* Price: Appetizers $20,main dishes $40-50. Drinks $10-25. No additional fee. $200 for dinner for 2 (with appetizer, main dish, dessert and drinks). Not bad for touristy and California. 4 stars. * Ambiance: very nice and well decorated restaurant, spacious seating. Nice view of the gold course. Casual attire and atmosphere with fine dining presentation. 4 stars. * Location: Indian Wells Golf resort. Free parking. 4 stars. * Meals: fusion of many flavors with casual and farm presentation. Everything cooked perfectly and well flavor with good portion. 4 stars. * Service: pleasant and attentive. 4 stars. We are big fans of Richard Blais on Top Chef's so we got to try his restaurant. The restaurant is located in Indian Wells Golf Resort. It is not hard to find but not within high food traffic or walking distance from any hotels nearby. We made reservation via Opentable but could probably walk in since it did not look busy even on weekend nights. The servers were nice. The service was fast and timely manner when we were there (some reviews had complaints about their services). The menu is small but has good variety. All the dishes are a playful twist on comfort food. The presentation is rustic and farm like. For appetizers, we had Hamachi ($22): slides of raw yellow tail served with blood orange, ponzu sauce. It is our favorite dish. It is flavorful and fresh. The ponzu sauce is well balanced with citrusy of blood orange. For main dishes, we had pan roasted chillean sea bass ($48) and short ribs ($44). Sea bass was cooked to perfect, crispy skin, very well seasoning wtih asian twist of ginger- spiced sauce. Bok choy and coconut rice. Short ribs was very moist and tender but tamarind glace is a bit sweet. We also tried strawberry matcha which is pretty refreshing. We ended our dinner with lava cake ($12) which is warm chocolate cake with molten center. The cake is moist and not too sweet. Overall, we enjoyed our dinner and stuff. I was surprised by some 1 star reviews. I would recommend to check out the restaurant if you are in the area. read more

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We went for Restaurant Week. The space is nice, some tables have views of the golf course. Ours did not. (We were a party of three) Service was excellent. It was the highlight of our meal. I ordered the pork and shrimp rolls for my app. My friends both ordered the hearts of palm Caesar salad. The fried shrimp rolls were served on a tall plate that came up to my chin. Making them hard to cut and eat. No plate. I should have asked for one. The wrapping used on the rolls was very thick. Almost cracker-like. I was underwhelmed. The salads were fine, regular Caesar salads with canned hearts of palm mixed in. Our server didn't offer any pepper. My main was the ahi tuna bowl, my friends had the vegetarian burrito bowl and the smash burger. Spoiler alert, it is not a smash burger. Just a regular burger. The tuna bowl was unlike the menu photo. Instead of slices of seared ahi, I received a bowl of warm sushi rice with marinated tuna chunks, chopped cucumber, dried noodles, mashed avocado. It was a very strange combination. The warm rice and the raw fish. The burrito bowl was warm and fresh but it is on a bed of wilted (from the heat of the ingredients) lettuce? No one wants to eat slimy lettuce. Having been to another Top Chef contestant restaurant and enjoying it (Girl and the Goat in Chicago), we had high hopes for Kestrel. It was a letdown. read more

Finally got to visit this beautiful restaurant on a perfect May evening. The patio overlooks the golf course and the mountains for a spectacular view. We even got to see a gorgeous full moon The food is outstanding and very elevated. We shared several salads and entrees and sipped delicious drinks. The portions are very generous and meant to be shared! We celebrated a birthday and were treated to some delicious treats. We had a great waiter who was very attentive and helpful. Definitely will return again soon. Wish I could have met Chef Richard! read more

Kestrel Kitchen - Salmon - Salad Near Me - Indian Wells, California

Richard Blais's Palm Springs spot in the Indian Wells golf resort did not disappoint! Very space, warm and friendly service and delicious food! We shared a bunch of plates starting with deviled eggs, chard snap peas, grilled and chilled cocktail shrimp, the lamb lollipops and the tuna arepas were ALL PHENOMENAL! The mocktails and cocktails were creative and memorable as well! So happy we tried this place! read more

