Acqua Pazza California Bistro
71-800 Hwy 111, Rancho Mirage, CA, 92270
Acqua Pazza California Bistro Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Rancho Mirage for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Rancho Mirage for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Rancho Mirage for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
71-800 Hwy 111
Rancho Mirage, CA, 92270 - Phone (760) 862-9800
- Website https://www.acquapazzabistro.com/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
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Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Drive-Thru : No
Caters : No
Categories
Burgers
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Alex F.
We had our Christmas dinner here as a family. It was packed on that day and wait was about 1.5 hours without reservations. We arrived early, and was able to get to our seats about 10 min earlier. We had fillet mignon, prime rib, seafood linguini, lamb shank and food was great. My daughter ordered a corn chowder, which they ran out but brought a nice Caesar salad to hold her down for awhile and promptly got another batch of fresh chowder. They did not even charge us for the salad. Ambience was a little loud but comfortable. Great location by The River for lots of evening activities.
(4)Florian V.
I was not impressed at all when i went there. Everything was just alright, from service to food. Nothing impressive at all. No dramas either. Just average. Having dinner with view on water is always nice though.
(3)Kevin S.
Too many things went wrong in this first visit. We made a list and there were ten things that went wrong. Hash browns were hash black! They charged for a tea that I didn't get. Eggs Benedict came cold. Couldn't wait to leave after force-feeding myself.
(1)Ritsa C.
Read the review on Yelp and also check out their menu on their website. They have happy hour until closing which is 11pm I think will that got to be good. Once we were their we didn't get service until 20 minutes after we were seated and we didn't get to see that happy hour menu that they show on their website. Service was pretty slow. We seats outside which have more or less 20 tables ONLY ONE WAITER POOR GUY WAS RUNNING AROUND LIKE CRAZY over all food was just okay nothing to WOW about service can't blame the waiter. Will I go back or recommend it to my friends or family NO
(2)Anita C.
I had been here once before the other night and it was very good, however the last time I went I was very very disappointed. We sat outside on a Monday. Not the busiest night of the week but they definitely were busier inside. Our server must have had too much on his plate because we were often forgotten about. Our drinks took over 15 minutes and we only ordered 2 bottled beers & a vodka cran. I had to go inside and offer to bring my drinks to the table. I also had asked the server what they had on draft and he didn't have any idea. Just gave me the wine/beer list. Which is fine, but he should have at least known the draft beers. They have three 3-course specials going on ($17, $23, $26?) Your choice of soup/salad, the entree & dessert. I ordered the chicken piccata that came with green beans, roasted peppers and mashed red potatoes. It wasn't bad, wasn't good, didn't take it home. The veggies were sad & hard, which sucks because I love vegetables and they were almost inedible. The meatloaf had the same side, meatloaf was alright but definitely the mushroom sauce was good. The worst tiramisu I have ever had. It was gooey and dense, and if you know what good tiramisu is, those two words would never be used to describe it. Bad service, fair food, probably will not be going back any time soon.
(2)Charity F.
We ate here for breakfast today. Mediocre service with super greasy/bland food. The corned beef hash resembled dog food. When our food arrived, it was brought out by someone other than our server. They never said one word to us. Our waiter walked by our table a few times and never asked how it was or if we needed anything. We will not be back.
(2)Mark S.
This place is in the River shopping center and exemplifies the kind of concept-y, soul-less restaurant that dominate most shopping centers and malls. We went for lunch and left feeling as if we probably would not go back. I had a beer that wasn't cold enough and my wife had a margarita that was good. The menu is very random and all over the map, and we ended up ordering the lettuce wraps and a pizza. The pizza was fine, although it seemed really salty. It would also have been better if the crust was a bit crispier, but it was the highlight compared to the lettuce wraps which were just bad. They came in a baking dish covered in a pile of totally wilted and nasty alfalfa sprouts. The accompanying sauce was no help either. It looked like it all came from a can and totally lacked any freshness. The service was fine and the decor was okay.
(2)Alejandra M.
Great place to eat! Their daily specials age a great value. The atmosphere was nice! All was good but... The meatloaf was bland and when I told the waiter he just brushed it off and ignored me. He should have addressed my concerns. My husband had the pasta with prawns and that was well worth the money.... Mixed feelings!!! and that is the reason I don't give a 5star rating
(4)Sara A.
While I was in Palm Springs for what turned into a long weekend, I found myself here for brunch. This place has a great atmosphere. Their outdoor area is on the little...hmm what should I call it? Small man-made lake? It has big green umbrellas and misters running on the patio, which makes it very inviting on a hot day. I was slightly hung over and starving when we went, so knew I was in need of some carbs. I chose to have the gorgonzola and pear pizza. My boyfriend chose the chipotle chicken sandwich. Both were mediocre. He had a hard time chewing his chicken, which could have been him or the sandwich. For me, I just expected the pizza to be a little better. The pears were not sweet at all which I had thought they would be, especially when paired with gorgonzola cheese. Also, our service was not great. We had a hard time getting our servers attention most of the time and he would constantly disappear. If there is a next time, I will be sure to try the breakfast items since that is what most people seem to be raving about.
(2)Nick T.
I had amazing experience this past week. Im a fan of LuLus, so I decided to give this a try. I was not disappointed. Our server Marla was on her A game. She was nice without being to over the top. She was attentive without being all up in our business. I used to be a server/bartender so service is important. Thank ou Marla! The manager even stoped by. Its those little touches that will bring me back. My partner is picky and ask for subtitutions all the time.She didnt skip a beat and everything came our perfect. My pork chops were tasty and the creme brulee ... well lets just say I almost licked my bowl clean! My experience was a great one. I just thought the powers that be should know ... Your staff gave me a great experience.
(5)Kevin H.
I was really impressed by this place. I did not expect such fine dining around The River. Went here on a Saturday night. It was beautiful outside so we decided to sit in the patio area. I had the Wild Mushroom soup which I had never had before. It was amazing! Rich and creamy. Great soup. I had the Filet Mignon as an entree. It was cooked well and tasted great even though I have had better at various steakhouses. Side portion of mashed potatoes and vegetables were very small. Finished dinner with the chocolate cake which was great. Sit in the patio if you would like somewhat romantic setting. Inside was very noisy. Overall, I had a great experience here and would recommend it.
(4)Scott S.
This review is based on 2 experiences, one last year, a 5 star, and one yesterday, a 3 star. Their bread came out fresh and warm, nice. Their wedge salad was fantastic and I still remember it from a year ago. The calamari was good, but shouldn't be served with a sweet and sour sauce. I order the lobster roll sandwiches and they were ok, but NOT worth $17. The waitress did mention she wasn't sure how good they would be, so then take it off the menu! The chocolate dessert cake was good. I might go back.
(4)Maria G.
I'm really tired of having to update my reviews to give lower star ratings. People really do need to get it together, and I'm not kidding when I say that this place in particular needs to step it up - BIG TIME! I went to Acqua Pazza the other week when I was in the desert for a couple days because I always try to make it a point to each and every fam bam visit. This time around, I went on a lunch date with one of the besties, Katie. Outdoor patio seating with misters, I think so! We looked around and noticed that we were probably the youngest ones there and found it kind of peculiar. Within the first five minutes, Katie mentioned the server being kind of rude, which was pretty interesting considering that he was out-of-his-way nice to everyone else around us. I didn't dwell too much on the server right then. Katie and I chose the three course meal for $20, which is definitely a lovely special that the two of us are probably too familiar with. For the first course, Katie ordered a soup that she found to be delicious, and I ordered a salad. Unfortunately, I found a piece of hair laying across one of the mandarin oranges. I'm usually not one to make a scene, but there was no way in hell I was going to eat that salad. GROSS! As soon as I had a chance, I told our server (whose name we later found to be something like "Alverado"?) about my finding, and this is where shit hits the fan! Instead of simply taking the salad back to the kitchen to make a new one or bring out the old one minus the hair for purposes of pacifying me, Mr. Alverado takes about 5 full minutes to inspect, that's right I repeat INSPECT the salad. Digging his nose into the salad, he shakes his head in disbelief. Next thing I know, Alverado has the plate in my face and is asking me where the hair is, which was exactly where I had found it originally. I told him it was on the orange, but he kept telling me there was no hair and asked me (his voice loud at this point) if the hair was in the lettuce. I told him that I was started to get mad and that the hair is on the orange, as I've said before. He, of course, takes his glasses out of his pocket, puts it on, and still cannot find the hair. I tried to avoid making a scene, but I really could not enjoy the rest of my meal after that altercation. For the remaining courses (main and dessert), Alverado avoided coming to our table and sent bussers to do his job for him. We sat there for about 30 minutes hearing him kiss everyone else's butts. Eventually, we ask one of the bussers for our server's name, only to watch him report straight to Alverado. We, then ask for the manager, who was definitely fake nice (which I know beats blatantly rude, but still). She told us the things we wanted to hear but didn't seem at all concerned about the service we had experienced. Probably because it happens all too often. Oh, and I almost forgot to mention that she initially had asked us what we wanted her to do about it. Um.. you're the manager, start by getting a hold of your employees maybe? I've had some pretty bad experiences, but this by far was second to the very worst, following a racist experience I had in New York. I loved Acqua Pazza for a long time, but even their good food does not appeal to me after what my friend and I went through. No joke, I'd rather starve than eat there again, but that's just me.
(1)Patrick R.
Used to go here all the time now we will never go back! All of the food was very bland and tasted like it was just barely reheated. I got the sea bass and couldn't even finish half of it. The only reason I even give it two stars is because the drinks were good.
(2)Laurie L.
This USED to be my favorite restaurant in the desert and unfortunately it seems like they have undergone an ownership or management change. We first experienced this in late December and thought maybe it was a fluke. However, we returned this past weekend and had a similar experience. The wedge salad was HALF the size as it always was and the same price! How can you charge the same and bring out literally half the salad??!? Ridiculous. And the food quality has gone downhill. Even the bread has changed. Will not be returning.
(1)Local S.
About the name. For most of its history it was Piero's Acqua Pazza, and everyone I talk to STILL calls it just Piero's . But Piero sold his interest, and last December opened a separate, _relatively_ smaller restaurant on El Paseo called Piero's PizzaVino, featuring wood-fired pizzas -- which will, no doubt, also become known just as Piero's. The point is, that name is still commonly applied to "Acqua Pazza" -- newcomers will hear of "Acqua Pazza" as "Piero's" and (like me) be unable to find it that way on Yelp. (This is what the graduate business schools call branding.) I know the Acqua Pazza (under whatever name) for "Happy Hour" (HH) dining. Bar dining options, like the bar itself in this big place at the "River" complex, have been extensive. Bar food menu has been half-price during the extensive "happy hours" (extended further in the slow summer off-season). The HH dining was first recommended by a steady employee at another valley restaurant I frequent.. (Many of the best restaurant tips I get come from restaurant workers.) The Pazza has also offered BREAKFAST daily, check current availability. This big restaurant has a flamboyant busy heavily-styled look, sheets of falling water (recalling that flashy place in Las Vegas's Mandalay Bay Hotel, though food tried at Acqua Pazza has been both better and more varied). Outdoor seating near a big pond and fountain in cooler weather.
(3)The Restaurant Whisperers T.
The worse restaurant in Palm Springs area. We were a party of four, and all of us were disappointed in our meals. The price fixed selections were all bad, no flavor at all. I had the new menu item-acorn squash. It didn't work at all, strange combination of ingredients that was not good. I review restaurants in So California, never write a bad review. Instead, just will not provide a review, but this was so bad, that I felt I need to recommend this restaurant get a new chef and take a look at their recipes. Stay Away for now!!
(1)Steve V.
Came here on a weeknight and it was packed. Even though it was cold outside, everyone wanted to be on the outdoor patio. There are heat lamps, but still... We sat indoors and ordered two fo their pizzas. The Hawaii and the Pear. These were nothing special and were thin crusted. They were decent sized and we took some home that filled us up for lunch the next day. The service is good and friendly and the decor modern. They do have their 3 course deal which is a good deal but we did not partake in it because none of the things on that menu appealed to us that night.
(3)HOLLY P.
Nornally, I love this place. The only thing that really irked me this time was that thry really tried to rush us through. Yes, the place was busy and I know they want to get more seatings in, but ... Note: the waiter was very nice. In any event, we ordered our drinks and then the waiter came by to take our appetizer and entree orders. We ordered a fried calamizer appetizer, which was nice and crunchy with 2 dips and wanted to wait to our order our salad/soup and entrees until we were nearly finished with our appetizer so as to not rush our dinner time there. We then ordered our first course and entrees. I ordered the vissichoisse, which was really tasty. It was a tiny bit grainy but the flavor was really delicious and perfect for a hot day. My family ordered soup and salads too. We weren't half way through our soup/salads, when another waiter brought our entrees (nice and hot) and asked if we were ready for them.. Told him no, we were not ready (as was plain to see). Our waiter rushed over and apologized and said that he (our waiter) was not at fault for our entrees coming early-he did not ask them to be fired up yet. I'm not so sure of that. Doesn't the waiter turn the order into the kitchen at the appropriate time? I'm not sure. I asked our waiter I hope our meals will be fired up again and not just waiting for us to finish and sit under heat lamps. He said they would be fired up again. Our meals came again after we finished our salads/soups. I believe it was the same entrees, but not sure. I had the sandabs, which I love there. I noticed they were smaller than normal (which of course I've noticed all around the desert this year--sign of the times), but were delicious with the sauce they serve with it, and the rice pilaf was delicious. The green beans howevever were soft and overcooked (I believe from the heat lamp waiting for us) and the strings were a plenty on them. Happy with the overall meal, just not happy with green beans and the rushing. Of course I would definitely come again because I do like this place. Lulu's is their sister restaurant in PS and I actually think that's better.
(3)Erika E.
This cool spot in a hot city has a great chill vibe, attentive staff, enormous food selection and GINORMOUS salads. Now searving breakfast - a solid breakfast menu at good prices and the food was good too! This spot offers a ton of specials/discounted prices - and don't be shy it doesn't hurt to us a coupon or order off the 3 course menu. Lunch portions are large - easy to share...
(5)Steven L.
Great food. Great service. They have a great prefix menue. Early bird price is a good deal if you dont mind eating early. Ask for Patrick he is such a humble nice young man and adorably cute. He is such a nice young man. We always ask for him.
(5)S W.
Awesome lunch or breakfast spot. We dropped in for lunch. The service was extraordinary. They have a very unique menu. Great patio, though we sat inside to avoid the inferno they call warm weather in Palm Springs. The corn chowder is a little on the sweet side, but very tasty. I had the Asian salad, it was good. The wife got the quinoa dish in squash. One of the more unique lunches we have experienced. Food portions are large. Prices are fair.
(4)Alexa Z.
I've reviewed their Crazy All-Day All-Night Happy Hour (5 stars)... I've reviewed their breakfast/brunch (3 stars)... And now it is time to review their 3-COURSE FEAST!! The Three Course Feast is available all day, everyday in the dining area (non-bar area) and for $19.99 it's a really great deal to begin with. BUT what makes it an even BETTER deal is coming in for their Early Bird Feast from 3 - 5p.m. Same menu but for only $15.99!! You get to choose from: -- 4 appetizers (wedge salad, caesar salad, vichyssoise, or wild mushroom) -- 12 entrees (cold poached salmon salad, lobster ravioli, cheese ravioli, swordfish, farfalle primavera, baked ziti, linguini with shrimp, chicken piccatta, 8oz filet, veal lasagna, sauteed sand dabs, sauteed tilapia). -- 4 desserts (tiramisu, vanilla and cappuccino ice creams, and flourless triple chocolate cake). My favorite combinations are... * Wild Mushroom Soup + 8oz Filet Mignon + Cappuccino Ice Cream OR * Wild Mushroom Soup + Veal Lasagna + Flourless Triple Chocolate Cake. The wild mushroom soup is nice and earthy with a lot of shroomy-texture and is elevated with a drizzle of white truffle oil. If you don't see the drizzle... ask for it. May seem minor, but those glorious drops make the dish. The Filet is perfectly cooked and is a hefty size for a three course meal. The yukon potato mash is creamy and tastes just like alfredo. The Veal Lasagna Bolognese is made with a thick cut pasta and topped with homemade sausage (it was a little like keilbasa). The veal adds a nice flavor and I liked how it was more tomato-y than cheese-y. The Cappuccino Ice Cream... one of my favorite ice creams. Dark mocha ice cream with coffee flavor crystals that burst as you crunch into them. A wonderful surprise if you've never had it before! You can get a big bowl of it during HH; it is also served at other restaurants in the valley, too. The Flourless Triple Chocolate Cake is so rich and both light and dense at the same time. Flourless Cake at the bottom, then topped with a layer of chocolate mousse, and then the entire cake is enveloped with a thick layer of bittersweet chocolate ganache. No wonder it is their signature dessert! I'm STILL full from this hefty prix-fixe meal... definitely the best dinner deal in the desert!
(5)Esther O.
Went here because I read somewhere they have an incredible view. Was unable to get a table on the patio though so I was disappointed. I would get a reservation before going especially if you're going on the weekend- there was a line out the door. Pastas were delicious but steak was 3 star quality. Husband really liked the mixed green salad (I did not but I don't like sweet salads and he does) and they even gave us a free small bowl of fruit for our 3 year old - nice! However, the server was very slow and never gave us our bread until we had to ask for it halfway through our meal (after figuring out they actually did have bread) and we had to ask for butter and wine twice before getting either of those. They have a special going on for $19.99 (3 course meal)- good deal.
(3)Jenny K.
I've been here once for dinner, I had the smoked salmon and caviar pizza. I had the worst food poisoning in the middle of the night from it. It's ruined smoked salmon for me which is unfortunate, because I used to really enjoy smoke salmon. I won't be going back obviously.
(1)Gracie's M.
Really desert folks? Had breakfast here for the second time this past Sunday. Service was as horrible as the last time. Coffee served: no milk/cream without asking for both 3 times. And eggs were So "funky" couldn't even eat them! You'd think butter was 14k: also took 20 min to be delivered to the table! Butter? Cream? SUGAR??? Not one wait person served us twice. One guy serving coffee was dripping a pot all across the patio! Forget what you read! There are LOTS of places 100 times better than this confusing mess
(1)Ed B.
I've visited Acqua Pazza twice and both times it's been an absolute disaster. On the first trip we sat in the bar to take advantage of the happy hour specials, the 2nd waitress was rude and condescending to the women in the group. When I spoke up about her attitude she accused me of being over served and drunk. Up until this point everything had been great, the 2nd waitress sent the manager to our table in an attempt to have us thrown out, turns out the person who had been waiting on us previously was the manager. My 2nd trip was this past Saturday night. Our group of four met up at 4:30, we requested patio seating and were told by the manager that there would be a 15 minute wait even though there were clearly plenty of tables available. As we stood there she told several couples and groups that there'd be a wait, for each new group she added 5 minutes to the wait time. After being seated mid-way through our appetizer course one of the bus boys came over, pulled the umbrella out of the stand, titled it over one of our parties head and cranked it to the closed position. Dinner arrives the true disaster begins. I ordered the filet mignon medium rare when it arrived it was medium well, apparently our water didn't understand medium rare asking if I wanted it "more pink." The new steak, oops wait that's not a new steak it's the old filet re-fired to a nice super well done. I tell the waiter to cancel my order and take the meal off our bill, his responded he'd send the manger right over. Ten, Fifteen minutes later the manager arrives with a new filet, problem is the rest of the group was finished eating, politely told the manager to keep the meal, take the charge off the bill and bring the check. She kept trying to push the meal on me, never once did she apologize for the mistakes or the lack of service. Our waiter was too busy standing by the servers station socializing with the other staff, it was very difficult to get his attention. One of the women in the party asked for a cup of ice, he said he'd be right back with it, 20 minutes later still no ice. I do't know what the deal is with Acqua Pazza, one thing I do know is that I'll never visit Acqua Pazza again.
(1)Julia J.
Good food specials - for $19 you get a decent selection of appetizer, main entree and dessert. Its a pretty good deal. I've been eating here for a few years and the service level has always been really good. I brought my girlfriends here for lunch recently and they LOVED it. They are offering a 20% discount if you mention Yelp too. We ordered a lot of items from escargot to fried oysters and salads. My friends wanted to go back for dinner. Their portions are good size - so I feel that there is good value for the price. The atmosphere is really pleasant too - you feel like you are on vacation! :)
(4)Ismelda S.
ok I've been to this restaurant twice, The food is not the problem, its good. The veal potroast is good, the pork chop was a little dry and they brought over a sample of meat loaf by mistake but let us have a piece to taste anyways. My problem is with the staff. The first time we went the server took a very long time to come by and let me tell you hw knew I was upset and boy did he turn up the charm and was super attentive the rest of the night. Well tonight we had Patrick, again service is a bit slow to begin, but then it looked like he had a good amount of tables, I can forgive the slow services for that, but what he did after is not ok with me. Our check came out to 52.89, my husband paid with a 100 dollar bill, Patrick came by and picked up our check, we told him we need change. Both my husband & I noticed he was counting money off to the side not at the register, well when he brought our change we were missing 7.00 that would have been his tip. I guess he thought maybe we didn't know that we had to leave a tip and he wanted to make sure he git his share. Well I confronted him and he said it was an honest mistake. I don't think so. We still left him the 7.00 tip, because we're not cheap, but he's lucky I didn't talk to his manager. Then again I may call tmro.
(3)HIlary E.
Here's my story: I checked out the menu on the website, and called to place my order. The website clearly says "delivery" and after a very long day at work, the last thing I wanted to do was pick up dinner. I called and told the person on the phone that I wanted to place an order for delivery. After I gave my order, the guy went to hang up and I asked him if he needed the delivery address. He said we don't do delivery. It would have been nice if he had told me that at the beginning of the conversation when I clearly said, "I'd like to place an order for delivery." I decided to just pick it up because I was excited about what we had ordered. When I got to the restaurant, I was quickly ushered to the bar where I was told the bartender would handle me. I was obviously in the way as I was repeated asked to move by exasperated waitstaff. Not fun, for any of us, I would guess. I finally got my order and left. When I got home, I realized I did not get my soup. Frankly, I was incredibly irritated by the whole experience. Furthermore, my daughters' butter and cheese penne had no cheese on it. I called the restaurant to explain the situation and ask that the soup be taken off my bill. The guy who answered the phone was so rude and told me that the bartender said I got the soup so there was nothing he could do about it. He proceeded to tell me it was in a container in the bag. I told him I was in no mood to fight with him about where the soup was, only that it was not with me. He put the manager, Barbara on the phone. She was clearly overwhelmed but told me that she would adjust my bill and call me back when it was done. She did call me back shortly after and said that the bill had been adjusted, but added that "the chef swears you got the soup". Really? These people suck and have no interest in providing any service. I can't even say it was bad, it simply doesnt exist. And it is ridiculously overpriced for mediocre food. Don't waste your time. I am sorry I didn't heed the advice of my fellow Yelpers.
(1)Holly P.
The bread basket was very fresh
(4)Carol F.
If you want fine dining this isn't the place. After hearing what a great breakfast they serve, my family and I decided to try dinner. The place was packed so our hopes were high, only to find disappointment in the service, as well as the food. We had to ask for menus after being seated about 10 minutes in, and our server had an issue with remembering things, even though writing it down. I was hopeful that the corn chowder I ordered would be delicious, only to find that it was unusually SOUR! I sent it back with the wait staff grumbling to one another without much of an apology. The meatloaf was bland and my husband's pork chop was what he described as "diner" food, and was disappointed with its texture and taste. If the service had been better it might have improved our experience, but sadly we wouldn't recommend this place for dinner to anyone.
(2)Dick C.
Food was marginal. Creepy waiter. Told the idiot hostess that it was my sisters birthday and to tell waiter. Nothing. Took forever to get the order and they were not busy. 4 people total $89 and it was so mediocre. No way would we ever go back to this over priced restaurant. Oh , the beer was warm. First really bad sign.
(1)Ron A.
Staff very accommodating. Gourmet pizza is well prepared, bursting with flavor, very tasteful and portions are big enough for two.
(5)Brian S.
Great service. Menu has great choices. I had the lasagna and enjoyed it. Had slit of meat and sausage. Great taste. The early bird special can not be beat. Three courses. All great. Caesar salad entree and desert. Great job.
(5)Jennifer S.
We have driven by this restaurant on several occasions when visiting Palm Springs and have never stopped in. We decided to try it out with some friends this weekend and were very pleased. The $19.99 3-course dinner is such a bargain and we thoroughly enjoyed it! I enjoyed the minestrone soup, tilapia and tiramisu...yummy! The patio is also pet friendly, so we can't wait to bring our furry friend with us next time!
(4)Stacie S.
Everything was better than expected based on the reviews. I think they deserve a 4 star average. Two of us got the 3 course meal. Wild mushroom soup was excellent. Caesar was very good. Tilapia was great. Eggplant pram was sweet and great. Chocolate cake was very, very rich! Kids meals were $8.50 which is on the pricey side but are offset by great adult prices.
(5)Ernie M.
Appetizer (Vichyssoise) pretty amazing. Dry martini was well made. Main course was outstanding. I had the filet mignon and my wife the pan seared sea scallops. The Beurre Blanc that accompanied the scallops was pretty amazing. My only critique was the wait staff stood around watching the tv monitors way too long while we waited for our dinner to be served. It should be noted that not all waiters/servers stood around. Overall, I'd be back.
