This café is what people mean when they use the phrase "hidden gem." Sweet Basil is not really…read morehidden, of course. It's right on the main El Paseo shopping street. You might call it "hidden," though, because it is such a small, unassuming kind of place. You might walk right past it, if you're deep in conversation. This is such a pleasant little café, simply decorated, with clever table separations and a happy vibe. It seems a bit like one of those "ladies who lunch" places, although there was a nice mixture of folks, when we stopped in. The owner/chef/servers all have a great energy, provide outstanding service and are happy to discuss recipes, if you are so inclined. (We were). Then, there is the food. Oh my gosh. Delicious. The Tomato Basil Bruschetta was, without doubt, the best one I've ever had. We loved the Chicken Curry and French Dip sandwiches. The wine list was concise, but well selected. Nothing, by the way, was too terribly expensive. In fact, for El Paseo, the prices struck us as a particular bargain. Highly recommended.

Ambiance is so-so. But food and service were outstanding!!! Hoping they reopen in the Fall. There…read more were several items I still wanted to try! And the Bread Pudding was outstanding!

Nice tucked-away spot with both indoor and outdoor seating. We were greeted with a smile, which is…read morealways a great start. The sandwiches were very good, fresh, flavorful, and generously portioned. We'll definitely be adding this place to our rotation and look forward to coming back to try more. Thanks!

The Lunch Spot was frequently recommended by others so I was excited to try it. Staff were…read morefriendly. I ordered two sandwiches. The #14 The House,,and #11 Love the Club. I especially enjoyed the #14 The House. It's a house-made chicken salad with nuts and cranberries and comes with sprouts, tomato, mayo, salt and pepper on Squaw Bread. The cranberries adds a mild sweetness which balances out the mayo and the nuts adds another layer of crunchy texture and flavor which I loved. If I were to be honest, I wasn't too crazy about their bread. On both sandwiches, it was soft which was good, yet at the same time, just a bit stale. While the sandwiches initially seemed loaded, most of the ingredients are right in the middle of the sandwich where they slice it in half, so while it's very visually appealing, there's basically a ring near the crust of the bread that didn't have much toppings. As far as the Love The Club sandwich. I think they are a bit heavy handed with the salt. The sandwich was too salty. At $33 for two sandwiches, it's also a tad bit pricey. Overall good experience and will be back to try more !

The food is absolutely delicious and the servers are super sweet and welcoming, we had Sabrina she…read morewas very friendly! The entire restaurant is a green desert vibe, highly recommend checking this place out .

We had a great early dinner at Porta Via and everything we ordered tasted really good. The linguini…read moreand clams were cooked perfectly with no chewy pieces at all. My youngest loved her spaghetti and meatballs and she is usually pretty picky about pasta. I had the butternut squash ravioli and they were rich, creamy, and exactly what I wanted. My wife ordered the miso glazed seabass and she loved it. I stole her bok choy and that made me very happy. The restaurant is really clean with a laid back contemporary vibe and great music. The AC at our first table was blasting cold air right on us and the staff moved us right away with no issue at all. They were also incredibly kind to my youngest whose birthday we were celebrating. They surprised her with her favorite tiramisu and a candle which completely made her night. Great food, great service, great atmosphere. We will definitely be back.

Had dinner here on a Sunday night, we sat in the bar area at a high top table and listened to the…read morelive music. Our server was great, he was also the bartender. The World Cup games were going on and this was a great small place to watch them in. The food was fantastic! Definitely recommended for locals and travelers.

cool spot upstairs in palm desert. lots of variety on the menu from pastas to meat dishes to…read moreburgers and pizza. basically a great little casual plus place. had the sweet and spicy pizza and that was tasty and generously sized. service was prompt and attentive without being obtrusive. definitely a great lunch and casual dinner spot.

Good food, dine in is a little slow but it tastes fresh. Kids eat free during the week with the app!read more

Every bite was awash with flavor, making me look forward to the next. Super happy with my Santorini…read morebowl that contained fresh ingredients and with perfectly cooked chicken. Even though i left feeling full, I felt energized from this protein packed meal. Its always a good sign when you're warmly greeted upon entering and given menus to review, much better than having to crane your neck to read the large one posted overhead. But great to have both options. My partner enjoyed his gyros which he said reminded him of a spot in LA (papa cristos) that had unfortunately closed last year. This place also offers catering and their to-go orders were nonstop while we ate in. Definitely would recommend anyone looking for a healthy option to go to this spot. And apparently kids eat free and they also provide them crayons and coloring for them which is nice.

This spot that was featured on Diners Drive-Ins and Dives, and it definitely lives up to the…read morereputation. Ordered the New York style hot pastrami on rye with coleslaw and a Dr. Brown's Cream Soda. The pastrami was the highlight. Piled high, tender, and full of that classic deli flavor with just the right amount of richness. The rye bread held everything together well and had a nice bite to it. It's the kind of sandwich you have to take a second to look at before figuring out how to eat it. The coleslaw was fresh and crisp, a good balance to the sandwich, and the cream soda was cold and refreshing. Also ordered a slice of pistachio cake to go. Absolutely delicious. The place has that old school deli feel, busy but in a good way, and full of character. Service was friendly and efficient even with the crowd. Definitely a spot worth stopping at if you're in Palm Desert and want a proper deli sandwich.

We had a negative experience here last year, concerning the difference between British Kippers and…read moreDeli Kippers. Since we were in the area for an hour or so, we gave it another go. Service was excellent. Seated immediately and ordering minutes later. Got extra cream cheese on request and our coffees were diligently refilled. The main attraction was the pastrami sandwich. Totally to my wife's taste, extremely lean and stacked high. She had to take half home. I tried an omelette with corned beef and loved it. The everything bagel was perfectly acceptable, not too "bready." So: service good, pastrami good, and bagel good. Everything good about a deli is covered.

Family owned. Great food, amazing customer service, food was better than I anticipated. A must try…read morewhile in Palm Desert! Quesoibbiria is the best taco I may have ever had. Ambiance is casual, cafe--laid back.

We discovered Primos several years ago after they had just opened, and it has been one of our…read morefavorites in Palm Desert ever since. I normally do breakfast, but this time I got the fish tacos. They were grilled and served with chips and roasted salsa, which is my favorite. Hubby loves their chilaquiles and won't order them anywhere else because he doesn't want to spoil the memory. They serve Diet Coke kept it nice and full. We came at 11 on a Wednesday and were seated right away.

Rebecca, CJ, and Seth took great care of us all night. Arguably the best night at dinner we've ever…read morehad. Food was amazing. Thank you guys!

Absolutely phenomenal from start to finish. The food was fresh, beautifully prepared, and every…read moredish was outstanding, but what truly made the experience unforgettable was the service. Emmanuel was our server, and he was exceptional, warm, knowledgeable, and attentive without ever being intrusive, and genuinely made us feel so welcome. He elevated an already amazing meal into a perfect dining experience. A special thank you as well to Wesley, who I believe was assisting with the tables. He was incredibly friendly, attentive, and always seemed to appear at just the right moment. The teamwork between the staff was seamless. From the atmosphere to the food to the hospitality, everything was perfection. We can't wait to come back!