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    Backstreet Bistro

    3.6 (327 reviews)
    ModerateItalian
    Closed 12:00 pm - 8:00 PM

    Order Backstreet Bistro Takeout or Delivery

    Backstreet Bistro Photos

    Business Info

    BACKSTREET BISTRO ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Good for kids
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - Backstreet Bistro

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    Chicken Marsala
    Traci J.

    We were excited to try a new Italian restaurant and Backstreet was recommended by some local folks we played golf with earlier in the week. I'm not sure how long the restaurant has been around but the server said they only offered beer and wine and were waiting on a full license. Yelp says the Chicken Marsala is a favorite item so that's what I had my heart set on. The menu description: Lightly Floured Then Pan Seared with Wild Mushroom Marsala Sauce, Julienned Vegetables & Golden Mashed Potatoes What I got: A sort of dry chicken breast with grill marks and a little bit of sauce with a couple mushrooms that seemed like it was thickened with cornstarch. I know I should have said something to the server, but then what? The place was cute and staff friendly.

    Dinner
    Jeff L.

    Love this place so much. Whenever we are in the desert this is our go to Italian restaurant. Service is always great. Multiple people taking care of you. Served fresh cut parmigiano reggiano cubes as soon as we were seated. Warm bread delicious butter this place is a winner. Lobster ravs and vodka sauce. Excellent Caesar's salad awesome and fresh. The meatballs like homemade. Always fresh delicious desserts. We love this place and whenever we can we support local. Give them a break they are fresh and provide good service they do get busy because the product is good and the owners care about the customers and the community.

    Hayley S.

    This was my second time in (4/5/2025). The first time I went, the food was a bit better than this last time. It was a slower Saturday night, I'm glad I was seated right away. The waiter was friendly and didn't bombard me. I ordered the fries and margarita pizza. The crust wasn't crispy and the cheese wasn't melted that well, but the fries were excellent. As someone who's picky about pizza (I lived in New York for a bit), this wasn't up to my west coast standards.

    Coconut Shrimp 11/2025
    Priscilla Z.

    Have been here a few times & really like this place. Not sure if there's a new cook but my favorite Linguine Rustica dish & coconut shrimp were not as flavorful as usual. This appetizer was better when served with the Colossal shrimp.

    Dana K.

    This was our first visit to this restaurant..We had a reservation for a group of 7 ...The host was very welcoming on the couple of calls I had made to make sure of the reservation... ..The only downside was that the tables were kinda crammed in, but it was doable ..Also wish they had their liquor license.. I do like my cocktails Between the 7 of us, we ordered the Rueben sandwich, the BLTA, the Italian salad, the chicken ciabatte and a couple orders of bruschetta...Everybody really liked their food, but the bruschetta was the best I had ever had...Finished up with the chocolate molten cake, which was a nice finish...On our list to visit again

    Great place to come on a rainy day

    We had a wonderful lunch at backstreet bistro. I had the beet salad, which was the best beet salad I've ever had with more things added to it then I'm used to there was some asparagus. I think there was some tomato there was almond. I believe some type of cheese. It was excellent the other three people in my party. All had the lasagna and liked that a lot too we can't wait to go back and highly recommend it initially they were going to give me a balsamic dressing but they saw I didn't seem to like it so they offered me other dressings which was wonderful.

    Rosi D.

    My husband and I frequent the Backstreet Bistro during the season they are open. Diane, who is now one of the managers has been the reason we return time and time again! The staff is all well trained on being proactive to remove dirty dishes and fill water glasses, breadbaskets and cheese dish. The patio is beautiful with its twinkling lights and of course, the food is phenomenal! Today we had the chicken piccata and lentil soup... both were fantastic!

    Beautiful place to lunch.  Saying goodbye to a dear friend for the summer season.
    Rochelle C.

    I made my second visit to Backstreet Bistro and it did not disappoint. This time I ordered the beet salad with chicken and the margarita flatbread. The food is amazing. Big portions and delicious. Again the fresh bread is tasty and plentiful. Our waiter gave us incredible service and our drinks were kept filled. The service here is excellent and the ambiance and food as well are delightful. The prices are extremely reasonable and a great value. I have no idea why this place isn't lined up with people wanting to eat here. I will be back again and again. I've found my jewel of the desert. And I haven't tried their desserts but they look enticing. Check this place out.

    Pan roasted salmon.

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    1 month ago

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    4 months ago

    Nice outdoor dining. My chicken salad sandwich needed much more chicken salad. Quite empty. Other man loved his angel hair pasta. Fabulous.

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    2 months ago

    Service was perfect, staff friendly, food was outstanding! First time there and it did not disappoint!

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    2 months ago

    Terrible food Veal was tough. Spicy shrimp too hot. Bruschetta had watery tomatoes. Restaurant too noisy.

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    5 months ago

    OUTSTANDING! Great service. Great pasta at a realistic price. A very comfortable setting, both inside and out. We will be back.

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    Page 1 of 9

    Ask the Community - Backstreet Bistro

    Is the patio dog friendly?

    Yes it is

    I believe you are fully reopened now right? Just wondering since yelp still says temporarily closed until March of 2023.

    They're open daily for lunch and dinner.

    How is the food?

    It's fabulous!

    View All 7 Questions

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    Castelli's - Pasta that comes with each entree

    Castelli's

    4.0(747 reviews)
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    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

    Nice old style Italian Restaurant in Palm Desert. Our concierge recommended this restaurant and…read moretold us it was very upscale and we would have to dress appropriately. The food was good, but the ambience was more casual than our concierge described. We went on a Friday in March, so mainly stuck to seafood. Mussels were great and the minestrone was OK- it was very heavy on vegetables and too light on other typical ingredients. The Alfredo pasta was good and our excellent waiter, Jack, recommended it highly!! The shrimp dish was disappointed given the quality, quantity, and price of the dish. Was a bit overcooked, scrimped on the shrimp in the scampi, for the price. Desert was very good. I found it lacking the authenticity, but priced as if a NY, NJ, or Boston Italian venue, but was great for Palm Desert!

