The daughter has done a terrific job maintaining the high standard that makes Wally's one of the best in the desert. All the staff was extremely attentive and jeer full! . Make you feel good being there. Happy Mother's Day read more

Enjoyed our first visit to Wally's yesterday! It exceeded our expectations. It is clear why it has been a staple in the area for over 40 years! We arrived a few minutes early and was fortunate to stop into the special Bubble Lounge for a "cava" cocktail and some caviar. What an unexpected treat, the hosts in the Lounge were knowledgeable about all the Bubbles being served and the entire restaurant experience, setting us up for an amazing dinner. The entire Wally's experience was a great balance of classic PS elegance without feeling outdated. read more

We hosted a brunch the day after our wedding and I cannot complement the team at Wally's enough! We had about 60 guest so we reserved the entire restaurant and from the very beginning dealing with Ashley the service was impeccable! All of our guest loved the food and drinks as well. We would highly recommend this place for private events and just a great dinner. Thank you to the entire team! read more

Wally's Desert Turtle was a pleasant surprise! The decor and atmosphere in the dining room takes you back to the 1980s. I loved it! The nostalgia made me smile. There was live music in the bar... soft rock ballads and tunes that added to the ambiance. The service was terrific! The drinks were solid and the food choices were really good. My favorite was the tuna tartare.. and the french onion soup was also a tasty delight. The owner, Madalyn, took time to check in with us... she was really friendly and engaging. I will be back! read more

Fabulous food and wonderful atmosphere and service We will go back looking forward to it again You will enjoy yourself and enjoy the restaurant and relax and want to go often read more

Great classy restaurant! Although I would suggest going here on special occasions, the majority of the people were locals! A bit expensive for everyday! But the quality of the food was exceptional! Filet Mignon was one of the best we have had! Had multiple people wait on you, from the bread guy, water guy, drink guy, waiter guy and even the owner came by! Has jazz music nightly! Very busy, need to make reservations! read more

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This is definitely a restaurant for the elite very high class from the interior to the food to the clientele. I had the lady lavender it is a wonderful martini very cutely garnished with a French onion soup and the salmon for my entree overall I would say the environment and music is my favorite part the food is decent but the environment is everything definitely recommend trying this place at least once. read more

I was here today. My 2nd time. This restaurant is Top Drawer. Fabulous Lunch. I had the Filet Mignon Salad. My friend had the Salmon. She said it was cooked to perfection. The whole staff was Amazing. Starting from Sam in the Valet. Emma the statuesque Hostess, our handsome waiter and bus boy. It's like a well oiled operation. Atmosphere was great. Service perfect. And food delicious. Another great dining experience. Feb 3, 2022. read more

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Fabulous happy hr and Tony the entertainer was phenomenal. I will Most definitely go again and again. read more

I had not been to Wally's 18 years. Under the prior owner it was great, and it remains so. We were greeted warmly at the door, seated at a very nice table in short order. The decor is lovely, though, watch out for the mirrored walls if you have more than one cocktail. The service was excellent, efficient without being obtrusive. Proper silverware was on the table, and when we ordered fish, the appripriate silverware was provided a minute of two before our meals arrived. Water, bread, and cocktails were quickly refilled. Our meals were delicious, perfectly prepared and seasoned, and artfully presented. The desert and coffee were both excellent; the desert plate was a "work of art" in chocolate sauce, and fruit puree. The service and food are definately worth the prices. The only issue I have is that they have a sanctimonious statement about a 3% "optional" additional charge to "assist Wally's in improving the wages of non-tipped employees". My suggestion to Wally's is to increase the wages of their non-tipped employees, and increase the menu prices by 3%. Seems simple enough to do. read more

Service and food were truly outstanding!! Bar None the best restaurant in Palm Springs on this trip!! I would highly recommend this restaurant to everyone. read more

Old world classics restaurant with high quality food and drink. Best Dover Sole in the desert

Took my parents there for dinner last night. Great experience!! It was busy so we dined at the bar. Food and service were amazing. Staff at the bar were outstanding, friendly, and professional. Live jazz music was a great addition to our evening. Wally's was a home run! read more

