KANAB, UT

April 25, 2011

Actually I really enjoy traveling. I suppose a lot of folks do or there wouldn’t be nearly as many tourists and/or so called ‘snow birds’ in the South during the frozen solid months of the north. By the way I said so-called ‘snow birds’ because none of them are in the South looking for snow. They/we should have been called Sun Birds don’t you think?

On the way back to Montana from Tucson Arizona where we spent the winter in warmth and “abundant sunshine” (that is really what they said on the evening weather report on TV) we spent the first night in Kanab, UT. We stayed at the same Best Western motel where we stayed going down around the first of November, so there were no surprises there. We headed for the place we had eaten dinner last fall on our little ‘walking the kinks out of our legs before dinner’ and saw they had the evenings menu posted outdoors. We both looked it over and decided nothing really was twisting our taste buds and we would find somewhere else to eat.

That is not a problem in Kanab. There are at least six respectable restaurants on the main street within a six block radius. Once back in our room Trav said he remembered a ‘cool’ place where he had eaten a couple of years ago when he made the trip back alone after his late wife Bonnie died. Something about a 50's type place with good food. The ‘main street’ is in fact East Center Street downtown.

Sure enough, we walked on past the Rocking R where we ate last fall and indeed found the Rewind Diner at number 18 East Center Street. The name pretty much says it all. The interior is red, white and black. Betty Boop is present along with Elvis and a full-sized replica of Hunchback of Notre Dame standing at the entrance with a sign “Wait to be Seated”.

The waitress arrived and asked us if we wanted the Regular or Vegetarian Menu, and, being from Montana, we asked for the regular menu. [The waitress wasn’t kidding, they really do have both] I’m not making fun of those who do not chose to eat meat, but I have always been intrigued by the names of the not meat foods, such as Un-Chicken, Boca Patty, Vegan Rib Meat, Falafel Patties or Chopped Meat of Wheat. If that is what twists your twig by all means go for it, because they’ve got it!

They also serve lunch, appetizers, pasta - 3 cheese, Primavera, Alfredo and Shrimp Marsala, an assortment of Wraps - like Cali-Wrap: Tomato/Herb Wrap topped w/ fresh Avocado Spread, sliced Oven Roasted Turkey Breast, Tomato, Sprouts, Garden Greens & Cheddar/Jack Cheese. Something call Rewind’s Philly Fries. Not that fries are bad enough, try this one: Thinly Sliced Steak grilled with Sweet Onions, Mushrooms, and Green Chiles & Melted Provolone Cheese. Served over Fries. (If that’s too much you can get a heap of Specially Seasoned Fried loaded with melted cheese AND Chopped Bacon & Grilled Onions.

The luncheon menu also listed Mandarin Chicken Salad, Hearts of Romaine Caesar, Grilled Chicken Salad and BBQ Chop Salad. Sandwiches, sure but you might want to check out the Rewind Specialities first: The Retro Burger - An All Time Classic!  1/3 lb All Beef Patty, Grilled to Order. Served with Lettuce, Tomato, Pickle, Onion, Mayo, Mustard & Ketchup served on a Toasted Kaiser Bun. This was my husband’s choice at dinner.

Getting some idea? Roadhouse Blues Burger, “Hot Chick” from Malibu, Greek Gyro, Rewind Cheese Steak Sandwich, Ale Battered Fish, Saturn Burger, Surf & Turf Burger, Cloud 9 Retro, Crumbly Rib Eye Burger, Mushroom and Swiss and more.

The Dinner menu includes most of the above with even more goodies, including Swingin’ Baby Back Ribs, Grilled Chicken Monterey, your choice of Classic or Cajun Rib-eye Char-Grilled Perfection or grilled Salmon Filet or Center Cut, Sashimi Grade Ahi Tuna.

There is a Kid’s Menu (also for 65 & Older) which included Appetizers and seven items which would certainly keep someone happy.

The worse part really is the dessert menu. The folks in the next table were enjoying a Twister.
and Sweet Cream filled Pretzel (about 8 inches wide) topped with Vanilla Bean Ice Cream, Caramel Sauce and Whipped Cream. They cut it in wedges and served it.

They also have something called a Xango - Golden fried pastry crust with a delicious Cheesecake center. Sprinkled with Cinnamon Sugar & served with your choice of Chocolate or Carmel. This is not the full dessert menu - there is more.

The Rewind Dinner could be a real problem to anyone who eats there on a regular basis! Very good food, good service - the only problem we encountered however was that after we were seated and our orders taken a big group of kids with adults pretty much took over the rest of the place. It looked like maybe a softball team after practice or a game. They were very well behaved but it really filled the place up! I’m sure the owners were glad for the business. We did notice in walking back to our motel that all the restaurants seemed to be full. Good news in this economy.

There is a lot to see and do this in region, and we saw a lot of 4-wheelers and off road vehicles as well. There’s lots of public land, the Grand Canyon is not that far away as well as Lake Powell and the Red Rock country.

We had a great time at the Rewind Dinner - and no doubt the next time we go through Kanab, we will make a point of stopping there. I know there isn’t much fly fishing around there, but just in case you are traveling in or through the area, it sure is worth a stop!    ~ LF

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