Kestrel Kitchen - Salad Near Me - Indian Wells, California

We really had a great lunch at kestrels. The portions were huge, the atmosphere for casual, yet upscale. The view over looking the golf course was perfect. We all enjoyed everything about our meal. The guacamole and chips is huge and great to share. I will be back for that very soon! The service was incredible, Yolanda took great care of us! read more

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This is one of the newest restaurants in the Palm Springs area and is brought to you by Richard Blais, former Top Chef competitor. It is located at the Indian Wells Golf Resort. When you walk in you will see the name of the restaurant on the wall ahead of you, just know that the restaurant is located upstairs. Since we went on a Saturday night, we did make reservations and the restaurant was full, so I'm glad we did. Upon being sat we were greeted and waters were brought over right away. A few minutes later, our server came over and introduced himself and took our cocktail order as well as our appetizer order. We started with the deviled eggs and the pear salad to share. Both came out quickly, and both were delicious! Our server recommended the Seabass as one of the most delicious meals on the menu, so of course we all had that! He was right it is delicious! However, just now that when you order the Seabass, that's all there is, a simple piece Seabass with a leaf of bok choy laid on top... there's no sides however the creamy sauce on it is outstanding! For us this was absolutely perfect but if you had a larger group, you'd probably want some sides. Our server also recommended the carrot cake as the best dessert. Apparently it's a favorite of the mayor of Palm Springs! I personally thought it was good not great. Overall, the restaurant is beautiful, the service fantastic and the food is delicious. I would definitely recommend it! read more

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Meh.... This was hotel dining at the best it can be. It didn't wow me, nothing stood out, and nothing was exceptional. A bit disappointing overall especially when you total in cost along with higher than necessary expectations based on it being Richard Blais' spot. I'm not mad we went but I wouldn't go back if in the area. The drink prices were outrageous; made me want to stick to water or a bottle drink. Literally some drinks are more expensive than a whole meal. Just wild... read more

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We were driving through Palm Desert on the way back from vacation and checked Yelp for a lunch spot. I found Kestrel Kitchen and noticed it was a Richard Blais restaurant. We have been to his restaurant La Zozonna in Scottsdale so we made a quick U-turn and went to Indian Wells for lunch! Kestrel Kitchen is located in the Indian Wells Golf Resort right off Highway 111. We walked upstairs and noticed how large and airy the restaurant is with outdoor dining, lounge seating and the main restaurant. The views of the golf course and property are beautiful. There is a large bar that looks out onto the back patio and golf course. It was quite hot out so we sat inside. Our server Alexandria was very pleasant and attentive. We arrived 10 minutes before brunch ended (1:00pm) and they would switch to their regular lunch menu, however, Alexandria said we could still order off the bunch menu. We ordered the loaded crispy potatoes for the table. The potatoes were topped with caramelized onions, herbs and a Catalina sauce. These were crispy and tasty. I ordered chilaquiles with poached eggs. The eggs were a little more runny than I would prefer. I would have liked the sauce to be a little spicy but it was seasoned well and the flavor was good. You can add short ribs to the chilaquiles if you like for an additional cost. My husband ordered the breakfast burrito. It came with a side of fruit. He said it was very good. We enjoyed the restaurant and felt the prices were very reasonable. Stop in if you are in the area and looking for a nice relaxing restaurant with a view and great food. Parking is free and it is located right off the 111. read more

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Loved the food at Kestrel. The chicken piccata was excellent though I wish there were less capers in the pasta. I liked the beets salad and the molten cake. Our server Ricardo was very nice and attentive - but our drinks took over 30 minutes to make - which delayed his taking of our food order. Once our food was ordered, everything else went very smoothly. The bathroom was very nice and easy to access. The only other snafu was that the sea bass had a curry seasoning but was described as ginger-spiced sauce on the menu, and the person who ordered it wasn't the happiest with that since she doesn't like curry. But since she split her dish with someone else, she did not send it back and was able to eat portions of the other entrees. read more

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We really really enjoyed this restaurant! It is a beautiful restaurant with a wonderful view. It's very nice inside and is a nice upscale vibe. The service was friendly and helpful. The food all was very fresh and had great flavor! The sea bass has a curry type sauce and came with coconut rice. The sea bass was juicy and cooked perfectly. The chicken piccata was really good and had great flavor. I was expecting the chicken not to be breaded but it still was really good and I liked how thin and moist it was. The chicken was not dry at all. It came with extra sauce and was really good. We had a great meal here and will be back when we come to Palm Desert. read more

