Kevin L.
Yelp
After spending late morning and early afternoon exploring the nearby Joshua Tree National Park, we were verging on hangriness. As soon as we came within range of mobile data service, I fired up my Yelp app to look for nearby nosh. Considering how much of a tourist destination the park seems to be, I was a little dismayed at the slim pickings for non-chain eateries around Twentynine Palms. Grnd Sqrl seemed to be a pretty solid bet, and it was open on Christmas eve eve, so off we went.
We rolled in just shy of 2pm and street parking was ample just around the corner from the entrance. There was one patron posted up at the counter outside, and only half the indoor tables were occupied. In short order, we were offered seats of our choosing, handed food menus, and directed to the QR code for their current beer selection. It seems they have a frequently rotating beer list, and the ones I saw looked mighty appealing, especially after hiking around in the desert for hours.
I opted for the Sqrl burger, my mom had some kind of pulled pork sandwich, and my dad went down an unexpected path by ordering the lasagna special. We were all pleased with our assorted meals. I also enjoyed washing mine down with a delightful dark brew from Russian River.
My burger came out flawlessly. According to the menu, it'd be cooked to medium. Too often, I order my burgers medium or medium rare and they turn out with nary a pink spot to be found. This one was exactly medium, with a great char on the outside, pink throughout, and, upon chowing down, oozed succulent dribbling meat-juices to prove it. I was also pleased with the mountain of crispy fries that I ordered along with my burger. After requesting a side of mayo, I happily mowed through the heap. My parents thought they were overly salted, but I'm basically a halophile, so they seemed great to my taste buds.
Our server noted (more than once) that the chef is an award-winning Scandinavian import, and I believe it. I wouldn't be shocked if this place could hold its own among some of NYC's finest gastropubs. And the pricing was totally reasonable, given the great food and surprisingly eclectic beer selections.
100% would come back if I'm ever out this way again!