Absolute Frank Sinatra vibes. Beautiful restaurant with live music and phenomenal service! The food was absolutely delicious and the drinks were absolutely amazing. Make sure you try their expresso martinis and do not forget dessert! We had one of each! We were so humbled with the attentiveness of the owners. They made their rounds around the restaurant and checked in to make sure our dinner night was going well. This was such a much appreciated detail on their part. Cannot wait to go back! read more

AMAZING!!! Highly recommend this beautiful fine dining restaurant. The food was amazing, I loveddd my Chilean sea bass and this place is one of the only in the valley that has balanced the flavor and texture to perfection. And the raspberry soufflé? GOSH, It was like eating clouds in dessert form. The ambience was beautiful, and our waiter Max was just superb!! He was kind, super attentive, extremely informative and just put the cherry on top for a wonderful dining experience. Honestly it was quite a magical experience. Definitely coming back!! read more

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We throughly enjoyed our dinner here! There was a patio area as well as a few tables leading to entrance of restaurant and even a couple in parking lot. We sat in the area leading to entrance, although loud at times due to the street traffic it was a beautiful evening! All of our food was delicious, service was pretty spot on except for coffee service (we think they forgot about it), we didn't get until we were done with dessert...but that was only negative. We met the daughter of the owner and she told us their story of the family coming together to keep the restaurant open during COVID. If you are in the area...be sure to try it out! Support this terrific historic restaurant and family! read more

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The service was flawless!! The Ambiance was wonderful. And the food was to die fore. Really I would give all three of these things 10 stars if I could. read more

Nice fine dining restaurant in Rancho Mirage. Reservations recommended for the weekend. We both enjoyed our cocktails, and the service was excellent. We ordered a couple of appetizers, salads, the mushroom soup, and vegetarian entree. We all liked the dishes, and the best were the asparagus. Our reason for going there was for the dessert, and we ordered 3 desserts. The also gave us a 4th since we were celebrating DW's birthday. The three of us had no problem finishing the warm chocolate lava cake, souffle, baked alaska, and lemon meringue tart. Their specialty is the souffle (they have 7 varieties), but we liked the warm chocolate lava cake the most. This will definitely, be added to our list of favorite places in the desert for special ocassions. read more

The one and only time I've ever been to Wally's was for Christmas Day dinner. After losing my dad the year prior, it was a little different this year as it was just my mom and I this time around. The rest of our family lives in Canada. The Christmas Day dinner was absolutely perfect. VERY well staffed and service was exceptional. Live music was a very nice extra touch. We were both very pleased and we look forward to going back to Wally's for no other reason at all other than to simply enjoy another meal out. read more

Tonight's dessert is the lava cake, it's the best Finnish to a great dinner. I highly recommend the salmon plate, it's my favorite! read more

Wally's Desert Turtle - Lava cake, with desserts like this who needs to eat dinner! I do recommend the salmon ! - Steakhouses Near Me - Rancho Mirage, California

We visited in December 2019, & I absolutely love "Wally's Desert Turtle." A desert icon, the dimly lit "Wally's" oozes class, & is adorned with ornate brass fixtures & statues, beveled mirrors, & tuxedoed wait staff. Opening in 1978, "Wally's" is a "spin-off" of the old "The Velvet Turtle" fine dining restaurants in Los Angeles, & has been a favorite among past U.S. Presidents, international leaders, & celebrities. Dining at "Wally's Desert Turtle" gave me wonderful fond memories of the many family dinners that we shared at "The Velvet Turtle" during my early childhood, & it is evident that the classy refined service from the original "The Velvet Turtle" is still being upheld today. The son of the late Mr. Wally Botello, founder, is the current owner & operator of the venue, & has done a phenomenal job preserving the reputation & high standards of this fine dining establishment. To say that dining at "Wally's" was a wonderful experience is an understatement. Everything -- (escargot, lamb chops, filet, complimentary dessert....literally everything) -- we dined on was excellent, & the service was outstanding. The current owner (Mr. Michael Botello) even stopped by our table to chat with us a few times to make sure we were being well taken care of, & were happy. He was an absolute joy to meet, & I thank you again, Michael, for bringing back wonderful childhood memories. In an age of fast-casual dining so prevalent everywhere, it is a pleasure to visit an establishment that still offers "old-fashioned classy service" in an opulent & refined atmosphere. If you're ever in the desert & would like to experience a piece of history, visit "Wally's Desert Turtle." But...you'd better hurry: They are currently advertising their "Farewell Season," & sadly, the restaurant may be for sale.(?) So happy I had the opportunity to visit before it is under new management...or is gone. read more

