In downtown Palm Springs is an absolute standout if you are looking for an upscale, modern twist on Mexican cuisine. Known affectionately as the "moody sister" to the incredibly popular local spot Tac/Quila, it delivers a chic, vibrant cocktail-lounge atmosphere right near the base of the San Jacinto Mountains. The hospitality here is excellent--the servers are incredibly fast, friendly, and highly knowledgeable about the menu details. They are also dog friendly! read more

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I rarely leave negative reviews, but unfortunately, our experience at Clandestino was disappointing, especially considering we were celebrating my birthday. My partner took me here for my birthday weekend, and the evening started off wonderfully. We ordered an appetizer and drinks, enjoyed the atmosphere, and were looking forward to a great dinner. Unfortunately, the service took a noticeable turn after we ordered our entrees. After finishing my first drink, approximately 20 minutes passed without anyone checking on our table. We were seated outside, and there wasn't a server nearby to flag down. When our entrees finally arrived, they were quickly dropped off by someone other than our server, without anyone checking whether we needed anything else. I specifically asked that person to send our server over because I wanted another drink, and another five minutes passed before someone, possibly a manager or lead, finally approached us. By that point, I had been waiting approximately 25-30 minutes just to order another drink. There were two cocktails on the menu I wanted to try, so I asked for both. His response was curt and surprisingly uncomfortable: "We don't usually do two drinks because it looks like we're overserving." I completely understand and respect a restaurant's responsibility to serve alcohol responsibly. My issue wasn't necessarily with the policy itself, but with how it was communicated. His tone felt dismissive and almost reprimanding, as though I'd done something inappropriate simply by asking to order two cocktails. I'd only had one drink up to that point, was enjoying a full meal, and had given no indication that I was intoxicated. What made the interaction particularly frustrating was that the restaurant's lack of attentiveness had created the situation in the first place. Had someone checked on our table regularly, I likely would have ordered another cocktail much earlier. Instead, after nearly half an hour of waiting, I was made to feel uncomfortable for requesting two drinks when someone finally appeared. It was also a little confusing considering the restaurant offers a margarita flight on its own menu. While I understand that's not necessarily equivalent to two full cocktails, it does make the response feel somewhat inconsistent with the experience the restaurant promotes. A more hospitality-focused response could have been as simple as, "Absolutely, let's start with one and I'll check back shortly to see if you're ready for the second." That would have respected the restaurant's policy while still making me feel like a valued guest. We spent approximately 2.5 hours at the restaurant, and I don't think wanting to enjoy two or three cocktails over the course of a birthday dinner is particularly unreasonable. Ultimately, this was disappointing because the evening started so positively. The food and atmosphere were enjoyable, and I genuinely wanted to love this restaurant. Unfortunately, the extended gaps in service and the unnecessarily uncomfortable interaction overshadowed what should have been a special occasion. Hospitality is about more than serving good food. It's also about making guests feel welcomed, comfortable, and taken care of. Unfortunately, that wasn't our experience, and I don't see us returning. read more

I came here this evening and honestly ended up having a really good experience. When I first got here, there was about a 45-minute wait for a table for one. After waiting around 20 minutes, I decided to just grab a seat at the bar, and I'm actually glad I did. There was no wait, and even though the restaurant was packed, my food came out really fast. Jon was my primary server. He was polite but was not attentive, I didn't feel like we connected much during the meal. The front staff was very friendly, though, and helped me with some recommendations. I ordered the guacamole with chips and salsa, fried whole jalapeño, chile relleno, and rice and beans. Everything was fresh, flavorful, and well seasoned. The guacamole was really good, the rice and beans had a lot of flavor, and the fried jalapeño with the habanero sauce had just the right amount of heat. If you like spicy food, I'd definitely recommend trying it. The chile relleno was recommended by Alvaro, and he told me it reminds him of his grandma whenever he eats it. I really liked hearing that because it made the recommendation feel personal, and he was absolutely right, it was delicious. Huge shoutout to Alvaro. He wasn't even my primary server, but he kept an eye on me, checked in, helped with recommendations, and made sure everyone around the bar was taken care of. He was just genuinely friendly and easy to talk to, and that stood out to me. For dessert, I tried the Pan de Elote for the first time, again on Alvaro's recommendation. I had never tried it before, but trust me, hands down, it was really good. I'm glad he convinced me to give it a try because it was the perfect way to finish the meal. The kitchen deserves a shoutout too. Everything came out cooked well and looked great. The restaurant is clean, nicely decorated, and has both indoor and outdoor seating, and I thought the prices were pretty reasonable. I've been to a few highly rated places around Palm Springs that looked great on paper but didn't quite live up to the reviews, so it was nice to finally have a meal that actually delivered. Good food, good atmosphere, and genuinely nice people. Alvaro definitely made the experience more memorable!!!! read more

