Story: Grandma Tina Serves Up Great Food and Service in Kanab, Utah

On a recent road trip, I made a stop in the small town Kanab, Utah to visit and volunteer at the Best Friends Animal Sanctuary. On the first night, tired from the long travel day and losing an hour in the time change, I simply ate at a chain fast food restaurant that hours later I was sidelined with food poisoning from that experience.

After adjusting my schedule to accommodate for the 24 hour sickness, I extended my stay one night in the Kanab area and wanted to find a place I could eat for dinner to still be able to experience the local town, but not upset my newly healed stomach. I had researched a local Mexican place (I am a Mexican food junkie) that I planned to go, but I was worried I needed something more basic and plain. Since I had been traveling with my dog, on my drive through town, a sign on the patio of one restaurant caught my eye, “Dogs Now Welcome on the Patio.” I decided I would try it out.

It was only about 5:30 on a Thursday evening, and I went straight out to the patio and secured my dog, then entered in the front to let them know I was there. I was the only customer at the time, which can sometimes be a bad sign. The man who greeted me and served me happened to be the manager and the grandson of the owners. He immediately asked me for my drink order and without me even asking, said he would get a bowl of water for my dog, Kita. He came back with a huge bucket full of water, more than she could drink in two days! I asked the manager how business was since I was the only customer and if it would get busier, and he said it picks up later in the tourist season and with the local crowd a little later in the evening.

One of the features of the restaurant is that it offers an all-you-can-eat soup and salad bar. You can order simply this, or you can order an entrée that includes one trip to the bar. I chose to get an entrée, but while I was waiting for that, I made my trip to the soup and salad bar. The manager told me about the soups that day, a fire roasted vegetable and an Italian soup. I asked him how spicy the fire roasted vegetable soup was because I am a wimp. He told me how it was one of his grandmother’s classics, and that she used to serve it to her grandkids when they were young to clear up their sinuses. It was very tasty, but not too spicy.

He was polite and friendly and asked me about my stay in Kanab and what brought me to town. I told him of my unfortunate experience two nights earlier, and that I wanted to eat, but was being cautious. He assured me that all of their salad bar ingredients are grown from an organic farmer and are fresh every day. He even brought out pork chop bones on a plate for my dog while we were waiting.

I ordered a basic entrée, grilled chicken breast, lemon pepper flavor with mashed potatoes and vegetables. If I had felt more confident with my stomach, I could have selected from any of their entrees, including many Italian choices, such as ravioli, burgers, sandwiches, steaks and seafood.

Whatever you decide to order, the prices are very family affordable. My entire meal was very filling and the whole bill was only $14. The atmosphere is simple and casual, with black and white poster of old Western movie stars giving homage to Kanab’s history as “Little Hollywood,” and serving as the backdrop to many old Western movies.

But the service was the real gem of this local café, the friendliness and service typical and delightful of a small town full of charm. I take my dog a lot of places, and after this experience where she was treated like a queen, the bar has been set high, and she will come to expect such type of attention and service everywhere. I am sure Grandma Tina wouldn’t have it any other way.

If you find yourself in the Kanab area, consider making a stop to Grandma Tina’s- it won’t be hard to find on Main St, and close to the main and only intersection with a stoplight in town.