(4)Ken C.
Went again to Acqua Pazza and had the same great experience. We were a party of 4, and everyone was pleased.
(5)Chuck P.
Well done. Atmosphere and service are excellent. Caesar salad has outstanding flavor. Had two pizzas in the outside seating. Everthing was done with care. Misters and fans make the warmest day pleasant because the patio is covered...shade, mist, the river and yummy food. We'll be back.
(4)Karen Y.
acqua pazza is a great compromise between adults and toddlers. it's not on the same level that other fine dining places the desert has to offer (i would say it's a half to a whole star less on average), but it's a quality meal at a reasonable price. they have a kids meal with usual kids menu fare, but generally my rule is if my son doesn't eat what we eat then he doesn't eat. and with my rule, he generally doesn't want anything off the typical kids menu anyway when asked. he always wants the calamari appetizer here. good for the adults to munch on too, though i am not a fan of the sauces it comes with- one is way too sweet and i am not a fan of mayo or aioli-like sauces with fried food. fish is always a good choice here. the specials are on the front of the menu (in a strange place no one looks). the special for the fall/winter season- sea bass. we both ordered a salad to start. my husband choose the sea bass and i ordered the salmon; neither were on the pre-fixe menu. i recommend sharing a salad if not ordering from the pre-fix menu- the salads are enormous in comparison to the first course on the pre fixe. pre fixe menus are an excellent value and has something for the variety of tastes of everyone in our party. leave room for dessert. even if it's just for the fruit (which was perfectly sweet). the chocolate cake is large enough to share, but difficult to choose between that and the cappuccino gelato- which is house made and intense with the cappuccino flavor. service is attentive. the music is a little questionable- not feeling the trance vibe. otherwise its a relatively comfortable and enjoyable place for an evening out with the family.
(4)Julie C.
This place has a GREAT happy hour!!! Tons of items to choose from! Their panini's are pretty good! Salads are good! Service is good, not the best, but good. Restaurant is beautiful and has good ambience. Gets pretty busy in the late afternoon and really loud. It's fun though. Makes for a good night out on the town! I'll be back!
(3)Doug A.
Really good California fresh. Low carb, gluten-free, Paleo selections. Will come back.
(5)Regina B.
This was the worst restaurant experience we've had in 20 years. We had a 645 reservation. The hostess told us she had to seat her other 645 reservations who had arrived before us and then she would get to us - so it would be a FEW minutes. We said we would be waiting in the bar. We took a table in the bar and were there 45 min. No one ever offered drink service. A squirt bottle of cleaner and wet rag were on the table and never removed. We went back to the reception desk 4 times in the 45 min we waited and finally the last time the hostess said they had been calling for us and we never responded. They never checked in the bar!!! (We reminded her 4 TIMES that we were in the bar!!!) We finally got seated at a booth in a room with absolutely no ambience or ventilation and even less service. It was at least 15 min before we got water and longer before we saw a waiter. My husband and I tried 2 different soups - both house specialties. They were gritty and unblended. We couldn't finish them. I had the ahi tuna and avocado tower. The tuna was like mush, as if it had been mashed and all its flavor beaten out of it. I could only handle 2 bites. The crab cakes were 95% filler, served with warm wilted greens and a sauce that tasted like creamy ketchup. My husband had the lobster roll, which was the best of the 5 items we ordered, but that's not saying much. I am amazed this place gets good reviews - especially with so many good dining options in this area. It was beyond bad food and service. Even worse was the fact that the reception and wait staff were stunningly unprofessional in that they made absolutely no effort to make up for the shortcomings. The hostess was incompetent and the manager that came to the front desk purportedly to help was no better. My advice is to stay away. Go anywhere else in the area and you are bound to have a better experience.
(1)Denise S.
Vegetarians must visit this place. Whole menu page just for vegetarians - plus one star for that. The food is very solid. Get reservations because the place heats up with tourists (like myself) . Manager came by to ask how the meal was, I always like that service touch. The wait staff was awesome and here is how I calculate awesome : handsome waiter + competent skills = awesome waiter The outdoor dinning has a nice ambiance. Fun place to sit and relax for a good meal.
(4)Earl P.
Very slow service! Our server started serving us our desserts after our appetizers then we waited for our entree for a longtime! The 2 steaks came over done what we ordered. the manager was apologetic for the whole experience and took care of us.
(2)Sonya Z.
Very nice little gem in the Palm Springs area, a bit more upscale than you would usually find. Little bit of a Las Vegas vibe what with the outdoor seating, plentiful use of glass / turquoise colors, and man made water stuff. They have an extensive list of healthy, fresh and customisable dining options. I had a great omelette with egg whites, grilled onions, feta, spinach and tomato. In short, go here and sit outside (weather permitting) if you're looking for a pleasant dining experience that won't leave you feeling too weighed down.
(4)Javier M.
My wife and I had some errands to run so we thought a nice breakfast would fit in nicley. We were close to The River so Acqua Pazza became our destination. We could not have picked a better day. There was hardly a crowd ouitside so we picked a table in the patio. The weather mixed with the water and mountain backdrop was GORGEOUS. Now for the food. I had the French Crepe and my honey had the Cobb Omelette. My selection came with fresh fruit and the Crepe was outstanding. It contained eggs, turkey, ham & cheese but still tasted fresh & light. The omelette had ham, bacon, avocado, onions and Bleu Cheese. Both plates were devoured VORACIOUSLY. The setting was surprisingly cleanly considering the elements and the birds/ducks in the general vicinity. You can tell they are sticklers for keeping their seating area presentable for their patrons. The service was also good. We had a GREAT morning and it was another reminder of why we live and work here. Our return is imminent.
(4)Kate S.
This restaurant had closed. Their menu, including Happy Hour, can be had at their Palm Springs outpist LuLu, on Palm Canyon, which is beautiful and lively.
(3)Tanya D.
This is the desert, true; however, they haven't adjusted the thermostat since my request to turn the ac cooler. Sadly, this is the first negative review I have had to write. The pinot grigio wine is warm- we even added ice cubes and my bros draft beer is room temp. Now for the meal- overpriced for major disappointment. They tried to take my plate away when I still had three of the six sea scallops and veggies on my plate. My bros ribs were not tasty. Really sad for our one night out for this weekend. A McDonalds fish filet and Mc Rib would have been better. The ice water was its saving grace.
(2)Daniel E.
Dinner tonight. The best part about this was that there was no wait for a table (even outside). Service was great and friendly. Draft beer selection was minimal (not unexpected). My Syrah was awful but my wife's Mondavi Fume Blanc was awesome. Food wise, it was ok. My wife had the meatloaf (billed as a special) which was ok. I had a very good tuna panini. The zucchini appetizer was awesome. We enjoyed it.
(3)Ken W.
WTF Pasta primavera for lunch, extremely bland, appeared to have been sitting in water from the pot with a little bit of flavor and some vegetables. I don't understand how they can serve this dish, I doused it with olive oil and salt and downed it anyway but wow what a ridiculous dish. I also have to add the small piece of bread they offered tore the skin off my mouth. It was rock solid.
(2)Alexander A.
The food here is decent to good. I had the three course meal, which is a great deal for $20. I started with the Cesar salad which is ok at best. The lettuce didn't look or taste entirely fresh and the dressing is a little too thick. I had the Primavera pasta for my main course (add chicken) which was good at best. Someone else in my party had the baked ziti which was delicious, probably the better choice. Another plus is that the portions are generous. I try not to let service effect my rating because I'm all about the food - but this place didn't have good enough food for the service we received. Maybe it was just this night, but the servers did a lot of standing around and not a lot of serving. Our main server, Jose A., was barely attentive to the table. He didn't come to get our order for at least 25 minutes. We all ordered pasta and didn't get our food for over 30 min. Then getting our dessert (that came with the meal - just ice cream) took about another 20 minutes. We just had a party of 6 (including a 2 year old). The meal took so long that my sister had to take her 2 year old home before desert because it was getting late. There were several times when Jose A. would make eye contact with me and I would gesture him to come by, and he just informed it.
(3)Jeffrey R.
I'm not sure why I let people bring me back to this place. Every time I come my food order is wrong. The service is less then stellar and management could care less about any problem you may have. With all the restaurants at the river avoid this one. What once was so good is now so VERY BAD!!!
(2)Chelsea A.
Came for breakfast with a friend and was blown away by the amazing breakfast prices and large portions! It beats any Denny's or Ihop for a good eggs and sausage breakfast! I ordered the Classic Corner with the sausage parties and it was AMAZING! 3 large eggs, the BEST crispiest hash browns (you get your choice home fries or hash browns Arturo style) I recommend the hash towns! Plus it comes with the meat choice and bread, I recommend their home baked multigrain bread (the most delicious, fresh and tastiest bread!) all that only $8.99! And I got coffee miss you total breakfast was only $12.51 amazing! The atmosphere outside on their patio is just as splendid as their relaxed beautiful interior restaurant! Come it's a must!! Their service was also impeccable!
(5)Sonia S.
We are here for lunch. Never disappoints. My favorite is the Iceberg Wedge with Roquefort dressing and bacon crumbles. The food is always so fresh and the service is speedy and polite. I really just love this place and recommend it to anyone who wants a fresh, healthy meal.
(5)Lisa B.
We Landed in Rancho Mirage for the month of January and found this great little spot. We've eaten here a couple of times and the service was great each time. If I wanted something healthy to eat, I was always pleased with the meal. Likewise, if I was looking for a plate of lasagna with veal and sausage...I was equally happy. What really impressed me, however, was the management and staff's commitment to my needs. I met up with my writing partner on a Sunday morning. My rental was not conducive to working and the libraries were closed. We stopped by Acqua Pazza in the morning and asked if we could have a working breakfast-then-lunch-then-dinner in an "out of the way" booth. We promised to relinquish the table if they needed it. We were so comfortable the whole day and we had the opportunity to eat from each menu. YUM! I'm a breakfast lover and I can ***** recommend anything on the breakfast menu. So glad we found this spot!
(5)SoCal C.
28 Sep 2013, 12:00p Stopped in here for lunch with a few friends. The restaurant wasn't busy at all and our party of four was seated right away. We ordered: Vichyssoise, Caesar Salad w/Chicken, Fresh Fruit (3-course feast) Roman Caesar Salad, Lobster Ravioli, Capuccino Ice Cream (3-course feast) Organic Mixed Field Greens Salad, Kobe Beef Pazza Burger Corn Chowder, Casear Salad w/Chicken I ordered the second on the list and the food was okay. The salad was nothing special and the lobster in the ravioli was claw meat, so it was a bit grainy. I should have known since this restaurant shares ownership with LULU in Palm Springs and their Lobster Quesadilla is also made with claw meat. Oh well. The Vichyssoise I heard was very good and they included anchoviesin the Caesar when requested. The chicken on the Caesars was said to be overcooked and dry, though. One of the salads was requested very lightly dressed w/anchovies and the other was requested without anchovies, no special dressing request. When the salads arrived, the one with anchovies was dressed standard and the other was very lightly dressed. We didn't discover this until after they had been eaten when one was commented on having almost no dressing at all and the other was too heavily dressed. This is obviously a service issue. The burger was said to be good, also, but there was another service issue with this order as well. A salad was requested as a substitute for the fries that normaly accompany the burger. Instead, a full salad was brought prior to the burger and the burger came with the normal fries. The fries were good, though! Like LULU, this restaurant has solid food, but nothing special and no standouts. It's a place to go when you can't decide where to go or if a wide range of different types of food is desired. The service is decent, but not without problems as evidenced with errors in the orders. The prices are reasonable, especially with the 3-course feasts they offer. There are actually 3 different levels of the 3-course feasts, so you can choose appropriately based on hunger level or variety of selection.
(3)Judith S.
This is a wonderful place to go for "Happy Hour". The food is delicious and reasonably priced. We had the Gazpacho with shrimp which was a meal in itself and shared the lettuce wraps which were delicious. Very convenient if you are going before or after the movies at the River.
(5)Jennifer A.
I had lunch here a couple years ago the last time I was in Palm Springs, but I couldn't really remember how the food was so we stopped by again after a disastrous morning of gambling at Agua Caliente. Now I know - I couldn't remember the food because it is totally unmemorable! Everything is ok, but nothing is spectacular. I was craving some pasta, but the selection was pretty limited (disappointing considering the Italian-ish restaurant name) and nothing really jumped out at me. I ended up getting the Cobb salad which was huuuge and loaded with way too much dressing. My mom's Santa Fe panini was also big, but just meh in the flavor department. I also ordered a side of fries which came highly recommended and they were nice and crispy. The next time I'm in the area, I think I will try a different place. They do have a very big dog friendly patio in front of the "River" complete with shade and misters if you happen to have your pups with you.
(3)peg w.
Love this restaurant; breakfast, lunch or happy hour, its all good. Had Sunday breakfast outdoors facing the water last weekend, Our serve, Hanna was superb. Our lattes, omelets, and side dishes were perfect. She was attentive and very personable. Highly recommend this "hot spot: at The River, Rancho Mirage
(5)P A.
We have been going here for three years and have always liked it BUT they are now cutting corners WAY TOO MUCH! One of our favorites is the appetizer wedge salad. It's big enough to share, using a half head of lettuce. We have gotten this weekly for the past six months. This past Sunday when it arrived it was HALF THE size as usual. When we asked our waitress what happened she said it was now HALF SIZE and was staying that way. The PRICE WASNT HALF THE SIZE THOUGH! Another favorite has been cut too....They HAD great bread. It disappeared and was replaced by cheap French rolls, then they disappeared from the table and were replaced by a waiter that DOLLED THEM OUT ONE BY ONE. When I asked this weekend about the rolls it appears they also disappeared but you could get ONE if you asked. All I can wonder is WHATS NEXT?
(2)Anna D.
It's sister restaurant to LuLu's in Palm Springs. Much less crowed and can have a conversation. Food very good. Try it out.
(4)Ryan S.
A very sweet attentive server (Hanna) with great recommendations. The Sunday brunch was a lot of fun! Tuna tartar, salmon omelette with Caviar and mimosas! All by the water on a beautiful day. I don't always come to the Palm Springs area, but when I do...
(5)Malia R.
Brunch is a must! 3 courses plus $4.99 champagne? What more can you ask for? Oh yeah, and since we were visiting Rancho Mirage for the first, found out this place is dog friendly! We sat on the patio (it had misters) and although it was over 113 degrees out, our server did her best to accommodate us at every moment. They brought a doggie ice water for my pup and the server, knowing we were new to the area, did her best to describe the different parts of the city, where to hang our hat, where to eat, etc... We really enjoyed our visit to the restaurant and look forward to another visit!
(5)Amanda L.
We ate here about a week ago, we made a reso for the outdoor patio because they allow small dogs and we had our dog and they sat us right away. Took 10 min for a server to greet us another 10 or so to get our drinks which were just cokes and an ice tea. We finally ordered and waited a good 20 for our apps to come out, waited another 25 after finishing our apps for our entree without anyone clearing our plates or refilling our drinks. After finally getting our food.. We were disappointed. We made sure to ask for our check when they dropped off the food because we weren't sure when we would see him again. Overall we were bummed, we were really excited to try this place. It was such a nice day out but the service and food need improvements. Probably won't be going back
(2)Nancy C.
This restaurant is fantastic. We go here every time we visit the desert and they consistently give us 5 star service. The food is delicious, portions are generous. The Service is always wonderful, servers are kind and prompt. A three course meal for $20?? Are you kidding me? Oh, and the desserts.....ohhhh the desserts. The Tiramisu is the best I've ever had anywhere. And don't even get me started on the chocolate cake. GAME OVER!!!
(5)Ana J.
came here for happy hour twice! the food is good for decent price! service is spotty at time since they are busy all the time! I love the lobster quesadilla, Chinese chicken salad was good too! the place was fun to hang out but could be a bit noisy for intimate conversation
(4)Kelli H.
Breakfast here is sooo good! I got the southwest omelette (egg whites only were plus a dollar but that doesn't bother me) and it was so good! Hash browns are amazing perfectly crispy ! The salsa that came with it was also to die for. The toast was multigrain so super dense and yummy!
(5)Kim P.
HUGE dining area and lots going on! theres huge booths that you can cuddle up in and the food is outstanding. our waitress was brand new and not really knowledgeable yet and she messed a few things up but its not too pricey so i guess it can be overlooked. you HAVE to ask for exactly what you want otherwise it wont be what you want. lots of beautiful mirrors and seating area. best for groups but okay for dates as well. the River shopping area is nice to walk around afterwards and theres a ben and jerrys down the way as well as a starbucks.
(4)Kevin H.
This place is HUGE, and it gets very crowded. I don't think you can make reservations on Opentable, but you can definitely call ahead and make a reservation. I recommend that. They have a huge inside, but if it's not too hot, I recommend sitting out on the patio. It's quite nice, and you're right next to the fountains. The night we went there was the perfect temperature for sitting outside. Acqua Pazza is not cheap. If you order the "wrong" things, you could easily end up leaving with a bill comparable to that of a fairly high-end steakhouse. I think if you do that, you might end up disappointed. This is not a fancy place. It's not a high-end dining experience. It's probably a full step above CPK. The night we went, the service was not very good. I think it's because the restaurant was slammed, though. As for the food, it was delicious! I got the pear and gorgonzola pizza, which the waiter told me was his favorite. It was indeed really good. My girlfriend had the tuna tower, and I thought it was pretty good, but it wasn't as good as my pizza. Also, the tuna could have been higher quality, in my opinion. The tuna didn't taste as fresh as it could have - I know we were in the desert, but with planes, trucks, and freezers, you can get fresh seafood anywhere. We did share an artichoke that came with an aioli, and it was pretty delicious too. Acqua Pazza is a nice place, but it's not fine dining - it is overpriced. That being said, apparently it works because the place is always packed. And if you go, sit on the patio!
(4)Audra A.
We keep coming back here but the problem is the food is very hit and miss with certain items. My mother loves the Lobster Roll and (not sure if it's still on the menu) the Lobster Pot pie. I don't even like lobster but I have to admit it's delish. That being said sometimes the bread is good and other times it feels like it baked under the hot desert sun in the parking lot for a week. The happy hour is pretty decent so I would suggest coming for that. Their summer specials are a good deal if you're really hungry but get the ice cream for desert. I had the tiramisu and I liked the tiramisu I had purchased at Costco better. Maybe it's me but that's my cents. The Wild Mushroom soup is very good but sometimes it comes out piping hot and other times it comes out lukewarm. My recommendation is to give it a shot but don't go in with 5 star expectations.
(3)Wendy L.
Great view of the man-made pond---feels like you're on the coast. Wait time was expectedly long, given that I came here on a Saturday for dinner. Service was okay---our server was friendly and knowledgeable but he was also very busy. The food didn't stand out much. I may need to come back and try their lobster salad during non-busy hours. The restaurant, however, looked great.
(3)Jenna G.
I gotta say, I was realllllly impressed by this place! I've been twice now, the first time with my company for our holiday dinner and the second with 5 of my closest high school friends while I was in town. Both times completely different experiences, but both had the same great outcome...good food, good prices and great wine selection (my favorite). The first time I came I sat in the dining room area, our waiter was attentive and very honest when I asked for his opinions on the food choices which I really appreciate in a server, so 2 thumbs up for that! The second time we sat at the bar and the waiters and waitresses were SO incredibly accommodating- we started with 2, but knew our group would soon be growing to 6 and we wanted to sit in the bar for happy hour- one of my friends and I got there about an hour before everyone else and started at the only 2 seats at the bar and as tables opened up, we migrated to the open, more spacious tables...once the staff got wind of our plan they helped us snag the biggest table so our group would be comfortable. High 5 for service! AND amazing Happy Hour deals!!! Our server, Arianna was absolutely amazing and truly attentive. Friendly, honest and always smiled...important things for a server! All in all, I had an amazing experience and would DEFINITELY recommend this place over and over again.
(5)Ed S.
THE GOOD: Nice interior... comfortable... attractive. Adrian the assistant server is very attentive and personable. Gazpacho is quite good, although there should be more substance. Chicken picatta has a nice flavor, though the chicken is tough at times. Side vegetables are inconsistent. One diner (we were a party of 6) with me had red bell peppers as part of the mix... I had none. Mashed are good. Mimosas are quite nice. THE MEDIOCRE: The bread. Flavorless. Dry. Not much better than a loaf of store-bought white bread. Tiramisu was decent. THE BAD: Fernando H. the waiter. Looks like a nice dapper fellow, but totally robotic, impersonal, inattentive service. No personality. Drops the food off and walks away without a word. Doesn't ask if we need anything else. Adds zero to the experience. Less than that... actually detracts from a good experience. There was something production-line about the whole experience. Also, the carpet was dirty under our table. No excuse for this. Willie... are you listening? Overall, for food, a 6 out of 10. Service, a 3 out of 10. Might try it again, but no rush to go back.
(2)Jess M.
This place has, good food ( think salads, pizza and small plates, and the drinks uring the happy hour are cheap I believe the margarita was $ 4.99. Can't beat that come here and enjoy.
(5)Jennifer Z.
First time here and it was awful. Waiter was rude and in a rush. The food was absolutely disgusting. We had a party of 5 and none of us even remotely liked our food. They advertise about their water walls. There was no water at all. Never going back.
(1)Gaby B.
I come here all the time and I am never disappointed! They have a great happy hour menu. Drinks and food is delicious and most importantly they have great servers! My all time favorite items are:chicken piccata, fish ceviche, and Santa Fe panini.
(5)Duane L.
Went for brunch on a Sunday. The patio is the place to sit! Beautiful setting, water on one side, restaurant on the other. It was pretty hot out (99 degrees), but luckily they had umbrellas everywhere providing must-have shade and misters giving small does of cooldown. The food portions were huge. About half of my party were able to finish their plates and we are big eaters. But, the food was in some cases a little on the bland side. Maybe not bland, just nothing special. Their entryway is covered in awards for all kinds of things so you would expect the food to be a little better. Their drinks were okay. $4.99 mimosa with three free refills is definitely nice. But their specialty drinks were just ok. Again, nothing special. Service was attentive although they kept forgetting we were drinking arnold palmers and not just iced tea. Having to keep reminding was getting old. All in all, A-OK.
(3)Kat M.
Can't beat the view for a morning breakfast. Love their coffee. found out it is made by Sara Lee, go figure. Service is excellent. Had the Lox, bagel, cream cheese and caviar. Very good. Plenty of salmon. Mom had cornbeef hash with hashbrowns and toast. Lots of food. They give 3 eggs. She had to give me an egg. Many menu choices to choose from and the prices are fair for what you get. Will be back!
(4)Juvenal G.
Enthusiastic about my first time at this location leads to a disappointing ending. Greeted by a friendly hostess, patty, I was seated promptly only to come to the sad realization that our server had a complete pesamistic demeanor attitude about my selection in food choice and to a certain degree irritated with his job in general. We were again visited by patty in attempt to patch up the situation. She quickly asked her manager to talk to us but again the manager was too busy to talk. Multiple servers attempted to apologize but it was not their wrong doing that upset us, shortly after we spoke to the manager and accepted her mistake but told her we would not be returning because of the horrible customer service.
(1)Shrey T.
I had my Birthday dinner there on the 16th of March and it was a very good experience. I had Eggplant Parmesan and it was as good as it can get. We sat inside which was nice but outside patio was very nice next to water. Service was ok given how busy it was there. But one of the assistant servers, Adam, was really good -- attentive and friendly (I thought it's worth mentioning. He did a better job than most servers we have had. And I am no friend of his ;) ).
(5)Nancy J.
Completely disappointing. I came up for the weekend to see my boyfriend who really liked this place. Upon arrival we were great by the hostess and sat down quickly. It was not busy. Once we sat down we waited for about 10 minutes with out being acknowledge by and wait staff or even a manager who past is us several times without greeting us. No waters were brought to the table while we waited. After waiting 15 minutes with no attention we left. On our way our we passed the manager and the hostess who had sat us. There was no acknowledgment from the waitress wondering why we were leaving so quickly after being sat down. On our way out the manager chased down another guest who left her sweater not even noticing that we had left.
(1)elizabeth a.
I cant even remember how many times Ive been to this place I just keep going back every time I am in the Desert because i know that I am going to have great service and very good food. This time special thanks to Elena our wait person. My friend ordered a Margarita drink which was too sour for her so Elena said let me add another shot of triple sec on the house to sweeten it up! and she just kept making sure everything we had was up to our liking. What a charming woman so friendly and helpful in suggesting new things we had not had before. The ambiance outside is wonderful and the hostess let us move table a couple fo times to be out of or into the sun. We were pains in the ....but they were wonderful to us!
(5)Laura P.
26 women with a variety of culinary and dietary food requests. Saturday night dinner in a crowded restaurant. No complaints!! Seated promptly! Service perfect! Our waiters, Tony and Fredo took care of our requests without making us feel rushed. Our food orders -- all over the map -- came out in a very timely manner. The hot foods were hot and the cold foods were cold. Nothing over cooked or undercooked. Lots of raves! Favorites were the pork chops and tuna tartare tower. Thank you for hosting us!
(4)Carlynne M.
