Jillians

We found this place looking for a happy hour to take out friend too that was coming into town. From…read morethe menu, it looked and sounded great. Wine bar doesn't open till 5 which was when happy hour started. For the first hour, they had wine, well drinks and draft beer. A few small plates also offered. It's a wine and tapas bar. It's along El Paseo before you hit the main shopping area, depending on which way you come. Entrance has a nice wall created by ficus trees and mister spraying to keep you cool. There's a decent patio with a good amount of seating. Inside is where the party is. The place is set with two seating area. Right when you walk in is the bar. A good amount of hi top seating and tables. Hi top seating that are along the window were actually very uncomfortable. Padded seats were so narrow that seating was so uncomfortable but oh well. There's the other room seating area which houses all the wine on shelves. I believe it's also a wine store but that sectioned was closed for a private event. We just wanted a drink before dinner so no food was had. From the looks of the dishes that were coming out, they looked really nice. Tapas style dishes made for sharing. With happy hour, there was a couple dishes that was included. Also they offered a deal with a charcuterie board and a bottle included. We just went with a glass of their house red and white. And an order of spicy margaritas. It's a full bar so that was nice. Margaritas were great and house wine was decent. The service was great with the bartender who was a doll and very sweet. Made drinks and still had time to come check out on people. It was still early but it did pick up for happy hour which is from 5-6 right when they open. The place was quite nice and well decorated. Beautiful wine bar that's great for mingling with friends over food drinks and tapas. Will definitely be back for some food.

Loved the cocktail but completely forgot what it was called kinda like a cucumber mojito but with…read morevodka. Wine flight was perfect as they have a great variety. We let our bartender pick for us and she did great. They also have a premium wine flight available. The Mushroom Truffle Flatbread was definitely the start of the show. Very surprised at how delicious it was! We thought it was a pizza based in the previous photos but was perfect for the two of us.

"Wall of Wines" and people having a great time!

Truffle flatbread

See all

Good selection of wines.

The Wine And Cheese Shop On El Paseo

Wandering down El Paseo before brunch and we stumbled across the Wine and Cheese Shop. So delighted…read morethat we did! They welcomed us in for coffee even though there were not quite open, and took time to show us around their store which is so charming! The coffee was so good and actually very carefully crafted to our liking. Given the attention to detail we received that morning, we will certainly be back for date nights! If you haven't been by and are looking for something unique, I highly recommend you check it out!

Stopped in for a late afternoon nibble along with a glass of wine and felt the energy and happiness…read moreof the place as soon as I was in the door. The staff were laughing with each other as they were working and you could tell they like their job. I received a warm welcome and was presented with three different menus for all they have to offer. My server Jennifer was great to talk with about the wines, the owners, and the food. I enjoyed trying different cheeses along with a delicious Albariño wine. They had some fairly steady stream of customers, some were regulars and some were first-timers like me. Next time I will try one of the salads which I saw and it looked amazing. I have a feeling they will need to be expanding if the word gets out on how wonderful everything is. I added it to my list of stops whenever I am at my vacation place in Indian Wells. You should check them out!!

Gourmet cheese and meat case.

Charcuterie Boards

See all

Ham, Gruyère, Grilled Onion and Crème Fraiche Pinsa

Enoteca Bar and Wine Club

4.4(53 reviews)

0.5 mi

It's a lively bar and there are no reservations. The seating is on high-top chairs. I don't…read morenormally like sitting on those because my legs get their circulation cut off because my feet don't reach the rung bar. But my feet did reach and they were comfortable. Wonderful choices in the Happy Hour menu. We had a salad which was huge. I had a filet mignon which was delicious and cooked perfectly. The customer service was excellent.

We very much enjoyed this bar/restaurant. First of all this area of Palm Desert was so lively and…read morehad a great vibe. We got seated once our entire party of 4 arrived. They had a chalkboard wait list that we could list our name on. We got seated right away and had immediate and attentive service. Happy hour starts at 4 for the whole night. I did not think it was necessarily happy hour prices though. For example, a good glass of red was $10. Our entire bill for a meals for a party 4 with a bottle of wine and other cocktails came to $210 total. The portions were pretty small so it's easy to be part of the clean plate club. We loved the Ravioli Neru and the spaghetti bolognese. We definitely would go back.

