Great food! Great surroundings! We came to Shield's while visiting the area and based on the suggestion of local friends. It was a nice morning, but warming fast. We were seated promptly and a server was by quickly. We ordered and the food came out in a reasonable time frame. I had Date Pancakes and loved them. I'd eat at the Cafe at Shields Date Garden the next time were's in the area. Tip - go earlier in the morning for the cool weather as it can get pretty warm eating outside. Also, stay and tour the gardens. They're amazing. read more

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Very nice outdoor setting. Excellent service and food. Tried a stuffed date. The extra thick bacon wrap was over the top. Cheese was a little strong but did not stop the sweetness of the date to come through. My wife ordered the date burger. It comes w a half pound patty. Again extra thick bacon and a very tasty date relish. read more

The Cafe at Shields Date Garden - The entrance - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Indio, California

Went here for brunch and got seated right away--no wait, which was a nice surprise. Our server was genuinely friendly and made sure everything came out quickly. They even handed my kids activity sheets, which bought us a few peaceful minutes. For food, the kids ordered the chicken tacos and the date pancakes. Both were a hit. I tried the "Date Me Omelette," and the flavor caught me off guard in a good way--savory with a touch of sweetness from the dates. We also ordered the bacon-wrapped stuffed dates, and those were packed with flavor. Overall, great service, interesting menu, and dishes that actually deliver on taste. I'd come back. read more

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I really just wanted to check out the store and found out they had a delightful cafe. We had the sopes with shredded beef which were super tasty. The Date Pancake was over the top, a great pancake and the most remarkable date butter. The cafe is super cute inside and the service was outstanding. Absolutely worth the stop if you are in the area. read more

The Cafe at Shields Date Garden - Sopes with Shredded Beef - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Indio, California

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Service was quick and friendly. Live music for Sunday brunch time which was a nice surprise. The date shake was soooo amazing and you must get it! We all enjoyed our food. I got the date pancakes and they were tasty and unique. read more

The Cafe at Shields Date Garden - Date pancake - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Indio, California

When the food and service is so bad you can't wait to get home to write your review you know it was bad! So let me begin by saying that my husband & I have been regular customers as in at least twice a month since last summer. When we dine here we always give a 25% to 30% tip to the server. There have been times they didn't deserve it but we leave it never the less because we frequent the restaurant and want to honor the servers working there. The last two times before today have not been as good as usual but we decided to go here for lunch today. Hubby got a cheese omelet and I ordered the Shield's Signature Salad. We also ordered two coffees. It is like pulling teeth to get a coffee refill here. This is a regular occurrence where we have to ask for more coffee. Our food arrives and I notice that my husband's plate was sloppy and the omelette much smaller than usual. On my salad was unpeeled mango slices. I had to peel the skin off in order to be able to eat them! Anyone who cooks knows that the skin peels right off a ripe mango. Apparently however makes the salads is too lazy to do that! The pear was unripe and hard as a rock on the salad so it was not edible. The mango was ripe and after I peeled the skin off it was edible. The entire salad however was drenched in salad dressing! It had twice the amount of dressing on it that it should have had making it totally inedible. I called the server over and showed him the mango and let him know that I tried to eat the mango with the skin and you cannot chew it! He argued with me, brought back another plate of sliced mango that still had the peel on it!! He continued to argue. Then he took off and when I went to eat the salad there was just too much dressing on it. I asked the helper there who was assisting him to take the salad as I could not eat it as it was. They asked if I wanted something else but my husband was half way done and honestly, I lost my appetite so I said no. Had to ask for coffee again. When the server came by I flagged him down & asked for the check. When he brought it I tried to explain about the mango and the salad and he was super rude and just not interested. First time I ever left a dollar for a tip! I wrote on the check & I quote; "when you aren't interested at all in what your customers have to say you are lucky to receive a dollar!" They seem to just care about the tourists and not the regulars! So guess what...these regulars will not be back. We were regulars who always tipped well and we didn't deserve that treatment. NEVER again and this time I mean it. The dirty silverware and sticky coffee cup are bad enough but the nasty service they can keep w/o us going there again! read more

If you are ever in Indio CA area, you really should some time here at Shields Date Garden, this place is huge. This is a historical venue that was founder in Dec. 24 1912 Shields celebrated 100 yrs. anniversary in 2010 only one word to describe this achievement...WOW!!! There is an actual garden that process and manufacturing right here, there is a cafe with inside and outside patio, the restaurant serves breakfast and brunch, the cafe is separate from the restaurant, a gift shop with a huge variety of dates like date butter,date candy, date sugar, date jam and jelly, date cookies are just a few Items you can purchase here, the is a small move theater here to watch the whole process of this healthy fruit that is called a date. I drive 23 miles from Palm Springs just for their date shake which is absolutely delicious that will give you a brain freeze, all of the staff were very nice and friendly, I will be back to try the date burger. read more

