Last Kind Words Saloon

We ate here for three straight nights during our trip to Death Valley in the winter. The food here is not that impressive, but given the fact there's not many other options and you're in the middle of the Mojave Desert, it's not too bad! We tried a lot of dishes over three dinners: the Buffalo Burger, Pappardelle Pasta, Ranch Chili, Queso Fundido, and Buffalo Chicken Wings. Buffalo Burger (3/5): If you've ever watched the movie Good Burger, this is basically a real life Mondo burger -- multi-inch thick, unseasoned, and dry patty. Pass! Pappardelle Pasta (3/5): Good flavor and buttery sensation but waaay too salty. Ranch Chili (2/5): Was lukewarm and tastes like chili out of the can. Also a small portion for the price. I like that they have a plant-based option, though. Campfire Fundido (5/5): Maybe we were just hungry from hiking all day, but this one blew our expectations away! Dipping tortilla chips in this super hot cheesy, ooey-gooey amalgamation of melty queso, chorizo, and pico de gallo was a memorable experience. Buffalo Chicken Wings (5/5): These big buff chicken wings are fried super crispy and generously lathered in buttery buffalo sauce. You get so much wings for the price! Never thought I'd get some banging wings in the hottest place on Earth. Overall, a good option for food during your trip to Death Valley!

We stayed at the Inn, but after one meal in THAT overblown, mediocre Dining Room, we decided to drive over here to the Saloon for the rest of our dinners in Death Valley. What a breath of fresh air. This is one of the better restaurants we've experienced in all the National Parks Lodges. Salads are good and properly dressed. Veggies are properly cooked. Pastas are interesting and flavorful. Hotel restaurant cliches are avoided. And they make a good burger, too.Plan to eat here.

Take into account that this is a national park restaurant people!!! That being said I thought it was great for what it was. The decor is fantastic and gives an old saloon vibe. The service was much better than I've experienced at other national parks, quick and polite, at both the bar and tables. The menu is limited but the food is good. I had the bison chili and the tacos and they were both great! The tacos were super flavorful. It's expensive but that is to be expected.

Our group stopped by the Furnace Creek Ranch on Saturday, May 25, 2024 after hiking a couple areas within Death Valley NP. We walked around the property and decided to grab some food. We initially considered the buffet adjacent to this restaurant, but our group decided to eat at this saloon since the decor was very appealing. We were seated around the bar area because the tables were all occupied and we didn't want to wait 15-30 minutes. The server was the bartender and he was friendly and professional.I ordered the Saloon Burger and was surprisingly better than I expected. The patty was very juicy and flavorful. Even the fries that came with it were pretty awesome! They were crispy and crunchy and not overly salty. Overall, it's a decent place to grab some food after visiting the national park.

Severely disappointed in our experience here. We were staying at the Ranch for a night. Wild Rose Tavern (which is amazing!) was closed for the evening, leaving this place and the buffet as dinner options. We tried to hangout in the restaurant until they opened, only for them to kick us at 30 min until opening. We came back 15 min after opening to a long line and a 30min-1hr wait. The staff was disorganized and had poor communication skills. The wait times changed with each group they spoke to! We managed to snag the last bar table that was available (although they didn't communicate that it was even an option until the last second..) The bartender was by far the hardest working gal there. She was serving multiple tables and a full bar. She was on the slower side, but given the circumstances we didn't mind. The food itself was expensive for what it was. The portion sizes were on the larger end which helped the costs. Overall the food was mediocre at best. as someone who worked in the service industry it was baffling to watch the disorganization and poor management. If one of your 3 restaurants are closed for the night, I feel as if they should be better equipped for the dinner rush.

Very fine. Atmosphere is pretty cool and there honestly are not a lot of options around here so take what you get and be grateful! service was friendly too.

TLDR: Make reservations simultaneously when you book your stay--everyone has 'em! Came in around 5pm, was able to make a reservation for 2 at 8:45pm. We lingered around the bar and lucky for us, there was a cancellation so we were seated right away! After being on trails all day snacking on trail mix and the like, we were ravenous. I had a bowl of chili which came with all the fixings. It was pretty decent and a good value. The onion rings were also a good deal and came with a yummy chipotle dipping sauce, also recommend. It's a cute little place with a nearby outdoor fireplace perfect for enjoying a drink. In terms of price and quality, it's not bad for being in the middle of a giant desert within a national park.

Three dinners and one lunch were eaten at this "ranch" establishment since there is only a buffet next door and a restaurant at the inn. So plan your food accordingly if you don't want to eat every meal out. Filet mignon, baked potato and asparagus were delicious as was the salmon, risotto and asparagus. The sauce with the salmon seemed not to be needed. Large spinach salad enjoyed at lunch and others had black bean burger. Draft Beer choices okay and service was good at all meals. Make dinner reservations or walk in at 5 pm... place fills up quickly!

We really enjoyed the Last Kind Words Saloon! The food was delicious- we got the ribs and bison burger which did not disappoint! The ambience was really laid back and fun. Our servers, Josh and Jack were the best! They were very friendly and professional and really made the night! Would definitely recommend!

Food was very good and the service was excellent. The decor is nice too. I've been here one other time while visiting Death Valley and had the same experience.