Seafood in Palm Desert, burgers in Palm Springs and a comeback: Coachella Valley food news
Ah, March. Who among us doesn't love thee?
After all, it's the Coachella Valley at its Coachella Valley-est, when the temperatures are typically as sublime as they are mild, wildflowers start to turn common street corners into feasts of color and the excitement emanating from Indian Wells is enough to make you ever-so-briefly forget that watching tennis is about as exciting as getting your A/C checked (which you might want to get going on, by the way).
Of course, all that March majesty comes at a cost: You've likely noticed you can hardly swing a racket around these parts this time of year without hitting a gaggle of spring breakers gawking up at Mount San Jacinto, never mind find a good place to eat that isn't positively bursting with them.
Thankfully, when the hour-plus waits get to be too much, your friends at The Desert Sun have you covered with our monthly list of restaurants that are so brand spanking new even the most in-the-know of tourists will surely have never heard of them.
The recent openings include a hip new seafood spot, an Italian bakery and even a shiny new Denny’s (yep, another one, in case the valley was running short). So whether you’re looking for a swanky spot to sip on a martini in between bites of lobster or a quick place to feed a carload of screaming kids for less than triple figures, you’ll find what you’re seeking.
Just promise us you won’t go looking for food anywhere near the Indian Wells Tennis Garden: We’ll be avoiding that whole area until April, just to be safe, and strongly recommend you do the same.
Shorebird, 73-061 El Paseo #172 in Palm Desert
El Paseo's newest hotspot is an offshoot of a Newport Beach restaurant that takes its name from the gulls and other birds that spend their days hopping from yacht to yacht in the bay that the original restaurant looks out onto.
There may be no such birds — or even a bay — here, but diners will scarcely notice as they chow down on scallops, crab cakes and other high-end fish favorites.
But it's not all about the swimmers here: Executive Chef Jay Boginske said the said two of the restaurant's most popular entrees are pork chops and a rotisserie chicken called "The Shorebird" that are both cooked over an almond-wood fire.
Shorebird did get off to a rough beginning last month when it failed a public health inspection because it racked up too many minor violations, including employees not washing their hands after removing gloves to put on new ones and food containers being left uncovered in the fridge.
The restaurant was able to stay open because it did not have any major violations, but was ordered to correct the issues before a reinspection. In that second inspection, conducted on March 4, Shorebird earned an A grade with a near perfect score of 97/100.
In a provided statement, the CEO of the Wild Thyme Group that owns Shorebird said they're committed to "rigorous health and safety standards." After the first inspection showed the need for improvements, Shorebird acted quickly to make the changes and reinforce existing procedures with employees, said the CEO, Niko Viramo.
From Mouth to Mouth, 67730 East Palm Canyon Drive, Suite 101-103 in Cathedral City
When Choco Churros closed in 2022, it left a big sugary hole in the Cathedral City scene. So it’s fitting that the same space that once churned out some of the desert’s most eclectic desserts is now home to this stylish Italian deli-bakery, which has a case full of cake, cannoli and other pastries that should satiate even the sweetest tooth.
While you’ll want to leave room for said sweets, you can also enjoy coming here for a full meal. The rest of the menu consists of a selection of salads, sandwiches and flatbreads, plus classic pasta dishes such as chicken parmesan and lasagna. Espresso drinks and a selection of five flavors of gelato, which go for just $3 a scoop, round out the offerings.
From Mouth to Mouth opened in January, but was not included in last month's roundup because it also got off to a troubled start when it failed a health inspection. It was shut down because it didn't have hot water available at the time of inspection, which is considered a major violation. The bakery was closed for almost two weeks, but reopened on Feb. 23 after it passed a reinspection with a near-perfect score.
General Manager Karen Arias said the failed inspection occurred because while the water was heating, it was not reaching the required temperature. She said the issue has since been corrected.
Denny's, 67950 Vista Chino in Cathedral City
The already Denny's-dense Coachella Valley gained another location of the ubiquitous greasy spoon chain. The new branch is the city's second Denny's, ensuring residents are never far from a Grand Slam, no matter which side of town they live on. A new Denny's also opened last year at 42445 Washington Street in Palm Desert.