Stopped by here for a quick lunch on my way to run errands. Was originally seated outside at my request. But it was too hot for me. My server Hanna P. moved me right inside to a great little table by the window so I could still see the outside but not melt completely. I have a ridiculous amount of food allergies and I always ask lots of questions. One rule I dine by out here is that the restaurant that can accommodate me is always worth my visiting. Anyway - Hanna P is the best server ever. She listened to all my questions and returned with lots of answers which made for a fantastic custom lunch and not one moment of unpleasantness. Good customer service goes a long long way. Hanna P is a great choice to go to at Acqua Pazza. Oh and the food was delicious and exactly as a I wanted. Exactly!
(4)N S.
Our last meal at AP was Dec. 7th for lunch. Hanna, our server recommended the low carb Kobe hamburger which is paired with seasonal veggies. It was delicious and hit the spot! You can't go wrong with this restaurant. They have a wide variety of food choices.
(4)Jeff Z.
Had a fantastic dinner here on Saturday Oct19th. Our server was Flavio and he was amazing! Offered suggestions on the menu and was very friendly and gave us great service. The flank steak was delicious and the bread pudding was the best I've had in a long time. Very comfy booth and pleasant lighting allowed us to sit and relax and visit for 3 hours. Will be going back again soon. Highly recommend this restaurant for a nice evening out.
(5)Bill C.
Had a great dinner. The service was fantastic! the young man who served us, Cat was polite, efficient and always on top of things.
(5)April L.
I wanted to take the time to praise the service my boyfriend and I received on Tuesday September 30. We were greeted promptly after sitting down and introduced to a smiling friendly server, Valerie. Her friendliness and attention to detail was what really stood out. She brought my boyfriends a side of parmesan after suggesting it would add something special to the already amazing raviolis, which it did. She also noticed that I was still slowly sipping on my dirty martini after my boyfriend had already ordered another drink, and brought me a side of olive juice with a two more olives. I usually ask for both of theses but she beat me to it! She was quick to check on us to see if we needed anything, and kept us smiling all night with her sweet comments. My boyfriend and I both work in customer service and we were extremely impressed with Valerie. My boyfriend is actually a training specialist and has created several classes with emphasis on customer service, so it is usually very hard to impress him haha!!! Her friendly personality and great service will keep us coming back. I think we found a new place for our date night.
(5)Giang L.
We came here for brunch and they serve mimosas for $4.99 with 3 refills. Compared to LA, this was an amazing deal to me! I had the pizza with Gorgonzola, pear and pineapple. The crust was thin and crispy. I wish it had more Gorgonzola but overall not a bad place. Get the mimosa!
(3)George P.
I really enjoyed this place. Food was excellent. I think they could step up their game with an improvement in their service staff, but it's ok, I went to eat and it was very good. All of my party had sandwiches. A delicious looking burger, a Club, and mine being a delicious panini. We were all very satified with our choices. Like another reviewer said, the decor is a little weird. I'd agree. With a few tweeks this place could be more upscale and would than be more on par with the food. I'd definitely go back.
(4)David B.
I went to this restaurant with my wife and mother in law. We Sat by the bar to take advantage of their 3 course entree and happy hour deal. The food took forever to show up. Waitress didn't pay any attention to us and maybe just stopped by our table like twice throughout our experience. Bad service. Food takes a long time and isn't even that good. perfect example of an artsy fartsy restaurant.
(1)Doug H.
Ist time there and the wife and I ordered the 3 course meal for $19.99. We didn't think it was that great due to the chicken being thin and mashed potatoes were thick and sticky. Additionally, we never got any bread. The waiter never once checked on how we were doing or how the meal was.
(2)Roy A.
Roy A. From Roy in Las Vegas. Ate dinner the night of sept 9. Had the meatloaf 3 course dinner special. Excellent. Plus my server was the redhead Kymm. Excellent server. Was nice and charming.
(4)Michael R.
I had the 3 course with minestrone, lasagne, and tiramisu. I'm really disappointed. The minestrone tasted like it came from a can. The lasagne was bland. I haven't eaten the tiramisu yet. Cool ambiance, but disappointing food. I won't be back.
(2)Dana G.
Sat night, 6:00, no-res, 3 adults: all had 3-course "prix fix", fast and friendly seating, waited over :15 min for waiter to show, no bread offered (had to ask), even though oil/balsamic was on table. Rapid delivery, food was average. Wild mush soup - 5, lasagna bolognese - 2 (mushy pasta, bland meat and sauce, table olive oil was rancid, lobster ravioli - 4, shrimp linguini - 4, sourdough rolls - 5. Service was sad ... server kept avoiding us in order to attend to a large party of 25. Wine was excellent despite a plebeian-targeted wine list (menage a trois, 7 deadly zins, cadtle rock, etc). Won't return ... no need to.
(3)Jorri N.
The Sunday brunch is wonderful and the seafood benedict is the best we've ever had! The outside seating under the misters with a view of the 'river' was so tranquil and relaxing. We loved it and we will return next time we're in the area!!
(5)Li V.
I'm in the restaurant industry and I must say very disappointed with the service, I didn't even know who my actual server was, we ordered and they took a long time to serve us our food. They were more focused in the bar area than in the main dining room. I had to grab one of the hostesses to refill our drinks. With no experience as to be servers two female hostesses came to our table one of them took our order and the other bussed the table. I was there yesterday Thursday 11/13/2014 whoever manages that place needs some serious help. Will not go back!
(1)Ted A.
We had a late morning breakfast there today. The food was good, but the service was something else. We were ignored for the first 15 minutes after being seated (outside). It took two requests to get coffee. The water was warn with no ice. I ordered 3 pancakes and got two. It took two requests to get much delayed coffee refills. The dishes weren't cleared from the table even after we paid the bill. Long and short of it: good food but sloppy, inattentive service.
(2)Dave J.
106' today - acqua pazza not busy, great? Err... Not really... Same poor Managemnt brings lackadaisical service even off season... We first sat inside, sat and sat for 7 or 8 minutes then.. Asked the hostess if OK to Move outside thinking maybe someone will take our order.. We moved and We got water, woohoo !!! Never did see our waiter, we finished our waters after more than ten minutes we sat there so we just quietly got up and walked over to another restaurant a few doors Down, I think we were done eating at the new place before the acqua pazza folks even noticed we left..
(1)Vivian D.
Okay, I get it, it's Christmas Day... But I've been in the industry for 10 years and whoever made the schedule is a jerk. 1 server in the bar and two bartenders twiddling their thumbs watching this sweet server suffer.... Oh and the bloody Mary's are god awful... But I've been coming here for ever and normally the service is pretty good. And the food is always rad. But y'all need to hire new management ASAP. And help this poor server cuz she's a sweetie and she's in the weeds.
(3)Laurence K.
Nice decor friendly service but food wasn't all that impressive. Ribs ok Pizza a little soggy It is open breakfast lunch dinner. Maybe we ordered wrong will try it again
(2)Lisa H.
The food was decent: the avocado and tuna tower was good, filet of sole was quite salty, scallops needed more flavor, the steak was good, and the drinks were a bit too strong. We had a party of 14 and the service was quite slow, and waiter also got the order wrong a couple of times. We also got tiramisu for dessert and that was ok, the floating island was very different and really yummy. The location was great and the pond with the fountain was really pretty during the day and at night, but we'll probably try another restaurant in the area next time.
(2)John F.
"Service was a 1. Food is a 2. Avoid this place. " This is my review, which Yelp says is too short, and classifies as a "tip". Then Yelp asks me to write a review. This experience does not merit more words: Our waiter was an order taker, period. To obtain our second drink, I had to ask two(2) workers to send the waiter. The food was pedestrian. It did not hurt us. With all the wonderful places in this area, I am totally mystified as to why one would choose this one.
(1)Karyn S.
My boyfriends family and I were in town for vacation. We came here for dinner and all enjoyed the 3 course $19.99 menu. For appetizers we had : Crab cakes Shrimp cocktail Tuna/avocado tower Fresh artichoke stuffed with pancetta, spinach, and mozzarella. The appetizers were all good except the artichoke was a little weird and had ranch dressing for the dipping sauce. Crab cakes were phenomenal and the tuna tower was very fresh and appetizing. For the 3 course appetizers we had : Wild mushroom soup Caesar salad Organic mixed field greens salad All were fantastic but the soup was by far the best For the dinner entrees we had : Filet mignon Meatloaf a la lulu Lobster ravioli Tilapia with mango salsa Linguini with shrimp The lobster ravioli and filet mignon were by far the best , the linguini was a little dry tho. For dessert we had : Tiramisu Flourless chocolate cake Vanilla ice cream Cappuccino ice cream The flourless chocolate cake was to die for and the tiramisu wasn't that bad either. The server was attentive and handled our party of 7 well but the only thing was is that he pre-added gratuity when we only had 7 not 8 people but oh well.
(4)Felicity C.
Bad experience! We went with friends to Acqua Pazza for drinks. We were seated in the bar area where we had the worst waiter we've ever had anywhere. Not only did he not check on us regularly to see if we needed more drinks, even after advising him the one time he did come by to check that we would soon run out and would like more, but then he had the gall to EAT, yes EAT in front of customers just two table away from us while we were sitting there watching, hoping he would notice and come by and order more drinks for us. We had a party of 8, 4 separate couples. Normally when multiple couples come into an eating establishment the waiter/waitress asks if it will be all on one check or on multiple checks. Well not our waiter, he put them altogether. Then we told him it was four separate checks, he had the gall to tell us to figure it out for him and let him know. No apologies, nothing. We called to complain the next day once we were home and realized that he added 15% gratuity to EVERY SINGLE CHECK! We were told that Acqua Pazza no longer has the policy of adding gratuity automatically and he was in error. We also explained everything that happened. Much to the credit of the manager, we were refunded fully and sent a gift card to come back in hopes of having a different experience. That is the only reason I am giving 2 stars instead of one. Because when we did go back, we had another disappointing experience with a different waitress. Again, we weren't checked on very often and had to wait long periods of time for water refills by her. Needless to say we won't be going back. There are plenty of other restaurants here with better service.
(2)Kelly R.
Awesome food, no matter which meal you go for. Always great atmosphere especially when sitting outside enjoying the desert sun. A must go place,
(5)Bob G.
Went to this place for what we thought would be a quick bite last night. It took us well over an hour and a half to be served a Ceaser salad and two simple (turkey burger and lobster roll) sandwiches. (More on the food below.) First, we waited at least 5 minutes to get a glass of water, and 10 more minutes for two iced teas. The assistant server seemed befuddled when we asked for some sweeteners for the tea -- must have been a novel idea? So that took another 5 minutes or so. We ordered the Ceaser to be split at the same time we ordered the sandwiches. It showed up about 10 minutes later on one plate. Turned out to be the only decent part of the meal when we finally got the second plate delivered. After we ate the salad, we waited at least another 15 minutes for any service -- which consisted of the bus boy clearing all our plates and removing our utensils. When we asked where our food was, he once again acted as if he had overdosed on downers. Soon (10 minutes) the waiter showed up with our orders -- no condiments or new utensils however That took another 5 minutes or so. The (pretty expensive) lobster roll had a very strange metallic taste. Short on the mayo and sort of chewy dry. The turkey burger was simple inedible, as it was mostly gristle -- you couldn't even cut it with a knife -- which we had to demonstrate to the waiter in order for him to remove it from our table and bill -- perhaps to return it to the garbage pile from which it had probably ben generated? The table next to us had similar problems and we heard them commenting at length about the atrocious service. Bottom line -- we will never return. And neither should you!
(1)Antonio S.
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(3)Michelle P.
Beautiful outdoor setting near a large water feature. Wonderful menu of panini's, pizzas, lettuce wraps, salads. We shared the white and dark chocolate fondue for dessert between four of us. Yum! This is a great place to get away from the chain restaurants and experience really good food, great service, and a beautiful setting in the desert.
(4)Isabel M.
Me and my boyfriend went there for breakfast this morning.. the hostess gave us our menus and walked us to our table. We waited there for around 15 minutes without anyone coming to offer us anything. Not even a water!!! Another (older) couple came in and they got seated right away and got coffee and water. We still had gotten no service. I understand that this restaurants target is more oriented towards older clients but me and my bf dine out alot and we leave good tips when we feel the service was good. Considering the fact that last time I went to pierros me and my table left thewaitress a tip over 30 dollars and had good service I was really disappointed this time. I dont think ill be back.
(2)Julie G.
I came in on the 24th with my husband and we were sat with Hanna. I have eaten here before for breakfast. Great flavors and the coffee was amazing. Our server Hanna was very nice and attentive.
(5)Audrey W.
"Come to Acqua Pazza where the crazy water meet the river..." a very catchy jingle! Decided to check out this place on a Tuesday night, it wasn't busy but still a lot of tables occupied. The interior is simply gorgeous! It looks and feels like an expensive classy restaurant, but the menu pricing was cheaper than I thought! I would define this restaurant as classy, romantic, casual, trendy, and intimate. The restaurant itself is very spacious so the tables or set apart from each other. I absolutely love the decor and I did notice the little things that made the extra touch. I love the fact that they have a huge menu outside to view before going in. We saw a deal for 3 courses: Appetizer, Entree & Dessert for $20.00 + tax and decided to stay. The service was excellent, our waiter let us know that the wine bottles were 50% off that night as well as made several recommendations regarding entrees. I ordered the 3 course special: Wild Mushroom Soup - This is probably the best mushroom soup I've ever tasted in my whole entire life!!!! Don't expect to find chunks of mushroom in the soup because it is puree. Meatloaf a la Lulu prepared with mushroom sauce - Is no joke. It was literally over an inch in height and 6 inches in diameter lightly covered with mushroom sauce. I would suggest to ask for sauce on the side since it's a lot of meat and may be dry for some people. The meatloaf was cooked perfectly with a side of mash potatoes that were really good too...expect potato skin. I was able to split the meat loaf into 3 meals. Yes, 3 meals! Tiramisu - I had to take this home and forgot to put it in the fridge. But it was good, I like the fact that is was light and not too rich or sweet. I am most def coming back here. I'm impressed with the level of class this restaurant has, the service and the menu choices. Too bad I live in LA :(
(4)Carrie G.
Came for dinner and decided to sit outside as immediate seating was available. Considering how hot the desert summer is, the patio area was not very populated. Even still, service was extremely slow. I saw the bus boy more than the waiter. They took a long time just to serve drinks. We ate from their 3 course meal offering. Food was fine for the price but definitely not outstanding. We did have to ask for silverware when the food was served. The waiter never came by to check on how the meal came out. When he did come by to drop off the check, he never came back so I was forced to have the hostess handle the bill.
(2)Damon D.
We stopped in for happy hour before a movie. Love love love the calamari and there was nothing shrimp about the shrimp cocktail! Kymm, our wait person made the evening even that much more fun! She was always ready with the next drink and anything else we needed. Great job!
(5)Brittany R.
This place is absolutely beautiful, and wonderful for dates!!! If you are looking for a date night spot, try Acque Pazza California Bistro. We came here for dinner, and sat outside, it was so beautiful! We had Lobster Quesadilla, which was absoluetely amazing and fresh!!! And their coconut shrimp that they serve is out of this world, some of the best I had ever experienced! Loved it! This place offers a wonderful options in the menu, friendly staff, beautiful view, and just an overall awesome experience here!!
(5)Rosalie B.
We eat out frequently and have traveled extensively with that said our experience at this restaurant has been outstanding! Casey, the manager goes out of his way to ensure that patrons are totally satisfied not only with the quality of food but every aspect of service . They are reasonable priced and the overall ambiance makes one feel welcome and comfortable. They make every effort to seat you within a few minutes of your scheduled reservation. If you visit Palm Springs remember to put this marvelous restaurant on your dance card!
(5)George G.
I do go here a lot. Usually eat in the bar. The bar's 3-course dinner special has got to be the best deal around. Can't beat this; start with a Caesar, an excellent m/r Filet, followed by Cappuccino ice cream for - 20 bucks ! Great bartenders and a friendly atmosphere. On the right night, the outdoor waterfront patio is terrific.
(5)Ayesha S.
Ended up here for breakfast the morning after our Coachella weekend. It was okay. For such a nice restaurant, our service was pretty non-existent. We had to hunt down our waiter on several occasions. My partners in crime ordered some basic fruit and yogurt deal (healthy jerks!) and I went for a Mexican omelet. It was a tasty little omelet but I needed hot sauce. Problem: disappearing waiter. I was shocked by the interior (clearly they spent a pretty penny on it). The patio was nice, perched next to a little man made lake with the pretty CA mountains in view. A-ok... just wish the service had been better!
(3)Carol S.
10/19/13 We celebrated our 45th Anniversary with friends. Our dinner was excellent and waiter "Flavio" and staff member "Simon" were wonderful and attentive. Also I forgot my camera upon leaving and Hostess "Delia" came running after me as we were heading for the Parking Lot. We love this restaurant and always have our celebrations here......have never been disappointed! Carol S.
(5)Chris N.
We had breakfast here on a Sunday morning because the wifey read the reviews here and thought they had a buffet, but they don't. Nevertheless, we had a great breakfast. I had the steak and eggs. The steak was a little chewy but very nicely seasoned. The Best part was the hash browns, which were nice and crispy, but soft and fluffy in the middle. The wifey had the Seafood Eggs Benedict. She said the hollandaise was AWESOME. She was a very happy camper and was not about to share. The servers were very nice. Also, we almost had the restaurant to our selves because most people opted to sit on the patio and we chose to sit inside. I think we will be hitting this place for Breakfast quite often. My father-in-law has been here for dinner and he says its not so great for dinner, just ok.
(4)Alyssa D.
Came up to Palm Springs a few weekends ago for a girls weekend. & we found Acqua Pazza in a brochure given to us by our hotel. We sat outside which was nice. Outside by the water and the temperature was pretty much perfect. We all got the 3-course for $19.99. There was a great selection of entrees for that menu. I wasn't too impressed with the desserts though. Our waitress, totally forgot her name, was nice and attentive. So overall it was a good time.
(4)Metta W.
Annual trip to P.S. with the family. Have always walked by this place on the way to a solid restaurant, The Cheesecake Factory, and said we "should try it one day". Well, that day has come and gone...we should have kept walking to the solid C.F. Acqua has a menu with no identity, an atmosphere with no atmosphere, bland food and a wait staff whose mind seemed to be anywhere but on how our experience was going. Someone, possibly from the kitchen, did stop and ask how the food was which was nice....and we offered a fair response knowing we would never set foot in this place again. Did I mention the food was overpriced? I recommend to keep walking down the river.....
(1)K L.
Went here for lunch with a friend- Great Service, Great Food, reasonable prices.....what else could you ask for? Get the Lobster salad, you wont be disappointed.
(5)Charles D.
Went there the other night for dinner after a movie . I was telling my family how I went to lunch there the other day an the food was delish . The food was still delish but the service was disappointing . Our server was a very nice person but didn't attend to us very well . We had to go refill our drinks ourselves at the bar also had to retrieve our extra table settings because he was in conversation with other patrons . I know they are regulars but we're trying to do the same but was denied a good experience . I will try again but will not sit in that waiters section again
(3)Qanelle J.
Dinner in 100 degree heat. This place is crowded too.
(4)David R.
I have always had amazing service and totally enjoy this place. I can even bring my dog and sit outside by the water. Great place here in the desert and grateful we have a place to go to with consistently real good food. Will keep going back.
(5)Erin V.
Excellent Sunday Brunch!! 3 courses for $19.99. As an appetizer- We each had the avocado and tuna tartar tower! It was excellent! I had seafood benedict and my husband had steak and eggs for the main meal. Nice size portions! And for dessert- hazelnut chocolate crepe and flourless chocolate cake. For an extra $4.99 up to 3 mimosas! It was a little warm out, but the the patio is mostly covered and they have umbrellas and misters! Service was excellent and the atmosphere was perfect for a late Sunday morning!!
(5)Fara A.
Delightlful warm bread to dip in olive oil and balsamic vinegar...yummy...too bad the rest of the food left a lot to be desired. My husband started with the oyster shooters which were actual oysters in a sea of tomato juice. He was very disappointed. He thought they would be the oysters in the shell with some delicious sauce. Our food was just okay. My husband had the chinese chicken salad which was substantial in size but the dressing was just awful (it tasted like oily soy sauce). I had the shrimp and scallop white pizza...too oily was well. I should have gone with my fellow Yelpers and recognized an average place by the reviews and spent my money elsewhere.
(2)Mack T.
Went after the theater on Saturday night. The place was waiting room only...thankfully they have an outside area. We opted for the bar. Very attentive bar staff, the original waiter was very good as well. I had the chef salad. It was really good and fresh, it would have been nicer if a bread/roll came with it. Overall enjoyable., nothing remarkable. My companion had the russian panini....good, not great, very eatable. A nice place to come for a bite, nicer when you can sit at a table and enjoy their whole menu offerings.
(3)Greg B.
I would not bother - the food was not very good verging on really bad. The absolute WORST chicken piccata ever - chewy Vegie Pizza was basically a cracker with a few scattered mushrooms Server acted like he was doing us a favor for coming by occasionally (not often enough). A waste of a great atmosphere. If you don't trust me, trust the shoe thrower - he knows of what he speaks.
(1)John R.
Good burger...bad Mojito...good service...mussels were overcooked...good mushroom soup...beer was cold Don't expect much & you could be surprised
(2)Jonathan G.
The food and staff are great. Have a vacation property in Palm Desert and every year we come back for one or two dinners. They have a 3pm-5pm discount on a 3 course meal that is a great deal and the food is worth the price. The happy hour is almost all day too and is very good for drinks. Always leave a good tip and the staff alway accommodate. Highly recommend for anyone looking for a good fair priced meal.
(4)Sarah J.
It took me a few visits to fully appreciate Aqua Pazza. We've ordered a wide range of menu items and, for the most part, have never felt any disappointment with any of the food. I would even go so far as to say that some of their offerings are really, really good: the Maui Onion Soup, the seared ahi tuna appetizer, half roasted chicken. Nice salads, French fries....overall really good food at pretty decent prices (maybe a bit on the high side, but you do get some ambiance in exchange for the higher prices.) Service can be spotty and inconsistent, and you never know how it is going to go with each visit. Sometimes service here can start off great and then go limp as the dinner progresses. That's the main reason why this reviewer can't give them 5 stars. However, in spite of the iffy service and slightly higher prices, I continue to eat here for the nice menu, the quality and taste of the food, and the ambiance. Definitely worth checking out.
(4)Katie B.
I went here with my boyfriend and his mom a few weeks ago for a late Sunday Brunch. Yes, the atmosphere outside is beautiful but the service was so awful that this restaurant deserves NEGATIVE STARS. We must have asked 3 different people for butter to accompany our bread. And we never got it, even when they brought a refill of the bread! No one could get a drink refill to save their lives. And we were there for over an hour in a dying down restaurant. Our server was awful and the busboys weren't much help. I ordered the lobster ravioli and when it came out I asked the server for some parmessan cheese. Well, I should've known better than to think I could get service at this restaurant! I ate one ravioli right away which was tasty. But I foolishly waited until the server brought the requested cheese to eat the rest of my meal. I waited...and waited...and waited....and I finally asked a bus boy to bring said cheese. When it came it was the pre-shredded from the grocery store variety of parmessan. Oh, and my ravioli was cold from waiting so long! My boyfriend and his mom ordered omelets, which they said were good. But my food and and the dining experience in general was awful from truly atrocious service. Next time we may as well go to the Cheesecake Factory, Yardhouse, or PF Changs. I hope that Acqua Pazza does a major facelift on service or it won't last!
(1)Dave R.
I really like this place. The early bird specials are the same as the regular menus and you don't get the bums rush out of your seat like you do at other places. Also, I LOVE going here for breakfast. Plus they allows furry critters like our dog (because he is well behaved) to sit beside our table and enjoy the water and surroundings. If you have not taken the time to check this place out you are missing some pretty good food!
(5)Jeff M.
During a recent trip out to the desert, we decided to eat at Acqua Pazza on a Fri night. The place was full of electricity and energy...we had a 20 min wait (arrived around 7pm). Once seated, we strongly considered the price fixe menu for $19.99 as mentioned in the feedback , but decided to go with something off the main menu. We ordered the Chicken Lettuce Wraps...which were very tasty and served with a nice plum tasting sauce. We also had the Seafood platter, which consisted of sand dabs, a single shrimp and scallop, and some calamari. The sand dabs were nothing special and the calamari was quite greasy. As for the shrimp and scallop, they were both very good...but we were surprised there were only one of each. Overall, the atmosphere was nice(located on the "river") and the prices were in line with the area. I would recommend this place to those visiting the area...but do not expect the most amazing meal ever.
(3)Gypsy B.
THIS PLACE IS BEYOND AMAZING! AFFORDABLE HAPPY HOUR, STRONG STRONG MARGARITAS FOR $5!!!!!! YOU CAN NOT BEAT THAT. No joke, their food is bomb, and their drinks are delishhhhh :) best service and FAST FAST orders. My food literally came out in 5 minutes, i was super happy! Best place to go to, I'm a regular fur sure.
(5)Andrea T.
I've been here twice now with my coworkers. This is a favorite of ours to go out as a group. We sat outside, thankfully the misters were on and helping control the heat. I have had the same dish both times. It is on the preifix menu for $19.99. I ordered the Eggplant Parm and a starter soup and found them both to be delicous! The soup was mushroom and it was smooth and creamy and yummy! The Eggplant was soft in texture and sooo flavorful and simple. It is the best I've had! My friends have ordered the lobster salad and raved about it. The ceviche is a huge portion so make sure you have someone to share it with. It was very good both times I've had it. I finished with the cappaccino ice cream....it is a must try! There were some little bits of crispy chocolate or coffee in there. Really nice! I've also tried the chocolate cake..very rich but worth a share with some friends. Very nice!
