Heber Eats

Minutes from Park City, Heber Valley is a basecamp for adventure with none of the crowds! With restaurants, bakeries, yurt dining and, even, food trucks by firelight, Heber Valley’s burgeoning food scene is now as exciting as its outdoor offerings. Fuel your adventure, and find out how to pair #HeberEats with your next adrenaline-infused activity.

Written By Paula Colman

Children gathered around a calf, smiling and feeding it with a large white bottle.

Heber Valley Artisan Cheese | Adam Barker

In Utah, locals know how to pair their food with their adventure. Heber Valley (bisected by the thoroughfares of Heber City and Swiss-inspired Midway) is their go-to place for escaping the holiday crowds and finding delicious snacks, gourmet meals and, of course, adventures. Just 20 minutes from Park City’s Main Street, Heber Valley is a base camp for skiing, hiking, biking, fly fishing, snowmobiling, horseback riding, the Sundance Film Festival and combinations thereof (search: Skijoring) and provides all the fuel for your adrenaline-based and more relaxed activities.

Fill’erUp Coffee Station (201 E. Main St., Midway) located in a converted gas station on the way to the Homestead Crater boasts the best coffee and cocoa as well as enough cars, car parts, oddities and knick-knacks to keep kids happy while parents fuel up for the day. Stick your pal on a “donkey stool,” and comment on his … matcha latte. Baked items, ice cream and sandwiches are also available.

Bakeries abound in Heber Valley, including, the delicious and adorable Midway Bakery on Main (206B, W. Main St., Midway), which features its deservedly famed cinnamon rolls along with other mouth-watering pastries and hearty rounds. If you're in the mood for handmade donuts and coffee, then Judy's Donuts (231 E. Main St., Midway) has got you covered. However, if you’re a visiting or recovering Texan who just needs her Tex-Czech fix, make a morning dash to Dottie’s Kolaches (95 S. Main St., Heber City) before they run out.

If it's more savory fare you're after, The Bagel Den (570 N Main St., Heber City) brings New York bagels to the Beehive State (the authentic dough is shipped right from NYC). And the nearby OG Cafe (595 S Main St., Heber City) has got your coffee, breakfast sandwiches, subs, burgers and salads.

For something more hearty but just as delicious, order the Skillet Breakfast at Cafe Galleria (101 W Main St, Midway). Your pick of three ingredients will be layered, prepared and served hot in a cast-iron skillet. Warning, fork fights will ensue between you and your guests. So, pick your meal companions accordingly. Cafe Galleria is better-known for its bagels and, even, its fresh pasta but, honestly, it’s leftovers from the skillet that you’ll be craving after your snowshoe or hike.

If you’re heading out to watch the Biathlon World Cup at Soldier Hollow (the toughest winter event for anyone who’s ever strapped on skis, hiked a mountain trail and then paused to shoot a target the size of an Oreo) or enjoy a much-calmer summer picnic at the quiet, burbling Cascade Springs, then stop first at Heber Valley Artisan Cheese (920 River Road, Midway) to pick up a selection of the Koehler Family’s locally-produced cheeses, jams, ice creams and other foods. Can’t decide which to choose? Kids will love the Vanilla Cheddar, which, surprisingly tastes (in a good way) like ice cream. The Snake River Sharp Cheddar, nicknamed “The Baked Potato Cheese” will make you pull out the raclette, and the fresh Juustoleipa, with or without jalapeno jam, will have you learning to pronounce the Finnish Juustoleipa so you can ask for it again. Be sure to check the schedule for special tastings and seasonal events, such as Snowshoe with the Cows. If you can’t make it to the farm, several of its varieties are sold in many local grocery stores.

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For more sit-down restaurant options after playing at Deer Valley or before touring the magical Midway Ice Castles, you can warm up by the fire at Midway Mercantile (99 E Main St, Midway). The beet muhammara appetizer is as delicious as it is unexpected, and standard avocado toast is elevated with smoked salmon. Be sure to pair it and the Utah trout with a glass of sauvignon blanc. And if it's upscale, comfort food you're after, check out the stroganoff, pork schnitzel and chicken pot pie at Corner Restaurant (195 W Main Street, Midway). For food with a view, The Lakehouse at Deer Creek (5317 US-189 S, Heber City) offers an incredibly unique dining experience with breathtaking views and the ambiance of the shores of Deer Creek Reservoir. The Lakehouse serves locally focused cuisine, that they like to call Utah Heritage Cuisine.

If you’ve just finished mountain biking on the Coyote Trail, then enjoy an organic, grass-fed beef burger with Heber Valley Creamery jalapeno bacon cheddar at Back 40 Ranch House Grill (1223 N. Highway 40, Heber City), a family-friendly restaurant serving fresh, local ingredients from Heber and its surrounding valleys. And for an example of mixing historic places with modern cuisines, Afterword by tupelo Park City (98 S Main St., Heber City) pairs the ingredients of American producers in globally-inspired dishes — think 48-hour braised veal cheek with parsnip puree and crispy marble potatoes with indulgent bone marrow butter. Note: most Utah dining tops out at upscale-casual, which loosely translates to hiking boots, optional, and there’s always room to stow your backpack.

If you find that you've still got room for sweets, you can't beat the treats at Ritual Chocolate Factory & Cafe (2175 W 3000 S Suite 100, Heber City), Süss Cookie Company (275 S Center St., Midway), Dairy Keen (199 S Main St., Heber City) and Quench It Soda! (760 S Main St., Heber City).

Although you could rough it on your next Utah adventure, there’s no need to. With its proximity to Park City, Salt Lake and Provo, Heber Valley has amazing places to eat to match and even elevate whatever you’re doing.

About the Author – Paula Colman

Paula Colman is not a professional skier, mountain biker, sommelier or chef, but spends her time pursuing these and whatever else pops up along the way with an inordinate amount of enthusiasm and humor. As a recovering attorney and practicing parent, who has lived in seven states across all four time zones, she landed in Utah over a decade ago and decided that she could study for the bar or learn to ski…hmmm. She now shares her stories about outdoor adventures and entertainments throughout Utah as a regular contributor for Visit Utah, Ski Utah, ApresSkiUtah.com and others and on Instagram at @harpo_utah.