I went here with friends! Good Skinny Margaritas, yummy guacamole choice of smooth or chunky. I had a delicious crunchy chicken taco. Our server was great and the overall vibe is great old school Mexican. Live music outside which was nice. We really enjoyed our dinner here. read more

Casuelas Café - 1 Taco meal - Mexican Near Me - Palm Desert, California

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I am writing to bring attention to an extremely disappointing and humiliating experience at Las Casuelas in Palm Desert on Cinco de Mayo. My daughter and I stood at the entrance for several minutes without being greeted. During that time, the manager was visibly overwhelmed and speaking harshly to the young hostesses, who appeared uncomfortable and trying to maintain composure. Despite this, no one acknowledged us until I offered a friendly "Happy Cinco de Mayo," at which point a hostess kindly stepped in to seat us. Unfortunately, the situation escalated. Twice, as we were being seated, the manager abruptly intervened -- placing reserved signs down and yelling at the hostess, myself and daughter we could not sit there. His tone was harsh, dismissive, and unnecessarily confrontational. This happened two times at two different tables that we were escorted to by the hostess and in front of my young daughter. Needless to say it was both uncomfortable and humiliating. I have never experienced a restaurant manager behave with this level of disrespect toward a guest, especially a woman with her child. I felt embarrassed and heartbroken that my daughter had to witness this. When I calmly approached him to understand the situation, he responded by stating they had "400 reservations," followed by dismissive and aggressive body language that made it clear we were not welcome. The interaction ended with us leaving and both tears. My daughter said "I'm scared mommy, why was that man so mean". A guest from the restaurant who was dinning and witnessed the incident came out just to see if we were ok. Equally concerning was how he treated his own staff, especially female staff setting a negative and unprofessional tone throughout the front of house. As someone from a fourth-generation family in the restaurant industry, I find this especially disheartening. I would be deeply concerned if any manager in our organization treated a guest or employees this way. I understand holidays are demanding, but being busy does not excuse a lack of basic respect and professionalism. I am sharing this in hopes that upper management addresses this directly. No woman / person and her child should have to experience this kind of treatment. read more

The people that work here are awesome! Super nice and honestly do their best to make sure you're taken care of. We've never needed reservation and (so far) have always been seated right away. The food is decent to very good. Depending on what you get and your tastes. I didn't care for the shredded beef, but my friends enjoyed the ground beef. Drinks are a highlight. They have a variety of bands, so you're bound to get some you don't like. For us, it just so happened the band was to our taste our last two visits, so we left not enjoying the music. They list who's playing on their website so you can do a little research beforehand. read more

Out of all the restaurants we tried during our weekend in Palm Desert...including several Restaurant Week spots this was hands down the best meal we had! The food was absolutely incredible: authentic Mexican cuisine made with care and packed with flavor. The live music created a wonderful atmosphere, and the overall ambience made for a memorable dining experience. I ordered the cheese enchiladas with rice and beans, and my husband had the chile verde plate with rice and beans. We also enjoyed a house margarita, which paired perfectly with the meal. The portions were generous, the prices were very reasonable, and every bite was delicious. From the food to the service to the atmosphere, everything exceeded our expectations. We're already looking forward to our next visit and highly recommend this restaurant to anyone looking for authentic Mexican food in Palm Desert! read more

Casuelas Café - Outdoor patio with live music - Mexican Near Me - Palm Desert, California

This is are goldmine in Palm Desert!! Sunday is the best day because its mariachi's Music is the best ! The service is excellent Jose was the best funny waiter ever !! The food is excellent and so many great dishes to pick from !! The drinks are fabulous and it was just a great time Hurry get down there and enjoy a memorable time !! read more

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Great food! Great margs! Great chips & salsa! Our server was so friendly & attentive...will be back next time we're in town.