(4)Bill B.
Just ok heard how great it was. Well the service is just ok have to keep trying to find someone to get water refilled. Food was ok not great or anything special. Steak has no flavor will not return
(2)Douglas H.
I have had the opportunity to visit this wonderful restaurant in Rancho Mirage a number of times and Kymm, one of the servers in the bar is the best...always pleasant and concerned about giving the customer the best possible dining experience. Kymm is the type of employee restaurants need and they should feel proud how well she represents them to the consuming public .
(5)Carol W.
Had a great lunch here, tried the Sand Dabs, they were very good. My friend and I split the Caesar Salad (not easy as it was Romaine lettuce just cut one time in 1/2), but it was nicely presented and tasty. My friend had the pizza Margarita and enjoyed it very much. The service could have been a little better, if we asked for anything, a steak knife to cut the salad to share or extra lemons, wait time was long and sometimes the server needed a reminder. Would definitely eat here again, decor was very pleasing.
(4)Bernie J.
Have been back to dine here several times. Mon night took out of town guests there for farewell dinner. Since they were on East Coast Time we went early and qualified for Early Bird 3 Course Feast. Food was excellent... no change in quality from earlier visits. Best mushroom soup we ever had! The entree - sanddabs came with lightly sauteed vegetables, incredible garlic mashed potatoes, and ample amount of onion skins. Had to have the tiramasu again. However someone ordered the chocolate cake...I had a bite and that was simply incredible! Previously gave a 5 star rating. Had to notch it down to 4 stars because the service was very slow and marginally attentive. Flagged down the hostess who happily helped out with our needs fortunately.
(4)Leslie D.
It's quite unfortunate. This restaurant has decent food, a good location and a great view overlooking a water feature. However the service has been absolutely TERRIBLE every time I have been there. I don't understand how all of their servers can be so rude and so inattentive towards their customers needs. Also the food is decent like I said, but I feel that they are completely overpriced. For example, they have a salad on their menu that is $22.00. I don't recommend this establishment. Find a place that has a fun environment with happy people serving you. Oh, and reasonable prices.
(1)Jordan P.
Absolute disaster on many levels. Soup was alright. Water is served in chipped plastic cups. Wine is poured into thick dollar store wine glasses and served at 75 degree temperature from a CABINET NEXT TO THE HOSTESS STAND. Vegetables were previously frozen, pork chop was very salty. For a complete review, please check my blog - corksbottlesbrokenglass.…
(2)Sarah H.
Like everyone else has already said, it's a pretty little restaurant with a reasonably attentive staff and a ridiculously overpriced menu. We came in for Sunday brunch, and the three course menu had some interesting options. The ahi tower was ok, but the tuna was kind of mediocre. The caesar salad tasted good, but I prefer my salads pre-chopped, instead of whole romaine leaves slathered in dressing. I don't know, it was all very mid-90's "gourmet". The entrees were better: the seafood benedict looked tasty, and my Monte Cristo was delicious. I wasn't a fan of the tiramisu or the chocolate cake. The coffee was the BEST coffee I've ever had. With tax and tip, brunch for two was almost $70. I was kind of astounded. Apparently, I need to move to Palm Springs and open a mediocre restaurant...I'll make a fortune. I don't know, I probably wouldn't come back. I've definitely experienced better.
(2)Daniel C.
Their wall is riddled with many awards stating things such as "Voted Best Breakfast in Rancho Mirage," etc etc, and the food definitely did not disappoint. After working up a sweat walking around the River, the cool Acqua Pazza California Bistro lured us in. They've got an indoor dining area with many aquatic themed decorations, and even an outdoor patio with mist sprayers to cool down their patrons. For $20 I got the 3 course meal: it came with cream of mushroom soup, steak and eggs, and tiramisu for dessert. Soup came out promptly--it was pretty good but a little too thick for my liking. I gobbled it up and then waited patiently for my main course... Five minutes, 10 minutes, 15 minutes pass...nothing yet. Alright, I'm a patient guy so I'll just sit tight and wait. 20 minutes...ok 25 minutes. Alright 30 minutes (no exaggeration) and still no food yet. This is getting fucking ridiculous. Our server obviously had made effort to check up on us, nor explain what the hold up was. He was cheerfully taking care of the tables around us, but when I tried to flag him down, his eyes darted for the ground and he walked right past us. Was he guilty of something? What are you hiding? At least check up on us. Feed me a lie. Tell me the kitchen is backed up. Tell me you forgot to put the ticket in. SOMETHING to show that you're making an effort. But alas, Javier did no such thing. No apologies, no explanations. If he's your server, bring a book to read, a pillow to rest on or something because you're going to be stuck for a LOOONGGGGG time. Tip is based on the quality of service, and because of the neglect we received I wanted to tip this sucka a big fat 0. Fortunately the busboys and hostess came to the rescue They were extremely friendly and helpful, so I didn't want to stiff them either (since they probably all pool tips together.) The busboy was very attentive--the savior of our meal. He kept our OJ filled and breadbaskets coming. Javier needs to take some notes from these guys. Steak and eggs were nothing extraordinary. Steak was kind of tough (maybe our server forgot to bring it out and it sat there for a long time, before he told the chefs to reheat it perhaps?) Already tired of sitting here for so long, I took only a few bites of Tiramisu leaving. Overall, the lack of effort and service left a sour taste in my mouth. Very unfortunate because I had such high hopes.
(2)Kyle N.
this place is sensational. I'd like to think of it as my secret, but it's always busy with a great environment. they have happy hour all day in the bar, the Kobe burger is the best! check it out, great place for a date, or a drink before your movie @ the river
(5)Caligirl P.
They have a great happy hour menu in the bar BTW...The tuna/avocado stack is delicious and our kobe buger and ravioli in mushroom sauce were both quite tasty!
(4)Bob M.
Whats in a name? Trying to find this place on Yelp was a journey! Aqua Pazzo, Acca Pazza, Acco Pozzo..sheesh! Acqua Pazza California Brstro...there I said it. Unlike their newer trendier "sex in the city" sister to the west Cafe LuLu, this location is beautifully set in the near empty once wildly popular shopping center known as The River. You can eat in a glass enclosed patio overlooking the Lake or inside in a beautifully decorated room.Either way, the food , the service and the prices are on target. I always have the same thing, corn chowder and a wonderful curry pineapple coconut grape salad. My date(s) have ordered everything from Lamb to Duck Pizza to Quesadillas depending on who they are and how much they Love or want to be on a date. Lol Everybody loved everything! I cant express how much better this location is than Cafe LuLu I have never had to send anything back like at the other location. well worth the drive east, and when you are done , try desert at the Cheesecake Factory or catch a movie , all are in the same complex . 11/11/2012 I have been here 2 Saturdays in a row for breakfast , try it! Egg white omelette with mushrooms, cheese and spinach simple clean Red potatoes and some wonderfully soft baked bread Great service
(4)Tomás G.
The decor a little weird but the service is excellent. The Manhattan chowder was awesome and a perfect portion. I had the veal pot roast, that consisted of a huge portion and the cappuccino ice cream was a great finish to the meal.
(5)Ralph C.
We dine out six nights a week and try and go to Aqua Pazza once a week. The receptionist are great and they always reserve one of the booths we like. I especially like the seafood, it is always fresh and you can't beat the prices! Delia, my favorite manager, who is on leave enjoying her new baby girl, is a delight and always has a warm greeting for us. Attitude is so important and the staff here is very friendly. We recommend this restaurant this to locals and visitors. Enjoy, but make a reservation for prompt seating.
(5)KMarie S.
One of our local favs for a light bite. Food great, service inconsistent. My guest ordered pasta that was unedible and floating in water with 2 ingrediants (the ones she needs to avoid) , in abundance. Our waiter didnt not fix and the billing adjustment weird and also not correct after two conversations. A bit embarrassing with my client. Second time we had both food and service issues on A MONDAY around 3-6. We really love this place but we might pick the happy hour at elephant bar over acqua p.
(4)Abel O.
It was much the same.... A year later. The place wasnt busy. Screaming kids everywhere. Most of the employees were huddled in an area by the bar entrance. Service was below my tolerance. Food was just Ok. Ok... I get it! They sent all of the good people to open their new restaurant, Lulu's, in Palm Springs. Ouch
(2)Evan B.
To put it bluntly, the fish tacos suck. they are deep fried with really gross batter that have no flavor other than flour, and the salsa is that mass produced picante shit you get out of a plastic bottle. There is nothing better than stale salsa with flavorless fish cod tacos....mmm mmmm good. NOT! At least the cabbage was fresh, so I will give them that ;-} Now here is the complete opposite of the above item menu: Seared Ahi Tuna, very fricken good. Holy crap were there 2 different chef's in the fish department of that kitchen? The Tuna was perfectly seared and melted in your mouth when you ate it. The sauce that came with the tuna was a bit on the salty side so I couldn't have to much of it, but if you covered it up with wasabi, it was sorta okay. But the tuna was better without. The Mojitos were pretty decent too. The first round was the happy hour version and they were good. The second round the bartender was nice enough to add raspberry mix without an extra charge of using raspberry rum. Not bad and I got a good buzz. Needless to say I would never eat at this place when given the choice.
(2)Kristen K.
I haven't been here for any meal other than breakfast, but I keep coming back because I really enjoy it. It might be sad, but I get most excited about their coffee. I really like it! There are hints of caramel in it and it's just sooo good! As for actually eating here, I usually get the cobb omelet which always comes out perfect. Hash browns? Home fries? Both are a great option! If you're thinking about finding a place that has a pretty view, decent service, and some really good coffee for breakfast, I would keep this place in mind.
(4)Laurie P.
We came for a Hail and Farewell for a corpsman in our squadron. The food was bland, like I am not even sure the put salt and pepper on it. Honestly, my experience was so distasteful (literally and figuratively) that I don't even want to bother spending any more time on this review than I already have. You'd be better off eating at Cheesecake Factory down the way.
(1)Dale L.
Four of us stopped at Acqua Pazza for lunch and were fortunate enough to have Hanna as our server. We were seated outside, as requested, but had sun directly in our eyes. Hanna came rushing over and asked if we like to move to a shady table on the waterfront. Perfection! The afternoon flew by after that with great drink, salads, and terrific service. We've eaten here many times but Hanna made us and our out of town guests feel very special. We'll be back soon with our next round of visitors.
(4)M M.
The regular menu is okay but pricey for the quality of the food. That said, the Happy Hour / bar menu is the Best in Town! Extremely busy and lively. We had a margarita pizza, kobe beef skewers, tuna tartar with avacado that rivals Mortons Steak House, and calamari. It all tasted great. Average price per dish is $7. Highly Recommend the happy hour, but not the formal restaurant.
(4)Andrew R.
I went here on a spur of the moment dinner decision and was not disappointed. The food was pretty good...if the quality was the same for the normal menu items, maybe there would be one less star, but I ordered from the $20 prix fixe menu and at that price, the food was delicious. I started with a potato and leek vichyssoise soup, which was very refreshing on a hot summer day. I also had a taste of the wild mushroom soup which was very good as well. Actually it kind of reminded me of Fresh & Easy's wild mushroom soup. For my entree I chose the filet mignon, cooked medium. It was juicy and tasty and cooked exactly how I ordered it. The peppercorn sauce was simple but worked well with the meat. The potatoes were decent, nothing special there, and the veggies were lightly cooked so they were still crisp. I had a taste of the lobster ravioli as well, and that was good too. The pasta was a bit thin, less like what you normally think of when you hear ravioli and more like a dumpling or potsticker. The sauce was good and the lobster was flavorful. For desert I had the tiramisu. I was very happy with it, it was probably the best tiramisu I've had (although I've only had it 2 or 3 times before...). It was light, not too strongly flavored, and I wished I had more! I also got to try the flourless triple chocolate cake which was almost like fudge. Very rich, very chocolaty. The service was pretty amazing, especially considering the number of tables that were filled that night. My water was never less than half empty and the three courses came out lightning fast.
(4)Yigal A.
We came here when we took a trip to palm desert. the food is good but if it wasnt for the special of 3 courses I think the food is pricey. We ordered pasta and salad as well as soup and Chicken. Nothing special but a great deal. the service was very good and we were happy we stopped in.
(3)Joseph P.
When my wife and I walked in to Acqua Pazza, the hostess was kind and professional, but things started going badly soon after we took our seats and the waiter arrived. The waiter seemed to have trouble communicating or even discussing any items on the menu. The accent wasn't an issue, but his attitude and seeming cluelessness and indifference were. The other members of the table service made it clear that they would rather be somewhere else, like maybe in the restrooms texting next to the urinals. The bread we were given before our lunch was simply stale. I had a hard time even believing this since this place looks like such a nice restaurant, but something as simple as the bread they put out was probably a week old. I am not kidding. The food was far from impressive. They have some unique items on the menu, but the execution was simply unimpressive. I have not been to Acqua Pazza in the evenings and can only hope things are done differently for dinner service, but this place strikes me as being managed terribly. The staff are simply not coordinated and are not focused on the patrons. The chef also seems to not put much care into his or her work. If they could get someone in there to shake the place up a little, it could be a good restaurant. Right now, it is not.
(1)Zack W.
We were here on a business lunch during midweek. I've been here once and my agent has strongly recommended this place because of a few fav dishes like sashimi tower. I didn't have much good thought about the foods before and now still. I had to say the foods are freshly made... But for the elders and toothless. Mine was bland and salty. The mushroom soup was as such. The noodle was oily and I had a good run afterward. The sashimi tower was touristy and ordinary looking, like onethat everyone can find easily from east to west coast. Luckily it tasted like sashimi. The service was not very attentive but understandable for the area. Touristy... no local population to support the industry. Most people chose to dine by the covered deck outdoor by the artificial pond. It's not too bad. So diners, if you feel old and you are toothless with loss of taste sensation, this can be a good choice.
(2)Dan J.
As a fan of Lulu's it was great to discover the mother ship here in Rancho Mirage. Hanna was informed and attentive and the patio was a perfect place to lunch on a great wedge salad and smoked salmon pizza.
(4)Bill C.
After a very bad experience at Italian restaurant the night before, we had a great breakfast next morning. I had Papaya with cottage cheese and fresh berries. WOW let me tell you!!!!!!! and my friends had omelet, full flavor coffee... Acqua is a great place and known for there healthy selection of breakfast menu. I would recommend this place to all health conscious folks, I personally went to hostess and thank her for a good service, on my next trip I want to have dinner at this restaurant. Thank you for honest & good service you guys should open more locations.
(5)Michael G.
been a big fan of this place but tonight had dinner outside and tried the Turkey Burger.... Very bad... dry, tasteless and even looked bad My wife had lovely salad and she was very happy.... just do not try the Turkey burger!!!
(2)Jon L.
Terrible! The food was just plain nasty. I went with mom & gramps, at what I believe was gramp's request. This place disappointed. In the beginning, bread rolls were brought out. There were multigrain. Usually, I love who whole wheat, etc, but these just didn't taste any good. To start, I had some mixed green salad. It was garnished with a couple pieces of oranges that were far from fresh. Gross! Mom had a Ceaser salad, in which the lettuce leaves weren't even chopped! Really? Grandpa ordered a mushroom soup, which was pretty good. My entree was Talapia in mango salsa. The talapia just tasted plane dirty. The salsa was as bland as possible and the side veggies were also extremely bland. The mashed potatoes, however, were good. My mom ordered the filet. I took a bite. The peppercorn sauce was good but the beef itself had no flavor and the texture of playdough. Probably the worst steak I've ever tried. I didn't try gramp's entree, Chicken Picata. For dessert was ice cream and chocolate flourless cake. The ice cream was mocha flavored, and actually quite good. The cake was sweet, but not very chocolately. Service was great but the atmosphere was rather noisy and the food was simply bad. I'll definitely not be returning to this place: the food was a bad experience.
(1)Cheryl K.
We enjoyed a fabulous dinner here, including unique food. I selected acorn squash stuffed with quinoa & currants, and gelato for dessert. All were delicious. And the wait staff was very attentive.
(5)Nancy V.
I was in Palm Desert on business and since I have celiac disease I sought a restaurant that offered a gluten free menu. I opted for two appetizers (I was there at lunch time). The food was probably the best gluten free food I have ever experienced in a restaurant. I ordered acorn squash with quinoa (melted in my mouth) and chicken strips on skewers. The chicken came with some incredible coconut dip that I was going to ignore as at first I thought it was sour cream or cottage cheese. But, I decided to identify it before avoiding it and I ended up eating it all! Yum. Hanna was my server and she did a nice job. My compliments to the chef.
(5)Darius S.
Super friendly and accommodating staff. Tuna tar tar lettuce wrap and Cobb salad, super thin crust pizza and kids meal sized to feed an elephant...What else do I want out of these people!
(4)Zachary A.
Sit at the bar and request the happy hour menu....everything is cheap, plentiful and downright delicious! All that sound from cascading water about makes for a soothing, relaxing dining experience. The thin crust Pizza is similar to California Pizza Kitchen and is quite good. Their Linguine Marinara Clam Sauce is so good...you'll ask for more bread, just to mop-up all the remaining sauce!
(4)Mally B.
This place is a wanna-be Cheesecake Factory. They have a menu that's about half as large as Cheesecakes (which is next door) and the food is worse. Definitely not worth the money
(2)Dietrich M.
Went here with friends and the decor is a mix of modern and italian style. I was pretty stoked about this place after hearing a lot of good things. Unfortunately the hype did not live up to reality. I ordered the Kobe burger which sounded excellent reading about it on the menu. My friend also ordered the same and they were ordered to be cooked "medium". When the burger arrived, it looked like a hockey puck and was pretty much cooked well done. If Wayne Gretzky saw this, it would mistake it for a puck and slapshot it into the goal.... When brought up to the server, they gave us a discount. We were so hungry we ate it anyways. Service was good but the food was not on this trip. I would try again before writing them off completely, but this trip was sub par.
(2)Jaime E.
My savvy girlfriend found this place online because of their reputation for kick-ass happy hour specials. A special all-day happy hour menu was advertised on their website and on a big sign posted in the restaurant window, but we didn't seem to get happy hour pricing on what we ordered for lunch. We probably should have said something, but we were too busy enjoying each others' company after having a couple of beers each. There are quite a few to choose from, including some of those Belgian beers that have a fairly high alcohol content. I had the Chinese chicken salad, which was tasty but not to die for. I liked the misters around the outside seating--they really helped cut the 99-degree October heat. I don't think I will seek this place out again but I'm not sorry I gave it a try.
(3)Wayne D.
Wonderful atmosphere, great service...poor food. Expensive for what we got...avoid the duck pizza...their sister property Lulu is more fun in downtown Palm Springs and has the same menu.
(2)Seamus H.
While on Vacation in Palm Springs, my family and I were looking for a good Happy Hour and place to watch the Giants finish off the Braves. We decided to check out Acqua Pazza. I could not believe they had a 12hr Happy Hour(Only if you sit in the bar). AWESOME! - They had great beers on tap. I had a Blue Moon and tried out the Stone IPA. - For appetizers, we got the chicken quesadilla(which was excellent), chicken wings(tangy with the right amount of kick), and the tuna tower was delicious. The roasted garlic and the portabello tower were a disappointment. The roasted garlic was good but the dip it comes with was bland. They should switch the dip out for a slab of warm Brie cheese. The portabello tower was bland as well and it comes with a wierd combo of tomato sauce, spinach, and mashed potatoes. - The ambiance was very nice, I especially likes their water walls. - Our bartender was very attentive and took great care of us. Next time I visit Acqua Pazza, I want to try the outdoor seating. 4 solid stars! So far the Best Happy Hour in Town!
(4)Jade T.
Best happy hour in the desert! You can sit in the lively and delightful bar area any time of day to enjoy the bar menu. The food is unbelievable for the price. I actually prefer the bar to the main restaurant, including the menu. The tuna tower and crab cakes are delicious!
(4)Kevin B.
My wife and I went to Acqua Pazza for Sunday brunch, as we have done many times in the past. And as always it was a wonderful meal. We were served by out favorite server Marla who made sure everything was the way it was supposed to be. Thank You Acque Pazza.
(4)Megan C.
My experience at this restaurant can be summed up by the fact that it took approximately 4 minutes for our food to be served after we had ordered. I'm supposed to believe this food is fresh and cooked to order? Give me a break.
(2)Ashley S.
Food was excellent, prices great for quality of food, and services was great. Our server Patrick was extremely personable, couldn't have asked for more. Atmosphere by the water was a nice touch! Highly recommend
(4)Sandra M.
Service was excellent. Ask for Patrick if you go. He was our server and made the experience even more memorable. My husband had the seafood platter and told me "This is one of the best meals I've had in a really long time." He is a very tough food critic so coming from him, that means a lot. I had the quinoa and corn spaghetti. I did not expect to enjoy it as much as I did, but it was absolutely delicious. We will definitely visit again when we come back to the Palm Desert area.
(5)Vicki D.
A must visit great service and food. Amazing key lime pie martini.
(4)Grand P.
Service was good. For breakfast, would you like some eggs with your fried oil? Would you like some potatoes with your fried oil? Would you like some sausage with your fried oil? Would you prefer instant coffee or watery diner coffee?
(3)Petey K.
Very nice vibe. Good Happy Hour. Place was fun! I'll come back when I'm in the neighborhood!
(4)D M.
Ordered appetizers and main meal. All 3 arrived at the same time. When asked about it the waitress said...oh ops I didn't know and walked away. Hot main meal became cold while we ate appetizer. Service not the best. Crab cakes weren't good...orangy brown sauce on them was awful. There is so much staff walking around with nothing to do and once one of them went to take a plate off our table and we were still eating. The bread they served had a awful taste almost like dish soap was in it.
(2)Jeanne B.
Have not read other reviews. Was treated to lunch here. Saw the check. $65 for lunch with only water for beverages. Yikes! For that amount I expect great food and even greater service. Sat outside. It was okay. They wrap the silverware in a cloth napkin. That would be okay if they provided a place to put the silverware other than onto the bare table which I hope was at least wiped off of some of the previous diners' germs. My dining companions both had tiramisu. They both said it wasn't that good. It is a very busy place and food was good. I had a pork sandwich -- which was less than I expected -- a little on the light side for the amount of pork, and as it said it had avocado, I expected more than 4 thin slices of avocado. Since the retail price of avocados in the store is 50 cents right now, a little bit little. But it was $12.95 with 2 kinds of mixed lettuce and one cherry tomato as a "salad" on the plate. The sad part about this -- besides being way over priced -- is the service. It is lackluster, at best. We were seated and asked if we wanted drinks -- no. Then a busboy came and removed a 4th service set and said he would be back with bread (there were olive oil and balsamic vinegar carafes on the table). We never saw him again. Then the waitress came over and asked if we wanted drinks -- no. After we ordered, I couldn't find our server and asked the hostess she could ask our server for some bread. Nothing. Then the waitress walked by and I asked her for bread. She asked again about drinks -- no. We waited some more. Finally, a busboy brought a basket with bread in it. And on and on. It wasn't "bad" service. It just wasn't GOOD service. And my pet peeve in restaurants -- of course I knew this was coming -- our waitress walked up to the table twice in the middle of our meal while we were talking or with our mouths full and said, "How is everything?" My daughter is now 43-years old. When she was 16 and working at her first casual restaurant as a brand new waitress I taught her to NEVER walk up to a table and start talking right away. Walk up. Pause to be acknowledged and then ask how it is. She carried this through to waiting jobs in very fine restaurants all the way through college and always got good tips. To sum it up -- good food -- bad service -- not worth the price.
(2)Ilene L.
We celebrated my father's 76th birthday at Acqua Pazza on the patio this past week and the night was a great success! Great food, great service (thank you Kymm...you rock!), great ambiance, etc. etc. My dad had a very nice birthday thanks to your restaurant and staff. It couldn't have been better. A special "thank you" again to Kymm, who recommended your specialty martini with a cinnamon stick. I was hesitant at first, but was pleasantly surprised at how great it was. I wish you all the best in the contest! You made my dad's birthday very special and I am grateful for that. I will be back soon for the calamari. It's a "must" when you go there!!
(5)Hannah L.
Food was not bad. I ordered a pear salad and it was pretty good, but the taste of the pear slices threw me off a bit... They weren't fresh pear slices, but instead, soaked in like a cinnamon/cloves juice or something. Not exactly what I was expecting... The grilled chicken I ordered on the side was fantastic though. The bread that they served before the meal was not that great however... It was oddly very tasteless... Even with butter. There was olive oil and balsamic vinegar on the table I could've dipped it in, but I was turned off by the initial taste of the bread so didn't even bother. The ambience of the restaurant is really cool though. There's a really cool glass fountain wall in the middle of the restaurant and if you sit outside, there's a great view of the "river." I also got a good idea for my next wall mural project from an art piece that was hung up behind the bar! I thought this place was alright. Nothing so fantastic I would add it to my list of "MUST EAT HERE AGAIN!" restaurants.
(3)Tanya F.