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My husband and I chose The Kestrel at the IW Club in Indian Wells to celebrate our anniversary on Valentine's Day, and while the food was exceptional, the overall experience was bittersweet. Every dish we ordered was delicious , oysters, Chilean sea bass and the heavenly lamb shank.-- beautifully plated and full of flavor. The culinary team clearly takes pride in what they do, and the quality of the food truly made the evening feel special. However, the service was unexpectedly poor for such an important occasion. There were noticeable lapses in attentiveness and timing, which left us feeling somewhat overlooked on what should have been a celebratory night. It was disappointing, especially given the setting and the significance of the evening. When we informed our waitress of the oversight, she pointedly told us it was because they were so busy. This was not the case. Turnover was very slow, and there were several empty tables. They definitely were expecting more guests, but the restaurant was not full. Our dessert did not arrive after 35 minutes of waiting which was very disappointing. We genuinely hope the service improves, because the food alone deserves five stars.. And, as always, the GM Charlie, was warm and welcoming. read more

Kestrel Kitchen - Sea Bass - Salad Near Me - Indian Wells, California

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Wonderful place! Our server, Valentina, was sooo nice and helpful. It was my grandmas birthday and she was so sweet and kind with her. The prime rib was excellent and we loved our drinks! The space is open and has a clean aesthetic. We loved it and will be back! read more

Kestrel Kitchen - Salad Near Me - Indian Wells, California

we ate there last Saturday and I had the worst meal I can ever remember having at any restaurant. I ordered the chicken Piccata. The chicken was pounded so thin then breaded there was no flavor. Also the meal was to be served with broccolini. Instead I was served the largest broccoli stalks I have ever seen. Just terrible. I will never eat there again nor recommend this restaurant to anyone! read more

Beautiful restaurant and tasty food. Well priced. Service was poor. Our waiter was not friendly nor helpful. He did not seem to be interested in providing recommendations or our dining experience. When we came at 5:45pm there were only 2 other tables and our dinner took 2 hours. Either the kitchen was behind or our waiter did not enter food timely. Server did not offer drink refills or dessert at the end. read more

Our party of five met at Kestrel Kitchen with anticipation. It wasn't in hopes of seeing the namesake's perfect hair, but more to savor some cuisine. The Cesar salad was lukewarm, slightly wilted, with sourdough croutons as hard as jawbreaker candy. Did they soak the lettuce in dressing? While I do enjoy anchovies, these were on the "oceanic" flavor of the spectrum. The libations were adequate, but no one said, "Wow." The six and one-half ounce sea bass was cooked perfectly, but looked like a minnow when plated. It wasn't enough for a meal, even with the coconut rice. I found the claim of its size dubious at best. As a public service announcement I will simply tell you not to try and eat the burger, that is unless you enjoy something as dry as the Sahara with little to zero flavor. The fries were cold and simply reminded me of something you'd find at the bottom of a McDonalds bag. I thought you couldn't mess up bolognese sauce, but I was wrong. Chunks of carrots? Really? Pieces of beef and pork? Is this a meat SAUCE or just something whipped up in a pan and plated with linguini? It felt like false advertising. Call it something else. The service was on point. Everyone enjoyed the key lime cheesecake! It's tangy, creamy, crust of graham crackers turned our collective frowns upside down. At least the dinner ended with a smile. "Take a good look" - GW read more

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I was excited to try Kestrel Kitchen since I'm a fan of Richard Blais' culinary style. But this missed the mark. I was hoping the desert would finally be able to boast some upscale dining! I can only assume Chef Blais hasn't been here lately, to ensure the dishes are coming out he intended. Service was good. But cocktails and cocktails a touch watered down. We started with the beets by Blais and the Brussels sprouts which were actually delicious, but most everything else fell flat. My friends enjoyed the Hamachi. We had the cauliflower fondue, which has absolutely NO flavour. Tasted like steamed cauliflower...which essentially tastes like nothing. I mentioned this to our server and she brought the Boursin mashed potatoes as a replacement...also no flavour. Couldn't taste any Boursin, and, I hate to say it, but they tasted no better than dehydrated mashed potatoes. My friend had the pan roasted sea bass, which looked beautiful. She said the fish was cooked well and the sauce was really lovely. My other friend had the fried chicken lettuce wraps which is huge and bigger than an app, and the steak frites...he was less than impressed by the steak but liked the fried chicken. I had hoped the pasta of the week might be the only other veg entree option (other than the Moroccan tagine), but nope. The dessert menu lacked excitement, so for the first time in ages, we didn't order dessert. I was really hoping Kestrel Kitchen would impress but instead, it follows suit with many desert restaurants...it's just ok. read more

