graymale "Palm Springs Foodie"

To celebrate our 20th Anniversary we went with friends to our favorite restaurant in Palm Springs, Copley’s on Palm Canyon. Always lovely, this restaurant has never failed us. Tonight was no exception.

Juliana Manion Copley welcomed us warmly and we began with some wine and cocktails. Steve had the chilled Summer Pea Soup & Asparagus, while I had the Peking Duck & Warm Artichoke Salad, and James & Richard the Tossed Green Salad with Figs to start. The specials for the evening appealed to us too; and we went with the Braised Short ribs, Walnut Crusted Halibut with Lobster, and Roasted Fillet of Scottish Salmon. All excellent. Desert was shared with an Apple Tart and a trio of Pistachio, Cinnamon and Ginger ice cream. Another wonderful evening at Copley’s courtesy of Executive Chef & Co-Owner Andrew Manion Copley.

Well from the news these past few weeks, you wouldn’t think this would be a good time to open a huge (10,000 sq ft), new, sleek restaurant; especially one that has been built from the ground up. But that is just what has happened this week here in Palm Springs when Dink’s Restaurant and Ultra Lounge opened on Monday, and it has had people talking. (DINK: Double Income No Kids).

Yesterday, our former neighbor, Bob, Steve and I went to check it out for lunch. When we arrived we were given the whole tour of the place, it is gorgeous. This is the first brand new restaurant built from scratch in Palm Springs in many years, and its design and architecture certainly take advantage of the views of the mountains, as well as being a “green” building. Carol Saba, CEO of IDH INC. was contracted to build the shell structure with Michael Owings, owner of MDO Hospitality, Inc of Palm Desert, to design the kitchen and the restaurant’s interior.

The menu was a pleasant surprise as well. Made up of a variety of sandwiches, burgers, pizza, salads, small plates, as well as a few more substantial items after 5 pm, the prices were very reasonable too. We started out with some Salmon Pate Dip with Blinis that was served with chopped red onions and capers. The flavor was fine, more like a salmon cream cheese, but the cold blinis didn’t do it for me. Each of us had different items for lunch, Bob had a sandwich, Steve a salad, and I went for the Crab and Avocado Quesadillas that was served with two stuffed small chili peppers and some nice salsa. The quesadillas were done with spinach tortillas and had a very delicate flavor that blended the avocado and crab together. The chili peppers were hot and I was glad I had a Corona to cool my mouth down.

The service was impeccable. There seemed to be a lot of waitstaff, which is good but can make your expenses high, and there were no awkward moments that often happen when restaurants first open. You could tell their training had been extensive. They were attentive without being on top of you and the food runners kept the diet coke and iced tea flowing.

We didn’t try any of the wonderful sounding drinks or desserts, but I am sure we’ll be back some evening to lounge in the fabulous outdoor space.

Manhattan in the Desert is Palm Springs’ more upscale deli. Ever since this deli opened about three years ago, it is always mobbed. Never mind if it is breakfast, lunch or dinner, the parking lot is full and you usually have to wait; often though for only a few minutes. Of course while you are waiting you are face-to-face with their humongous deserts and pastries; each of which could easily serve two to three.

Being that it was a rainy evening I think brought out everyone who had been home going stir crazy. Our waiter was swamped, mostly with very fussy older customers, but the hostess was right on the ball and came over to greet us and take our order. (Our busser had already brought over water and the ubiquitous tray of pickles and sourkraut.)

I ordered a cup of the Mish Mash Soup (chicken with rice, carrots, noodles, matzo ball and kreplach) and my partner had the Beef Barley Soup. My soup was delicious. Just right for a damp night. No need for the saltines that they served with it however.

From there I went on to a half a pastrami sandwich on rye with potato salad, and Steve had the chicken liver and onions with veggies and mashed potato. The pastrami was just right; warm and moist, and Steve’s liver and onions had everything he liked about them too; crispy and tender and lots of flavor.

Our waiter returned and he was still charming after a long day of fussy customers, and used his sense of humor with the desert tray to make everyone feel good. We settled on a piece of five-layer chocolate cake with raspberry and chocolate frosting to split between us when we got home. The cake was just a decadent as Jane Austen’s Mansfield Park that we watched while consuming it with a cup of coffee.

