Mara

Name: Mara
Address: 73511 Twentynine Palms Highway, Twentynine Palms, CA, United States, 92277-3121
Telephone: (442) 933-9512
Price range: $31 to $50
Rating: 4.6

4.6

65 Reviews

$31 to $50

Californian

Top Tags:

We have been overwhelmed by the support and interest of our fellow desert dwellers. Please know, with every ounce of assurance we can give, this restaurant was designed with you in mind. My wife's people first came to the High Desert in 1930 - dirt road and a Ford Model T - and finally built a house and retired in Twentynine Palms in 1949 and stayed. She spent years - as we moved from major urban area to major urban area - trying to explain the hold this small desert town had on her heart. I didn't get it. Now, seven years after moving to that same small desert town (following her father's passing), I do. And I hope we've captured a bit of that magic. Come see us and let us know how we did...

Make a reservation

Party Size

2 people

DateTime

Oct 4, 2023

7:00 PM

Booked 1 time today

Additional information

Dining style
Casual Elegant
Cuisines
Californian, Contemporary American
Hours of operation
Brunch Sun 10:00 am–1:00 pm Dinner Fri, Sat 5:00 pm–9:00 pm
Phone number
(442) 933-9512
Website
http://mara29.com/
Payment options
AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Dress code
Smart Casual
Executive chef
David Richmond

Location
73511 Twentynine Palms Highway, Twentynine Palms, CA 92277-3121
Neighborhood
Twentynine Palms
Cross street
Tamarisk
Parking details
Public Lot
Additional
Beer, Chef's Table, Dog Friendly, Gender Neutral Restroom, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Vegan, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

What 65 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.6

4.6 based on recent ratings

4.5Food
4.6Service
4.6Ambience
4.4Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

Palm Springs / Palm Desert Cities
Best Service
Palm Springs / Palm Desert Cities
Great for brunch
Palm Springs / Palm Desert Cities
Innovative
Palm Springs / Palm Desert Cities
Californian
Palm Springs / Palm Desert
Best Service
Palm Springs / Palm Desert
Great for brunch
Palm Springs / Palm Desert
Innovative
Palm Springs / Palm Desert
Californian