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Nicely updated golf course restaurant with great views. Parking was free with valet option. We sat outside on a beautiful afternoon, patio has lots of shade and 180 degree view of their golf course. Adrian, our server demonstrated the high level of service and attention we observed from all of the staff. He was funny and helpful. We both started with the clam chowder, their soup of the day. It was good but overly rich, even the cup was difficult to finish. The chicken lettuce bowl, served like a salad had good flavor but the cuts of chicken were tough and confusing - I never seen a cut of chicken in those shapes/ they looked like calamari-? All in all we came for the food and stayed for the service. Enjoyed the atmosphere but the food, although flavor was there was not well executed. The restaurant is operated by Top Chef winner Richard Blais, who has multiple concepts and projects to manage. read more

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Kestrel truly impressed our table of four with its creative blend of American, Mexican, and Italian influences. We started with their table-side liquid hydrogen margarita -- not only a fun presentation but also perfectly balanced and refreshing. For appetizers we ordered the tortilla chips that are seasoned with lime peeled sea salt and paired it with the salsa roja and guacamole topped with cotija cheese -- a flavorful and elevated take on a classic starter. For entrées, we tried the smash burger, the catch of the day, and the pasta of the day, which happened to be a rich short rib and mushroom stroganoff. Every dish was thoughtfully prepared, beautifully presented, and packed with flavor. Dessert was a standout -- the Medjool carrot cake was moist, spiced just right, and the perfect way to end the meal. The service was impeccable from start to finish. Special thanks to Senior Food and Beverage Manager Justina Alvarado, who was absolutely delightful and made wonderful recommendations throughout the night. Her attentiveness elevated the entire experience. Kestrel offers nightly specials featuring new pasta dishes and a rotating catch of the day, giving us plenty of reasons to return soon. A truly amazing fine dining experience -- highly recommended! read more

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Came to Kestrel for lunch today and it did not disappoint. Located on the Marriott (Renaissance Esmerelda) property in Indian wells you'll find plenty of parking and the grounds are well kept and the restaurant is located on the second floor above the golf Service: 5 stars! Service is 5 star. Matt Alms was our waiter for lunch and he was very kind to share his knowledge about the menu items and weigh in on our drink choices. Busboys and busgirls ensured used plates were taken away promptly; the empty glasses were either refilled or taken away. Shrimp cocktail: 5 stars 4 meaty shrimp(s) and just the right amount of cocktail sauce. Lemon wedge and cucumber/apple bits on the side round this appetizer off quite nicely. Wycliff Brut Sparkling wine: 4 stars Very good sparkling wine! At 7 bucks a glass, how could I say no? Blais burger: 3 stars This burger wasn't bad. It wasn't great either. It was alright. The beef itself was cooked just fine, but there wasn't much flavor in the beef itself. The monterey jack cheese added another layer of neutral flavor and I don't think I received enough of the Catalina spread that was supposed to accompany the burger. The shredded lettuce and plain bun solidified the 3 star rating. The boldest flavor on this burger was the slice of white onion, but I could get white onions at home. Again, the burger was alright, but not really good/great. I would not order this again and I think that if Richard Blais is going to put his name on a specific dish, he should either revamp this burger or pick an entirely different dish. Desert Sunset: 4 stars I took a gamble and chose the desert sunset cocktail: Astral (reposado) tequila, lavender syrup, grapefruit juice and lime juice. The flavor itself was good. But it was also sweet. I'm more of a tequila and soda kind of guy and like I said, I took a gamble and ordered a special cocktail. For 24 bucks I was a little let down, but I'm chalking this up to my personal bitter palate. Next time I'll opt for a regular well drink or perhaps some wine. Overall I would come back to Kestrel and I look forward to doing so. The ambiance is quite nice, the staff is very friendly and very attentive. If you haven't been to Kestrel yet, I encourage you to check it out. read more