YELP SHORT ANSWER: Yes, really worth a visit anytime, but great off season as it is just not as crowded. LOCATION: Right on the 111, easy to find parking in the front or rear. FACILITY: very nice traditional look, not fancy but a giant misted outdoor space is a great option. Music on weekends. MENU: What you'd expect, great options. FOOD PREP: Excellent, always great to look at and better to eat. FOOD QUALITY: To me the best sit down Mexican food in the valley. Single chicken taco combo haunts me, yes it is that good. LIBATIONS: yes, there is a lot of fun to be had here, Uber it! WAITSTAFF: Consistent staff all working together and providing great service, always. OVERALL VALUE: Pretty good, what you should expect to pay for good food near El Paseo. TIP: Get there early off season and enjoy outdoors on days that are tolerable, of which are many. Eating in the back section of the bars is also very nice. read more

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Fun location, big outdoor area, good bands/music but very sub-par food. No Margherita pitchers even though we had a large party and all wanted the same drink, no beer pitchers and food was just so so read more

Food is very good with a varied menu. Love their margaritas. The atmosphere is pleasant but busy. The outdoor patio is great for music. Our server was good but tough. Our group ordered ceviche,margaritas, guacamole, soup, tacos, burritos, carne asada and everyone was happy. The only challenge is we tried to make a reservation for 7 people at 5:00 and were told nothing was available. We went anyway and were seated immediately, there were lots of open tables when we arrived and all during our dinner. read more

Casuelas Cafe used to be my favorite spot when in Palm Desert. I was sad to learn that pets were no longer welcome in their Patio after a few years of being welcomed. I won't shame them on service and food, because they offer a great meal with friendly fast service. It's also a good place to come during the winter for their live music shows. Careful with those Margaritas! read more

Came from out of town and it got good reviews so we wanted to give it a try. The salsa, guacamole and margaritas were sooooo good and so was the service but the food wasn't as good as we expected it to be. I would come back for the happy hour though as they definitely know how to make a drink!! read more

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I was nervous reading the reviews, but we had a gift certificate and made a reservation. We were promptly seated on the patio near but not to close to the band. They were playing classic rock. And the crowd loved it! We were given menus and some margarita recommendations. We ordered drinks and appetizers. The place was packed. Lots of families. They encourage dancing. Couples, grandparents, grandchildren. It was a lovely vibe. We ordered appetizers and dinner and danced a bit till it got there. There was a slight mix up with dinner but it was quickly fixed. Our meal was hit and yummy. We had ceviche and soup . Then Fish and shrimp taco plates. I loved the overall vibe and will be back. read more

The food was fresh and very tasty. I had the chicken suizas enchiladas plate along with a fish taco and a large cadillac margarita. They supplied a basket of tortilla chips and a nice chunky salsa which is not spicy. That Cadillac margarita was STRONG...like I like it!! You won't be disappointed. The service was fast and friendly and it was a fun and festive atmosphere. There was a live band playing a variety of Top 40 music and people were dancing. There was also a bar inside with plenty of seating. The drinks were strong and the food was hot!! The restaurant itself had lots of inside and outdoor seating. I would recommend this place. read more

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I normally don't leave negative reviews, but after what happened with my baby shower, I feel people should be aware if they are considering hosting an event here. Months before the event, we spoke with someone named Ray about hosting a small baby shower. Initially we were told a private room would cost $250. When our guest count grew, Ray suggested moving the party outside and specifically told us that the outdoor space would not cost anything, which sounded perfect. We also discussed food. He suggested what he called a "family deal" that would be around $15 per person, totaling roughly $360 if we went that route. I explained my budget was much smaller (around $500), and he said we could work within that. These details were confirmed multiple times leading up to the event. When we arrived for the shower, the staff told us they had never heard of the family deal we had discussed for months. The food that eventually came out was extremely minimal. It looked like: * A single flour tortilla cut into small quesadilla pieces * A few flautas cut in half * Chips, salsa, and guacamole Every guest was served water. Kids received water cups with straws. I believe only about three sodas were ordered the entire time. The biggest issue came when the bill arrived. The total was $500, which included: * $300 "miscellaneous" charge * $153.72 gratuity When we asked what the $300 miscellaneous charge was for, we were told it was because they had "kept refilling appetizers" and that they "didn't charge for drinks." This was confusing because there was only one round of appetizers, and they were never fully eaten. They would not provide a breakdown of the miscellaneous charge on the receipt. When we asked another staff member, the explanation changed completely. We were then told the $300 was for the outdoor space, even though we had been clearly told months earlier that the outdoor space would be free and that the indoor room was the one that cost money. So the explanation changed multiple times: 1. It was for "extra appetizers." 2. Then it was for the outdoor space. 3. Later we were told the kids had meals included (they did not). Service during the event was also minimal. It was extremely hot that day and we had to track staff down just to get ice for our water. No drink refills were offered. In the end, I paid the $500 because I did not want to cause a scene during my own baby shower. However, after reviewing the menu prices later, even generously calculating the appetizers we received, the total should have been closer to $300 including tip. Unfortunately, this experience felt dishonest. The pricing changed, the explanations changed, and the bill included a large charge that no one could clearly explain. If you are planning a party or event, I strongly recommend getting everything in writing or considering another venue. read more

