PALM SPRINGS RESTAURANTS

Overview · Restaurants · Hotels

Arnold Palmer's 78-164 Ave. 52, La Quinta, CA, USA	760/771-4653 Read Review
From the photos on the walls to the trophy-filled display cases to the putting green for diners awaiting a table, Arnie's image fills this restaurant, surrounded by verdant greens and colorful gardens. The menu lists an array of steaks and chops, including an 18-ounce cowboy bone-in rib eye and barbecued baby back ribs. A few seafood dishes, including halibut and vegetable stir-fry and pasta with lobster, salmon, and shrimp in dill cream sauce, round out the selections. Reservations essential. AE, D, MC, V. No lunch.
Copley's on Palm Canyon 621 N. Palm Canyon Dr., Palm Springs, CA, USA	760/327-9555 Read Review
Chef Manion Copley is cooking up the most innovative cuisine in the desert, drawing fans region-wide. Start with such appetizers as roasted beet and warm goat cheese salad or perfectly grilled charred prawns and scallops. Oh My Lobster Pot Pie is the biggest hit on the entrée menu. And save room for Copley's sweet and savory servings of herb ice cream. The rustic, casual eatery is in a hacienda that was once owned by Cary Grant. Service is pleasant and friendly. AE, D, DC, MC, V. Closed Mon. No lunch.
Cuistot 72-595 El Paseo, Palm Desert, CA, USA	760/340-1000 Read Review
Once hidden in an El Paseo courtyard, Cuistot is now easy to find. In late 2003 chef-owner Bernard Dervieux opened his new restaurant in a big, bright, airy reproduction of a French farmhouse on El Paseo's west end. The menu lists rabbit bourguignon with mushrooms and pancetta, along with such signature dishes as skillet-roasted veal chop with mushrooms and roasted garlic, fresh Dover sole with hazelnut-lemon sauce, and handmade vegetable ravioli with white truffle oil. Reservations essential. AE, D, MC, V. Closed Mon. and July and Aug. No lunch Sun.
Europa 1620 Indian Trail, Palm Springs, CA, USA	760/327-2314 Read Review
Housed inside the Villa Royale Inn, this restaurant provides both indoor and garden dining-and artfully prepared cuisine. Popular menu items include rack of lamb with tapenade of dates and olives, duck confit with Grand Marnier, and salmon in parchment with wild mushrooms. AE, D, DC, MC, V. Closed Mon. No lunch.
Hog's Breath Inn 78-065 Main St., La Quinta, CA, USA	760/564-5556 or 866/464-7888 Read Review
Clint Eastwood watches over this replica of his Hog's Breath restaurant in Carmel, his presence felt in the larger-than-life photos that fill the walls of its bright dining room. The menu lists a large selection of American comfort food ranging from hanger steak to beef brisket. AE, D, DC, MC, V.
Jillian's 74-155 El Paseo, Palm Desert, CA, USA	760/776-8242 Read Review
Husband-and-wife team Jay and June Trubee are the stars behind this trendy restaurant. Antiques and art fill the space, and the nighttime sky sets the mood in the center courtyard. Try the monumental appetizer called Tower of Crab (layers of crab, tomatoes, avocados, and brioche) and main dishes such as salmon baked in parchment and fettuccine with lobster. Save room for the Hawaiian cheesecake with macadamia-nut crust. Men will feel more comfortable wearing jackets, and shorts are not allowed. Reservations essential. AE, DC, MC, V. Closed Sun. and mid-June-Oct. No lunch.
Krazy Coyote Bar & Grill 2220 Hoberg Rd., Borrego Springs, CA, USA	760/767-7788 Read Review
Dine inside in the cozy bar or outside by the pool at this restaurant at the Palms at Indianhead. Either way you'll hear Bing Crosby and Peggy Lee softly crooning '50s songs in the background as you enjoy a well-prepared seared ahi, spicy Santa Fe crab cakes, or sesame-garlic grilled pork tenderloin. Be warned that summer hours vary. AE, D, DC, MC, V. No lunch.
Le Vallauris 385 W. Tahquitz Canyon Way, Palm Springs, CA, USA	760/325-5059 Read Review
Le Vallauris, in the historic Roberson House, is popular with ladies who lunch, all of whom get a hug from the maitre'd. The menu changes daily, and each day it's handwritten on a white board. Lunch entrées may include perfectly rare tuna niçoise salad, or grilled whitefish with Dijon mustard sauce. Dinner might bring roasted quail with orange sauce or rack of lamb. Service is beyond attentive. The restaurant has a lovely tree-shaded garden. On cool winter evenings, request a table by the fireplace. Reservations essential. AE, D, DC, MC, V. No lunch Wed.-Sat. in July and Aug.
Palmie 44-491 Town Center Way, Palm Desert, CA, USA	760/341-3200 Read Review
Its humble location in the back of a shopping center gives nary a hint of the subtle creations prepared at this gem of a French restaurant. The two-cheese soufflé is one of several mouthwatering appetizers. Equally impressive are the duck cassoulet, duck fillets served with pear slices in red wine, and Palmie's signature dish: a perfectly crafted fish stew in a thin yet rich butter-cream broth. AE, DC, MC, V. Closed Sun. No lunch.
Picanha 73-399 El Paseo, Palm Desert, CA, USA	760/674-3434 Read Review
Carnivores flock to this bright and airy Brazilian grill and bar as much for the show as for the meat. The servers, booted and bloused to resemble gauchos, move among tables passing chunks of skewered grilled meat that they cut to order for guests. You can order beef, pork, chicken, sausage, or lamb. A salad buffet, consisting of 30 items, is also popular in this all-you-can-eat restaurant. The restaurant also serves Brazilian cocktails, plus South American beers and wine. AE, MC, V. No lunch.
St. James at the Vineyard 265 S. Palm Canyon Dr., Palm Springs, CA, USA	760/320-8041 Read Review
A colorful interior, an outdoor terrace with street views, and a bubbling modern fountain all help to set a playful mood at this hot spot for dining and sipping cocktails. The eclectic menu roams the world; entrées range from bouillabaisse Burmese to veal shank osso buco. Some vegetarian items are available. Service can be rushed on weekend nights in high season. Reservations essential. AE, D, DC, MC, V. No lunch.