This Italian Restaurant is off Highway 111 & Palm Desert drive. 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 read more

See all

Castelli's is a large, popular spot in Palm Desert, with live music, a busy bar scene, and a menu that 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. read more

See all

Came here with my family to celebrate, made a last minute reservation on their website for 815pm. Tried to go for something earlier but for the size of our party it pushed out the time. I noticed the restaurant closes at 9 so it was already interesting to see they were taking reservations past 815. We got there and were greeted very nicely. Sat down and was enjoying the atmosphere, we had a lovely, patient, accommodating waiter Jose. About 20 minutes past by and we were suddenly told by our host that hats weren't allowed in the restaurant. Everything was fine and dandy we tried to make ends meet and work around that. My bf left to get something more appropriate. Few things... it is not posted/listed on the restaurant establishment or website, OR YELP that there is any sort of dress code. We also weren't told while entering/before being seated about this "rule". Throughout the time waiting for my bf to figure something out, it felt very rushed to order. I am not here to complain about the rule, it just would've been nice to see it listed anywhere beforehand OR we could've been informed before sitting down. Mainly writing this review for others, especially those visiting from out of town of this "policy" before having an awkward/rushed experience. Food wise: complimentary garlic bread definitely didn't taste fresh. Tasted as if old bread was microwaved. We ordered calamari as an app, and it was very crispy and tasty!! I ordered the spaghetti bolognese with meatballs, the pasta was overcooked. If the noodles were al dente i think it would've been a solid meal. Also ordered cocktails, just ordered normal margaritas. Do not expect craft cocktails! Margaritas were very sweet and tasted very much like margarita mix. Overall, i believe the calamari was the star of tonight, and a special shout out to Jose! read more

Great old school style Italian restaurant. The drinks are strong and the food is fantastic. Some of the best Osso buco I've ever eaten. The hubby had the veal parm and it was very tender. read more

Castelli's - Veal Vitello Alla Parmigiana - Italian Near Me - Palm Desert, California

Nice old style Italian Restaurant in Palm Desert. Our concierge recommended this restaurant and told 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! read more

Recently went here with friends, on a Monday night, for dinner. I'm a local, and haven't been here in a while, because of bad experiences in the past. Garlic bread was dry, as if it was old bread trying to be revived. Veal parm was dry & burnt on the bottom. It was definitely not fresh. It tasted like it was reheated. The pasta marinara that came with it was garbage. I'm Italian, and sauce had absolutely no taste. My friends were disappointed with their meals, too. Last time I'll go to this place. So many better restaurants in the valley. Won't be going back to Castelli's. read more

Great little Italian place! A bit pricey, but the service was wonderful and the food was delicious. My husband ordered the Linguine Di Mare and I ordered the Linguine Alle Bolognese. We both thoroughly enjoyed our meals. But the cheesecake we ordered for dessert was the hit of the evening! Highly recommend. read more

Castelli's - Linguine Di Mare - Italian Near Me - Palm Desert, California

See all

Excellent Old School Italian restaurant. It took them 15 mins or so to seat us past our reservation but the service was great once seated. The complimentary garlic bread is excellent, and they brought us sharing plates to split the salads we ordered. The salads feed 2-3 each. The entrees were very large portion sizes. I liked my ravioli florentine and others enjoyed a chicken piccata, a veal Parmesan, and a linguine bolognese. For dessert we split the tiramisu and NY cheesecake - for me the cheesecake was the winner there. The water service was great and the cocktails were large. read more

See all

Fine all around experience. Great service, wine list, a little pricy but you get what you pay for.

Just an incredible old-school, perfect-vibe incredible Italian cuisine with impeccable service where you want to just sit for ours and enjoy a romantic date and take it all in. I absolutely loved everything about Castelli's - the service and attention were top shelf! Water was constantly full and they even brought me more garlic bread - WHICH IS THE ABSOLUTE BEST EVER. I ordered a caesar and the Godfather, and couldn't be happier with my choices. Did I mention the bread? Lol. Ridiculous. Five stars. My bride ordered the linguini de mar (spelling?) and gave her dish 3 stars - she thought the shrimp and lobster were too chewy. Overall we truly loved our night and highly recommend patronizing Castelli's! read more

We had a great meal at Castelli's and wonderful service from Gabriel! The garlic bread was amazing, we then had the lobster ravioli and veal cannelloni. For dessert we had the cannoli, which were delicious as well.Great experience overall and we will be back! read more

See all

Ordered delivery on Doordash from this place before they even opened. Got a notification that the restaurant cancelled the order at the time it was supposed to be delivered. Friends said this place had great food. Guess I will never know. Called to see what happened and was put on hold only to be told they would look into it. Yeah, whatever read more