Veal scallopini

See all

Spaghetti bolognese

SOTToVOCE CAFE

4.2(102 reviews)

0.6 mi

Stopped in for the first time and will definitely be back the next time we're in town…read more The vanilla latte was excellent--smooth, flavorful, and expertly made. We couldn't resist trying a couple of desserts, and both were fantastic. The lemon meringue tart struck the perfect balance of sweet and tart, while the espresso mousse was rich, creamy, and packed with coffee flavor. The café has a welcoming atmosphere, and everything we tried was top-notch. Looking forward to our next visit. I should mention that it is also a wine bar Pictures not posting will update when they upload

We ordered the pecan dessert and delicious latte that had nuttela. This place is awesome, because…read morewe received the white glove treatment. I was sitting waiting for my drink and the dessert, and did not expect the owner to walk over to me to bring my drink and pecan dessert. Owner is very friendly and she always had a smile on her face. If I ever visit this shopping area again, I will be sure to stop by.

Sottovoce Cafe Palm Desert

Freshly baked Italian focaccia!

See all

Maro tending the espresso bar

The Blushing Peony

4.4(59 reviews)

0.7 mi

As I was trying this place for the first time I was overwhelming overcome with sensory emotion. The…read morefood the chef creates is a culinary art experience. Highly.... highly recommend. This isn't taught or learned. It's in her DNA making the future and our beautiful valley a better place. On top of that the owner/chef had personally taken a lot of time (after hours) to address some odd service we had at a diff location (which also exemplifies outstanding culinary design). If you haven't tried BP you should. For reasons above the million star cuisine. I've eaten all over the world and the crab cakes just took it to a different level. The huevos at Chula were my first favorite. Thank you for doing what you do Katherine. I hope to nominate you someday for a huge award so you don't have to stress/manage your restaurants alone to focus on what you love. Staff and logistics are unpredictable for us too as small /large biz owners. It's a new world! Just know you touched my soul for various reasons with yours at a time when we needed it. All the spices. All the details are perfection and new light of discovery with each plate. THANK YOU for being you and bringing positivity and reflection to the world one dish at a time. Several of your biggest fans, L & S Jones, LQ

4 stars for the decor, it has a cute & charming feel. 2 stars for the service. It was the wife and…read moreI's first time eating here, we've seen the sign for months and decided to give it a try this afternoon. We got there exactly an hour before closing and planned to just get some sandwiches. We weren't greeted when we walked in, there was only one other table of diners. But it's the off-season so we weren't really too concerned, we weren't directed to any seats so we just picked a table. The lady behind the counter came over with full menus, and we were excited to peruse, however she then said they are only serving salads for the day because they are closing in 30 minutes. We didn't think sandwiches would really be a problem to make, but I guess they weren't really concerned about getting as much business as they could for the day. It felt rushed and unwelcoming like we were bothering her by coming in an hour before closing. It's unfortunate because the place has an otherwise cozy feel. I'm not sure if we will make the effort to come back because it was inconvenient to drive over, park in the heat and then have to leave because they were closing early and weren't offering 90% of the menu. Hope this place survives because it is charming, but the service seems strange, I would think any business would want to make good money, especially when it's already slow in the off-season. Oh well.

Blushing Peony

Golden milk with orange dates!

See all

Mimosas with Fresh Pomegranate

The Front Porch

4.7(356 reviews)

12.3 mi

SHORT ANSWER: Yes in many ways…read more LOCATION: on the corner next to FARM, so a fall back if you do not have FARM reservations and hate disappointment of being turned away. FACILITY: Small, limited seating indoors with very nice, fun, outdoor seating areas. Love this place. MENU: Simple, easy to understand, great photos online if you have any questions. FOOD PREP: Very well done, like professional in just how it looks. FOOD QUALITY: Professional in how it also tastes... Watermelon Gazpacho was perfect with drinks prior to main. LIBATIONS: drinks and bartender were excellent, fun, and the photo print was very cool. WAITSTAFF: just so nice, and fun making the experience all that much better. We have been enjoying The Plaza Theater so spending a little more time in Palm Springs and this will be one of our favorites places to relax prior to an event. OVERALL VALUE: Good, but it is Palm Springs, outdoors, great locations, classy.. no, not inexpensive but well worth it. TIP: I'd say be nice, be patient, and you will get a table. Don't be an angry rude touron, we don't need that vibe and we see some of that in PS.. You can try for reservations, not sure if they take off season.

