Loved this place! We loved the music and the place had a great atmosphere. Staff were so kind and attentive. Our bartender was Vinny and he had great recommendations and made the best drinks. The decor was top tier and the drinks were incredible, not to mention the view. Didn't have a chance to try out dinner, but definitely would recommend coming for a cocktail! Cant wait to come back because the menu looked amazing. read more

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Place was strangely dead...many servers standing around and chatting, preparing for dinner...our servers were mostly not interested we were there during happy hour...Wine had small options by the glass, food was blah to horrible/ embarrassing... we left after one glass of wine and went elsewhere...only took the entire nachos home ( ice cold, no heat was ever applied to any of it!) for the dogs.Tried it because of R Blais.... Never again... read more

I'm writing this review because I want to caution anyone who might be considering attending one of Kestrel's special brunches (Mother's Day, Easter, etc.) Six of us (all Indian Wells residents) attended the Easter Brunch this year at Kestrel. They offered three seatings: 10am, 12pm & 2pm. Because of church commitments, we were unable to attend the 10am seating. We booked over a month in advance & the 12pm seating wasn't available. So we reluctantly took the 2pm "seating". First the price: $92 per person which did not include sales tax or a mandatory 22% gratuity fee, nor did it include any beverages other than water. They also did not honor the Indian Wells resident discount, which was not clearly disclosed in the advertisements they sent out or on the Open Table booking site (which is the only place you could actually see the full menu of food). Secondly, at a special buffet such as this when a restaurant markets it as three separate seatings, you expect that each "seating" will have completely new food in the buffet. This was absolutely not the case. Other than the charcuterie board & chilled seafood, everything was leftover from earlier diners. They did not clear out the restaurant and replace the majority of the hot & cold food (other than that mentioned above). Most of it was congealed and barely warm (hot food). The cold food in the main area of the buffet (not the chacuterie/seafood, but the other cold food) was on a table underneath windows that were in the full sun. It was extremely warm that day & the cold food was certainly not at the appropriate temperature. We chose not to eat it. The only food that I actually enjoyed was the omelette station, the prime rib, and the charcuterie. Everything else was subpar. Not even adequate. Finally, the service: it was adequate. The table server was very nice & came around to see if we needed drinks, but honestly, he barely did anything for us. And, since no one was apparently monitoring the buffet & replacing old food, what was the 22% gratuity for? Oh, and the drink prices? These may be their normal prices, and if so, shame on Kestrel. A Bloody Mary (well drink - we did not specify a vodka brand, nor were we asked which brand we wanted) was $26. I have had delicious craft cocktails that cost $20-$30 and are well worth the price. This was not a craft cocktail. It was a plain Bloody Mary with a stick of celery in it. I do not know if the food at the earlier seatings was better, but I definitely do not recommend the 2pm seating, and regardless of which seating you choose, I can't recommend this as good value for what you are paying. Skip it and go somewhere else. We will not be back to Kestrel - and yes, we are residents. read more

I think I had high expectations for this place, given its address and the celebrity chef whose name caught my eye when looking for an ideal birthday celebration venue. Sat outside, nice view of the mountains in the distance. The golf course is under construction and not especially scenic. Food: grilled shrimp was fine as an appetizer. I ordered the Chicken Marsala for my entree, the chicken was as tough as a recent SNL skit and it took me some doing to cut through it. The plate was skittering around the table. The chicken looked more like a schnitzel. The Marsala sauce was okay, not offensive but also not above average. The waiter recommended the Marsala dish over the Moroccan Tagine. The look on his face spoke volumes. My husband ordered the special halibut. He reports the fish was dry and the tomato jam on top did not really add anything to the flavor of the dish. We like eating outdoors when we can...the patio has a lot of potential....with its Moroccan inspired cuisine, you could do a lot with the patio to create a welcoming environment. There was no real nods to decor to speak of, stark overhead lighting. The interior of the restaurant looked much, much nicer and we regretted sitting outside. Sit inside if you can. The wait staff were efficient and attentive, pleasant. They hit all those marks. What was missing was the sense that we had chosen, we thought, an above par birthday celebration special experience and restaurant. In that regard it fell short. I would not go back. read more

Dinner at Kestrel--Richard Blais Kitchen & Lounge in Indian Wells. Beautiful setting with a relaxed vibe and stunning golf course views--perfect for any occasion. The food was delicious and well-prepared. The pan roasted Chilean Sea Bass melts in your mouth; the Steak Fiites was tender at Medium Rare. While the menu is limited, everything we tried was cooked perfectly, flavorful and satisfying. Prices are reasonable, especially for the quality and location. Great value overall. Service was friendly and attentive. Tommy provided excellent table service--professional and welcoming. Highly recommend! read more

