My husband and I were looking for a new date night spot and had passed by Jackelope Ranch a few times, so we finally decided to give it a try. We're so glad we did. This place is seriously beautiful. It feels like a little oasis in the middle of the desert. The restaurant itself great, but the outdoor space is what really stands out--lush greenery, water features, waterfalls, and a really nice outdoor bar and seating area. It looks like it would be perfect for events, but also just a really solid date night spot. We went on a Saturday night and it wasn't overly crowded. We didn't have reservations and had no problem getting in. If you sit in the bar area, they have a great happy hour (inside or outside), and we got a couple dollars off our drinks. There's also a happy hour food menu, but we ended up ordering the carne asada nachos from the regular shareables menu and they were really good. What stood out the most, though, was the service. We recently moved here from the South, and I've honestly missed that warm, genuine hospitality. Our server completely delivered on that. I didn't catch her name, but she was a brunette working in the indoor bar area--super kind, always smiling, and made us feel really comfortable! She checked on us often without being overbearing and just had that natural, welcoming vibe that's hard to find. Food came out fast, everything was smooth, and overall it was just a really great experience. We'll definitely be back and already plan on recommending it to friends! read more

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I made a reservation for 12 people at Jackalope Ranch eight days in advance and specifically requested outdoor seating. I was told it wasn't guaranteed for a party that size, but that they would do their best to accommodate us--which felt fair. The day before our reservation, I received a call informing me that there would be no outdoor seating available at all due to a private event, and that the outdoor space would be limited to light appetizers only. We were told we would be seated inside. When we arrived, you can imagine my surprise to see multiple large groups sitting outside enjoying full meals. There was clearly outdoor seating available--one table of 8 and another of 10--and people were being fully served. When I asked the hostess about it, she told me those guests were "walk-ins." So somehow, people with no reservations were able to get outdoor seating, while our group--who planned ahead--was not. I then spoke to the event planner, Mary, who was extremely rude and dismissive. I asked her to explain how you have a party of 10 that can just walk in and be seated outside. Made any sense when you had a party at 12 who made a reservation who were forced to sit inside! She had absolutely no comment. It felt like a rule had been created that anyone with a reservation had to sit inside, while walk-ins were prioritized outside. That makes absolutely no sense. When I asked to speak to a manager, I was told she was the event manager, and no one else ever came to speak with us. Completely unacceptable. We were finally seated around 7:40 PM, and the service was very slow. It took over an hour to receive our food, we had to repeatedly ask for water, and overall attention to our table was lacking. One staff member did try to be helpful after we had already been waiting quite a while, and our server improved slightly after we voiced our concerns--but by then, the experience was already disappointing. The food itself was actually better than expected--solid, but not enough to make up for the poor service and lack of organization. We are full-time locals and had high hopes, but unfortunately, this experience was frustrating from start to finish. Between the miscommunication, the rude event manager, overall poor management, and dismissive attitude, we will not be returning. read more

I've spent a lot of my life looking at structures and solutions, but what happened at Jackalope Ranch for our wedding wasn't about the architecture of a building--it was about the architecture of a soul-level experience. ​We came into this day looking for something authentic and grounded, and what we found was a crew that didn't just "work" an event; they cared for us like family. Amidst record, unseasonably hot weather that could have easily derailed the outdoor spirit of the day, the staff ensured every moment felt effortless. ​Erinmary and Destiny were quiet anchors. We never had to look for them; they were simply there, anticipating needs before they were even spoken. Lillian and Gilbert are names we will carry with us for the way they treated us - we will say hi from now on when we see them. My friends and family haven't stopped talking about the food--several people told me it was the best they've ever had at any wedding, period. Even as someone who isn't a drinker, I heard nothing but praise for the bartenders and the spirit they brought to the house. ​There is a weight to a day like this, a vulnerability in standing before those you love. Jackalope Ranch gave us the room to breathe. Whether it was the privacy of the events room to cool off, the stunning backdrop for our first look, helping to arrange the seating and tables or the photo shoot at the bar, they gave us the run of the place with our best interests at heart. We felt like celebrities, but more importantly, we felt seen and supported. ​I suggested they could say they "put the elope in Jackalope," but for us, they put the heart in it. It was flawless, honest, and truly unforgettable. read more