I had heard a lot about this place and my parents said they loved it, so naturally I was very excited to try this place. When I went inside and saw all the awards mounted on the wall, I got even more excited. We were seated immediately in a big booth for just my fiance and I, in a perfect spot to enjoy the ambiance. So this is when I rave about the food, right? Oh, I only wish. Soup - We both ordered the Wild Mushroom Soup and waited in anticipation. It came out in a very timely manner and we dug in. Neither of us tasted anything. The soup had no flavor! I have never picked up the salt shaker for anything until I had this sad bowl of soup in front of me. So I started the process to shake, taste, and repeat until a pleasant flavor presented itself. I eventually ended up with a salty mush. Ever see the scene in the Matrix aboard the Nebuchadnezzar where the crew eats the nutritional slop? I think that's what I had except I doubt it was exceeding in the nutritional department. Main Course - My fiance had the Fillet Mignon (which is normally my usual dish). It was dry and lacked in flavor. Sad face. I had the half of a duck and I was just not impressed. This also lacked in flavor even with a good helping of the apricot and plum brandy glaze. We didn't even bother with the dessert here. We just walked down to the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory.
(2)Lee Ann K.
The good - ambiance. Their seafood combo appetizer with muscles, clams and shrimp. great sauce too. vast choices of beers. Mediocre - the bread. While warm, not very tasty. Really fluff bread. service was very mediocre (waiter left and forgot to get my hubby's order thinking the appetizer was his meal). and my salmon was good, but sides were very mediocre (spinach and red potatoes - mushy - yuck!) The bad - dessert was not impressive, esp the ice cream which was cheap (chunks of ice in it). Definitely a vacationer's restaurant. I prefer to eat at sam's Sushi in palm springs right around the corner.
(3)Roger M.
Our first dinner at Acqua Pazza was excellent. We were seated immediately at the time of our reservation. We were greeted quickly by the wait person. The dinner choices were many and we chose the premium prix fix dinner. Our first course was served within 10 minutes, our entrees shortly after we finished our salads, and then our final dessert course shortly after that. I had the Filet Mignon which was cooked perfectly and as good as any place I've ever been. My wife had Lake Superior white fish that she said was very good. Marla, was our server, was very attentive, and the rest of the wait staff supported her very well! We are visiting Palm Desert for the week and decided to get a reservation for our last night also, since the whole dining experience was just how we like it and it was a good value. Can't wait to go back tomorrow night and we asked for Marla again as well!
(5)Bob D.
Hearing this place has a great happy hour, we decided to check it out. Nothing special. Bar food is bar food. Dont let the decor fool you or the happy hour prices. The funny thing about it is they list the happy hour price next to the regular price...but happy hour is all day 11-close so how is regular price relevant? Marketing 101 Chicken skewer: 5 small chicken tenders witha coconut dipping sauce. they were the size of a bic lighter...$6 (HH price) Sole Sandwich: small fish fillet on a big bun. Comes with a side of fries. Bland bland bland...$8 (HH price) Blue moon draft...$5 (HH price) Definately nothing to rave about. You're better off getting a 6 piece tender at Chik-fil-A and a 6pack of blue moon from the grocery store... This place gets the flying shoe
(2)Kathy N.
So I came here with my family for father's day brunch the the food and service is still haunting me. The first star is lost simply by first impression of the restaurant with the hostess. I arrived later with my mom and sisters expecting my dad and brother with a table or at least on the waiting list. The hostess was very rude in helping us locate the rest of our party. She told me to look around the restaurant for them for myself, and I practically had to force her to CHECK if our name was on the list. Second star is for the poor table service. We had to practically had to hunt down our waiter every time; for water, to take our order, and for the check. No one even checked up on us, we could have been choking and the waiters wouldn't even notice. Third star is because my egg wasn't runny. Three dishes ordered were eggs benedict and our poached eggs were pretty much hard boiled. The BEST part is the runny yolk and my yolk did not run... I'm sad for them. The good part about it is the view and the outdoor seating, but that's it.
(2)Robert H.
We had a wonderful dinner at a most reasonable cost from a unique menu of great options. We each chose the filet mignon entree based on the rave reviews from our waiter, Flavio. He was very attentive, charming and helpful in expediting our choices. The wine was great and the atmosphere was most relaxing outdoors. Clearly one of the best meals we had for the money our entire week in the Coachella Valley.
(5)John W.
We go here often for breakfast (never had the lunch or dinner) on weekends. Never been disappointed. Cost may be an issue if you have an appetite. For two, our bill typically come in around $40-45.
(4)Deana H.
Forget the happy hour dinner starting at 3 pm. My chicken picata tasted like something from a can from Swanson. Where are the capers? How did this place get great reviews? Are they doing all their own reviews?
(1)Nakul V.
I'll divide my review into two parts as follows 1. Service 2. Food. 1. Service. We made a reservation by phone for our family of two adults and two children by phone. We were asked if we needed a high chair. I responded yes. We arrived and were promptly seated and I reminded the person seating us we needed a high chair. She said it will be there right away. We waited and it did not arrive. We mentioned this to our server and he later brought it. Our daughter had to wait for her water in a paper cup and it finally came after I reminded our server. We asked if bread was served with the meal and the server responded yes and that it will be there shortly. Our soup and appetizer came and we finished them, but still no bread. We asked for bread and after some delay, it finally came. The staff were polite and seemed friendly. It was a Tuesday at 6:30pm when we arrived and the restaurant was not crowded. For service, I would give two stars. 2. Food The wine list was decent and we did find couple of wines worth trying. The food menu did have a good selection of items. The minestone soup was ok. The plate with fried zucchini pieces had a large bed of cabbage with just a few pieces of fried zucchini on top. The cabbage to zucchini ratio was probably 4:1 or 5:1. I wondered if they ran out of zucchini or if they had a few extra pieces left from cooking someone else's order and gave it to us after figuring a large bed of cabbage underneath would somehow make it seem ok. Maybe it looked ok to the person who made the dish, but for the person who ordered zucchini, it was definitely not ok. The Russian panini was good. The eggplant parmigiana was excellent-not oily, well done eggplant, not too much cheese nor too much bread covering, and quite tasty. It seemed to be made for health conscious people. The sauteed spinach was very good. The bread when it finally came was also excellent. We did not bother with dessert. I would give 3.5 to 4 stars for the food overall. My wife did notice that the people sitting in a booth next to ours were getting very good service. They seemed to be regulars. This shows that the staff do have the ability to provide good service when they want. It is unlikely we will ever go there again. Followup 09/25/2013-- The general manager did return my email about our experience. Because of his response, we might give this place another try in the future.
(3)Steven K.
I've been here many times and have rarely found faults. The food isn't life changing, but the quality definitely matches the price. The all day happy hour doesn't have the best prices in the valley, but the selection is miles away greater.
(4)Kym L.
Great food, great staff- fast service and prices are great! Try the oysters with vodka shooter! Amazing!
(4)Dianna M.
The food is great, but the service is poor. My husband and I were seated and waited for at least 5 to 10 minutes without water or a waiter. Another couple sat down 5 minutes later and were helped immediately had sevice, that's when we left.
(2)Celina A.
Best place in the Desert! Great atmosphere, great food, great specials and amazing service! We sat on the patio with Flavio, who was very attentive! We had our 2 1/2 year old son with us and Flavio made sure to bring out his dinner first. I had the Tilapia and it was perfectly cooked. My husband had the Chicken Florentine and he couldn't stop talking about it! Over all, our experience was amazing! Definitely returning.
(5)Mike B.
We were vacationing in the desert, where the old-timers go to die, so we figured we'd play the old "when in Rome game" and treat ourselves to an early bird dinner. Piero's had 3.5 stars and a 3 course feast for just $15.95 if you order before 5pm. Since it was getting dark at around 7:30pm, we figured this was the best way to see what life is like for the residents of Del Boca Vista. We had a light lunch so that we would be hungry by 5pm. First impressions: The entryway has a high, arched ceiling with Tuscan highlights, warm and cozy like an Italian villa. As we make our way around the host desk, we encounter the neon blue water wall that separates the dining room from the bar. The clash between soft, rustic, warm decor and eye-popping, modern accents is confusingly offset by large nautical buoys hanging on the mirrored wall. The restaurant is clean, but that's about all it has going for it. Our server was good. Prompt, polite, accommodating...no complaints. His shirt, however, was offensive. For some reason, it seems that all employees are required to special order their uniforms from the 1980's. I saw salmon, teal, burgundy, and turquoise, but I did not see any 2 shirts the same color. The ambience was hopping for 5pm on a tuesday, with a 10 top of the red hat ladies, a woman with an oxygen tank in the booth next to us and a number of other seniors scattered throughout. I almost gave them an extra start for the oxygen tank, but it wasn't quite enough. I started with the wild mushroom soup and my girlfriend had the salad. Soup tasted okay, but the color was brown-gray with no garnish, which was not very appetizing to look at. The salad was just weird, which I attribute primarily to the orange vinaigrette. I had splurged the extra $2 for the fillet and the gf opted for the lobster ravioli. The steak was not a quality cut, and unless medium rare means hot pink center in the desert, it was overcooked. The peppercorn sauce had capers in it, which definitely didn't compliment the steak, but at least it's original. The mashed potatoes looked like they would have been okay if they hadn't developed a dry outer crust under the heat lamp. The veggies were carrots, green beans, broccoli and cauliflower, wilted and dried, crisp on one side from the heat lamp and completely depleted of any life they once had. Do you remember the scene in European Vacation when the Griswalds eat at the French cafe and we see the chefs flipping microwave dinners onto the plates in the kitchen? It was like that. The ravioli resembled what I would imagine a Chef Boyardee gourmet canned ravioli to be like. For dessert, I had the chocolate cake and gf had tiramisu. Two bites and the check please. We left hungry and terribly disappointed. The only upside to this experience is that the food was so awful that it was shocking. We are used to mediocre, and even sub-par cuisine, but it is something special to taste food in a restaurant that you would rather spit out than force down.
(1)Sue L.
Love their all day happy hour. All of their food is good. I especially love the tuna tower, fried oysters, low-carb kobe burger, and margherita pizza. Decent house wines and delicious chavelas!
(4)Geishamom P.
The atmosphere is great inside; if you sit outside, you can enjoy the beautiful "man-made river" view, but apparently they decided to do maintenance and drain it during the summer months. I ordered from the prix fixe menu which came with an appetizer, main course, and a dessert. For $22.99, I got a lightly fried zucchini, the white fish, and the flour less chocolate cake. My sides were mashed potatoes, spinach and green beans. I was very pleased with everything, but disappointed with the chocolate cake. It was good, but too rich for me. I loved everything about my main course...if you want a mild fish, you will like this! My BF was not so impressed with his prix fixe meal. He got the mushroom soup as his appetizer and came home with a stomach ache. He got the chicken piccata as his main dish and the cappuccino ice cream for his dessert. The ice cream was melting and a little soupy by the time it was served! It looked as if it had been sitting on the line for a while, yet it's not like we were waiting for our dessert for a long time? It was served immediately after our plates were cleaned off the table. Our waiter was very friendly and attentive, and accommodated all of our requests for my picky 7 year old kids. I would definitely go back, but don't know if my BF will give it another chance....he's laying in bed with an upset stomach now :-(
(4)Al C.
Great tasting food healthy and amazing dessert!
(5)NJ C.
While in the desert with the entire family (including 3 kids), we decided to try this restaurant based on the other YELP recommendations. This place was fabulous!!! We asked for a table away from others (because of the kids) and were seated in a perfect spot. The kids had mac -n- cheese (standard), a cheese burger (very good) and pepperoni pizza (FABULOUS ... highly recommend). The adults took part in the 3 course dinner for $20. AMAZING! I had the Wild Mushroom Soup (with white truffle oil ... AMAZING), pasta with shrimp (I substituted marinara with picata sauce ... good), and chocolate cake (AMAZING). The hubby order the Caesar salad (ok ... I would definitely have ordered two mushroom soups ... however, the salad came with a beautiful home-made Parm "cookie" ... lovely touch). He also ordered the swordfish, which was accompanied with an AMAZING red pepper swipe along side the mashed potatoes. Don't forget the tiramisu! WOW WOW WOW. For a desert restaurant ... NJ CHICK says, MANGIA SINATRA!
(4)araceli o.
Love love love the curry chicken salad here. Its yummy and refreshing..bonus sit at the bar they have a happy hour basically all day long. I make it a point to come here whenever I come out to palmsprings area
(4)Mori B.
This is one of the many instances in life where you're driving around with friends, hungry and exhausted, looking to eat somewhere "local" that's not a chain like Cheesecake Factory or PF Chang's when you're on vacation. Well, the sound of "California Bistro" sounds nice enough, right? WRONG. I don't know who these people reviewing this place are, but this place is pretty awful. The people giving this place 4 stars must not have working taste buds. Party of 4, we all ordered the "3-course feast" for dinner for $19.95. My 3 companions ordered salads, baked ziti, and a mix of the desert. Their salads were okay, I had mushroom soup as an appetizer, and that was the highlight of my meal. It's nice that they provide you with complimentary bread, but the butter's not even real! My friends were expecting BAKED ZITI...instead they got a pathetic plate of pasta with a little cheese on top, and the sauce was mediocre at best. It was pretty gross, and I make better pastas at home! I ordered the lobster ravioli. The sauce was pretty good, but the lobster was overcooked which made my dish chewy. The only delicious thing there was the cappuccino ice cream. But I didn't pay $20 for ice cream! I suppose the view was nice and relaxing, you're paying for the atmosphere, not the food! Also, our waiter was awful. He was not attentive, never checked on us, and he was grumpy. At first I was going to give this place 3 stars, but after my reading my own review, I'm going to give it 2 stars. We should have gone to PF Chang's.
(2)flo c.
During my first visit to the desert this weekend, I went to Piero's TWICE! That's how much of a fan I am. For starters, this place totally caught my eye from Hwy 111. The lime-colored umbrellas and the man-made river/fountain really seemed unique and fun. I also liked that, on our second visit, they turned up the misters full force, which added to the ambience. My boyfriend has had both the Chinese chicken salad and the kobe burger. I've gone with the seafood salad twice, which, on my first visit, seemed super popular as the majority of the tables around me had at least one order of that on the table. The seafood salad has about three shrimp, three lobster claws (just meat), and a pile of seafood. I think the seafood was a combination of real and faux lobster, but I could be wrong and it could be all lobster. It was served with a generous amount of mangoes, papayas and berries. I always get my fruit on the side since I'm allergic to a lot of fruits. I recommend getting the fruity vinegarette dressing on the side since the amount of dressing seemed inconsistent. The salad is partially served inside a papadum (I'm guessing) shell. I liked this unique touch. The Chinese chicken salad was delicious, though not unusual or unique, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. The burger is massive and tasty, so I was told. Though I didn't try it, Piero's take on lobster rolls (based upon my observations), looked tasty and came with matchstick fries. The service can be spotty, but maybe I just have needy OC standards. When my boyfriend got up to to wash his hands, the server swooped in and asked if we were ready to order. Um, 1 of the 2 diners is missing so, no, we're not ready. In addition, the food service can take quite some time, but again, I think this is more because I'm from the OC and I'm not accustomed to leisurely lunches. Most of the places I've frequented around this area seemed to be quite slow in the service department. However, they do serve you bread and vinegar/EVOO or butter so at least you don't notice the wait. Overall, I'm a fan and I definitely would come back again.
(4)Casey V.
All day happy hour with decent menu items. Go here once in a while
(4)Ewa M.
Based on Piero I must change all my rating, 'cause Piero's is off the charts!!! Attracted to the summer promotional offer of 15:95 for 3 course meal we could not wait for this amazing lunch/dinner early bird special! The wild mushroom soup with oil truffle was heavenly! It definitely top my charts and ate lots of mushroom soups in my life! In fact, everything was so delicious we had to come back the next day for quick snack. All the ingredients were incredibly and perfectly combined to make out taste buds explode. I wish Piero's was in LA, so I can get the best deal ever including soup/salad, entree and dessert for their prices. But since it's in Rancho Mirage I will settle for visiting once in a while and indulging in this modern, clean and affordable California Fusion dinning. Can't wait to come back again!
(5)I S.
I am giving this low rating for the service, not the food. The wait staff all seemed to be suffering from amnesia or mental illness. Waitress introduced herself twice, it took three requests to get extra ice, two requests for oyster forks, I could go on and on. These lapses in service were shared by other wait staff, who spent more time jamming with each other than paying attention to their tables. The worst fault, however is the Wicked Witch of the East who lords over the front desk. You will recognize her because she looks and acts the part. We went twice in two weeks, and she did not disappoint. FIRST VISIT: my husband opened the door for me to enter, and she marches through before me, angry and loudly berating her staff for seating the last group incorrectly. She never even saw us. She later came to our table, not introducing herself as even working there, put her hands on my husband's shoulders and tried to schmooze. It only accomplished shudders. She could have passed as a crazy woman who wandered in from the street. SECOND VISIT: She was again loudly berating some poor employee, banging the menus on the front desk, and scowling. Is she the owner? manager? Whatever she is, the restaurant would be better served if she stayed home. I believe the poisonous attitude trickles down to the wait staff, which led to our bad service. The Sauvignon Blanc I ordered was not bad, but not great. I did not complain, but ordered the Chardonnay as my second glass. What I got was dark yellow and it had gone totally sour and acrid. It was replaced with a pour out of new bottle, of course, but I can't believe the bartender would serve something that was clearly "off" at first sight. THIRD VISIT: never.
(1)H P.
We stopped in for a happy hour beer and a snack after doing a little shopping nearby, and we were less than pleased with our visit. We sat at the bar and and the restaurant was so crowded that we were literally getting bumped into by the people next to us as well as people walking past us including wait staff and customers. One bump knocked the food off my fork! 2 of the 3 bartenders were super busy while the third appeared hungover, and he spent more time text-messaging than working which was part of the reason we sat with food, no silverware and empty glasses. Not sure if we will return to this place.
(2)Lisa B.
I have been to this place twice, first in June 2012 and most recently in mid September 2012. I have been going to the desert for years, not sure why I never tried this restaurant before. I think it has a very nice atmosphere, we had excellent service and enjoyed our food very much both times (first time sat outside and had a veggie pizza, second time sat inside and had the dinner special and chose meatloaf - both times very good and enjoyed both the indoor and outdoor dining!).
(5)Anne T.
came here based on a friends recommendation plus reading the yelp review. Service was very prompt and friendly. Food was good - we had teh 3 course menu - large portions even for the set menus. Enjoy the casual atomesphere. Will visit again when we are in town.
(4)Jonny M.
Just dined here for lunch during Xmas where they were featuring a 3 course prix-fixe menu for $32 ++ per person. The outdoor patio setting is very nice especially on a sunny day, situated in the middle of a gorgeous pond. I was a little concerned that both service and food would be lacking especially on the holiday - however I was pleasantly surprised. The service was attentive and the food was well presented. Following the salad course, we both had the salmon wrapped in parchment paper. It was truly delicious - moist and flavorful. The desserts were double sized and high quality. Overall i had a nice experience here - especially on a holiday where everything else was closed.
(4)Lark F.
Horrible! Just effin horrible. Slow service, terrible waiter who didn't know the menu (we asked if the eggplant parmigiana came with pasta since it was under the "pasta" section, he said it did, then it came and no pasta, we asked the waiter and instead of just bringing us a damn plate of pasta he handed us a menu pointing out that the eggplant parmigiana did not, in fact, come with pasta!) wtf really??? Our food took forever bc homie waited til I was done with my salad to bring the REST of the table their food. He didnt ask to do that, he just took it upon himself to make everyone wait. Who makes an entire table wait to get served their entrees bc one person is eating a salad?? I felt so bad bc I had no idea he was doing that and everyone else was really hungry. We asked for more butter and never got it. Towards the end he abruptly gave us the check w/o asking if we wanted dessert or coffee or anything. I will say this: the restaurant itself, the ambiance, decor everything is BEAUTIFUL, and our busboy/runner was really great with keeping up on refills and what not. Honestly we shouldnt have left a tip at all but the 10% tip that we did leave shoulda been given to the busboy only. Make the service match the decor and you've got a winner!
(1)Paul K.
Great 3 course meal for only $20. Food is much better than expected and everyone left fat and happy!
(4)Julie D.
beautiful place to eat, drink and people watch. the food is very tasty and service amazing. there is a lot to choose from on the menu... we ordered quite a bit and everything turned out great.
(5)Daniel T.
Had the breakfast buffet. It felt like a higher end breakfast buffet really.. I mean, caviar? dang. Things were fresh and good. Coffee was always topped off... which is good but you have to re-cream and sugar it again.
(3)Beverly T.
I came here for a buffet breakfast for a group of roughly 30 of us. I don't know if it was what our director chose for us to eat, or if it's bc the restaurant serves good stuff. Service was friendly and attentive always making sure water/coffee was topped off. Food was quite tasty. Fruits were fresh. Smoked salmon with whipped cream cheese was tasty. Caviar wasn't fishy, but what do I know about caviar? Sausage was good and fatty. Muffins were typical. Eggs were creamy. Corned beef hash was alright. Altogether a nice meal.
(3)Greg M.
Christmas Day 2013. We had reservations for four at 8 pm, they seated another 1000 or so people that night. They had a 3-course meal special which should have made things easier for the kitchen... We had to wait another 5-10 minutes to sit down. The wait staff was fast with the water and bread, and the appetizers and big soup and salads came out reasonably quick as well. Then the wait. The waiter apologized first. We could see the kitchen in the mirrors and the cooks were very busy but not, apparently, with our meal. The manager came over and said that our orders were next out. People seated after us were already eating dessert. Our waiter told us he screamed at the chefs to hurry. We waited. The waiter came over and told us we would be comped. Really? Our meals came about an hour after the salad plates were cleared. The prime rib was ordered medium rare but wasn't pink at all in the middle - we didn't send it back because we didn't want to wait longer. Turkey was a little dry, no surprise. The filet mignon was cooked just right. The dessert choices were pretty good. The bill: $0. Should I forgive them for the wait? If I didn't have the wait, I'd have given 3 stars for the food, which wasn't bad considering how busy it was.
(2)Chris H.
Great food...nice patio for a fall afternoon.
(4)J D.
The Good: Cobb salad was huge and was full of bleu cheese,bacon,egg,avocado,ham(yuk), but a very ample salad ..enough for two. The Bad: the service was UNACCEPTABLE!!! server kept asking if my friends wanted bottled water when they ordered "regular" water so annoying. Then bread was brought out with no butter or olive oil to go with it. wtf? The salads were served and we were down to our last few bites and finally the server comes over to "check" on us...really? Do you think you maybe should have checked on us like 30 minutes ago?? I have never tipped 10% in my whole life I feel bad about it but he didn't even deserve that. Sorry Piero"s if you are going to open up in the old Muriel's/Atlas/Copy Katz building you are gonna have to step it up!!!
(1)Jackie J.
The biggest surprise of all. BREAKFAST is wonderful. Great...I mean great menu items to choose from. I always think about lunch and happy hour at this wonderful place. But now it's on my list of wonderful breakfast place. Unique omelets and very moderately priced. I had the spinach/mushroom omlettte We ate outdoors on the patio, and it can't be beat. My friend had the the smoked salmon plate with caviar...perfect. My plan for the next visit....the Norweigan Benedict ...Two poached eggs with smoked salmon and caviar atop a Thomas English muffin, finished with Hollandaise sauce. I'll get that caviar and hollandaise and smoked salmon. That sounds pretty incredible and very, very unique. Add this place as the perfect breakfast restaurant in Palm Desert.
(5)Kenna C.
Beautiful atmosphere! Service was average but happy hour dishes and prices are great!
(4)Munir S.
I have frequented Piero's on my trips out to Palm Desert many a time. They have good breakfasts, and the rest of the menu is A-OK too. That's about it though. Just A-OK food, with A-OK prices. The patio seating is fine, and the interior has some cool hanging water features behind the booths. They also offer a $20.00 3 course prix fixe menu option, which is quite reasonable considering the amount of food they give. While certainly not a restaurant that will take your breath away, it does do a good job in everything it does.
(3)Jamie S.
This place is a great atmosphere, both inside and out on their patio. The three course dinner deal is so great. I chose the pork chop and it was one of the best I have ever had. The only downside of this place is the host staff is a bit snobby, but other than that I would say a great place to hit up for dinner.
(4)Benson C.
Had dinner here with my gf during Labor Day weekend. The restaurant was busy but we were seated within 5 minutes. We had the $19.99 three-course feast and it was great! The lobster ravioli and swordfish steaks were cooked perfectly and their desserts (tiramisu and triple choc cake) were rich but not overly sweet. We would definitely come back again. It'll be a tough choice between here and Babe's around the corner!
(4)Jenn S.
I absolutely LOVE this place! Being down in Rancho Mirage to visit family recently, we decided to do a little shopping at The River. Hunger struck and we had remembered from our last outing here back in June of 2009 that Piero's had offered a 3 course meal for $20. We wandered over and were so happy to see that not only did they still have the 3 course dinner for $20 but that they had changed a few things on that special menu. My boyfriend and I both caved when we saw an 8oz Filet Mignon was on this 3 course offering. We both ended up getting the cesar salad, 8oz Filet, and I chose the Tiramisu and he decided on the flourless chocolate cake. Ohhhh were we both in hog heaven. Stuffed to the gills and not able to finish our desserts, we rolled ourselves out of there and headed home for some glazed over dreary eyed TV watching. Piero's has not disappointed me the many times I have been there. I always look forward to dining here when I visit Rancho Mirage/Palm Springs.
(5)Marilyn S.
