Okay, being totally honest, this wasn't the absolute best food of our entire Joshua Tree-Palm Springs trip, but a close 2nd. BUT it was definitely the biggest, most positive surprise when it came to expectations vs. actual quality! We landed in Palm Springs late in the evening and were starving on our way out to Joshua Tree. After a quick Yelp search for something open past 7-8pm, this spot popped up. We pulled into a super quiet parking lot and found this tiny little place. Looking at it from the outside, we honestly figured it would just be a quick, forgettable pitstop. Boy, were we wrong. For starters, the place was relatively full for a Tuesday evening! We ordered the duck confit nachos, the kimchi bulgogi sandwich, and the pony wings. Wow! Granted, our expectations were unfairly low walking in, but this turned out to be probably our second-best meal of the entire week--and we ate out every single day! It absolutely crushed it in terms of exceeding expectations. It also helped that we happened to be there on a Wednesday, so all the wines were half-priced! Unfortunately, since we weren't familiar with the area, we didn't know exactly how much further we had to drive to our accommodations, so we couldn't imbibe more in such a welcoming environment. (Missed opportunity, but safety first!) Oh, and definitely save room for dessert--their pie with ice cream of the day was delicious too! If you are passing through, do not sleep on this place. I would definitely come back the next time I'm in the area! read more

The Tiny Pony is a cool little spot. The decor is kind of all over the place but it works and fits the desert vibe. Got the Tiny Pony burger and it was really good. Proper smash burger with crispy edges and a juicy center. The patties had great flavor and didn't need anything extra. Came with homemade chips which were actually really good and easy to keep picking at. Service was good and everything came out without a long wait. Simple, tasty, and a spot I'd come back to. read more

We came here around midnight on a Thursday, and the place was packed. There's both indoor and outdoor seating, with the outdoor area split between covered and uncovered sections. They also have heaters outside, which kept it pretty warm. If you plan to sit outside, the covered area is definitely the best spot. They have an amazing drink selection. I was actually really surprised they had Laphroaig. I also ordered an Old Fashioned, which was delicious. That said, the prices are a little steep for what's technically a dive bar. There's a pool table if you want to play, and they also have a Photo Booth that costs $6 and gives you two prints, which is a fun little addition if you're there with friends. The decor throughout the place is super cool and adds a lot to the overall vibe. It says they close at 1 AM, but they were doing last call at 1 AM rather than kicking people out, so I'm not exactly sure what time the night fully wraps up. The music selection wasn't really my favorite, but the staff was very friendly, the drinks were great, the atmosphere was lively, and the decor is awesome. Definitely a top-tier dive bar with a fun vibe. read more

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Really cool local bar, kitschy velvet cat paintings and other fun art, excellent staff and management. Cocktails are great, if you're hungry I recommend getting one of the daily specials - any one of them, never disappoints! Karaoke on Tuesday night is very fun! read more

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Always great ambiance, service, vibes, food, and libations. One of the top 100 taverns in the nation, and well-deserved. read more

The Tiny Pony - Bar area and me! - Bars Near Me - Yucca Valley, California

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Nice patio outside. Food was good. Service was slow but tolerable. We were able to get seated when everything else was booked.

The Tiny Pony is an eclectic dive looking joint in Yucca Valley with "the best views of Shoe City" lol! Get the yucca fries (they're not potato). Love the duck nachos. Love love love the wild boar sloppy joe. They also serve Abita root beer. The Photo Booth is $5 and the pictures are incredible - dooooo ittttt! Great patio and also plenty of inside tables. It can be intimidating when they are packed but just walk in and you will find a seat. read more

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The spot has character with a bunch of fun, quirky decor. My boyfriend and I went on a Friday night ~9pm, and it was packed. We were lucky that a party at the bar left right when we got there so we were able to snag those seats. I ordered one of their cocktails, the spicy picante, which was more tequila forward than my liking. For a tavern, the brownie cookie though was surprisingly good and satisfied my sweet tooth for the night. Service was slow, and I didn't feel like any of the staff really cared to check in or make the experience welcoming. read more

