We decided on the Cork Tree for dinner. Our last night in Palm Springs. Darn it. It was one of the best meals I have had in years. The duck tacos were awesome along with the pork belly. (Get a scallop with the pork belly). Eating outside was such a pleasant evening. I was going to get the short ribs but our fantastic server Fransico recommended the sea bass. (My second choice). It was so delicious. Fransico will push the scallops and take his recommendations. Fransico was a joy and so helpful and friendly. If you go ask for Fransico for sure. This is one of my new favorite restaurants and can't wait to go back. When we come back to Palm Desert it is a must. read more

From the intimate service and atmosphere, there is nothing at Cork Tree that disappoints. The service staff is engaged without being intrusive or overbearing...and it refreshing that they can read a table like a book. The expansive menu had something for everyone at our table and the unexpected live entertainment provided the icing on the cake for our adventure. Pro tip: Don't miss the Crème Brûlée Three Ways for dessert...you'll thank me (and the Pastry Chef) after! read more

First time visiting here So far very nice restaurant Waiter is very nice Completely full all tables Price is little high But food is good read more

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Great food! First time I ever liked pork belly. Service is great too, shout out to our server Jason! Highly recommend! read more

We have driven by for many years and finally decided to try this restaurant. What a treat! The service was excellent. The crab cakes, the caesar salad and the cowboy ribeye were excellent. We will definitely be back. read more

My neighbors all told me to go here so I coudn't wait to check it out. They love it and I think I cracked the code on why. I am not a youngster but I have to say that this place is designed for the over 75 set and really not for anyone under. PROS: The service was EXCELLENT. From the hostess to the waiter and support staff- THUMBS UP! Clearly the manager is doing a wonderful job keeping staff motivated and happy and it shows. Hats off. Food was good. Decent portions, great sides, well presented and I loved the beet salad. CONS: The music was so bad that my date and I both agreed we would not return because of the music alone. It was elevator smooth jazz. Honestly was so grating that I was uncomfortable. Hideous. Just play old brat pack or Miles Davis, etc. but if music could be any more cringe I couldn't pinpoint it. - The wine. Terrible wine list. Sorry but true. - Cost. There are a ton of wonderful restaurants doing it better for the cost in the area. For this cost I'd expect a decent wine list and updated decor. The decor looks like it came out of a Marriott restaurant from the early 90s. Do the clientele think so? Probably not.. again- this is because this restaurant caters to a very much geriatric set. Sadly, we won't be back. There are too many great options in the area to return and the music alone made me want to stab out my eardrums. read more

4 stars... Came here as a recommendation of some friends, and was not disappointed! Started out with a summer salad, lovely greens and tomatoes with fruits to sweeten and a nice vinaigrette dressing. Opted for the short rib, because I can't pass it up, on mashed potatoes and served with brocollini.. all was good? No draft beers, but they did offer local bottled brews, so I chose a brown. Ambiance is courtyard garden, service was prompt and friendly, and prices were slightly above expectation, but good and quality was great! If we are back in this hood I'll make it a point for an encore! read more

Cork Tree - Cork Tree Seasonal Salad - New American Near Me - Palm Desert, California

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We've been coming to Palm Springs for years and have driven by this restaurant several times and finally decided to try it. We are definitely adding it to our favorites! Ray was helpful and gave us some great suggestions. All 4 of us thought our own dinner was the best! The whiskey sour and old fashioned were excellent, well balanced flavor. The ambiance was perfect and it was easy to talk without feeling like the noise was too much. I wish we had saved room for dessert! Next time.... read more

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Great experience overall. Jose was very knowledgeable and had great recommendations. Range of price points on food and wine, all very good. Really appreciated how you can do a half size of all the salads. The beet salad was unique with dates and peppercorn dressing. The sea bass was perfectly prepared and delicious. Excellent quality. Semifreddo dessert was a nice ending. Upscale and comfortable ambiance that has that supper club feel. Can't wait to go back. read more

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I just left the Cork tree restaurant which is supposed to be fine dining and my experience was anything but that. I shared my concerns with the manager and he was very dismissive of my experience. Didn't really seem to care how I felt. The meal was expensive and decent at best and the bus people were incapable of understanding our requests for the basic needs of a restaurant. When you are paying for fine dining, the service should reflect that experience. In addition they charge 4.9% for using a credit card. You should know up front to bring cash and a lot of it if you plan on eating there. read more

Really amazing service. A great ribeye too. We loved the burrata salad, my lady enjoyed her sea bass. My dry aged 16oz ribeye was legit good. Perfectly cooked. Our server Frank was a super nice guy, knew the menu, chatted us up and had a wonderful demeanor. Restaurant is a gem. Go try it out! read more

A Lovely upscale restaurant in Palm Desert. Reservations are a must as they fill every seat including weeknights. Professional and attentive wait staff. A singular service note in that when wine is ordered by the glass they present the bottle and a taste for approval before the pour. Very labor intensive for the house but distinctive. Interesting modern American/Continental menu. Be sure to try their signature trio creme brulee for dessert. read more

Nice upscale restaurant with a nice ambiance. Service was good. The steak was tender and juicy. All our items were good.

