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Name: Ristorante Mamma Gina
Address: 73705 El Paseo, Palm Desert, CA, 92260
Telephone: (760) 568-9898
Price range: Under $11
Rating: 3.89

Ristorante Mamma Gina

73705 El Paseo, Palm Desert, CA, 92260

(760) 568-9898
Store is closed

Ristorante Mamma Gina Menu

Bar Menu - Appetizers

Bruschetta Classica

Scampi

Salmone

Calamari Fritti

Calamari Milanese

Zucchini Fritti

Salsicce e Polenta

Antipasto Italiano

Agnello Spiedino

Gamberi Spiedino

Polpette

Filetto

Prosciutto e Melone

Pollo Parmigiana

Pollo Funghi

Melanzane al Forno

Cocktail di Gamberi

Cheeseburger (10 Oz)

Veggie Burger

French Fries

Bruschetta Classica

Scampi

Salmone

Calamari Fritti

Calamari Milanese

Zucchini Fritti

Salsicce e Polenta

Antipasto Italiano

Agnello Spiedino

Gamberi Spiedino

Polpette

Filetto

Prosciutto e Melone

Pollo Parmigiana

Pollo Funghi

Melanzane al Forno

Cocktail di Gamberi

Cheeseburger (10 Oz)

Veggie Burger

French Fries
Bar Menu - Soups

Funghi

Pasta e Fagioli

Minestrone alla Genovese

Funghi

Pasta e Fagioli

Minestrone alla Genovese
Bar Menu - Desserts

Tiramisu

Creme Brule

Napoleon

Poached Pear

Bongo Bongo

Panna Cotta

Cheesecake

Bread Pudding

Ice Cream

Gelato

Sorbet

Tiramisu

Creme Brule

Napoleon

Poached Pear

Bongo Bongo

Panna Cotta

Cheesecake

Bread Pudding

Ice Cream

Gelato

Sorbet

Healthy Meal suggestions for Ristorante Mamma Gina

Bar Menu - Appetizers

Bruschetta Classica [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Scampi [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Salmone [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Calamari Fritti [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Calamari Milanese [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Zucchini Fritti [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Salsicce e Polenta [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Antipasto Italiano [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Agnello Spiedino [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Gamberi Spiedino [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Polpette [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Filetto [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Prosciutto e Melone [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pollo Parmigiana [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pollo Funghi [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Melanzane al Forno [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Cocktail di Gamberi [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Cheeseburger (10 Oz) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Veggie Burger [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

French Fries [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Bruschetta Classica [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Scampi [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Salmone [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Calamari Fritti [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Calamari Milanese [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Zucchini Fritti [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Salsicce e Polenta [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Antipasto Italiano [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Agnello Spiedino [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Gamberi Spiedino [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Polpette [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Filetto [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Prosciutto e Melone [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pollo Parmigiana [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pollo Funghi [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Melanzane al Forno [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Cocktail di Gamberi [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Cheeseburger (10 Oz) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Veggie Burger [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

French Fries [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Bar Menu - Soups

Funghi [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pasta e Fagioli [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Minestrone alla Genovese [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Funghi [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pasta e Fagioli [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Minestrone alla Genovese [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Bar Menu - Desserts

Tiramisu [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Creme Brule [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Napoleon [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Poached Pear [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Bongo Bongo [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Panna Cotta [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Cheesecake [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Bread Pudding [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Ice Cream [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Gelato [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Sorbet [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Tiramisu [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Creme Brule [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Napoleon [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Poached Pear [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Bongo Bongo [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Panna Cotta [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Cheesecake [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Bread Pudding [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Ice Cream [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Gelato [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Sorbet [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Visit below restaurant in Palm Desert for healthy meals suggestion.

Buffalo Wild Wings ( 72-920 Highway 111 )

Applebee’s ( 74999 Frank Sinatra Dr )

Visit below restaurant in Palm Desert for healthy meals suggestion.

Buffalo Wild Wings ( 72-920 Highway 111 )

Applebee’s ( 74999 Frank Sinatra Dr )

Write An Anonymous Review

Mike R.

It was on par with the Olive Garden. Not sure what happened. Must of been a bad night. I was really looking forward to a nice meal. Hope they pull it together, it been a old fav for years.
(1)
James L.

Wonderful food in a slightly dated interior. Probably the best in the desert other than La Spiga. Get the veal Milanese... it's to die for. Service can be spotty when busy but food quality is worth the effort. 5 stars instead of 4 because they acknowledged that the service was slow and corrected it.
(5)
Lindsay H.

If you are looking for an old school Italian restaurant, this is it! The atmosphere, staff and food are all amazing. I appreciated the variety of gluten free options on the menu- usually hard to find in an Italian restaurant. The location on El Paseo can't be beat. Best Italian in the desert!
(5)
Shawn S.

I would not think I would have to give a review here; if you have been here, you know that the staff take it very seriously, and so most of the customers are repeats, I'd wager. I was moved to comment by the response of the staff to the complaint, below "...from a can". I can't help but add to it. My experience was the exact opposite of the customer complaint. There's nothing here from a can :-) That's just stupid talk, there. My meal (shrimp scampi dish) came with mashed potatoes and spinach, and I believe it was the best spinach I've had in a restaurant, really excellent. The mashed potatoes were also surprising--I make pretty good ones myself, so I am not sure how these were made. They tasted great, mostly like potatoes, but there is something in there I can't identify that makes them better than ordinary (to guess: maybe a garlic flavored chicken stock). The consistency is lighter than usual, they were more smooth (it is personal to one's taste. I liked them, but if you prefer lumpy or a little dryer, maybe some red skin on a couple of chunks--which I also like--you would not like these as well). My entree was excellent, really. My wife's polenta side dish instead of potatoes really kicked my potatoes' ass, though. I took a small taste and was a bit jealous. That corn dish (looked sort of like mashed potatoes) was the best I've ever had. Again, it's personal taste--if you don't like corn dishes, you won't like it. My wife tasted one of my shrimp, large enough to cut in half and give her a big bite, and she said my dish was the best :-). Mama Gina's saved my evening. I was in a delicate family setting, one in which some revel, but I find difficult to endure sometimes. We all ended up liking our meals SO much that we ended up laughing; I think the stress left, and we ordered two desserts to split and to share, with cappuccinos. I was surprised how ready I felt (secretly, I would ALWAYS smile and keep my feelings private in these mandatory family settings) to prolong the meal with desserts and capps. No "no thank you"s from me! After that excellent food (and equal service), I was yelling, yay! let's sample desserts! I'll have a cappuccino! Followed by a few, me too, me too, decaf for me!s from around the table. Whew, Mama Gina's was a lifesaver that night (November, in 2013). Now I know I will go back with just my wife and I, and with that company, my stars will have to go up to five. I'm looking forward to it. Price: relatively high, with tip, our bill was 200 dollars for four people.
(4)
Alice A.

The food is delicious but the waiters do rush you, which is unfortunate considering how expensive they are. We were seated and rushed out in under 60 minutes last time I dined here. It's a shame because I really do enjoy their food but the atmosphere and service just isn't there. Also this is a very popular spot for the retired, so if you're young, you might not fit in...
(3)
Kathleen Stoops S.

A place with lovely ambience, beautifully starched crisp white tablecloths and joyful banter with the maitre'd. But that is as far as it went. We ordered the fixed price 3-course dinner. Our waiter rushed us through and presented us our bill after only 55 minutes. The filet mignon was served with a sauce and canned mushrooms on top of it; the spinach looked as if it were previously frozen and the mashed potatoes were of the same taste and consistency as those from a box. Absolutely, and without a doubt, the worst meal I'd had in a long time. Sorry, but they will not get a second chance.
(1)
Latisha P.

I wish I lived closer to come here every week! Came here for an anniversary and this place definitely made it special. Complimentary bread: They give so many kinds to try! And one of them is a cheese bread which was my favorite. Ravioli neri: YUM, finished it all! The ravioli had a good amount of lobster in it but I wish it came with a lobster sauce. That always makes it taste 100 times better. But the sauce was still good (= (Custom ordered)Capellini with garlic cream sauce with chicken: NOW THIS SAUCE WAS AMAZING. They just came up with this after my bf told them what he liked and I was in love with it. Kept stealing bites from his plate (= I know it's not on the menu but if you like these ingredients, order it! Dessert: They gave us two desserts for our anniversary. TWO! Never has that happened to me at a restaurant. And the portions were huge. It was really thoughtful and a great ending to the dinner. Service was beyond great.
(5)
Carol P.

Mama Gina never disappoints! Love the Mama Gina salad. Service always friendly..Italian all the way!
(5)
Micah J.

I absolutely LOVE Mamma Gina. Opt in for an inexpensive experience in the bar room during happy hour (the only down side is that it's usually packed however they do a great job at seating you quickly 90 percent of the time). Outstanding chicken parmigiana, ravioli... pesto. Basically everything I've tried is on point. No obnoxious portions.
(5)
Ferdinand K.

Fantastic Italien Restaurant with excellent food and nice wines. Pasta was homemade and filet mignon was great. Very good "tirami su" and a good espresso. I will be back soon!
(5)
Alex P.

Happy hour is huge here. Big bar seating area, nice selection of wine, and a rather large/delicious selection of food items. Waiter was very attentive and courteous.
(4)
Zachary A.

In 117 degree searing summer heat - their Happy Hour, is the way to do it. Enjoy a refreshing drink, some homemade bread and a Happy Hour entree, all for under $15/person. You'll walk out not overstuffed and bloated....but perfectly content. Girlfriend had the seafood(Calamari, Scallops, Shrimp) Bibb Lettuce salad and I had the Canneloni Campagnola, with ground Veal, which was one tasty crepe. Get there early, because all the retired folks come out, and swamp this place by 5pm.
(4)
debbie b.

Not worth your time or your money. Out of our party of 10, only one had a decent meal. Service was HORRIBLE. Food was served luke warm - it must have been sitting out for a while. Won't be going back.........
(1)
A M.

Friendly staff, valet parking available or right on the street, great food with a great selection of wines. I had the osso bucco and it was great. We had calamari for appetizer and they give you a bread basket. Dessert was even great. The Napoleon was the best. I definitely will come back to this place.
(5)
Babak D.

Service was trouble. They ruined our night. THEY DON'T LIKE TAKING ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR MISTAKES. We mentioned clearly that our group is vegetarian and please no meat to be served on our table. Then we asked them clearly that we would like one of their menu item with meat to be served without meat and yet it was served with meat. After eating several portions and arguing with the server they finally agreed that it did contain meat! They served the food very late and completely forgot one of the orders. I usually don't like writing bad reviews but this place for whatever reason really handle us very poorly. They could be the greatest restaurant in the word but my first and the only experience with them showed me that in my opinion they don't know how to handle their restaurant professionally.
(3)
Alexa Z.