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    Castelli's - Cozy seating in the outer area with great Italian ambience

    Cozy seating in the outer area with great Italian ambience

    Castelli's - Garlic Bread and Wine

    Garlic Bread and Wine

    Castelli's

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    Piero's PizzaVino - Pollo Pizza

    Piero's PizzaVino

    4.1(1.4k reviews)
    0.9 mi
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    We had a wonderful dinner last night here! We walked in and only had to wait around 10 minutes for…read morea party of 4. Our waitress Orissa was FANTASTIC! She made our experience great, was super kind, and was just fun. We had a hard time deciding on what to order since there were so many great options. Both my kids crushed their meals and really liked their choices- cheese pizza and chicken tenders and fries. They were stoked that the meal also came with a dessert option at the end. I ordered the burrata bolognese and it was 10/10. One of my favorite dishes of the trip. My husband got the spaghetti with meatball which was great, but he wished it would have maybe ventured out. We liked our Chianti bottle we ordered and it paired well with our meal. Overall we had great service, wonderful food, including the bread service- you have to ask for which including a chili infused oil olive which was so tasty. Highly recommended checking this place out!

    I am writing to share a deeply disappointing experience at your establishment. My father, who is 86…read moreyears old and has a physical disability, was looking forward to visiting after hearing about your happy hour from friends. Upon arrival, we were informed that happy hour is only available in the bar area, which we understood completely. However, the bar area exclusively features high-top tables, which my father is unable to use due to his disability. When I explained this and requested a low-top table as an accommodation, we were told that no alternative could be provided. I want to respectfully but firmly note that failing to provide accessible seating options for guests with disabilities is not only a gap in hospitality -- it may also raise concerns under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which requires places of public accommodation to make reasonable modifications for individuals with disabilities. I hope you will take this feedback seriously and make the necessary changes. We drove down the street to another establishment who gladly made the accommodations.

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    Piero's PizzaVino - Eating in the patio! Amazing ambience.

    Eating in the patio! Amazing ambience.

    Piero's PizzaVino - Meat Balls "Napoli Style"

    Meat Balls "Napoli Style"

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    Porta Via - Caviar service with chips

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    We found a gem! When you walk into this beautiful restaurant it feels mid-century modern Palm…read moreSprings style. The wood and green earth tones make it feel like a cozy living room in the desert. The service was very attentive from the moment we walked in. We had a reservation, arrived 15 minutes early and they were able to seat us immediately. Our waitress was very kind and helpful with recommendations from the menu. The drinks were delicious and very well balanced. We had the meatballs, Miso Chilean Sea bass, chicken Pollard, kids salmon and steak. The kids ate everything. It was our daughter's birthday and they brought us out a beautiful treat for her so we could sing Happy Birthday. Highly recommended! Thank you for a beautiful experience!

    Porta Via offers a perfect setting right in the heart of El Paseo's high-end shopping district. The…read morerestaurant is beautifully designed, featuring a welcoming, open-air flow that perfectly captures the desert aesthetic. It clearly caters to a sophisticated crowd--very similar in vibe to their Calabasas location. While parking is accessible in the rear, it can get congested during peak season. The menu is extensive with plenty of excellent selections, though the pricing is definitely premium. For instance, a Cobb salad topped with fish can easily exceed $45; while the quality is high, that's a significant jump over nearby staples like Daily Grill. Service was friendly but lacked consistency; our server disappeared mid-meal without a hand-off, requiring us to flag down other staff. Overall, it's a bright, airy, and stylish spot well worth a visit, provided you're prepared for the 'luxury' price point.

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    Porta Via - The dining room

    The dining room

    Porta Via - Mussels

    Mussels

    Porta Via - Booth seating

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    Black Cat Pizza

    Black Cat Pizza

    4.5(232 reviews)
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    Black Cat Pizza is the kind of place you almost don't want to tell people about because then you'll…read morehave to wait longer for a table. Total hidden gem in Palm Desert. Their Detroit-style pizza is THICK, crispy, cheesy perfection. We ordered the Pepperoni & Spicy Honey and the Pig & Fig pizza, and honestly, I'm still emotionally attached to both. The spicy honey situation should probably be studied by scientists. Sweet, spicy, crispy pepperoni edges... absolutely dangerous. And the Pig & Fig somehow made figs belong on pizza without causing an international incident. Service was awesome too -- friendly, fast, and somehow patient while we stared at the menu pretending we weren't already ordering too much food. But you know what's real plot twist? The leftovers were AMAZING the next day after reheating. Most leftover pizza tastes like regret. This tasted like a reward. Black Cat Pizza has officially ruined mediocre pizza for me forever.

    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

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    Black Cat Pizza - Airy bread with super crispy crust

    Airy bread with super crispy crust

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    Trattoria Tiramisu - Linguine con le vongole.

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    4.2(162 reviews)
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    This place is the real deal. The atmosphere is warm and inviting, the staff treats you like family,…read moreand every detail feels thoughtfully done. The food is exceptional. You can immediately tell everything is made from scratch with high quality ingredients. The pasta is perfectly cooked, the sauces are rich and balanced, and the flavors are simple in the best possible way, authentic, not overcomplicated. What really sets this place apart is the authenticity. Nothing feels forced or commercialized. It's just honest, traditional Italian cooking done extremely well. Easily one of the best Italian meals I've had outside of Italy. Can't recommend it enough.

    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.

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    Backstreet Bistro - italian - Updated May 2026

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