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My husband and I were in Palm Springs and were craving for some Mexican food. It was our dating anniversary so we wanted to go to a special place. After a quick Yelp search, we found this spot. Once we arrived, finding street parking was tricky but not impossible! We had a reservation and were seated almost immediately. Definitely get a reservation if you are planning to go here. They have indoor and outdoor patio seating. We decided to sit inside. Being a vegetarian, I'm always on the lookout for interesting innovative food items. They had a vegan tamale and a veggie enchilada, stuffed with interesting list of vegetables. I decided to give those a shot. The tamales came out relatively quickly. The presentation was 10/10. The flavor profile was amazing. It was interesting to see the choice of vegetables. Overall, I loved the dish. The enchiladas came out quickly too. Again, the presentation was 10/10. It also came with a side of rice. The rice was surprisingly flavorful and tasty. The enchiladas were stuffed with delicious vegetables. I did request the cheese on side. Overall, we loved both the dishes. To celebrate our anniversary, they brought out a coconut cream ice cream. It was delicious and topped with fresh berries ! I highly recommend checking out this restaurant , you won't be disappointed! read more

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I had the best upscale Mexican meal here. The outdoor setting of the restaurant is right in the heart of downtown Palm Springs. Towering above the San Jacinto mountains and under the night sky. I will be back again. read more

Clandestino - Fried Squash Blossoms - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Palm Springs, California

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This entire experience was fantastic. We just happen to get there right when the Marilyn Monroe Anniversary was occurring. This meant Marilyns everywhere, including the waiters, which made the experience that much more fun. Aside from that, we had made reservations ahead of time thankfully, because it was BUSY. But we were sat just as soon as we had arrived, and despite it being very hot out at the time, they had a bunch of shaded spots with misting fans. The drinks were fantastic, including mine which was a zero-proof mocktail. We all ordered different chicken dishes, and each one received high praise. I was able to try each of them and I was very happy with my fajitas, but I gotta give the nachos their dues. They were just as good. Chips were crispy all the way through, and not one was soggy from all the ingredients. Loved it, will definitely be back when I visit again. Id also like to mention that we chose this place as my friend's Bachelor Party closing dinner, and he couldn't have been happier. He was so thrilled with how the weekend had gone, that dining at Clandestino's really was the cherry on top. Thank you for making our dining experience such a pleasant one. read more

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Service was great and the outdoor atmosphere was great, great for a conversation during dinner. Food was ok , I ordered the shrimp ceviche was ok but far from the best ceviche I had. Fried calamari was very good and crispy, also the guac and chips. I would come back there and maybe try something else. read more

Good food and service. West outside on the patio in 100+ degrees with misters blowing all around. Nice in the evening when you are next to the mountain Had Ceviche and Tuna Tacos. The shrimp in the ceviche was a touch chewy... only issue with an overall nice experience read more

Clandestino - Shrimp Ceviche - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Palm Springs, California

Loved our dinner at Clandestino! The margarita flight was perfect to split for 2. The homemade tortillas on the tacos were my favorite part, but the asada and everything else was also really good. Great service and super cute ambiance. Loved it! read more

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Great find for a mid-afternoon break. Located behind the busy street. Good drinks and great food. Service attentive. Sat on the patio with fans, which was perfect. Very comfortable and enjoyable. read more