I-a like-a da Happy Hour-a at-a Mamma Gina! HAPPY HOUR is everyday 4:30 p.m. to closing in the Enoteca Bar and is one of the best buys in the valley with drinks from $3.50-5.00 and food from $5.00 - 8.00 The bar is separate from the full restaurant, so go around to the left side to enter and seat yourself. I went on a Monday and missed the big crowds I have heard about on friday/saturday. Insalata Mamma Gina - chopped salad that completely reminded me of the veggie-portion of an italian sub sandwich; olive oil and vinegar and pepper on iceberg with onions and tomatoes. Insalata "Elegante" - I love beets, so I was excited to see this mixed greens, red and golden beets, goat cheese, and balsamic reduction option on the menu. Lots of beets, but I was sad that there weren't any of the sweet golden beets (maybe they ran out?). The creamy cheese, tangy sweet balsamic, and earthy beets complemented each other well. Gnocci Gorgonzola - little pillows of heaven! for $5, you get a seemingly endless plate of melt-in-your-mouth, stick to the roof of your mouth, decadent pieces of gnocci. They were "lovely pillows of perfection" as my mum called them. Incredibly light, soft, and exactly how gnocci should be. The gorgonzola sauce was strong but not overpowering and was a nice and decadent complement to the light gnocci. Risotto Mamma Gina - Porcinis make me swoon, and as soon as I saw this fungi risotto, I HAD to order it. It was the perfect classic texture: creamy, rich, and al dente. Strong in porcini flavor with the addition of fresh porcinis. I am drooling just thinking of it. Cappuccino Ice Cream - This ice cream is amazing. Many of restaurants in the valley carry it (Acqua, Wallys, etc) and it never gets tired. A much needed coolness to cut the richness of the meal. Tiramisu - Now I am a tiramisu purist. I revel in the dense, creamy, rich tiramisu that is made of marsala and mascarpone. Mamma Ginas is a much lighter version with whipped cream-like layers. Still nice, just different than I expected. Bongo Bongo - profiteroles filled with custard! No one has mentioned this dessert yet on yelp and it was a big mystery for me until the waiter told us what it was. Mystery solved. The bread basket is also super yummy with fresh baked rosemary foccaccia and tangy olive tapenade. The HH Wine is such a great deal $5 for a large pour of a select number of wines and you can't beat a $3.50 pint of beer. Come for gnocci and risotto. Stay for dessert. Worry about running an extra 10 miles to burn it all off tomorrow.
(4)
Amy M.

Delicious. Jake is great at making you feel right at home! Elegant and high end food, with a warm atmosphere.
(4)
William J.

A friendly and attentive staff could not overcome very slow service and mediocre food, which was expensive given the quality. We arrived at 6:30 and were seated. We had young children in our party and ordered immediately. Our entrees took over an hour to arrive. The waiter was apologetic, but the food quality was nothing special especially given the wait. We noticed the maÃ®tre d apologizing to other tables as well. Perhaps we caught them on an off night, but the meal was very disappointing overall.
(3)
Salvatore M.

Just amazing the different experiences people have at a restaurant. I guess you just have to try a place and reach your own conclusion. I have gone to Mama Gina many times. I rate it five stars for atmosphere and service. I find it to be the most gracious and accommodating welcome and service on El Paseo. It is always busy and for the most part a very nice upscale crowd of people. One time an old guy next to me had a filthy mouth. Lots of profanity in his loud conversation. I asked him to tone it down as I could hear him and found his language inconsiderate and rude. He just shrugged me off and continued. Unfortunately that type of behavior is pretty prevalent these days. Anyway that was an exception to the usually polite crowd. I really like this restaurant and will continue to dine here, but I gave it three stars because the food is totally uninspired and rather mediocre. I keep trying different things hoping to find the one meal they really shine on. So far I haven't. So that is my opinion. Go for the location, nice crowd, atmosphere, and service, not for a gourmet meal.
(3)
Colleen W.

If you like Eggplant you have to try the Melanzane AL forno - Crisply baked eggplant with mozzarella and fontina cheese. The eggplant was heaven on earth. This eggplant entree was the best eggplant I have ever had. We also ordered the chicken stuffed with artichoke and prosciutto this dish was called Olivette DI Pollo ai carciofi. Capellini al pomodoro was also awesome with their fresh tomato and basil sauce. We were all too stuffed for dessert and they looked wonderful....so we will have to try dessert next time. Service was wonderful. The only thing we could mark down on (but were not going too)....is how warm it was in the dining room. At first I thought I was having a hot flash....but all of us were hot. It was 118 degrees outside so the Air conditioning was working overtime. The servers were very good about refilling our waters. Overall a 5 star!
(5)
Shawnna T.

This place is okay, I don't care for their atmosphere. They were understaffed the night that I had gone so the service was awful. They do have a good happy hour and the dish that I had was awesome....the Ravioli Aragosta, ricotta cheese and lobster meat in a vodka sauce. Anything with vodka and lobster in it you can't go wrong. Yummy!!
(3)
Andrea T.

This place is great! I love the happy hour menu. The best things IMHO are the eggplant parm, lobster ravioli, mushroon ravioli and the shrimp skewers. There is one thing that I wished each restaurant in the area did if they have closed up shop for the summer. I wish they would put on their website that they are closed and when they will open again. Mamma Gina's has a sign up stating the they are closed for rennovations. So...come back later!
(4)
Millard Z.

The restaurant is great but you'll do better if you turn left after walking through the door. The food, prices & music in the bar are fabulous and less stuffy then the main room. By no means am I dissing the original MG's, it's great food, just a little dull for this reviewer. We report.... You decide.
(4)
Barbara K.

What can I say about Mama Gina's that hasn't already been said? The best happy hour food menu in the desert. I have been here dozens of times and everything I have gotten has been great. When I go with a few people we usually opt to sit outside in the covered patio area. When I go alone I will sit at the bar, if I can find a seat. It is always busy, but it never deters from the excellent service you get. Truthfully I can't remember what I got the last time I was there as every time I go I try something different. I think I got the mushroom ravioli as I have had that there twice. It was excellent. The drinks are gererous and nit watered down. Writing this review, is making me want to go there again tonight. A definately do not miss. Best resteraunt on El Passeo so far.
(5)
Steven O.

By far, the best Italian food I've ever had including in Italy. I had the pasta puttanesca. My mouth is still dancing from all of those amazing flavors. The next bite was better than the previous. The staff is truly an example of customer service. I only wish I lived here so I could come here every week. However I will never come back without eating here. The bar for excellence has been set to a new high for me.
(5)
Abel O.

It's a mystery to me how They can send one's waiter home, and not tell someone that there was still a table, having dinner... No dessert cart... Dismantled. 9 pm Friday. Waited, and waited. Arrogant waiter acts like its our problem. Have been here many, many times. It's going to be awhile before I go back. It might be never. Very disappointing. Typical of service in the dessert.
(2)
Rick N.

First time we had dinner here and everything was great. Food, service was the best we had in palm spring. This place is a must.
(5)
Steve V.

This review is just for the Enoteca Bar Happy Hour that everyone is talking about. Yes, the hours are great (4pm-close) and the service fast and friendly. The ambiance is also good and we were seated right by the window so we could see the street and all foot traffic. That's about where it ends. The portions are on the smaller side, which is expected given the price, but the taste was not good. I had the Cennelloni and it tasted like something you microwave out of a box. Yes, the prices on drinks are good too, so I would say to come here for a drink or two and maybe just order the basic stuff off the menu like the chicken parm, you can't go wrong with that.
(3)
Teresa D.

I was in La Quinta with 12 women for a Bachelorette Party. We had planned on going into Palm Springs for dinner but at the last minute changed our plans and decided to stay closer to the house. We found Mama Gina's on yelp and decided to take a chance. We called the day before for Saturday night reservations . . . they got us in and to our surprise gave us the private "wine cellar" room! It was perfect for a group of slightly rowdy women. The service was top notch. Our waiter and his support staff were wonderful and hilarious as well. The food was fantastic and no one left hungry or wishing they had gotten something different. From the steak to raviolis to seafood to pasta. We loved it all. They have a great wine list as well. I will for sure be returning!
(5)
Michael C.

2012...spring break for the 50's is once again almost over but somethings never change such as Mamma Gina's great food and service. The happy hour menu is expanded and better than ever. Tonight I had a polenta with sausage, tomato sauce and roasted peppers that was so good I was considering a second order for desert. All the appetizers are fantastic, service is top flight and the atmosphere comfortable. (Bring a jacket....the only downside here is the AC.)
(5)
Noelle S.

This happy hour place had me at hello; the smells, big full wine glasses, happy faces everywhere, great friendly service at every corner of this busy place. I cannot remember what we had but we loved it so, so much that we came back the next night too. We consider ourselves traveling foodies and this is really a no-no in our books because we might miss something else. Especially when we only have a couple of nights in town. We didn't even have to think, discuss or second guess ourselves; we came back and conquered it AGAIN! I met a wonderful ol guy at the bar on night one, he was delightful to talk to. Says he is there nearly every night, but had plans the following night. We show up on night two, guess who's there? Now I feel like we are locals because we know someone at the bar and he can't stay away either, not for one night!! I feel bad I am going on and on and not talking about the food. Here are some recommendations: Ravioli Neri - Homemade black ink ravioli stuffed with fresh ricotta and lobster meat in a rose' sauce. These were at the top of our list; ordered these both nights! Gamberi "Spiedino" - Shrimp skewer on a bed of sauteed spinach. You can't go wrong with this one. Delicious! Gnocchi Gorgonzola - Homemade gnocchi served with Gorgonzola cheese sauce; loved these, ordered them both nights! Risotto Mamma Gina - Risotto with porcine mushroom. This was delicious; one of my favorites. If you go here, you won't be disappointed. If you don't go here there will just be more seats for me!
(5)
Danee A.

Love this little gem. The service is friendly and professional ask for Vanessa shes great! The lobster raviolis are my fave. Usually sit in the bar area or enjoy the enclosed patio
(5)
Mark S.

We just bought a home in the Palm Desert Area and were tipped off to this place by our realtor. We love it and are so excited to make the bar our regular hangout. We have been there several times already and have only done the bar (always happy hour menu) but the food has been delicious, and the drinks are big. I love a place where the bartender comes back and pours you what is left in the shaker. The eggplant parmesan is the best I have had, with a buttery breadcrumb crust. The caesar salad is a good one and you can't miss the garlic bread. We have also tried the shrimp/avocado cocktail, the wedge salad and the ravioli and would try everything again. I have friends who love to go to the main dining room too, and I would guess it is easier to get a table in there, since the bar is always packed for the great happy hour deals.
(5)
john s.

Went with long time pals for their first visit despite being local. I did my fav veal picatta. Others had whitefish special. Ordered extra vegs instead of potatoes with no hassle. Both to our table in under ten minutes after we had thirty minutes of relaxed time with banfi chianti. Outstanding in all aspects.
(5)
Chester G.

As we were being seated the host told us that there was a "time" issue and that we would need to be done in less than 2 hours. Things went down-hill from there. The waiter became rude when we asked him to take back the poorly made martini. But worst of all my chicken dish was nearly inedible. To be fair, it was by far the worst dish at the table. The comments at my table ranged from "good" to "okay but I wouldn't get it again." My dish was dry and cold and awful. The bill came to just under $500 and I would have been happier going to Giuseppe's.
(1)
Justin M.

Chicken Olivetta, trapdenella contadina, and creme brule are to die for. Caprese salad was the best we had ever had.
(5)
Christina V.

This place was very good. I loved everything we had and the menu was cheap! Their drinks were so delicious, FYI I ordered a Godiva martini which was to die for! I would definitely recommend this place especially during happy hour. Service was good, but nothing special.
(4)
Mickey E.

Wonderful! Service is superb and their house made pastas are amazing; Mama Gina has been around forever but don't overlook it because it is excellent. Be sure and make a reservation so you don't have to wait.
(4)
Todd P.

Great food and drinks. The place was jammin with way too many customers and we had to eat standing up at the end of the bar, but after I got my food I didn't care. YUMMMMY !
(5)
Krissy S.

Excellent food, excellent service. Probably the best restaurant food wise in the valley. Bollognese is very good, perfect flavor (ask for extra, I always feel like they don't give you enough) Gnocci is also good, along with their various chicken dishes. This is a must go to restaurant in Palm Desert.
(5)
Meredith K.

Happy Hour all day - unheard of! We just finished a round of golf, so we slipped in around 5pm and was able to get a table for 2 in the bar area. I was loving the fact that I was getting a deal off food & drinks. Drinks were to be expected - beer for $3.50 and a decent glass of red for $5 - can't beat that! As for food, we started w/ the Insalata "Saporita" - light and delicious. As other reviews have noted, as well as our lovely waiter suggested his fave - Risotto Mamma Gina - on the rich side but soo damn good! The Ravioli Neri was good, I didn't taste the black squid ink. Also, what's not on the menu but was really good was this flank steak on a skewer served atop mashed potatoes. The steak was super good. I'd definitely come back. It's not as hoity toity as it seems being on El Paseo n' all. I felt comfortable going there in golf clothes, as some others were too. Impressive!
(5)
John C.

