Palm Springs
Johannes
For more than 20 years, Austrian-born chef Johannes Bachner has delighted Palm Springs diners with whimsical approaches to European fare, such as a shrimp cocktail with his secret sauce, meatballs in a fragrant yellow curry, and an “ultimate cheese” spätzeln. Save room for his mother’s apple strudel. johannespalmsprings.com
Cathedral City
Trilussa Ristorante
When craving well-done Italian cuisine without a Palm Springs or El Paseo price tag, Trilussa is at the ready with sexy salads (romaine wedge, caprese), classics pastas (lasagna Bolognese, spaghetti and meatballs), and not-to-be-missed desserts (bomba, tiramisu). trilussarestaurant.com
Palm Desert
Jillian’s
Named after owners June and Jay Trubee’s daughter, Jillian’s is a romantic haven housed in a historic 1940s hacienda. The menu is populated with classic dishes like Scottish salmon wrapped in parchment and rack of Colorado lamb. The al fresco center courtyard is always popular, and the intimate interior dining rooms are equally adorable. jilliansfinedining.com
Indian Wells
Vicky’s of Santa Fe
Inside an adobe-style building with tile floors, wood-plank ceilings, and copper lamps is a prime venue for enjoying glasses of wine, craft cocktails, and dinners of chops, steaks, seafood, and pasta. Several nights a week, family-owned Vicky’s transforms into a supper club with live entertainment. vickysofsantafe.com
La Quinta
Lavender Bistro
An essential dining experience in La Quinta, Lavender Bistro serves new American dishes — wild mushroom soup, pistachio-crusted rack of lamb, raspberry mousse tulip, to name a few — with French twists. The twinkling lights-filled patio was built with amore in mind. lavenderbistro.com
Indio
The Bistro
Above the bustling casino floor at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino, beyond a set of Craftsmen-style double doors, this cozy steakhouse features a menu made up of much more than T-bones and porterhouses. There’s sea bass glazed in miso and sake, meatloaf constructed with Kobe beef, and Long Island duck crisped to perfection. fantasyspringsresort.com