This spot is a hidden gem, a diamond in the rough. When we sat down we knew it was a local family…read moreowned favorite...unlike all of the chains in the area that only care about your moment. We got great value for our money and the food was delicious. The pomodoro was like nothing I've had before. The scallops and shrimp were extra fresh and perfectly cooked. My wife got the beef bolognese which was good, though she liked my dish a lot more lol Service was very friendly and nice. They also give complimentary bread. It's a small hole in the wall spot, but definitely worth the visit. We'll be back next time we're in town. We can for the Jerry Seinfeld show 5/5 overall

Old school "red sauce" Americanized Italian. The marinara is decent enough, nothing special…read more Pasta is cooked to American tastes and is not exactly "al dente". The service is good, the prices reasonable. Decor is dated but clean. Parking is plentiful. If the "Italian" food version of the '50's to the 80's is what you or your out of town guests seek likely you'll enjoy Norma's.

This Italian Restaurant is off Highway 111 & Palm Desert drive…read more We got a reservation on Mother's Day last Sunday, as we enter we were warming & kindly greeted. As our host walked us back to our table. I noticed how beautiful, classy, chic, superb, super clean it was, and so wear the restrooms. This Italian restaurant is huge, Everything inside was super elegant! As we sat down, we were greeted by our waiter Jack. Jack asked us if we had any questions, he answered them all beautifully! So we ordered Bocconcini di Mozzarella Caprese, Shrimp Dijon della Casa, 2 Linguine alle Bolognese, Fresh Minestrone Zuppa, Gnocchi al Pesto, fettuccini Alfredo with chicken, Fettuccine Alfredo with sausage, Risotto Tutto Mare, Risotto con Funghi with chicken, 2 order king crab legs. Their signature Bread is so delicious!! Everything was so mouth watering & highly delicious!! Everything explodes in your mouth, the savory tastes, I wished I could have eaten more, I was full! I also want to make a note, I normally do not eat crab at all. Once I tried & tasted the king Crab I was floored it's the best crab I have ever had! On top of that, Uriel was constantly making sure are glasses of waters, sodas, alcohol were always full without us asking us he was on it ! Castelli's is now my #1 Italian place to go to! Highest quality of their food, portion size was incredible, hospitality amazing! Their price points are so spot on! I highly recommend anyone who looking a a fabulous & delicious place to eat please come here! Jack & Uriel were so polite, kind, sweet, caring, super down to earth ! These are your rare diamonds please treasure them well! I would love to Thank Castelli's & their staff for our wonderful Mother's Day Dinner, with deliciousness & awesomeness on the side! I would especially love to Thank Jack, Uriel, Juan for making sure we had everything we needed ! You guys Rock! We definitely will be back again!! Can't wait!! I'll tell all my Family & Friends to visit here! Please be kind & courteous to these hard workers

Castelli's is a large, popular spot in Palm Desert, with live music, a busy bar scene, and a menu…read morethat aims to hit just about every category of Italian-American cuisine, succeeding almost all of the time. The valet is friendly, the hosts are accommodating, and the entire staff of servers is polite, professional and proficient. It's a well-run enterprise, and locals surely appreciate the combination of quality and efficiency. We arrived early for our reservation, but were told our table was ready. To be honest, I was a tad disappointed that we were seated on the enclosed patio, which is a perfectly lovely area but totally removed from the live music and jovial energy of the main room. I could have requested a change, but seeing no seats available at the bar, I knew that a wait would be a duller affair, so we adjusted to the more subdued atmosphere. Our server, Robert (always polite and professional) was a bit harried at first, but warmed up as things went along and proved to be a most amiable waiter. The pour on my wife's glass of wine was astoundingly large (she never finished it), and though my martini had traditional dimensions, it was quite properly made and very satisfying. Everyone mentions Castelli's garlic bread, presented gratis where other places would provide plain bread & butter. But it's not just the price that's right; these slices of buttery, garlicky crostini are about as foodie fantastic as any bread service you're likely to get at a neighborhood spot. They're also the backbone of the appetizer I ordered: Escargot Italiano. When I asked what made the escargot "Italian" (fearing some deployment of tomatoes), I was told it was the usual preparation, but with crostini instead of shells. Well, that wasn't 100% true, as the preparation also included freshly shaved Parmesan cheese that emulsified the garlicky butter sauce, making it thicker, richer, and a much more luxurious bite. Using the house garlic toast to then soak up the extra sauce may have been gilding the lily, but I figure that was my compensation for not hearing the live music! For our main, my wife and I shared one of the daily specials: a trio of Filet Mignon Medallions served with a Marsala wine sauce over Fettuccini Alfredo (the house specialty pasta). This was a very generous portion that neither of us could have finished on our own, and the optimal entree for going halfsies. The fettuccini was quite properly prepared, with the al dante pasta clinging nicely to a rich, flavorful sauce. The beef was tender as can be and cooked to a good medium rare. This was very good steak... but... the Marsala sauce was off. My wife had no issues, but I found it very acidic and unpleasant. I don't know if there was an extra ingredient at play (balsamic?) or if the alcohol wasn't fully cooked out, but something made this sauce very sour to me, and it really undermined my enjoyment of the beef. Not a Cardinal sin, but I found myself wishing I'd ordered something else. So why am I still giving Castelli's 4 stars? Because so very much about the meal was 100% on point; a few miscalculations (whether theirs or ours) doesn't mean I wouldn't come back. I'd just be sure to sit inside, and I'd probably opt for the Veal Parmigiana, which looked darned near perfect when delivered to a neighboring table. And because the staff is doing good things... if one thing was off, they still deserve a bit of grace.

