Reminders and Pleas
It is time for my annual reminder that many local restaurants reduce their hours or take breaks during the summer months. Please check websites or call before heading out—especially if it’s early in the week.
Another annual reminder: Families with school-age children who qualify for free and reduced-price meals through CalFresh, CalWORKS or Medicare, as well as children attending Head Start, experiencing homelessness, living in foster care or considered runaways, are enrolled in the SUN Bucks program, which provides $120 per eligible child to help families buy food during the three months of summer. Getting SUN Bucks does not affect a family’s immigration status, and children who get SUN Bucks can still participate in other food-assistance programs. To learn more, visit cdss.ca.gov/sun-bucks.
Next, I want to address a disturbing trend of folks going online and bashing restaurants in their first weeks after opening—or even before they open. Opening a restaurant (or any business) is difficult, even for those with lots of experience. Please give folks who are brave enough to open a new place a fair shot. If you can’t tolerate a few mistakes, give new restaurants time to work out the kinks before you try them.
Second Locations
Mi Cultura, the popular Colombian-Peruvian restaurant in Palm Desert, is opening a sister restaurant: Mi Cultura Indio, at 45238 Oasis St., in Indio. I remember a Colombian friend telling me it was the best Colombian food he’d had outside of Bogotá. Keep an eye on miculturacuisine.com for updates.
Indio’s KimKey Shrimp and Seafood Boil has opened a second location at 34272 Date Palm Drive, in Cathedral City. You choose your seafood, flavor profile, spice level and add-ons (potatoes, corn, ramen, etc.), and they bring it to you to enjoy. Learn more at www.instagram.com/kimkey_shrimp.
Fish lovers, rejoice! Guamúchil, the popular sushi and seafood restaurant in Coachella, is opening a second location in the former IHOP space at 471 S. Indian Canyon Drive, in Palm Springs. The food on their Instagram looks pretty amazing; check it out at instagram.com/mariscosguamuchil.
In Brief
The Pink Cabana, at 44985 Province Way, in Indian Wells, has launched a series of special dinners from June 30 through July 21: Tagine Tuesdays, featuring slow-cooked Moroccan food. Each week, a special three-course menu will feature a different protein with accompaniments, all for $65 per person, with a curated optional wine pairing for $20 more. See the complete menus and make reservations at sandshotelandspa.com/dining-bar.
A new gastro pub has opened at the Renaissance Esmeralda Resort and Spa, at 44400 Indian Wells Lane, in Indian Wells. Seven Olive features brick-oven pizza, as well as pub classics highlighting California products. Learn more at sevenolive.com.
Tacos La Fogata has opened at 84400 Indio Blvd., in Indio, offering an assortment of meats available in tacos, burritos and quesadillas. Get details at tacoslafogata.com.
The Brunch Club is coming to 72047 Dinah Shore Drive, in Rancho Mirage. I assume they are serving breakfast and lunch (or they have made a horrible mistake in choosing the name), but a message left via social media for clarification had not been returned as of this writing. Follow www.instagram.com/thebrunchclub.rm for updates.
The folks behind Heyday Burger are preparing to open a new restaurant called Charly’s Neighborhood, at 2455 N. Palm Canyon Drive, in Palm Springs. For now, they’re not saying much; there’s speculation the concept could include pizza, but nothing has been confirmed. For the latest updates, follow instagram.com/charlys_neighborhood.
Alice B., at the Living Out community, at 1122 E. Tahquitz Canyon Way, in Palm Springs—the restaurant from chefs Susan Feniger and Mary Sue Milliken—has earned a Michelin Guide mention, bringing the local number of included restaurants to nine! Learn more at www.aliceb.com.
Spencer’s, the classic Palm Springs restaurant at 701 W. Baristo Road, has been sold to Nachhattar Singh Chandi, founder and CEO of the Chandi Group USA, which, among other things, owns many fast-food franchises in the Coachella Valley. Chandi is also a major contributor to President Donald Trump, a fact that does not sit well with some (now former) Spencer’s customers; www.spencersrestaurant.com.
New at 127 E. Amado Road, in Palm Springs: Palm Asia Mart sells to-go sushi made to order, as well as chips, sodas, ramen and other prepackaged foods. Learn more at instagram.com/palmasiamart.
Palm Springs staple Billy Reed’s is in escrow as of this writing. The Desert Sun reports that the new owners, Josh Jennings and Michael Levey, are longtime fans of the restaurant, at 1800 N. Palm Canyon Drive, and don’t plan major changes, although I can’t imagine they won’t put their own stamp on the place; billyreedsps.com.
South of the Border, at 11719 Palm Drive, in Desert Hot Springs, is under new ownership, and people are saying positive things online; find the restaurant’s Facebook page to learn more.
Super Taco, at 67778 E Palm Canyon Drive, in Cathedral City, seems to have closed.
In other Cathedral City taco news: My current favorite, Elvira’s Taqueria, at 69115 Ramon Road, Suite F, is expanding into the space next door! I am particularly obsessed with their birria, be it in taco, torta or ramen form; elvirastaqueria.com.
Have restaurant news? Reach out: foodnews@cvindependent.com.