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The sea bass was just ok. They have really good fries but the deviled eggs and starter hamachi were just ok. The Caesar salad and fries were the best thing but the main dishes were pretty disappointing. read more

This was quite possibly the worst meal I've had in a long time. Our server was friendly, but we asked for water four different times. We started with the french fries and sauce Trio, which was a handful of french fries on a plate with zero garnish, and zero presentation and three condiments. The french fries could have been from Wendy's. Underwhelming. We had the fish, the Poké bowl, the short ribs, and the chicken piccata. The chicken piccata was by far the worst thing at the table. My husband mentioned it look like a slab of fried chicken and it was cold. My fish was OK but nothing great and again it looked like they've been sitting in the window for a while. read more

Been to this spot twice now since it opened and enjoyed a lunch and dinner. I had the smash burger for lunch and the pork chop for dinner. Both very good. Additionally I tried my wife's heart of Palm Caesar and almost couldn't stop eating it. Fries cook perfect as well. Yukon masked potatoes were also tasty. Good friendly service. They did a good job on the renovation the restaurant looks great. read more

I cannot believe all the four and five star reviews for this major hotel stile dining establishment following our recent visit. Things certainly must have changed. I had recently read reviews on the Prime Rib that they serve only on Friday and Saturday. So approximately three weeks ago, my wife and I made a reservation for Saturday, July 3rd. We arrived at our appointed time and were met by a friendly Hostess and seated right away. As soon as we were seated we were given menus and served water. Our waiter soon arrived and took our drink orders. Our drinks soon arrived and the waiter asked if we were ready to order. As you may already know, the menu is quite limited for such a large ornate restaurant. My wife ordered the Chilean Sea bass and I ordered the Prime Rib. I was then told to my big,very big surprise that they now only serve Prime Rib only on Saturday. Needless to say, I was very disappointed. the waiter apologized and offered as a replacement (filet Oscar) an 8oz filet with lump crab. The Prime Rib was priced at $48.00. The Filet Oscar was priced at $64.00. Are you ready, the restaurant is out of lump crab? The dish even without the lump crab is stir $64.00. I went with the short ribs of beef, a very tasty dish but quite different in preparation. End story, will not return and will not recommend. read more

Somewhat far from PS but we decided to give it a try as it had been featured and maybe just recently revamped? (it is close to all things BNP Paribas Tennis) Thoughtful dishes, friendly and attentive service. Especially liked the beet salad - delicious and refreshing. Cod was great. Prime rib was decent but not awesome. Carrot cake dessert was delicious. We didn't try the Liquid Nitrogen Margarita ($130, serves 4) but we watched it being served tableside from a cart by 2 people with masks and gloves, and it looked amazing. read more

We are huge fans of Richard Blais from going to the Crack Shack in San Diego. His higher end restaurant in the Indian Wells Golf resort is just amazing. This is hands down the best French dip, like in the same breath as Phillipis in DTLA. The espresso Martini made my day, it was perfect! The outdoor seating is wonderful, there is a bit of renovation going on at the course, but it takes nothing away from the ambience, and the amazing vistas. Just an amazing lunch and will be returning for a run at the dinner menus read more

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We have been to Kestrel a few times now and it never disappoints. The service is fantastic and the food is always amazing. The Hearts of Palm Ceaser Salad is a must order. read more

Waited a LOOONG time for cocktails. Poke bowl made person in party with us SICK. Service was spotty and not very unprofessional. Huge disappointment. Place needs a lot of fine tuning to be a success. read more

Have the dark chocolate covered cheesecake. It's worth every single calorie!! And the French dip is the best I have ever had. Love the poke bowl and warm rice. Love this restaurant read more

There was nothing Richard Blais about the brunch. All six in our party thought the food was subpar. The restaurant is nicely decorated. Service was very good, but ultimately it comes down to the food. read more

Great food, great service, and beautiful restaurant! We dined at 7:30pm on Saturday night and the restaurant was maybe at 25% capacity. Where is everyone? Get down here and try this restaurant! What are you waiting for? read more

Kestrel Kitchen - Sweet bar tender gave me a delicious mock tail on the house! She said it would complement what I had ordered and it did! - Salad Near Me - Indian Wells, California

I am a huge fan of Richard Blais fan! And that is why I am so disappointed Service was slow, but the room was lovely. The Hamachi and crab cake was delicious but the plating on the Crab cake was terrible. The sauce could have been in a ramekin instead a blob covering have the plate. Looked like yellow mustard, but tasted ok. The French onion soup was good but no crusty bread. Took forever for the Cesar to get the table but it was good and fresh. The prime rib was good but the baked potato's needed a little more care in the choosing. Not to be a sour puss but this had the potential to be our "walk to" weekly dinner spot and it missed the mark in a big way. read more