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This place is beautiful, we ordered The 4 meat BBQ platter it's was all good , just wished they gave more cornbread. You must have the Prickly Pear margarita it was so yummy . Our waiter was friendly very polite , greeted us with a nice smile . Will definitely be back . Unfortunately I forgot to take photos of this beautiful restaurant. Next time read more

Jackalope Ranch remains one of my regular dinner reservations when visiting my family in La Quinta. The restaurant is huge, but I still recommend making a reservation on Open Table. Inside is beautifully decorated, but I still prefer outdoor seating - there's plenty of heaters to keep you warm! The happy hour menu is limited in terms of food, and admittedly, I didn't love my wings this year. They used to have an awesome sauce, but are now served with sauce on the side, which made the wings seem dry. The meal was redeemed by the BBQ Platter, which my family usually shares with a full order of Mac n Cheese. We love sharing all of the meats and sides! Power rankings of the proteins: brisket, ribs, pulled pork, chicken, hot link! But truly, we ate it all - clean plate club! read more

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The food was definitely a lot better than I expected! I was judging this based on a past visit loooong ago, which was not memorable. But to my surprise my experience last night was great! The ambiance was nice and cozy, it'd make for a great date night spot for sure, but nothing too intimate. I ordered the Prime Ribeye with a loaded potato (just your average loaded potato) and I must say for the hefty price of $68 you can probably just buy and cook a better steak yourself (obviously). But for the price I paid, the steak was cooked perfectly medium rare, pink in the middle with a nice crust, did not need any sauce as it was seasoned to perfection in my opinion. I can't say it will be cooked that way every day, but whoever was in kitchen that night, I thank you read more

Jackalope Ranch - Prime Ribeye 15oz - Barbeque Near Me - Indio, California

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I went to Jackalope to celebrate Mother's Day, with my children for dinner, 5/9, Sat. I requested an outdoor table on their patio. They are known for the beautiful scenery from their patio. However, the temperature turned out to be very hot! There were no misters to accommodate their patrons which I think is ridiculous!!! How does any establishment here in the desert, Not have misters for their guests to feel comfortable and again this curtails people's ability in enjoying Jackalope 's outside scenery! I see they had plenty of heaters for cooler weather. But, how come no thought has been given to help cool their guests during the many more months of hot weather, which we experience out here in the desert?? Management do something about supplying your customer's better comfort! However, the service and food and drinks were very good! Our server, Tina was very pleasant! I would have given a rating of (5), but not being able to enjoy the outside, really was disappointing!!! read more

This establishment was clean. It was definitely a good experience. I will be returning here. The music was fun and our server was was present. The server kept coming back to check on us. The ribs, nachos, calamari was tasty. The entrance to the establishment is beautiful read more

Jackalope Ranch - Walking into restaurant - Barbeque Near Me - Indio, California

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Cute ambiance and great service. We had a party of 6 to jump start my hubby's 50th bday extravaganza. I tried the fish and chips. I loved that it was a decent portion and the fish was not overly breaded and puffed out too big. My hubby tried the tri-tip salad which was good. The meat was a bit overdone but they brought out a fresh batch of cooked meat the way he likes it. read more

Jackalope Ranch - Fish and Chips - Barbeque Near Me - Indio, California

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Our second time to this beautiful restaurant. We were a large group, but enjoyed an exceptional service experience, courtesy of Jesse. After making our selections from their expansive menu, it wasn't long before we were enjoying delicious, beautifully-presented dishes and cocktails. This will always be one of our dining destinations when in town. read more

We recently had our rehearsal dinner at Jackalope Ranch - it was the most beautiful setting for this special event! The food was fantastic, the servers and bar tenders were attentive and friendly! If you are trying to find the perfect spot for a large gathering, look no further - their event planner and new manager have this place "dialed in." You will be able to relax and enjoy the party with your friends and family.... You will not need to stress about any details - just show up and be present to your guests - that's the definition of a good party! read more