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When we want a quiet, upscale enjoyable dinner at a reasonable price we choose Kestrel's. Enjoy the atmosphere , dinning inside or outside. Food is creative and delicious. read more

Kestrel was a very strong 4. I believe it could have been a 5, it may have been because of the choices we made. We had the hamachi, crab toast, Brie and fig bread, and the prime rib. The bread will be in my dreams and the prime rib was the best prime rib I have found in the states(Alberta still wins). The baked potato that came with the prime rib was very basic. For this type of place and the prices you pay I would have liked to seen it elevated a bit more. The other two were a bit of a let down. The crab toast was overly mustarded and the hamachi was good but a little light on the flavor and didn't have the best knife work; for the price the hamachi was not worth it. Our server was awesome, and the place was very cozy. I felt like the staff took pride in their work. I never once had to think about asking for water. read more

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pscale restaurant with their take on American classics/fusion for lunch including prime dip, chicken sandwich, burgers and salads. It was a beautiful day so we chose to sit outside in the shade with a view of the mountains and golf course. They have a mist system that was turned on to keep us nice and cool outside. We ordered the prime dip, poke bowl and tuna arepa. The prime dip was underwhelming. It is served with only meat unless you add onions and cheese at an additional cost. The poke bowl was my favorite dish. It was served with a variety of toppings including mango, seaweed salad, ginger, avocado. The ingredients were fresh and made for the perfect bowl. I didn't know what I was expecting from the tuna arepa, but I was surprised by the portion especially since it costed more than the poke bowl. We tried the Kestrel 75 and Desert Sunset as recommended by our server. These drinks are very aesthetically pleasing and had a sweet tone to them. If you are a fan of citrus and grapefuit, I would recommend desert sunset! Guava cheesecake is a must try! The sugar crackle was satisfying to crack, and the dessert wasn't overly sweet. We also learned from our server that the restaurant incorporates recipes from other chefs, and the guava cheesecake is one of those recipes! Our server was very attentive and checked up on us frequently. Overall, lunch was okay. Dinner might be a better option with the options for seafood and cuts of meat. read more

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We were a party of 5 with puppy on the patio for lunch. I think a 3.6 for over all experience is about right. It's a big two story building with nice decor inside and a large patio outside. The hostess is friendly and the service was very good. However, the only really good dishes were the potato soup and the smash burger with bacon. The fried chicken lettuce wrap said it was to share but it was served unattractive with two large pieces of lettuce and dry chicken covering some veggies on the bottom. My fries were good but my burger didn't have much flavor. The server said the tostada had white meat chicken but it was dark meat and lacked flavor. Jorden loved his smash burger. I don't think I'll be rushing back any time soon I'm sorry to say. read more

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I met a colleague for lunch at Kestrel, not aware that this is Richard Blais' signature restaurant. My son has pointed out that I wasted the opportunity to eat something amazing since I ordered the cobb salad which is definitely 4/5 (hard to give a 5 star to a cobb salad) but in retrospect I should have ordered something more interesting such as the ahi tuna poke bowl which my lunch partner had. If this was not a business lunch I would have asked for a bite! The view from the restaurant is pretty overlooking the golf course and the mountain skyline. We ate inside and the a/c was a little high since I was wearing a sleeveless dress. If given the opportunity i will go back to try some other items! read more

From very creative cocktails to a very wide variety of menu items, we loved this place . You've got to try the crispy chicken lettuce bowl . Pear salad was amazing, and we had the prime rib , second to none for sure ! Service was excellent, very attentive and we had our cocktails within minutes of arriving Very comfortable and relaxing environment read more