Kestrel Kitchen - Crab cake plate - Salad Near Me - Indian Wells, California

Improve Everything. Star Chef my butt!! Richard Blais probably not really involved in menu choices or recipes. I won't go back. This restaurant under any management over the last 15 years has ALWAYS disappointed us. The view is beautiful, so how about making some great food now?! read more

This restaurant is a hidden gem. The atmosphere and view are beautiful. It's under new management and the service and food are wonderful. Looking forward to live music and events that are upcoming. read more

I invited some friends to join us for the $90 per person Easter brunch. I was so excited as were huge Top Chef fans and when I saw it was Blaise's restaurant, it was a definite yes. Well, unfortunately it was very disappointing. For the price we expected some items that would be out of the ordinary or custom made, etc. Most items had been sitting around for quite some time and tasted stale. Couldnt even cut into the English muffin on the eggs Benedict. They had a salad bar which was decent, a waffle station which was stale French toast and cold waffles (not custom made), shrimp that was orange (not sure what that was about), a crab cocktail that was so bad I couldn't eat it, deviled eggs that were crusty on top as they'd been sitting there so long, etc etc. Nothing out of the ordinary at all. The deserts were a 5 out of 10. All in all very disappointing for $350 per couple (including drinks). The bar looked like a nice place to sit so we may go back and order a burger or something but this didn't have one quality that made it seem like it was a Top Chef owned restaurant. I was alittle embarrassed that we invited friends to come with us and had such a poor meal. read more

The food and service was very disappointing and overpriced. I would not recommend it and I would not go back.

Thanksgiving Buffet. A nice space with an incredibly competent and friendly staff. Food selections were assorted and good. The "maybe" is based on a turkey themed buffet which ended up costing over $260 for 2 including a charged 20% tip when the server basically only served drinks. An example of charges having nothing to do with cost but what they can get away with. read more

Can't find anything wrong. It has delicious food, wonderful service & atmosphere Never been disappointed.

New restaurant in the Indian Wells Golf Resort. Great drinks, great food and the service is good. Located upstairs it has indoor and outdoor seating. There is a bar and some private areas for groups. Try the crab hashbrown and the spicy tuna for appetizers. I had the steak frites and the steak was so tender. My friend had the prime rib. The drinks were refreshing, I had the Kestrel. Yummy. Go and enjoy yourself and have great time!!! read more

We went for dinner tonight Manager was really kind and well informed about the delicious menu. We had ribs and prime rib. End cut was delicious. Split a great salad Cesar salad with roots of Palm really yummy. Had some lobster with the prime rib. Our waiter was also very kind and knew the menu really well. I think his name was Ricardo. Great service. Thank you we will be back. Damian and DeeDee read more

Candace is consistently fabulous, she makes great drinks that are delish and flawlessly presented. Food is delicious, good size portions and great tasting. We will be back! read more

Food was delicious. View and seating are comfortable. Service is fantastic. Food was fresh.

I have been following Richard for many years and was excited to have a nice romantic dinner with my husband last night. I even asked if Richard was there that night but they said he'd be back Dec 18. We were greeted and went to the bar for a cocktail. When our table was ready we went to the dining room. We each had Prime Rib and my husband added a the lobster tail. The prime rib came out too rare but we really don't like sending food back. My husband's tail was overcooked and taken back and the next one was raw. The Resturant was beautiful but very empty for a Saturday night. They made everything right as far not charging us for the lobster and one of the Prime rib dinners. The staff seemed to be very busy but didn't come by to check on us. I was so disappointed. I was surprised that they have been open so long. The kinks should be out by now. I'd like to come back and give it another try when they have it more together. Hopefully Richard will make it good, so we can come back. Thank You, Shelley Brown read more

Today, we were warmly greeted and seated for lunch. Service was exceptional, our server (and other staff) regularly checked in on us. She had the smash-burger and fully enjoyed it. I had the ahi sandwich and enjoyed the flavor, but found the mealy texture off-putting. Glasses of Daou cabernet were priced just slightly under the bottle price at Costco. I'm not sure we'll be back. read more