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Great food and excellent service! We ordered the steak fajitas, chicken enchiladas, and birria empanadas, and everything was delicious. The food was flavorful, well-prepared, and thoroughly enjoyable. We finished with the churro ice cream sandwich, which was a delicious way to end the meal! The service was just as impressive, making for an overall great dining experience. My only criticism would be the drink prices, which seemed a bit high. Otherwise, a fantastic spot that I would definitely recommend. We will be back! read more

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Fabulous food, drinks, service and staff. Fairly priced, great location making an outdoor setting work in the summer heat with misting fans. We took rideshare to the location, but we saw street and a local multi story garage parking. Two vegan entrees, one beef, one chicken and one fish plus a chip, guac, salsa app to share. Margaritas, wine, Cosmopolitans and more rounded out our table for five. The place was packed after 7pm so consider reservations. The location is central to many things. Thank you for the great experience and food! read more

Clandestino - You have arrived - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Palm Springs, California

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Service was great i love the ambiance and atmosphere. Food was good I ordered the grilled avocado salad and my colleague had the chili Rios . She said they were good not to spice read more

Dont let the beets throw you off. I've never had anything like this. Such a delightful experience. Trevor recommended this and I thanked him multiple times, he is excellent. The chicken was perfectly cooked. The mole sauce was flavorful. You won't regret trying this. Great atmosphere and vibe. Good music. read more

Clandestino - Mole Rosa - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Palm Springs, California

Really nice people. and service. Food was tasty and the cocktails were pretty darn good. read more

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We had a great time with our group of friends for a mid afternoon lunch. The service was excellent, and the food was very good. I enjoyed sitting at the bar and enjoying a glass of wine. It's worth finding and having lunch there for dinner. read more

Enjoyed the apps and drink flights - great staff, cool design and touches. Tucked away so keep an eye out for it!

Wow!! The food, service and ambiance here was so amazing. My husband and I celebrated our anniversary. From the time we walked in we were greeted by great service we had the pleasure of being served by the most incredibly amazing waitress Frances. The entire experience was great and we will definitely be telling our friends and family to come by when they are in town. read more

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This was our last dinner on our vacation in Palm Springs. I had made reservations well in advance for this very popular place: 6:45 Thursday night dinner reservations. Funny thing is my friend and I ate at Tac/Quila on our second night, not knowing this was the sister restaurant... and quite frankly we actually liked the food here better. This location had both inside seating which was limited, a big bar and a fairly large patio seating. When we arrived we were greeted and seated at an outdoor table. Francine our server introduced herself, super nice, very attentive and made our dining experience wonderful. We ordered cocktails while looking over the menu. Because we dine at the sister restaurant previously, I didn't want to order the same dishes. Though we couldn't help repeating 1 dish, the Taco Chip (so good). We ordered the Short Rib Empanadas and the Cochinta Pibil. All the food came our hot, presentation was nice and all tasted fantastic. If we come again to Palm Springs I would definitely eat here again. Atmosphere: modern, both indoor/patio seating. Service: excellent. Food: very good. read more

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Clandestino was recommended to my friend and I by a local, and I'm so glad it was! I think they deserve more props for their delicious vegan food, they had so many options, including a vegan whiskey sour! I personally went for the vegan tamal and my friend the chicken enchiladas- we both loved our food but felt the portion size was a bit smaller than you would expect for the price, hence my 4 stars. Our server was fantastic and super knowledgeable, I appreciated that a lot, and the ambiance was unmatched! The place has sort of a modern Americana cocktail lounge vibe, and the best part was the cooling misters they had for the outdoor seating! Speaking of, it looks like most of the restaurant is technically outdoors with how open their floor plan was, so that is something to note for hot days in the desert if you were looking for an escape. I'd love to come back here and try more of their vegan menu and that whiskey sour! read more

Clandestino - Vegan Tamale - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Palm Springs, California