What a difference a season makes. So disappointing prices in bistro up and drinks watered down. Used to be a favorite. Had to order an extra shot in 2 of our drinks. Should have been 3 out of 3. No summer menu.
(1)Sopla R.
I'm giving this one star for location and outdoor seating. As few places like this in the Palm Desert/Springs area. Why? I'm not sure..you'd think that would be easy enough to accomplish with so much space/real estate here.? Arrived on Sun. 930am ish. OK, they know they are going to be busy right? I mean, it's not July! It's early Nov.! We were lead to an outdoor patio table that turned out to be too much in our face sun..(why they have umbrellas and not put them to use? So we opted to move. I felt like Goldilocks.. now it was chilly (again, right next to us is a heat lamp and nope, not turned on for a chilly a.m) Ummm so why not set this up before you open..a. using the heat lamps when it's chilly and using the umbrellas for sun? While we were deciding (actually, just me..where to sit and yes, it took me awhile ) we were never acknowledged with a even a swing by.. or glance from anybody server or otherwise to let us know we would be gotten with. ( this is a huge pet peeve with me having come from a background in food & bev industry) It's restaurant 101. But then again, I think that book rarely gets read here on the West Coast.. For me.. it was lackluster food and really poor service.. I believe those are 2 reasons we eat out right? For tasty food and decent service? Go there for patio.. don't have too high expectations on anything else and you'll be fine..
(1)Andrew M.
Food very good. Service needs improvement
(3)Hernano L.
No good. Cold food. No flavors. The tiramisu was horrible. I don't know why people rate this place with 4 stars.
(1)Jennifer F.
I don't understand why everyone I know loves this place. I've been twice, the second time I was dragged. I've only eaten in the bar but a good restaurant should have good bar food. How a restaurant can screw-up an artichoke is beyond me. We ordered the stuffed artichoke and it was vile. It was a green not seen in nature, it looked nuclear. The stuffing was so tasteless and just flat out boring. We also had a pizza that was just OK. The servers here act like they've given up the will to live. And good luck getting one when you need a drink--or anything for that matter. I don't get it. I just don't get why people are so in love with this place. I think it's totally dreadful.
(1)Ashley H.
I am always underwhelmed. The place looks like it should be great, but the food and service are always just okay. There are plenty of better options within a 5-mile radius. The sister restaurant Lulu's in Palm Springs was a bit better, in my experience.
(2)Debbie M.
Very nice decor & the service was very good- no waiting...but we came in mid week for a late light dinner on a cold cold night- so we didn't have to wait at all...the menu was huge...but I was not starving so I just couldn't get into the "huge menu mood" . Plus were were here in mid-January during a record cold spell it was 43* during the day & that night it was 36* per my car as we got out to stoll here brrr - thus no lovely outdoor seating for us. I was so cold I only wanted a huge bowl of soup. I ordered the corn chowder & the pear salad- loved my salad & the dressing was amazingly tasty- the pears were very sweet & perfectly ripened & beautifully presented- my soup was tasty...but just ok as far as corn chowders go...my friend also had the corn chowder soup and thought it was ok & she had the wedge salad minus the bacon- she gave her meal a thumbs up...we'd both go back again.
(4)Alex B.
Decent restaurant located by the River at Rancho Mirage Nice outdoor seating Menu was large Pasta dishes were decent, incorporating Californian bistro 13 scoop ice cream dessert looked promising Worth a try if you are nearby
(3)R D.
Decent food and service in a great setting. Piero's is particularly beautiful if you sit out in the patio by the water. Exc - None Good - Atmosphere Ave - Food, service Poor - None
(3)Brian H.
Ventured outside the gayborhood of Palm Springs this evening to do some shopping in Palm Desert and decided to have dinner here since it was a multiple reader's choice award winner locally. Well, the readers know what is good in the Desert Cities. This place had a fun atmosphere with a mixed crowd and attentive wait staff. I had the Chicken curry Salad which was sizable. I took the leftovers home for another meal. My dining companion had the Whit pizza which was light, crisp, and totally delish. Leftovers went home as well on that one. The reason for not giving the fifth start is that the prices are a bit much, but the 20% discount for mentioning Yelp helped to offset some of that. So for all the boys and girls reluctant to leave the confines of Palm Springs, do so to get a taste of this place.
(4)Lori G.
We went for Mother's Day and it was very disappointing. We went as guests of our son and daughter in law. Our grandchildren who are 3 and 5 were with us. There was nothing on the fixed menu that children would want. Although there was pizza they would not substitute for a plain cheese pizza....... No substitutions. The children did not want seafood Benedict or omelette with smoked salmon. They were over capacity and not prepared. We go there often for regular breakfasts but this a huge disappointment.
(1)Mary M.
There are lots of great places to eat in the Palm Desert area and we decided to try this one. We went for breakfast on a Sunday. They were not busy. The waiter was not friendly, and bordered on surly. It seemed like we were not ordering fast enough for him. I ordered the spinach, mushroom, and goat cheese omelette. It came without the goat cheese. The toast came without the butter. The waiter never made another appearance. The bus boy tried to be helpful. Getting coffee refills was almost impossible. The food was mediocre and I won't go back.
(2)Jim L.
A great experience. Handled 30 golfers and spouses flawlessly. Food was very good, atmosphere on the patio was wonderful.
(5)Tina A.
California Bistro is a lovely place with food that can satisfy everyone in your party. They have a large selection of fish and seafood which is a plus and great soups: All a plus for me. They have a wide variety of pizzas, appetizers, chicken dishes etc. Good vegetarian options as well. The seafood chowder is a must for seafood lovers. The tuna tartare is pretty good as well. Their pizza's are a amazing and thinly crusted. Not too greasy and very flavorful. The decor is nice and pleasant...we couldn't sit outside because it started to rain but I can tell it would be just wonderful to sit outside on a nice day by the pond with the fountains. Our server was absolutely wonderful and was upbeat and had the order done perfectly! A special mention for dessert...please save room because they have the most amazing and innovative spread of desserts. We ordered the floating island which is served in a large martini class with some milk custard topped with a floating flavored marshmellow. Plenty to share. Their gelato surprise is great as well.
(4)Richard B.
I have a decade long love-hate relationship here. This place sports a massive menu to select from, ranging from soups, salads, pizza, pasta, sandwiches, raw oyster bar, grilled meats and fish. It attempts to match American, Italian and Mexican cuisine, served up as the "California Bistro" kitchen sink. Too much of a good thing can be bad: it makes you feel you are dating again that widely popular but psycho girlfriend from your bad college days, which you bailed on after the third date. With such a wide selection to gnaw on, pun intended, I have always been under-whelmed by the food that is actually delivered out of the kitchen. Frankly, I can cook the same dishes better at home. The only redeeming quality is the setting. My other family members like the outdoor "lakeside" seating when the nights are warm and balmy, so I get dragged along tan and kicking, and go safe, settling on the grilled artichoke or a pear salad, which are impossible to screw up.
(1)Alethea A.
This place looks really classy, clean, authentic, very appealing menu. Looks can be deceiving and in this case they are. So I was craving seafood for dinner in the desert, specifically oysters. The menu looked like it had a vast selection of seafood options and yay!! oysters. The interior of the restaurant is very nice, the outdoor seating looks appealing as well, but ultimately decided to sit inside. The booths are very roomy and cozy. Nice ambience, lighting, music, etc. The hostess and waitstaff seemed nice enough, but there was an undertone of grumpiness. The oysters were OK, the shrimp was not great. The wine was good! As was the drink selection and full bar. The food could be much better. The second time we ate there my chicken was put under a heat lamp for way too long and was barely eatable at all. We were served bread, minus the butter. Asked for water and it took some time before I actually got my water. I think that I would try another eatery at the River. Cheesecake factory is always a good choice, the wait is often long, but well worth it.
(2)Melissa M.
I absolutely love this place. The menu is very eclectic if you're taking a group. My favorite here is definitely their salads. They large and packed full of my favorites. They definitely have something for everyone, if just in their salad section! Their outdoor dining is adorable, set just along the water in The River in Rancho Mirage, a prime area for shopping, or just enjoying the heat. This area is also fully equipped with misters so you won't get too hot and uncomfortable. Also they have some great deals to beat the slow-down of the summer including a 3 course brunch and 3 course dinners for under $20. They also have a great happy hour featuring half off one of my favorite bar menus. Open Late!
(5)RJ S.
So disappointing. Horrible service. The staff wasn't equipped to handle a reasonably busy Friday night. There are so many wonderful restaurants in Palm Springs but this is not one of them. Definitely do not attempt with children.
(1)Michelle R.
When my boyfriend and I checked into our hotel in RM last weekend, the first thing we did was get cozy and pop open my laptop. I wanted to Yelp things in the area we could do, as there aren't many choices in the PS area. Since we were walking distance from The River, I checked out their site and noticed that they had a late Happy Hour at Acqua Pazza. I cross referenced it on Yelp, and it was true. We lounged in our room a bit, got ready, and set out with another friend who was in town for the Morrissey concert the next day. It was a great choice for the first night of birthday celebrations for the Mister. We got there and the place was DEAD. Honestly, I kinda like that. We didnt have to worry about talking over a huge crowd and fighting over a spot. The waitress was awesome, just a little too friendly. My friend was laughing because she kept calling me babe and kept rubbing on the birthday boy [[hey, thats MY MAN!]] lol We ordered quite a bit. Mojitos, Cosmos, Cape Cods, beers, and a few oyster shooters and everything was fantastic. The salad was great, their wings kinda sucked, and the coconut sauce for their chicken tenders made the dish complete. The flourless chocolate cake she brought out for his birthday was amazing. All in all, for all the food and drinks we got that night, our tab came out to $99 which is a great price. To top it off, our awesome server even offered to drop us off at the casino so we wouldn't have to drive. We declined the offer, although we were pretty tempted. All in all, its a pretty cool place and we will definitely come back the next time we are in town ;)
(5)Colleen L.
My mom likes to come here for the scenery, so I've been here 2x, unfortunately both times the food was disappointing. Come here for the view (see pics), but the food, eh, maybe the quality went downhill. The outdoor patio view is right next to the pond/fountain. However there's still the sound of the traffic on Highway 111 out front. I told her I'm not coming here again after this past dinner. Started out with the HOT, tasteless bread. My dad ordered the seafood chowder (he gave it 3/10) just for the "chef's effort", he said. He added that the chicken tenders were a 2/10, as the chef didn't know how to cook chicken. He said the mango was green & tasted like turpentine. The pineapple was the end piece of the fruit. My mom ordered the spinach/artichoke dip. She gave it a generous 5/10. I tasted it, I gave it a 1/10. She mentioned, "well, the crackers were good". However she likes just about any crackers. They were of the lavosh type. I ordered steamed asparagus. Uh, I rated it 2/10, the most bland asparagus I've ever tasted, next to canned, which I don't eat anymore. One saving grace - the bathrooms were especially nice, when a long drive back to L.A. was next on the agenda.
(2)barrett k.
Been going here for years and just had another great meal. The seared ahi tuna is so good, as is the veggie burger, now served with a porcini mushroom. Yum! Love that they recently added a vegetarian page to the menu... and 2 gluten free pages for so many friends of mine! I'm sure that was a result of reworking the menu a bit while readying to open their new restaurant, Lulu, in Palm Springs. Lulu is wilder and great fun, but Acqua Pazza feels like going home. It's setting on the River is so lovely and the food and service are consistently terrific.
(5)Gayle L.
Eight of us had dinner at Acqua Pazza last week and each one of us enjoyed their meal and had a fun time. Service was deluxe. Best waiter I've had in years. Old age prevents me from remembering names longer than 2 minutes so I cannot tell you who to ask for. I do know that he was from Rio. He was charming and very knowledgeable about the menu choices and he was very attentive to us all. He ensured his assistants had everything taken care of when it needed to be taken care of. I ordered their entre Cobb Salad and it was delicious and large...I ate a bit more than half of it. If you like icecream, I recommend you try theirs. A great variety. The coffee ice cream was dark rich and even had chunks of crushed coffee bean in it. I will be looking forward to returning.
(5)Wenwen N.
We stumbled across this place because there was a 45 minute wait at the Cheesecake Factory down the street and this restaurant was able to seat us right away. We got a table outdoors on their beautiful patio, right next to the lake and the Christmas trees with sparkling lights on them. It was beautiful. Our server, Jose, made fantastic recommendations. My brother and I both got their 3-course for $19.99 deal. The Caesar salad and the minestrone soup were both great. For entrees, my brother liked his Filet Mignon, and the seafood sampler was very good too. I got the tilapia which was a bit dry, but it was not on my server's list of recommendations so I feel like it was kind of my fault for ordering it. The desserts were so good too! The chocolate cake was probably the best I've ever had - anywhere - and I eat out a lot! The cappuccino ice cream was very good too and had small sweet coffee pieces in it. The service was fantastic too - the servers and the busboys worked as a great team. We had a great time.
(5)Lori O.
Fabulous Lemon Drop Martini and well-priced. Sister restaurant downtown Palm Springs, LuLu, same thing...same menu pretty much. I'll definitely go back when the weather is more typical of the warm, sunny desert and sit outside next time. Seeing celebrity Kaye Ballard was a treat.
(4)Katherine S.
So to start found this place on yelp. Ordered the fried calamari and garlic dip to start. Calamari was nothing spectacular I've had similar at Claim Jumper. The garlic dip was very suspect. Focaccia bread was too hard and the sauce had a weird cream of mushroom soup type consistency. They were good but nothing great. For dinner: boyfriend ordered the Kobe beef burger and I got the chicken picatta. he enjoyed his burger, fries were really good and tasted good dipped in the garlic dip. My chicken picatta however is a different story. It was terrible. Like one of the worst meals I've ever had. I had two bites and was done. The sauce is strange, the chicken is over cooked and the mashed potatoes could have been out of a box. Vegetables were the only edible thing, but then again how do you screw up steamed veggies. Waiter wasn't very attentive. Overall would I come back? Probably not for dinner, maybe breakfast is better?
(2)Sam O.
Quick & Dirty: The best italian Chicken Pot Pie I've ever had, great service, nice atmosphere, and after visiting their website they have the best Jingle I've heard in YEARS!!! Turn up those speakers and check it out... pierosacquapazza.com Long & Jingley: Now if that doesn't make you want to eat here then I don't know what does! They have all kinds of stuff on their menu too, not just italian, just not italian too. So maybe it was the fact that I had eaten italian earlier in the day. Maybe it was because I already had a couple glasses of wine in me. Maybe I just wanted to eat a Chicken Pot Pie in an italian restaurant! Yes you read correctly. It's not MY fault that they have Chicken Pot Pie here. So you are probably wondering how it was. Well, it was big. Bigger than my face. No, I don't have a monster face, big head yes, but not a huge face. Not that I have a disproportionate face to head ratio, but you know what I mean. The food here was good, the wine I had wasn't very good (Red Diamond Merlot) and I think everyone else agreed. Service was great and we never waited at all. Would I go here again? If someone else suggested it. Should you go here? Maybe you'll have better luck. Or you want to see where "The crazy water meets the river!"
(3)Paul A.
Everybody raves about this place? I met some family members there for my daughters birthday. We ordered a bunch of food (the waitress never did bring us our wings) the food was marginal at best. The only thing I liked was a Santa Fe Panini. We had mussels, lobster quesadilla(horrible) steak skewers, calamari (rubbery) I don't get what the big deal is? I will dine in La Quinta from now on
(2)Ulrich M.
Service was awful. Never came by toaskk how was the food. Clam linguine was suppose to be white sauce. Was more like grey sauce and was tasteless. Chicken had too much lemon. Never asked about any deserts. Stay away. Not recommended.
(1)Tylene T.
LA LA LOVE the fact that its half priced happy hour all day every day in the bar!! A few of my favs you might like to try: the mussels, their crabcakes, the margharita pizza, and lettuce wraps to name a few. They have a nice wine list, waiters and staff are friendly, and the restaurant is always nice and clean. If you come during season be prepared, you might not always get a seat in the bar. They are usually full during the summer let alone during season in the winter. They have a beautiful outside patio as well.
(5)P K.
Meh. We were there for dinner and ordered from the prixe fixe menu. I didn't get to experience the bar or happy hour menu so this review does not cover that. The food was very average and the courses were served right on top of each other, which made it feel like they kind of wanted us to eat quickly. Also, the waiter made a comment when we ordered a second round of cocktails with dinner, which isn't really any of his business. It felt like it was trying to be a nice restaurant, but ended up being confused with its genre of cuisine, the decor, and the service. I don't think I'll be back, even though I really wanted to like the place.
(3)Erin W.
Went here for breakfast and it was delicious!! The menu had a great selection. I had the Norwegian Benedict. Salmon and caviar for breakfast is amazing! The view of the water side was a bonus. The service was wonderful and I will definitely come back again! oh also mention aboout Yelp and you get 20% off :)
(5)Ray B.
Great Food & Great Service. I had a party of 28 attend a busniess dinner at Aqua Pazza. Not only did they give us a great deal, but also personalized our menu with our logo. We had an excellen waiter too! Thanks Delia!
(5)I. N.
uh.... yuck.... if I could eat or be served by the atmosphere I would love it.. Sat outside (mistake #1)....lord I could go on for days... after we had our mediocre lunch - even for mall food, we still had no idea who our server was, getting a cocktail was like asking for it to snow, and it was NOT packed... confused concept, disconnected staff, overpriced mall food... I hate to say it but go to cheesecake or p.f..... cant believe I said that.
(1)Andrea T.
I hate to do a "ditto" review - but Alexa.Z is right about this place ...best happy hour in the desert. I don't mind sitting in the bar area. Nice ambiance, and I always seem to meet and talk to some very interesting people whenever I go. It seems to be a local place, but I think more tourists are finding out about it.
(5)Tom S.
Great service and good choices for a very reasonably priced 3 course mean. The cappaccino ice cream is amazing.
(5)S R.
Acqua Pazza used to be wonderful and was always a safe bet. Unfortunately, the last few times that I've been, they've definitely missed the mark. The food was good but not great and the waitstaff was a bit rude [the waitress actually said to me twice "Oh, they haven't brought you your food yet...hmm...that's weird..." and then promptly continued to take orders for the surrounding tables - they brought my food (a salad!) twenty minutes after my family had been served]. The restaurant itself is beautiful as well as the outside patio. But unfortunately, I won't be rushing back anytime soon. .
(3)Maria A.
Service was terrible . 45 min before waiter took our order. Food plates were slammed down on table, waiter didn't know jack about the food and plates were not removed in a timely fashion. Acorn squash was warm, not hot!
(1)Diane B.
Had lunch here today....the ahi appetizer (black & blue) & a sole sandwich and it was excellent!
(3)Rodney H.
The wild mushroom soup was great .The atmosphere is amazing. so why four stars ? The service was just ok. And the tiramisu was such a disappiontment .
(4)Irene C.
This place was much better than I expected because I'm a bit of a snob and the interior reminded me of a typical corporate chain restaurant. Also, we were at first a bit miffed because we (a party of six) asked if we could sit outside on the nice patio and were flatly told it would be an hour wait even though there was clearly a table of six set up and no one waiting in front of us. I'm just going to assume they didn't want to overload the servers outside. Anyway, the whole table did the $20 three-course brunch with $5 mimosas (not exactly bottomless, but you got three refills) and every dish was pretty good (appetizers and desserts were probably the best, the entrees were very typical but exactly as expected). Our waitress was very attentive, pleasant, and prompt (especially with replenishing the mimosas). Now I'm not a big dessert fan, but I thought all of the desserts (especially the flourless chocolate cake, which I had) were fantastic. Overall, a good experience for a decent price. It had a huge menu, so there's something for everyone. I think that makes it good for groups, but if you want a little more ambiance, at least sit outside.
(4)Marco D.
I can remember the days before the RIver existed. I never had much interest in the Acqua Pazza. From a far I thought, "interesting location, like the outdoor dinning area", but just never tried it. Well I must say, I wasn't missing anything. Man, is this place living off the tourist traveler. Service and Management both weak. Food marginal. Best part was walking by the beautiful planters and water feature outside.
(2)Jay H.
Great restaurant/bistro in the desert. Awesome happy hour/early bird specials. If you haven't been, you should try it sometime. Ambience- Sat outdoor. Kinda loud but nice view of the water. Be careful during late afternoons where the sun may play tricks with you. Food- Good, not great food, wide selection, and fair prices. Service- Professional and attentive. It can be slow at times.
(4)Clark C.
Excellent breakfast - great food, great coffee, and great service!
(4)Kim E.
I have gone to this place on several occasions. My most recent visit, we went for a late lunch. We had the Lobster, Crab and Shrimp dip appetizer which was good. Nice chunks of seafood in a creamy sauce, served with crispy seasoned foccacia. I had the ahi tuna lettuce wraps, which are what I normally get here. It is a simple dish, ahi tuna mixed with sprouts and cucumber served with 3 large lettuce cups and with a wasabi mayo and a soy/ginger sauce. I could easily recreate this at home, but it is a nice refreshing meal! My husband had the Lobster Roll, which is served on three mini hot dog bun looking bread. The lobster has a nice light mayo dressing seasoned with celery salt, chives, and salt/pepper. I typically do not like heavy mayo based dressings, but this one is good! No desert for us, however there looked like a few nice choices. The atmosphere is nice for lunch, they having water featured separating the bar from the dining room. The service was not the best at all. They need to work on that. This is a place I will continue to return for lunch when I am in the desert, although not a place I will go for a dinner. ( There are too many other good choices for a more upscale dinner)
(4)Angel A.
Excellent food, service and atmosphere! And the best deal in the desert with the 3 course meal for $19.99 includes a soup or salad, an Entree ( I always get the Lobster Ravioli, YUM!!) and dessert (Flourless Chocolate Cake! ) It is sooooo good! Great place to take kids also.
(5)Lawrence T.
friendly wait staff and view from where we were was pretty good. our hotel at the westin gave us these kids eat free with an adult purchase and boy... what a deal. 3 kids and each kid's meal was like $8. Came with a drink, main dish (burger and fries) and a scoop of pretty good ice cream. Had the white pizza with shrimp, scallops and green onions which was pretty good for $12. Stay away from the free table bread. not worth the effort.
(5)Chris A.
This place has a slew of awards at the door. So I was quite hopeful, and decided to go here instead of the nearby Cheesecake Factory. While the food was ok, it was a little disappointing by comparison to CF. Also, while the staff was competent, I only saw one server smile (at some other patrons) the entire time I as there for lunch ... the rest all seemed bored or unfriendly. I don't know who gave Aqua Pazza the many awards they display, but whoever did should reassess.
(3)Striker R.
Always delicious and satisfying. When we're in the desert this is a must go. Outdoor seating is beautiful and relaxing. Great ambiance, good service. They offer a 3 course meal for $19.99 which is a must get; salad, entree (I had chicken piccata) and great flourless chocolate cake or ice cream for dessert. We all enjoyed it. See you next time!
(4)Tammy C.
I have eaten here a few times but this is a great place to go for happy hour. You have to have happy hour in the bar, which sometimes gets way busy. I went to see a movie with some girlfriends today and after the movie we slipped in for a drink. I do like the outdoor seating as well. The food is good and the service is good as well.
(4)Marlo Mindi H.
Best happy hr. Runs all day bar area only. First come first serve tables only, And they don't mind you pushing them together if you have more than 4 people!!! We do tons of work lunches there it's great!!
(4)Barret S.
A classy yet casual establishment with excellent food for a surprisingly reasonable price. Nice ambiance too.
(4)Christian G.
This place is amazing, had dinner several times with our church group and every time it gets better. The food is consistently great and the service is very attentive. Last night the server took care of our group of 22 with such ease. Im surprised at some of the negative comments on here, as i said each time it gets better and better, and furthermore its tough to get in, as the place is always packed. That speaks volumes.
(5)Emmanuel B.
Huge menu with pastas, pizzas, sea food, salads and meat. Desert are awesome ( I didn't try them all yet). My favorite restaurant to go with family before or after going to the theater. On Mondays the wine is half-priced and 7 days a week they have a 3 course meal for less than $20.
(5)Nate C.
This place is amazing!!! Amazing food, amazing place, and great service. We had their 3-course brunch and were blown away! I could eat there every day and die a fat, happy man.
(5)Lolita M.
great ambiance terrible food
(3)Dean H.
My wife and I were so glad we gave Piero's Acqua Pazza a second look when selecting a place for dinner. We both loved our entrees. I had the three-course meal (filet mignon) and while my wife enjoyed the scallops. Would recommend sitting oudoors. The only disappointment was when our waiter went missing for a spell when wanting a second glass of wine to round out the evening. Compliments to the hostess who greeted us with a warm smile and made us feel welcome. A first impression we won't forget.
(4)Liane D.
Went for breakfast, SO good. Definitely recommend it. Not too pricey either for two.
(4)Stephany S.
Best happy hour hands down. GREAT decor. GREAT staff... GREAT food a perfect place for a gossip drink with the girls, or even a first date =) EXCELLENT !!!
(5)Michael G.
Great lively vibe, excellent service, good food. Wish I could say great food, but really only 3 stars on the food. Prices relatively good for Palm Desert.
(4)Chuck K.
AMAZING restaurant! Unbelievable service! Great food! Great prices and the setting on the river is the best. Go early for specials....and I think happy hour is from 4pm til closing.
(5)Andy V.