The Tiny Pony - Brownie Cookie - Bars Near Me - Yucca Valley, California

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Besides the super slow service (which I don't entirely blame them for - it was busy and looked like there was maybe 1 main wait staff and 1 floater), the food was pretty decent! We tried the duck nachos, tiny pony burger, maple miso shrimp tacos, crispy chicken sandwich, and blueberry pie with ice cream. Out of those, the pie was the sleeper hit for me. Jam packed with blueberries and such a great texture on the crust. That plus the ice cream was so good. We probably could have ordered a second. After that, the tacos were pretty unique. The flavor combination was nice, and the crunch from the cabbage broke up the texture of the taco nicely. The burger was good as well, but nothing really special about it. Same with the chicken sandwich. Coming in, you seat yourself and water is self serve. There are bathrooms here, and there's a bar area. They also have a photo booth and sell some restaurant swag. Parking was tight, but there's also plenty of street parking. read more

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Arrived into town pretty hungry. This place was highly recommended for a quick burger type menu. Walking in was fabulous. The entire place is decorated with portraits of animals that probably eat better than me. There's all kinds of trinkets and things to see. A pool table. A bar. It does feel low light and that gives it an extra western bar vibe. Like a place where everyone knows each other. Service was also really friendly. We were greeted right away. Water is self serve but they brought it out to us anyway. We browsed through the menu and ultimately I opted for the Tiny Burger and an order of Tiny Fries. The burger came with chips. The burger was delicious. It was juicy, good size, lettuce, tomato, cheese, aioli. The chips were also pretty tasty, not too overly seasoned. The Tiny Fries were a good portion size as well. We shared them between 2 people and it was plenty. They were crunchy fries but you can tell they sat in the frying oil for a little too long. The fries came with a dipping sauce that was reminiscent of ranch dressing and maybe jalapeno cilantro? It was mild but delicious. A great meal to start our trip. The menu also had some interesting dessert options, like a Lemon Habanero Cheesecake. I didn't leave room for dessert and there was no refrigerator where we were heading to I couldn't risk it. Next time, that'll be first on the list to try! read more

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While I was staying in Twentynine Palms, I was looking for a place to stop by and see if I could get some socializing in as an out of town stranger. I found this place online, and I noticed somebody I know from back east liked the place so it had to be cool. Also I had to find out how someone I know knew this place in the middle of the desert and come to find out she doesn't live too far away so that was a nice surprise. Nevertheless I ended up in this place on a win and sat at the bar. There wasn't a lot of room to find a seat, even though I was a party of one. I found one towards the end of the bar and squeezed myself into a spot. There were a couple of people working behind the bar. The lovely lady who took my order was indeed a very busy bee, yet maintained a smile on her face as she addressed guests. I decided to order a Paloma with El Tesoro. She asked if I wanted Tajin on the rim and I said yes. Palomas are one of my favorite drinks. I didn't care for this one. Not that I want them super sweet, but this one lacked the tart sweetness that balances the kick of tequila that I love, and the flavor had a hint of that bitter yet blande grapefruit juice of olden times. Maybe there was too much soda, I couldn't say. I'm picky about my palomas. I would have ordered something else but I had a long day and I needed to be able to drive to my Airbnb. All the staff I interacted with were really nice and it was lively, busy, and full of cool people in there. I think I need to come back another time with more energy and try more of the menu. read more

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No reason to go to the overly priced overly trendy Copper Room. This place is right down the road. Full bar, vegan options, always friendly service. It can get busy, it can get loud. But it has so much charm. Love the staff. Patio is dog friendly. So fun checking out their collection of velvet paintings on the walls. This has become our go to spot every time we are in town. read more

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Tuesday karaoke was the place to be What an unexpected amazing time out. Non alcoholic michelada for the win. The crowd was as eclectic as the decor and I enjoyed every second. read more