The worst experience! Took over an hour to get our food, we requested outdoor seating. Only to be rudely told by the event planner that there was nothing she could do. Her waitress was wonderful not her fault that the food took over an hour. read more

Last night, we went to the Stagecoach preparty with a group of 12 friends. Service was terribly slow. We almost left after waiting an hour for our food. Even water service was lacking. Seems like if they knew they were having a big event they would be more prepared. Ribs were barely warm. Sadly, we won't be going back. read more

From the moment I walked in and was greeted by the hostesses with their big, welcoming smiles, to strolling through the restaurant and feeling how friendly everyone was, my experience at Jackalope Ranch in La Quinta was just wonderful. Huge thanks to the whole team--Jessica and Mario, the bartenders, were incredibly welcoming after their summer closure, and Charlie, the general manager, made sure everything was flawless. The atmosphere was absolutely gorgeous--sitting outside on a beautiful day made it even more special. The meatloaf was my top pick, and the whole dining experience was delightful. I'm already looking forward to my next visit! read more

Jackalope Ranch - Barbeque Near Me - Indio, California

The ambiance is beautiful. A gorgeous outside garden lounge area with full bar. The hostess staff wasn't overly friendly, but our server did a great job to make up for it. The interior looks like a set out of Yellowstone. If you're looking for a great fancy date night, this place did not disappoint. We had several appetizers. But the star of the show was definitely my beef rib meal and non-alcoholic spicy margarita. It is so hard to find good NA places and I couldn't believe how good and authentic they tasted. I had been craving a beef rib for some time, and happy I found this place. The little bread muffin was excellent and buttery and soft. We will definitely be visiting again soon! read more

Jackalope Ranch - Beef rib, substituted for garlic mash potatoes and asparagus. - Barbeque Near Me - Indio, California

Went for a wedding beautiful setting Service and Amin manager were terrible. Don't schedule your wedding here by all means

Very, very disappointed. I had my wedding reception here 12 years ago and I do not remember it being a sports bar. They sat us in the bar area with 12 big screens on full volume! My poor 83 year old mom couldn't hear us. The waitress put our order in wrong and it just kept getting worse. The food tasted good but I do not recommend. Other wait staff was rude too. read more

Great ambiance, beautiful setting! It would've been 5 stars if they didn't forget my drink towards the end, but overall a great experience!

The restaurant is just awesome, we opted to sit outside with the waterfalls and palm trees, the grounds are immaculate, the food was great, the wagyu brisket was fall apart tender, prime rib perfect we were here on Valentines Day so it was a set menu but will be back to try more of the menu on a regular day, the service here was superb as well . read more

Jackalope Ranch - It is a carved motorcycle inside Jackalope Ranch - Barbeque Near Me - Indio, California

Made reservations for valentines day and asked for outside seating 2 weeks prior. Got to restaurant before 4 pm. Were told we did not ask for outside seating We were the first group seated. Did not leave until 7 pm! 3 hours later! Food and service sucked!!! Will not be back! Im pretty lenient but this was over the top! Do not spend your money here! read more

Beautiful place in Indio. We visited on a Saturday where they have a different lunch menu. More brunch oriented. Decor reminds me of a ranch home in Montana or Texas. Ok menu. Ok service. Typical prices. Nothing spectacular. I'd like to return for a sporting event to watch on that 100" television. read more

Jackalope Ranch - Barbeque Near Me - Indio, California

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Great place with amazing live music performances. Service is awesome & I really enjoyed the ambience here. Love the Texas Twinkies & nachos with that homemade cheese on the side, best way to order. read more