Every time we come to PS we like to try new places and this time we thought lets give this a shot because of all the rave reviews . The server was fast and knowledgeable and delivered great service when we needed it we sat on the patio outside and had a fan with a mister on it so it made it a little more bearable with the heat. 1. squash blossoms 3/5 expecting a little bit more from them, especially with the price tag. They were good just didn't think they were $18 good . 2 shrimp ceviche 3/5 piled high with shrimp, just missing the juices also had to ask for additional tostadas because not enough on plate. 3. Osso bucco 3/5 good but not great !! Tasted like it was cooked the day before , dry in texture . My son ordered the trio of quesadillas and it was good but meat had a weird texture almost like it was boiled then cooked . 4. Shrimp fajitas 4/5 wife said these were good and i have to admit the refried beans were delicious . Really wanted to love this place but honestly after eating their it was OK and the price tag was steep with three nonalcoholic drinks, It came out almost $200. Tried to eat the leftover quesadilla later that night and the tortilla was so hard. It was almost inedible read more

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Sat at the bar with a lovely bartender named Benji. They had all the right recommendations. The place had a cool interior, and comfortable bar seats. The Al pastor tacos were incredible, and their tortillas are all made in house. The jamaica (hibiscus drink) was also made in house, and was refreshing. I got an extra one to go. Would definitely be back here for a bit and one of their cocktails next time. read more

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The food here is so delicious! I had the carne asada plate and the grilled shrimp tacos. Everything was so flavorful and tasty. The meat portions were plentiful. For drinks, I tried the jamaica margarita and lychee pisco sour. I liked the pisco sour more because you can really taste the lychee flavor. It was sweet and refreshing. Majority of the seating is outside. Inside seating is only at the bar. Service was friendly too. Definitely will be coming back! read more

Clandestino - Lychee Pisco Sour - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Palm Springs, California

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Finally had the opportunity to try Clandestino and let me tell you it did not disappoint. I had been wanting to try this place for a while and enjoyed it very much. We ordered the margarita flight, and each one was unique and distinct, we enjoyed them very much. As an appetizer, we started with the calabacita flowers which were light and flavorful. I ordered the chicken mole enchiladas and they were so good, plenty of chicken and the mole was right on point. I found my meal absolutely delicious and plentiful. My boyfriend had the chili relleno which he devoured and said it was excellent. The service was great, very professional and helpful. The nice thing was when we arrived, we were seated right away. The place is decorated beautifully, very well appointed with a nice vibe and ambiance! I highly recommend Clandestino! The food is fresh and one can taste that each dish is thoughtfully prepared. read more

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I'm blessed to be Mexican and live in a place with truly wonderful Mexican food, so I'm always a little skeptical when someone recommends a "really good" Mexican spot in another city -- but if someone vouches for it, I'll always give it a try. Clandestino was recommended to us, so we decided to walk in. There was a long line, but we opted for bar seating and were seated fairly quickly. We ordered some apps and drinks, and they were pretty good. You can always tell a good Mexican restaurant by the quality of the tortilla -- that's my personal test -- and theirs passed. We had the tacos and empanadas and enjoyed both. The food was fresh, hot, and the salsa was solid. The staff was friendly, and the vibe was dark, moody, and distinct with lots of red and black. Overall, I'd recommend it. I gave it a 4 because it wasn't the best Mexican food I've ever had, but it was definitely good. You'll need to find street parking, and I'd recommend getting reservations if you're coming on a weekend and want a table. read more

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We loved this place! Only outside seating unless you sit at the bar. Plenty of shade and heaters for evening. We each had a pale ale, boom town, which was decent. Chips and salsa were nice. Salsa was not very spicy, but we didn't ask if they had a spicier version. I had the carnitas plate. It was the best carnitas I have ever had! So flavorful and tender. I ate the first helping with a homemade corn tortilla but after that I just ate the steak so as to not dilute the flavor. My husband had the cochinita pibil, also very good and the helping was huge. You can't go wrong with either of those dishes. Our server was great. An all-around exceptional meal! read more

Clandestino - Carne Asada plate - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Palm Springs, California

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We came here for an anniversary dinner and it was amazing!!! The vibe is to sit outside with the misting fans and get some refreshing drinks! I got a watermelon lemonade... so gooood!! My wife got a margarita with Tajín and chamoy that she also loved!! The servers were so great, I want to be friends with them and have them join us! Lol they were so nice and attentive! From the servers, the food runners and even the bussing people they were all wonderful. The food though... my gosh. I wish I could have more!!! We got the squash appetizer that is absolutely Devine!!! And then we shared the coconut shrimp tacos with the jicama tortilla. Omg what a refreshing coombo!!!! The jicama as the tortilla threw me off, but the flavors all together had me licking my fingers and wanting more!!! And we were too full to have dessert, so we got it to go and I will say the arrows con leche was so gooood! The texture of the almonds and raisins in it really gave it a good bite and taste!! All in all, we will be back and very soon!!!! read more

