Restaurants in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park

Pickings are slim in Borrego Springs, but you can follow legions of locals into the downtown mainstay Carlee's Place, 660 Palm Canyon Dr. (tel. 760/767-3262), a casual bar and grill with plenty of neon beer signs, a well-worn pool table, and a fine trophy of a jackalope (the mythic creature that's part jack rabbit, part antelope) mounted over the bar. For Mexican food, look to Carmelita's Mexican Grill & Cantina, 575 Palm Canyon Dr. (tel. 760/767-5666); for a diner-esque breakfast there's Kendall's Cafe, 587 Palm Canyon Dr. in the mall (tel. 760/767-3491), where steaks, teriyaki, and Mexican combo platters are also available for lunch and dinner. French food has carved a niche here, as well, at The French Corner, 721 Av. Sureste (tel. 760/767-5713; www.thefrenchcorner.biz), serving seasonally October through May. Hours are Wednesday through Sunday 11am to 2:30pm for lunch, and 5 to 9pm for dinner; antiques and decorative items are for sale here, too.