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My family was very excited visit this place for a staycation. The place has a nostalgic fell with a storefront that sells a multitude of items from children's games (remember Jacks?) to umbrellas lol. The y have multiple types of dates that you can buy but the prices are bit steep, suited for out of town guests. The outdoor seating was spacious but hot as you imagine for Indio/Palm Springs. The food was good but not spectacular. Standard diner food but nothing that stands out with the exception of having dates added to the meals. All in all it was a good experience with friendly service. Take the walking trail to see the multiple places to learn more about our Savior Jesus Christ read more

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Nice atmosphere in the cafe. It was a nice day so it was nice to eat outside. The service was good. I split a portobello mushroom burger and fries with a dining companion. The burger was really good, loved the eggplant in it. The fries were really good, nice and crispy. read more

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Stuffed date was interesting and tasty! Highly recommend giving it a try. Tuna melt was good - fries were also nicely seasoned and crispy. Was not an amazing tuna melt, but it was worth ordering if you like a decent tuna melt. Would likely try the Mexican food or burger if I'm able to come back. I also got a date shake and it was great! Extremely sweet, refreshing on a hot day (118 degrees today), and tasted great. Service was fast, friendly, and helpful. Recommend going to this spot if you're ever in the area. read more

Great, little cafe attached to the Shields Date Garden serving fresh, high-quality foods. There is limited seating inside and a large outdoor patio with water misters when it's hot out. We started with the stuffed dates which I think you should try at least once while you're there. We also got walleye fish tacos, date burger, cheeseburger, and cubano sandwich. Everything tasted great and I would say it's worth the price because the portions were large. The staff is very friendly--it gave a small town/homey vibe. When you're done, save room to try the date shake in the Shields Date Garden. read more

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The wind was blowing chairs around in the garden so we were seated inside at a booth next to the service station and a small kitchen. There were constant people going past our booth. The service was very slow. One table in the small area was taken up with napkins and silverware. Our party had the curry chicken salad which she said was good, one had the date pancake which he said were too sweet, one had a blueberry waffle which he said was average, and I had a biscuit which was a generous size and scrambled eggs with fruit à la carte. In general we would rate the food as average. It is connected to a retail store with everything related to dates that you can imagine. They also have a documentary showing all about dates and their history. read more

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Wanted a soda but they don't serve them after 2pm, so weird. It was 3 pm and they are open until 5pm.

Always a great choice no matter if you are a visitor or local, great good and a fun dining experience. YELP SHORT ANSWER: Yes, this is seasonal so check ahead of time and eating outside is preferred when weather permits. LOCATION: Branded on the 111 just off Jefferson. Good parking but be aware this is a big tourist destination famous for their Date Shakes but there is a restaurant hidden around back. FACILITY: Rather dated, ha snuck that in, but this place has a patina that is very authentic and it is an icon of CV and I hope it never changes. MENU: Pretty basic with an offering of breakfast and lunch items. Full bar as well if you need that Bloody Maria before your day at the pool. FOOD PREP: Very much a diner, nothing fancy but done nicely. FOOD QUALITY: Excellent, the food here is great and consistent. LIBATIONS: Just for the purpose of my Yelp review I had to take one for the team here, drinks are alway good here and not over priced. It is part of the experience. WAITSTAFF: The best, everyone seems happy and service is amazing even on busy days with demanding tourists afoot. OVERALL VALUE: Not too bad but fairly priced for the experience. TIP: If it is your first time, get there early and enjoy a breakfast then go look around. You can shop in the gift shoppe or take a walk through the date fields then get your date shake to go. read more

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Tried out the cafe this morning after months and months of driving by. I ordered chilaquiles with a side of beans, I didn't have anything to complain about. Didn't ask for a substitute or extra sauce, etc. It was a solid flavor and I ate almost my entire plate! My husband ordered the ratatouille omelette, he was very quiet and cleaned his plate. The entrance is unclear because there's a sign to go inside, but then they send you out back to get seated by a host/hostess which seems a little weird. A sign that guides you around back makes more sense. The patio is beautiful, you are surrounded by the lush gardens which feels like a perfect setting to share a meal with family and friends! Once you're done here, stop into the market and get some dates. We wanted a few pounds of dates and the prices were very reasonable! read more

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Awesome people with great service, food was great and lots of verity to choose from. Great location, you should definitely visit them

