Moab Brewery

Moab Brewery is the default dining destination for families visiting Moab -- a large, casual brewpub serving burgers, pizza, salads, and house-brewed craft beer in a relaxed atmosphere where hiking boots and sunburned faces are the dress code. It has been a Moab institution since 1996 and remains the restaurant where everyone ends up at least once during a Moab trip.

The food is solid pub fare. Burgers are thick and well-made. Pizzas are generously topped. Salads are large enough for a meal. The kitchen handles the volume (the restaurant seats hundreds and turns tables steadily during peak dinner hours) while maintaining reasonable quality. Nothing is transcendent, but everything is satisfying -- exactly what you want after 8 hours in the desert.

The craft beer is the differentiator. Brewed on-site, the lineup includes year-round staples (Dead Horse Amber, Scorpion Pale Ale, Derailleur Ale) and seasonal specialties. Utah's unique liquor laws mean the draft beers are 4% ABV (session-strength), but bottled beers are available at higher ABV. The house-made root beer is genuinely excellent and a highlight for kids.

The kids menu covers the basics -- burgers, chicken strips, quesadillas, mac and cheese, grilled cheese -- at $8-10, which is reasonable for a tourist town. Portions are generous enough that some families split adult dishes.

The atmosphere is loud, casual, and welcoming to families. The restaurant is large with indoor and outdoor seating. No reservations are accepted, so waits during peak dinner hours (6-8 PM) can reach 30-45 minutes on weekends and high season. Arriving before 6 PM or after 8 PM avoids most waits. The outdoor patio is preferable on mild evenings.