In route to Indio made a lunch stop here. The ambiance is very festive and the staff are very jovial and accommodating. The food portions are large. The food was fantastic! Loved their margaritas as well. If you are ever in the neighborhood I would most definitely recommend this place. Can't wait to make another trip! read more

One of our favorite Mexican spots! We live in Phoenix and have tried tons of Mexican restaurants but this is the best hands down. The carnitas plate and chicken enchiladas suizas are our go-tos and never let us down! The live bands are always good and fun as well. Give it a try when in Palm Desert area, you won't be disappointed!! read more

Casuelas Café - Carnitas Plate and Chicken Enchiladas Suizas Dinner - Mexican Near Me - Palm Desert, California

GREAT food and excellent service top-notch establishment FOR generation's of food. Excellent live Entertainment is awesome Jose is one of the best employees and is highly appreciated. read more

Casuelas Café - Mexican Near Me - Palm Desert, California

Not dog friendly! Almost empty but a huge patio with toddlers running around and acting like children of course However... we can't bring our completely mellow and well behaved leashed poodle because we don't have her registered as a "service dog" Oh well ....Lots of other restaurants that will read more

I recently hosted a baby shower at Casuelas Cafe and unfortunately it was a very disappointing experience. Initially, we reserved a private room for $250. When the guest count increased, the owner suggested moving the event to the outdoor patio and told us the patio would be free to use. Based on that conversation, we agreed to move the event. From there, things quickly went downhill. The amount of food served was extremely minimal for what we were charged. Appetizers consisted of things like half of a quesadilla cut into thirds, taquitos cut in half, and flautas cut in half spread across several tables. When the bill arrived, it was shockingly high. There were miscellaneous charges that were never explained, a large gratuity already added, and we were even charged for three children who did not eat anything. When we asked for clarification, the response we received was rude and dismissive. At one point we were told that for the price we paid "you couldn't even go to Chucky Cheese," which felt incredibly unprofessional. To make matters worse, the event planner accused me of lying about confirming the event the day before, even though I had spoken with the owner's wife to confirm everything. The confusion over the menu ended up costing us significantly more than expected. The patio itself was also very uncomfortable. It was about 100 degrees outside and there were no misters available, despite being seated outdoors. One particularly concerning moment was when I bit into what I thought was a chicken bone in a flauta, but it turned out to be half of a toothpick. Overall, the customer service surrounding the event was extremely poor. The lack of communication, unexpected charges, minimal food, and rude responses made this a very frustrating experience. I was also embarrassed because I chose this restaurant for the baby shower after it had been recommended to us by a friend. Thankfully the actual baby shower was beautiful. Despite the restaurant experience. read more

Went today for Mother's Day, and let me start by saying the inside hasn't been changed/remodeled probably since they opened, it's very dated and dirty. We ordered our food and within five minutes it came out as if they just had extra waiting in the back. I had fajitas which had zero flavor, I mean if I could give that dish negative stars I would. My husband had the menudo - again, no flavor. The chips and salsa were very bland and didn't taste fresh. All in all I would not go back. Wait staff is very nice and friendly; today the place was very busy so service was slow, but again, smiles on my server and bussers face. But if you're looking for good authentic Mexican food - steer away from this place. Or, go try it for yourself and you'll see - not worth going back to. Two stars for the nice wait staff, zero stars for the food. read more

The ambiance is that of a little bit upgraded average Mexican restaurant. The menu has a wide variety of entrees for everybody. I did not want rice with my meal and they were happy to swap out the rice for wonderful mixed veggies. The carne asada burrito was good but dry on top; no sauce and none was offered. That was weird. Margaritas were wonderful and they made me an excellent skinny "low carb" margarita that the best one I've ever had. Service was fantastic. Attentive, eager to please, solid check ins to make sure everything was good. I would eat here again. Not the best ever, but very good and the live music elevated the experience. I recommend this restaurant. read more