This is a great find and was recommended by friends and people we met while on vacation in Palm Desert. The tip here is to go to the bar during happy hour, which is from 4:30 to closing. There are good glasses of wine and cocktails for only $5.00 and very reasonably priced appetizers, which come with generous proportions. I had calamari and the lobster ravioli. My fiancee had the meatballs and chicken pasta. Again, these are good sized appetizer plates, all under $10 and the food was delicious. Service was quick and very friendly. We're often in the desert area, so I know we'll be back.
(4)
Cassie P.

Even though the Newport Beach branch closed, this one is still up and running and busy as ever! The warm trio of breads arrived at our table and I knew that it was still top notch! Can be pricey BUT...come early...before 6:15 and you can get the three course prixe fixe that even had a choice of a fliet mignon. Not too shabby!
(5)
Jeanne S.

Great restaurant! Call ahead for reservation. I ordered the Mamma Gina salad. Don't let the idea of anchovies worry you. It is not overpowering in this dish at all. It was a great way to start the meal. For the entree I had the butternut squash ravioli. They were absolutely delicious. I highly recommend!
(4)
E D.

1 Star Lunch. Boy and I were seated in the corner. A fly is buzzing and hitting itself against the window, which has icky condensation all over it. I order chicken dish and boy orders squid ravioli or the ravioli that's black from the squid ink. Waiter sets down Boy's plate and while pulling hand away, tips glass full of soda onto Boy's plate. Soda spills all over food, all over Boy's lap, my jaw hits the table, fly hits the window, buzzing ensues. Waiter takes ravioli in soda soup away. Comes back in 2 minutes with fresh ravioli. Odd, when Boy's plate took 20 minutes initially to make. We ask for bill. Charged full price. Left hungry. Will never return. Didn't even get a proper apology.
(1)
M M.

Fabulous Happy Hour from 4pm to close. Great service by happy waiters with great personalities. Very lively. Indoor and covered patio seating. We had eggplant, to die for mushroom soup, scampi, and drinks. Average price per dish is $7. Highly recommend.
(4)
Daisy H.

Absolutely great service! Their waiters and bartenders are super attentive. They came over to our table often to ask if we needed anything. Their happy hour is also amazing with great prices. I would definitely recommend this restaurant to anybody!
(5)
Darryl R.

The prix fix menu (before 6:15pm) was excellent, flavorful and in good size portions. The salads were huge and excellent as was the veal entree, which was tender and included great vegetable sides (sauteed garlic spinach and green beans). The creme brulee was excellent. The discounted wine by the glass made an overall great meal for less than $35. Definitely worth coming to.
(5)
Kiana D.

Looking for the ultimate ANTI-dining experience in the Desert? Then be sure to make an early reservation at Mama Gina's Ristorante in Palm Desert around 4:45pm. The attention you'll get from your waiter between rounds of premium cocktails, appetizers, and their delightful dinner specials and entrees is wonderful. Be sure to spend money on not 1 bottle of wine, but 2 bottles! Right before 6pm, you'll be approached by Jake P., the proprietor Pietro P.'s son, who will approach you in his vegan variety Chuck Taylor's to throw you out because they overbooked their seatings. He'll make an uncomfortable scene but insist that you end your dinner and leave (I presume to seat more people and charge them lots of money, too, and then throw them out as well). The shock of being thrown out for being terrific, money spending, well-behaved customers can make you lose your appetite (which we did), which was a shame since the two bites of chicken I had were great. The treatment by the boss' son was so atrocious and unbelievable at the same time. Don't bother talking to the owner about it on your way out, he won't be apologetic but rather tell you that "we don't want you back." This restaurant doesn't deserve the dignity of any diner, nor do they deserve your dollars.
(1)
Jess T.

Great place, quiet, good for a business meeting and they have very good customer service.
(4)
Jonathan K.

Really good Italian food with good service and atmosphere in Palm Desert. The Caprese salad was really great, the tomatoes were tasty and the burrata cheese was very soft and tasty. The classic Caesar was good as well, nothing exceptional. The Veal Milanese was delicious, included the bone for flavor and it showed in the taste. The Osso Bucco was good, the meat was really excellent and fell off the bone as it should and tasted amazing, but the sauce had a weird chunky texture, and was less than appetizing. The mashed potatoes that came with the Osso Bucco were alright. The spinach on the side of both entrees was really good, cooked with good flavors. The service was pretty good, our waiter had lots of character and the food came out timely. A bit pricey, but worth it for the quality, I would come back.
(4)
Cheryl R.

Having heard great reviews from my friends, we decided to eat there tonight, jan , 1,2012. Service was very friendly and attentive. The waiter sat us at a great corner table. I ordered shrimp scampi, hubby had filet mignon. Never had such humongous shrimp; they had to be jumbo or tiger shrimp! My only complaint was that the food was too salty. Really wanted to have the sauce that the shrimp lay in, but all I could taste was salt! The salt overpowered the mashed potatoes , also. Hubby's food was excellent, no complaints here. If we ever eat here again, I'd have to caution them about the salt. Dessert was yummy; tiramisu made the authentic Italian way, with lady fingers, rum, and all good things! If the cook hadn't dropped the salt shaker in the food, I would've given them 5 stars.
(3)
Nancy L.

There are only a few restaurants left in this world! Authentic, great food and great and friendly service. If you're lucky enough you might even get Petio, (Pedio?) Anyways, he was funny and kept us entertained while waiting for our yummy dishes. I had filet mignon, cooked to perfection, my daughter had salmon, cooked just the way she asked for it to be cooked. My husband had the veal piccata. We eat out a lot so trust us, when we say we had the for dessert , the best creme brulee ever. The Napoleon was also light and flaky. Needless to say, we will be going back. SOON! One more thing, they are on the pricey side but if you go for their early bird specials, (from 4:30 to 5:45pm) it's less than $20 for a three course prixe fixed dinner. Lots of choices.
(5)
Emily S.

Best Happy hour in town!
(5)
Mike S.

Happy Hour is a great value! This place gets crowded during happy hour but we did manage go get a spot to sit in the bar two nights in a row with no wait. Um, yes two nights in a row. We loved the food here so much we came back the next happy hour to sample more of their food. Plenty of parking in the back. Most happy hour items are priced between $5-10, beer is $3.50. This is a great way to sample their menu. The items on the happy hour menu are smaller portions than the dinner menu. They have a good selection of wine which is what we had. We did not have anything we would not order again. In fact we ordered several items the second night again. I recommend: Ravioli Neri - Homemade black ink ravioli stuffed with fresh ricotta and lobster meat in a rose' sauce. These were my favorite. Ordered these both nights! Gamberi "Spiedino" - Shrimp skewer on a bed of sauteed spinach. You can't go wrong with this one. Delicious! Gnocchi Gorgonzola - Homemade Gnocchi served with Gorgonzola cheese sauce. Loved these! They were amazing. Ordered them both nights! Bruchetta Clasica - Classic Bruschetta, tomato, garlic and basil on toasted bread. This was good. Save your stomach space for some of the other dishes you can't get at home. Risotto Mamma Gina - Risotto Mamma Gina's style with porcini mushroom. This was delicious. One of my wife's favorite. I also had a beef dish on skewers which I don't see on their menu which was another of my favorites. Crembrule- was excellent. One of the better ones I've had. Do try it. We tried just about everything that looked interesting on the menu. I could have been more detailed but we ate a lot, things got fuzzy....and these were the ones that stood out in my mind. The first night we sat at the bar and I asked the people next to me what their favorites were and went from there. Hot tip: None really-just one- GO HUNGRY!
(5)
Jake L.

Stopped for drinks, enjoyed ourselves. Lively bar scene. We look forward to returning in the future.
(3)
Candise K.

I had a wonderful experience at Mamma Gina's over Labor Day weekend. I planned a bachelorette party dinner for 15 girls and Jake (who I spoke with in regards to planning the event) was so helpful and worked with me in planning a prix fix menu that would be perfect for such a large group of girls. He even printed a special menu for the bride that she loved and kept for her scrapbook. The selections were large and plentiful and the dessert cart was great! We sat in the wine room which was perfect for a large group like us. I would def. go back-especially for the bread. Delicious!
(5)
Yvonne D.

Sat in the bar and ate dinner with a friend. Manager with the huge nose and grey hair was a complete douche. I over heard him saying " will they fucking leave already". He was talking about a few people left in the bar at 10pm. Carlos the bartender gets 5 stars but the manager should be fired for his lack of class and customer service. Blows my mind how someone can behave in such a manor. Will never be back completely rude!!!!!
(1)
Marnie S.

Great Italian food! We were pleasantly surprised... the calamari was awesome. I also recommend the cannelloni...
(4)
Rosquete B.

"L'ora Dell'aperitivo" Fantastic happy hour; starts at 4; packed w/locals Nice house wines $5; love the Gabbiano pinot grigios & chiantis; also, beer & well drinks Most appetizers $5 Love the saporita (w/whole half pear) & Caesar salads Fab risotto Tasty pesto & puttanesca pastas Best scampi ever Great house bread, especially the foccacio Desserts: ice cream, tiramisu, bongo bongo Good food service
(4)
M M.

When I first heard about this restaurant I was hesitant - the prices seemed really high, and I don't believe in paying a lot for Italian. I looked online and saw high prices in the restaurant side, so decided to forego. I decided I needed to see what the fuss was about, so I went in once and wondered who would wait for a happy hour? There were no clear instructions, but I saw people putting their name on a menu board, and walked out. I decided on my next visit to be there when the restaurant opened. Cheap drinks, friendly service, and huge portions made me reconsider. Happy hour portions that are the size of regular meals, and for happy hour prices make this restaurant an incredible find - even if you do have to wait!
(5)
Cynthia S.

Absolutely DELISH! Yummy Italiano cuisine at it's best!
(5)
Juliet d.

I would give this ZERO stars if I could. I can't think of a worse dining experience. First, the staff is rude. The waiters are smooth until you don't order an overpriced glass of wine, and then they treat you as if you are not worth their time. I asked the busboy to get our waiter and he looked at me like I was speaking in tongues, and the waiter never did come back. And the food? If you like assembly-line Italian food served with warmed over vegetables, this is the place for you. And pricey! I ordered the Oso Buco for $40 and it was tasteless, covered with some undefined red sauce. Ugh. This place is horrible. There are so many other good restaurants in Palm Springs -- you can go to LGs or Flemings and get a first class meal for the same price.
(1)
Jenn D.

the absolute best happy hour and prix fix menu ever! everyone should stop by and try, i promise you won't be disappointed. best italian food in the valley, don't forget to get the creme brulee for dessert, it is amazing!
(5)
Karen V.

I have dined here several times and have tried both the main restaurant and the bar for happy hour so here's the thing - if you don't care about taste or quality you might enjoy happy hour It's not my favorite The dining room experience is better but underwhelming. The food is ok but not amazing The service much nicer in the dining room and you can hear the person you are talking with too! There are better Italian restaurants in the desert but if you choose this one choose the dining room.
(3)
Leonard E.

Food was excellent! Real fine Italian! They took great care of our kids and service was superb. Highly recommended.
(5)
Shayna P.