Typical Coachella Valley Italian. Cool old place. But, serving size way too big. Doing it to justify the price for average Italian food. A favorite of many, I found it lacking in a strong flavor profile. Just did not evoke flavors that you say I have to come back here. Pretty average with a big ticket menu. read more

Best dirty martini w blue cheese stuffed olives EVER! This bartender is legit! These servers are professional, just slow tonight. We finally were served bread, then came a great chopped Cobb salad. By the time this came, I finished my drink. The best meal was the night's special- sliced ribeye on fettuccine Alfredo. Wow! Unfortunately, we've had better lobster ravioli. Tonight, it was dead average. Don't worry, we are big fans of your restaurant Michael & John! We'll be back. read more

Castelli's - Great wines! - Italian Near Me - Palm Desert, California

See all

We met friends there so that was special but for me the food was fine, the service was attentive, but it was just too loud. It was a huge bill and I just didn't think it was worth it. read more

We came here for a family dinner while staying in Palm Springs for a long weekend. We love this hidden little gem. The service was great from the moment we walked in the door. The old time Palm Springs/Hollywood Italian diner is such a classic. The ambiance is candle lite with old photos with Hollywood celebrities painting the walls. We ordered Bruschetta, Beef Carpaccio, Fried Artichoke and Caprese to start. For our mains we ordered Filet Mignon, Chicken Parmesan and the Veal Chop. Everything was excellent and service was amazing. We love it here! Can't wait to come back! read more

Castelli's - Bar - Italian Near Me - Palm Desert, California

See all

We never go out on the actual Valentines night, we go the day before instead, when the servers are less stressed and the kitchen is a little less slammed, so we honored this practice with a 5:30 reservation at Castelli's, a fabulous old school Italian restaurant, complete with a delightful menu, an abundant staff and a live piano player. We were greeted warmly, immediately seated, had water and menus in a flash, and asked about drinks. The staff is the most attentive you will find anywhere, chatty, knowledgeable and a joy to interact with. I am not a drinker but my sweetheart likes a Prosecco, and they had a split which was the perfect size for her. We shared a Caesar salad on separate plates, nicely dressed and with small croutons, along with their yummy garlic bread. We had the Cannelloni and the Fettuccini Alfredo, the house specialty, this time with chicken, which they dice and mix into the sauce. A great idea. For dessert, we chose the chocolate mousse, though the spumoni also caught our eye. Next time. We never felt hurried, even as we realized that they probably needed to turn their tables as the night moved on, especially being in the first seating. We look forward to a return visit to sample other parts of the menu and see those friendly faces once more. read more

See all

I'm so glad I came back! My first time was very forgettable, but this visit reflected the rave reviews I've heard from others. Very personable service, great food, classic Italian vibes, and a warm and welcoming environment. My one complaint would be the old-fashioned cocktail. It's the second time I've tried it there and there's no cherry, no orange, and it's just not good. Other than that, all was phenomenal. read more

First Time here. We were visiting from OC and made a reservation through Open Table. I loved how convenient it was. When we arrived, we were seated quickly. It was a Friday night at 7 pm. The place was packed. They were churning out pasta left and right. We enjoyed the garlic bread, calamari, and our baseball sons enjoyed spaghetti with meatballs. The salads are mid. The side of eggplants was exactly what I wanted, some gooey mozzarella cheese pull. Prices are within market of what you would expect. Service felt transactional and rushed but I understand it's to get people in and out. I think that would have brought it up a notch. I would suggest Valet if you can't find parking. read more

See all

Quite possibly the best Italian restaurant I've ever been to. It's a little pricey but the food, ambiance and service is stellar.

While I don't think Castelli's relies on Yelp reviews, I do think that the wayward 3 star (or below) review here and there impact their standing in that arena. Honestly this was only our second time here, and I would credit that to the fact we had four kids we were raising during the time we frequented the desert most. Our first time here was many years ago and I had heard about it from someone I encountered at a nail appointment (of all places). Castelli's really does have an old school kind of feel -- and outside of "peak dining" hours is where you are likely to have your best experience. The staff is very attentive and there is definitely a hierarchy in how they work and it flows. Gabriel was our server tonight. He has been there since 1996. He has wonderful recommendations and when I was torn between (what was admittedly likely considered basic) two dishes he said "why not both" and ordered 2 half potions of the Pomedoro and the pesto gnocchi (both were good, the gnocchi better). He took good care of us and his support staff aided in the entire experience. I watched the hostess lead guests to their tables, offering an elbow when further assistance was as needed. They accommodated families when necessary and were super friendly and gracious. We have been coming to the desert for 15 years and the level of expectation from patrons (when in this area) is elevated from other places and Castelli's was top notch. The food was delicious, the wine was wonderful and the staff brought things to another level. I think Castelli's is under appreciated (and perhaps that bodes well for us). Ignore the subpar reviews, make the reservation and go! I did not take photos of my food, but believe me when I say it was delicious and we will be back. My only regret is that we have not been here more often. read more