Had lunch at The Front Porch in Palm Springs. We had the Italian sandwich, ahi tacos, and the…read moremelted Brie with nuts on top served with fig jam and pears. Food was really good - the Brie with fig jam and pears was delicious and the ahi tacos were fresh and flavorful. Italian sandwich was solid too. Giving 4 stars because service wasn't top notch. Overall great spot downtown at 117 La Plaza, would come back for the food and cocktails.

Indoor sitting area.

Banana Brûlée

See all

Italian on gluten free bread, very yummy !

Kitchen 86

4.0(945 reviews)

1.0 mi

Live music (Thu-Sun with dual piano). Not sure if there's live music on other nights…read more Went there alone as w female solo vacationer. LOVE Palm Desert--first stay here. Stayed at the Mojave Resort (wonderful spot with amazing beds) and they recommended this restaurant. The musicians are excellent. EXCELLENT. Food was okay. I got the shrimp appetizer and a pasta chicken dish.

We probably come into Kitchen 86 about 3 times per month. I enjoy their brunch items haven't had a…read morebad experience yet. We also go often during happy hour can't go wrong with their fungi pizza especially at $10 as as well as the boom boom shrimp although I believe that's a slightly smaller portion still well worthwhile. We have a couple of salads that are fantastic, and my son enjoys a few of their pasta dishes. I think the only thing that we haven't tried yet are the steaks although I did try the pork chop once it was phenomenal. Cocktails are reasonable. We've had a few that were better than others. This is one area of opportunity for consistency. Mostly though we like that we can go at any time and they always have multiple items that we enjoy whereas most of our other places we get the same thing 80% of the visit

Bar area

Boom Boom Benny

See all

Red Bull mock tale

Porta Via

4.2(565 reviews)

1.1 mi

We had a great time celebrating my birthday here! The restaurant was packed on a Friday night in…read moreAugust, so it was definitely loud and busy, but the service was excellent and the atmosphere was fun. We started with the Burrata with Heirloom Tomato and Beef Carpaccio, both of which were delicious. We also had the Lobster Roll, Zucchini Noodles with Shrimp, and the Grilled Skirt Steak with truffle shoestring potatoes -- the skirt steak was especially good! We also tried a sushi tuna roll, which was another great addition to the table. The drinks were fantastic, and everything came out tasting fresh and well prepared. To top it all off, they brought out a nice little lemon cake for my birthday, which was a really nice touch. Overall, even though it was crowded and loud, we had a great experience. Great service, amazing food and drinks, and a fun Friday night atmosphere. Definitely a good spot for a celebration!

this restaurant is very cute! came in expecting to be served a brunch menu not dinner menu, but i…read morewas blown away with how good the rigatoni bolognese was! the tomatoes tasted fresh and it was all the right flavors! of course i ordered an espresso martini to pair with it!

The dining room

Mussels

See all

Booth seating

Ash & Vine

4.8(90 reviews)

12.3 mi

Ash & Vine has such an intimate, welcoming atmosphere. We came without a reservation, and the staff…read morekindly found us a table. The service was friendly throughout--even the cooks said goodbye as we left, which was such a sweet touch. We ordered the Young Herb Salad, Butterflied Branzino, Ribeye Aguachile, and finished with the chocolate-espresso Panna Cotta. I especially appreciated that the branzino didn't have a single bone, making it so easy to enjoy. The ribeye was generously portioned and beautifully presented. A lovely spot for a relaxed dinner or an intimate date night. There's free street parking nearby if you're lucky enough to find a space!

