Another great experience at Wally's. The service is outstanding. The food is delicious and the ambience is classic. A top destination for date night for my wife and I, or when entertainming friends. Great job! read more

Literally blown away! First of all I didn't know what to expect, being a real food and service snob (well I did learn etiquette the proper British - Queens way) I was not sure it would meet up to the expectations of what my date claimed it would be. From the moment we arrived the staff did everything perfectly. The waiter didn't bring the menu until he asked us if it was okay after we were done with our cocktails. I mean who does that anymore??? So awesome! I had the escargot - yummo! The liver (I know some of you will bawk) but it was amazing! With bacon etc, my date had the lamb, was amazing too! the mint chutney was so yummy, old school and perfectly balanced I wanted to sneak some home with me. From the waiters recommendation; we had the apricot soufflé, I wouldn't have chosen that if he hadn't said I should, but I trusted his judgement and let me tell you, neither me or my date spoke hardly once until we devoured the whole thing with moaning "Mmmmm" noises and sat their in shock afterwards, "that was incredible!" This place is a MUST MUST MUST!!! read more

I was looking for a place to entertain clients for dinner during my trip to Rancho Mirage. After a yelp search for restaurants, Wally's Desert Turtle popped up as a local institution. Walking through the door of Wally's Desert Turtle was a flash back to '70! The décor was from 1970 and the patrons are in their 70's. I did not know what I was expecting other than great quality food and extraordinary service. And that is what I got. The Beet and Fennel Soup was fantastic and the Chilean Sea Bass was amazing. I followed the meal with a cappuccino and Crème Brûlée. The quality of food and service where fantastic! I would recommend the restaurant for anyone that needs to entertain clients or bring their grandparents out to a nice dinner. read more

We had cheesecake factory for dinner and we decided to come here for dessert and a few cocktails really nice place nice environment and the desserts and drinks were amazing I will definitely be back again read more

Wally's Desert Turtle - Wallys for desert - Steakhouses Near Me - Rancho Mirage, California

Our second time here and the last. We are not unaccustomed to fine dining. The ambiance is great and the service was there. When I say "there", they were always there. Asking us about ordering, if we were finished, etc. It was done in such a way that you felt hurried and they were "just doing business". When we drop almost $200 for dinner, we want to feel important. I don't want to feel rushed or hurried along, like they need to turn the table. I want the waiter and staff to engage with me and make it an experience. There are too many other good restaurants in the desert who's staff wants to talk to the customer, not talk at them. And the food, for the most part was good. I did get sick, though. I think from the mussels. A little too rubbery. Again, another reason not to return. read more

They have a nice seating area outside and for most part the staff complied with COVID standards with one assistant waiter's disregard. Overall service good but my dish, sea bass and scallops was lacking. Rubbery cool temperature scallops and cool sea bass as well. I certainly didn't think it was a $52 entry! Better luck next time.......if there is a next time...... read more

Was good for the classic desert steak house vibe. But the food is overpriced. Cooked well, but I enjoyed the nostalgia more than the dinner. Service was ok. I like to eat a nice meal with slow service, but this often bordered on neglect. read more

I am writing this review for one reason. It was the BEST lamb I have ever had. It was one of the most tender perfect cuts of meat. This is what you should order. The service was great, all the staff was very friendly. If you are wanting a nice quite upscale meal this is your place. TIPS: Order the Lamb TIPS: They are known for their Souffles read more

Some what disappointed with being surprised to being hosted at Wally's for dinner. I have often driven by Wally's and wanted to experience it. I was invited to dinner and needed to upgrade my attire, because it is after all not a place where shorts and a t-shirt work. The decor of mostly mirrors makes a statement of elegance. I was disappointed with my Whitefish entree. The fish was a large piece with a nicely browned exterior, but was robbed by the sort of mushy texture of the fish. The mashed potatoes were flavorless and boring. The real disappointment was with the Chocolate soufflé desert. It was hijacked by a band of egg whites, it lacked that cohesion of the rich pudding in the batter. This opinion was shared by my host also for his Grand Mariner soufflé. My host had the ravioli, which he thought was very good. The service was excellent, it was not very busy so this was easy and well paced. The piano player was very good and helped bring a festive mood to the room, which was otherwise pretty quiet. A very nice restaurant, but the food needs some improvement. read more