Great atmosphere, very old school. Noisy in the main dining area. Good wait staff and service. The complimentary garlic bread was good. Small baguette sized pieces. Entrees: - Linguine di Mare. Two of us had this. The seafood in my dish seemed to be a bit chewy. Good flavor though. - Linguine alla Vongole. Good dish. - Linguine alla Bolognese. Good dish. - Green Beans Almondine. This was the best dish of dinner. Perfectly cooked beans and nice slivered almonds. - Asparagus. Was a bit cold. Spears sed a tad mushy at the base but ok at the tips. - Castellis's After Dark. Good dessert. - Chocolate Lava Cake. Good. read more

See all

My wife and I were looking for something new on our quick little getaway to Palm Springs and I am so glad I found Castelli's on Yelp. Typically, this is a place where reservations are needed, but we called anyway and the gentleman on the phone was extremely accommodating and got us a table. Upon arrival, even though we were severely underdressed (which the staff had zero problem with) they were expecting us, and sat us at a table within one minute. From the front door to the dining area the experience was already five stars and that's before the waiter and the food were about to take it to the next level. From the way we were dressed (extremely casual) they could've easily treated us differently, but that wasn't the case at all. We were treated with first class customer service from start to finish. About the food, I told my wife that was probably the best New York steak I've ever had and it went perfectly with my gluten free pasta. Both our waiter and server were extremely attentive to our dietary restrictions (gluten & dairy free) and even made adjustments to the meal to help. When you combine great service with great food, that's a combination you can never go wrong with and I highly recommend this quaint, yet charming Italian restaurant to all. We would definitely come back. Compliments to the chef and entire staff who made this a great experience. read more

See all

Another 5 star visit to Castelli's. It was a busy night for a Tuesday, staff was friendly, from the host to our waiter. 5/5 service! Food was prompt from the kitchen, cooked perfectly. Excellent tasty dinner. 5/5 food! Left feeling full and happy. 10/10!!! I even spent a few mins chatting with Michael about their great selection of quality wines. Never have to bring a bottle with you!! read more

Food and service were excellent. I will be back next time I am in town and will definitely recommend this place to others. I ordered the ravioli Florentine. It was incredible and the garlic bread was dangerously delicious. Thank you for your exceptional service and food. I've been craving the ravioli ever since. read more

One of my all time favorite. They make you fill like family, and the food is always delicious... Everyone there, go out of their way to make you fill special, the service is over the top too! If you haven't been it's a must try, and if it's been awhile go back... I'm never disappointed! Lovely evening hands down. read more

The history and people that have attended Castelli's is remarkable. You can feel the history from the moment you arrive. The service was fantastic and the food impeccable! Get the Fettuccini Alfredo - it will change your life! Everything, absolutely everything was spectacular! read more

We've visited several times since moving to the desert, and we've always had a good experience. It's an "old school" kinda place, with wonderful service, and good food. It's not inexpensive, but I'd consider it to be reasonably priced considering the level of service, and the quality of the food. They have a very nice bar, situated along the middle edge of the restaurant. I still haven't had a chance to just grab a cocktail and some appetizers, but it's on my foodie bucket list. We definitely enjoy the ambiance, and will continue to go back for more. read more

See all

Stopped in last night for an early dinner with the girls and once again top notch service and excellent food!!! I've eaten here dozens of times and have always enjoyed the food and drinks. Tonight was exceptional, and we all raved about our food. Bravo to the chefs Monday evening and the wait staff for taking such good care of us. Hard to find old school service and detail to attention. Whenever I'm in town, Castelli's is always number one on my list!! read more

Had an amazing dinner with my friends that came from OC. They wanted some authentic Italian food, so I deliver... Castelli's never fail. We had the fried calamari and beef carpaccio as an entree. I order the Osso Bucco which was delicious, recommended by Philip, which he was super attentive and present all night. My fiends order Risotto Tutto Mare, Tortellini Romano and a sea food pasta. Everything was excellent and completely forgot to take pictures, but I am sure they wouldn't show justice. We didn't have space for dessert but we are sure coming back for a cannoli and creme brûlée. read more

