Hell's Backbone Grill in Boulder, Utah, is being highlighted as a candidate for a MICHELIN star according to a August 27 report from City Cast Salt Lake. The restaurant is noted for meeting MICHELIN criteria through its innovation, consistency, sustainability, and reputation as a destination worth the trip.
The restaurant has served diners in southern Utah since 2000, when chefs Jen Castle and Blake Spalding established the business with a focus on food, community, and sustainability. The establishment utilizes a farm-to-table approach, using ingredients grown at its own organic farm or sourced from local suppliers. Because the menu changes with the seasons, the dining experience varies with each visit.
Castle and Spalding have also been vocal advocates for the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. The restaurant's work has received national recognition, including multiple nominations for the James Beard Award.
In 2025, Castle, Spalding, and longtime team members purchased the Boulder Mountain Lodge and the restaurant after renting the property for 25 years.