Wow! This place was amazing. I brought a group of clients to this restaurant and boy did they deliver. Some of the highlights are below. -Great round table where all six people in our group could talk to each other -Amazing service -Good and reasonable wine list -The tuna tartare was amazing! I know everyone recommends the duck but I went for the special which was lobster pasta. I'll have to go back for the duck. read more

I have been to Wally's on several occasions. The first few times things were great, but things have started to go down hill a bit! I first and foremost want to say the service is fantastic, that has never been and never will be a complaint. They are fast, efficient, thoughtful, eager to please and so friendly. Now the food - I think they just need a new and younger chef in there. The food which is some great high quality ingredients is hidden behind a ton of sauces and frills. French food is supposed to be about tasting the quality of the ingredient not hiding it behind sauce. They do have great rack of lamb - that is by far their best dish, as are their oysters on the half shell. Everything else was just ehhh. read more

We dined at Wally's Friday night and loved everything About it. The reception was warm, everyone wore a mask, the tables were well spaced outside and the food was delicious! The staff was so professional and accommodating. The drinks were very ample and all the food was excellent. It is our new favorite place in the valley. We contrast Wally's with a terrible experience we had at Jillian's recently where not one staff person was masked, the food was mediocre and overpriced. We cannot wait to return to Wally's read more

Christmas Day dinner-7:30PM. It was obvious the restaurant had over booked because, upon arriving there were numerous would-be patrons waiting for a table. Wally's is a known restaurant in the desert for good food and a rather classy clientele. No longer. Men in tennis shorts, jean, running shoes (white at that. No white shoes after Labor Day!), and tshirts. Women in jeans. I ordered a martini and it was brought in a brandy snifter only to be told they ran out of martini glasses. After complaining, the waiter reluctantly found the correct glass. Lazy? Or over worked? The menu was fixed price with about four entrees to choose. One was no longer available. The food was mediocre at best. What happened to an important restaurant? Is it now all about giving up your standards for the dollar? Just cram them in. I hesitate to return. read more

We dined here last night for our 43rd anniversary and could not have been happier with the service and ambiance. Both were really extraordinary! We both ordered seafood meals .. salmon and scallops with chilean sea bass. We asked that they not add any EXTRA salt and instead of any signature flavor, they both came out with meager amounts of entree and sides and and no flavor at all. We also ordered their wild mushroom side dish and it was watery and very undercooked so sent it back, . We are used to asking for no additional salt at fine restaurants and always have imaginative seasoning and/or their sauces on the side which was not offered at Wally's. In addition the presentation could have been expected at a low end restaurant for a much lower price. We doubt that we will return. read more

This place rocked. This was exactly what Bob Hope, Frank Sinatra, and Dinah Shore envisioned when they discovered the Coachella Valley. Service was impeccable. Beautiful, grey- and blue-haired people everywhere. Food was awesome. And for the level of service and quality/quantity of food we got, I dare call this place a 'value' high-end restaurant. We will definitely be returning! read more

There are many choices in the Coachella valley that offer fine dining but Wally's should be option number 1 if you want the best. Wally's has been established here for many years and for good reason. The service is upscale, elegant and top notch. Granted it is not in the lower price range for those who are price conscious but if you want to experience the highest standards in cuisine, class and service make a trip to Wally's for that special time you want to treat yourself to gourmet chef dishes that set the gold standard for the area. read more

I passed by this restaurant often on hwy 111 and finally tried it out during Restaurant Week. It was a great experience! The food was delicious and I'm definitely coming back. The inside is so beautiful and elegant. Also, the staff was very courteous and provided excellent service. My husband and I shared: burrata salad pan fried calamari steak filet of beef with crusted horseradish on top roasted lamb rack dark chocolate lava cake carrot cake I really liked the calamari steak. Also, the meats were cooked to perfection. The chocolate lava cake was so rich and good. Also had a great glass of malbec wine. read more