Service excessively slow, got two short pours of wine, excessive salt in food, Hadn't been there in a couple years , very disappointed in the experience. They couldn't serve us iced tea because they ran out?? Really?? Iced tea?? read more

Quiet dining; recognized us, provided birtghday dessert. Highly recommend for special occasion.

I want to say that the restaurant was given great reviews from friends so we tired it on my wife's birthday. When we arrived the hostess noted that on the reservation it was my wife's birthday so I thought everything was set. We ll I guess I was wrong. We were seated in a waiters section that had one big table besides ours when we sat down. We were told the specials. That was the last of the good service. There another table seated in his section a party of seven after us. The waiter kept dropping by and saying I'll be back so we sat there waiting to get a drink order. He did stop by and say bread is on the way. He actually was taking the larger tables orders for appetizers before our food order. Finally he stopped by to get our drink order and food order and that was the last we saw of him until we were almost finished. But the manager (I think) did cruise by quickly to ask how things were. The waiter was kind enough to stop by to ask about "do you want anything else" but no mention of we have great deserts or would you like a coffee. We felt like we were just in his way of taking care of the large table who would be spending a large sum of money vs our two people who would not make him what the other table would tip him. The topper was when we saw the large table getting Happy Birthday sang to them and my wife didn't get a second thought. Not even a Manager came by to say anything about her birthday By the way I have run hotels and restaurants all my life so I know when a waiter is ignoring a table to make more money on another table. This was not the experience that I would expect from a restaurant that the average check is $75+ per person. So I think this night was a complete fail. read more

It really pains me to give 2 stars. 2 1/2 seems just right because of the great service, nice atmosphere, and the summer coupons they mail at 10 off each entry . My husband mom and I went on a Tuesday night. The bread, beet salad, and cheesecake was really good. However, all three of our entries were not acceptable. My husband had the salmon which was over cooked and mushy. Mom had the chicken which was dry and tastless. And, I had the ahi tuna which was really poorly done. It was rare, as it should be but was served over very hot spinach which cooked the underside of the ahi. It was also tastless. With salads being about $24 and entry's being around $40 to $65 the food was very disappointing. I'm so sorry to say we won't be back. read more

Good food. Good prices. Has been in the desert for may years at the same location. I would come back for sure.

WHAT A GEM !! Cork Tree was such a pleasant surprise. Seated in a shopping plaza, we did not have gift expectations... But boy did Cork Tree blow those low expectations out of the water. We were blown away at how large this place is - and yet, how each dish is absolutely fantastic. Like, literal chef's kiss. We got the berry mocktail and 0% beer to start, with the strawberry salad and beef escargot - which was a total twist on the general recipe, submerged in a broth with pastry on top. Yum! For entrees we had the braised beef short rib and seabass- which both were soo moist and tender and melted in our mouths. The sebass was actually pan seared and cooked all the way through and the lemon balanced out the Asian flare. For desert we had the creme brûlée trio (could have just done w the vanilla but it was nice to have tapas style) . Our waiter provided excellent service and really knew his stuff - was the former beverage manager at Fogo De Chao. He was lovely and explained the menu beautifully, we felt in great hands. The manager/owner was also a complete doll and accommodated us with our service dog outside. Looking forward to eating here on our future trips to the desert - it's a fail proof delicious night !! read more

Cork Tree - Strawberry pear salad, 0% beer, and escargot - New American Near Me - Palm Desert, California

Still a GREAT choice in the desert. Tuesdays & Thursday, they have live music near the bar area. For us, this is a major addition to the overall experience. Tonight, we had the mushroom soup (not listed on the menu but available by request 5 stars). Our entrees were the Duck and the Short rib. Both were excellent. Our server was Chris. Despite the fact that this was his 1st week at the Cork Tree, he did a good job of making us feel welcome and of answering our questions. read more

Had reservation for work for party of 3. We were welcomed and sat immediately. The service at This restaurant is implacable. We ordered apps and dinner; food was good, their Duck breast was ok; lacking flavor and seasoning. Rest of the food was delicious. Ambiance was great! read more

Pricey but good solid food and very attentive service. One of the best options for fine dining in the desert. Definitely recommend.

