Sheri’s Palm Springs Area Blog

Dining Around The Desert: Lavender Bistro, La Quinta

by Sheri Dettman

Over the last two years, my husband Bill and I have dined at Lavender Bistro on a regular basis. With all the positive feedback from our clients and friends, we thought we’d review it this time around, as well, since it’s one of our local favorites.

An Old-Town La Quinta Favorite
Lavender Bistro is a Mediterranean-style restaurant that opened in late ‘08 in Old Town La Quinta in the former space of Blend Restaurant. Lavender Bistro is owned by Nicolas Despras, a young man who has learned the trade by working closely with his father, Michel Despras, owner of Le St. Germain Restaurant in Indian Wells.

Bill enjoys the pork chop, which is one of Lavender’s house specialties. I lean towards the bar ‘small bites’ menu and usually rotate between the Tuna Tacos and the Roasted Beet Salad. From time to time I indulge in one of Lavender’s excellent seafood or pasta dishes.

Extensive Patio Dining Available
Lavender’s extensive patio dining area is hard to beat on warm desert evenings. Tuesday nights feature is half-price wine by the bottle. The Lavender bar menu includes a wide variety of appetizers for around $8. Dress is casual and live piano music is offered on weekends.

Although the Lavender is not easy to find for those not familiar with Old Town La Quinta, it is certainly worth a visit. It is located at 78073 Calle Barcelona, just down the street from Arnold Palmer's restaurant and, just across from the Homestead Restaurant. (760) 564-5353.

> View ALL Desert Dining Suggestions Here

Dining Around The Desert – Pacifica, Palm Desert

Pacifica is one of the larger dining establishments in the valley. Pacifica features an outside patio, a fairly large bar area with high-top tables for dining, and, of course, the main dining room.

Pacifica’s wine list is extensive and offers selections in all price ranges. Whenever my husband, Bill, and I dine in the bar area we often meet some very interesting people. A vodka bar is also featured offering 130 of the world’s finest vodkas.

For such a large venue I must say the Pacifica usually does a fine job providing good food, service, and an appealing atmosphere. While this isn’t fine dining, it’s usually well above average.

On our recent visit to Pacifica we sampled several appetizers, a salad, and a main course. My mussels were excellent, but our other appetizers were overcooked and dry. That said the sauces were excellent. Bill rated his yellowtail as “nothing special.”

Service was good for a busy night, although the courses of food did take a while to arrive. Upon completion of our meal our server asked us if everything was to our satisfaction. I gave her my honest assessment of the food and, within minutes, Mitch, the general manager and managing partner, came over and apologized. He also deducted all of our food from our bill before heading back to his kitchen to investigate.

We know from past visits that this particular experience at Pacifica was a rarity for us. We will certainly return and give Pacifica another try. In our several earlier visits to Pacifica we enjoyed a variety of fish from the extensive daily menu as well as some yummy salads and appetizers.

Pacifica Seafood Restaurant is located upstairs on the second level of The Gardens at El Paseo shopping center and reservations are suggested. Pacifica Seafood Restaurant: 73505 El Paseo, Palm Desert (760) 674-8666. Consider also enjoying live jazz next door at Sullivan’s Steak House before or after your meal.

Suggestion: If you’re interested in food and travel, consider seeing Anthony Bourdain at the McCallum Theater in Palm Desert on February 19th at 8PM. Mr. Bourdain is a chef and the author of Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly. He also hosts Travel Channel’s Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations. 

> View ALL Desert Dining Suggestions Here