I had the most wonderful 84th birthday dinner last night at Wally's Desert Turtle. The restaurant is beautiful and the food is beyond delicious. Everything was wonderful. The service team was very attentive to every detail and Maddie, the owner stopped by our table to visit, as she did with many other guests. This restaurant is a little pricey, but well worth it. Wally's will be our new special place for special occasions. They have a Happy Hour every night from 5:30 to 9:30 (closing) Tuesday through Friday, they are closed on Monday. The bar bites look wonderful and the price isn't bad. We love, love this place. It was a wonderful experience and we look forward to our next visit of a special occasion, probably our 66th Anniversary in April. read more

The ambiance and decor of Wally's reminds me of a timeless restaurant in San Francisco. The no rush service truly helps you enjoy every dish that is presented nicely. (I love to enjoy my food.) Being the youngest table of 2 in the restaurant, we were treated well. Foodies at heart, we ordered 4 appetizers, yes 4. Earlier in the week, I conceptualized Buratta with heirlooms and was excited to find it on the menu at Wally's! We had the Di Stefano Buratta with Heirloom Tomatoes, Micro Basil and Balsamic Droplets. Delicious all the way. We also enjoyed some escargot of Burgundy with Spinach, Brioche "Batonettes" and Pernod Garlic Butter. The escargot were fantastic! We also ordered the Mirin Glazed Pork Belly with Apple puree, frisee of green apple and daikon. That touch of apple purée did wonders. And finally the Belgian Endive and Baby Arugula Salad, could have used a lil more arugula, but still tasty, red valley beets, toasted walnuts, sherry dressing. We brought our own bottle of Pinot Noir and the wait staff made sure our glasses were never empty. Once our entrees landed at the table, we were eager to taste the well presented dishes. We had Pan roasted Duroc Pork Tenderloin with Crispy Goat Cheese Polenta, Pearl Onions and Medjool Date Bacon Jam--the sauce was delicious! The other entree was the Superior Farms Rack of Lamb with Biryani rice, garden vegetables, eggplant relish, lamb au jus. There was also a little bit of lamb tenderloin, and shank. The plates were warm throughout dinner--love that touch. For desert, we had a Warm Valrhona Chocolate Lava Cake with Vanilla bean ice cream, cherries jubilee. Also a Rosemary Poached Pear Tart with Hazelnut cream. We asked for a little more ice cream, and they brought us 2 scoops! Perfect. Both desserts had great flavor. The piano player adds that little touch to make this place feel intimate and warm, and makes the experience memorable. The level of warmness & service from the staff is truly Ritz-Carlton caliber. The menu is well prepared, and the ingredients are fresh. An overall feeling of elegance and sophistication. I love great food and service, I will be back! read more

Wally's Desert Turtle - Desert! - Steakhouses Near Me - Rancho Mirage, California

So glad we have a restaurant with nice elegance and great food. We celebrated our 35 th anniversary and was treated like a king and queen. We met with the grand daughter and what a beautiful person. Wish her all the success in her business. The servers and the food are incredible. In the back ground you have lovely music playing. What a wonderful nite we had. Thank you. 5 star plus plus read more

A classic 4-star restaurant. Not quite at the French Laundry/Fleur de Lys level, but then how many restaurants are ..? This place is really nice - truly a "special occassion" type of restaurant. The interior is gorgeous(check out their website), and their piano player busts out some fun songs from time-to-time. When we were there he played the Godfather theme at one point. The service is very formal and highly attentive. During our visit, we were greeted at least 6 times during dinner by the manager, owner, and various wait staff. The food is very, very good as is the wine list. I don't want to rattle off what we ate/drank ... just trust me, there is a lot to choose from, and it is all good. We floated out of here on a cloud (no, not alchol induced ha ha), and I was impressed enough to write this review. If you're vising Palm Springs for the weekend, I highly recommend Wally's - you won't be disappointed. Surprisingly, Turtle is not on the menu ... ;-) read more

Excellent! Rack of lamb, filet, sea bass with scallops,carpaccio, shrimp cocktails, salmon tartare, Dover sole, assorted soufflé all were excellent! Pricey figure $100.00 each plus drinks & gratuity! Live band dancing. Free parking read more

has always been a favorite other than one time. Went on a Friday for lunch and fashion show. Had a great fish lunch and modeling was also great. Bought lunch and two items. the place was packed. Try it. I am an interior designer and this place is upscale beautiful. I would not touch one thing. Elegant and classic read more

Great service, great faire, romantic atmosphere. Perfect for your special somebody's birthday, anniversary or any special occasion.