We booked an impromptu weekend getaway at the Grand Hyatt Indian Wells Resort & Villas for 1 night. As traffic from LA took hours, we were pretty exhausted by the time we checked in. Since Kestrel is conveniently located just under a 5-minute walk from our room, we decided to dine there. Despite the lukewarm review on Yelp, we were pleasantly surprised by the quality of the food as well as the service. We ordered several appys since my husband wanted the prime rib; however, the restaurant only had the ends left. So my husband ordered deviled eggs, hamachi crudo, chips to dip as his entree. I ordered the steak frites for my entree and was blown away by the flavor and tenderness of the cook. That chimichurri butter needs to be sold outside the restaurant so i can relive this meal. The fries were perfectly seasoned and also crunchy just like how i like them. Overall, this would go down as one of my top 3 steaks. read more

Chicken piccata? Go to the Colonel-it's better! I have never been served a meal that looked as unappetizing as this "creation"! Would Blais eat it? I think not! read more

Second Time's a Charm at Kestrel! This was our second time dining at Kestrel, and this visit was just as memorable--if not more--since we brought friends along to experience it with us. The ambiance is effortlessly elegant with soft lighting, a cozy layout, and a warm, welcoming vibe. We were seated indoors but still enjoyed stunning sunset views right from our table--such a treat! We kicked off the evening with a round of their signature cocktails--the Desert Sunset, Love Lucy, and the Kestrel 75--each beautifully crafted and unique. One of us opted for a classic vodka martini (no vermouth, twist of lemon), and it was made to perfection. For dinner, we ordered the pan-roasted Chilean sea bass and the New York strip steak, both cooked exactly to our liking and bursting with flavor. To share, we had the hamachi and roasted Brussels sprouts, which were equally impressive. Our guests chose the Prime Rib and Chicken Marsala, and they were raving about their meals all night. Service was attentive and friendly--our server offered great recommendations and made sure we were well taken care of throughout the evening. Final thoughts: Fantastic food, lovely ambiance, great cocktails, and a perfect place to bring friends or enjoy a date night. We'll absolutely be back--especially for those golden hour views. read more

Kestrel Kitchen - Happy and full after an excellent dining experience at Kestrel! See you again soon! - Salad Near Me - Indian Wells, California

This place was awesome. From the valet that parked the car. The hostess that seated us. The bus boy. And our lovely server, Yolanda. The food was excellent. The Cobb salad was fresh and large and the best I've had in the valley. My friend had soup and a half sandwich. It was also delicious with Albondigas soup and too huge meatballs. The amazing dessert was a chocolate cake topped with a Bavarian cream and a hard chocolate shell..... assorted blackberries and raspberries surrounding. Overlooking the golf course was spectacular too. Highly highly highly highly recommend. read more

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This was my second (and I might add, final experience) time dining at Kestrel. My first visit wasn't great. Family members from out-of-state selected this restaurant. I didn't say anything about my previous experience. We all ordered an appetizer although I ordered a Palm Caesar salad. My salad arrived quickly - it looked like a shredded lettuce bag salad. :(. All the other appetizers arrived about 20 minutes later. We then ordered our entrees. I ordered the Chicken Piccata. It was a large round, fried piece of chicken breast that resembled a large thick pancake. It was greasy and dry. One of the family members was brought the wrong entree - his dinner arrived when the rest of us were done eating. His meal was "comped" but the lack of attention to our dining was awful. The service was not good - the server was less than interested and honestly, had quite an attitude. I don't care if Richard Blais is behind this restaurant. But, he better pay attention to the dining experience and food that is served from the kitchen. This is my second less than desirable experience at Kestrel and will not return. There are too many wonderful restaurants with superb food in the Palm Springs area. read more

Yes, fabulous new restaurant with an original menu that is super tasty. Service is excellent and the ambiance is peaceful with a designer vibe. Their beet pear salad is soooo yummy. A celebrity chef is the mastermind behind this new extraordinary culinary experience. Sooo good I ate there twice in a 72 hour period....lol. You should try it...you will love it! read more

Kestrel Kitchen - Salad Near Me - Indian Wells, California

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I just had the BEST customer service from Nerial at Kestrel. Christmas Day brunch is already booked for 3:00 but I called to see if there was a cancellation and Nerial was so sweet and she checked for me because we are driving all the way from San Diego on Christmas. We are now booked! Thank you so much Nerial! Sorry if I spelled your name wrong! read more

