Los Angeles & Southern California - Andrea Schulte-Peevers [298]
Budget
Tyler’s Burgers (Map; 760-325-2990; 149 S Indian Canyon Dr; dishes $4-7; 11am-4pm Mon-Sat, closed mid-Jul–Aug & some Mondays in warmer months) The city’s favorite burger stand has a magazine rack stocked with the Robb Report and financial magazines. It’s at La Plaza, a sort of drive-thru shopping street in the town center. Expect a wait.
Aspen Mills (Map; 760-323-3123; 555 S Sunrise Way; sandwiches $5-7; 7am-6:30pm Mon-Sat; ) Although this bakery (located next to Blockbuster Video) makes some of the best to-go sandwiches in town, you can also eat them here. Great homemade bread, muffins and brownies.
Thai Smile (Map; 760-320-5503; 651 N Palm Canyon Dr; mains lunch $6, dinner $6-14; lunch & dinner; ) Respected, casual eatery serving standards (pad Thai) and unusual dishes (grilled eggplant salad). There is a second branch at Palm Desert ( 760-341-6565; 42-467 Bob Hope Dr).
El Mirasol (Map; 760-323-0721; 140 E Palm Canyon Dr; mains $7-19; 11am-10pm) There are showier Mexican places in town, but everyone ends up back at El Marisol, with its informal decor, copious margaritas and snappy dishes from tacos to chicken mole. Indoor and outdoor seating available.
Native Foods (Map; 760-416-0070; 1775 E Palm Canyon Dr; mains $8-15; 11:30am-9:30pm Mon-Sat, closed Jul–mid-Aug; ) Vegan food so good it’s seitan-ic (...seitan being a wheat-gluten-based dish). Soy and wheat proteins stand in for beef and chicken in tacos, burgers and bowls. It’s tucked away in a rather pleasant outdoor mall, with giant masks on the wall.
Cactusberry (Map; 760-325-3228; 116 La Plaza; yogurt from $3; noon-8pm Sun-Wed, noon-10pm Thu-Sat) Palm Springs’ contribution to SoCal’s frozen- yogurt craze serves it with biodegradable bowls and spoons.
Jensen’s Finest Foods (Map; 760-325-8282; 102 S Sunrise Way; sandwiches about $7; 7am-9pm) Local supermarket with fabulous specialty sandwiches for that desert hike, and homemade baked goods like Mexican wedding cookies and apple fritters.
Midrange
Look (Map; 760-778-3520; 139 E Andreas Rd; mains $8-23; lunch & dinner) There’s a simple dining room with old Hollywood publicity stills but the real action is on the patio. Standard Cal-bistro cuisine (satay, quesadillas, Cobb salad, sandwiches and burgers) and larger mains go well with martinis. Has frequent drink specials and a substantial gay following.
Blue Coyote Grill (Map; 760-327-1196; 445 N Palm Canyon Dr; mains $9-25; lunch & dinner; ) The courtyard tables are the most coveted at this lively cantina serving Mexican and Southwestern standards plus options like pollo naranja (chicken with OJ and orange liqueur) or red snapper in cilantro sauce. The Wild Coyote margarita is legendary.
Wang’s (Map; 760-325-9264; 424 S Indian Canyon Dr; mains $10-15; 5-9:30pm Sun-Thu, 5-10:30pm Fri & Sat, closed three weeks in Aug; ) The menu may sound like standard-issue upscale Chinese, but the atmosphere is anything but. This swank, mood-lit outpost, with indoor koi pond and giant cocktails, is the darling of the in-crowd. Come early or make reservations. Kiss, kiss.
Fisherman’s Market & Grill (Map; 760-327-1766; 235 S Indian Canyon Dr; mains $13-24; lunch & dinner; ) From shrimp to cod to sea bass – the ocean fare at this counter-service shack is so fresh, you half-expect to feel waves lapping at your ankles. The fish-and-chips is a classic, as are combos with coleslaw and fries or rice.
Top End
Spencer’s (Map; 760-327-3446; 701 W Baristo Rd; mains lunch $8-20, dinner $18-39; breakfast, lunch & dinner; ) Dramatically built into the mountainside and with big-city clean lines and sophistication (look for the piano player), Spencer’s serves swanky cuisine like breakfast cocktails, lobster club sandwich, excellent burgers and steaks, and chicken with tarragon reduction.
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THAT ONE, I NEVER GO TO!
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