AMAZING HAPPY HOUR PRICES! This place is packed with 50+ year old desert folk, but its totally worth it. The restaurant is small ( we had to sit at the bar) but had a chance to check out all the action. Started with their bread basket of focaccia and tapenade and for some reason ordered garlic bread- which is primarily composed of chopped garlic (I don't think my breath will ever be the same) and finished with the Lobster ravioli in vodka sauce. Pretty much awesome, except the portions are small, but that's what you get considering the prices. Walked out with a tab of 12 bucks, pretty good for drinks and some tasty eats. The bartender was kind of rude and inattentive, but this place is loud due to the old chicks tryin to hoe it up. Beware if you are a young and even slightly attractive female, my gal pal and I were subjected to 3 invitations from elderly gentlemen.
(4)
Kelly G.

As a local, it's always nice to have places like Mamma Gina to bring guests to. We went here for a late lunch a couple of weeks ago when my Italian nana was in town. We were initially disappointed that we had just missed being able to sit in the dining room, but the plate sizes in the Enoteca bar were just perfect for us. Everything was delicious, and Nana said that the bread tasted just like what her Sicilian father used to make at his bakery on Long Island! All in all, a delightful restaurant in the old tradition. It'll be nice to have the place to ourselves again come summer! Don't miss the crÃ¨me brÃ»lÃ©e!
(4)
flo c.

This place was a great find and my hat's off to Yelp for connecting me with this place. Like other Yelpers, I'm impressd by the extensive menu at the Enoteca Bar. I'm a Happy Hour addict and I'm somewhat accustomed to a tiny menu with rather standard fare. However, I love that Enoteca has salads, pastas, and other sides to choose from, and all for around $5-$8. What a steal! You get to sample way more items because each HH portion is nice and small. You also get a fantastic bread basket, with standard bread and extremely flavored tomato/onion-accented foccacia. This came with a huge ramekin of olive tapenade, but there's also EVOO/vinegar available at the table. I'm not a fan of tapenade (or olives in general), but I couldn't stop gobbling this up. We really enjoyed our caesar salad, fried calamari, pesto pasta and putanesca pasta. The batter on the calamari is light and airy and the pastas ($5.00) were flavorful without being heavy. The pasta dishes were both al dente. We also tried the napoleon ($3.50!) but it wasn't as flakey and fluffy as I am used to. The service is fantastic and treats non-locals as well as the regulars. We didn't have a problem getting a table Saturday night in the bar, but it was definitely a packed house. The attire for the bar is casual but the dining room side looked much more dressy. However, the food also took forever to arrive, but we were warned by our friendly server. Actually, it's the pasta that took a long time to arrive, but we were warned that Chef had a huge, long queue of orders. By the way, the valet service is complimentary!
(5)
Tom B.

Went for happy hour last night. Six of us tried many dishes, meatballs with spinach, calamari, chicken parm, filet with spinach, Fruit Di Mari salad and spaghetti. All were great and everyone enjoyed. The all night happy hour is in the bar and prices are great, plates good to share. Drinks also very good along with the service. Highly recommend giving it a try, you will not be disappointed.
(5)
Rick M.

Great service. Salad " saporita" was her choice. I had cannelloni campanola with veal and bollinese sauce. Marvelous
(5)
Karen D.

Lots of workers with few working. Had to wait for a drink while 2 bartenders were busy doing nothing. 6 people at the bar yet poor service. Drinks weak. Happy hour food over priced.
(2)
Tal A.

My parents have been coming here for years. I finally know what all the hype is about. Amazing food. The staff is superb and extremely attentive. The ambiance is extremely charming and warm. The maitre'd, Mike, even goes table to table to ensure you have a fabulous evening. Great 4 course pre set menu option as well. Will definitely be returning here.
(5)
Mike B.

We saw all the raves about the happy hour in the bar and we decided to give it a shot on a saturday night. The place was packed and our party of 4 stood in the middle of the bar just trying to figure out how to get out of the way of the busy servers and bus boys zipping past us. I noticed a 4 top was getting ready to leave and I swooped in to secure it, when the server came and informed me that there was a waiting list (we had asked at the front host desk and they told us that the bar was separate) in the bar and there was a couple ahead of us. I sighed and asked him to put my name on the list, but it didn't look like there would be any other 4 tops available anytime soon. About 2 minutes later, to my surprise and delight, the same server approached me and said that he had a 2 top that would be leaving very soon, so he asked the couple ahead of us if they wouldn't mind giving us the larger table and they obliged. We ordered drinks and had the server send them 2 of whatever they were having in gratitude. When the drinks came, the two martinis at the table were about half an inch off in their pours, which caused my friend to sort of grumble under his breath. The server walked away without any kind of discussion and returned to the table 2 minutes later with a small carafe of additional martini saying, "I thought that pour looked a little short, so I had the bartender make you some more." With drinks in our hands, he then asked our permission to first take the food order of the couple who were so kind to give us their table and he promised that he would get our order right after. We happily agreed. The menu is not a bar menu, as there are soups, salads, pastas, sandwiches, appetizers - pretty much anything you could want. We opted to share and ordered calamari, fried zucchini, gnocchi gorgonzola (winner!), risotto, mussels & clams (loser), and the shrimp skewer. Everything was very good (except the mussels, which were just okay) and the bread was amazing! Their focaccia was the best I've ever had. We had 3 baskets. Really reasonable prices, excellent food, lively bar and, most importantly, when everything wasn't perfect, our server went out of his way to make it perfect.
(5)
Andy M.

The portion size for the butternut squash ravioli is just not enough food. I do not believe in large portion sizes, but there was too little food to fill you up. The dish was $22, and it was like an appetizer. This also happened a year ago with the lobster ravioli. We discussed this with the manager on Sunday, and he acted like we were trying to get a free dessert. We weren't. We just thought the portion size was too small. He was not particularly helpful or sympathetic. I would not recommend this restaurant.
(1)
Christa S.

I cannot believe any negative review on this restaurant! Really?? Great atmosphere and fabulous food.
(5)
Vanessa H.

I can see why Mamma Gina is so highly rated on Yelp. The wine bar happy hour is a screamin' deal, and the food is great. We stopped by for desert, the tiramasu which is a huge slice, homemade, and had drinks on special. Service is friendly and brisk.
(4)
Aren G.

We were driving down Paseo and we both spotted this restaurant. We determined let's go, we haven't had Italian in a while. We were seated in a narrow place between an arch and the wall, it was really quite elegantly claustrophobic. We were very QUICKLY presented with their wine menu and persistently pushed on a wine selection, that was really nice of them. I glanced the menu and picked the Chicken Cacatore. Hmmm, I thought this is pretty standard, at ~$30 its going to be exceptional. 5 minutes pass and our food arrives. Let me describe it to you in the best way I can. The chicken was bone-in, something I could have picked up at El Pollo Loco for $3.00 with a side (I'd probably take the corn coblette btw). The mashed potato was maybe 4 parts butter, 1 part potato. I would have rather had deep fried butter balls from the county fair. Lastly the spinach.The spinach was so beautiful. So fresh, so full of flavor. No it wasn't. Who am I kidding? I could have found better spinach rummaging through a dumpster in an apartment back alley. Really? You skimped out on spinach on a $30 plate? Listen, you're better off going to your city's dump and assembling some chicken giblets, some rotted and mashed up McDonalds fries and if you feel special head over to the coast for some beached seaweed. Top it off with a bunch of butter and you've got such a great meal. May taste worse than Mama Ginas but at least you'd have saved yourself $30 and a MAJOR disappointment.
(1)
Preston F.

I know Mama Gina has an excellent reputation. I also like their new Pizza Y Vino, HOWEVER- this past weekend I made a reservation Sun Aft by phone & was told when I arrived that they didn't have it. No attempt was made to offer an apology-I thought the customer was always right- nor even to suggest an alternative time. I explained precisely when I called, the conversation I had, unusual, & when I finished I asked if I could have made up such a story- I was told yes- Virtually calling me a liar. The food is good there but doesn't compare to others including La Spiga. They won't be seeing me again at Mama's!!!
(1)
Melissa B.

Food was great, prices were great, portions were HUGE!
(4)
Toni G.

In the area on business, Yelp directed me here. Great dining EXPERIENCE. From the greeting through the foccacia (so, so good), entree (waay too much to finish...especially after the foccacia), dessert cart, handling of the bill and farewell, everything was perfect.
(5)
Barbara L.

We love the early dinner specials in the dining room. The food is always perfection and the foccaccia & olive spread makes my mouth water in anticipation of its arrival at the table. My personal favorite is the salmon; my husband prefers the steak with wild mushroom sauce. We've also tried the happy hour menu in the bar, which is very good, but the dining area has that special ambiance. An institution on El Paseo and worth the visit.
(5)
Jenna H.

good pizza. the place itself is always crowded. not a very good drink selection. bottom line, call in your order or get delivery
(3)
Allison B.

My husband and I went to Palm Desert for a last minute getaway this past weekend. None of the usual research or preparation - just away to relax. We wanted to have a really nice dinner one night, but didn't want to break the bank. After checking out some of the yelpers' perspective from Palm Desert, and looking at menus and prices, we chose to go with Mamma Gina. Four words: Happy Hour All Night (when sitting in the bar)... OK that was 9 words. We arrived rather early (around 530pm) b/c we were hungry and getting antsy. Good thing we did arrive early as the place filled up quickly and there was a waiting list for seats in the bar. We took a seat right at the bar, and Cindy was a great bartender. She was busy, but did not rush us. We ordered from their $5 wine happy hour menu. I got the Pinot Noir and the hubs started with a Chianti and switched to Pinot Grigio. We were both pleased with our choices. We wanted to stretch our night out since we arrived so early so we ordered one dish at a time, and Cindy was fine with that. She kept our wine glasses full while we waited for each course. We started with the Cozze e Vongole - Fresh sautÃ©ed black mussels and Manila clams in a white wine sauce. Sauce was great - nice and garlicky! We normally prefer mussels over clams, but their clams were quite good! Second course was the caprese salad. It was mostly a bed of mixed greens with two tomato slices and two slices of fresh mozzarella and a sprig of basil with a creamy balsamic drizzled over top. While I would've preferred more of the "caprese" to this salad (give me more mozz and tomato!), everything blended well and we got our greens in. Third course we tried the Linguine "Puttanesca" - Linguine pasta served with garlic, capers, black olives and a touch of anchovy in a tomato sauce. So delicious! It was a lot of pasta, but we were sharing the dish. The anchovy gave it just enough of a salty twang to it. We were getting pretty full at this point, but the people next to us were RAVING about their dish, so we had to try that next.... Which was the Risotto Mamma Gina - Risotto Mamma Gina's style with porcini mushroom sauce and cream. OMG Heavenly!! We tend not to order risotto just b/c it's hit or miss on if they are going to cook it to perfection. Oh they did! It was nice and creamy, yet still al dente enough to give it some texture and to not be just a pile of mush on our plate. The mushrooms were very flavorful too. So delicious! We were stuffed after that. And our bill grand total? About $56. We went home full and happy!
(4)
Donna N.

I am shocked someone from Philly ranked this place high. I've actually had better food on the stationary pier where the fish mongers are in San Francisco. For the price, I expected better. I don't see the draw to be honest. I thought the pasta flavorless and found it not very authentic.
(3)
Angel A.

Great Happy Hour at the Bar and also the main restaurant has the most amazing Italian food in the desert! The desserts are to die for! Soooo good!
(5)
Gee M.

I have to say, Mama Gina really wasn't what it was cracked up to be. First of all they take themselves VERY seriously when, in fact, the restaurant itself lacks in quality in every area (food, service, decor). I was very unimpressed by the waiter's knowledge of the menu. When I asked for a dinner recommendation (seeing as I'd never dined at Mama Gina and I didn't live in the area) he failed to give me one. I ended up selecting the Zuppa di Peperoni Gialli (Cream of yellow pepper soup). It was really, really creamy and lacked in flavor. For my main course I got the Risotto o Fettuccine alla Mamma Gina. It was basically like really mushy flavorless baby food. Mama Gina really didn't impress me. Not only was it not that good, but it was expensive to boot. My words of wisdom? Skip it.
(2)
R D.