The place was indeed eyecatching from Hwy 111. The warm greeting by the maitre d' was the highlight of the place. However, when we sat down for a late lunch, the waiter was less than attentive and the food was ok at best. My wife ordered the tuna lettuce wrap - which was decent, and I decided to try the marinaded shrimp lettuce wrap - which turned out to be a bad interpretation of some sore of shrimp creole with gummy rice and a side of iceberg lettuce to wrap it in (though the menu description didn't refer to anything like that). We wound up not finishing because it seemed like they needed to make up for the lack of food quality with the insane portions they gave you. So we also had our two little boys with us - and while they had a kids menu, the waiter was less than enthusastic that we were ordering that for our kids. He didn't even tell us that the only drink offer for a kids menu were sugary sodas. We only found out that the apple juice that we ordered for them was $3 extra when the bill came around. Speaking of the bill, the waiter never came back after he dropped off our food and we had to hunt him down to pay for our lack luster meal which turned out to be a bit pricey for the food quality and service that we got.
(1)Frank G.
I had the Pasta with Clams in a White Wine Sauce and it was perfect. For dessert I had the Tiramisu (which is my favorite dessert) and it was one of the best made I ever had. This was probably the only restaurant I've been to that actually uses Lady Fingers in their Tiramisu. Lastly, the general manager was very pleasant and more than happy to make sure our visit was an enjoyable one. I will definitely recommend this place to all of my friends and family.
(5)Ryan L.
Quite a varied menu ... should be something for everyone. Prix fixe menu is a great deal at $19.95 ... hell, you can even get a filet mignon with a starter and dessert for that price. Everything we've ordered here has been consistently good. I'm not a huge fan of dining at The River ... kind of feels like going to the mall to eat, but sometimes it is what the group chooses. My fav on the menu in the pizza rustica ... tasty and a great thin, crispy crust.
(4)Darnelle B.
Gotta love a place that has happy hour all the time! The food is great.. Love sitting at the bar with Nedim! Love to go there with a gal pal, glass of wine and order a few different appetizers to share. Nice size portions, nice people ...never sat outside but it is very pretty ..
(4)Steven N.
Came for happy hour with my girlfriend. The restaurant and bar area were very cool and relaxing. We ordered the calamari and lettuce wraps as well as a mojito, margarita and a cosmo. The drinks were surprisingly strong and the food was very tasty and well prepared. All that for just over 30$. We will be back. Want to try some top shelf cocktails next time and see if they mix them just as strong.
(4)Christina R.
Terrible, terrible experience. In a town that specializes in the 'happy hour' (either for the wrinkley set, or because people are on vacation, and can do whatever they want to, whenever they want to) these guys manage to fail at what should be a simple process. We arrive for happy hour (served daily! 12-6!). We ask for hapy hour, and we are told to wait. So wait we do, for 15 minutes (not bad) and are finally seated, only to find that....wait, they don't serve happy hour here. Nope, not here, only at the bar. Well, I'm rarely accused of being quiet, so it's surprising to me that my request for a happy hour table for our group was met with an offer to seat us a a table for dinner. But so be it. We find the bar. We find some seats in the bar. Not enough seats in the bar, but we're trying to make it work. Now let's find a waitress. Nope, apparently she's not ours. Nope, apparently she isn't either. So I go to the bar. Yes, I can order drinks, but no I can't order food, from the bartender. So maybe you can send us a waitress? Waitress finally arrives. She is an angel. In a place that resembles hell, she is truly an angel. Calm. Patient. Good service. The Angel I like. So yes, we manage to make happy hour, and we had some fairly tasty food, and some fairly tasty drinks. But let me put it another way....IF YOUR BUSINESS IS HAPPY HOUR, GET BETTER AT IT, OR GET OUT OF THE BUSINESS. Sorry, but really.
(1)Mary Theresa A.
Acqua Pazza is a beautiful venue with great food, hot and fresh, with generous portions at a surprisingly low price. I had a three course meal of: romaine stalk w/Caesar dressing, grated parmensan and a parmensan tuille. 8 oz. peppercorn demi filet, bright vegetable medley and Yukon mash (not crazy about whatever stock they used in the mash, slight cabbage flavor). Tira misu for dessert, all for $19.99 (early birds $14.99).
(5)Roxanna K.
At first glance, this place was pretty suspect - it's way too close to the Cheesecake Factory for it to be any good (case in point, see my review on Crocodile Cafe). To my surprise, the food was both affordable and of good quality. Although the menu looks a bit schizo, three out of four of us had great meals. Toscana chicken was moist and tasty - delicious accompaniments, ribs were great, and so was the pork. Not so good: seafood pizza. Yeah, I know what you're thinking - seafood on pizza? Wtf? Anyway, service was fine, and the setting was cool. Overall, a decent dining experience. Only weird thing was the decor - there are these thick white ropes attached to large mirrors in the restaurant which made me think it was possible that Carol Anne was going to pop through in a giant poltergeist phlegm ball. Go towards the light, Carol Anne! Go towards the light!
(4)Jane A.
Great place to eat...the food was true to the description in the menu. We ate outdoors with a party of 5 and enjoyed the view but could have used a bigger table. I would highly recommend it. Try the fresh squeezed orange juice and the oatmeal.
(4)Erin P.
Yummy yummy, I ordered brunch and couldn't even finish the first entre! I had pineapple chicken mmm, monte cristo was basically french toast stuffed with egg ham and cheese...a little too much for me. Mimosas were pricey so it helped that 3 were included with brunc price. Good service, it was 108 degrees, but we chose to sit outside under the misters because it felt cooler there than inside!
(4)Ellen T.
Dined here two nights in a row. They have a 3-course menu with a choice of salad or soup, a large selection of entrees, and three choices for dessert. Only $20 per person, and if you come early from 3-5 pm it's only $16. I must say, amazing value for the price. The menu has plenty to choose from. They have everything from chicken to pasta to duck, salmon and caviar pizza! I really like the Grilled Pork Chop (very tender, slightly sweet flavor), the Cheese Ravioli (pasta is very thin and chewy, sauce is fresh), and the mushroom soup. And the flourless chocolate cake is AMAZING. It's so rich three people can share it! The setting is great, you can dine outdoors on the artificial river. The only thing I would say is the service could be a bit better. The first time our waiter seemed aloof and unsmiling. Come here, it's delicious :)
(5)Robin K.
My husband and I tried their 3-course meal for $19.99. I tried the potato leek soup and it seriously tasted like dirt. I had my husband try it and asked him to give me a one-word description and he said "dirt." No joke. We both thought it tasted like dirt. He had the mushroom soup and that was terrific, so I would recommend going with that one instead. We both had a pasta entree, and the portions are huge! The pasta was pretty average but good. For dessert we tried the tiramisu and the chocolate cake. Neither one of us liked the tiramisu, but the chocolate cake was fantastic. The service was okay. We had to flag down the waiter a couple of times, but at least he was friendly. Personally, I wouldn't recommend this place to a friend.
(2)Nathan A.
This was the worse dining experience we have ever had in my life---we were recommended by our hotel to dine there The Esmerelda resort in Indian wells--anyway we got there at 7;00 very hungry waiting for our order to come and we waited and waited for so long finally we asked the waiter what happened to our food--He turned red in the face and went to check with the kitchen and we saw by the look in his face he never put our order in at all he was counting on another person who he asked to put our order in because he was busy with another table of 10 the whole place was empty that night---after asking for a manager which there was not one there at all to speak to some dumb guy who gave us 13$ off the whole tab--It was so bad my soup was cold but I didn't send it back because I was so hungry by that hour--All the food came in 1 and a half hours later--- Never go to this place we called the Mg to tell him the next day he never called us back ever---
(1)Kevin F.
What do Jews do on Christmas? Movie theater... golf... and now.... Yelp reviews!!! We went to Piero's a couple nights ago... a big ol' party of 12. we enjoyed fairly prompt service and good food. Instead of a family-style dinner, my cousin and I did a mini-breakout. pear & gorgonzola salad, crab cakes, the lobster roll... and then for good measure, an oven-baked pizza. Yeah, our eyes were bigger than our tummies... but those who say it can't be done won't get any of out leftovers. The salad and crab cakes were solid and the lobster roll was stellar.... although the shoestring onion rings were a bit gimmicky. i think the pizza was above average... but could Kobayashi provide a review halfway through his eating competition? This spot is a solid 3.5 stars for dinner.... but they have a killer happy hour where most of the dishes are 50% off (before 6pm or after 8:30pm). What a steal! And there's free valet parking at the River complex.
(4)Katie A.
Now, I have been here a handful of times....the food has always been pretty good but the service...ehhh...not so much. I went there with 3 other people and we sat in the bar, which was pretty busy. We all decided to share a bunch of appetizers, since happy hour is all night long. We order a TON of food. Let me think....we got the shrimp & scallop skewers, very good, ahi tuna tartar, very good as well, fish tacos, didn't taste it but was told they were good, the mussels, eh, margarita pizza, yum!, escargot, good but really hot like scorching !!, creme brûlée, awesome, chocolate flour less cake, delicious, calamari, pretty good nothing special. Now there could have been something else but I can't be sure. So it was a lot of food, but the waitress forgot half of it and brought out dessert, and so my friend asked about the other 3 dishes and the waitress commented" are you sure, you want those dishes, I think you've eaten enough". WOW!!! REALLY!!?!! What a gal...
(3)Hen A.
piero's acqua pazza along "the river"...indoor o' outdoor dinin' along the concrete river banks....relaxin'....dine, chat 'n' people watch....enjoy the desert mountain views.... piero's servin' hefty portion meals....pressed sandwiches,panini, to salads....XXL....plenty to share....overwhelming....montecristo "lunch special"...layers of bread..filled with cheese, turkey and ham....meat to the max....completely sealed in batter 'n' deep fried sandwich.....mmmm....fantastico!....juicy fruits and perfect fries to compliment......$20 meals under the desert sun....
(4)Geoff M.
Went to Acqua Pazza for dinner tonight. I used to think this was the best restaurant in the Desert. Everything was "okay". First, I should l explain that I like kids. That is important since the place was lousy with them. It didn't present a problem until " The Screamer" was seated at the next table. We finally asked to be moved although we liked the original location. It helped, but we were still within ear-short of the loud one. Dinner was good - I had the roast chicken. Nicely presented, perhaps a little dry, but good overall. My companion had the salmon. Also acceptable. Found the cocktails to be on the small side. Thee was a 20% YELP discount with was greatly appreciated. It was just fine but certainly not worth going out of the way for. Server did a great job trying to worth through the difficulties. I'll go back ( not too soon) - but I'll ask for a table in the bar in the hope that it is adult only!
(3)Sal R.
THE TASTY FOOD: The food is delicious. The spinach dip is flavorful, and the creamy-tomato sauce on linguine is delicious. My friends also rave about their gazpacho. You can order a mimosa (with two refills) for $5 during Sunday brunch. Prices are also great when you sit at the bar for happy hour, which features a big menu. THE AWFUL SERVICE: They have a reputation across the Coachella Valley for offering inattentive, slow service. Expect to wait extended periods of time to be served (even your drinks). VEGETARIANS BEWARE: They have an enormous menu, and most people are overwhelmed by the options -- but it's very, very meat oriented. Vegan options are almost non-existant.
(3)Wherez_Andy T.
I'm big on happy hours in my quest to save a buck or two. This place has one of the best happy hours around. The food is good and inexpensive. The drinks are effective and the place is buzzin'. You can't sit outside for happy hour, which is where I love to plunk. But it's an ok trade off. On Tuesdays, they have 1/2 off M drinks. And the first one that comes to my mind is Margarita? What M drink are you thinking about?!
(5)Rosadra W.
Whenever I would come to Acqua Pazza, I would sit near the bar for the Happy Hour specials. The appetizers and drinks are half off. I've also eaten here for the 3 course meal deal for $20.00! I would definitely recommend this place to others.
(5)Laine M.
COCKROACH. If I could have put a 0 I would have ! This might have been the worst dining experience I ever had. It was such a shame the last night of our wonderful vacation was topped off by this last dinner . We killed three cockroaches running by our table along with the bus boy assisting in another creepy crawler execution. We were so focused on the roaches running past our feet below the table that is was near impossible to enjoy what we ordered . Also the meal was not removed from the bill- unreal. Unless you would like to dine among the roaches-do NOT try Acqua Pazza . We will never be back !!!
(1)Chantal V.
This place is amazing. The Happy Hour menu offers a decent variety of foods. On any given day you can bet that I will order the Margherita Pizza paired with a classic Lemon Drop cocktail. This is a good deal - check out the Happy Hour.
(5)Lisa H.
Beautiful scenery is the weather is right! Wow, I was amazed by the naturesque reddish mountains in the background. It's situated in a nice mall. We have the special 3 course meal which was in the earlie part of the evening (4 to 5 pmish). I was so excited about the 3 course meal for $20. I ordered a salad, the chicken picatta and the flourless chocolate cake! I was fully content and happy with the meal. I ordered a margarita on the rocks and was happy to be surrounded by the river effect of the mall (fake river running through), great friends and happy weather. Needless to say, I'll be back. The inside ambience was pretty!
(4)Carrie C.
I only knocked one little star off this place on account of service. If there's something I just can't stand...it's lack of attentiveness by the server and/or screw-ups in an order! There's a great outdoor seating area that sits on the water of the "River" in Rancho Mirage if you don't want to sit indoors on a lovely day. You get the feeling you're in Tuscany or something! lol Inside has great decor with a pretty cool waterfall over glass through which you can see other patrons munching away at a table. We went for lunch and ended up splitting ONE small salad and a grilled artichoke. The one salad turned out to be PLENTY much for the two of us (even though we had ordered TWO and the guy only came out with one of them...tsk tsk.)...after we saw the size of it (and for $5.95 for an appetizer salad!) we stuck with what we got. It's a mixed greens salad with a few cherry tomatoes cut in halvesies and tossed in an orange vinaigrette...yummy, delightful, refreshing. The artichoke was YUM YUM YUM!! They hollow out the core and restuff it with cooked spinach and some sort of white cheese that oozes in between the leaves. It's garnished with a dipping sauce and stringy fried onions. TO DIE FOR. The menu looked pretty fab and I'd definitely check it out for lunch again and would be highly interested in going back for dinner...such things on the menu as an Ahi Tower, Filet Mignon and the like. Good stuff. Just hope we get a different waiter and don't get stuck sitting there again waiting for our bill!
(4)Darren S.
Great affordable food in an upper income area. Great service too.
(5)Matthew V.
Not so great. I've tried this place a few times and each time it gets worse. The food is overpriced and not very good. I kept trying this place because it has an expanded happy hour, but it's never worth it. The servers are barely adequate and the foods just not that great. There are so many great restaurants within 5 minutes of this place don't waste your time.
(2)David S.
Went to their all night happy hour on a Sunday. Good food. Pretty good prices. All in all good food and nice atmosphere. Had the artichoke with cheese and spinach and pancetta. Pretty damn good. And nice beef skewers too.
(4)Joel S.
Love their price fix 3 course meal with my favorite being the veal lasagna and the mushroom soup with the flour-less chocolate cake for desert. The sand dabs and the filet mignon are my second choices. Price cant be beat. At the bar, my favorite is the Santa Fe panini. It will fill you up as much as the 3 course dinner. My wife loves the ceviche and the avocado tower. at the bar's extended happy hour.
(4)Christopher C.
Update: on my second visit to Piero's, time neglected to stop. My wife's flatbread pineapple, brie, and roast duck pizza tasted as though the duck was seasoned with flavors incompatible with pineapple, and my New England lobster roll was bland (but nonetheless delicious, due to excellent ingredients). Our service was not particularly attentive, as the place was extremely busy, so I would echo other Yelpers' observations that Piero's is not as good on busy days. The breakfast/brunch menu is STILL one of the best in the area, so I wouldn't go too hard on these guys. After all, the outdoor seating is "waterfront," isn't it? I stand by my earlier observations that Piero's is capable of true culinary greatness and may get there no sooner than every bland menu item is reinvisioned.
(3)Jennifer N.
My friend lives in the area and took me here on a Saturday night. Both of us got the 3-course feast for $19.95 each. First off, the bread that they gave us at the beginning was really good. I'm not sure if it was because we were starving but the bread was just warm and really soft inside. I started off with the Wild Mushroom soup. It was really good. It didn't seem oily at all. For my entree, I had the Chicken Piccata. This dish was mediocre. The chicken was cooked really well but there wasn't anything special about the sauce. The mashed potatoes was really creamy and not too buttery. My dinner ended with the chocolate cake. If you're a chocolate fan, then this dessert is for you. It was really rich and I definitely had to drink water to wash it down. Even though I didn't finish the cake, I would really recommend it. We sat outside, under the heat lamps, and it was really nice. The river nearby was soothing and it was just pleasant to sit outside.
(3)Ariel W.
With lots expectation finally came here. Happy hour price is really cheap in this kind of restaurant. but, but, but, food quality....not as good as what we expected. Ordered 6 dishes from happy hour menu for 4 people, we were hungry :p I have always like Tower of Avocado and Tuna Tartar, but I guess it was Xmas so Tuna was frozen I can even taste it :( Lobster Quesadilla was a good try! Crab Cakes is kinda ok, nothing special. Fried Calamari is not bad. Kobe beef burger is good! I think this is kinda signature dish that every table ordered it. When we were waiting for the table, I saw one waitress was really mean to the customers, even mumbled in her mouth some bad words. Luckily we did not get her. One more thing, they will add 20% gratitude no matter you like or not.
(3)Kate F.
Tried Pierro's tonight for the first time after walking past it for many years and always thinking it would be inappropriate with two young kids. They've made a push to advertise that they're family friendly, though, so we figured we'd check it out. We chose to sit on the patio which was quite pleasant, even in the summer heat. Our drink orders were taken and delivered quickly, including disposable cups with lids for the kids. We were also brought a basket of assorted fresh breads. My husband chose to take advantage of the prix fixe menu (3 courses for $19.95) while I ordered from the standard menu. He had the green salad, shrimp pasta, and flourless chocolate cake. The salad and shrimp pasta were both good, but not anything remarkable. The flourless chocolate cake exceeded our expectations, though. It was actually a very thin layer of the cake topped with a thick chocolate mousse and then covered with a rich chocolate ganache. The flavors and textures were both excellent and we also appreciated the reasonable size of the dessert. I had the Curry Chicken Salad and was disappointed. On first sight, it had promise...iceberg lettuce topped with carrots, pineapple, red grapes, raisins, shredded coconut, grilled chicken and curry sauce. The chicken was good, as were all the other components. The downside was that the entire plate was absolutely *drowning* in curry sauce. As for the claim that the restaurant is kid-friendly, well....I'd have to agree. The kid's menu entrees included a drink and a scoop of vanilla ice cream for $7.95. It was full of standard kid fare (burgers, grilled cheese, quesadillas, etc.) but was also representative of the regular menu. On the whole, we were pleased with the service and the ambience but underwhelmed by our meals (especially given the prices).
(3)Zelda P.
We visited last year for breakfast while on vacation and while we didn't have the greatest experience, decided to try it again this year. Unfortunately, history repeated itself. We were told it would be a 5-10 minute wait. 10 turned into 15, etc. Way underestimated on the wait time. So, we finally got seated and ordered right away. 1 order pancakes, 1 French Toast, and 1 scrambled eggs. Took just under 30 minutes to get our food. Really????? Half an hour to cook a breakfast??? When it finally arrived, one of the three entrees was wrong and they forgot to bring the orange juice. The toast with the eggs was served totally dry -- no butter, not jam, no nothing. I asked for jam and got a few packets of grape jelly -- no variety. The food itself was OK, but not worth the wait or the problems.
(2)Nick C.
We have now tried Acqua Pazza's excellent $19 three-course menu entres and think they're great. They provide a choice of salads, soups, main dishes and desserts on this special menu. We have tried several and found them all to be excellent. The service (including bar drinks) was excellent and fast. The restaurant manager has stopped by our table two of the three visits to ask us how the service and food was. We're happy to hear they're opening a new restaurant in Palm Springs, "Lulu's" and we'll be patronizing both.
(5)Anonymous S.
please avoid this restaurant at all costs...greatly overrated food and worse service...they do have a $19.99 dinner special that is ok, however, be careful what you order...some items are awful...this is a step down from california pizza kitchen, so beware....
(1)Brent S.
Just went for breakfast. The patio is BEAUTIFUL and the food is great. Even on a chilly morning, the heaters made the ambiance wonderful. They did a great job with both the simple dishes and the more unique offerings. I will be back for sure.
(4)George P.
Fantastic prices for Happy Hour. We had 4 beers, an order of crab cakes, 1 medium pizza, 1 order of chicken quesadilla's ~ approx ~ $34.00. Good food, good service....excellent spot.
(4)Jim B.
My friend Caryl loves this restaurant and suggested it and I'm glad she did. When I called for a reservation they were great offering inside or outside and if we felt it was too hot outside, they would just move us inside. We sat outside and maybe it was a little warmer than I like even with their misters but I loved the view of the water since when do you get that in the desert? Plus it was quieter than inside. We did the 3-course meal which had lots of choices. I had a great cold potatoe leek soup, Tilapia and chocolate cake. Service was good. Actually, they kinda came back to the table too much for my tastes as I was in the mood to be left alone to visit with my friend who I haven't seen a while plus we both just got our first iPhones and wanted to compare notes what we knew about them. I read in other reviews that they have a great happy hour and I will be checking that out for sure!
(4)Maria L.
I really liked the ambiance and the waiters at this place. We were seated outside on the patio...the waitstaff was all very friendly:) I wasn't crazy about my dish, the smoked salmon pizza...I just felt like it was overload...cause I like salmon, but the pizza was just covered with smoked salmon. My friends dish was pretty good...the lobster ravioli. Other than that, I don't remember...Oh and it's located on the begining part of the The River plaza, so you can take a stroll before or after dinner and take a look at shops and stuff...I also believe there is a movie theater there.
(4)Susan E.
Mediocre food in a slick environment, extensive drink menu (which we didn't have the time to sample). Maybe they pour better than they cook.
(2)Dixon W.
my wife and I stopped for lunch on sunday around 1:00 I went in to get a table outside,I was the only one at the desk and there was no one waiting for a table,the young lady said i will be with you in a second then totally ignored me, she also sneezed 3 times with out covering her mouth are turning a way,after 5 to 10 minutes one of the wait staff came in to get something from the bar, she asked if i had been helped,i told her i wasn't sure, so she took us out to the patio and seated us. we forgot they had brunch, so after a long wait someone came to take our order, so we ordered brunch which is three courses, they brought the appetizer and the main course at the same time,then the waitress disappered,we finally waved down a waiter and asked if he could clear some of the dishes off the extra small table and bring us some refills on our drinks,you would have thougt i asked him to go wash my car,he rudely banged the dishes together and never refilled the drinks,20 minutes later our dessert arrived. it was one of our favorite places to eat,but with that kind of service we will go somewhere else next time,and its not that i am a grumpy old man there were lots f people gripping
(1)Mark N.
I've heard the food at Acqua Pazza is good, but we were never able to get seated to find out for ourselves. Two nights ago, I had a reservation (made the day before) for my party of seven. We arrived on time to a chaotic reception desk. We were seated at a table, cobbled together from two 4-tops that were wobbly and so uneven in height that two of my party could not have an even table surface from which to eat. Also, the table arrangement was so tight in the room that our server literally could not pass between our table and the one next to ours. We asked our server, then the manager, to provide us with more comfortable seating but was told there was nothing that they could do, even though there was an open table large enough for our group that they were holding for a later reservation. We got up and left. Nevertheless, we decided to try again tonight and called, spoke with the same manager (who remembered us) and asked if they could accommodate our party of seven tonight. She said she didn't think so, but would call us if something became available. Several hours later, this manager called to say there had been a cancellation and they could seat us at 7pm. We thanked her and said we would be there. We arrived at the restaurant tonight at 7:02 pm, after having called 10 minutes earlier to say we could be five minutes late, which they said would be ok. Guess what? When we arrived, we found the same absolute chaos at the front desk and was told our table had just been given away. A manager apologized and offered to take half off our bill if we could wait for another table, which I told him I appreciated, but told him that the restaurant had lost the right to our business. If this restaurant HAD been good at some point, it is not now. Don't waste your time or money.
(1)Les X.
All four people in our party have never walked out of a restaurant in our lives. We did tonight! Evening started off in a busy bar but with a server who was trying to be helpful. Good drink prices. Told 30 minute wait for table, got called in one hour. Menu looked great, we ordered, got our appetizer, never saw a waiter or our dinner the rest of the evening . Waited over over another hour, no one picked up our dirty dishes, asked about drink reorders, or gave an explanation for the MIA food. We finally got up and left. On the way out we searched out the waiter to explain - he said he didn't blame us. This restaurant came with a great recommendation, it in no way lived up to it and should get negative stars.
(1)Erin G.
I love Pieros. I go regularly for their happy hour. Everything I've tried I liked but my favorites would have to be the seared cold ahi tuna, fish tacos, or the chicken sandwich. Can't beat the prices which range from $5.25 - $8.95. Serving sizes fill me up for dinner. Margaritas, mojitos under $5. I can't say enough good things about this place!
(5)Nicole C.