65 Reviews

ME
MahaE
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on September 24, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
I came here with my partner for our anniversary and everyone at the restaurant went so much out of their way to make our day special! they got us flowers, complimentary champagne, and the restaurant owner's wife even got us a WHOLE CAKE!! the chef came out to congratulate us and the servers kept checking in on us. There was a guitarist playing in the restaurant as well which made the restaurant feel so romantic and sweet. I am forever grateful for the happy memories they provided us this last weekend.
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J
Josh
Palm Springs
3 reviews
5.0
3 reviews
Dined on August 26, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Wonderful meal. The food was delicious and the staff was friendly and attentive. The Chef/Owner even came out to introduce himself and make sure we were taken care of. Very glad to have another elevated food experience in the high desert.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Palm Springs
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on August 20, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
I have come here twice and each time it has been absolutely amazing. We celebrated our one year anniversary at Mara, and I specifically asked for just some flowers to be placed at our table. I was so overwhelmed and in shock when there was an entire arrangement at the table! It was absolutely beautiful! The staff all wished us happy anniversary. Everybody was extremely friendly, and they even toasted us! It really made the entire evening and was a beautiful way to celebrate our anniversary. The food was out of this world. The chef is absolutely next level and, the desert was so perfect(tiramisu) ! I love this restaurant we will definitely continue to come back, and I highly recommend this location to everybody who visits 29 Palms! I would like to, personally say thank you to all of the staff, the owner, the manager, our waitress and the chef! You were all amazing I owe you the biggest gratitude a person can give. Thank you very much! I’ll see you next time for another wonderful dinner. ☺️
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CR
CotyR
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on August 6, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
The whole experience made my date & I want to plan for the next time already. Food was excellent. The Chef came out to make sure we were enjoying everything. The staff were professional and friendly, and the ambiance was posh but relaxed.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Hamburg
1 review
1.0
1 review
Dined on July 30, 2023
overall1food1service1ambience1
Restaurant was closed although I was asked to confirm the booking 24 hours before.
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MU
ManuelU
Las Vegas
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on July 1, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
My apologies if I named/spelled the items wrong. Appetizer Adobo Wings 1. Served nice and hot with crispiness 2. Flavorful 3. Finadene was excellent addition to dip in Appetizer Shrimp/Lobster Roll 1. Clarified butter was a must otherwise salt is needed 2. portions size was great. Serves you 2 rolls. 3. bread did look like plain white bread, but was toasted well and gave great texture Main Course Ribeye Steak 1. Cut like butter 2. Mushroom and Onions with demi glaze sauce was packed of flavor 3. Could use more sauce 4. Potatoes were almost too dense. I have had before and they are normally very soft/silky Main Course Indian Butter Chicken 1. Flavor was phenomenal 2. Rice cooked to perfection 3. Chicken breast was very juicy (that is very complicated to do) Desert Tiramasu 1. Balanced flavors. very well done 2. Ice cold just how I like it 3. Could use less cocoa powder on top. When I would take a bite the cocoa powder would literally look like a thin layer of dust escaping my mouth. Desert Cheese Cake 1. tasted like the Cheesecake Factory. So, it was great 2. served very chilled but not hard as if it was frozen 3. chocolate was very strong, but I like chocolate. 4. The caramel was very smooth along with the cheesecake in general 5. Powerful flavors. You must savor the bite and not eat fast. Drinks H.M Lemonade 1. First glass was quite bitter 2. 2nd glass had just the right mixture of bitterness, sourness, and overall balance. 3. Refreshing Staff Memebers 1. Waitress never let me go thirsty by keeping my drink filled at all times 2. Chef comes out of the kitchen to greet and speak to customers. WOW!! 3. Great eye contact, body language from staff, and always showing a smile when speaking. 4. Knowledgeable of the menu being served. 5. They greet you immediately upon arrival. Atmosphere 1. I love the decorations/art 2. The music is not too loud, but loud enough to set a great tone. 3. Outside seating had a live musician playing guitar 4. Overall excellent
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Seattle
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on June 25, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
I hosted my group class here for dog training and it was perfect. The patio outside has a wonderful ambiance and the food was delish. The breakfast is a lot of food so well worth the money ! Can’t wait to go again
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IV
IreneV
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on June 25, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
We enjoyed a lovely dinner here! Food was delicious, restaurant is cute, and the live music in the patio area was such a nice surprise! Great service, great food, and lovely ambiance was exactly what we needed.
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S
Shirley
Los Angeles
15 reviews
vip
5.0
15 reviews
Dined on June 24, 2023
overall5food5service4ambience4
Wonderful gem in the high desert. Very inventive and delicious farm forward food. Nice to know someone is making good food in this part of the world. IMHO it's up there with La Copine but without the trendy hassle.
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MM
MaraMoon
Los Angeles
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on June 18, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Mara is truly a desert oasis ! A delightful spot with delicious food and decor . Creative and classy … I highly recommend!
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OT
OpenTable Diner
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on June 18, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Great food and service. Will be back for more watermelon mimosas!
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OT
OpenTable Diner