Delicious food! Great quality, nice drinks and awesome service couldn't have had a better night out!

The service was impeccable and the food even better . My husband had the Seabass which he loved and I had the short ribs which were delicious. Atmosphere was very inviting. I would recommend this restaurant and go back. read more

Where do I start. . . . AT THE FRONT DOOR The hostess and young lady taking us to our table were bad . . . In all my years of going to restaurants I've never seen two of the most unhappy and disconnected people ever . . Let me take a deep breath . . . the girl taking us to the table did give a smile at one point . The biggest starting issue was how they sat us far from everyone and we didn't understand why we had to sit alone . So this is primarily where the negative review comes from, Pros Good food and fast Great ambiance in the main room so ask for that don't sit alone . Good cocktails The waiter (possibly Hispanic) and the guy who brought drinks and bread (possibly African American ) were great !! Try and get them if you can !!! Cons Front of the house staff Not a landing place for out of town guest , if you have other options , certain people should take them . read more

I was invited here for a vendor dinner so I knew it was going to be a great dinner. We had the private dining room with pre-selected options on the menu. Started with Wild Mushroom Soup, then moved to the Beef Filet Mignon and ended with the Chef's Seasonal Duo. The soup had really good flavor. It was very smooth and the light chives added a little zest to it. The serving size was decent too. The filet Mignon was cooked perfectly. Really easy to slice and so flavorful. Really enjoyed this place and will definitely visit again when I'm in the area! read more

Neighborhood gem of a restaurant! As many times as I've been to Palm Springs, I can't believe we (my family) haven't tried this restaurant until now. Although you can book reservations through open table, you won't get points. That's ok, because we would come here again anyways... points or not! Food, service, and atmosphere were outstanding! Kudos to the manager of this restaurant. For starters we had the tuna tartare which was a nice portion of flavorful ahi with perfect toast points to eat them with. Also, the beet salad was fantastic! I got the mini version versus the full which was still very satisfying. The combination of red and yellow beets, tomatoes, goat cheese, and vinaigrette for dipping was lovely. For our entrees, one of us chose the short ribs to which my daughter said "was so tender, you don't need teeth to enjoy it!" (Lol). I decided to get the duck which turned out to be the best prepared duck I've had. It was cooked medium rare as recommended and the skin was crispy too! Also, I was impressed that my asparagus that came with the entree was trimmed and I actually could eat the entire stalk! (Usually, I have to leave the ends because it's too tough.) My husband got the savory Chilean sea bass which he gave a thumbs up. We saved room for dessert and chose the apple tart and molten chocolate cake. Both were delicious as we did not leave a crumb. I want to applaud the chef and kitchen staff on their preparation and presentation of the food. Also, I want to mention that the serving staff were great as well. Food came in a timely manner and it seemed the staff were helping one another keep the service orderly. We really enjoyed eating at this establishment and will remember it for future dining and recommendations to friends and family. read more

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The food is good but not wow for the price. Service was good. The restaurant is pretty old and not what we expected for the price.

Service is great, food and ambiance are even better! On our short list of great restaurants for a celebration. You would never pick this spot because it's not in the tourist track of El Paseo but this is a great place! read more

One of the best times dining with friends. Our waitress was fantastic. We told her we were in no hurry. Her pace and timing with drinks, ordering, soups/salads, entrees & desserts made our evening very, very enjoyable. So much so that we all agreed it was one of the best meals we've had. We tipped her accordingly. Great dining experience, thank you! read more

We got staph food poisoning. Not a good way to end a $220 dinner for two. Avoid this place like the plague. Because it is a plague. read more

Was in Palm desert for my birthday and my friend took me to this beautiful restaurant where we had so many wonderful dishes I told them they were going to have to roll me out like violet from Willy Wonka because everything was just so amazing and I was sooo full. Everyone there was super nice, attentive, and just delightful. Especially Collin, he was our bartender/waiter for the night because I decided to sit at the bar and it was like a show and dinner because everything he made was so unique, and he was fun to chat with. Also, this place is absolutely beautiful inside and out. It's a great place for a date or an intimate gathering of friends or family. read more

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Used to be a favorite restaurant! Last visit we were seated at a table at the end of the bar for 4, super loud, we couldn't hear each other! The table was placed in such a way that the back of my husband's chair was bumped by servers & patrons 5 times! Each times as he attempted to take a bit! That table should NOT be there, likely a case of more tables, more money! So disappointed...... It has Become a bit pretentious! read more