Coming out of The Secret Life of Bees, I was actually hungry for southern cooking, but my friends weren’t up for it. We decided to walk a few blocks to a favorite, Café Amusé.

Getting there shortly before the kitchen closed, the server was bubbly and energetic and said of course they could accommodate us.

We did listen to the specials, but instead went with items on the regular menu. Crab cake, Beef Stroganoff and Strip Steak. All were prepared well and served to us very quickly. The flavors of the stroganoff were wonderful with lavendar scent and the sauce and French fries with the strip steak excellent.

Dessert was a shared Banana Bread Pudding with Chantilly Cream and Chocolate Sauce. Yum

Recently reopened after their summer hiatus, Café Amusé is the perfect place for lunch. (Brunch was great too; the last time I was there.)

Located across from the Spa Hotel this casual restaurant provides French-influenced American cuisine for breakfast, lunch & dinner.

Currently, Wednesday through Friday, for lunch they have a special of three “mini” bites for $10 that includes both salads and sandwiches. Each of the three of us went for this idea.

I had the Caesar salad, Rare Roast Beef Sandwich with Irish Sharp Cheddar Cheese, Heirloom Tomatoes, Romaine, Horseradish Mayo, Pommery Mustard on Sourdough, and the Andalusian Sandwich with Paquillo Peppers, Manchego Cheese, Grilled Eggplant, Zucchini, Fennel, Roasted Garlic, Basil Aioli, Picholine Olive Tapenade, Arugula on Ciabata.

My other two friends had "The Wilker” salad (Pine Nut Crusted Goat Cheese, served warm, with Baby Spinach, Pickled Red Onions, Fresh Blackberries and White Balsamic Vinaigrette), mini-burger and the Andalusian sandwich.

We also shared a (small) bowl of Vichyssoise that came with some nice herbs and olive oil on top. We also considered the Carrot Cake, but at the last minute decided our lunch had been just right.

This hotel restaurant located in the Spa Hotel serves your typical breakfast, lunch and dinner fare. If you are staying at the hotel or using the Spa it is a fine place to pop in for a bite.

For a business lunch I had the Hot Pastrami Sandwich that came with either French fries, potato salad or cole slaw. My partner went with the Tuna Sandwich that came with the same.

Very inexpensive and the service was fine.

Going to Davey’s is like going to your family’s ancestral home for that fancy meal. The food is a bit better than your mother or grandmother made, but the atmosphere and food are what you imagine it should be.

Currently they are running a special dinner price of $21.95 (6 to 9 pm) that includes soup or salad, entree, desert and coffee.

The four of us enjoyed ourselves immensely, over cocktails, and hot warm sourdough bread.

To start, one of us chose a green salad with blue cheese on the side, two of us Caesar salad (one with anchovies and one without), and the other gazpacho.

For our entrees, two of us had the “Sand Dabs” with baked potato and vegetable, another the Veal Picatta with pasta, and I had the Prime Rib with garlic mashed potato.
Each of us enjoyed our meal, not leaving a drop.

For dessert we all had Orange Sherbet and coffee.

It wasn’t to die for, but it was very good.

I had never been to Thai Smile, but have heard about it for more than a year. Before leaving Boston I had gotten my fill of Thai food, especially Pad Thai, so hadn’t been in a Thai restaurant for a while.

Today went there for a business lunch and was not disappointed. I didn’t have the Pad Thai though so can’t compare it to other Thai restaurants I’ve eaten in.

Got there a bit early and even though there were only two of us, got a nice booth (already set for four) in the front window. The hostess was most accommodating and pleasant.

They brought us iced tea right away (even without asking) and when we said water would be fine, they returned with that. Each of our lunch specials came with either soup or salad. I had the soup. Nice and hot with chunks of chicken, vegetables and a nice broth. Our entrees were also both well seasoned and very ample.

I’d go back, especially for lunch.

As of Saturday, October 4, 2008, this restaurant has closed permanently.