This is a classic Italian restaurant with the desert feel. Service is fantastic. I had the lobster ravioli with Alfredo sauce and it was first rate. I would highly recommend it. read more

Castelli's - Cozy seating in the outer area with great Italian ambience - Italian Near Me - Palm Desert, California

Food was great ,old school decor with pictures of all the old time Hollywood stars . Service was top notch made my wife and I feel very special. Introduced us to the owner on the way out who took a picture with us. read more

Castelli's - Italian Near Me - Palm Desert, California

See all

We've been coming to the desert for a long time. For the first time ever, we at Castelli's and I can't figure out why it took so long. What an amazing evening. We started with the fried calamari and ceaser salad, both excellent. For main dish, we had the fettuccine Alfredo along with a house special, the Osso Bucco (veal shank). If you like veal and don't get a chance to have it often, this is delicious and gently falls off the bone. For desert, we had the cannoli and the Castelli's After Dark, which was a real treat. As if the food and wine list wasn't good enough, the ambience of the setting and attentive excellent service was what really sets Castelli's apart. My wife has already said it's her favorite place in the area and a must return for all future trips back to the desert. read more

Food service and ambiance are all great! Great wine selection and the house specialty pork chops were delicious! Definitely going to come back read more

I can't get past wondering if this restaurant is a front for the mob. LOL. I mean that in a good way too. Castelli's is one of those Italian comfort food restaurants from times of the past but still successfully work. I wouldn't change a thing about this restaurant including the decor. It's everything you want in an Italian American restaurant minus the red checkered table cloths. It looks classier than that. We didn't have reservations but had a table of 8 so we understood when they asked us to be done by 7:30 (walked in around 5:45 or maybe a bit later/earlier?) and had no problems with that. However, it took awhile before we ordered our food and not because we hadn't all decided. So, no prob getting out earlier, but then maybe speed up the service so we didn't feel stressed like we were going to be a hold up. My only other complaint is that the speakers must have been low on battery as the music kept cutting in and out. Most people may not notice that but I'm a background music type of guy and at points it was hard to concentrate on anything but this weird experience. I could have said something, but didn't so my own issue. Aside from that, it was a great experience. Our server was amazing and made good recommendations as well as accommodated all our requests. His assistants were great too. I love having a full water glass and nearly every time I looked down, it was getting filled. The food also is large portions so I feel the pricing is fair and is plated the way you want your food to look. I took to-go half my meal to control the portion size. I had the gnocchi in pesto cream sauce and I loved every bite. I don't think anyone had any complaints about their food, actually. My father-in-law who doesn't like garlic bread even enjoyed that! We didn't valet so park on the street which actually isn't hard to find. This place is BUSY on a Saturday night so I'd recommend getting a reservation or getting there early! They had a guy playing some jazzy tunes on a keyboard on top of the piano near the front. Fit the setting perfectly. read more

Once again Tony put the PRO IN PROFESSIONAL.. Dinner was incredible and Service was the usual 5 Stars..In all the Restaurants in Palm Dessert this is my favorite year after year.. You guys are AMAZING.. read more

See all

Their website says they open at 5 PM. I arrived at 4:50 PM and every seat at the bar was already taken, and they all had drinks already served. I was by myself, so I did not want to sit at a table. Apparently they open before 5. I left and went someplace else. read more

For our last night in Rancho Mirage we went to Castilli's, an old school Italian Restaurant. What an amazing experience. Gabriel, our waiter, made our experience over the top. From offering to make an off menu dish for us, to offering to split portions when we asked his opinions on choosing between 2 dishes, to providing us with outstanding service, he was perhaps the best wairtwr I have ever had. The food was incredible, and matched his description to a T. I believe it was the best. Dining experience I have ever had. Can't say enough good things about the food, service, and abeyance. You can't go wrong with dinner here. Make sure you ask for Gabriel ! read more

See all

It was okay, the bread was good. The service was good. The food was okay could have been betters very average and the price is too high for average. read more

Ten of us dined here last night with mixed reviews. First let me say that the service was excellent. Three of the party had the shrimp scampi which was overcooked and chewy. My wife had a pasta dish that she did not eat. Another had the Salmon and said it was excellent. The others said their food was nondescript. The bread served was excellent and also the Birthday deserts were excellent. No problem with the wine or cocktails. This pricing of this restaurant is comparable to Eddie Vs ,Ruth Chris etc. It is not inexpensive. They must be doing something right as on a Tuesday night the place was full. I cant say that any of us will return but with the clientele they have they won't miss us. read more