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Beef Carpaccio was absolutely perfect. French onion soup (I can't help myself when I see it on a menu) was flawless. The soufflé was incredible (get the Grand Marnier). Coming back for the rack of lamb and baked Alaska. Honored to have met the owner, Madalyn; elegant and runs her restaurant with impeccable taste. read more

Beautiful atmosphere. Food was good, not exceptional. Had to ask a few times for a simple cup of coffee to enjoy with the dessert.......... And it never did arrive. No idea how a cup of coffee could be an issue, especially when someone orders dessert. read more

As one of the most iconic and famous restaurants in the desert for so many years, Wally's didn't disappoint us at all! Their service was superb! Food and drinks were perfect! Ambiance was beautiful! To me, if service is not good, delicious food loses its value. We will definitely go back and recommend it to people who are looking for a restaurant with value for the money. read more

A great privilege to experience Wally's during its Farewell Season. This iconic restaurant will remain in the hearts and minds of everyone who ever dined here, drank here or even drove by wishing to one day be immersed in a style of Hospitality that is quite literally going away. I was so lucky and grateful to dine here. Caesar, escargot, rack of lamb. Recommended. The food is terrific. All the best to Wally's family & team members. read more

Very rarely have I ever dined out where every single thing was perfect. Last night at Wally's was one of those times. Both the food and the service were impeccable. Our selections were the escargots, endive salad, lamb chops and Grand Marnier soufflé. All were to die for. To top it off, I was treated to a wonderful slice of carrot cake to celebrate my birthday. The owner (Wally's granddaughter) circulated throughout the restaurant, meeting all of her guests. A truly memorable meal, and we will certainly be back the next time we visit Palm Springs. read more

Mirrors reflecting crystal and candlelight, what could be better when dining in a beautiful room...this is the ambiance for Wally's charming restaurant. The food is beautifully prepared from a food lovers menu and then served by a professional staff. I've been a guest for years and it never disappoints... I'm a serious "foodie" and I give Wally's five stars. Charlene Williamson read more

This is a very fine restaurant. Service is professional, friendly, and the food is high-quality. There are not many restaurants like this in the area. My complaint iare the prices. They are crazy high, similar to New York, or Paris, or any other major city. My observation is that they are not double but at least 60% higher than a couple of years ago. The restaurant is doing good business but the number of birthday celebrations tells me there this is not an a place where people will go on a regular basis. Taking out the booze, we had a starter, nice entrées and dessert. Including tip it came to about $250 for two. That's nuts. read more

The best French resturant at the desert oasis. Great food and the service is amazing!!! Mr Wally the owner come to every table to greet his customers just like talking to his family. Highly recommended. read more

Had a wonderful outdoor dinning experience our first time coming to Wally's, ambiance, staff and food was amazing. We went on a Sunday evening experience. Very nice live guitarist playing while we enjoyed some drinks and our delicious food. Special thanks to Maddy our anniversary night dinner and experience was truly wonderful. read more

Great special occasion restaurant. High level service with fantastic "Continental" cuisine and bonus (if you are into cars) the valet looks like. Rolls Royce dealership read more

My second time here, and hopefully not my last. The food and wine are lovely, and the service is top notch, but the ambiance is REALLY what makes this place better than any other place with great food and service. A perfect date night spot (romantic and fun)! We had Christmas Eve dinner here - there was a jazz musician playing live music, and a pre fixe menu with fantastic choices! A local icon. If you're visiting, you have to have dinner here at least once! read more