This review in for the Enoteca Bar at Ristorante Mamma Gina. It is incredible. The dark and noisy atmosphere is intense and is reminiscent of being in a busy bar in a large city. It is loud and buzzing and I love it. Happy hour starts at 4:30 daily and goes to closing! The happy hour menu is absolutely humungous. Seriously the largest one I have ever seen. Most of the dishes are in the range of $5. A few as high as $10. Beer is $3.50 and wine is $5 but some fancier cocktails can range up to around $10. The food is excellent and the portions are quite generous for the price. Two dishes should be enough to fill most people. I recommend the minestrone, capellini al pomodoro, linguini puttanesca, ravioli nero, gnocchi gorgonzola, bruschetta clasica and calamaretti fritti. The girls (and guys) also loved the "Godiva Dream" chocolate martini. The service was also excellent. Absolutely the NUMBER 1 Happy Hour in the desert. Exc - Service, atmosphere. Good - Food. Ave - None. Poor - None. WOULD I GO BACK? DID YOU READ THE REVIEW
(5)
Fred F.

went to palm desert for a quick weekend getaway and wanted some old school Italian. asked for a recommendation from a hotel employee and she pointed us to mamma gina. it was a very nice hotel so I ignored my better judgment and ignored a goofy name like mamma gina. the space is very nice (although dated, it fits well in palm desert). the prices were on the high end so I expected to get some exceptional food. we started with the melon and prosciutto. the melon was ripe and succulent. the prosciutto sent up a warning flag. it was very mediocre quality and looked and tasted like it had been cut by the high-schooler behind the deli counter at the local vons. salty and too thick. very disappointing. the bread was equally disappointing. it was fresh but lacked both taste and texture. for dinner I had Bolognese. the sauce was grey and tasteless and the pasta was under-cooked. I hated it. I also tried the other two dishes. one was a corkscrew pasta with sausage and duck. it was equally flavorless. the other pasta dish had some chili flakes in it and was slightly better. the highlight of the meal was the crÃ¨me brulee. it was pretty good. also ordered a bottle of chianti which was just ok.
(2)
Michele F.

A hidden gem! An all day happy hour with over 30 items including salads, burgers, desserts and fabulous pasta dishes to choose from?!?!?! My husband and I went here as a suggestion from the Lake La Quinta Inn and it was AMAZING! I had the ravioli in lobster sauce for $7.90 and husband had the spaghetti bolognese for under $7. We had two vodka tonics and garlic bread as well as creme brulee and got out of there under $40. The bartender educated us on how the Mama Gina's restaurant had been there over 25 years and handmade their pasta and fresh desserts daily. My husband who is Italian said...You can tell! The service was excellent! We sat at the bar and they put down cloth napkins so we felt like a tablecloth had been laid, brought us bread plates and rolled fabric napkins with silverware. Then when our food arrived it was hot and fresh and we were asked if we wanted fresh parmasian. Of course! Our favorite place to go to in La Quinta! PS It is a bar and the locals are loud and fun to listen to! LOL
(5)
Sara B.

What a gem! Lovely ambiance, VERY professional service, just the right touch, extensive varied menu, and then the food. Oh my, every dish something special, beautifully presented and mouth watering. You could make a whole meal out of the bread alone. Simply a joy to experience. Pricey? Yes, but oh, so very worth it. Save your pennies for this one.
(5)
Corrine R.

I was kind of excited to go to this place and share a romantic dinner with my boyfriend; however, I did not receive anything of the sort. First off, we were sat next to the window, which has incredibly cramped seating, and it kind of takes away the ambiance the inner part of the restaurant had. There was a large table of loud and obnoxious people next to us who kept talking about how much they love to party the whole time. They also kept saying California girls are awful, which I would obviously find offensive- I am aware this is not the restaurant's fault. The cramped seating seemed to make it more difficult to escape the conversation. The menu did seem to hold true to real Italian dishes- nice restaurants in Italy do not serve half of the stuff America labels Italian. This place seems pretty close to the real thing, but the dishes have more flavor than most of the food in Italy. I am also very picky about Iced Tea, and the tea here was not completely horrible. They also used a brand of sugar packets that I saw in Italy- nice touch. However, I hate Sea Bass, and the dish they brought me appeared to be loaded with it. I ordered what I thought had mussels, clams, and shrimp only- the menu did not mention Sea Bass. I liked the flavor of everything in the dish, except the fish. My boyfriend ordered Chicken Carbonara, which he said was not bad. His mashed potatoes tasted like nutmeg and ginger or some combination similar. I did not like them, but he thought they were alright. He did not seem to excited about his dinner, but it was not horrible. Okay, I was going to give this place three stars, but after we ate here I woke up in the middle of the night puking my guts out. It was incredibly disgusting. The worst part was it tasted like Sea Bass. I am not saying I got food poisoning, but something from the restaurant made me sick. My Sea Bass filled dish was the last thing I ate, and my boyfriend did not get sick. :( I saw all the great reviews on the bar, so this place might be good to drink at. However, I would not recommend eating here.
(1)
Mark L.

Amongst the best chicken parmigiana, I've ever tasted in my life.... Better than The Palm, Dan Tanas and Madeos
(5)
Neel j.

Was there New Years eve. As busy as they were, staff was very attentive. We enjoyed our meal. Is it the best Italian food I have had?. No , but was better than average. We will go back and again.
(4)
Shannon N.

I seem to only write about my favorite restaurants, and this is one of them. Everything was good, from the wait staff to the food. We had an asparagus salad in lemon juice that was wonderful. My husband has tried to remake it and we can not even come close. I ordered a pasta with meat sauce, not exciting, but it was delicious. It had a good sauce, not too runny, with flavor. My husband had a fish, can't remember what kind, but it was great. The waiters are nice and authentic. We enjoyed the evening.
(5)
Kristen K.

Went again last night (Enoteca Bar part) and had a great time! Glenn is an awesome waiter who not only gives great service, but also remembered me! Which I definitely appreciate :) I know before I said their service lacked sometimes, but those are the times Glenn hasn't been the waiter.
(5)
Kumi S.

Finest Italian restaurant! Love this place! Food is great! Service is Great! Atmosphere is so romantic! They have great wine list and don't miss their dessert wagon! Amazing!!!!! Need to make a reservation to get nice booth. Strongly recommend to take your chick to this place, she will love it and I bet you can have a good time with her. But you need some extra dough though XD
(5)
David R.

Good food!
(4)
Sam O.

Quick & Dirty: Fantastic! Eat here, period. Great food, excellent service, a really great lunch! Long & Superb: The food here is the star of the show. We went here for lunch after learning that Tommy Bahamas Cafe was closed due to a power outage, bad for them, great for us. We strolled down El Paseo in Palm Desert and found this little Italian restaurant. Should We? Sure, why not. We walked in a the servers were dressed in tuxedos which is always a good sign. We had perused the menu before deciding to eat here and saw that it wasn't overpriced. I guess they just like to dress up their servers! Well, they were fantastic and professional. Our waiter was up there in age but did a perfect job. We started with the Fried Calamari which had a nice fluffy breading. For entree I had the Roasted Pepper and Eggplant Panini with Mozzarella, fresh cut fries, and coleslaw. It was really the best thing I had eaten in a while. Other items ordered were the Caesar salad with tons of cheese! Also the Spaghetti Bolognaise which wasn't half bad either. For wine we tried a bunch of new flavors that none of us had tasted before and they were all superb and under $10 a glass. Not too shabby. Dessert! Tiramisu that was perfecto! Coffee.... awesome. This place was the best lunch I've had in a long long long time. Good job Mamma Gina! Would I go here again? In a heartbeat. Should you go here? YES, and I think there is one in Newport Beach. I think I might have to try that one next. I would LOVE to try dinner here. Ciao!
(5)
Tylene T.

We had a bunch family in town for the Thanksgiving holiday and decided to go out to dinner one night. We had a group of 11 and a baby and they accommodated us well. The service was perfect, the wine selection was great. The food however, was just ok, nothing to rave about but there was also nothing that was awful either.
(3)
Allison K.

I'm giving them the benefit of the doubt here for 2 reasons. I ate in the bar, not the restaurant, so though I had the same food, I didn't get the "restaurant" experience. Also, I am a San Francisco food snob, so I am used to primo Italian food - and I know it. Short version - I would eat here again, to try more dishes & expand my review to see if this place holds up. My husband, who is more discriminating than I am, would probably give it a 3. But he wasn't there, so we won't know. I was looking for authentic Italian (north, south, I don't care) not the Americanized version. I drove first to Mama Liviries (sp?) but it looked very American (too big portions, too much sauce, too much tomato, too much cheese, no delicacy) so I moved on to Mama Gina's. No tables, but eating at the bar was fine - loud, with TVs on, which surprised me given other yelper's comments of this being a very elegant place, but with which I was ok. I like eating at bars, and, I mean, who am I to poo-poo a Lakers game? I had the beet salad, which was ok; beets weren't very flavorful, and the balsamic reduction was too sweet to really complement them. But I ate the whole thing. Entree was their Garg.. (something) Papalina that I think is a house dish. Half as expensive at the bar as in the restaurant. Pretty delicious! With a glass of Malbec (nice to have) came to $32, which is pretty reasonable by SF standards. Olive tapenade served with the bread wasn't steller, but it was good enough.
(4)
Wendy K.

Food was great - we didnot have a reservation, but they were very accomodating. Old world Italian. Chicken dish was great and the bread they served was yummy. I would definitely come back
(4)
Geoff M.

Mamma Gina is fantastic! I've eaten here many times and never, ever had anything that wasn't fantastic. Other places in the Valley tend to be hit and miss - NEVER at Mamma Gina. They must spend lots of time on training to have everyone get it so right every time! This time I had the cioppino - a strange choice for a warm day in May, but so delicious! Their limoncello served after the meal must be homemade and is seductive!
(5)
Maria N.

Service was so so. Food, well lets just say I know good Italian food and this is for people who don't know quality Italian. Its just for those who don't know better. Only bar area happening though for a mature crowd.
(2)
Crystal P.

I'll admit it, when my girlfriend told me we were going to an Italian place she found in Palm Desert when we were on our girls weekend, I was skeptical...then I remembered to not question her the moment we walked in the door. It is the exact place you want to visit when you come to Palm Springs. No tourist specials or people looking to buy dinner and drinks from a groupon deal. They are locals and snowbirds who are friendly and totally add to the experience. We chose to eat at the bar and the bartender was great! She poured awesome wines and the happy hour menu seriously makes you think you're robbing the place the deals are so good. Even if they weren't, I still would have ordered up because the menu is so well balanced. We had the house pasta, the fillet medallions, and salads. The dessert tray...shut the front door. We asked them to make us a sampler platter and we YAY got to try all of them. I've been to Italy and eaten off the beaten path and back again. Is this food from Bologna or Florence? No, but the owner is from Firenze and I bet the kitchen can produce it. But that isn't why you come here, it is an excellent balance of traditional Italian food in a way Americans can appreciate. Hello, this is a country of Olive Gardens so discriminating palates we do not all posses. The food tastes fresh and well cared for then paired with excellent wine choices. Boo to anyone who complains about wine list prices! Welcome to dining out. It happens. Move on or bring a bottle of your own and share with your waiter. And if you want a smaller portion than is listed... ASK. They are ready to accommodate and help. But if you see the price and you order it, no complaints after the fact. If you're ever in the Palm Springs/ Desert area, go here. Don't fuss about the packed bar, just find a seat and talk to someone. Or find a nice spot on the strip and leave this place to the rest of us who dine out for the experience.
(4)
Bev F.

Wonderful service with a very personable staff. Perfect duck. Excellent wine selection. A Must-Do on El Paseo Drive. We will definitely go again... Many times!
(5)
Holly F.

