My family and I had a reservation at a restaurant on Friday, March 29, at 7:30 pm. The valet who greeted us was excellent, but the restaurant was satisfactory.Unfortunately, our experience with the host, an older gentleman we believe may have been the owner or a family member, was not good. We arrived early and waited in our car until we got a text message informing us that our table was ready. However, when we arrived at the restaurant, the host greeted us unwelcomingly, and he selected a table next to the bar. Despite making reservations in advance, we were not given a table at our designated time. As a parent of two children, I requested a different table due to being too close to the bar, but the host was unaccommodating and seemed disinterested in our concerns. He waved and said choose your table in such a manner. I was shocked; my husband and I looked at each other like what type of customer service this guy has; he requires better training. We brushed it off and continued to a new table.Our waiter also lacked the necessary customer service skills and seemed tired. Additionally, the food was not up to our expectations - the chicken piccata was overcooked and dry, and the chicken parmesan was drenched in sauce. One of my children enjoyed the spaghetti, but the other did not. By the way, they have no children's portion menu.Overall, I would not recommend making reservations at this restaurant. The staff appeared disengaged and unhappy, and we did not feel welcomed or valued as customers. I suggest trying a different, more vibrant restaurant for a better dining experience.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 2
Service: 1
Nancy Scott
I have been there before and the food is great and usually the service is good too. This time the service was Terrible, it took a 1/2 hour to take our order and never got any better. Disappointing since the food is so good.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 4
Service: 1
Recommended dishes: Lamb Shank Braised with Demi Glace
MaryRose Wallace
Food is outstanding and service was excellent!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Carrot Cake
Laura W.
Food was excellent, as was the service. Would definitely recommend and would definitely go back.
S H.
Unbelievably bad. We had reservations for our daughter's birthday and I have so many regrets. I wish we had just got to in n out. In all honesty, it would have been a better dining experience. We showed up and the table they gave us was two different heights. Ok, fine, whatever. It is what it is. We ordered calamari, 1/2 portions of pasta marinara for our daughter, regular portion for her friend, the crab ravioli, eggplant parm and pasta special. Within minutes of ordering, our entrees showed up. The kid's portion? 1/2 a cup of pasta. It was nothing. The eggplant Parmesan's was so tiny, it took up 1/4 of the plate. The rest of the plate was boiled sugar carrots and soggy broccoli. At 27 dollars. The calamari came twenty minutes AFTER our entree and only after we asked five times. Five. And when we finally said to cancel it- they brought it AND charged us for it. We asked for Parmesan multiple times. THEN to top of this absolutely terrible experience? They charged us a 20% gratuity because they knew their service sucked and they wanted to force us to pay them a good tip. I would not recommend this restaurant to anyone who wants a pleasant dining experience worth the money they are going to most def spend here. I will say, there was one waitress there who while wasn't our waitress was helpful and lovely. I hope our tip goes to her. She was the only good thing. Also: the tapenade was delicious, the calamari when we received it at the end of the night was tasty and honestly if we had gotten it as the appetizer we wanted, this would be a 3.5 star rating.
Nicole R Christensen
Amazing food, wine, atmosphere, and authenticity! I would absolutely come back, I would just sit in another section!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Vickie Rosone
2nd time at this restaurant in Palm Desert and a solid Italian meal once again. Great classic entrees and pastas and great, shareable starters.
$56 for an Ossobuco special with no notice from the waiter of the price? Unacceptable on both counts. Although we have been here many times, we will not return.
Mike G.
Reading all of the reviews, we decided to give this place a try for happy hour...it didn't go very well. Friday evening and it wasn't even busy. Our service at the bar was not good. The portions for happy hour were horribly small and we had a gentleman next to us that ordered off of the regular menu and it was about the same size! No one could even ask us if we wanted another drink or anything else and we were the only ones at the bar. The food quality was VERY basic..nothing special at all. We would NOT recommend this place to anyone looking for Italian food.
Sue R.
Nothing special. Good if you are in a hurry. We felt rushed, in and out in one hour. . Stale bread. Wedge salad exactly like every other place. Tiny meatballs. Not great value. A bit Hard to understand waiter- rattling off specials in one run one sentence.
Parking is tight in the front, but the back alley provided room for us. The food and service were solid and I enjoyed the outdoor seating with overhead heaters, if needed. Dinner prices were a tad rich, given the commonality of the ingredients.
Russell H.
What a place , what a service.... Joe was fantastic. This place is a must visit when anyone is traveling to Palm desert.. food was fantastic, I can go on for ever .. beautiful ambiance.. coming back over and over:).. thank you!!
Matthew C.
We came with a group of 7 people last minute on a Saturday night and Mimmo found us a table. Then came the food. It is was amazing! And the service from Joe was outstanding. We will always come back when we are in town.
foodyooody
I love their veal piccata and their side dish of polenta. Their special carrots are very good too. Friends we took for the first time were very pleased with their lasagna and special rigatoni, prepared carbonara style. The entree sizes are just right for our appetites. The cannolis, as with all their desserts, are made daily there. Tasty!
RichB2405
Excellent Italian! Server Rueben is fantastic! Took a special request for a meal & delivered. Butternut squash ravioli - spectacular. Desserts are all worth sharing & we did! We'll definitely be back.