Stopped by this bar on a Tuesday night and really enjoyed the experience! The food was tasty the veggie burger was absolutely delicious and the fries were just as good. I also tried a couple of mezcal drinks and they were strong in the best way. Service was friendly and attentive. They did forget to bring out the fries at first, but once we mentioned it, they fixed it right away and brought them out quickly. We left soon after they were starting Karaoke. It definitely seems like a lot of locals go there. Overall, a great spot for good food, solid drinks, and a good vibe. Definitely would come back! read more

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Stopped here for a drink and a salad for our first lunch in the area and it reminded me a lot of a Portland OR bar dropped in the high desert of CA. Casual and quirky/artsy vibe with decent food and relaxed service. Had the chickpea salad with chicken and a Ho-po cocktail with mezcal, chipotle liqueur, and grapefruit. The salad was solid and the drink had good flavor but was too sweet for me. Good spot to hang and grab a bite and beverage, a bit more $ than we expected. read more

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Came in for a breakfast again - shrimp & grits didn't have the sauce anymore, just some brown butter. Grits were gummy and the tasted reheated, the shrimp were well seasoned but also gummy. French toast is off the menu, tried the fried avocado tacos which were tasty but only some of the avocado was actually fried. Coffee was worse and I was spitting out grounds from the bottom of my mug. Refills are not free and it's now $3 per shitty cup - we got charged $12 for four coffees. Maybe if you come in Saturday the food is actually fresh and Sunday is leftovers? Dinner last year had reheated seeming Yucca Potatoes. Chatted with the bartender when paying and they lost their chef 8 months ago. People had been complaining about grits the weekend before. RIP Tiny Pony read more

The Tiny Pony - Brunch *__* - Bars Near Me - Yucca Valley, California

Location is a bit hidden from the street, The decor is really cool--they have one pool table and a full bar. Even the restroom has unique style, which is a fun touch. I tried the tiny burger. The presentation was great, but the patty itself was a bit lacking in flavor for my taste read more

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Always a good time at my local Little Tavern in Yucca Valley and every weekend they usually have some great event to get together with all the neighbors doing something fun read more

Came for Memorial Day but their menu says Labor Day special (multiple months off). You seat yourself and serve yourself water, but the waitress was not that friendly about it. She seemed annoyed that we weren't ordering alcohol and told us to fetch our own water. Later we asked for coffee with creamer, which the creamer was forgotten. We asked again, never came, so we flagged a different waitress for a third attempt to get some. Later she did seem more friendly when we ordered more food, but just seemed too frank about things. Inside has a huge mix of different decorations. There's a nice large bar with again random decorations. There is outdoor seating and allows for pets. Food came out relatively fast. Yucca fries - crispy when fresh but eat them quick as it starts to get cold and the cheese hardens; it was okay but I would've preferred normal fries; bacon was just a huge hard blob that you couldn't break up and too salty - which they had crumbled it and spread it around for you Chicken sandwich - served on their own tiny pony paper which was unique, decently crispy but contained decent amount of fat, not bad tasting Overpriced for mediocre food. Service was not the friendliest. You seat and serve yourself and they still recommend 22% tip on their receipts. Probably would only come here in the future for drinks or would rather check out a different local spot. Food: 3.5/5 Service: 2/5 Ambiance: 3.5/5 read more

The Tiny Pony - Bars Near Me - Yucca Valley, California

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Cute place. Nice server. Inside was way cuter/cooler in temp (obviously) than outside, but we had a pup so could not enjoy. Micheladas were good. Wedge salad was like a 3.6/5, unsure why it had pickled red onions on it- could have used more dressing, but it was a fine snack. Photobooth was digital but cute. They did have a beehive or some kind of wasp infestation in the front entry lol. Had a warning sign and we just ran through the door to dodge the bees lol, but they should probably hire someone to fix. read more

The Tiny Pony - Wedge - Bars Near Me - Yucca Valley, California

Got lucky and snagged a spot at the bar even though it was packed! Loved the zero-proof menu. Tons of options. The bartender made me a Paloma and it was perfection. I went with the shrimp tacos to stay on theme (I know, shrimp in the desert coming from San Diego) but they were so good, especially with the Fresno chiles on top. Highly recommend for the vibes and the food. Next time I'm trying the loaded yucca fries... they sound amazing! read more