This happy hour is amazing! Food and prices are spot on!
(5)
Larry R.

Although the staff were very nice: Simply, terrible. Chicken dish and sides were bad beyond words. Chicken Mattone served was undoubtedly boiled, served without skin, looked like it had just been sitting in a bowl of water. Mashed potatoes tasted as though they were made from ingredients out of a box. (Instant potatoes of some sort?) The Veal Piccata was almost as bad, also appeared to be served after boiling, and the sauce was just terrible. (I'm from San Francisco and eat in North Beach regularly, so maybe I'm spoiled.)
(1)
Jay S.

I'm going to write this review with humor. This place is an example that expensive does not mean better. When anybody spends over $100 on a meal, the following things should be expected: - Drink orders arrive within 5 minutes of ordering along with the menu - Douche bags should not be allowed to sit within spitting distance from the table (questionable patrons) Now on to what was good: *Seafood pasta in marinara sauce *Grey goose Chambord Martini straight up Overall, I would not recommend this restaurant.
(2)
Michelle G.

So after doing some Christmas shopping we decided to try the happy hour in the bar that we had heard so much about. Got to say we were not disappointed. Prices are amazing, house wine at $5, beer for $3.50. I tried the minestrone soup for $4.65, a huge pot of steamy soup chock full of vegetables.... it was delicious and I ate every mouthful. My husband had the red pepper soup that he also enjoyed. Followed by spaghetti and the black ravioli, a huge basket of delicious bread, we had more than enough for one lunch the next day. Food quality was good as was service and I don't think you can ever beat it for the price. We will be returning frequently especially as the menu is so good. Sorry 3rd Corner you need to take some lessons from Mama Gina's.
(4)
Wherez_Andy T.

The may have inexpensive happy hour...but I have not seen such an unfriendly bunch since I can't remember when. That to me is a turnoff.
(1)
Claudia G.

Do not go! Disgraceful service. Mediocre food. We waited a very long time for our waiter to take our drink orders. When asked about one of the three specials listed on the menu, the waiter did not know any more about it than I did..."it's fish", he said. He bungled the drink order; served one of my guests an entree he did not order. He ordered clams with red sauce over spaghetti. He got mussels, clams in white sauce over linguini. There was no apology. Just arrogance and a very defensive attitude. The customer is not right at Mama Gina's!! The evening was such a disaster, that for the first time in my life I did not leave a tip.
(1)
Nancy O.

Searching for a nice dinner place to go to Friday night, five us us went here for dinner. And OMG, were we happy we did! Service was top-notch, (most) of the food was great and the ambiance was just right for an upscale Italian restaurant. We had: Insalata Saporita, with pear, walnuts and blue cheese (delish!) Caprese Mamma Gina (soooo good, with super fresh mozz) Spaghetti alla Bolognese (This was just okay, IMHO, not repeat-worthy) Linguine alla Puttanesca (REALLY recommend this one!) Spaghetti ai Frutti di Mare (really good) Ribeye (Better than most steakhouses I've been to) Lobster Ravioli (the one dish that I really didn't like) For dessert, we shared a rather large creme brulee. While the taste was good, the consistency was a disappointment, since the top wasn't crunchy or hot (from being torched recently). Overall, would definitely recommend this place for a nice dinner date or a big family meal.
(4)
MICHELLE C.

We just love this place!!! Their food is excellent, their service is great and really like their early bird dinner menu!!! Their filet mignon is superb!!! You must also try their gnocchi...it's the best we've had :) Save room for dessert if you can too!
(5)
Danny L.

Wow. What a great place. Perfect for a quick inexpensive dinner. Like everyone said, the happy hour or nite from 4:30 - 12pm is the best deal. We had the Gamberi (Shrimp) appetizer, Procuitto with Melon, Cannelloli, and Ravioli. Couple of wines, and the best part - Deserts - Napoleon and Tiramisu. Probably the best we've had. Good service and bar type atmosphere.
(4)
Alan G.

Since I really appreciate the classic Italian dining experience, I am reluctant to be too critical here. The decor and service are very good. And, the overall vibe is reminiscent of a New York, but not Italy restaurant. No problem, though. Prices are relatively high. The food is OK to good, but definitely not great or memorable. You can probably get a comparable veal parmagiano at Sbarro in the airport. I think the problem is that they offer too much variety to do it all well. Some items---Caesar salad, was pathetic and wrong. Wine list is very good for this area and they're served correctly. 3 couples, Aug 2011. We didn't eat desert.
(2)
Paul P.

bolognese. it's how i rate an italian restaurant and this is it. fancy desert italian. can be dressy and golf attire at same time. excellent friendly service, but definitely better treatment to the wealthy local regulars (so I plan to be one of those one day soon).
(5)
sue l.

food was good. nothing fantastic. like Jim C said, felt very snooty. did not care for the waiter's attitude at all.not quite sure why for other tables he did the' pour half of the tiny carafe of wine in the glass and left the rest there', for me he poured it all in. got a funny look from him when he did. Not sure how to explain it better, but I didnt like it. He didnt seem too pleased when my step daughter was having a rough time deciding, he rolled his eyes, made some comment how she had to order now or we couldnt get this special low price thing they had going. Do not like the snob appeal. Most of the folks there were dressed up. It sure appeared they got better service . Not sure I would go again.
(3)
Mike O.

They have the best happy hour! I am on my way there now.
(4)
Mike I.

So I am down in Palm Desert with my family and we wanted to get some good italian food....My wife found this place and so we decided to go with our 10 month old little girl. Started off bad since the guy on phone was very rude taking the reservation(isnt this a service industry?) Second..we got there and noticed a sign that said "your table will be given away 15mins after your reservation"(which did me a lot of good once there.) Yes we were late but under the 15 min mark. Sensitive pony tail guy in the front rudely told us...oh you are late..i gave your table away. I said "are you serious?" and sensitive pony tail guy said "yes..look how it is in here!"(lots of older people were crowded in there waiting) First of all I expected sensitive pony tail guy to be more sensitive, second I would expect better manners from someone in service business. So the one star I gave should be zero since we were forced to leave...we did eat at a real restaurant (Firecliff) who are into good service for their customers and too bad we nor our friends will be back to RMGs. Unless sensitive pony tail guy cuts off that pony tail and learns to treat people right (he was very rude to 2 elderly ladies in front of me too. Pietro's across the street is also great ...Very good service and nice people. Great food.... Avoid RMG unless you like rude people and pony tails.
(1)
Aimee G.

Mangia, Mangia! If you find yourself in the desert and you're craving some great Italian food, there is an oasis of pure Italiano bliss called Mamma Gina's. I knew this place would be good when I heard that the only other location of Mamma Gina's is in Florence. That would be Florence, Italy, not Florence, Oregon (although I'm sure it's a lovely place). The food is outstanding and so is the service. For starters, we decided to be bad in a fried-food kinda way and indulge ourselves with the Zucchini Fritti (fried zucchini sticks and flowers). The zucchini was delicious - they are cut into thin strips, lightly battered, and not oily at all. For entrees, my husband had the Veal Saltimbocca, which he claims was excellent. The man is a Saltimbocca snob if there ever was one for a non-Italian, so listen up when he says it's good. I had the Brodetto di Pesce Fresco (basically, it was a Cioppino). Whenever I see Ciopinno on a menu, I always order it...and Mamma Gina did not disappoint. The seafood was cooked perfectly and the broth seasoning was deliciously balanced and aromatic. For dessert, we couldn't resist the tiramisu. As to be expected in a great Italian restaurant, it was superb. I actually don't usually care for tiramisu since they tend to be too soggy. Mamma Gina's tiramisu had a perfect texture and the flavor was delicately sweet and airy. If you're drinking wine, make sure to ask the waiter about their Italian red wines. We're not as familiar with Italian wine as we are with California or Oregon, so we asked for a recommendation. The waiter suggested a delicious Barbaresco, which went perfectly with our meal. As for the ambiance, it's a great place for a date. The low lighting and intimate tables make for a wonderful romantic evening. I have a feeling this is exactly the kind of place that the Palm Desert-loving Frank Sinatra would've loved.
(5)
Amelia T.

My friend found this place on Yelp when we were in the area for a little getaway. We absolutely loved this place! We did the happy hour menu in the bar for dinner. Great selection of foods and everything we ordered tasted fabulous!!! Plus they only start at $5!!! We highly suggest the Elegante salad, calamari, sausages, putanesca and the RISOTTO was YUM!!! Nice selection of drinks as well. We liked it so much that we went back the next day for lunch!!! (Since happy hour is from 11:30 to closing!!!!). For dessert, the cappuccino ice cream was great. Great prices so you can totally eat up, and the portions were just right, plus our server was awesome. The bar ambiance was very relaxing and modern. I only wish there was a place like this in Orange County! Best tasting Italian food I've had in awhile!
(5)
cathy l.

A last minute selection based on the name and search for comfort food after a looong day shopping. Reservations were required so we had dinner at the bar and the service was slow, but the atmosphere and food was great. A good place to people watch as I saw many folks saying hi to each other (such a friendly city) and the highlight to start was the bread...oh my god I could've eaten it non stop and was tempted to nab the decanter of oil and vinaigrette. Had the ravioli with butternut squash and it was a perfect combo of sweet and savory. (heart!) 3 stars but close to 4 due to slow service.
(3)
Michelle M.

Read the reviews about Happy Hour, and decided to try it out tonight. Ordered the fried calamari, and garlic and parmesan bread to start....and that was as far as we cared to take it. The calamari was on the tough side, and there was a hair in the sauce. The bread had large chunks of raw garlic on top...absolutely no finesse to the flavors or presentation. Our server was attentive at first, but seemed to disappear about the time we would have considered ordering more food. By the time he reappeared, the only thing I wanted was the check and to depart. There was nothing special about this Happy Hour, and we will not be back.
(2)
Amber F.

AMAZING!!! One of the best meals I have had in a long time and I am kicking myself for not coming here sooner. The ambivance was classy, quiet, romantic, comfortable, not stuffy, or snooty at all. We started our meal with the complimentary basket of bread, (4 different kinds) all delicious, served with an olive tapenade...(I dislike olives....yet I couldn't stop eating this! ) It was the perfect compliment to the breads. We shared a ceasar salad, that was HUGE! The romaine was crisp and fresh. The dressing was very light and not too over powering. Just the perfect amount. For the main course I had Roasted Butternut Squash Ravioli in a brown butter & Sage Sauce. It melted in my mouth and was so comforting! Sometimes butternut squash ravioli can be too sweet, but the chef knows how to balance it perfectly! The best of the night goes to my Husband's dinner. He ordered the Chef's special, Cheese Tortellini in a Meat Ragu Sauce. This has to be the best sauce I have ever had. It tasted like it had been simmering for hours. It had such depth in the flavor! Absolutely incredible! My mouth is watering, just thinking about it. Both meals were so large, we took half of each home for leftovers. For dessert, I had the Creme Brule (also large portion) and hubby had the Chocolate Gelato. Both were an excellent finish to a wonderful meal! We cannot wait to return. It's a little pricey, but well worth it considering the impeccable service,huge portions of the mouth watering food, and the atmosphere.
(5)
Randy D.

This Palm Desert restaurant has excellent food and quick service. If you can forward plan your visit, don't miss the early evening specials offered in the dining room..
(4)
Lori B.

My five sisters and I had an amazing meal that could not have been better. The only thing better than the food was the service. The six of us shared Oso Busso, Cannelloni and a Veal Marsala. The mushroom soup was the best we have ever had, the Calamari appetizer was tender and delicate and the salads were fresh and well seasoned. We also shared a lemon torte, tiramisu and a pastry with ricotta and chocolate chips that was amazing. Our waiter brought us an order of panna cotta on the house just to round out our dessert order. The staff was very friendly and helpful. I would definitely return to Ristorante Mamma Gina next time I am in town. In fact...I can't wait to come back.
(5)
SacBelle S.

