I can't say enough good things about this place!…read more My husband and I went out to Joshua Tree for my birthday weekend and this was a last minute find for a birthday dinner. I'm so happy we found this gem. Make sure to have reservations, as the night progressed I realized how popular it is and for good reason. The ambience is amazing at night when the lights are on it has a beautiful atmosphere. They curate everything perfectly. Our waiter was so kind, very knowledgeable on everything we ordered and shared that the chef was Jamaican which was such a neat surprise. The drinks were strong and still delicious. We ordered Brussel sprouts, broccolini, Jerk Chicken and Chimichurri Steak. Everything was incredible. If you're ever in the area I highly recommend for an unforgettable meal and experience. Will definitely return even if it's not on my birthday!

Went to dinner two nights ago and honestly, I'm still kind of shocked at the level of hospitality…read more We were only about 10 minutes late--and it was a Tuesday, not exactly peak rush. I walked up first with my sister and mom right behind me, immediately apologizing and saying hello to who I assume was the host... or maybe a manager? It genuinely wasn't clear. I explained that I had tried calling, got no answer, and followed the instructions to text the number provided saying we were on the way. When I brought that up, my sister stepped forward to show the text, and the response we got was, "What am I looking at?"--said in a way that felt unnecessarily rude and dismissive. It was literally just the message we were told to send. Then we were told they don't even receive texts and that it goes to "headquarters"... for a small restaurant? That alone was bizarre and off-putting. We were seated, and from there the service stayed pretty mediocre. I had noted in the reservation that we were celebrating my sister's birthday, which was completely ignored the entire night. For context, we were only in Joshua Tree for three days--we were visiting from Portland--and this is a place we usually make a point to come to. So yes, expectations were higher because this was supposed to be a special dinner. The food itself didn't help. Our chicken came out with an extremely spicy sauce underneath that completely overpowered the dish. It was so intense we were literally turning red. We mentioned it to the server, and nothing was done or offered--no acknowledgment beyond that. What really stood out was the timing of everything. The server didn't check on us until we had already eaten about 80% of the meal, which made it pointless to even give feedback at that stage. By the time we were finished and had been sitting for a while, we couldn't even find him. Then suddenly he appeared to ask if we wanted dessert... well after we were clearly done. Still, no mention of the birthday, no effort to make the moment feel even slightly special. On top of that, it was freezing outside. The table next to us was given blankets, but none were offered to us--even though we were sitting there in tank tops. At one point, the same host who had been rude earlier was folding blankets right in front of us without saying a word, which honestly just added to the uncomfortable feeling. Overall, this was a really disappointing experience, especially for one of our first nights back in town. It kind of set the tone in the worst way and brought everything back to that initial interaction at the door. There really wasn't an excuse for it either--the restaurant looked nearly empty, even around 6:20. Save your time and go to Pioneer Town.

3/30/26 @ 9pm Had a late night dinner with my other half…read more First time out here in Big Bear & this place looked cozy. We were greeted at the front with a very warm and friendly welcome by Janet who also was our server. Her energy was so vibrant & comforting, especially at such a later hour when there wasn't much foot traffic going on. Her customer service made our experience there amazing and we would definitely return because of her. I've worked restaurant for many years in management and I can say she checked off many qualities of a great worker. Food was great, we finished every bite. Tender ribs and my favorite meal - salmon was delicious! The hot chocolate was the perfect touch and Janet even gave me a hot chocolate to go which helped keep me warm through my ride back. Thank you Janet for that lovely evening. Ask for Janet as your server!

Very good recommend! The food was good, very tasty Great…read moreservice by Elsa and Tere. Thank you very much!

Phenomenal place to wait out the heat of the day or close out the night. Friendly staff, a great…read moreselection of drinks, and a laid back atmosphere. We brought some cards to kill time which added to our enjoyment. The food was so delicious we came back the next day too. The salad, burger, grilled cheese with apples, and brownie with whipped cream were the best foods we'd eaten in our three days around JT and all with fresh ingredients well prepared. The food alone would make this a 5 star visit.

Pro: The food was delicious - no exaggeration - the Sqrl burger was one of the best burgers I've…read moreever had. My girlfriend had the nacho libre chicken sandwich and loved it. They have an incredible selection of beers. Cons: you either have to order at your table using a QR code, or place your order with the bartender. I HATE QR codes, and the ordering app was not intuitive - I gave up and ordered via the bartender. Also, it was open mike night so the noise was considerable. I get the impression that even on regular nights, this is not a quiet environment. Summary: fantastic food, but you shouldn't have to go through so much effort to place an order.