The Tiny Pony - Shrimp tacos with Fresno chiles - Bars Near Me - Yucca Valley, California

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The service was great but the price of the cocktails was expensive. The hamburger was good but small and the potato chips were good too. I have been wanting to eat here for quite sometime. I hear people say how good it is. Overall I don't think I will be going back I think it's too expensive for what you get. The atmosphere is good and the employees are great. My total bill for 2 cheeseburgers and 2 cocktails it came to 87$. I don't think it was worth the price I paid but I'm glad I went and checked read more

Delicious food and fun vibes. Their vegan burger was very good, but my only complaint is the price for portion without including a side of fries (had to order separately). It was delicious though. Staff was very accommodating read more

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Lively atmosphere, the bar staff was on point with a full house and the customers seemed genuine. Shrimp taco special was a disappointment, yet looking forward to returning to try other items. read more

Good place for Friday & Saturday late nights , alcohol is expensive here and its touristy .

Yummy and very eclectic. Haley was attentive and very much on her game. My smash burger was so tasty and moist, I ate the whole thing along with the homemade chips. My glass of wine was filled to be brim. What else could I ask for? Ambiance! It reminds me of a 5***** dive bar in Riverside called Arts Bar & Grill. We'll be back read more

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An absolute must for anyone exploring Yucca Valley! My boyfriend and I were driving past and quite hungry and decided to stop in on a whim and we couldn't have picked a more perfect spot. It's all the best of the hi-desert. The vibes are quirky vintage western whimsical. I'm obsessed with the gallery walls of horse and cat art. Everyone was really friendly and welcoming. The food is total comfort food, but elevated and unique. The duck confit nachos were unbelievable. Every element was so flavorful. I ordered the Maple Miso Shrimp Tacos which were incredibly good, beautiful sweet savory balance, but ultimately too spicy for me so I stole my boyfriend's Wild Boar Sloppy Joe instead. The sloppy Joe was unbelievable. The crispy sage on top made it totally unforgettable. The house made chips were a perfect accompaniment. They also have the cutest Photo Booth. We will definitely be back next time we come around. read more

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Amazing vibes here. Stopped in on a Friday night and the place was jumping. They don't take reservations so you just pop in. You seat yourself at an open table and the menus are waiting for you. Our server came over quick and was friendly and so kind! Food was great and I loved the selection of vegetarian options. I had the big ass G&T, 32 oz of a gin and tonic served in a mini pitcher. My boyfriend had one of the featured beers. The menu is pretty extensive, and they have a lot of good appetizers (get the pretzel balls!). Sound level was moderate to high. The place was pretty full all night long. There is also a backyard for seating as well. Cute animal decor throughout. They have two bathrooms that were clean and maintained throughout the evening. All of the staff were very friendly. This place felt very cozy and homey. Definitely a must try if you are in the area. read more

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Came here to eat dinner after a very eventful day of hiking at Joshua Tree. I was very hungry, and the shrimp tacos really hit the spot. They were tasty, just wish they came with a side since the portion was a bit small for dinner. Pretty lively in here so expect some noise! Looks like they had a yummy extensive beer menu wish looked great, just didn't get a chance to try it. read more

The Tiny Pony - Shrimp Tacos - Bars Near Me - Yucca Valley, California

Yeah, all good pretty much what I expected after reading the reviews. Looks like they are working to upgrade the back outdoor area, which is where we were, which was good for kids and dogs. Food was as described, probably a little heavier than I needed, but no surprises. Weight staff were attentive.. The inside is fun bar busy and loud, outside nice and cool. read more