Probably the best Happy Hour menu I have ever encountered. Wow, the menu was good and plenty of options that are not deep fried like so many menus. It had a good selection of salads and pastas. I will defintely be back for happy hour. It's the only happy hour I have been to with 3 Rolls Royces at the curb. Love the location on El Paseo.
(5)
Bobbi O.

Had dinner thereSaturday did not have a reservation but we (2) were immediately seated. Service was outstanding from start to finish. The food was fabulous! I had cannoli with red and white sauce and almost wanted to lick my plate! We will definitely return.
(5)
Andy H.

Creme brÃ»lÃ©e was out of this world! Eaten here twice now, first time was amazing second was average! Had fillet mignon both times, second time terrible! Tough as boots! Disappointed!!
(3)
Douglas D.

This is classic Italian cusine in a more upscale presentation and atmosphere. Lots of candlelit tables and cocky waiters add to the ambience. Always delicious. Reservations available. mamma Gina's has that Old Palm Springs vibe.
(4)
CherylAnne J.

This place has great food ! I had the lobster ravioli, & tomato bread soup. Delicious ! The place was busy being Valentines Day but our waiter was attentive. The creme brulee was served w/ strawberry sauce & was fabulous. I am looking forward to coming back here.
(5)
Julie J.

This place was great! My gal pal found it on yelp, as we headed over to PD for a quick girls overnight trip. It lives up to the hype in my opinion. (We ate in the Enoteca Bar.) We arrived around 7:30pm on a Saturday night and there was a wait list for tables in the bar. This place kept super busy the entire time we were there. We ordered a bottle of wine and were quite pleased that they gave us the HH wine at $17.50/bottle instead of us each ordering a $5 glass. Bartender was nice and gave us some menu tips and also graciously transferred our tab when our table was ready less than 15 minutes later. (Bonus when they do this.) The service was quick and friendly. Our waiter Glen was awesome! And I have to give it up for the bussers, the were like Johnny on the spot with everything. The bread they bring to start is amazing. Really hard not to fill up on it. We had two baskets! We started with Calamari and Bruchetta. Both delicious, although the calamari was a little chewy for my taste. We had the Beat salad and the Caresse. YUM! Good enough portions for us to split everything so all 4 of us could try every dish. We moved on to the Gnocchi, which was amazing. The pesto spaghetti, the chicken parm (good, but more of a vodka sauce than traditional), and a beef stew type dish. All were good and great for passing. We had the waiter pick us out some desserts and they didn't disappoint either. Standard creme brule, a yummy Napoleon, and cappuccino ice cream that we wouldn't have tried and was all of our favorites! Overall the food was good with some great gems on the menu (we ordered everything of the HH menu.) Total bill for 4 of us with 3 bottles of wine and TONS of grub... $122. Oh yea... Left a hefty tip for the awesome servers. Definitely going back.
(4)
Cindy S.

We had beet salad and melon and prosciutto app. Both very good but ordered app first, 10 minutes later ordered salad. Salad came 2 minutes later and we had to ask for melon app. Wrong order, bad form! Had pasta with veal as entree to split. Just ok. Picked a can by glass, forget which, but it was very good. Also, we sat at bar which was nice.
(3)
Rick M.

great food and the wait staff is fun and excellent
(4)
Barbara M.

It first took awhile for them to even come to our table. We went on a Monday night at around 815pm. We ordered Salmon and Spinach and asked if both were fresh. The waiter said Absolutely in his broken English! When it arrived i tasted it and wasn't sure whether it was canned or frozen but knew absolutely not fresh. We decided to eat it since it was so late and we were starving. We did want the waiter to know that it was not fresh but he lied and denied it and so we continued eating. I left just a little spinach and salmon which also tasted fishy and was not fresh. It was in the desert for God's sake, of course it wasn't fresh like if you live at the ocean, which we do and eat a lot of salmon and spinach so we know the difference. When the waiter came back when we were finished he asked if we wanted to speak to the manager and we said yes. The Manager proceeded to yell in a high voice that we shouldn't of eaten it if we did not like it but we were trying to let him know that we couldn't believe that any restaurant served frozen spinach...he would not even let us talk and we were also not asking for one thing just to inform him how shocked we were that nothing was fresh as the waiter indicated. I am going to let everyone know that we come in contact with about our incidence, which we have already started doing. Barbara M
(1)
Stephanie W.

This review is for the happy hour at the enoteca bar. I went around 7 on a Friday night and was able to get a seat right away. We sat outside on the patio because the weather was nice. The food was a great deal - perfect portion sizes, fresh and tasty. There's so much to pick from - you can try a little bit of everything, which I love. I think our mistake was sitting out on the patio. I don't mind slow service, especially at happy hour, because its nice to be able to just sit without feeling like you're being pushed out of your table. But the waiter practically ignored us and the service was painfully slow. It took forever to get drinks so we started ordering the next round when our drinks were still half full (the new drinks still got there after the old drinks were already empty). The water was never refilled. The only time that the waiter was prompt was when we asked for the check at the end of the night. Not only that, but there was a lovely stench of sewage drifting in from the street for the entire evening. I'd go back - but I would NEVER sit on the patio again.
(3)
Vicor D.

quality food, excellent service..can be very crowded during the season/get a reservation----very slow from when you order until you get the food maybe 45 minutes--need to fix that but overall nice inside and worth the long wait for the food
(4)
d w.

this place rocks . great food starting at 5 bucks at 4:30 pm 7 days a week till closing .the service is great too i usualy sit at the bar and cindy , or either of the juan carloses ?or glen if sitting at a table . will get you set with drink and food with quick friendly service and make you an awesome cocktail ... just show up look for a seat at the swanky bar or put your name down for a table in the bar area , enjoy.
(4)
Joyelle W.

Like most others, this review is for the Enoteca Bar for their HAPPY HOUR! The ambience is wonderful: elegant and inviting with a nice patio if you want to be away from the noisy bar. The waiters (at least the ones we have had) are extremely nice and on top of their game. Finally, the food is AMAZING!!, both price and quality. Dishes starting at $5 in just the right portions with fresh ingredients (they make their own fresh pasta daily!) that together create some of the best Italian dishes I have ever eaten. From the refreshing poached pear salad and bruschetta to the simple yet delicious pesto pasta, the rich, flavor-packed pasta puttanesca, and the creamy, peppery and wonderfully cheesy carbonara- each dish is quite a delightful adventure for your taste buds and prepared to highest standard. If you are not too full, indulge in one of their desserts, our favorite being the mouth-watering tiramisu! This place is definitely one to check out! One of the best places to eat in Palm Desert- hands down! If I could give it 10 stars...believe me I would :).
(5)
Caroline M.

If I could give 6 stars, I would. Perfect ambiance, great location, courtesy staff, knowledgeable wine sommelier, extremely tasty food. My favorite, the Puttanesca, mmm good.
(5)
I B.

We had a dinner party here and they double charged my credit card $700 dollars. You would think that they would catch this when balancing their nightly receipts, but they didn't. I found it a few days later and called repeatedly trying to get someone to help but I got brushed off. Told me to call back for the manager, when I did they said he was "sick". still not resolved. So, unless you pay cash....I wouldn't go!
(1)
L B.

My husband and I had a romantic dinner here last month while visiting the desert and were absolutely shocked by how good it was! We both had the fixed menu, but chose different dishes for each course. We had the Zucchini fritti to start which were perfectly fried with a tangy dipping sauce. For the main courses we had the ravioli and steak and were amazed! The flavors were excellent. The rolled over a dessert cart for our final course and we chose the poached pears and creme brulee. This was by far the best Italian I've ever had!
(5)
Bob N.

I ate here ONCE- a huge mistake on my part. We were seated at a table in the middle of the restaurant toward the back. directly behind us was a booth in each corner and both booths were full of drunken people yelling insults at each other and throwing rolls at each other. While the wait staff went to great pains to ignore my table, they bent over backwards keeping the drunks supplied with endless drinks and more bread to throw! This place has a well deserved reputation for providing miserable service to "non-regulars" and the night I ate there they lived down to their reputation. The valet parking was great though as they parked our Rolls where I could keep an eye on it during our miserable excuses for dinner inside. Eat there at your own risk and do bring a sack lunch as you will need something to eat before the wait staff gets around to you.
(1)
krista L.

My husband and I went here for our 1 year anniversary celebration while we were in Palm Desert over the weekend. We got dressed up for our occasion and drove down to the Paseo for the first time ever. It's a very elegant streetscape with tons of boutiques. The restaurant was itself elegant and cozy at the same time. It wasn't too stuffy or uptight. We were greeted immediately by the host who sat us at our table. Each table awaits you with a course of bread and tapenade which is off the bat, stupendous. We wanted to get a good feel for the food, so we decided to split an app, salad and pasta and of course a bottle of wine. We got the fried calamari app, it was the best I've had in Socal by far. It's served with 2 dipping sauces, 1 is like a lobster marinara broth and the other is a dill aoili. It was lightly breaded and perfectly cooked. When you ate a piece you could actually taste the calamari instead of just breading. I couldn't decide which sauce I liked most, so I just dipped my calamari in both. That was AWESOME! We got the Insalata Mamma Gina, which was also delish. Our pasta course was the Ravioli neri all'aragosta, which was to die for. We had an absolutely wonderful experience here and can't wait to come back next year when we celebrate our 2 year anniversary in Palm Desert.
(5)
Amedeo A.

great place. love the people grew up with the people. best napoleon in the world by far. They do the napoleon a bit differently but its so practical how they do it and makes the experience of eating one so much better it has actually become my favorite dessert.
(5)
Cooking B.

Probably the worst experience ever at any restaurant. The wait staff was extremely slow, unfriendly and uncaring. We were rushed through dinner, food tasted pre-made and re-heated. We got our salads, and while still eating them, the entree was brought to our table. Ummmm, last time I checked, you were to be given time to eat the salad before starting the main course !! The main course sat there, getting cold and tasteless. I specifically said NO potatoes. Guess what? Potatoes came ! My husband asked for a side of spaghetti in place of his veggies, waiter advised price change, NO problem, my husband wanted to have the spaghetti on the side. Guess what? NO spaghetti, only veggies. Yes that is correct, everything was a disaster. DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME with this "want to be" Italian restaurant. You are better off opening a jar of Ragu and boiling some noodles at home. The cooks are all Latino, not Italian, and yes they are cooks, NOT chefs. Good Bye Mamma, not gonna be seeing you again. PS- Is it just me, or do the 2 "Italian" hosts seem more Persian, than Italaian, Hmmmmmm
(1)
Charlie C.

Just driving along 111 on a Saturday night wanting some good Italian after a round of golf and found this online. Reviews were very good so we located Mamma Gina's and pulled into the valet. Walked in at 6pm and, even though we did not have a reservation, two of us were seated right away. Very friendly host led us to an empty area (though not for long). My friend asked about the wine and the waiter was well informed of the different kinds they offered and recommended something, as all good waiters do. I ordered minestrone soup, which was excellent. Plenty of vegetables with some macaroni. Friend ordered a salad and said everything on it was absolutely awesome. For my main dish, I ordered shrimp and linguini. Perfect sauce, shrimp was cooked just right and the linguini was nice and soft and tasty. Friend ordered a bolognese linguini that he said is the best he has ever had. For dessert, I ordered one cream puff with custard in the middle and whipped cream on top. The waiter, though, brought me two. I forced myself to eat them both!! My friend ordered a berry tart/pie that he said was very, very good. This friend of mine said on the way home that it may be the best Italian food he has ever had. Overall, this place was fantastic. Everyone was exceptionally nice and accomodating. It is a place for just a great meal, a family occasion or a romantic outing. Ambience is excellent and inviting. Don't let the prices scare you away. This is on El Paseo, the BH of the desert and expected. You need to splurge every once in a while in life. The food and experience are worth it. Will definitely be back.
(5)
Lisa G.