Went to Wally's last night to experience restaurant week there. The ambience the service, and the food were all perfect. This is truly the best restaurant in Coachella Valley. I agree with so many of the other comments. The highest quality ingredients are used here and the staff are very seasoned. I did not expect this restaurant to be this good. read more

Found this un-posted review from a year ago (Feb 2022) so sorry if these things are currently not on the menu or have changed. Still posting it because it was great at the time. Scallops great: would get again if comes with sauce (I'd ask for the rice on side instead of under them - personal preference) Ahi appetizer great too (I grabbed crispy bread from Caesar salad & enjoyed it with it for a little crunch) Shrimp cocktail looked really good, would love to try. Desert: Chocolate lava cake was amazing! Kind of want to try a soufflé next time though. Atmosphere was fun & romantic for Valentines Day too. Is definitely a go-to place next time I'm in Palm Springs or Palm Desert read more

wally's is a great restaurant with excellent service and amazing energy. it's a must if you're in the desert!!!

Went here with my husband and his grandparents, and all I can say is that it's a gorgeous place!! It has a beautiful outside entrance with lights. The inside has a lot of mirrors helping the place feel open. It has many sections and is a very big restaurant. The tables are lined with white tablecloths and a candle. It's a very elegant restaurant. The food was delicious!!! We ordered a grilled calamari appetizer that was full of wonderful robust flavor and a salad. The salad is part of the reason why I didn't give them all 5 stars. I asked the waiter if the Caesar salad was heavy with anchovies and he said no, it's very light, so I ordered it. When it came out, not only was the smell of anchovies strong it had a full anchovy on it. I felt that the waiter simply lied to me to move on with the order, so of course when it came out I asked why it had the anchovies on it and sent it back. They said they would remake the order - however, the pace at which they brought out the "new" salad (and still with the lingering taste of anchovy) was very suspicious, pretty sure they just took the anchovy off and gave me back the same plate instead.... I sent it back again and asked for a different salad altogether at that point. I will say that the waiter handled it very nicely and professionally. Once that whole issue was settled the rest of the meal was great! I got the Scottish salmon and my husband got the fillet mignon. Both tasted tender, juicy and delectable!! The dessert was the grand finale! We ordered the Grand Marnier soufflé and the chocolate lava cake. The chocolate lava cake exploded with rich, mouthwatering warm chocolate, and it came with real vanilla bean ice cream and cherries jubilee, giving it a very unique touch. The combination of flavors was exquisite!! The soufflé was good, it was not our favorite, but that's only because we prefer chocolate. Everyone else at the table loved it! It was very fluffy and made well. The end of the night when the bill came is the other reason I only gave 4 stars. The bill had extra charges and confusion about what was ordered. That and the anchovy mishap left a sloppy and unorganized view of the waitstaff. My husband's grandfather mentioned this to the waiter, we also pulled up the menu on line and showed the discrepancy on the prices and the manger came over and handled it well. This is a great restaurant that offers some amazing food, but be careful about the bill and don't expect the most honest answers to any questions about the menu and the food. read more

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Wally's is one of the most fantastic restaurants in the desert that has been around for decades. Most have failed. The atmosphere is so elegant and romantic. The menu has some of the most classic dishes - my favorites are the oysters on the half shell, the mushroom soup and especially the Dover Sole. Spectacular in all aspects! read more

this room... steve chase designed in 1978, is spectacular. the lighting, the mood, the food... all on point. run by the 3rd generation, the owner was charming and personable. the music was live and created an ambiance that allowed for talk and never interfered. this might be the oldest old school place in the desert. i highly recommend. read more

It's a nice place to eat amongst many Nice places to eat in Rancho Mirage/Palm Desert. A live singer to add to the ambiance, valet parking, and a Happy Hour drink and light bites. Enjoy with friends! read more

Loved Wally's. Had an aura of class, you could feel the many great people that have been there. Service was good, food was great, took a little bit to get our food but they were busy and wine was good so wasn't a big deal. read more