Hungry for Something Fresh? Make a Reservation at One of These New Restaurants in the Desert
With its booming food scene and cities like Palm Springs, Palm Desert and Joshua Tree—each with its own unique flavor—it’s no surprise that Greater Palm Springs has become a beloved resort destination over the years. Although it may be known for its midcentury modern design and Old Hollywood charm, the Greater Palm Springs area is more than just a window into the past. Much to the delight of locals and visitors alike, there are always new restaurants popping up in the area, and this season is no different. Here are eight new restaurants for you to try on your next day or night out in the desert.
The Penney & Parlour
Glamorous yet inclusive, the newly refreshed Desert Island Country Club in Rancho Mirage offers desert dwellers a refined place to golf, dine, drink and mingle. The club, which used to be members-only, is now open to the public and recently underwent an ultra-hip makeover by Miguel Nelson, conceptual artist and founder of Marvimon Productions.
Desert Island is home to several dining destinations, including The Penney & Parlour. With its unique rare spirits library, sunken horseshoe bar and terrace dining, The Penney is a chic spot to take in views of the lake and mountains while enjoying chef-led dishes from a menu that’s split between ‘Classics’ like Shrimp Cocktail and New York Steak; and ‘Adventurous’ such as Crispy Pork Belly with Beets, Dandelion Greens and Blackberry Gastrique.
Local Insight: Each week, The Penney & Parlour hosts a Sunday Soirée, where Executive Chef Jon Butler works his culinary magic to create a curated three-course “epicurean adventure” for diners. The menu drops on Desert Island’s Instagram page every Sunday at 3 p.m., so stay tuned!
Location: Rancho Mirage
Molé
New to the Shops on El Paseo, Molé’s second location offers an immersive dining space and nightlife venue that pays homage to its Mexican inspiration. With award-winning Chef Roberto Madrid at the helm, Molé’s offerings of fine Mexican cuisine range from fresh ceviche selections to–of course–traditional scratch-made molé sauces. Molé also has an impressive libation program led by Topher Bray, director of bar operations, that features curated tequila, wine, beer and handcrafted margaritas.
Some of our favorite menu highlights include small plates like the shrimp chicharron tostada, Cabo white fish ceviche and grilled bone marrow elote as well as signature entrees like Colorado lamb shank adobo, snapper “zarandeado” and molé con pollo enchiladas. For drinks, we recommend naranja sanguine mezcalarita, fruto de cactus and the paloma. No matter what you order, you’re sure to be enchanted by Molé’s complex, authentic flavors.
Location: Palm Desert
Sol y Sombra
One of Cathedral City’s newest crown jewels, Sol y Sombra, is switching up the local dining scene with unique offerings and unbeatable flavors. One of Sol y Sombra’s most exciting offerings is its incredible paella menu, which provides crowd-pleasing options that also pay homage to the desert’s agricultural heritage. And for those seeking a fun cocktail experience, the restaurant’s Tableside Bar Cart service is a must-try. Simply sit back at your table with your heaping plate of paella and enjoy the show as your mobile bartender makes your drink in front of you.
Location: Cathedral City
Beautiful Day
Come for the fresh and playful ambiance, stay for the delicious, wholesome food! Open for breakfast and lunch, Beautiful Day boasts a lovely menu of farm-to-table eats like Grandpa’s Waffle, the breakfast burrito and the mushroom shawarma. One of this cheery spot’s specialties is its selection of tea lattes, including the glittery Blue Mermaid or indulgent Choco-Chaga Latte. Beautiful Day also offers a full vegan menu, which is perfect for dedicated vegans and consciously curious foodies alike!
Location: La Quinta
5/8
Shorebird
Set to land in the Shops on El Paseo in 2022, Shorebird’s third location is sure to be the perfect place for locals to flock together. Its coastal cuisine supplies fresh takes on classic American steakhouse and seafood dishes. Shorebird is serving up incredible favorites for brunch, lunch and dinner, including a fresh sushi and raw bar selection and almond wood-fired entrees like rotisserie chicken, filet mignon, Duroc pork chop and skirt steak (available after 5 p.m.).
Location: Palm Desert
Waldo’s Ristorante
A beautiful compliment to the desert’s penchant for midcentury style, Waldo’s Ristorante serves as the ideal destination for those craving New York-style Italian-American cuisine. Our favorite experiences at Waldo’s so far have been enjoying the restaurant’s daily happy hour (4-5:30 p.m.), watching founder and restaurateur Waldo Cesoni carve up a leg of prosciutto and offer tastings and twirling our forks in dreamy pasta dishes like the fettuccine zingara, linguine rustica or the puttanesca.
Location: Palm Desert
Bar Chingona
We don’t know what’s more intoxicating: the ambiance or the drinks! With its bold flavors and nickname of “La Jefa’s naughty little sister,” Bar Chingona certainly lives up to its name. Located at the Flannery Exchange, a playful multi-purpose space, Bar Chingona is a true stand-out thanks to the chic, retro Airstream it calls home and its menu of creative craft cocktails. For something adventurous like the Chingona Diabla.
Location: Palm Springs
Hoja Blanca
If you love Mexican food, you have to plan a visit to Hoja Blanca. The restaurant offers a modern take on traditional staples without straying far from what purists love most about the cuisine. We recommend starting with the chicharrones and the hamachi tostada, enjoying the tatela and the pesca a la Veracruzana and finishing up with a flight of flavored ices.
Location: Palm Springs
Freddie’s Kitchen at the Cole
Led by Chef Frederic Pierrel, Freddie’s Kitchen at the Cole is serving up a truly delicious French-California menu full of robust, global flavors and artful presentations. Those looking for international flavors will be happy to order French staples like the escargot and French onion soup; those seeking unique Californian dishes will love perusing the seasonal highlights. And those with a sweet tooth will adore treats like the vanilla creme brulee and the dark chocolate mousse.
Location: Palm Desert
Born and raised near the Pacific Coast, Jordan Nishkian is a California girl through and through. She graduated from Cal State Long Beach with a BA in Creative Writing and a BA in Anthropology, and her favorite place to be is curled up in a comfy chair with a book in her hand and a pen in her hair.