We come to Palm Springs every April, and The Cafe at Shields Date Garden is one of our go-to spots. It's a breakfast/brunch/lunch spot, providing consistently good food, every time we've been. There are some offerings that even include dates. One of my favourites from their menu, are their biscuits and gravy - the biscuits are flatter than a regular biscuit, though just as fluffy inside, but the gravy is *chef's kiss* because it's not your average grayish gravy with pieces of sausage, there are also tiny red pieces of pepper in it, it's perfectly seasoned, and it has more of a pinkish hue. Their sausages that come with it (should you choose sausage as your meat option) are a big meaty Brat shaped sausage and taste super good. The home fries are also good, but i wasn't as enthusiastic about the hash brown, though it wasn't bad as such, just i prefer the home fries. Yesterday, I got the tuna melt with fries, which was not as i had expected, an open faced sandwich, it was a regular sandwich, still very good though, as were the fries. If you can, opt for the outdoor seating, as the views are lovely. As an Alaskan, i was absolutely comfortable, sleeveless in the shade at 78 degrees, which is the perfect temperature for me. Normally it's in the 90's at this time of year, and i totally can't hack sitting at a sunny table, but they do have lots of tables in the shade. Service is fast, even when they're busy. You may have to wait for a table, but you won't wait long for your food. And when you're done eating, you can have a walk around the interesting date garden, shop in the gift shop, for a huge variety of dates, and other date related cuisine, trinkets, jewelry, novelties, bath and body, jams, jellies, etc etc, or watch a movie about the reproductive life of dates. read more

Fabulous! Being at a date farm, I had to order the date omelette (the Date Me) which did not disappoint. It was flavored with feta cheese, red peppers, sausage, ham, tomatoes, onions and noor dates. I opted for the side of fruit as opposed to a side salad or potatoes and I'm so glad I did as I'm 99% sure the fruit is from the connected farm. Everything was fresh and the service was on par. The coffee was good and I enjoyed exploring the gardens and gift shop afterward. While some may feel this is too touristy, I enjoyed every second of this historical gem. Come support!! read more

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Prices has skyrocketed and the quality is nothing like before. My Tuna Melt was basically a Tuna Salad sandwich with lettuce tomato and unmelted cheese on toast. Her curry chicken salad over Papaya tasted exactly like Trader Joe's product. The inside was loud with employees and the air conditioning was off. We used to enjoy Shields, but are now striking this place off our list. read more

The restaurant closes at 2 but the outdoor part is open until 5. It's a Mexican restaurant and we shared a burrito. My date shake was so thick I couldn't get it through a straw. I really liked it but I couldn't really identify a date flavor. Since the restaurant had closed I can't rate it. I'd give the patio experience 3 to 4 stars. We had a competent server, Tony. read more

I've been coming to Shields for years and I finally made it to the cafe. They offered indoor and outdoor dining. They serve breakfast and lunch until 2pm. The menu was much larger than I expected. They have a daily drink specials. Taco Bar Weds-Saturday 2-6pm and live music on the weekends. The service was friendly and fast. The food was excellent and well prepared. A lovely lunch in the desert sunshine. Can't wait to go back. read more

The Cafe at Shields Date Garden - BLT - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Indio, California

We stopped here in an RV, parking in the large lot next door. We had eaten at Shields a few times over the years we've been coming to the area. We ate inside. Service was prompt, and the food we ordered was delivered almost too promptly. Eggs Benedict were barely, barely warm, and overdone. The English muffin wasn't toasted and the ham was literally cool. For food that had just come out of the kitchen, it wasn't right. read more

OMG! We went for breakfast and were pleasantly surprised that there was no wait. I guess we visited during the offseason. Winter/spring seems to be their busy season. Great food, great service. The garden is a great way to stretch your legs and enjoy your date shake. Plan to hit the store before/after the tourist busses take over. read more

Service was ok. Great place for dates. Had breakfast and the ham was dry and thin. Had to send back the hash browns as they were cold.

What a beautiful setting and tasty food at this amazing outdoor restaurant in the desert! My husband and daughter had the Shields date burger and they loved it. I had the Shields Special Salad which had spinach, fresh fruit slices, dried cranberries, blue cheese, nuts, and I added the chicken. It was delicious! José was our waiter and he was very prompt, cheery, and attentive. What a hidden gem in the desert! read more

Atmosphere is amazing. Live musician playing acoustic Christmas music. Service was really quick and friendly. Food was fantastic. We got the chiliquiles but one thing we thought could make it better was a side of beans. Bloody marys delish! read more

Loved the food, the service and the experience... and live music! Food was very good, and many vegetarian options as well. The date shake was good, a tad bit too sweet They were really busy but very attentive to all. Live music was wonderful as well! read more

Food was so dry and nasty everything overpriced not worth it. Dosent even deserve one star .