So I have finally found a place that has a waiter that is passionate about what he does and wants nothing more than for you to have a fabulous dining experience! Seriously! He works here and his name is Ramon!!!! From his cocktail suggestions to the complimentary dessert (his treat!), he was fabulous! Food: I ordered the $19.95 3 course feast which I chose the caesar salad (wonderful creamy dressing), the lobster raviolies (decadent), and the tiramasu (one of the best I've ever had). I tried my sister's braised beef short ribs, which were "melt in your mouth" perfection and my husband's roasted duck, pineapple, and brie pizza which was out of this world! Since they ordered off the menu and didn't get the 3 course menu which came with dessert, Ramon brought to our table a bowl of cappuccino ice cream for all to share! Yumm! This place was such a pleasant surprise and Ramon made our dining such a pleasurable experience, that from now on, when we are in Rancho Mirage, we are definitely going to return to Piero's Acqua Pazza!
(5)gordon h.
we were there last night and it was great. great happy hour with good prices. the food was fresh and hot. we had lettuce cups which was nice and fresh on a warm day, the civeche also was fresh with fresh tortilla chips, very nice, seared ahi was good but only 4 pieces, would have liked 6 or more. good prices on MMMM BEER's too. i would recommend this to my friends and you. get there a little early the seating is limited. the bill for us was $32.00 for 3 apps and 2 MMM BEERs. i think that is reasonable for this area. happy dining gh
(4)Ramona P.
Do I HAVE to give a star. Hostess had the hospitality of a concentration camp conductor. She nearly got a stiletto heel stomped into what would've been an abysmal eye-socket. The food reflected a sour staff. Enjoy happy hour where you can be happy.
(1)Stephanie S.
I had a dream about this place. I knew I should have given it 5.
(5)michael r.
lovely place in the River complex. patio is very nice, and the service is good. only complaint was the food; it is predictable and mediocre. i would not go again for dinner, but I'd certainly eat breakfast there (hard to screw up eggs) if only for the lovely spot and the plentiful service. if you're a foodie, avoid and hit one of the other 5 restaurants in the complex. if you aren't real picky about your food, sit on the patio, enjoy the people watching and stick to the simple stuff and I'm sure you'll enjoy yourself. one thing--don't forget to mention Yelp if you go (20% off, but not on the 3-course dinner special).
(3)J D.
I live a block from Acqua Pazza and have been there a few times. It can be summed up rather simply. The food is above average and the service is consistently below average. If you dine here on a weekend be prepared to spend 2 hours on the meal as you wait between courses.
(2)Samantha G.
This place caught the eye of me and my hubby because there was a sign outside that said you could get a three-course meal for $15. For the price, the food was very good and both of us were quite satisfied. The portions were big and it was definitely filling. Service was a bit lacking; our server was missing for most of the time and it was hard to get his attention. If I was ever in Rancho Mirage again, I don't know if I'd come back at eat here if they didn't have a similar special.
(3)Edward H.
If you're looking for a place to grab lunch while in Palm Springs, this is the place. Excellent! My wife and I visited Acqua Pazza last summer on a spur of the moment destination (i.e., I was hungry and needed something to eat). In my previous Palm Springs visits, I always recall driving by this place because it's unforgettable as you drive along the highway. They have an oasis/river landscape, with fountains that's hard to miss. We stopped in and while the temp was dry and near 100, we decided to sit outside in their outdoor section to experience the shaded area next to the "river", but they also have a cool mist system so customers keep cool. The food. Wow! Probably THE BEST sandwiches I've ever had! I ordered the Kobe Burger, and my wife had the Santa Fe Panini. There's not much to say, except that they were AWESOME! The fries were top notch as well, which added to the meal. I highly recommend this place. Next time I'm in town, I'm there!
(5)Maria S.
great happy hour!!!! best ceviche in town (funny its not a mexican place), friendly service and food for ALL tastes
(4)Jalop N.
All kinds of stars just for the fact that this is the restaurant where I first tasted lamb. Delicious delicious lamb. Where has this magical animal been in my first 25 years of my life? Being born, bred, and two days before it was cooked, slaughtered, that's where.
(5)Marc L.
Great selection of food and drink at a very reasonable price. The $19.95 prix special is fantastic with Filet Mignon, Chicken or Lobster ravioli. Appetizer Mushroom Soup very good - Flourless Chocolate Cake very good. Wait staff very efficient and very polite - All working hard to please.
(4)David R.
Totally disappointing experience. Made a reservation for a Friday night at 5:30 on October 8th, 2010 figuring we would get in and out fairly quickly. Fat chance! We were one of about 6 tables when we sat down at 5:30 and didn't receive our food until 6:35. We also got the $19.99 3 course meal and the choices looked quite nice. We even told our waiter that we would be willing to have our additional appetizer served with our soup/salad so that the service could be timely. The calamari was just OK, my vichyssoise was a good choice on a hot night and my wife's salad was decent. As the place filled up, we noticed a lot of waiters and bus persons running around like they were doing something, but ours only cleared one salad/appetizer plate, leaving the other empty one and never returned with replacement silverware. My wife had the sand dabs which were good, but my swordfish obviously had been sitting under a hot light for 20 minutes and tasted like sawdust. Both of our mashed potatoes had hard crusts on them from sitting out. I finally flagged down our main waiter and asked him for silverware. The tiramisu was formula and cut into squares from a large baking pan. I guess I shouldn't expect much for the come-on $19.99 price, but both the service and kitchen execution need a lot of work.
(2)Bita H.
To the management of Acqua Pazza: server Hanna P. is a liability! Her bad attitude, sassy demeanor and overall incompetence as a waitress will surely be the demise of your establishment. Maybe you need to be reminded that The River has plenty of other dining options and with dead weight like Hannah on your team, you all but guarantee my dining dollars will be spent elsewhere. I could go into detail about all the mistakes that were made on her behalf, but that would make for a very long and boing review. Besides, I'm judging by the way the manger had to be called to every single table in Hannah's section, they are all too familiar with her less than stellar performance. I suppose I could change my outlook and realize that everyone has bad days, kitchens most definitely get backed up and servers are constantly overworked. But Hannah's lack of customer service made it easy to not give an ounce of sympathy towards her. In the 45 minutes we waited for our lunch, not once did she come to check on us, to offer us bread or to let us know that our food was going to be coming out soon. She simply couldn't care less about us. When she charged the bill incorrectly, she never came to apologize. Instead she sent over a manager making us explain the incorrect billing to her as though WE had done something wrong. She showed no accountability or concern whatsoever. If anything she was defensive and hostile. Hannah would be a much better fit for a Del Taco drive-thru as opposed to sit-down restaurant where people are spending hard earned money.
(1)Matt C.
LOVED the mushroom soup and my party loved the starter salads as well. The meatloaf was incredible and our party of six had a fabulous time with the prix fix menu. Totally recommend this place!
(4)Eric F.
Lackluster. The only things I can remember were the painfully acidic, inedible ceviche and huge lag with getting the bill. Mediocre food hardly worth the money even with the pre-fixe deals.
(2)Bee F.
I was recommended this restaurant and saw many awards on their wall so I decided to give it a try. I ordered the 3 course meal. Might as well go big! I started with the Ceasars salad... I loved everything but the best part. The dressing... I don't knlw what was going on with it but I wasn't a fan. Second course was the baked ziti. It was pretty good but hot as hell and burned my lip which has never happened to me. The Third course... Tiramasu.... Winner! Service was beyond great! Food... not so great!
(2)Lisa O.
Everything I've ever ordered here has been bland. My elderly parents love it, so I've been several times and I've never had a dish I couldn't make better at home (which is saying something, because I'm just an average home cook). The curry chicken salad ($16.99!!!!) tasted of nothing, punctuated by sweet bites of grape or pineapple. The pineapple was even from a can. Did I mention they charged $16.99?!? I can't even remember what I ordered the other times, it was that boring and flavorless. They get an extra star for being convenient and for the comfortable outdoor seating area. If you want inoffensive and overpriced food in a nice environment, you'll love Acqua Pazza. If you want good food, go elsewhere.
(2)Tammy C.
With all day happy hour in the bar and awesome Sunday brunches, you just can't go wrong with Pierro's Acqua Pazza. Even Alton Brown stopped in and gave his thumbs up! The style is modern yet subdued. The food is fresh and eclectic. The price point ranges from very inexpensive to slightly pricey depending in when you come and where you sit. Speaking of seating, the outdoor patio is literally on the water of the River shopping and entertainment center in Rancho Mirage.
(5)Brittany M.
Came to dinner here and had made a reservation online, but quickly found out that online reservations are for indoor dining only. Not a problem, glad I caught it in the confirmation email and I called and asked to change it to outdoor. I was told it was possible. When we arrived I was then told they weren't able to move us to the patio unless we wanted to basically cancel our reservation and wait for like 30-40mins. Usually, I would have found this annoying, but when you're in a Palm Springs...the little problems seem so silly to get upset over...plus it's not like we were in a rush and had somewhere else to go afterwards. We waited in the bar (which has all day happy hour)....and I was once again even further from being upset. We were quickly seated in the patio in less than 20mins...I was still drinking my first drink! The patio overlooking the water is beautiful. Our waitress was very nice and helpful with the menu, as we were looking to sample appetizers and not order big entrees. We ended up ordering the shrimp, filet mignon skewers, and the avocado tower tuna tartare. We also had some vodka oyster shooters. All in all....the meal was great. The space was lovely and the food is all very affordable. Mind you, we just did appetizers, but the entree prizes seemed reasonable, and considering how delicious the appetizers were, I can assume you definitely get your money's worth. Would love to come back during the day.
(5)Lucy G.
Paid top $ for a group dinner and its unfortunate, but I was not impressed! The chicken picatta tasted like a TV frozen dinner, wow so disappointed! Mario's is better. Teramisu was a bit dry and blahh.. CPK 's is better. My ice tea was not freshened up... I could go on. I will not be returning.
(2)Taylor D.
My favorite thing about Acqua Pazza is their outside patio by the water. It's a great spot for the romantics, especially if you're looking to watch a flick at the movies afterwards or enjoy some cheesecake across the pond for dessert. The food was alright, service was better, and the drinks almost hit the spot. I'm on the fence about recommending this place but give it a shot if you're in the area. Buon appetito!
(3)Troy K.
Yikes. I may need to give this place another shot. I didn't see the reviews before I went last night. People gave this place some good ratings. My experience was a little different. We went to PF Changs for dinner and it was super-crowded. Being in a low-key mode, we walked around and found this place. It was less crowded and there were a bunch of seats available at the bar. We decided to belly up and have dinner. Our bartender, while nice, was devoid of a personality. Not sure that he smiled once. I ordered a Shock Top from their LIMITED (read: weak) beers on tap and my girlfriend ordered a Mojito. She said her Mojito was good and my Shock Top, well, it was a Shock Top. (And he did place an orange in it). Their food menu says Happy Hour 11am to Close. They should just call it their bar menu with normal prices. Happy hour all day, everyday, is kinda like normal prices. I asked the smile-less bartender what he recommends and he didn't have much to say. I asked if the beef filet sticks were good and he said "yes". Had nothing else to add. The sticks arrived stuck in a baked apple? Was I supposed to eat the apple too? Steak was dry. Chewy. Not the same filet I eat at home, that's for sure. We probably could have been talked into staying for dinner. And maybe I'd have a different review. But our experience was short and un eventful. I gnawed a bit more on the beef sticks and finished my beer. We went back to PF Changs, waited 10 minutes and had a fabulous dinner. A bit louder than we wanted, but worth it. Acqua Pazza Felt like a cheap diner with grumpy employees.
(2)Selina P.
I came here last night with a friend to have dinner before our movie. The weather was beautiful outside so we decided to sit out in the patio. The space itself is very nice and service was adequate. We ordered the escargot, dozen oysters, ahi tower, and the Maine sea scallops. I really enjoyed the escargot and fresh oysters. I know, oysters in the desert right? But they were very fresh and sweet. My least favorite was the sea scallops. The cream sauce was meh and the scallops seemed to lack flavor. Overall, I had a good time.
(3)Kitti O.
Awesome spot for breakfast. Service is always fast and the best part is being able to sit outside and soak up the sun. We have ordered the basic corned beef hash and eggs, some hazelnut crepes and it was great. I haven't had a chance to try lunch or dinner but the breakfast selection won't disappoint you. Located in an outdoor shopping plaza on 111.
(4)Percy S.
We have dined at several restaurants At the River,but never at your restauran , until last evening. The food was very good,your three for $19.95 special is a tremendous value for what you can choose from. The quality of the food was outstanding.The wait staff did a super job,we will certainly return with friends in the near future. Thanks so much for a pleasant dining experience.
(5)Teresa R.
Horrible! Slow service, dirty patio! Ordered a tuna avocado tower appetizer which had no flavor and was mushy! Left without dinner just before seeing a waitress stick a birthday candle she dropped on the dirty patio back into a dessert and deliver to customer. DONT BOTHER
(1)Laura J.
So we make a reservation for 6pm and use the directions from yelp to only have it take us to the wrong place. We call the restaurant and ask where they are located, and the girl who answered starts by saying, "oh did you get the directions from yelp? Well were on Bob Hope on the left" (insert dead air). Ok so many issues here: 1. You live and work in a resort/travel destination. No one actually lives here. What the heck is Bob Hope? 2. Your job is to be a hostess: you seat people and answer the phone. If you cannot give directions to your own restaurant then please find a new career choice. 3. Let you GM know you should maybe update your yelp page if you clearly know that it gives the wrong directions. We arrive: she greets us with a smile, about to seat us and we asked to sit inside. She immediately says that's fine BUT YOU NEED TO BE DONE EATING BY 8pm. You cannot tell someone that. You've already screwed up our experience. Just say no or push some tables together. This is what the food industry does: accommodate patrons to create great customer service. Does creating brand loyalty mean nothing to you? Food: mildly mediocre Waiting for our check: the manager comes over and actually tells us to HURRY UP BC THIS TABLE IS ACCOUNTED FOR AT 8pm!! Our server: he was great, very nice and dealt with a big party well. A little slow with the food but they were super busy so that's fine. We'll never come back when we're visiting. Was so excited when we found it on Yelp and saw the pictures: don't be fooled by the 'water'. It's a pond off of a highway in a mall. Not an oasis. I work at a 5 star members only dining club in San Diego. I know what good service should be. This was equal to a dive bar in the boondocks.
(2)Carol W.
So very sorry to hear that one of my favorite desert restaurants is closing down next week! Always busy, five star food, reasonable prices! As sad as it gets!!!
(5)Mike C.
Visited Thursday night and were quickly seated in the outside area looking over the water pools. Nice setting. We ordered the house margaritas and found them lacking in taste. We tried making an order and in the middle of speaking it to our server, he walked away. I enjoyed my Caesar salad with very fresh greens, but my wife's green salad was drenched in vinegar. We shared a very Google meatloaf. Service 2 & 1/2; food a 3, location a 3 & 1/2.
(3)Danny N.
Definition of Hostess: "A woman employed in a restaurant or place of amusement to receive, seat, or assist patrons." Definition of Acqua Pazza's Hostess: A woman who acts like the Guardian of the Patio, and refuses to sit guests in the shaded spots even if there are 10 (not an exaggeration) tables open. Then points to the spot where the sun is blazing and says "there's only a little sun there." Then this woman has the gall to say it'd be an hour and fifteen minute wait for a table on the patio. Which did I mention had 10 tables open. Luckily one of the gentlemen working in the restaurant took us outside against her orders and let us choose our table, because after spending an hour there, the other 9 tables were still empty! But.... the Hostess wasn't the only bad thing about this place. In my onion soup there was a piece of BEEF or something. I'm not a vegetarian, but if I was, wtf is beef doing in Onion soup? When I asked my waiter, he said "no there's not supposed to be meat in the soup." Well how the hell did that piece get in my soup? Someone spit out their burger and it land in my soup? And.. how come it took 30 minutes to get the soup in the first place, but when I sent it back it only took two minutes to get a new one? Or, how come the steak kebab appetizer came out cold? Was it that hard to bring it out to us when the steak was still warm? And how come the waiter never came by to ask how we were doing? Or apologized for the kitchen's mistakes? The only saving grace of this place was the hardworking busboy. If you want crummy service, to be greeted by a rude hostess, & decent food, come here. If you want good service, good food, and a hostess that smiles and doesn't sit on her high horse, go anywhere else.
(1)Letty O.
What can i say about Acqua Pazza besides the exceptional ambiance, excellent service, and terrific food? That my family and I will definitely visit again soon! The ceasar salad, mushroom soup, lasagna, chicken piccata, and tiramisu were all scrumptious! You can get a 3-course meal for $19.99. We chose to sit outside by the water on a beautiful Friday night. The place was pretty busy but we still got excellent service. We are locals here in the desert and I don't know why we hadn't been here before. Dinner and a movie at the theatre on site made this an unforgettable night!
(5)Lisa D.
Loved coming here with out of town guests! Beautiful patio on the water! Unfortunately, the last time was not such nice experience! Food wasn't the best and to top it off, the server ADDED his own 18% tip to the bill...for a party of 4! Really? Since when do you start adding a tip for a party of 4? Disappointed Acqua Pazza!! Not sure we'll be back!
(2)S S.
Mothers day busy. . In the past would have been no problem. Today service was horrible. Food order was incorrect. Don't order filet skewers. Not worth $$ I used to love this place. Sad. :(
(3)Roxy H.
This restaurant used to be my go to spot for a quick and yummy lunch in the desert. My father in law loves their soups, so we frequent their establishment to make him happy. I don't mind because they make this yummy lobster salad that has tons of fruit, avocado, fresh greens, shrimp and a large portion or lobster. We went yesterday and as I received my salad I took a bite of one of the shrimp and it tasted funny... Only to look down and realized all of my shrimp were RAW! I haven't ever had such a panic attack in a restaurant. My mouth was full of raw shrimp and I wasn't at a sushi restaurant! I had given one to my elderly father in law to eat. As I looked over he was about to eat it as I noticed! Thank god! When I told a women who appeared to be management she hardly apologized, only offered to bring me out new shrimp (umm no, thank you) and didn't offer any other ways to resolve this rather upsetting, grotesque situation. Restaurant fail! If you want to wind up in the emergency room I would come here, otherwise eat elsewhere.
(1)Avner M.
This is an AMAZING place to eat in Rancho Mirage. We have been here before and the food was amazing. The staff is friendly and food is very good. Our server, she was one of the sweetest people I have had in a long time and she made sure our entire table had everything it needed. You never had to wait for a drink refill or wave her down for something. We were not her only table but she made sure every table was being taken care of. I cannot say enough about the food, this place is one of my favorites in this area and next time we are down here, I am sure we will stop in at this place again. Like I said, we have been here before and it is truly a place you have tor try if you are in the area. The menu has a HUGE selection and if you are vegetarian, they have an extensive selection for you as well. This place is a MUST!!!
(5)Valerie A.
One of mine and my husband favorite places, their happy hour menu is so good great prices and it's all day everyday at the bar area. You have to try their ceviche or tower of tuna tar tar... If your into burgers try their Kobe beef it's delishious
(5)Grace P.
It's not the best quality for how the Resturant looks. Yet there salads are great and we had the cheese ravioli.
(3)Chelsey O.
Love this place for many reasons. 1. Three course dinners are such great deals!! 2. Happy hour at the bar is a steal and fun. Crowded but first come first serve and worth the wait if you are just having small bites or even for dinner. 3. Brunch /breakfast. Had a great brunch with my ladies and we had a great time. Crepes, omelettes, waffles, mimosas. All delicious. 4. Just because it looks fun from the inside and out. Patio seating is nice.
(5)C P R 1.
Acqua Pazza is closing. The owner is going to focus on sister restaurant Lulu's , which I'm told is much better. I found Acqua Pazza good, but nothing special. Felt rushed. But nice staff. It was not a bad place to go, but nothing special either.
(3)Sonny D.
We tried this place once and would highly recommend there sister restaurant, LuLu California Bistro in Palm Springs. Much better atmosphere and for some reason the pricing seems better at Lulu although it may be the same. I know I like the food better at Lulu and the outside dinning.
(3)amy g.
I love this place and have been coming here for dinner for years. But today I treated my family to breakfast and loved it! The menu was fantastic, the food and drinks were beautiful and scrumptious, and the service was great! Ask to sit in Bernice's section...she gets everything right and she's really sweet and funny. You can't go wrong with Aqua Pazza.
(5)Michael G.
I came in on the 24th with my wife and we were sat with Hanna. This was my first time eating here for breakfast and when I saw the monte cristo I knew I had to order it. It is a once a year treat and it was delicious. Great flavors, sweet when you first take a bite then savory with the melted cheese and turkey. My wife ordered the stuffed French toast which seemed fried and was very delicious just a little too rich. The coffee was amazing. Our server Hanna was very nice and told us about the coffee and waited on us very well. Never had an empty cup of coffee! I work at a place where employee recognition from our customers is very important and I am happy to submit this review about our wonderful service. I would like to point out to the manager that I came in yesterday as well with my father in-law and our server did not ask us to write a review.
(5)John B.
This place really is as good as it gets. We had a party of 30 people. Our Yacht Club visits the desert once a year for a golf trip and this year I was in charge of the event. We chose Acqua Pazza for the second year in a row because it is just amazing. Perfection starts from the top...WILLIE RHINE the General Manager is a perfect host. He helped me select the menu and was very helpful with the changes and additions we made at the 11th hour. He was truly the professional and I couldn't have asked for a better experience. Then there is the staff. Amazingly quick, responsive, and welcoming. They know how to make dining an event. Catering to 30 people, they had perfect execution, timing, attitude, and delivery. I don't know how you all did it but my sincerest gratitude and kudos to the entire staff. Finally the food. In one word Amazing! It was savory, delicious, hot, and the price was just perfect for a large group. Thank you, thank you, thank you Acqua Pazza staff for making our dinner absolutely spectacular. We will definitely see you next year!!! P.S. The Filet medium rare is to die for. Top it off with flourless chocolate cake and you are in absolute dining heaven.
(5)Karla P.
I was very sorry to learn that it had closed a few months ago. I used to love going to Happy Hour, breakfast and lunch. So sad. But, after reading recent reviews, it sounds like the management and staff had "given up," maybe knowing it would be closing. I know there was an issue with the city regarding a remodel.
(4)Jeremy T.
Awful is the single best word to describe the food. If you care about food and/or taste, you can just skip it completely. This comes from all 4 of the people at our table. Ribs: literally disgusting. Made me think fondly of the airport TGIF ribs I had a few months ago. Pizza: cardboard with tomato-ish sauce. Caesar salad: mayo plus some mushy croutons - where can I get these drop-shipped to my home??? The only good item was the ahi tuna tartare tower, which we ordered from 1997. But the ambiance was nice and the service was good, no complaints on that front. Only, you know, the stuff I had to eat. How do you screw up ribs????
(1)Clara C.
Acqua Pazza could do much better.. They have such an awesome location - they are at the River in Rancho Mirage, where there are other really good places: Flemings, Century Theaters, Forever 21 (really clean and nice!), etc. Parking is really hard to find. You can spend $5 for valet in front of Yardhouse. The reason they are not four stars (or better) is they are lacking in quality service. Yes, hostess and servers are friendly. However, I get the feeling that they are so busy, they see everyone as a $ sign. We're not people anymore. Each time that I have been here, I have not been acknowledged by the hostess. Because of that, I sit at the bar and just order off their happy hour menu. I don't know if service is much better if you sit in the dining area, but the servers at the bar take their sweet time doing everything else but serve you. Yesterday, my third and last visit, it took 10 minutes for our waters to come out and 30 minutes to place my order. Sometimes it's hard to flag down a waitress because they are nowhere to be seen. Our waitress last night was nice, but wish management could do something about these wait times. Happy hour is all day every day, but only at the bar. They have a 3-course meal (Sunday brunch and dinner) for only $19.99. What redeems Acqua Pazza is the food. Everything I've had so far [on the happy hour menu] has not been disappointing. My favorites are clam linquine, lobster quesadilla, cobb salad, and maguerita pizza. Drinks are ~$5-7, which are not too bad. If you have room for dessert, try the flourless triple chocolate cake! My slice came with half a strawberry, but I wish they put a whole one instead. It gets pretty sweet, but the strawberry makes it taste much better!
(3)Danielle Z.
Simple chain-style dishes complete with a plate made hot so the pre-made meals don't cool off too quickly. This is the exact same menu as Lulu's and has a pretty view if you're sitting outside by the water. The food is rather unremarkable. With all the other restaurant choices in the area, I recommend skipping this one.
(2)Seann G.
Went here with a large party. Had appetizers at the bar then a full meal on the patio outside. I'm told they call this the "riverwalk" but it's really nothing more than a big fountain and small man made pool area. That said the patio seating is pretty nice in the beautiful Palm Springs weather. Food wise most at my table seemed satisfied, while no one was gushing with praise for the food. I had the Sea Bass. I actually asked my waiter if it was actually Sea Bass because it was the firmest Sea Bass I've ever tasted. It was more like Mahi Mahi. It didn't taste bad, it just didn't have the texture of a good Sea Bass. All that said, this place is worth a consideration if you're looking for a nice meal with descent atmosphere.
(3)PeaJay H.
Came here for lunch with a friend I was visiting in Palm Springs. I like the place a lot. Ordered a veggie burger and fries and they were delicious! I even asked for sweet potato fries and the waitress mentioned they didn't have any, and recommended Eureka. How cool is that? (Don't hold that against here, management staff. She insisted I stay for lunch and go there later for the fries!) Nice casual dining and great food. The beer I had was great too. Ashamed I don't remember the name of it. But it was the perfect compliment to my veggie burger.
(5)