My family and I had a reservation at a restaurant on Friday, March 29, at 7:30 pm. The valet who greeted us was excellent, but the restaurant was satisfactory.Unfortunately, our experience with the host, an older gentleman we believe may have been the owner or a family member, was not good. We arrived early and waited in our car until we got a text message informing us that our table was ready. However, when we arrived at the restaurant, the host greeted us unwelcomingly, and he selected a table next to the bar. Despite making reservations in advance, we were not given a table at our designated time. As a parent of two children, I requested a different table due to being too close to the bar, but the host was unaccommodating and seemed disinterested in our concerns. He waved and said choose your table in such a manner. I was shocked; my husband and I looked at each other like what type of customer service this guy has; he requires better training. We brushed it off and continued to a new table.Our waiter also lacked the necessary customer service skills and seemed tired. Additionally, the food was not up to our expectations - the chicken piccata was overcooked and dry, and the chicken parmesan was drenched in sauce. One of my children enjoyed the spaghetti, but the other did not. By the way, they have no children's portion menu.Overall, I would not recommend making reservations at this restaurant. The staff appeared disengaged and unhappy, and we did not feel welcomed or valued as customers. I suggest trying a different, more vibrant restaurant for a better dining experience.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 2
Service: 1
I have been there before and the food is great and usually the service is good too. This time the service was Terrible, it took a 1/2 hour to take our order and never got any better. Disappointing since the food is so good.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 4
Service: 1
Recommended dishes: Lamb Shank Braised with Demi Glace
Food is outstanding and service was excellent!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Carrot Cake
Food was excellent, as was the service. Would definitely recommend and would definitely go back.
Unbelievably bad. We had reservations for our daughter's birthday and I have so many regrets. I wish we had just got to in n out. In all honesty, it would have been a better dining experience. We showed up and the table they gave us was two different heights. Ok, fine, whatever. It is what it is. We ordered calamari, 1/2 portions of pasta marinara for our daughter, regular portion for her friend, the crab ravioli, eggplant parm and pasta special. Within minutes of ordering, our entrees showed up. The kid's portion? 1/2 a cup of pasta. It was nothing. The eggplant Parmesan's was so tiny, it took up 1/4 of the plate. The rest of the plate was boiled sugar carrots and soggy broccoli. At 27 dollars. The calamari came twenty minutes AFTER our entree and only after we asked five times. Five. And when we finally said to cancel it- they brought it AND charged us for it. We asked for Parmesan multiple times. THEN to top of this absolutely terrible experience? They charged us a 20% gratuity because they knew their service sucked and they wanted to force us to pay them a good tip. I would not recommend this restaurant to anyone who wants a pleasant dining experience worth the money they are going to most def spend here. I will say, there was one waitress there who while wasn't our waitress was helpful and lovely. I hope our tip goes to her. She was the only good thing. Also: the tapenade was delicious, the calamari when we received it at the end of the night was tasty and honestly if we had gotten it as the appetizer we wanted, this would be a 3.5 star rating.
Amazing food, wine, atmosphere, and authenticity! I would absolutely come back, I would just sit in another section!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
2nd time at this restaurant in Palm Desert and a solid Italian meal once again. Great classic entrees and pastas and great, shareable starters.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Bruschetta Classica, Burrata Salad
$56 for an Ossobuco special with no notice from the waiter of the price? Unacceptable on both counts. Although we have been here many times, we will not return.
Reading all of the reviews, we decided to give this place a try for happy hour...it didn't go very well. Friday evening and it wasn't even busy. Our service at the bar was not good. The portions for happy hour were horribly small and we had a gentleman next to us that ordered off of the regular menu and it was about the same size! No one could even ask us if we wanted another drink or anything else and we were the only ones at the bar. The food quality was VERY basic..nothing special at all. We would NOT recommend this place to anyone looking for Italian food.
Nothing special. Good if you are in a hurry. We felt rushed, in and out in one hour. . Stale bread. Wedge salad exactly like every other place. Tiny meatballs. Not great value. A bit Hard to understand waiter- rattling off specials in one run one sentence.
Restaurantji Recommends
Parking is tight in the front, but the back alley provided room for us. The food and service were solid and I enjoyed the outdoor seating with overhead heaters, if needed. Dinner prices were a tad rich, given the commonality of the ingredients.
What a place , what a service.... Joe was fantastic. This place is a must visit when anyone is traveling to Palm desert.. food was fantastic, I can go on for ever .. beautiful ambiance.. coming back over and over:).. thank you!!
We came with a group of 7 people last minute on a Saturday night and Mimmo found us a table. Then came the food. It is was amazing! And the service from Joe was outstanding. We will always come back when we are in town.
I love their veal piccata and their side dish of polenta. Their special carrots are very good too. Friends we took for the first time were very pleased with their lasagna and special rigatoni, prepared carbonara style. The entree sizes are just right for our appetites. The cannolis, as with all their desserts, are made daily there. Tasty!
Excellent Italian! Server Rueben is fantastic! Took a special request for a meal & delivered. Butternut squash ravioli - spectacular. Desserts are all worth sharing & we did! We'll definitely be back.