Fun, lively, great music and did somebody say Shrimp and Fish Ceviche?! Perfection! The service is excellent and they know how to move quickly. I did too as a server. So I love to see it. read more

We LOVE this place! Ramon was awesome and Rafa was so thoughtful! Great dinner with a high school friend of mine. Our burritos, tacos and ceviche were fantastic as were the drinks prepared by Franco! Another fun night of friends and dancing! read more

Very expensive for Mexican cuisine. Nothing about this meal that stood out except 58$ for a small chunk steak burrito and a margarita that was part of the celebration of 50 years (20$) sorry it was 5 sips and not that great, average at best. Chain restaurant Not going back read more

We went here for the first time based on a friend's recommendation. Cool atmosphere with a great outdoor patio and live music. We sat inside because it was quite windy. Service was good. Friendly waiter. Chips and salsa were great! The salsa was more like a pico de gallo and had great flavor. We also got the steak fajitas. They were just ok. Not a lot of flavor - kind of basic. The Margs weren't that good either. We got the skinny Jalapeño margarita. It didn't have the best flavor. Overall I can see why people go because of the ambiance, live music, etc. but I wouldn't recommend because of the food! read more

Casuelas Café - Mexican Near Me - Palm Desert, California

Quintessential Palm Springs restaurant for date night, girls night or family dinner! My family made a reservation for 5 pm on a Friday night for 11 people. My grandparents attend regularly, so when we walked through the doors several servers and the manager greeted them with a hug. We were immediately brought to our table outside and chips and salsa arrived quickly. We also ordered the chunky guacamole and it was perfect! My husband and I shared the mixed fajitas (shrimp, steak and chicken) and he ordered a blended strawberry margarita. Everyone in the group enjoyed their drinks and commented that they were STRONG! The fajitas were a large portion, perfect to share. The warmth and hospitality of the staff makes this place totally worth it, but the outdoor music and later live band made it so much fun! People come and go from their tables to join the dance floor. read more

Casuelas Café - Mixed Trio Fajitas - Mexican Near Me - Palm Desert, California

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We love everything at Casuela's Cafe!! The chips and salsa always hits the spot! We usually split a 3 item combo with all items containing carne asada or shredded beef. The flan is a perfect dessert, not overly sweet. read more

Overall, the experience was just okay. The food was decent, but I've definitely had better Mexican food elsewhere. It wasn't bad, just nothing that really stood out. The margaritas were the highlight. I had the Cadillac margarita, and it was very good--definitely the best part of the visit. My wife ordered the blended peach margarita. The flavor was good, but I wouldn't really recommend it; something about the blended version just didn't work as well. The birthday girl ordered a skinny margarita, which honestly just reminded us that if you're going to drink a margarita... you might as well just drink the real thing. The most disappointing part of the night was that we told both the hostess and the server that it was her birthday, and nothing was done at all--no acknowledgment, no dessert, nothing. That was pretty disappointing and took away from what should have been a fun celebration. Overall, the drinks were good, the food was average, but the lack of attention to a simple birthday mention was pretty sad. read more

We had such an amazing experience largely due to our server, Felix. He greeted us with such great energy and was extremely attentive and kind. The food came quickly and we really enjoyed our enchiladas and tamales (and of course their complimentary salsa that we couldn't get enough of). The margaritas were great as well! We could only imagine how great this place must be on a nice sunny day (we were there on a rainy Christmas Eve). And last but not least, the churros! Don't sleep on the churros! SO GOOD! Highly recommend Casuelas Cafe! read more

This was a great authentic restaurant to have some good Mexican food. My husband and I ordered the shrimp quesadilla and shared the 2 cheese enchilada plate. I decided to add a mango margarita. Everything was flavorful and filling. Service was good and our server was so friendly. Ambiance was well lit, lots of decor, snd plenty of seating indoors and outdoor. read more

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Love to get Mexican food here- my go to is the shrimp tacos. Their chips are so crunchy and fresh and guac has great flavor. From ordering to the food arriving at the table service is quick and the waitress was attentive. And they have a variety of great margaritas. They have indoor and outdoor seating. Parking- plenty of parking in the parking lot read more

