5 Places to Get Your Grub On During Palm Springs Restaurant Week

The annual tradition that is Palm Springs Restaurant Week is here. But, with so many restaurants participating, there is no way you can go to them all – nor should you, as that many calories could not be at all good for your health. So where to go?

First, a bit about restaurant week. During the event, from May 29 – June 7, participating restaurants offer a 3-course menu for either $26 or $38 (You can see the menus here). To determine the 5 recommendations below, I studied the menus looking for places that offered a good deal or something unique.

With that said, here are 5 restaurants worthing checking out:

Workshop Kitchen + Bar

The Palm Springs restaurant just won a James Beard Award for the design of their joint.  And not only does it look cool, the food is delicious, and The Restaurant Week menu (below) offers up some pretty cool options:

Mastro’s Steakhouse

Palm Desert’s Mastro’s Steakhouse makes this list because, if you have ever seen the regular menu, you know that $38 per person is the most inexpensive way you are ever getting out of the place.   The Restaurant Week menu is nothing fancy and you might want to throw down a couple of extra bucks to order their famous butter cake, which sadly is not included.  But hey, you can actually afford to go to Mastro’s for once!

Restaurant Week Menu – $38.00 per person

Appetizers

Spicy Mambo Salad

Caesar Salad

Iceberg Wedge

Beefsteak Tomato & Onion

Entrees

Scottish Salmon Fillet

Herb Roasted Chicken

6 oz. Petite Filet

8 oz. Pork Chop

*Entrees include your choice of two sides:
Sautéed or Steamed Broccoli
Creamed Corn
Creamed Spinach
Garlic Mashed Potatoes

Desserts

Cheesecake

Chocolate Sin Cake

Tap-In Taproom

Okay, so dining out inside a grocery store might sound a bit weird – but just go with me for a second.  Whole Foods Tap-In Taproom is already known for having the best selection of craft beer on tap in The Coachella Valley and their offerings for Restaurant Week sound pretty damn delicious – chicken and waffles plus a stout float?  Yes please!

Restaurant Week Menu – $26.00 per person

Appetizers

Strawberry Spinach Salad

Charcuterie Plate

Bacon Wrapped Dates With Blue Cheese

Crispy Calamari

Oysters On The Half Shell (6)

Entrees

Chicken & Waffles
with Maple Syrup & Butter with a side Corn & Arugula Salad

Croque Madame
served with a side of Made-in –House Potato Chips

Lemon Garlic Pork Loin
served with Mashed Potatoes & a side of Brussels Sprouts

Maui Taro Burger
served with a side of Sweet Potato Fries

Smoked Baby Back Ribs
served with Mac ‘n’ Cheese and a side of Cabbage Crunch

Desserts

Crème Brûlèe

Chocolate Cake With Raspberry Reduction

Beer Float
Russian Imperial Stout With Whole Foods Market Exclusive Creamy Vanilla Ice Cream

Root Beer Float
With Whole Foods Market Exclusive Creamy Vanilla Ice Cream

Mr. Lyons Steakhouse

The Palm Springs restaurant is newly re-opened after renovations by new ownership (the same people who run the successful and delicious Cheeky’s and Birba restaurants in Palm Springs).  Palm Springs Restaurant Week is the perfect opportunity to check out the new joint – which is offering a wine pairing with your meal for a little extra dough:

Restaurant Week Menu – $38.00 per person

Appetizers

Whole Leaf Caesar
Brioche Crouton, Shaved Parmigiano Reggiano

Tartare Of Beef
Truffle Crostini

French Onion Soup
Comte Crisp

Entrees

Beef Wellington
Pomme Puree, Charred Brussel Leaves, Dijon Mustard Demi

Sole Meuniere
Lemon Brown Butter

Vegetable Wellington
Port Beet Reduction, Sautéed Beet Tops

Desserts

Sticky Toffee Pudding
Candied Orange, Grand Marnier Caramel

Eton Mess
Basil Meringue, Strawberries Two Ways, Rhubarb, Chantilly Cream

Cheesecake
Luxardo Compote

Cielo

Two restaurants in Palm Springs Restaurant Week are promising to get you high (elevation-wise), and while Peaks at the top of The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway has a pretty good view – so does Cielo at the top of Morongo Casino Resort (and you don’t have to buy a separate ticket to get up there).  Cielo is 27 stories in the air and features floor to ceiling windows so you can enjoy the sites while dining.  The menu offered for Restaurant Week is not the most exciting in the world, but I have had far worse meals than a filet, crab risotto, and banana cream pie.

Restaurant Week Menu – $38.00 per person

Appetizers

King Crab Risotto
Alaskan king crab, asparagus and Heirloom Tomato

Hearts of Romaine
Point Reyes Blue Cheese, Shaved Red Onion and Candied Pecans Buttermilk Herb Dressing

Entrees

Petite Filet Mignon
Savoyarde Potato, Glazed Cipollini Onions and Roasted Spring Carrots Pinot Noir Thyme Jus

Sweet Chili Glazed Salmon
Jasmine Rice, Baby Bok Choy and Pineapple Mango Relish Mango Coconut Curry Sauce

Kurobuta Pork Medallions
Sweet Potato and Purple Potato Hash, Sugar Snap Peas Brandied Peach Basil Coulis

Desserts

Mile High Banana Cream Pie
Fresh Bananas, Pastry Cream, Whipped Cream and Chocolate Curls Chocolate and Caramel Sauces

Apricot Cobbler Tartlet
Coachella Valley Date Ice Cream and Almond Tuile

Enjoy yourself at Palm Springs Restaurant Week.  If you should find yourself enjoying any amazing eats not mentioned here, drop a comment below.