I really wanted to give this 5 stars as I have been looking forward to coming here since it has been closed for a while and remodeled but my first impression with the hostesses was very disappointing to say the least. We arrived on Sunday at 11:30 for our brunch reservation and asked to sit outside and were told it was full and it would be a 25 minute wait. Really didn't want to sit inside but it was getting crowded so we said ok. My husband went outside and looked around and noticed a couple of empty tables and we went back to the hostess and asked if we could sit there and she said it would be a ten minute wait. Another hostess came to the stand and said she could seat us immediately? Not a great start but the patio is so beautiful and there was live music and our server was very attentive so things turned around. We tried a few different things and everything was very good. Great burger for sure. Lots going here and seems like a great place to have a party When leaving the restaurant, neither hostess acknowledged us. Need to work on that! read more

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Impressive building, atmosphere and ambiance. Live music/DJ certain nights, even got a few people dancing on the dance floor. Mediocre food with excellent and friendly service. You are certainly paying a high premium for the locale, and not excellent food. read more

So...had Thanksgiving buffet there yesterday Thanksgiving day. Food was below average. Turkey I had was salty, mashed potatoes were bland & not even warm. Vegetables tasteless. I understand a buffet is a gamble but for $75 head I expected better. Will not return next year. read more

Love their nachos Service is excellent and ambiance is very cool. We don't eat big meals but they sure look good. read more

Well, it was a night of stagecoach. It seemed to be very well organized and we had dinner set up at 7:30. We were sat ordered was taken at 7:45. We did not get our food until 8:45 and we were basically the only 12 top that was sitting in the restaurant, with plenty of servers and assistance from a local hospitality training program. About a half an hour into the order nobody came over and asked us for anything, having to find the staff to ask for water.. The waiter staff all stepped up after the fact, however getting served an hour after we had ordered it was a little bit too long. I would suggest the next time they have a large group offer up something it's just good customer service. Lisa. read more

Cockroaches welcome. Jackalope Ranch used to be one of our favorite places to eat in Coachella Valley. But that was under prior management. This visit we dined with at least 10 cockroaches... and several 1 1/2 inches long! For dinner we had the pulled pork and the Mac N Cheese. Both were ok but we couldn't get past the rodents we kept seeing. We were dining outside on the patio. That is the place to eat at Jackalope due to the landscaping. The roaches were all over the patio and kept coming up and down through the slats in the patio boards. Even though outside, due to the number, we couldn't help wonder if they were also inside ... and in the kitchen. We asked to speak to the manager and she was very nonchalant about the issue. She said it had been brought to their attention before and they knew it was a problem. In fact, she said "Oh, believe me, I know how bad it is. I have to sweep and clean up out here". She said there was an infestation under the patio deck. When we got home, we searched the internet. Something I wish we had done BEFORE we dined at Jackalope. Apparently they have been closed down twice by the Health Department in the last 13 months for cockroach infestations. And, unfortunately, what they've done to remedy the situation has NOT worked. We asked the manager what she could do to compensate us for the issue. She offered 10% off the bill. We told her that was not enough. She came back with 25% off the bill and said she was going to have to explain that to Corporate. As if a lot of very large cockroaches was going to be hard to justify a customer compensation. Will we return? No! read more

Jackalope Ranch - View when sitting on the outdoor patio. - Barbeque Near Me - Indio, California

This establishment recently changed ownership. Upon arriving on a midweek night, the restaurant was fairly empty. We requested to sit outside and were greeted with a Walt Disney-like experience: well-lit patio lights strung across endless patches of grass, with water features in the background. It would be a children's dream to run around and get their energy out while the whole family enjoys a dining experience. Unfortunately, my wife's drink took 10 to 15 minutes to arrive, as staff forgot on two separate occasions. They seemed to be short-staffed that night. We ordered their signature rib dish; however, the meat was over-salted to the point where it was almost inedible--in fact, it was not eaten. The coleslaw and corn were delicious, but sadly, we left a plate full of meat. We were there on a night when the kitchen failed in its mission. Hopefully the Family that made 100 of Millions selling cars can raise this establishment to the luster of their showrooms without the salesmen . Best of luck read more

Jackalope Ranch - Excellent outdoor sitting areas. - Barbeque Near Me - Indio, California

Went at 1:45 on a beautiful Saturday afternoon, the first weekend in spring, intending to lunch on their beautiful patio. Surprised to find the place closed and locked. So much for our business! read more