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We celebrated a baby shower at the Casuelas Cafe in Palm Desert. Thank you! The food was delicious and filling. The waiters assigned to our party were so personable and accommodating.... I will certainly back for margaritas and dinner or lunch. Thank you for making our family get together such a lovely event! Great place to have a large gathering for any occasion! read more

I've been coming here for over 20 years and have watched it turn into a tourist trap. The good: Del Rey Margarita is awesome, maybe the best Cadillac in the valley. Although I love when you get the orange liqueur floater as a side car like at LaCasita in LQ. The Bad- I ordered the shrimp tacos the other night- 23.00 for two small tortillas and soggy shredded lettuce and some very under seasoned shrimp. I had to pour the salsa from the chips all over it to give it some flavor. Rubios fast food down the street can make a much better shrimp taco for waaay less. Prices have gone up, and quality has gone down in my opinion. This saddens me. They don't seem to be catering to loyal locals anymore. Just Air BNBers who will overpay, drink a lot, dance awkwardly in the super loud patio and never return. read more

Visited during a girls weekend. Ramon makes it so hard to want to leave. Great food good times.

I just read a post by a lady who says she left in tears due to the manager's behavior. I can totally tell it's absolutely not true. We are going there for years at least once a week - the manager and staff could not be friendlier - knowing the manager I cant even imagine him yelling unless the restaurant is on fire and he is trying to save everybody! Some people are so entitled that they think they need the red carpet everywhere they go. Ask any person from the staff ... they love to work there - the atmosphere is friendly all around. Food is awesome. Music 7 days a week. I really urge everybody to try. Don't let a sour review from a competitor fool you! Go check for yourself read more

Oh, man...just thinking bout the wonderfully delicious meal I had at Casuelas Café makes my mouth water. Some friends brought us to Casuelas during a short trip to the Palm Springs area, assuring us that it was the best Mexican food around. I was doubtful, of course, but my doubts were instantly allayed as soon as my entree, the Enchiladas Tradicionales plate, was placed in front of me. The way it looked and smelled instantly told me I was in for a treat! I'm not a fan of beans so, instead, I opted for two portions of rice and that was a good call because the rice was very tasty also. As far as service and ambiance -- everything was great. Our server was patient, helpful, and friendly; the vibe was fun and relaxed. Everything appeared clean and well-maintained and there was plenty of parking in the attached lot. The only negative I can think of is that Casuelas is so, so far away from where I live! read more

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Casuelas Cafe, Palm Desert was, for years, our go to Mexican Restaurant. It has gone downhill, food wise. We ate there on 2/1/26. Food was not up to expectations; in fact we had to send a few items back! Enchilada Tradictonales were actually tough, chewy, and looked warmed over - rice was dry and hard. We sent back to kitchen and when, supposedly, a fresh plate was returned it was the original item but covered with melted cheese. Yuck! The Tostada Chicken was not good either, salad was limp and tasteless. They forgot to add the sour cream, and guacamole. Service was almost non existent. (Although our server, Felix B.) was running around trying to take care of multiple tables - he was great!) Enough said - just not good food the last three times we ate there. read more

bad night in the kitchen I guess have been here many times On this evening, nothing good to say chips were bottom of the bag, broken and less than fresh or warm Salsa was essentially red water with small tomato cubes. Would not make a bloody mary not to mention tasteless Green sauce enchiladas were tepid in temperature, and tasteless as well Did not bother to finish, very unusual for me. Bad night in the kitchen read more

Casuelas Cafe is the the Oasis of the Desert when it comes to authentic Mexican restaurants. Located in Palm Desert, this restaurant is tucked away off the One Paseo strip. It has an assuming appearance from the outside. When the doors open, however, the ambiance rivals a traditional Mexican restaurant in Rosarito, Mexico. Casuelas offers authentic interiors, live music, and a fantastic menu. The Shrimp Diabla, Steak Fajitas and Flautas we're the best items on the menu. We will be back! read more

I recently had my office holiday party there. They made it so easy for me... as well all my staff to really enjoy the evening! The service, food and ambience was exceptional! Everyone had a wonderful evening! It was so nice to not have any issues with a larger party. Thank you! Looking forward to future holiday party's there! read more