The Tiny Pony Tavern — Restaurant in Yucca Valley

Came here for the first time last night with my wife. It wasn't what we were hoping. I had heard really great things about the food and service and overall I felt burnt by the price I paid. We ordered the Chicken Sandwich, Warm Brussels Salad, Loaded Yuca Fries and Tres Leches. Also got a Hibiscus Soda, Glass of Wine, and waters.

The drinks were fine. The sandwich was very good although a little soggy. I probably would have liked it more if it would have came with a small handful of fries or chips or if it were cheaper, but the quality and taste was exceptional. The loaded Yuca fries were good, but nothing that different than a loaded fries at any other place. Even tasted like regular potatoes, just thick cut. The warm brussels salad was not good. I would not recommend ordering it. It was very different than I expected it to be, and that is on me, but I just can't imagine anyone liking the taste of it. I regret not trying something else. The tres leches tasted great but was a little small for a ten dollar desert and was far from a traditional tres leches taste. I like the cool milk soaked taste of traditional tres leches. The "cake" on this was more akin to a pastry and the only taste of milk came from the topping, which tasted like condensed milk laced whip cream. It was an unusual take and one I could have passed in favor of the other desert option or just saving the bill and the calories.

Service wise, we had two different servers kinda tag teaming us. They were both friendly but had to clarify what was our and what the other server had done a few times. Not sure why we didn't just have one server who could own our experience. I also wasn't super impressed with being asked to refill my own water. I paid sixteen dollars for a chicken sandwich, six dollars for some hibiscus soda, same for a glass of wine; a server can't refill my water for me? I also really digged the ambience and overall vibe, minus one thing. The music was soooo loud. I get it, it's a bar. But at 8pm on a Wednesday? I just wanted to talk to my wife and I felt like I couldn't.

I will be back to review again in the future. I have a feeling I will like this place better just to kick back a few beers and eat something simpler...

Don’t bother going here. Go to red dog tavern or the copper room!!

Edit: I have TRIED thrice to come here. Mostly because I really wanted it to work for some reason but each time I have been met with a bad experience. And I know it’s not just me because I came with different people all different times. All three times there was zero hospitality or service to like- any normal degree. I’d rather go to taco bell or in and out As service is concerned.

Third time I tried coming will be my last. We never even got to sit down- whoever was working ignored us and then a server or maybe food runner barked at us saying she would get a table ready - but in this sort of hostile way. We just left and went to the Red Dog instead which was WAY better all around!!

Original post: This place has a cool vibe and I’m sure is a hot spot for drinks. I loved the dim lighting and decor. They also have a pool table & back patio/yard area. Food was decent but we just got burgers and fries. Had someone taken my order I probably would have tried the steak. We came here famished after a long day in the desert sun. It was a busy Saturday night. The way this place is set up is confusing all the way from the moment we entered until we left… we were greeted by the security guard (who apparently doubled as a host ) - he even got us water. The place was full & we had to wait for a table to open up, and because there’s no host - it felt like a free for all (#stressful). We got a table and saw servers going to tables all around us but not to us? We finally figured out you can order from your phone and then a food runner brings you your order… but why had some people had regular table service and others didnt? Very confusing. Someone even asked if we wanted our check as she was clearing our table and I was like, uhh I think I pay on my phone since I ordered on my phone… like what? Does anyone know what is going on? So confusing. I probably wouldn’t come back to eat dinner but maybe for a...

Editing my old review. I love this bar, I come here nearly every Tuesday night for karaoke. I love he food, the bartenders are always great, and the atmosphere is usually amazing. The KJ is usually in a rotation, it used to be just one and she was amazing. But the new KJ’s are not so much. I previously mentioned a KJ that did a themed night and wouldn’t play your songs if you didn’t follow their IG and know the theme (they didn’t advertise at the bar), but tonight was worse. The KJ tonight was good the last time I was there and he was playing. He played the songs I put in within reason and didn’t seem to skip people. Tonight he seemed to heavily skip people and play people based off of who he was friends with, or who he could get with. I did my song, then waited and put in a second song and after about 2 1/2 hours it never played. It was upsetting to see considering he used to be pretty good. The atmosphere was very off as there were multiple women being unreasonably aggressive with men who weren’t talking to them, and wanted nothing to do with them. Overall tonight would’ve been a 1 star night. The KJ was off, the atmosphere was off, and my group of 11 was not having a great night — a few of them telling me they probably won’t be coming back. I’ll still be back with hopes of a better time per usual, but I’m really disappointed with...