Now THIS is a dive bar but we loved it! Came all 3 night we were here in 29 palms. Josh behind…read morethe bar is super friendly as most of the clientele seem to be because we struck up conversations readily even though we are " east coasters". Good liquor selection and Josh lived up to his rep with a big perfect dry and ice cold martini. As good I would have in any restaurants back in dc where I live. Stopping in each night was a highlight of our trip.

I went to this place on a recent mini vacation to Joshua Tree. I wanted some local color, and I did…read morenot want to visit the spots for tourists. I wanted to clink glasses with locals who could tell me about the fun and flaw of growing up in a small town. And I figured that local dive bars would allow me to check off my hopes. Plus, the word on the street was that the Virginian was a local haunt for marines. I wanted to party with marines. Spoiler alert: I did--and it added an extra layer of crisp and pop to my night. On my first night, I went there, by my lonesome, and I was surprised to know that it was a cash-only establishment. This worked to my favor because I did not want to drink too much and then go to my hotel. I did not aim to get a DUI, I just wanted to have fun. When I go alone to a bar, I have a primary objective: to find friends to drink with and talk to. Especially on vacation, I wanted to find an experience that would lead me to a "hangover-like night." I know it might be impossible, for sure, but that does not impede me from trying. And when one tries, one might be successful. I was. I went to put my name on the chalkboard to eventually play pool. I gathered around the others who were waiting for pool. I quickly made friends with a marine. He was not the marine I had my eye on, but he was the one who entertained my advances. Soon after, we went to the bar to get him a drink. One for me too. We were getting shots. The wait was long-loving for it gave him and me the opportunity to connect. Let's call him Lalo. He told me about life as a marine. I told him about my life. He told me that he had found a girl--now his fiancée--on an app called Chispa. Basically, a dating app for Latinx people. I did not think he had found a fiancée, but rather a person he could fall in love with. He was young, you see, and love for marriage seems to be a long game best played by those who are at least in their mid-twenties. Regardless, I will root for those two crazy kids. As we drank and grew closer, Lalo and I just became friendlier and friendlier, which led to friendly hugs. On one particular long and gripping hug, I uttered, "This feels so nice, Lalo." His reply was, "I am glad, Frankie, I am glad." My chosen name is Frankie. His words comforted me because they sounded sincere, and words I had not heard before, within this context. Here in the middle of a desert, I had found comfort in the arms of a marine. I never thought I would, but like I said, I tried, and I was happy to be successful. Soon one of his friends came and requested to leave. Lalo did. I was irked. I wanted him to stay with me for a few more drinks at the Virginian. It did not happen. I got lucky, but my luck did not extend the night. But I did get lucky the next night. I went again after my day at Joshua Tree. It was a Saturday night. The place was full but not so full that it was overwhelming. I saw three young men sitting. There was a stool next to one. They had the build and essence of marines. So, I sat next to one. And again, I made a quick friend. He was from South Dakota. I can't remember his name, so let's call him James. James introduced me to his two friends. One was from the same town I grew up in. Happy coincidence. James and I spoke. He was kind enough to get me a glass of water. The service of the armed forces rings high and small. They were taking shots, one after the other, without restraint. One of James's friends stepped outside and puked. The bartender reprimanded them. He gave them a mop to clean their own mess. Wow, this would not happen in an LA bar, I thought. The marines were put to work. James took the mop and finished for his friend. The bartender inspected the mess and green-lit for them to go. Again, I wanted a marine to stay for my own selfish needs. He did not. He grew and gave me a smile as he went. This bar is a local haunt, but great for visitors. So, if you go to Joshua Tree or a nearby town, don't be shy and stop in here for local color. I got to see small-town vibes at play. It was great, and I met my own personal goal of partying with marines. The Virginian may not be sophisticated, but it is a place to have fun and engage in a way that feels homey yet exciting. Please remember it is cash only but it has ATMs. If you use credit cards, to get by at times, then skip this place.

The only brewery in the three high desert cities is one of the best you'll find in all of Southern…read moreCalifornia. The beer is soooooo good! Not to mention the wonderful food (amazing smash burgers and breakfast burritos to fuel your day in the park). High top tables and a great patio also make it a great spot for watching the game and relaxing. Did I mention they might also be the best coffee stop for miles?

Stopped here after the national park and I absolutely LOVED the potato salad. My friends and I…read moreordered a couple beers, a chili dog and turkey burger . All food items were yummy with very flavorful ingredients. I know I'll be thinking about this potato salad in the future , compliments to the chef ! Service was great bartender checked in on us and grabbed our missing items .

I'm visiting from out of town and came here for brunch. The service was lovely and the food was…read moreincredible! I had the chorizo and potato tostadas with homemade salsa and it was terrific. Very happy I came in and if I'm in twentynine palms again in the future I will definitely return!