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I am local and always wanted to try Jackalope - despite mixed reviews- and I love supporting local business. I was excited to go. Also wanted to check it out because of the big bar area to have a client gathering. This was a special occasion, we made 5pm reservations for 3 of us. Just got home and I am hungry and upset that my friends wanted to take me out for an early birthday. I probably should have ordered a meat dish, but all of us didn't. There was a lobster 'fest' advertised. I had the lobster and crab claw salad - not much to eat on the half lobster and the crab claws tasted like ammonia. Server took those away as I asked her to smell it -and nothing else was offered. Asked for dressing on the side and it was mixed in. Other friend had the lobster - which was very small and not even a pound and was advertised as over a pound. After telling her, she offered to bring something else- a burger seemed safe and he said it was good. Third friend had lobster tacos - very dry and stuffed with coleslaw to make them moist. Two alocholic drinks arrived swiftly as soon as I sat down- my friend who does not drink ordered several non alcoholic and had to ask several times for 3 more. Lesson learned - probably order anything but seafood. However, they need to do better- I will not return due to this experience- This review is to educate the public. Buyer beware! Meal type Dinner Price per person $50-100 Food: 2 Service: 2 Atmosphere: 5 Reservation Reservations recommended Group size Not sure Parking space Plenty of parking Parking options Free parking lot Parking Like Share Add photos & vi read more

Jackalope Ranch - seafood salad over $40! - Barbeque Near Me - Indio, California

This is a bit overdue. We had a Friday night Welcome Dinner Party for our daughter and son-in-law in October for their wedding weekend We cannot say enough good things about Charlie and this venue. Charlie bent over backwards to make sure we received all that was promised, including a new Santa Maria barbecue. We used the back patio and indoor room with the beautiful fireplace and bar. We embraced the western theme and I know everyone had a fabulous time. The food, the drinks, the staff (Gianna etc), could not have been better. I have since recommended Jackalope to many friends. Consider it for an event or just for delicious barbecue. read more

Jackalope Ranch - Outdoor patio - Barbeque Near Me - Indio, California

The ambiance outside at sunset is breathtaking. The service was good, although a few items took a long time to arrive. I've been here before and I will go here again. I highly recommend it! read more

The service was good, the food was marginal. My beef ribs were fatty and dry. The amount of bbq sauce was somewhat dry and it would have been nice to have had more sauce to add. The baked beans were watery. Great place, drinks good-food marginal read more

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Stopped in on a busy Friday night, we had no wait for a party of 2. The view outside was amazing and service was great. Had the grilled chicken sandwich and it was delicious, drinks were not strong. read more

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All the good things first. We had two visits is 3 days. The bar is awesome. The staff is amazing. The owner is amazing and so welcoming and aware. Happy hour and appetizers was flawless. Calamari on point. NYE was rough. I'm full of grace and a two hour seating delay didn't bother me. Being told the kitchen and bar had closed when we were finally seated was shocking. Again, the owner to the rescue and assured us it was fine and he would handle. I want to be clear. This place is awesome. The environment is worth the price of admission. Food awesome. Bar awesome. Today was rough. I'll be back maybe. read more

Good take out food at reasonable prices - the host stand is totally unprepared to take orders to go and must find an available server to take a to go order - this with 5 dedicated to go parking spaces in the front and a dedicated space off to the right of the host stand - management needs to fix this issue or people will get frustrated at the current process - I look forward to changes on my next trip to the desert later this year read more

This was awesome the food was great the waterfalls were so cool and there was lots of grassy area to hangout it

The ambiance here is amazing. However, the meals were just average. Not bad, but nothing to rave about either. Definitely over priced for the amount of food we actually got. Almost $250 for 4 entrees and 3 deserts, with water and sodas. No bread or chips while waiting either. Hit In-N-Out on the way home due to still being hungry. read more

Jackalope was always a regular stop whenever we visited the desert until they closed down during Covid. We were surprised and delighted to find out that they had reopened. The grounds were beautiful as always and the food and drinks were very good. We will be back! read more