Ever had a plate of chicken bones hit your chair and just chill there while you eat? Yeah... not exactly appetite inducing. We came to The Little Pony in Yucca Valley and had one of the worst service experiences I've had. We seated ourselves and after a bit a waitress came and took our food order but didn't offer water or ask about drinks... We had to track her down just to order a beer, never got water and I kept trying to get someone's attention for a Diet Coke and even a refill. She never came back to check on us. At one point she dropped a plate of chicken bones that hit my chair, said "oops sorry," as she walked away leaving it on the floor next to me. No follow up, no real apology. Later when we tried to find her, the server helping our table (short blonde hair with grown out roots) said "not my table" with attitude and walked away. Another guy eventually stepped in but it took about 10 minutes for him to even come over and by then we had already been waiting close to 30 minutes just trying to get the check! When we asked, that's when he said he was our server and gave us 10% off. The place is supposed to be LGBTQ+ friendly but we definitely didn't feel that way during our visit. I get places get busy, but this just felt messy, careless, and unprofessional. Definitely not somewhere I'd go back to. read more

Came here for lunch and it's a pretty no thrills restaurant! I got the breakfast burger which was really tasty and delicious but doesn't come with fries. My friend got the chicken sandwich and complained that it was mostly breading and a little dry. We ended up getting fries on the side and they were really good! Also they have $5 mimosas for brunch which how can you go wrong with? The outdoor seating is cool if you have dogs! read more

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Recently spent some time at a rental in the desert. Of all the places we tried, Tiny Pony was my favorite local eatery in the area. Fantastic bar, excellent food, laid-back vibe and just good hospitality. We initially came in for lunch then learned that they had their prime rib special that night so we decided to come back after a supply run so we can get an order of the prime rib to enjoy at the rental later in the evening. It was delicious! And a great value at that. read more

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Great food, nice servers, and great drinks. We sat on the back patio where it was not so loud.

Stopped into The Tiny Pony Tavern and wow--this place oozes character! From quirky decor to warm vibes, it's the kind of spot you instantly love. We devoured the shrimp tacos and the loaded yucca fries. Every bite was delicious, and the friendly staff made us feel right at home. Though it's a total locals' favorite, tourists--don't skip this! You'll be greeted with smiles and treated like family while enjoying seriously tasty food and strong drinks. Adding this to my "must-return" list. read more

LA prices, Midwest Suburban quality. Go to Applebees for comparable food and beverage but stay at tiny pony for the fun vibes. read more

This place is located on the 29 Palms Hwy on the way to Joshua Tree. Stopped by to grab a bite after driving from NorCal. Ordered the Tiny Pony burger and a mango cart (which came canned). The TP burger came with fries and pickles on the side with a choice of sauce which I chose the jalapeño cilantro ranch. FIRE. If you've seen my reviews, I've been trying a whole bunch of smash burgers and this one was pretty good imo! Comes with 2 smash patties so it essentially felt like eating a regular but crispy patty burger. It had the chipotle aioli in it which made the burger also good, but what made it even better was adding the jalapeño cilantro ranch to it! Holy damn that was good. The fries were oooookay, I'd skip unless you need fries with your burger. This place looks like a great hang out spot to get drinks, they had a pool table and also a photobooth. It was like 90° and they allow dogs which are usually in the outdoor patio seating, but they let us stay indoors as long as the dog is well behaved and doesn't bar which he doesn't rly bark. As far as service, you seat yourself to a table. Although booth tables are reserved for parties 4 or more. Our server was nice and friendly, checked in with us just enough times. Parking is in a small plaza area so it should be okay, nothing too difficult. read more

I get that the place was hopping and the ambience was great. The food very much mediocre.

Very trendy and lively dive bar. Came here on a Friday night after a long day at J Tree, looking for a local place to eat that was still open, and landed in a thriving social hub for desert hipsters. The speakers were blasting new wave punk. The crowd was dressed very fresh, like they were casting for a movie. However, we were all sweaty and dressed in hiking gear, like we just climbed some rocks. The service was very slow and the food was expensive, the menu limited and portions small. A+ for the aesthetics, B- for the food. For the weary traveler: if you are hungry and in the area and looking through Yelp for food options, you're better off going to Applebee's down the road. Then come here afterwards for a drink and some banter. read more

This service was definitely very very disappointing Food was good at least You would think since it's LGBT friendly but I guess just depends on what kind of person it is. Very rude staff, I'll definitely be going elsewhere moving forward. read more