120 beers, a pizza revival and more: What's new on Coachella Valley restaurant scene
Whether you've been anticipating it for months or absolutely loathe it, the start of April really only means one thing around these parts: All eyes now turn to Indio as we wait for the ever-so-cringey influencers and way-too-excited college freshmen to invade for the annual crazed bacchanal that is Coachella. And then, of course, the convening of the cowboy hat wearing set that follows at the end of the month.
But given that it's home to our famous festivals, it seems rather fitting that Indio has also been the site of much of the new restaurant opening activity in the desert, with not one but two new eateries recently opening in the area’s revitalized downtown.
So take note, dear reader. Because while many of you are surely planning to avoid the south end of the “City of Festivals” like your life — or at least your sanity — depends on it this month (unless you live there, in which case you are in my thoughts), Indio's downtown is home to a couple of the Coachella Valley's most interesting new dining spots.
And if you avoid certain days (or perhaps wait until May), you’ll probably be able to venture there and enjoy a torta and a craft beer in peace, with nary a flower pattern or overstretched Sublime t-shirt in sight. And until then, well, perhaps you can bide your time at one of the other new restaurants in our monthly guide to the valley’s newest eats.
Indio Taphouse, 82867 Miles Ave., Unit 1, in Indio
Downtown Indio’s ongoing revitalization took a major step forward with the opening of this hip new hangout, which has brought a hubbub of activity to the area’s east end. A colorful exterior mural, large bar, plenty of TVs and garage doors that open onto a patio and Miles Street beyond have breathed new life into the spot where the Design Collections furniture store once stood.
While you can order a burger or salad, the bulk of the menu eschews typical pub fare for a more eclectic selection of sharable offerings that includes cauliflower steak, falafel and periquitos (fried chiles filled with shrimp, chipotle aioli and a Japanese citrus sauce). There’s also six tortas — sandwiches served on Mexican telera rolls — that come filled with meatballs, deli meats and fried chicken.
Of course, any place that bills itself as a “taphouse” these days better stock more than Modelo and Bud Light. Sure enough, this spot delivers on that front with a pages-long beer menu — 120 beers, the owners say — that includes dozens of offerings from across California and beyond, plus a lengthy list of wines and craft cocktails.Victoria’s Café, 82720 Miles Ave. in Indio
No matter what you’re hankering for, there’s a decent chance you’ll find it at Victoria’s, which quietly opened recently just down the block from the taphouse.
The restaurant has diners covered from morning to night with a menu that includes everything from pancakes to pizza to burgers, plus bacon sandwiches. Those who show up expecting to find the restaurant’s predecessor, Casa De Silva, also shouldn’t be disappointed as they can also choose from Mexican favorites like tamales, enchiladas, ceviche, tacos and more.
If that’s not enough, Victoria’s also seems like a good place to throw one (or a few) back at the end of long day. The drink list includes margaritas, chavelas, wine and what we can only assume is Victoria’s piece de resistance — the 80 oz. mimosas tower (is this a good time to note for the festgoers reading this that this place is only a few miles from the polo grounds?)
Sushi on the Run, 40101 Monterey Ave., # G2, in Rancho Mirage
Tucked into Palm Desert’s County Club Village shopping area, this small space (which was formerly known as “To Go Sushi”) has a new name and look but the same general focus as its predecessor: take-out sushi.
The menu consists of an expansive range of sushi rolls, including a few bearing the names of Frank Sinatra, Bob Hope and other famous desert figures. While you can certainly play it safe with a Philly or California roll, those with more adventurous palates will surely opt for one of the several specialty rolls such as the Spicy Ruby, a shrimp, crab and cucumber roll topped with, among other things, jalapeno and spicy tuna.
Standard sushi shop appetizers like edamame and pork gyoza, rice bowls that can be filled with meats like teriyaki chicken or bulgogi beef and bento boxes, which offer a rice bowl with a sushi roll, round out the menu.
Cipolline Osteria, 1260 Palm Canyon Dr. in Palm Springs
“Unfinished business” is the phrase that comes to mind when it comes to Palm Springs' newest Italian restaurant, which is actually the second iteration of an eatery that was operated by the same owners in the same location starting in 2008.
Meat dishes such as a filet mignon and roasted duck share the menu with a shrimp scampi, raviolis and other pastas. Vegans, meanwhile, can choose from options like a lemon risotto and a lentil soup with broccoli and asparagus.
The star here, however, is the wood-fired stone oven, which is a holdover from Cipolline Osteria’s initial run and churns out seven varieties of Neapolitan pizza. The owners have even said they plan to pursue a certification from the Naples-based Associazione Verace Pizza Napoletana, which certifies that pizzerias are following its regulations for true Neapolitan-style pizza (just 94 restaurants have earned the distinction in the US, but none in the Coachella Valley).
Longtime residents will also recognize the spot as the longtime home of Banducci’s Bit of Italy, which was a noted Rat Pack hangout back in the 1960s.
On the horizon
A new coffee shop called Hot Lips will serve up a unique blend of pop cultural aesthetics from the 60s, 70s and 80s with espresso, frappes, chais and other coffee shop specialties when it opens April 6 at 68461 East Palm Canyon Dr. in Cathedral City. Owner Tara Uziel said the shop, which she hops will become “a daytime disco for your mouth and soul” will also serve as a community center showcasing local artists, goods and hosting special events.
The long vacant space at 34331 Date Palm Dr. will soon be home to DJ’s Sports Bar and Grill. Posts on the bar’s Facebook page, which have been charting the progress of construction, suggest future diners can expect burgers, beer, pool tables and plenty of Green Bay Packers memorabilia.
Paul Albani-Burgio covers growth, development and business in the Coachella Valley. Follow him on Twitter at @albaniburgiop and email him at paul.albani-burgio@desertsun.com.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: The latest new restaurants in Palm Springs, Indio and beyond
