Written by Lily Ofcarcik
A favorite place to take friends and family in Springdale is the Bit and Spur Restaurant and Saloon. The restaurant is situated on a beautiful property with views of amazing red rock peaks, a short distance from the entrance to Zion National Park. The restaurant’s rustic exterior is comfortable and friendly, and once inside, guests can choose from a menu offering an array of Southwestern dishes. You can smell the blend of spices and chiles as you walk in, and you know it’s going to be tasty. From starters to salads and flavorful pastas; from local favorites to seasonal entrées, the menu offers a good selection to hungry customers.
Since 1981, the Bit and Spur has been a favorite stopping-off place, providing food, drink, and live entertainment for locals and visitors alike. Many an evening, the timber walls and floors have vibrated with the rhythmic sounds of live bands and dancing feet. Over time, the Bit and Spur has evolved, a little of the Wild West atmosphere has been tamed, and it feels as if the restaurant and all who’ve patronized it for years have mellowed a bit. And as befits the times, everyone’s palate is more appreciative of its continually evolving Southwestern menu. It’s nice having a quiet dinner on the patio, watching the great rock walls of Zion turn orange, then fuschia, then deep purple as the sun slowly descends.
With a full bar, the Bit and Spur’s beverage menu welcomes thirsty diners with choices of locally made micro-brews, domestic wines, or specialty mixed drinks (a pitcher of fruit-flavored Margaritas is popular favorite). The saloon is a place for folks to gather, play some billiards, and have a drink, while the restaurant serves dinner to local residents and visitors from all over the world.
On my most recent visit to the Bit and Spur, it happened to be a family member’s birthday. We sat outdoors in the garden dining area, where we were greeted by a friendly waitress, who took our drink orders and came back in a flash with our beverages, which we sipped while our order was prepared. The restaurant was busy, as it was a Sunday evening, but the crowd looked happy. It’s clear that the restaurant has ample help who are bright, attentive, and fast-moving when necessary.
On the menu
The appetizer menu features chips and salsa (always a favorite), brie, walnut, and apple quesadillas (delicious); steak skewers with peanut lime sauce; smoked chicken taquitos, and several other tempting options. The soup of the day is always a favorite; ask your waitperson for .
The specialty salad menu offers a Southwest salad (mixed greens, grilled chicken breast, avocado, corn salsa, queso fresco, tortilla strips, and cilantro vinaigrette dressing). Yum! Also featured is the Roast Beet Salad, with arugula, greens, orange slices, goat cheese, almonds, and a citrus vinaigrette, great on a hot summer’s day. Smaller house salads are also available.
The seasonal entrées are hearty: Ribeye steak with blue cheese demiglace, served with shoestring onions, black beans, and rice; carne or chicken asada, served with the traditional black beans and rice and pico de gallo; Atlantic salmon (honey and lime glazed); delicious shrimp tacos; BBQ baby back ribs (house smoked); and polenta stacks with shiitake mushrooms.
For anyone interested in pasta, the Bit and Spur’s menu features rosemary chicken pasta with artichoke hearts, ragu fettucine (slow braised pork with roasted tomato sauce, Parmesan cheese, and garlic bread, and the pasta tomato, which offers cavatappi pasta covered in house-made fresh tomato and basil marinara sauce, served with garlic bread.
The Local Flavors menu treats us to specialty Tex-Mex style cooking: Sweet potato tamales, chile verde, several choices of burritos, flautas verde, and a dynamite chile relleno or your choice of tacos or enchiladas (or both).
Dont’ forget dessert! Selections may vary from one visit to the next, so ask your waitperson about today’s dessert selection. Last time I visited, I ordered the white chocolate cheesecake. A kids’ menu is available.
Every platter is carefully prepared, and patrons always want to come back to try another menu item, because they’re all amazing. Even when every table is full, the Bit and Spur still feels relaxed and comfortable, because the staff takes good care of every guest, and the food is delicious. Be sure to catch the garden and sunset views while dining on the patio for the full-on Bit and Spur experience.