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My husband and I went for drinks only, but oh my goodness they were incredible! The bartenders are very knowledgeable about what they have on their shelves, and have great recommendations! They also mentioned that their juices and syrups are made in house and are very fresh -- making the drinks so delicious! We're so excited to go back soon! read more

Had friends visiting from out of town, so we decided to try Clandestino since we love its sister restaurant, Tac/Quila. Happy to say it did not disappoint! The margarita flight is a must--so much fun and easily one of the highlights of the meal. We also loved the beer tempura avocado bites, which were crispy, creamy, and absolutely delicious. I ordered the trio of quesadillas with carne asada, al pastor, and carnitas. The carne asada and al pastor were packed with flavor, while the carnitas was good but not quite as memorable. My friends had the Mexican ossobuco and enmoladas, and both were big hits. Friendly service, great food, amazing cocktails, and easy parking with the free downtown Palm Springs parking structure nearby. We'll definitely be back! read more

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Everything about this place was amazing. The restrooms were cute, the bartenders/waiters were very friendly and attentive and the food had me raving with every single bite I took! As a vegetarian for almost 20 years, I truly appreciate all the vegan and vegetarian options they have here. It was so hard to choose what to order because I wanted to try it all. We started with the taco chips, which were better than I could have imagined. Normally soyrizo has a pretty distinct taste but it was not overpowering in this dish. In fact I could only taste the beans and this tasted just like the 99 cent tacos from Jack in the box! And I mean that as a compliment! Obviously I haven't had those tacos in years, but from what I can remember these tasted pretty similar and I was in heaven! Those were my favorite tacos back in the day and I could have ordered these taco chips several times and I would have been satisfied. For my entree, I got the cauliflower mole and I honestly don't even know what mole is supposed to even taste like but this was also amazing! And so filling! My boyfriend got the carne asada plate and said his dish was also really good. His came with a side of guacamole he shared with me and even that had me moaning with each bite. We shared a side of the Mexican corn which was also plentiful. I'm surprised at how well the portion sizes are. I was expecting smaller portions as most nice places tend to give at higher prices, but the portions were perfect here. Even though we were full, we ordered the choco flan and the churro ice cream sandwich for dessert. Also portioned nicely! I don't like chocolate but I tried the flan part of my boyfriend's dessert and it was, once again, to die for. My churro ice cream was superb. I honestly cannot stop raving about this place and want to go back already. I recommend making a reservation here as most seating is outside. Luckily when we got there, plenty of bar seats were open so we got to sit there, otherwise the wait would have been an hour. They have little blankets at the bar seats as well which I really appreciated as I was in shorts that night and it was pretty chilly for me. I recommend this restaurant 1000%, and even more so if you're a vegan or vegetarian! read more

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Overall this restaurant is a fun place to eat and hangout. The food was excellent, I had the 3 chimichangas and 2, yes 2, Cadillac margaritas. My only criticism is that you have to sit outside where it was like 110, they do have plenty of fans and misters but is still a bit hot. The staff are great. read more

This is definitely not on the main boulevard - great! As you can see from my pic, there is a nice view of Mount San Jacinto. Their outdoor patio is very calming, and their elegant approach is soothing - a nice respite from the hustle and bustle on the main boulevard. We started to unwind with a few of their Margaritas - there's 7 great selections to choose from. This gave us the chance to unwind, enjoy the view and go over their menu. While they have several upscale delights, we kept it simple and choose their Street Tacos. Unfortunately, my pics didn't do justice to the meats (carnitas and chicken) in the tacos. Both were super tender and richly flavored. The side of pico was fresh and vibrant, while the rice and beans were okay. Definitely a great find for an enjoyable lunch. read more

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We found this place coming from the airport and were really please. The tacos were delicious and 2 was the perfect size. The guacamole and chips were flavorful and a great starter. Their drinks were refreshing in such hot weather too. This is a pretty small area so it's mostly outside seating but it is covered and there are fan misters. read more

