Tag: Palm Desert

  • Trattoria Tiramisu

    Trattoria Tiramisu

    New to me, but by no means new to the desert, Trattoria Tiramisu has quickly become my family’s go-to spot for elevated Italian cuisine. Established by the Corsetti brothers in 2004, the restaurant serves exquisite Sicilian dishes, from homemade pastas and rich, flavorful sauces to decadent desserts. I’m partial to the Pollo alla Piccata, while my mom swears by the Carpaccio di Manzo and my husband always orders the Pappardelle alla Bolognese. Honestly, you can’t go wrong with anything on the menu, and the warm, attentive service is some of the friendliest in town.

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  • Exquisite Desserts

    Exquisite Desserts

    Established 24 years ago by amiable pastry chef Samatha Ward, Exquisite Desserts has grown to become one of the area’s most beloved bakeries, with its fare served at such exclusive spots as The Pink Cabana, Copley’s, On the Mark, and more than 20 area country clubs. Open to the public daily, the charming pâtisserie features a dazzling array of freshly baked goods, including flourless chocolate cakes, French macaroons, bars, brownies and cookies. The bakery is best known, though, for its stellar array of custom cake and specialty dessert items, which include gluten-free and vegan varieties. As such, their calendar books up far in advance, so plan accordingly.

  • Perfect Pint

    Perfect Pint

    This adorable establishment serves up gourmet hand-crafted frozen custard in a wide range of flavors out of a gleaming airstream. While on the pricier side, owners Gabby Nagengast and Jordan Panaiotov (who started the creamery in 2021 after losing their restaurant jobs due to the pandemic) utilize only the highest quality ingredients, including Tahitian vanilla beans, Belgian chocolate and the Valley’s own Brandini Toffee. The result is one of the richest, tastiest desserts you’ll ever sample! A second location can also be found at Desert Hills Premium Outlets in Cabazon.

  • Handel’s Ice Cream

    Handel’s Ice Cream

    Rich, thick and oh-so-velvety, Handel’s ice cream offerings are hand-crafted daily on the premises – and it shows! Featuring a smorgasbord of flavors, including Buckeye, Oree Do (an Oreo cookie dough concoction that is mouth-wateringly delicious!), and (the most popular) Strawberry Cheesecake Chunk, plus some vegan options, there is something for everyone at Handel’s. The prices are amazingly affordable, to boot! Bonus – the creamery boasts another location in Indio for those who catch a craving on the other side of town.

  • Hotel Paseo

    Hotel Paseo

    A newer and thoroughly welcome addition to the desert scene, Hotel Paseo is situated in one of the best locations in the area, just steps from the tony El Paseo shopping district. But there is plenty more to be had! Featuring thoroughly modern and whimsical décor, the property is hip and trendy in all the right ways, with amenities including the stellar onsite eatery Larkspur Grill (which also made my dinner list), a fitness center, a putting green, a café, a pool, daily outdoor yoga, and comfortable rooms.

    ★★★

  • Jw Marriott Desert Springs Resort & Spa

    Jw Marriott Desert Springs Resort & Spa

    Surrounded by huge lakes, which guests can tour via manned gondolas, the JW Marriott provides a resort experience like no other. Boasting an incredible 450 acres, the lodging is unbelievably massive, with 884 rooms, seven restaurants, two golf courses, three pools, a Starbucks, a putting green and a myriad of shops. It’s like Disneyland in the desert! Even if you don’t book a stay, the hotel is a must-see for its grand scale and overall spectacle alone – especially during the holidays. Each Christmas, the property truly comes alive with a smorgasbord of activities for children such as story time with Santa, cookie decorating and games galore. Bonus – the hotel is also a filming location! It was here that Jesse Spano’s dad got married on “Saved by the Bell.”

    ★★★★

  • Ristorante Mamma Gina

    Ristorante Mamma Gina

    Craving a $24 filet? Mamma Gina has you covered! Another Piero Pierattoni hot spot, this El Paseo eatery has been a beloved desert staple since originally opening in 1986. Other delectables on the all-night happy hour menu (offered from 4 p.m. to closing) include Salmone and Carpaccio Di Bue (at $16 and $18, respectively), with each dish more exquisite than the last. As such, it is no surprise that this place is hard to get into, but the long waits are well worth it!

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  • Piero’s PizzaVino

    Piero’s PizzaVino

    This casual spot, opened by Florence-born restauranteur Piero Pierattoni in 2011, is best known for its fab Neapolitan pizzas, but the happy hours also can’t be beat! Offering authentic Italian dishes based on Piero’s family recipes, the happy hour offerings are extensive – from pasta to pizza to appetizers, with gluten-free options, to boot! The Fried Zucchini Blossoms and Grilled Artichokes are personal favorites (and affordable at $12 each), but you can’t go wrong with any menu choice. (Happy Hour is offered all day Sunday through Thursday and from 11:30 to 4 on Fridays and Saturdays.)

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  • Castelli’s Ristorante

    Castelli’s Ristorante

    Retro in all the right ways, Castelli’s is a desert landmark – and one of my family’s longtime favorites. Established by brothers John and Michael Castelli in 1988, using their family’s Old World Italian recipes, the place quickly became a celebrity hotspot (as the many headshots lining the walls attest), welcoming the likes of Martin Short, Bob Hope, Robert Wagner, Andy Garcia, and Sylvester Stallone, just to name a few. Still going strong today, the restaurant is packed to the gills most nights, best loved for its stellar fare and warm ambiance.

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  • Jw Marriott Desert Springs Resort

    Jw Marriott Desert Springs Resort

    In another iconic ‘90s TV moment, this sprawling hotel famously hosted the nuptials of Jesse Spano’s father on the third season of “Saved by the Bell.” But that is hardly the JW’s only claim to fame! The resort served as the headquarters of Palm Security and Investigations on the short-lived Connie Sellecca procedural “P.S.I. Luv U” and its sunken grass-lined tennis court masked as Wimbledon in the HBO comedy “7 Days in Hell.” The JW also appeared on “Newport Harbor: The Real Orange County,” as well as in several episodes of “The Real Housewives of Orange County.”