Eating in Palm Springs

I recently revisited one of my favourite cities in the world where each neighborhood offers up unique dining choices and experiences. Lawrence and I had a chance to walk the city as well as take the subway visiting many neighborhoods and eateries.

Sherman’s Deli

Our first meal after arriving to Palm Springs was dinner at Sherman’s Deli. I have fond memories from eating here during previous visits, yet it had been 14 years since my last visit.

Cold borscht

Challah buns

San Jacinto Cake

For dinner I had the delicious Cold Borscht along with the Challah buns and their Shaved Beef entree, Lawrence and I shared the house speciality San Jacinto Cake which was enourmous layed chocolate mousse and cheesecake.

Matzah ball soup

Sesame bagel and cream cheese

Cheese Blintzes

Over another visit during our stay, I had the huge and delicious Matzah ball soupSesame bagel and cream cheese and their delicious Cheese Blintzes.

The rest of the restaurants that we visited during this trip were all new to both of us, obviously 14 years is a long time and many new spots have opened since.

Barn Kitchen at Sparrows Lodge

Our best dining experience of the trip was the dinner we had in the Barn Kitchen at Sparrows Lodge; we attended one of their weekly chicken dinners which is held every Wednesday night by advance reservation, usually limited to 28 people and the food is served family style encouraging all to share. Chef Gabriel Woo is the head chef here and he made an incredible dinner for all of us to enjoy.

French Onion Soup

Green Salad

Fettuccini with chives

Roasted Gonestraw Farms Chicken

Asparagus

Potato Gnocchi

It was to be a 3 course dinner for $59 per person, however as we discovered more dishes were served, started off with delicious French Onion Soup, followed by the Green salad, Fettuccini with chives, delicious Roasted Gonestraw Farms Chicken, Asparagus with chives, Potato Gnocchi with mushrooms, peas.

Spiced dark chocolate brownie

Chocolate Ice cream cones.

For dessert we enjoyed some Port to go along with the Spiced dark chocolate brownie and mini Chocolate Ice cream cones.

Roasted corn and avocado salad

Meyer lemon and blueberry ‘pop tart’

The next morning we had brunch at Wilma and Frieda a popular eatery on the 2nd floor in downtown Palm Springs, I loved the large Roasted corn and avocado salad with chicken as well as the Meyer lemon and blueberry ‘pop tart’ which are baked in house daily.

Tacquila P/S

We ate at several Mexican restaurants in the valley, my favourite in Palm Springs was Tac/Quila on North Palm Canyon Drive. The decor of the inside dining room and bar area was beautifully decorated with colourful pictures and more.

Chicken Al Pastor tacos

Mexican Corn

Pineapple Pie

I loved these delicious dishes as well as the presentation of each, started off with the Chicken Al Pastor tacos followed by the Calabasitos (vegetables tacos; and the Short Rib Enchiladas which was filled with beef short rib; also loved the Mexican Corn served in a cast iron pan. We finished with a slice of their Pineapple pie.

Coachella date ice cream
Cone

At the Ice Cream Shop (pe) in the Arrive Hotel on North Palm Canyon they have a yummy array of flavours, we visited on a Tuesday where it was $2 Tuesday’s; you get a regular sized scoop on a cone or cup for only $2, I have the yummy Coachella date ice cream on a cone.

Rooster and the Pig

On another night we visited the popular Rooster and the Pig, a Vietnamese restaurant where customers often wait for upwards of an hour or more to dine for dinner. Knowing how popular the eatery is, we arrived 45 minutes prior to opening to put our name on the list to be one of the first ones seated.

Congee

Jasmine Tea Leaf salad

Caramelized Butternut Squash rolls

Caramelized Ginger Chicken

Stuffed Eggplant

To begin we were served a complimentary Congee to begin the delicious meal. I loved the Jasmine Tea Leaf salad with tangy napa cabbage, medley of seeds, peanuts; this dish was followed by the Caramelized Butternut Squash rolls with toasted pepitas, basil, mizuna, rice noodle, herbs. The Caramelized Ginger Chicken with lotus root, red bell pepper, mushrooms was another great dish to share as was my favourite Stuffed Eggplant with shitake mushrooms, ginger, garlic, tomato, black rice.

Cartel

Espresso

My favourite spot coffee was Cartel on North Palm Canyon at the Arrive Hotel, they feature their own house-brand of Cartel roasted coffee. Cool vibe at this small espresso bar, I had a an Espresso which is served with a glass of water on the side.

Workshop Kitchen

Workshop Kitchen is a beautiful restaurant with high ceilings and a long communal table in the centre of the room. Located on North Palm Canyon Drive it’s all about New American cuisine using ingredients from the local area.

Bread service

Roasted Brussel Sprouts

We started off with an order of their Bread service, rolls served with truffle butter. Our starters included the delicious Romanesco with Drake Darms’s goat cheese, Temecula valley honey, rosemary & poblano ferment, pickled plums; we also had the Roasted Brussel Sprouts with pancetta, and honey.

Thanksgiving Turkey and Sweet Potato Casserole

As we were dining on American Thanksgiving we shared the Thanksgiving Turkey with winter spruced cranberry and apple preserves; we also had the outstanding Sweet potato casserole with burnt marshmallow on top.

Cinnamon Raisin Bagel with cream cheese

The next morning we visited Townie Bagels for coffees and a tasty Cinnamon raisin bagel with cream cheese; along with one of their delicious Chocolate Babka which we took to go.

 

Holiday House

Another great spot for lunch was at Holiday House a beautiful small boutique hotel on the Western edge of downtown Palm Springs. Chef Gabriel Woo runs the kitchen here as well as Sparrows Lodge as both properties are owned by the same couple. Lunch is served daily at this beautiful spot in the courtyard.

Crispy Fish Tacos

Avocado Chicken Salad

Chocolate chip cookies

We share the delicious Crispy Fish Tacos and an Avocado Chicken Salad which is served cold. To end we were served some yummy Chocolate chip cookies, a great finish to our lunch together.

Tyler’s Burgers

Veggie Burger

Coleslaw

On another day during our trip we visited another popular spot amongst locals and tourists, Tyler’s Burgers has been serving up delicious burgers and other dishes for many years, they are only open for lunch so best get there early. I loved my Veggie burger as well as the side order of Coleslaw.

Chicken Ranch

Friends had suggested we visit local hotspot Chicken Ranch so we did that one night and were happy we did so. It is all about chicken here from Mexican style rotisserie chicken to salads and great sides.

Whole Rotisserie chicken

Grilled Vegetables

We shared a Whole Rotisserie chicken which served cut-up in pieces so you don’t have to worry about cutting your own chicken comes with tomatillo and lavash. The Grilled vegetables were a tasty dish which we shared, though you could enjoy on your own, they are also located on North Palm Canyon Drive.

Birba

On another night we visited Birba an Italian eatery which specializes in pizza and pasta dishes, this is another popular spot where most of the seating is outdoors, best to visit on a dry night.

Pera e Noce Pizza

Short Rib Caramele

I loved the Pera e Noce Pizza with pear, Brussel sprouts, scamorza, candied walnuts, on an arugula walnut pesto base; we also shared the Short Rib Caramele Porcini Brown Butter, parmigiano.

Kreem

Funky Cold Medina and Chocolate Cookie

For dessert we headed to South Palm Canyon to the fairly new ice cream spot Kreem which features a range of home-made ice cream flavours including some vegan flavours. We loved the ice cream here, I had the yummy Funky Cold Medina (Orange blossom, pistachio, halva) ice cream cone while Lawrence had the vegan Chocolate Cookie on a cone.

By: Richard Wolak

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