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on June 18, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Went for Father’s Day brunch and were very impressed. Everything was delicious. We’ll be back! Hopefully they can stay in business longer than others that have occupied the building.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
New York Area
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on May 28, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
One of the best dinning experiences I’ve had in years, don’t think twice if you’re considering Mara, just book the reservation & you won’t regret it
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RR
RangerRik
Washington DC
11 reviews
5.0
11 reviews
Dined on May 21, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
After a day spent in the Mojave hiking, I was reluctant to try a high end restaurant fresh off the trail. But I needed someplace to wait out sunset and return to Joshua Tree NP for some natural history experience after dark. Google suggested Mara, and the staff there could not have been more accommodating -- clearly they are accustomed to folks wandering in out of the dust and sand! The patio seating has light ceiling misters (very welcome!) and a low-volume (and quite good) guitarist. The food was outstanding and a good value -- I especially enjoyed the creamy coconut based ceviche. Don't hesitate to visit Mara even if you feel underdressed for it!
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OB
OlenB
1 review
3.0
1 review
Dined on May 21, 2023
overall3food2service5ambience5
My wife and I were very excited after hearing some good things from a friend who ate here. We drove from Palm Desert on a Saturday evening for an early dinner. The atmosphere was lovely on the patio , wonderful ambience and a lovely guitarist. Colleen our waitress was friendly. We started with the ceviche and sticky ribs that were both delicious. The rolls were warm and tasty. We’re we’re very excited for the entree after having our taste buds tickled with the delicious appetizers. But the main course was a bit of a let down. At first glance they were big plates filled with food but as we dug in we were quite disappointed. I ordered the surf and turf which came with a large cut of steak. It was cooked to a medium rare as I asked but the surf part were four what may have been previously frozen shrimp cover with a yellow sauce. There was no sear or seasoning just a skewered cocktail shrimp. My wife ordered the schnitzel with came out looking perfect but ended up being too thin so it was dry and tough. Under all of this was a potato purée I guess, just a soppy gluey potato with very little texture or taste. Dessert looked like a giant piece of tiramisu that may have come for a large pan plopped on a plate with some cocoa powder. It was very sweet and once we got dessert it felt like we may have started to be rushed out because the check came immediately. All in all the short selection in the menu made you think that each plate was going to be a marvelous delicacy. If I were to return it would be to have the magnificent ceviche with ginger with the side of rib let’s. A stop for a drink and snack. Also some one came by the table in an apron and hat but did not introduce themself. I can only assume he was the chef now. Unfortunately I will not recommend to my foody friends to drive so far for the this fare.
1 person found this helpful
A
Alex
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on May 14, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience3
The sunday brunch was amazing! Definitely more than I ever anticipated. Will most definitely go back. I highly recommend Mara!
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KO
KristaO
Denver
7 reviews
5.0
7 reviews
Dined on May 14, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
The food was freshly prepared. The staff was amazing. Definitely a fantastic place to gather and nourish!
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LM
LaurenM
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on May 14, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Loved everything about this place and will definitely be back! ❤️❤️❤️
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MB
MichaelB
San Francisco
3 reviews
5.0
3 reviews
Dined on May 14, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Best place for fine dining in the Hi Desert. Everything about Mara is outstanding
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A
Alianna
Palm Springs
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on May 13, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Great restaurant. Food is delicious!! Mara is underrated and I wish more people new about how good the food is. I can’t wait for next month’s menu.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on May 7, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
We loved everything about Maras! The atmosphere and service were great but the food was phenomenal! We will definitely be back again. I also emailed the owners for some information about a private event and they got back to me within an hour and we’re very helpful. Maras is a great addition to our little desert town and is our new favorite restaurant.
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KT
KariT
Palm Springs
3 reviews
5.0
3 reviews
Dined on April 30, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
This is one of the best restaurants in 29 Palms! The best brunch I have ever had anywhere. My husband and I had had a date night here previously and we were thrilled to be able to bring our family back for brunch. You can sense the love that goes into this place and it's an honor to support this business.
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A
Anne
Hawaii
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined on April 29, 2023
overall4food4service4ambience5
One of my assistants had the steak- she loved it. My other 2 assistants had the moqueca- they both loved it. I had the Mediterranean flatbread- it was really good. I also had the shrimp with artichoke fettuccine- it was just ok. You can tell the shrimp are not fresh and it’s a little blend. Service was great and the staff were great however, we waited for an hour to get our order.
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MU
ManuelU
Las Vegas
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on April 16, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience4
Sunday Brunch -Excellent customer service. -Customer greeted immediately upon arrival -A somewhat large group came in and within 5 minutes tabled were cleaned, sanitized, and group was seated. -Menu does change per weekend. Mon-Fri menu changes monthly. -Website update of the current weekend and monthly menu was not updated prior to visit. -Must have read my last review regarding coffee could be hotter and was offered to have my coffee renewed/reheated. -Chef comes out frequently to engage customers. -All meals for the table come out at same time, hot, fresh, and great presentation.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
New York Area
