Fine Dining in the High Desert

Pool and Restaurant @ The 29 Palms Inn

There's not a lot of fine dining establishments in the tri-city area of the high desert, Yucca Valley, Joshua Tree and Twentynine Palms.  Most of the dining choices consist of Mom 'n Pop greasy spoon-coffee shops, BBQ joints and lots of chain fast food places like McDonald's, Del Taco, Pizza Hut, etc.   There are a couple of exceptions though.  There's a newish place in Twentynine Palms called Bistro 29.  We haven't tried it yet, but it's on our list for our next trip.

Last Friday, after checking into the Fairfield Marriot Hotel in 29, we relaxed a bit and swam a few laps in the swimming pool.  

Bar @ the 29 Palms Inn

By around 7-ish we decided to amble over to the 29 Palms Inn restaurant for dinner. The Inn has their own vegetable garden.  They make their own soups and sourdough bread.  The food is prepared with care and finesse.  The portions are generous and the ambiance is comfortable and decidedly mid-20th century. The full bar is one of the most popular places in town.  We LOVE the 29 Palms Inn!

The Inn wasn't too busy on this warm Friday night.  Usually, you need a reservation, but it's a bit early in the season for crowds.  We each had fresh green salads with lots of extras.  Their house oil & vinegar dressing has a touch of sweetness to it and is yummy.  The sourdough bread was warm.  Hmmmmm.

Pork Tenderloin

Snapper

Larry ordered the Pork Tenderloin.  I ordered the Catch of the Day which was Snapper.  Both dinners were served with delicious veggies, fresh from the garden and a baked potato.  

There was a singer, entertaining just outside the dining room, at the pool.  It was a lazy, lovely and romantic dinner, enhanced by the warm desert breeze and the swaying palms outside.
Our chain hotel offers a complimentary breakfast bar.  This is perfect for us.  We can have a full breakfast or just toast, yogurt, coffee and juice.  Larry opted for his beloved Fruit Loops.  He NEVER has this type of sugary cereal at home.  We were on vacation!

Larry's cereal matches the upholstery!

 After a bit of shopping at the Sky Village Swap Meet and hitting a few more antique stores on Saturday, we were ready for lunch.  One of the best places for fresh, delicious food in Joshua Tree is the Crossroads Cafe.  The place is under new ownership.  The current crew has cleaned up the place, streamlined the ordering process, but has maintained the freshness of the food.  There are lots of healthy choices at Crossroads, making this a fave stopping place for the hikers in nearby Joshua Tree National Park.

 
Larry ordered his fave sandwich, BLTA, bacon, lettuce, tomato and avocado on wheat toast.  I ordered the soup of the day which was Beer/Cheese soup with a side of cornbread.  True, my lunch wasn't the healthiest choice, but it certainly was tasty.

BLTA on wheat and Beer/Cheese Soup w/cornbread

So, if you plan ahead when visiting the High Desert, you can avoid the fast food chains and partake of some delicious meals!