MOAB
viewtopic.php?f=15&t=10221&hilit=moab

Thanks mrsm. Old information is better than no information.

Jlawrence. Other than Santa Fe, we're not going here for a culinary tour! Don't this Cafe Diablo will be near enough to our route. We really enjoyed Hell's Backbone Grill in Boulder, Utah on a trip in that region a few years ago. (Great hiking in the national monument).