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on April 15, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Finally a great restaurant in the area, good work guys we will be back :)
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OT
OpenTable Diner
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined on April 8, 2023
overall4food4service5ambience5
It’s a beautiful new place. The food options were great. I am excited to come here for special occasions when family is in town. The location is great and close to other cute shops and places to explore while in town
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AK
AKrossTheTable
Central Coast
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on April 2, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Incredible food and service. Highly recommend, the chef even came out and asked how our dining experience was.
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JS
JenniferS
Palm Springs
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on April 2, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
The appetizers were amazing and the main courses were enough to share and have leftovers for the next day1 The patio seating was perfect for an April evening.
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MP
MartinP
Los Angeles
6 reviews
5.0
6 reviews
Dined on April 1, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Excellent! A real treat, and a great addition to the 29 Palms dining scene.
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PB
PeterB
Philadelphia
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on April 1, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Our dinners are made all the better having Colleen as our server. Looking forward to this coming weekend. We will have a guest join us. 3 at 5:00 Friday and Saturday. Thank you all Peter and Beth
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PB
PeterB
Philadelphia
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on March 25, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Once againMara showed us their excellence in the culinary arts . Spotlessly clean, beautiful soft music, a welcoming atmosphere, and precision from the kitchen and waitstaff . Delicious.
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S
Sara
Las Vegas
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on March 19, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Great place, spectacular brunch! Perfect addition to 29 Palms
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ML
MarkL
Houston
2 reviews
4.0
2 reviews
Dined on March 18, 2023
overall4food5service5ambience5
A bit pricy for the high desert but very good food.
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VB
VictoriaB
Philadelphia
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on March 11, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
We live in 29 Palms and just discovered this gem of a restaurant. We made a reservation for Friday night, but it wasn’t crowded. We had such a good time Friday, we came back again Saturday and had the brunch on Sunday. We wanted to try everything on the menu but the portion are large! And the service … we learned everyone’s names! The chef comes out to visit every table. I’m do glad to have a place that makes you feel like a “regular “!
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Las Vegas
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on February 26, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
I recommend Mara to all our friends looking to go out for a nice dinner with their spouse. It’s very inviting the staff and chef are all very nice. The food is price ranged on the more expensive side but totally worth it the portions are a lot bigger and you definitely won’t be hungry after. We had starters, main course, and dessert and we definitely felt like it was worth the price. Love the rotating monthly menu gives us options to try different things. Will definitely pay them another visit.
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BS
BretS
San Francisco
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on February 26, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Excellent food, great service. We had a very nice dinner.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Las Vegas
1 review
3.0
1 review
Dined on February 18, 2023
overall3food2service5ambience5
Ambiance, service, overall appearance of restaurant was great. However, the food was mediocre at best. It was great to experience it, but I wouldn’t go back there again. I am better off preparing the food at home.
1 person found this helpful
OT
OpenTable Diner
Orange County
2 reviews
vip
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on February 15, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
We had a great Valentines Day dinner. Food came out quickly, and it was all great!
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Palm Springs
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on February 15, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience4
We went for the Valentines Dinner they had. Food was excellent and the service was great. They are very attentive to customers.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
San Francisco
5 reviews
4.0
5 reviews
Dined on February 11, 2023
overall4food4service5ambience5
The lobster ravioli was excellent, and the Albariño paired with it was perfect. Service was outstanding and staff were very accommodating of our friends who had just finished a long drive from SF and popped in just before closing.
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Safety precautions

Cleaning & sanitizing
- Surfaces sanitized between seatings
- Digital, disposable or sanitized menu provided
- Common areas deep-cleaned daily

Screening
- Sick staff prohibited in the workplace

FAQs

Mara is rated 4.6 stars by 65 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

Party Size

2 people

DateTime

Oct 4, 2023

7:00 PM

Booked 1 time today

73511 Twentynine Palms Highway, Twentynine Palms, CA 92277-3121

Additional information

Cross street
Tamarisk
Neighborhood
Twentynine Palms
Hours of operation
Brunch Sun 10:00 am–1:00 pm Dinner Fri, Sat 5:00 pm–9:00 pm
Cuisines
Californian, Contemporary American
Dining style
Casual Elegant
Dress code
Smart Casual
Parking details
Public Lot
Payment options
AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Executive chef
David Richmond
Additional
Beer, Chef's Table, Dog Friendly, Gender Neutral Restroom, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Vegan, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Website
http://mara29.com/
Phone number
(442) 933-9512

Mara

Make a reservation

Additional information

Menu

What 65 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Loved For

Safety precautions

Cleaning & sanitizing

Screening

FAQs

How is Mara restaurant rated?

Is Mara currently accepting reservations?

Make a reservation

Additional information