My husband booked our table at Ash & Vine before our showtime at the Plaza Theater. It was the best…read moredining experience of my life!! Raised in So Cal, we are foodies from San Diego and everything about this place is really special. From the intimate ambience, attentive service, custom cocktails and unbelievably delicious hand made Raviolone, Grilled Cheese Dumplings, Mango Lassi Crudo and Tres Leches. Nothing was rushed. Every course was it's own special experience. We were treated like it was our birthday or anniversary, but as it turns out we were lucky enough to show up on their one year anniversary. Never have I been to such a new restaurant that not only had all the kinks worked out, but provided superior service with such a delicious gourmet menu.

This space has so much ambience, romance and deliciousness. Great experience

Short Rib Benny

See all

Raviolone Pasta

Desert Wine Shop on 111

4.8(72 reviews)

4.3 mi

Love this place! Katie and Dana are great and always hit the mark with their suggestions. I usually…read moregrab a bottle (or 2) when in town and they have an incredible selection.

A nice mid-sized wine shop if you're looking for a decent, curated selection of wine not typically…read morefound in the big-box stores. I spent 15 minutes perusing the U.S. reds section, departing with a Napa Cab, a Bordeaux-blend, and a Petite Sirah (the touted red blend missed the mark, imo, but the other two were great). I have a "market basket" of commonly available wines that I use to assess pricing, and my quick assessment is that the prices are reasonable here. If I ever get back to the area I will stop by to sip some wine at the counter (or outside if it's nice!) with the proprietor.

Chilled wines and beers

See all

Natural Wines

Why does Yelp recommend reviews?

Hundreds of millions of reviews are posted on Yelp, and our automated recommendation software works in the background to showcase the reviews that it …

9 reviews that are not currently recommended

The reviews below are not factored into the business's overall star rating.

Oxana B.

5 months ago

Came here with high expectations given the location on El Paseo, but the experience was honestly disappointing from start to finish. The biggest issue was the service. Our waiter was inattentive and, worse, condescending. It genuinely felt like we were inconveniencing him just by being there, like we showed up uninvited to his personal dining room. I get that this kind of attitude might be part of the "charm" in Paris, but this is Palm Desert, not a Left Bank café. The confusion was... noticeable. When we asked for a wine recommendation, we got nothing helpful. When we requested a specific wine to taste, his reaction made it seem like we had personally offended him. For a place that positions itself as upscale, that kind of attitude is just not acceptable. The restaurant itself feels outdated and uninspiring. There are plenty of other places on El Paseo that feel more current, more welcoming, and actually worth your time. As for the food, it didn't redeem anything. Several dishes were overly salty and definitely not worth the price or the hype. Overall, this place feels overrated. Between the poor service, lackluster atmosphere, and disappointing food, there's really no reason to come back. read more

Mackenzie S.

266

5 years ago

Delicious dinner, gorgeous setting, and the staff is always willing to go the extra mile. We finished our meal with a profiterole, which took me right back to Italy. The Front Garden is such a beautiful setting for a date with your sweetheart or your closest friends, and you can enjoy live piano music on the weekends. Everyone who leaves here leaves with a smile on their face, which just goes to show why Jillian's has been in business since 1994 read more

Ann F.

15 years ago

Went there last night with my Boyfriend.... The Food was Delicious!!! What I loved is that the Chef brought out out plates himself, Loved that! The Spinach Salad was crisp and fresh and The Scallops were to Die for. Rack of Lamb is what by Boyfriend hand and it was cooked to perfection! We finished off with the best Pineapple Coconut Cheesecake I have ever Had! I would recommend this place to everyone! read more

Leslie S.

14 years ago

we first met jay and june at dolly cunard's. at that time jay was the head chef and soon after opened jillian's. we have had many dinners there and all have been excellent. i do not believe there is a better place to eat on the entire west coast. this is my wife and i's favorite dining place. june and jay we look forward to seeing you on sat/ march 2nd. your texas connection. les smith read more

shannon r.

16 years ago

Great food and the service is good but not great. We've eaten here a few times and we've never been dissapointed by the food but the service has been hit or miss depending on how busy they were. I love the ceaser salad here and my husband loves the short ribs. We'll be back:) read more

Efrain T.