Okay, they say a four star restaurant, I'm not sure. The service was impeccable, the presentation was superb! The food.....well, as I was driving home, I really thought I had just experienced a dinner aboard a nice cruise ship. Nice, but I really don't think four star quality. Perhaps it was because I was in a group (we did take the whole restaurant over on what would generally be their last day before closing for the season) but given the fact that it was a pre-fix menu with only 3 en-trays to choice from (and had to do hat at the time of the reservation), it should have been top notch. read more

The food here is very delicious! My husband and I came here and we loved it ! We were there for 3hrs and we enjoyed every minute. They have live music and some people were dancing . Great service as well! I recommend. read more

Wally's Desert Turtle - Steakhouses Near Me - Rancho Mirage, California

CELIACS BEWARE. I told the waiter I was celiac. He said most everything could be made gluten free. I said that I prefer to order preparations that are already gluten free. He restated that most everything could be made gluten free. I ordered Dover Sole - one of their specialties. When served, I asked if flour was used to brown the fish. I was told no flour had been used. Half way through eating the fish, a waiter came up and took my plate stating there had been a mistake. All of the Dover Sole is dusted with flour and mine had been no exception! They returned with a pale bland piece of tasteless fish!!!! Needless to say, I was distraught... CELIACS BEWARE. read more

Didn't understand the hype. Caesar salad tasted like store bought dressing. The scallops was prepared in a way that just didn't fit together. The french onion soup was the best thing in my opinion. I also had the shrimp fettuccine and it was good but not great. Lastly the chocolate souffle was kinda gross. We were the youngest people by far in this restaurant. Its mostly a 70+ crowd read more

Like: Cozy, classy atmosphere. Excellent table service & valet. Great tasting Thanksgiving dinner! Dislike: A little pricey, but probably worth it for a special occasion or if you drive a Bentley. read more

Easter Brunch was fabulous. Had the halibut. Cooked perfect. Service was outstanding. Nicole and Michael are the perfect hosts. read more

Wally's Desert Turtle - The Alaskan Halibut for Easter Brunch. Just perfect! - Steakhouses Near Me - Rancho Mirage, California

A Palm Springs area classic. The ambience takes you back to what Palm Springs must have been like in the 50's. The food is excellent, although very expensive. The dover sole is excllent. My partner and I have spent two anniversaries here - they always provide us with a complimentary dessert with "Happy Anniversary" written in chocolate. Very Gay-friendly. The service is attentive but not intrusive. This is a place not to be missed - it is worth the 15 minute drive to Rancho Mirage. They close during the Summer (approximately June through October). This restaurant is so special that I postpone my birthday dinner for one month until they re-open. Upwards of $200 with tip total, but absolutely worth it. read more

Love the new menu, what an excellent shift for this icon of the desert! Excellent service from the bar staff. Bartender Bill put together some of the most amazing cocktails I have had in my life. It's always a pleasure to order drinks from someone who takes the time to craft their cocktails with care and precision. We will be back - I can see more dinners at Wally's in our future! read more

Delicious food. Incredible service. Memorable night. My husband and I celebrated our 1st wedding anniversary here...unbeknownst to the staff, they heard us talking about it and took such great care of us beyond anything we expected (even before they figured it out). Emma the host was so gracious seating us and also answering all my questions for next time. We actually met the owner Madeleine, it was such an honor I thought she was a manager but she informed me she owned it, and we were floored that we got to talk with her. Her conversation with us was so genuine and kind, she made sure our food tasted great and we really appreciate the time she took out of her night to listen to us ramble. Our server couldn't have been more accommodating (Lilly I think is her name) , she recommended the best drinks and appetizers, overall it was one of the best dinner experiences we have had in all our travels. Thank you to our friends at Wallys desert turtle! We will be back. O read more

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The food and service were exceptional. The owner actually came over to have a brief word which was very welcoming. If you're in the mood to dress up and enjoy great atmosphere, food and drink, you cannot do better. Exc - Food, service Good - Valet parking, atmosphere Ave - None Poor - None read more