A closure, with a silver lining
Palm Springs lost a local icon when the owner of Rick's Restaurant and Bakery announced it would be closing this month after he was unable to secure a new long-term lease for the restaurant. However, Rick's breakfast and lunch live on just down the block at its sister restaurant, Rick's Desert Grill, which was previously dinner-only but is now offering the daytime service and menu previously available at Rick's Restaurant and Bakery.
Other restaurant news
While its early March opening date means it just missed being included in our February openings, the new iteration of Cipollene Osteria is now open in south Palm Springs. This new Italian restaurant has the same name, location and ownership as a business that operated for several years starting around 2008. Before that the building, at 1260 S. Palm Canyon Drive, was the longtime home of Banducci's Bit of Italy. Cipollene Osteria's menu includes a mix of pizzas, pastas, salads and steak and chicken dishes.
The future of the former home of a Rancho Mirage classic is coming into focus. The website for a new venture called Foxy's Kitchen and Bar states that it will be "opening soon" in the longtime former home of Shame on the Moon, which closed and was put for sale after a decades-long run. The website states that the menu will include seafood and steaks along with vegetarian and gluten-free dishes.
One of the desert's most well-known Asian restaurants is apparently being resurrected not long after its seeming demise. A post published on the Wang's in the Desert Facebook page on March 5 stated it will be reopening under new ownership on March 14. "Yes Palm Springs, Wang’s is coming back," the post read. "Just like Marilyn she’s here, she’s gone, she’s back lol. New owners, fresh ideas, fresh faces and good Asian fusion food returns." Messages sent to the Facebook page requesting more information about the new venture were not returned. Those following the Wang's Facebook page have been subject to something of a roller coaster in recent months with a post in August stating that the restaurant had been damaged by Tropical Storm Hilary and would soon be reopening "under new management and a new direction."In November, a post appeared stating Wang's had closed for good, although that post was later deleted and new graphics promoting the restaurant were posted on its page. There hadn't been any news since November until this week.
Super Taco, which has operated for several years off Ramon Road in Cathedral City, has moved to a new larger spot along Highway 111. The owner's daughter told The Desert Sun that the menu has also been expanded with nachos, carne asada fries and quesabirria and hard shell tacos added to the simple roster of Mexican classics. The new space, which is at 67778 East Palm Canyon Drive, was previously home to Le Petit Dejeuner, a breakfast and soul food restaurant that closed last year after a brief run. However, Le Petit Dejeuner also appears to have resurfaced in a new form after a quick hiatus. The former restaurant's social media pages have been promoting various pop-up dining events, including a soul food brunch series and chicken and waffle Fridays that have been offering periodically at the Palm Springs Cultural Center over the last few weeks. The posting for the most recent event suggests there will be more events starting in April.
Palm Springs residents will soon be able to get their fix of Tony's Burgers without driving all the way to Cathedral City. A new restaurant called Tony's Grill & Bar, planned for the former Pete's Hideaway space at 665 South Palm Canyon Drive, will pair most of the original Tony's burger-centric menu offerings with steaks, pastas and other dinnertime fare. The son of the owner told The Desert Sun in February that the plan was to open in the next 1.5 to two months.
A new location of Dave's Hot Chicken, a Los Angeles-based chain known for its spicy Nashville Hot-style chicken, is coming soon to Cathedral City, according to the Dave's website. The new outpost, which will be located near the intersection of Ramon Road and Date Palm Drive, joins existing Dave's in Palm Desert and Indio. The new restaurant is at the former site of a Sizzler that closed years ago.
The Pantry, the stylish, French-feeling restaurant inside the Holiday House boutique hotel in Palm Springs, has launched a new weekend brunch, which is available from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Among the entree options are a ricotta stuffed French toast made with bananas, bourbon caramel sauce and pecans and a "Yucatan biscuit benedict made with homemade cochinita." There is also a shareable seafood platter. Reservations are recommended and can be made at holidayhouseps.com/dine.
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: New restaurants in Palm Springs area include seafood, Mexican, brunch