11 years ago

This is a great choice for a fancy dinner in the Palm Springs area. Service was superb and the food outstanding. Will definitely come back... read more

Pamela H.

8 years ago

My favorite. Especially when I want a romantic dinner. We have been going for for 23 years and always have a great time.

Allison V.

292

7 years ago

Been coming here for 22 years now. The food is amazing. I've not had anything here that I didn't love.

Rosie S.

11 years ago

Very good place, loved the food and the service was great. I would highly recommend this place.

Jillians - wine_bars - Updated September 2026

Browse Nearby

BEST of Palm Desert, California Restaurants near Jillians

BEST of Palm Desert, California Coffee near Jillians

BEST of Palm Desert, California Parking near Jillians

BEST of Palm Desert, California Things to Do near Jillians

BEST of Palm Desert, California Desserts near Jillians

BEST of Palm Desert, California Dinner near Jillians

BEST of Palm Desert, California Pizza near Jillians

BEST of Palm Desert, California Steakhouses near Jillians

BEST of Palm Desert, California Shopping near Jillians

BEST of Palm Desert, California Paintball near Jillians

Best of Palm Desert

Things to do in Palm Desert

Browse Brands

Brands by name

Browse Articles

Articles by date

People who viewed Jillians also viewed

Enzo's Bistro and Bar Rancho Mirage

3.9

(331 reviews)

Great service during Happy Hour! Meatballs & shrimp scampi,…read moreadded pasta, fantastic! We also started with a Caesar salad which was perfectly seasoned. Anchovies were small, with great flavor! We will be back soon!

It is one of our favorites. The restaurant is very clean and well decorated. The staff are nice and…read morefast with orders. We really like the lasagna, oysters and crème brûlée. The lasagna is moist and flavorful. The oysters and sauce are always fresh. There is always a waitlist so plan in advance :)

Enoteca Bar and Wine Club

4.4

(53 reviews)

The Bistro

4.4

(225 reviews)

If you haven't eaten sushi at The Bistro Restaurant, you don't know what you're missing. A dear…read morefriend of ours that is a private chef recommended the sushi there as the best sushi in the valley. He isn't wrong. Everything we ordered was so fresh and delicious! Our waiter, Justin, was so attentive and so nice! Everyone that works there is really great! We mentioned that we were celebrating our 24th anniversary and we were surprised to get a piece of chocolate cake as a surprise. AND, we were given an anniversary card signed by all of the staff there. Amazing! Thank you to all of the wonderful staff and especially Justin for loving the "dad" jokes hoisted upon him. We will be back soon! Carolyn and Rand

The Bistro at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino in Indio is a great spot to dine after a day at the…read morecasino. The restaurant provides a lovely, classy ambiance that is ideal for a date night, family dinner, or special occasion. They serve a wide variety of foods, including steaks, seafood, sushi, appetizers, and desserts. The presentation is stunning, and the overall eating experience feels more sophisticated than your normal casino restaurant. I particularly appreciate the atmosphere here--you can dine indoors or on the outdoor patio, which is encircled by palm trees and a courtyard. It's a fantastic spot to relax, eat a decent dinner, and get away from the hustle and bustle of Fantasy Springs Casino.

Mélange

3.7

(343 reviews)

We just came for drinks and an appetizer for Mothers Day. We shared the Mezza platter which was…read morehummus and pita and some other bites. It was good and had a good selection. The view was gorgeous. Highly recommend for a date or casual drinks. Only reason for not 5 stars was because we came at 1 pm and they didn't allow us to order the charcuterie. Understood that it's part of the dinner menu but it's literally just cheese lol

Beautiful location & decor, especially golden hour on the patio overlooking the lake. Good size…read morepour for the wine, and they have a good happy hour. Charcuterie board was meh, had one old cheese. Will go back to try more food. Need more staffing !!

Le Paon Contemporary French Cuisine

3.3

(212 reviews)

•$$$$

Service - Excellent Ambiance - Good…read moreFood - Caesar salad was remarkable; chocolate soufflé excellent. Main course (Dover sole) good. Always fun to try new places in the area.