We live across the street. Ate at Vu a few times back in the day. Food is really no better now. You would expect it to be, considering the celebrity chef who's put his name to it. How involved he is seems unknown, but one thing that is known- the food is average at best. The smash burger isn't a smash burger, just a very average burger. The flat bread- I suppose if there were numerous versions to choose from, this particular offering might make sense, but as the only choice on the menu, asparagus is the wrong option- hard to eat and not tasty. Dinner menu is somewhat limited, and suffers from the same lackluster taste. Beautiful setting on a beautiful golf resort. Service seems OK and friendly enough staff. But with so many dining choices within 5-10 miles of our house, it's hard to give Kestrel more than a couple of chances to impress. read more

At Dining with The Davids, we don't just try a dish or two--we bring a group of food lovers, known as our Taste Buds, and order a wide selection from the menu so we can truly experience what a restaurant has to offer. At the end of the night, everyone votes for their favorites. Our reviews reflect the collective opinion of the group, not just one person's take. With that in mind, here's our experience at Kestrel in Indian Wells. We were excited to visit Kestrel, the newest restaurant from celebrity chef Richard Blais. Given its location in one of the wealthiest towns in California, we expected an elevated dining experience with bold, creative flavors. While there were certainly some standout moments, a few elements fell short of expectations. The highlights: * The restaurant itself is stunning, with multiple dining areas and a welcoming atmosphere that's great for groups. * The liquid nitrogen margaritas were a hit--fun to watch and well-balanced. * Two appetizers stood out: the Fromage Blanc with Wild Mushrooms & Truffle and the Hamachi with Blood Orange Ponzu & Pickled Serrano--both beautifully executed. * The best entrée was the Pan-Roasted Chilean Sea Bass with Coconut Rice, perfectly cooked with a flavorful tomato-ginger sauce. * For dessert, the Carrot & Date Cake was the clear favorite--moist, well-spiced, and a great way to end the meal. Where things missed the mark: * Service was slow. Our dinner stretched to five hours (these events normally take 2.5-3 hours to complete), with a significant delay in sorting out the checks for drinks. The verdict: Kestrel has a beautiful space, a fun cocktail menu, and some fantastic appetizers, but there are still some kinks to work out in both execution and service. Would we return? For drinks and small bites, absolutely. But if you're expecting a flawless fine-dining experience, it's worth managing expectations. read more

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Love this place... it is such a hidden gem! Took my Dad out for lunch date and he was very impressed. The restaurant is beautiful, service was outstanding and the food was delicious! We will be returning! read more

Kestrel Kitchen - Salad Near Me - Indian Wells, California

What a great addition to the Desert beautiful space very modern outstanding staff and food to boot. Palm Caesar, ricotta fig and hot honey, shrimp pasta and poke bowl were all amazing. Giant portions mist thins can be shared we will definitely be back read more

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Last week My friend and I had the pleasure of dining at Kestrel, and we opted to eat in the bar area, which turned out to be a great decision because our server/bartender was Javi. He made us some amazing cocktails, a Kestrel 75 for my friend and a Majool Negroni with whiskey instead of gin for me. These were incredible and Javi took the time to explain that many of the ingredients were house made. He also took our orders for dinner, that guy was on top of it. I had the Hearts of Palm Cesar with chicken and my friend had the Poached Pear Salad, both were delicious. All in all a lovely experience, friendly vibe and great food and drinks. read more

Charming spot to have dinner, or belly up to the bar for tasty food and drinks. Gorgeous views, wonderful ambience and fun bartenders and servers who are professional and sharp. I love the chocolate mousse for desert the best! read more

Ordered the "Klub" sandwich. Bread cut the roof of my mouth. Was supposed to have pesto, but sadly one of the driest club sandwiches I've had in a long time. One piece of lettuce. No spread. Fake processed meat. Ranch from a bottle for the burnt fries. Mimosa was $15. $13 for prosecco and $2 for a "drop" of OJ, which ended up being half of the glass. So $15 for 4oz of prosecco. Actually kind of comical. Will not return. I was hoping that chef "Richard Blais" would have more than a "Denny's like experience" read more

Went for happy hour. Beautiful restaurant. Stunning views of the golf course. Sat outside and had wine and deviled eggs which were delicious. We loved the vibe and the wine was perfect. read more