We enjoyed a lovely evening at Cork Tree. Great service ( Thank you Monica, staff and crew). Wonderfully prepared dishes with some adventurous touches. The Chilean Seabass served with Wasabi and shaved ginger( nice touch). My wife loved her perfectly rare Ribeye.. And Monica had a nice warm bread pudding with iced cream prepared for us to commemorate our anniversary Let there be no doubt WE'LL BE BACK!!! read more

Cork Tree is a great mix of casual and elegant. The interior of the restaurant is beautiful with upholstered booths and tablecloths. The outside patio where we sat is airy and has a great water feature to provide lovely ambiance. I started with the beet salad and it was excellent - probably one of the best I've had lately. The beets were delicious and the goat cheese was perfectly paired with them. I had the short ribs for dinner and they were very good, perhaps missing a tad of flavor/spice but delicious nonetheless. Service is at tentative and friendly. read more

Service is EXCELLENT, friendly waiter who was clear and concise. Water refilled without ever asking. Service was prompt/quick. Full salad are Large plate size. Caesar Salad dressing is made w/ anchovies & not water down. Slice pieces of real parmesan cheese is layered in. Romaine lettuce comes in WHOLE hearts (so ask for it to cut into smaller sizes if you can't cut it down yourself). Unfortunately, the hearts were on yellow side vs. GREEN. Pear Salad is a pear (soft texture) that is pickle in a sweet sauce over a spring salad mix. Dressing was on the sweater side. It was different but not as good where it is crispier pear. Cream cheese cake is NY style where the cream cheese taste is present. It's served with about 2 TBS of mixed berries (blueberry, raspberry) Espresso type coffee is available for $3.25/shot with an additional $1 for steam milk. Sugar sticks to stir in was interesting and different. Tables are large and ambience elegant/quiet/dark. This is a fine dining restaurant that serve finer type of food with superb service so be prepared for higher prices. It keeps to it's closing time so good place to go if hungry in evening. It's 15mins from the Marriot so gives Resort guess other options than hotel restaurants. There's Ding Tea nearby for the Kids Milk Tea & Bobba. read more

After YEARS of visiting Palm Desert and driving past The Cork Tree off of Cook/Country Club Drive ... and saying... "we gotta give them a try"... we finally decided to give them a try! I made a reservation online and was happy to be able to secure the exact day and time we were planning on dining. The Cork Tree is located in a shopping mall on the corner of Cook/Country Club Drive... and the exterior of the restaurant is VERY unassuming from the exterior. I was blown away when we made our way through the front door and went from strip mall vibe to fine dinning vibe in seconds. The restaurant is beautiful offering table and booth seating that boasts beautiful crisp white table cloths, dim lighting, and relaxing background music. The bar is set off to one side and has a floor to ceiling glass enclosure to minimize the sound making it's way into the dining room. Classy. The staff was top notch. We were welcomed warmly by the hostess, led to the table and promptly greeted by our waitress. Shortly thereafter a young man appeared with warm delicious bread and butter! And moments after that yet another young man with a glass pitcher of cold water. The bread and water servers were in constant motion throughout the restaurant ensuring all guests had their fill of both. Out waitress took our order and shortly thereafter our meals were rolled out of the kitchen sitting on a beautiful cart with a crisp clean white table cloth and our cutlery lined up with each plate! Our meals were FANTASTIC. Both the Filet Mignon and the Cioppino. We ordered Cappuccinos and an apple tart for desert and called it a night. The one HUGE regret we had was...... that we had not stopped in sooner! We have literally been driving past this spot for 7 years. They also offer BEAUTIFUL patio dining that has really cute lighting and outdoor heating. So... can't wait to stop in again VERY soon! Cheers! read more

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One of our favorite places to visit--not just for the outstanding food, but also for celebrating special occasions with friends and family. The service is consistently exceptional, and the staff goes above and beyond to create a welcoming and enjoyable experience. We highly recommend the seared Chilean sea bass--it's absolutely phenomenal! Not to mention the atmosphere is lovely! read more

We had a birthday celebration in the private room. The food was delicious, the service was exceptional. They paid great attention to detail. The night couldn't have gone better and we will be back!! Thank you!!! read more

Mediocre food, good service, old school ambience, and very steep prices. We'll never go back. We tried it 5 years ago and pretty much felt the same then as we do now. Chef has a heavy hand with salt and pepper and imaginative preparations like escargot miss the mark. Just not for anyone who knows fine food. No bang for your buck. read more