ONE OF THE BEST MEALS AND SERVICE IN MY LIFE. And i am old and have eaten in 1,000s of high end…read morerestaurants. Going back for my birthday and driving from Fresno. Can't wait. relatives coming from Chicago and Cincinnati and insist we go there.

Best buratta salad ever. Homemade pasta delicious. Our…read moreserver Joey was perfection and deserves a very large salary increase. Highly recommended this small, quaint and tasty restaurant.

Immaculate service and good Mamma Gina will always be my family and I favorite restaurant for…read moreall life celebrations. The special care and details they put into their food is just amazing. Their mussels and clams in red sauce just a fan favorite as well as their seafood pasta!

Ristorante Mamma Gina was an outstanding experience from start to finish. The restaurant has a very…read moreclassy, elegant interior with a charming ambiance that makes you feel welcome the moment you walk in. Our server, Francisco, was exceptional. He was incredibly patient, knowledgeable, and took the time to answer all of our questions and explain the dishes without ever making us feel rushed. His service was truly top-notch. The food was absolutely amazing--every dish was full of incredible flavor and perfectly prepared. A special mention goes to our son's fettuccine Alfredo, which was honestly the best I've ever tasted. It was rich, creamy, and absolutely delicious. The attention to detail throughout our meal really stood out. Our water glasses were never even close to empty, and the ice-cold water was constantly refreshed without us having to ask. From the outstanding food to the impeccable service, this was a five-star dining experience in every way. Thank you, Francisco, and the entire team at Ristorante Mamma Gina. We look forward to coming back the next time we're in Palm Desert!

This pizzeria has a great open-floor concept, with the bar as you enter in on the left, high-top…read moretables on the right, and plenty of group seating toward the back. The layout makes it feel welcoming whether you're stopping in for a casual date night, meeting up with friends, or bringing a larger group together. Bread is available upon request, and it arrives wrapped up in a cute little package, which was such a fun touch with so different garlic and red pepper olive oil to dip in. We ordered the Meat Lovers Pizza and the Meat Lasagna, and both were perfect choices for anyone who loves a hearty meal. The lasagna deserves a special mention because it comes topped with a sausage. Yes, a sausage right on top! For a meat lover, it's pretty heavenly. There was honestly nothing to pick apart about this dish. I loved every bit of it. The pizza was equally satisfying and packed with that classic meat-lover goodness. The service was great. Could be due to them not being super busy. They made their rounds a few times to make sure our empty cups and dishes were taken, refill on our bread if we wanted and anything else to make our visit satisfying. And if you're planning a party, they also offer mobile catering, which sounds like a fantastic option for your next celebration or gathering! Overall, a cozy and versatile pizzeria with good food, a setup that's good for casual and fancier celebrations but don't need to dress too fancy.

Just a mess from start to finish. Ordered through DoorDash and received a sloppy, greasy, oily mess…read morethat was completely inedible. To make matters worse, they sent the completely wrong pasta, leaving my family member with nothing to eat--which, honestly, was probably for the best. And apparently they don't have ranch. At a restaurant whose menu is roughly 80% salads. Make it make sense. Absolutely unacceptable food and execution. Save yourself the money and order literally anywhere else. Such a shame the desert truly has no good pizza!

This restaurant has such a cute interior and is perfect for pictures! I loved the atmosphere and…read morehow lively it was. The staff were super friendly, checked in on us multiple times, and helped us choose what to order. The Rigatoni Spicy Vodka Sauce was delectable! The pasta was cooked to perfection, and the sauce was rich, creamy, and flavorful. The portion was also quite large, and well worth the price ($26). The Rigatoni Bolgnese was also quite good. The flavor of the ragu is well developed, but a little salty for my taste. The portion was also quite large for the price ($28). I ordered the Spritz'ero and was pleasantly surprised by how much I liked it. It was bubbly and refreshing, and the flavors of the orange and grapefruit came together so well.

this restaurant is very cute! came in expecting to be served a brunch menu not dinner menu, but i…read morewas blown away with how good the rigatoni bolognese was! the tomatoes tasted fresh and it was all the right flavors! of course i ordered an espresso martini to pair with it!

Love this place and menu is just amazing... we read the owners story and we r so happy that during…read moreCovid they made it through. Great service too.