I really like this place regardless of the fact that it's really really touristy. Today, 100s maybe even thousands of people were there and I had to try and find a parking space in their back 40 parking which is dirt and dusty. I would have stayed except for the fact that I have NO patience to wait for my food. So I will try their cafe another time .. . read more

We tried the taco bar at shields cafe . $5 beers and $10 tacos pair -- very tasty and great deal. Excellent service - sat outside patio - nice covered patio ambiance. read more

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Delicious food, friendly service, and very nice outdoor setting with many tables near a pretty garden & many citrus trees. The rainbow potatoes as a side were delicious! read more

The Cafe at Shields Date Garden - Outdoor tables - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Indio, California

Enjoyed a beautiful Saturday with the Fam. Service was excellent and food was good. Price was surprisingly high for the quality and portion. read more

The Cafe at Shields Date Garden - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Indio, California

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really good food, didn't know this was back here, but great garden Been to Shields a handful of times but it'd been 5+ years and had no idea there's now a cafe behind the store. Food was great! We started with stuffed dates which were great. Tons of different flavors blending together really well in a very rich appetizer. Would absolutely get again. I got the date omelet because of course you have to get something with dates. It was very tasty. The sweetness of the dates really added something to the omelet and made for a very tasty, excellent meal. Plenty filling too, probably could've stretched the stuffed dates & omelet into two meals. read more

The Cafe at Shields Date Garden - Stuffed dates - amazing! - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Indio, California

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The outdoor ambiance is delightful, complemented by an exceptionally attentive staff. The children's portions are generous, and the food is both flavorful and served promptly. read more

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I would have never guessed this beautiful restaurant was behind this old looking white building! We had a lovely breakfast with extended family; twelve people in our party. Outdoor seating at 10 am in March was perfect. Beautiful garden to admire. Everyone enjoyed their food. I had the chicken and waffles. The chicken tenders were slightly over-battered and dry. Waffle was perfect, crisp, and fluffy. Portion was perfect for my daughter and I to share. My other kids ordered from kids menu, pancake and French toast with fruit. Again, generous portion. French toast was thick and delicious. Pancake was 2 large Micky Mouse pancakes. It came with variety of fresh, delicious fruit. Sorry, I didn't get pictures of the food because it looked so good and we were starving! read more

The Cafe at Shields Date Garden - Outdoor seating - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Indio, California

The food was good but the service, not so much. Never got refills on water or coffee. Ordered a blueberry pancake on the side and it never came out. I asked about it after I had finished my main meal and it still never came out. The other issue were the flies. I requested a table fan to keep them away when I saw they brought one out for another table. Why not just put them all when they opened? read more

Excellent service, great food. I had the country fried steak plate, and the gravy was delicious. read more

The Cafe at Shields Date Garden - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Indio, California

We just went here for the first time with our kids. My husband LOVES biscuits and gravy and gets them whenever we go out for breakfast. He ordered them here and when he was done said, "In all my lifetime of 71 years I have never had biscuits and gravy that have been worse." Mind you, this is a man that NEVER complains. The gravy looked like it had kielbasa rather than breakfast sausage. He had ordered sausage with his breakfast and got bacon. He didn't speak up because we were with the kids and they had picked the place. His potatoes weren't cooked through either. After my husband ate he was in and out of the restroom as breakfast definitely didn't agree with his stomach. We even had to stop at a fast food restaurant for him to use their restroom. I ordered their stuffed French toast which was good, not great but it wasn't hot. Unfortunately we were very disappointed. We had three separate parties and the server didn't ask how we wanted the bill split. He put it all on one bill and added an automatic 20% gratuity. This never happens when we go to other restaurants. Just a heads up if you decide to go. The weather was perfect and the outdoor seating was a nice touch. I highly doubt we will be returning unfortunately. read more

We enjoyed a wonderful lunch today at the Cafe at Shields Date Garden. We sat outside and although it was a little breezy, it was wonderful weather. The server was super nice, knowledgeable about the food and very attentive to our needs. Our food arrived promptly and was nice and hot. The presentation was nice and the food was very good. My husband ordered the date cheeseburger and he said he would definitely order it again. I ordered the fish tacos and they were delicious. read more

The Cafe at Shields Date Garden - Date Shields Date Cheeseburger - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Indio, California

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Ambiance good service. Good salad Such a pleasant place to eat on a perfect day. The gift shop lacked " gifts" unless you're a date! read more