From Porta Via to Molé, Here’s Where to Eat in Palm Desert
Situated in the heart of Palm Desert, The Shops on El Paseo offers visitors and locals alike a high-end retail experience with a collection of chic stores like Ralph Lauren, Athleta and Oliver Peoples. But what some may not know is the shop-lined street is perfectly amalgamated with dining destinations, such as Eddie V’s Prime Seafood and Shorebird, making it a one-stop shop for all things entertainment! But today, we’re putting our urge to shop aside and instead taking you on a culinary tour of this famous desert hub! Get ready to wet your whistle and feast your eyes on some of the best cuisine that Palm Desert has to offer.
Porta Via
New to the Palm Desert neighborhood, Porta Via features a menu chock-full of locally sourced produce, quality meats and seafood and freshly baked goods. Peter Garland, the owner of this new location, hand-picks all produce from locally sourced farmers markets to ensure only the highest quality ingredients are being served to his patrons. In addition to fresh produce, wild-caught seafood and all-natural meats are flown in daily to craft dishes like the beef carpaccio, steamed mussels, Parmigiano-crusted halibut and New England lobster roll. Porta Via also offers diners and vino connoisseurs a special wine program that features over 150 different varieties, including a private assortment of matured Classed-Growth Bordeaux.
Daily Grill
Situated on one of the busiest corners of El Paseo, Daily Grill offers diners a true taste of fresh and flavorful American cuisine. The casual yet cozy restaurant boasts a “from-scratch” kitchen that uses only locally sourced and fresh ingredients for all recipes and dishes! With an array of options to choose from, such as their famous braised boneless short ribs, Tres Tacos, or the to-die-for spicy shrimp and chicken pasta, there is a bite here for everyone. Whether you choose to nestle up in the comfort of a booth inside or enjoy the perfect desert weather on the large outdoor patio, Daily Grill will satisfy any diner’s American cuisine cravings!
Eddie V’s Prime Seafood
Looking for the perfect upscale dining experience to celebrate a special occasion or your next date night? Eddie V’s Prime Seafood at The Shops on El Paseo is the best spot in town for a perfectly prepared seafood dish or prime cut of steak. The menu is diverse as the kitchen offers varying seasonal seafood and creative specials throughout the year. Begin and end your night with an expertly hand-crafted cocktail in the high-end V Lounge featuring live music and entertainment for guests to enjoy every week.
Molé
There’s something special about generational family recipes and an authentic cultural dining experience. Molé recently opened its second location in the heart of The Shops on El Paseo, and diners are in for a treat! Pair the Shrimp Chicharron Tostada with a thirst-quenching house margarita or another hand-crafted tequila-based cocktail. All ingredients are locally sourced, and every recipe prepared in the kitchen is 100% made from scratch. In-house tortillas, salsas, signature molé sauces and tender choices of meats and seafood make for the most divine and traditional Mexican cuisine in town. Don’t forget to grab an order of the fresh, housemade churros to complete your dining experience and satisfy your sweet tooth.
Kitchen 86 El Paseo
Welcome to the locally owned Kitchen 86 El Paseo—a modern eclectic small-plate restaurant with a curated selection of continental cuisine! Enjoy original recipes and dishes, ranging from lamb chops, steak and seafood to oven-fired pizzas and perfectly sauced portions of pasta, in this blue-lit restaurant that brings a moody vibe to El Paseo. Kitchen 86 El Paseo is open seven days a week for breakfast, lunch and dinner along with after-hours for late-night drinks at the bar until 12:30 a.m. To go along with killer creative cuisine, guests can enjoy live music and stand-up comedy shows every night in the newly developed Live Venue and Ultra Lounge.
California Pizza Kitchen
Who doesn’t love sunshine, stellar pizza, fresh lemonade and great views with locations all over Southern California? Conceptualized in 1985, California Pizza Kitchen quickly became a staple in the Golden State and beyond for its high-quality service and inventive pizzas to go along with appetizers and salads to cure any craving. Diners can expect a wide variety of creatively chosen ingredients, which make for some of the best salad and pizza combinations. California Pizza Kitchen also offers a happy hour that’s second to none every day from 3 to 5 p.m. Not in the mood for pizza? No problem—give the famous Chicken Tequila Fettuccine a try!
Born and raised in the Coachella Valley, Crystal Harrell is a Communication-Media Studies graduate from California State University, San Bernardino. She has contributed to various publications within Greater Palm Springs, such as The Desert Sun newspaper, Coachella Magazine, CV Weekly, Desert Health, and After School Magazine, as well as creating content for the Los Angeles Times' High School Insider website. When she's not writing, Crystal enjoys traveling, photography, fashion, and all things film.
