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!

Placed an order on Uber Eats at 10:30am on a Tuesday for deliver at 11:46a to 12:00p…read moreAfter confirming Restaurant canceled my order at 11:50am Horrible wouldn't try it again I had a large party in a special training that needed lunch by 12:15p Unprofessional that I wasn't notified in a considerate amount of time prior to.

My stepfather has always told me that ground squirrels weren't good eatin' but this place proves…read morehim wrong! My husband and I came here while on vacation (after spending the day in Joshua Tree National Park). We chose it based on the good reviews and it lived up to expectations. We started with the fries, which stayed nice and crispy (I suggest you follow the server's recommendation and get the habanero sauce so you can double dip in that and the ketchup). I had the delicious Dank House salad. It sounded like an odd combination of flavors (with Brussels sprouts, beets, apples, blue cheese and horseradish dressing) but it all works! Genius! My husband had the rotating chicken sando which was Korean bbq inspired and had amazing flavor! We also had a couple of the local beers on tap. It's kind of a quirky place. Has a little bit of a diner feel on the inside but had a DJ playing music on Saturday evening, which provided some good background music and added to the ambiance without being too loud. The bartender and servers were all very friendly and helpful. If we lived here, this would be a weekly hang out spot for us!

Visited Grnd Sqrl on the recommendation of our friend who has been living in 29 Palms. It's pretty…read morehip - somehow very granola while still having a lot of neon. Good vibes. And a live band! The food is well executed bar food, with good vegetarian options. Had some soup and a grilled cheese.

We tripped over this place on a random trip to Joshua Tree. We are so glad we did!…read moreGreat dive bar. Locals were friendly, bartenders were professional and efficient. Wifey was dressed to impress. Not only was she accepted but was encouraged! Really a fun evening, we'll be back!

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!

love this place! Wish they were open later in the day though…read more the avacado toast comes with slices of tomato and onion so i had to cut the up to make it a bit more enjoyable..

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.

Really wild to see that this place has a 3.4 rating but our first, and definitely not last, visit…read morewas amazing. Not only was the staff fun and friendly, evident by not only the great service we received but also by the interactions with the other customers (hard to miss in the quaint space), but the food we ordered were tasty - not to mention noticeably affordable with GENEROUS servings. Philly cheesesteak and fried zucchini were a great choice - highly recommend. The breakfast options were also a great deal. Will definitely come back next time we're in town after a visit to the national park!

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.

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.

So glad we found this place once we were finishing our afternoon at Joshua Tree (near the north…read moreentrance). This was one of our best and most satisfying meals in the area. Attached to the Twenty Nine Palms Inn, the restaurant offered more options for different eaters: a few salads, burgers, specialties and sandwiches. High marks for the grunt burger, Porto burger, and fish tacos (not huge) and the oasis bowl was good. Prices were also not exorbitant, likely because the sandwiches and burgers didn't come with sides. They have both indoor and covered outdoor seating. We thought the service would be slow as we sat outside and seated ourselves but it wasn't bad. The server was nice; when our side orders were forgotten at first, it was quickly rectified when we pointed it out. The bathroom was clean and had adequate aeration. They close 4 and 5 pm, between lunch and dinner. It was quiet when we arrived which was a nice respite.