Ambiance...nice. Service...meh, took way too long to get a beverage. Food...what are they thinking! I ordered chicken Marsala. What I got was a heavily breaded chicken cutlet that was drowning in a mushroom gravy. I doubt the sauce had even been passed over by Marsala wine much less included in the dish itself. Institutional food and even that was bad. read more

we continually have an excellent experience at Kestrel is a family favorite. after 40 years of celebrating Thanksgiving in the desert - we just booked this years turkey day at kestrel. thank you Justina - you are amazing!!!!! read more

Had my birthday dinner there last night. You have got to try the Chilean Sea Bass. Definitely the best I have ever had. I couldn't identify the seasoning in the sauce, but it was fabulous. Plate licking worthy. (I resisted) I enjoy watching the cooking show with Richard Blaise, so that was another attraction to give Kestrel a try. We asked for a dessert to take out as a gift for our dog sitter and they suggested the carrot cake. The sitter just called to thank me and said it was "amazing." They made my birthday feel very special and we will be back again whether or not we are celebrating! read more

Ambiance was beautiful for date night on the terrace...service was a lil slow but our server was super friendly and attentive...food was fantastic until dessert...we had the upside down pineapple cake and it was worst than something out of a box...highly recommend just don't save room for dessert! read more

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My husband and I recently had dinner at Kestrel for our 36th wedding anniversary! This place is gorgeous! From the decor to the views, it is truly amazing! We were seated by Bailey, a sweet and beautiful host with a warm smile that immediately made you feel welcome! Even though the inside was gorgeous, we chose the outdoor dining due to the full moon. What a killer view! We then were instantly greeted by Mo our server, ordered our food and drinks and settled in. We were also greeted by Nick and Justina two of the managers to make sure and let them know if we needed anything during our anniversary dinner. My husband and I were treated like royalty! Between the food and drinks and the attention of the staff, we couldn't have asked for a more perfect experience! The highlight of the dinner was the liquid nitrogen margaritas done tableside! So cool to watch and possibly one of the best margaritas I've had! Thanks to the bartender, Vinnie, for the show! Mo was an amazing and knowledgeable server and a shoutout to the bussers, Tony and Derek, for their promptness and attention to our every need! Another shout out to the Chef, Juanito. The manager, Nick, brought him out so we could thank him personally for a perfectly cooked filet! So tender and delicious! We were also treated to a complimentary mouth watering dessert in celebration of our anniversary! Yum! From the filet mignon, to the pork and shrimp egg rolls to the amazing margaritas, to the top notch staff, I can say it was one of the best dining experiences we have had! Thank you, Kestrel! We will be back soon! Anna & John read more

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Amazing Location with the view on the golf course The food was so fresh and tasty. The service by Carlos was outstanding! The wines list is wonderful! The Chardonnay from Ferrari Carano winery was divine. We absolutely love the Spicy Tuna Arepa for the appetizers and the Super Taco Salad and also the Ahi Tuna Poke Bowl... so delicious. Do not miss the Almond cake .. a must. What a place .. A GEM read more

our food was plentiful and tasty. the highlight was our server whose name is No. He explained the origin of the restaurant and made certain we were well taken care of. when in Indian wells again next year we will be back. it is about 3 levels up from Vue, the place it replaced. read more

This place is wonderful! We got there and got greeted by Santa Clause and Mrs. Clause ... amazing! Then we got inside the restaurant and everybody was very friendly, the place is beautiful, the food was absolutely delicious , and of course, Santa and Mrs. Clause were walking around the restaurant making sure everybody was happy. We also took a picture with them. They sure made our night very special read more

Wonderful surprise. Beautifully remodeled and very pleasing. The service was fabulous, the food (lunch) was outstanding. My husband had a hamburger the he said was incredible and I had a Cobb salad, it was so delicious. We will definitely be back. read more

It felt as though we were in a cafeteria. Long tables, and acoustics that magnified the sounds of large parties at long tables. Our dinner choice of Pan-Roasted Sea Bass was disappointing. It was flavorless, and the ginger-spiced sauce was overwhelming and not a good sauce to serve with a delicate fish, nor did it make up for the lack of flavor in the Sea Bass. read more

As big fans of Richard Blais, we were excited to try this restaurant, but unfortunately, it was a letdown. We dined there for the first time on 2/28 with reservations and, based on our experience, wouldn't return. The service was painfully slow. We watched as our cocktails sat on the bar for 15 minutes before being brought to our table. My wife ordered the filet mignon medium rare, but it arrived well-done and cold. She also ordered the fondue cauliflower, which sounded great in theory, but by the time it reached our table, the cheese had solidified into a blob that had to be cut with a fork--definitely not the rich, creamy side we expected. While this won't stop us from trying other Richard Blais restaurants, this particular one is a pass for us. There are much better places to explore if your visiting Indian Wells. Try Morgans. read more