For my extended family out here in the outsize long-jump pit of Palm Desert, Sweet Basil has become…read morea go-to location for celebratory meals of late. Unlike so many other parts of trips out here - the oppressive heat, dodging careening buggies driven by seemingly lost and possibly inebriated golfers, and the discovery of sand in eyes / nose / shoes / liver - it's a tradition that sits very well with me. I'd even go as far as saying that the food here makes all of the above worthwhile. The restaurant has a car park to the rear and limited street parking in front. The interior has a lovely ambiance, quietly refined by subtle lighting and a gentle arboreal theme. I've seen it busy and our party has also had the place to ourselves on late visits, but I'd definitely recommend a reservation just in case especially with a larger party. The staff provide attentive and genuinely caring service, and the portion sizes are substantial and easily justify the more-than-reasonable cost. The food itself though is the reason this place is always a highlight reel spot for me. Every dish is a feast for the eyes as well as the palette, beautifully presented and packed with flavor. My personal go-to is the perfectly seasoned and healthy Harvest Salad, usually with an added protein (the blackened chicken adds a real flavor kick and the variety in texture that I love in great food). Fortunately my partner happily defaults to the opulent and delightful Lobster Lasagna, as I'd be loath to miss out on a bite or three of that too. Appetizer-wise, I'm yet to regret any soup-of-the-day choice. The Zucchini last night was... well... yep, perfect is no overstatement. Sweet Basil is an absolute gem, and a must-visit for any visitor here. The only even remotely negative things I can think to mention is to be aware of the rather early closing time for at least part of the year.

Wow!!! Just wow We…read morecame into town and someone recommended this place All 6 of us in agreement t way before we left this is hands down one of the best pizzas and food we have had in a long time! Geez!!!! Where has this place been? We ordered lots of different appetizers all good Salads we ordered the Caesar- it's a real Caesar so if you are not aware that Caesar dressing is made with anchovies then you are aware now... So this is like a real Caesar salad with thick buttery croutons and fresh shaved Parmesan cheese and anchovies! Fantastic was it Then the pizza was ordered Pepperoni with hot honey Fig and Pig (my personal favorite) Meat lovers Vegetarian All were terrific especially the Fig and Pig I'm not going into the flavor- I'll use all the same old boring adjectives and we would still be here without the pizza So just go and order some really good food! Ooh please save room for desert They were out of a couple to try from but the damn bread pudding was fabulous! I'm kinda sad I live an hour or more from here because I don't have anything like this at home! So I'll have to come back and this place will be on my list of eateries!!!! Ooh service- great! And the place it's self is decorated with none only a black cat- and I also own one of those so the decorating is damn cute, it's quieter and charming

Service is great, they're very warm and friendly here. Your water glass is never empty. I like the…read moreambiance here a lot. They have parodies of famous paintings on the wall but with a black cat insert into them. It's a fun touch. The wings were tender and juicy--solidly above average as they could've used a little stronger kick. The pizza here is very interesting and not for everyone. They bake it with cheese surrounding it. I'm not the biggest cheese guy so this was not an upside for me. Usually the crust is one of my favorite parts of pizza but here I had to cut it off because it had so much crispy cheese caked onto it. I did like how saucy the pizza was. I'm a fan of tomato sauce. Dough was tender too. Overall, I just wasn't the biggest fan of the way they do pizza here. I personally wouldn't come back as it wasn't my cup of tea but I could definitely see how it would be someone else's. I wouldn't discourage someone from giving this place a shot.

Pizza, Ceasar salad and clam chowder were all delicious! The hospitality was beyond amazing. Chef…read moreMario walking table to table asking how things were and chatting it up. Our waitress was very friendly. We are visting from out of town. On our way to a chain restaurant and thankful gps had us drive thru Mario's parking lot. We will definitely be back.

Ambience service & their home made food reminds me of when my mother cooked at home for me.read more

Dined with them last evening and what a wonderful experience! From the moment we walked in, we felt…read morelike we were part of a family. Our server was gracious and attentive providing excellent care for our group. The restaurant is cozy and warm with interesting art work creating a comfortable ambiance. The beverages of wine and martinis were awesome. The meal...OMG! I don't know where to begin. From the bread, to the fresh bruschetta salad and then the entrees of chicken picotta, sea bass in linguine pasta and the pork chop....each was superbly prepared and presented. Finally the dessert...tiramisu. I'm not sure there are enough superlatives to describe how delicious it was. This is a must try restaurant if you enjoy truly authentic Italian cuisine.

If interjecting Italian words when interacting with customers made for an authentic culinary…read moreexperience, this place would win. Sadly, the food is quite underwhelming overall, catering more to the average American palate than truly representing Italian style. This seems to be the average for the valley, with a few exceptions. The service was good, and the calamari steak was fine. The gnocchi were drenched in a heavy soupy sauce and lacked flavor (adding butter to tomato is a no go shortcut), and the overall ingredient quality was mediocre. The third dish, a fonduta, was prepared incorrectly. It must be served with a heat source underneath to stay creamy; otherwise, it turns into a solid chunk of cheese within minutes. WHich it did. It was not an awful experience, but definitely not true Italian cuisine. I will not return.