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Clandestino is an awesome spot for a great food experience! First off, big shout out to David, we sat at the bar and made the dinner even better with great recommendations and talking up the food and drink menu! The steak nachos are amazing! The steak is tender and dish is packed with fresh ingredients. The short rib empanadas are also a must get. Crispy on the outside and tender, shredded short rib on the inside. This is a great, must stop at spot in Palm Springs! read more

Clandestino - Steak Nachos - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Palm Springs, California

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The atmosphere is striking and elegant. With the majority of the restaurant being outdoor seating in about 12 seats at the bar is very intimate. Lots of outdoor fans and lush greenery keeping it quiet and the sense of it being cool which is much appreciated in the Desert. Gorgeous view of the mountain, greater knowledgeable staff delicious food. Behind the bar is a striking red abstract design that glows at night, so I would recommend experiencing it after the sun goes down or at sunset. Lots of striking art and reasonable pricing. read more

Clandestino - The bar - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Palm Springs, California

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We had a reservation but got there early. The hostess got us seated right away. Ambience was great outdoors and though it was winter the heaters made it nice and cozy. The lighting was also beautiful. The drinks were amazing. Food was great. We had our dog with us and they accommodated him too. I would definitely recommend this place. We were celebrating a birthday but didn't mention it to them at all. They somehow sensed and got us a wonderful dessert complimentary. Our server was very attentive and really made sure we were comfortable. We also got the blonde beer, Arnold Palmer and Jamaica read more

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Very strong 4 and I could easily justify giving it a 5. Parking- some street parking but your best bet would be to park in the structure by the museum since it is a short walk Location- beautiful with mostly outside seating and dog friendly Staff- superb Food/drink- sadly, no complimentary chips and salsa; we all got margarita options and agreed they tasted great; decent variety of food options to satisfy even picky eaters; we ordered the steak fajitas, steak nachos, shrimp enchiladas, and carne en su jugo...all were good to great with the enchiladas and nachos being our favorites *ok, so why not a 5...prices are too high with drinks running about $17 and a flight I think $25 and all the food prices were also high but just way too much mark up on the alcohol read more

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The food at Clandestino in Palm Springs was good, but unfortunately, the portions were extremely small for the price. We honestly felt like we paid full size prices for kid size meals and left still hungry. We had another appointment immediately afterward, so we didn't have time to order anything else, which made it even more disappointing. We've been to the Azusa location, and the difference in portion sizes is surprising! The servings there are easily 2-3 times the amount. For what we paid in Palm Springs, we definitely expected more. The food itself was enjoyable, but the value and portion sizes really missed the mark for us. read more

Came here with some friends after a day trip to the tramway. We all really liked the outdoor seating, which is surrounded by a garden that gives you some privacy from the somewhat barren lot next to the restaurant. Felt like we were dining in an oasis. Our waiter was fantastic, very proactive with addressing our needs and he easily matched our table's energy. I LOVED the shrimp ceviche. Perfect amount of citrus, solid portion to share as an appetizer with the table, and fresh tasting shrimp. Only suggestion would be to replace the tostadas with a side of chips. Additionally, other similar restaurants would start off with some complementary chips and salsa, so it felt like that was missing here. The carne asada plate was good, although I don't think my steak was medium rare as requested. Good food, but nothing to write home about. Next time, I'll probably shoot for a different entree. My friends ordered various tacos and they all enjoyed them. Overall a great place to go for a bite at any time of day for excellent service and a beautifully put together environment. read more

Clandestino - Carne Asada Plate - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Palm Springs, California

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Tucked away in a corner is this really trendy restaurant with chill and cool ambience. I was at palm springs for a work conference and randomly found this gem on Yelp. It was the perfect ending to a long weekend! The cocktails were 10/10. The bartender got a heavy hand which I did not mind at all that day especially. Every bite was delicious and if the spot was close to me I would come there and try all the dishes. The server I had was very attentive and kind. I sat outside and it was the perfect combination of cool breeze and sun(but mind you this was in the winter). I will defiantly be coming back again if I'm in town! read more

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