Very disappointed! As much as the restaurant was a…read moregorgeous setting that attracted us the food was mediocre The French onion soup was bland and the salad was wilted. The artichoke scampi dish had to much liquid at the bottom of the dish I thought it was another soup dish with a spoon full of mashed potatoes only in the middle under the sauce. The wine list was very expensive and noticed there were no chicken dishes on the menu just focusing on veal and red meat dishes. When we got the bill we split it in half only to see they charged us the total bill on both cards Total scam! I noticed on other reviews we were not the only one that this happened to! Be aware!

Escena Lounge & Grill

3.1

(571 reviews)

Ambiance is perfect! Lots of greenery and the outdoor seating is very relaxing…read more Service is excellent. The food prices are all reasonable and affordable. For steak and eggs it's only $22. The steak is pretty big and the portions are big.

Came at the recommendation of a local who has eaten here many times before. He did not steer us…read morewrong! Located on a patio of a golf course, you could come just for the ambiance and the scenery even if the food disappointed and you still would be doing well. But the food did not disappoint. I ordered the bacon, avocado, and tomato omelet with a side of fruit and a plain bagel ($20 with a $2 upcharge for the bagel). The omelet was delish, the fruit fresh, and the bagel was just a plain bagel (next time I go with the rye bread). Good service and very good food with an outstanding view!

Italica

4.2

(173 reviews)

Super cute inside loved the vibe of the restaurant. Went in a group with reservations. The food had…read moregood flavor drinks were super cute as well. We had a great time our server was great she gave us some Jell-O shots.

Fantastic atmosphere walking in and loved our hostess. She actually stopped by a few times just to…read morechat and make sure we were being well taken care of. Drinks were good. I had the Italica Martini, which had both olives and a lemon twist which I wouldn't have thought I would have liked, but I really did. It's pricey but that is to be expected. Unfortunately, some of the dishes fell flat with our group. One asked our server if the lemon pasta was extremely lemony and she had said no, which just wasn't the case. (I tasted as well just to confirm) I enjoyed my dish which was the ravioli, maybe a little less stuffed than i prefer, but sauce was tasty and the amount served was perfect for me, who tends to eat on the lighter side these days. Others complained about the Bucatini from their dishes that the pasta was a bit mushy. So I think I was the happiest with my food. I'd go back if it was closer just for the vibe, but that being said, it's a little of a trek from Palm Springs and we have a lot of great local spots I will probably go to that are in that price range.

La Quinta Cliffhouse

4.0

(1.7k reviews)

There are a lot of reasons to eat at La Quinta Cliffhouse but in my most New Yawk accent ever you…read moreneed to know that their lobstah is from Maine. A lot of places in this desert serving lobster a lot of it from South Africa (and other place) and perhaps I'm biased but *taps heels* "there's no place like home!" The best lobster is hands down always gonna be the east coast. Sorry not sorry, rules is rules. In addition to great lobster they have Stuffed Zucchini Blossoms and if you grew up in or around Italian American culture, this dish is special. It gave warm fuzzies and memories of making these in childhood. They're light, crispy, salty and stuffed with delicious ricotta...a true gem of thia desert you won't want to miss. They were busy and service was still great. We sat outside to enjoy the beautiful cliffside view. The cocktail menu was fun and unique! And our kind server accommodated the birthday in our party with this huge ice cream tiered cake. If you plan on having another birthday, here is where you're going to want to celebrate! Thanks, @laquintacliffhouse for hosting us and making a special evening some how even more special.

We have been dining at this restaurant for over 16 years, and the food is consistently delicious…read moreand the servers are usually very friendly and accommodating. During our most recent visit, we enjoyed the seasonal Peach Blossom Cosmo cocktails, as well as the crispy calamari and Caesar salad. For our main courses, we ordered the braised short ribs and the pan-seared sea bass. Unfortunately, the sea bass did not taste fresh. We alerted our server, who promptly took it back to the kitchen, and we ordered a second braised short ribs instead, which was perfect. While this was a rare issue, we wanted to share our feedback. We look forward to returning soon, just as we have for all these years.

Vicky's of Santa Fe

3.4

(465 reviews)