Food for Thought Café — Restaurant in Joshua Tree

After reading the reviews of Food for Thought Café, we were excited and hopeful for a great breakfast experience. So, we made it our first stop in the morning, expecting a delightful meal. Unfortunately, our experience was far from what we had anticipated.

From the moment we placed our order, the staff member’s unfriendly and impatient attitude set a negative tone. We then waited inside for 20-25 minutes, only to receive a breakfast that was deeply disappointing. The eggs were undercooked, the halloumi panini sandwich was ruined by cheap mayonnaise, and the overly extremly salted potatoes made the entire dish inedible ultimately, it ended up in the trash. To make matters worse, there were no coffee alternatives available. We truly wish the glowing reviews had matched our experience, or that the café had lived up to the praise it has received. Sadly, this was not the case, and we left feeling...

The food is fresh and healthy, the service folks are lovely, the atmosphere and views incredible. This is not a highly populated area, and we are locals, so happy to have healthy food at reasonable prices available for us. The only feedback I would have is that is kind of slow between ordering and getting your food, but it's always hot and tasty with a smile and while we wait, we enjoy the view. BTW the Retreat Center gift shop is right next to the cafe, you should probably plan a little time to go in there, it's quite wonderful and actually, you should plan on a little stroll around the Retreat Center campus while you are there. AND if you need to make a left turn onto the highway to get out of the Retreat Center, you can forget about it, it's...

I’ve been coming to Food for Thought Café since they opened, and it’s one of the few places I actually like eating out at. I usually cook for myself and don’t eat out much because the food quality is hit or miss, but this place is different. The veggies are always super fresh, and the food tastes like something I’d make at home. Even the dressings and sauces are all made in-house, and they add so much flavor to every dish! Chef Dave is incredible—constantly coming up with creative new dishes.

Jackie and the rest of the staff are super friendly and welcoming, which makes the experience even better.

Whether you’re vegan, vegetarian, or just into fresh, quality food, this place is...