My friend and I went there to celebrate her birthday after a show at the McCallum. She's a vegetarian and had a wonderful meal, and I enjoyed the rack of lamb. This is a restaurant that has perfected the art of fine dining. The wait staff is attentive yet does not hover. Order a drink and it comes almost immediately. A little while later the menus are presented. The entire experience made us feel so special. My only regret was that I forgot to present our theater tickets for the $25 discount, but that's on me not Wally's. I no longer live in the desert, but I would definitely drive the 80+ miles to dine there again. Oh! And do not forget to order one of their scrumptious dessert soufflés! We had the Valrhona Chocolate and Grand Marnier. Can't wait to try another next time!! A true 5-star dining experience. Thank you. read more

My husband and I ordered from Wally's last night. We have ordered from other upscale restaurants through this pandemic and have been disappointed in the food. Not at Wally's , everything was delicious. We had short ribs, Caesar salads and delicious desserts. And they packed them great and it was like eating in the restaurant. We will be back and I hope you order from them also. read more

Two stars because I HAVE experienced better! This is an uncomfortable review as it has been a year and a new chef since last going there. Michael (the owner's son) was gracious enough to comp me with a $50 coupon given my last experience. This time I brought a restaurant critic from L.A. I didn't brief her on my last experience and I was sincerely hoping that Wally's would live up to it's raves. It did not. Asking the waiter for a suggestion: he recommended the shrimp cocktail ($16.00) swearing that the shrimp were fresh..not fresh frozen. I disagree. The shrimp were your typical large bland shrimp with a tangy dipping sauce to resuscitate them. (I hate being lied to by a waiter.) He suggested the lamb done medium. It was and dry. After he asked how it was and I told him..he mentioned he would let the chef know but there was no offer to exchange it. ($50.00). The martini was a call drink @$13.00. My guest had an uninspired filet that was unremarkable and part of the restaurant week menu prix fixe @$38.00 and a mixed green salad (Belgian Endive, Baby Arugula, beets, toasted walnuts with a Sherry dressing) that was a mixed green salad. Ho hum. The included desert was a triple sorbet with fresh berries probably the best part and mine was a chocolate souffle, an airy delight ($12.00). I wanted to try the humanely killed (the waiter's remark) lobster but it had just left the current menu as they are closing for the summer. As an aside: if there is a stain on the table cloth..cover it with a clean napkin. Promptly remove "old" plates. A fresh napkin between the entree and desert wouldn't hurt either. One would think, after presenting the gracious "coupon" along with an apology that the on-site manager would have made it a point to check on the meal's progress thus being able to correct the mis-calls. Then, upon leaving, the valet parking attendant couldn't find my car. (It was parked virtually in front of the entrance) and after jogging around the back and back to the front he noticed us standing by the car and offered me the keys. Good grief, they have all summer to practice for another season of Rolls Royce's and Bentleys. read more

This is one of the finest restaurants I ever went to. We were visiting on a convention and had a reservation for a party of 12. They had a nice round table for us. We had a captain with 2 assistants constantly taking care of all our needs before we needed them. We were underdressed slightly compared to the other diners there. It was very fancy place. We weren't familiar with Palm Springs or this area. However, they treated us like gold. Our party managed to try everything almost. It was all extremely top notch. Some of the best variety and quality of food anywhere. The meal lasted 3 hours because we were having such a good time. Skip going to Morton's and try this local gem. It's about a 20 minute uber ride. Uber is great in Palm Springs. But be advised that they don't split checks easily here. Let them know up front. read more

I leave in the Coachella Valley and I have my favorite restaurants to go for special occasions so I do not dine here very often, even though I truly like it and recommend. And it's more a matter of convenience and comfortableness. Every time I went everything was appropriate: if I had reservations I was sat right away, service has been consistently good, food well executed. I enjoy my dining experience every time! read more

Here are some thoughts on my first visit to Wally's. What a great place to have a nice dinner in the Palm Springs area. Terrific ambiance. Soft lighting. Fantastic musician playing the saxophone. Strong cocktails. A mature mix of patrons. I sat at the bar and took it all in. The only concern I had is regarding the fact that apparently there has been a lot of turnover recently and everyone I saw working there was under 30, many of whom were recruited over from Stuft in La Quinta (pizza place). Just seemed a bit off to me. I would think a restaurant such as WallIy's would want a more seasoned staff with fine dining experience for the more mature, high end clientele. Overall a really lovely establishment. read more