It seems like they were understaffed but David did a great job at providing excellent customer…read moreservice! The portions are fantastic and the food satisfying. Make sure to not be in a rush when you come!

Very decent air-fried chicken sandwich (grilled not an option. Only disappointment was that the…read morefries weren't like the ones in the photo and we chose the place based on the fries (not marking them down for that as the photos were from customers, not the restaurant). They were waffle cut shape. Okay, not great. Service excellent.

We ended up going here after a very disappointing meal somewhere else for some more food and to…read moreplay some pool. We were immediately greeted by very friendly staff who immediately gave us a menu. We ordered the nachos and a chicken sandwich and while waiting played some pool. The bar was not very populated at the time, but it was difficult playing pool because it was very close to the tables that did have people and you did not have enough room to play and go for all the shots you wanted to. Thankfully there was pool to keep us distracted because the food did take around 35 minutes to be delivered, even though the place was not busy. The food itself hit the spot and was exactly what we were looking for. The nachos had great toppings and the chicken sandwich was very crispy. There was also a band playing that night who sounded good. All in all we took it as a neighborhood friendly spot with nice staff and decent food. Next time we are in the area we will make sure to stop by.

We stopped here to grab some breakfast on our way back from Havasu…read more It was a cute diner style place, clean, lots of seating and good ambiance. Food was good, I ordered the Denver omelette and it was delicious and loaded. It was much needed as we were hungry. Service was great, our server was nice, professional, tentative, and efficient. Definitely recommend this place if you're passing through twenty-nine palms.

After the drive from Saguaro National Park to Twentynine Palms, we were ready for something light…read moreand landed at John's Place. We kept it simple, a couple of salads with a cup of chili on the side. Sometimes simple is exactly right. The salads were fresh, crisp, and actually satisfying, not the sad afterthought kind. And the chili? Genuinely delicious. Rich, comforting, and good enough that I took the rest to go so I could upgrade the next morning's hotel breakfast. No regrets there. The space is casual and lively, nothing fancy, but it has a welcoming energy that makes you want to stay a bit. It was busy when we arrived, always a good sign, and the service matched the vibe. Friendly, easygoing, and attentive without hovering. All in, a really nice stop. Fresh food, warm service, and exactly the kind of place you're glad you found after a long stretch on the road.

Fresh and fantastic. Cute spot…read more Friendly staff Everything was delicious. Lots of great salads and veg options

After a long day desert wandering, we spent an evening at 29 Palms Inn Restaurant, and the whole…read moreplace carries this calm, grounded energy that makes you instinctively lower your voice a notch and settle in. The restaurant itself is simple and inviting, understated in the best way. We didn't have reservations, so we sat at the bar, despite several empty tables giving us that "maybe we could have gambled" feeling. Still, the bar turned out to be a good perch for the evening. Kristin, if I caught her name correctly, was running the universe behind that bar. Mixing drinks, serving dinner, managing patrons, and somehow still staying friendly through it all. Watching bartenders during dinner rushes always feels a little like witnessing Olympic-level multitasking. I was especially excited to order the hearts of palm cakes because hearts of palm were a staple in my childhood home. Sadly, they were out of them. A small heartbreak occurred. I survived bravely. Roadtrip mode had fully turned us into tapas people by then, so we ordered a spread of appetizers and a salad to share. The Inn's famous sautéed mushrooms absolutely deserved their reputation, buttery, garlicky, lemony little flavor bombs. The toasted ravioli with house marinara disappeared quickly, the beet and orange salad was fresh and balanced, and the falafel bites were tasty, though I personally would have loved them just a bit crispier. I enjoyed a couple of Old Fashioneds, and the live music that evening was genuinely excellent. The woman performing had one of those voices that makes you stop mid-bite for a second just to listen. Not bad company for dinner. The only thing I wish they'd improve is accessibility. The atmosphere is wonderfully peaceful, but a bit more consideration for guests with mobility challenges would go a long way in making that peace more inclusive. Overall, we really enjoyed our evening. Good food, good music, strong cocktails, desert night air, and that slow-roadtrip feeling where nobody's in a hurry anymore.

Great location right in front of the entrance to Joshua Tree National Forest main office and on the…read moremain street through 29 Palms. Delicious beer. Great vibes with the TVs and indoor outdoor seating. Good friendly service. Enjoyed the hot dog and beans. Not cheap but very good. I like the taster cups they offer for $2.50! USMC town USA!

Good portobello sandwich. This is my third visit. I get the sandwich each visit…read more Today we shared potato salad. Not like any potato salad I've had before. Is it a German potato salad? Menu didn't say. Anyway it was bland, though it has a sauce. A pinch of salt would have benefited the side. Didn't enjoy. Had a taster of the red. Perfect size for me. Innocuous red.