Don’t let the outside of Tiny Pony dissuade you from entering. (Image: Kathryn Reed)

You know the whole adage—don’t judge a book by its cover—well, the same can said of restaurant entrances.

I’ll admit I never would have found Pappy & Harriet’s without GPS. And Tiny Pony? Never would have gone inside without a recommendation. Just proves that what is inside is often more important than outside appearances.

Both restaurants became post-hike destinations after consecutive days at Joshua Tree National Park earlier this month.

Pappy & Harriet’s Pioneertown Palace is full of history. (Image: Kathryn Reed)

I first heard about Pappy & Harriet’s Pioneertown Palace from the Visit California website, with my friend Denise later saying it was a must-see spot after visiting Joshua Tree. More than once she expressed how the onion rings were out of this world.

So, the entire first day at Joshua Tree I kept thinking about my reward—onion rings and a beer. OK, all day is an exaggeration, but the thought of onion rings did make hiking in chilly headwinds more pleasurable.

Pappy and Harriet’s opened in 1982 after the buildings being part of Hollywood lore. (Image: Kathryn Reed)

Siri took us on a circuitous route to reach Pappy & Harriet’s. It’s up in the mountains a few miles from the town of Yucca Valley.

Perusing the menu no onion rings could be found. The waitress didn’t remember them being on the menu. Damn. Fries it would have to be. Considering we were chilled, Darla and I both ordered the vegetarian chili, which was more to my liking because it was a bit spicy.

We didn’t wander around much, as it was dark when we left, we were tired, and kitties were waiting for us. But we were impressed with how large the restaurant is and that people were waiting for our table on a Thursday night.

This is what Visit California’s website says about the place: “Back in 1946, when the public couldn’t get enough of Western movies, silver-screen cowboy stars Gene Autry and Roy Rogers [and other investors] saw an opportunity, and created this 1870s-era frontier town–style movie set about 30 miles north of Palm Springs, in hard-scrabble desert near Joshua Tree National Park. The site, called Pioneertown, had camera-ready façades resembling saloons, jailhouses, and stables. Inside, the buildings doubled as tourist attractions, with a bowling alley, an ice cream parlor, and motel. The site that’s now Pappy & Harriet’s was used as a ‘cantina’ set for Westerns well into the 1950s.”

The Tiny Pony serves local and national beers, as well cocktails and ones without alcohol. (Image: Kathryn Reed)

After the second day of exploring Joshua Tree National Park, Darla and I found ourselves at the Tiny Pony Tavern in Yucca Valley. I had overheard a park worker say the yuca fries there were to die for.

From the outside it looked like an uninviting dive bar with its mirrored windows covered by bars. I have nothing against dive bars; they are usually fun. So, in we went.

Wow—this was a bustling, fun pub that without the recommendation neither of us would have found, let alone probably said yes to going into.

The only yuca fries on the menu came loaded—as in covered in homemade queso, crispy bacon, chives and choice of dipping sauce.

The furnishings are as interesting as the people watching at Tiny Pony. (Image: Kathryn Reed)

Yuca fries, according to the Internet, are also known as cassava fries. They are  made from the starchy root vegetable yuca (aka cassava), but are not to be confused with the yucca plant.

We ordered the regular fries and each had a beer.

The décor is eclectic with black velvet prints on one wall, another dedicated to felines. The service was impeccable. I’d eagerly go back, wanting to try more of the menu and taste more of the regional beers.