Had a fantastic dinner at Mamma Gina's. We were a group of 10 adults, 1 child and 3 babies and it was still a success!
(4)
Amy D.

Simply the best Italian in the desert. Amazing northern Italian dishes and the best service. Family-owned and operated and you can totally tell - they treat you like a guest in their home. This is a can't-miss restaurant! They also have a beautiful new bar that you have to check out!
(5)
Karen Y.

this place is great for authentic tuscan italian. the decor is quite tasteful with large paintings on the walls. we sat facing a dining area set in a large wine cellar. my husband and i started with clams and mussels in a white wine reduction sauce. it was tasty and tender, not as good as dining in italy, but a very, very close second. seeing as we were all "family" we had a taste of what others had ordered: calamari fritti (good), bruchetta (had better elsewhere-best was in rome), and one friend had a dish i wish i had ordered: tomato bread soup- excellent! the half roasted duck here is excellent as well! perfect combination of crispy skin, sweet fig reduction sauce and tender duck meat. my husband decided on the veal chop after much consideration of trying the oso buca (next time). he loved it, ate almost all of the 1lb bone-in chop. also you may need a warning: the bistecca florentina is enormous! i mean the size of a 1" thick porterhouse. really good- reminded us exactly of how we were served in florence. pastas are all handmade, we have got to come back here to try them too. desserts are prepared in front of you on a cart, i was the only one brave enough to have some- a fruit tart. it was the only thing they served that didn't look like it was a thousand calories- but the other choices all looked excellent. corkage here is steep: $25/bottle. still worth bringing wine if you have something special (ie not what they offer), but their wine list has a great selection as well. another plus, if you eat too much, you can walk it off window shopping in this area too.
(4)
Pamela R.

Do get me wrong, the food is very good, the happy hour worthwhile, but I have a hard time going to Mama Ginas because ot the front of the house. The 2 hosts are extremely rude and arrogant. They have the attitude "I can't be bothered" when asking a question. I don't know about you but I certainly would like to go a restaurant where I feel welcome......
(2)
Steve H.

Lovely service, exceptionally pleasant atmosphere, easy parking in its own lot, and the best creme brulee I've ever had. THE SALADS are not described on the menu, beyond their titles ("Caesar" "Mamma's Chopped Salad" etc.), so be warned, they have plenty of anchovies in them. If you love anchovies, that's great. If you feel, as I do, that anchovies are probably really just tuna left in an open can in the hot sun for three or four days, be sure to ask before you order the salads. Mine looked very good but went uneaten. The pasta fagiola soup tasted so peculiar that after the (old Italian!) lady in our party who ordered it said "ugh!" and pushed it away, the other two of us tasted it as well and had to agree. The steaks, on the other hand, were quite good, though next time I think I'd go with my original plan and try the spaghetti bolognese. Overall, pleasant, BUT, ask about your food before you order it -- assumptions may lead you astray here.
(3)
Kim B.

I don't consider myself super picky, yet this was the worst restaurant I've been to in years. It seems all the rave reviews are for the happy hour/bar side of the restaurant to maybe that's the way to go. As for the restaurant ... I truly think you could get a better meal at a soup kitchen. I had the eggplant parmesan (can't remember the fancy name they give it- but that's basically what it is) and it was like a big ball of dough with a little eggplant and sauce. We were a party of 7 and the consensus was unanimous... save your money (as it's very pricey for soup kitchen fare) and go somewhere else! Also, we brought my Mom, who is in a wheelchair and the host was very put out that we did not let him know when we made the reservation that "she was handicapped". He was very loud and made his point several times to me. I appreciate that he had to make a bit more room to accommodate her but it was very hurtful and not the most pleasant way to be welcomed to a restaurant.
(1)
Lee R.

Although I can see that the atmosphere may work for some (a bit stuffy), I found the restraunt extremely overpriced and not very good. And then to top it all off I ended up with a stomach ache the rest of the night. I was overall not impressed.
(2)
Alex L.

This is the place for Italian! And dessert is ridiculous as well. Always part of my selection when I am planning on a nice meal out.
(5)
Steven K.

Authentic italian food that feels like a million bucks. This isn't your neighborhood pizza parlor, Ristorante Mamma Gina is elegant, rich and relaxed. Great for a long night of dining and sharing a bottle of the world's finest wines.
(5)
Jean-Marc H.

Excellent food, served adroitly by a kind and generous wait staff made a lovely dinner out with family a memorable one. Well done Mamma Gina's.We'll be back again soon! JM
(5)
Paul W.

May or may not be Ristorante's fault however the pictures of items on Yelp were not available. Found the selection limited and pricey for portions offered. The bright spot was the staff who where very friendly and helpful. Would not likely return.
(2)
Miss J.

This was the best cannelloni ever! Amazing food. Great service. Was packed during week. Would highly recommend reservations.
(5)
Ron And Anita T.

Happy Hour at Ristorante Mamma Gina's in Palm Desert was quite an experience! I've been in popular establishments before, but this place tops them all. Happy Hour takes place in the bar area, with a bar, dozen or so tables and some outside seating. So there can be a wait! Happy Hour in the bar is pretty much all the time, with wines at $5 and beers (bottles only) at $3.50. The six of us chose from a very large small plate menu, which included, all Italian dishes, pastas, pizzas, chicken parmesan and salads and all was good. Happy Hour here is a fun and a good value!
(4)
Dawn S.

Came looking for some great Italian food and we were told to try this... wow! We ended up eating in the Patio/Bar where the small plates were A M A Z I N G! I had the salad with poached pear... super delicious. Other diners LOVED the minestrone... I'll be back next month with my husband. Oh, did I mention the bread? REAL focaccia!
(4)
Niloo G.

YUM! Awesome service and delicious food. This quaint and traditional Italian restaurant is in the heart of Plam Desert and one of the best Italian restaurants I have been to. The service is exceptional and the food is delicious. If you visit Palm Desert regularly, live there or just happen to pass by, you should try this place. Trust me, you won't regret it. The portions are big enough to share and priced well. If you order an appetizer you can definitely share the food and walk out more than satisfied. The dinning room is very charming and looks like a family's restaurant, yet romantic.
(5)
Pat N.

A landmark in the desert. From crisp white tableclothes in an elegant setting to servers who understand the concept of customer service, Mamma is the best. And did I mention the food? Awesome comes to mind. The shrimp scampi with mashed potatoes and fresh spinach is sublime. For a real treat try the polenta. Or the Puttanesca. Or the black ink ravioli. There is not a bad choice. The staff is eager to accommodate special requests. I love the Pasta Piero, a past menu item that is no longer on the menu, but the chef is happy to prepare for us "old-timers". A true gem.
(5)
Scott B.

We knew it was going to be busy for a December 30th seating when you call at 4 on December 30th but we were able to get a reservation at 7:30 that night...my reservations started at 7 when we got to the restaurant....it was packed with at least 20 people stuffed in the entry angrily eying any newcomers to the place...I will say the maÃ®tre de was amazing...getting those who made reservations to their table on time while taking care of the locals. For the food, it was excellent (if pricey)...I had the branzini fish which was seared on one side but baked so that the other side was absolutely like butter...my wife had scampi and loved it...wine prices were reasonable...the only negative was the harried service and the fact they wedged another couple right next to us...probably a local with high seating expectations...both sins forgivable for the date and time of our meal...bellisimo
(4)
Daryn H.

Nice & long happy hour
(5)
Les B.

Pasta here is wonderful!! My most favorite part about this restaurant is the choice of seating...bar area versus restaurant. Great service and always friendly!!
(4)
Abby S.

My boyfriend and I were visiting Palm Springs recently and we were looking for a romantic night out at an Italian restaurant. We found Mama Gina and we were immediately impressed by the ambiance. We were quickly seated, which was a plus. However, being that it was late all we wanted to eat was appetizers and drink a couple glasses of wine. Our server was incredibly rude to us asking, "Just appetizers?!?" Never once was he affable or polite. He even returned to the table to ask in a rude tone, "More appetizers?" It was difficult to enjoy the evening with this kind of passive aggression. We even saw him say to another waiter, "Just appetizers!", in arrogant disgust. I had never had such horrible service in my life, by such a disrespectful waiter. The restaurant wasn't even busy inside. It just stinks that some of us who choose to spend our money of these kinds of places are met with such a disappointing experience. You couldn't pay me to ever return to this establishment ever again.
(1)
Robert M.

Our waiter was excellent. It wasn't busy on a Memorial day. I felt it to be a little more dressier than desert casual.
(4)
Soo K.

Have been going here every time I'm in the Coachella Valley. Great food, amazing happy hour, and great ambiance. Enough said. :)
(5)
Brian S.

Went there again and loved it BUT the prices in the dining room have definitely gone up significantly in the last year. Dinner for 4 was $320 incl tip for basically what we had last year which cost about $50 less and the appetizers were not only pricier but smaller portions. It was still packed and I found our table for 4 was way too crowded, I hope they aren't making the mistake of getting greedy over their success because we all know where that leads. I'll be sticking to the happy hour only in the future,
(4)
Alexandra R.

Another trip to our favorite Italian Restaurant, Ristorante Mamma Gina on El Paseo in Palm Desert. For our entrees we had Ravioli alla Mantovana - Homemade ravioli stuffed with oven-roasted butternut squash and cheese served with a fresh sage and butter sauce and Ravioli neri all' Aragosta - Homemade black ink ravioli stuffed with fresh ricotta cheese and lobster meat in a rosÃ© sauce. They were so good we didn't have time for pictures. We also indulged in multiple desserts, four to be exact, our favorites being the panna cotta and the napoleon. Which were both light and delicious. It is nice to finally find a place who makes their own pasta and reminds us of dining in Florence, Italy. And coincidentally they have another restaurant there as well!
(5)
Nicole C.

We love this restaurant. After trying other restaurants in the area from time to time we always go back to Mama Gina's. Love the food , atmosphere and excellent service. We have never been disappointed!!!
(5)
John P.

We have been going to Mama Gina for some years, but our last meal certainly left me wondering if this restaurant is worth the money paid. My wife ordered Pasta Fagioli and after tasting it, asked our waiter that the cannellini bean flavor was absent. His reply was to ask her a question - "Are you Italian?" She said no and he flippantly answered her, that is the way Italians prepare it in Tuscany. Here comes to rub, I've lived and worked in Italy for five years just outside of Florence! I spoke to him in Italian and explained the true difference. HIs reply was "that's the way it is". No offer to rectify the matter with another items! We wont be recommending them any longer!
(1)
Mitch W.

Awesome place!!! My friend, Raul's girlfriend Myra found this place on Yelp (of course)! We were a party of 7 and decided to try the Happy Hour at the Bar area of Ristorante Mamma Gina based on the awesome Yelp reviews. It's an everyday happy hour from 4:30PM till close. After a 30 minute wait, we got a table inside (outside available too) and were not disappointed. It's an extensive bar menu and the majority of the guys got the 10-oz cheeseburger for $5.90. Most items were between $5 and $9 and there were plenty of alcoholic drinks discounted too. It was cooked to order and an excellent choice after a long, hard day of tournament tennis. Others ordered soup, french fries, and pasta dishes. The food and service were both excellent! I highly recommend Ristorante Mamma Gina! We'll definitely be back next year when we visit the Palm Desert area. We practically closed the place we were having so much fun there. Xie Xie!!!
(5)
Momo W.

Great good. Really authentic italian. Tiramisu is best I ever had. The shrimp scampi is amazing. They made us a wedge salad even though its not on the menu. The veal piccata is great. Good service. Nice atmosphere.
(4)
Jim C.

We were totally underwhelmed. The place is elegant but in a very dated way. Your grandma Agnes would dream of meeting Bing Crosby here. In fact, everyone else in the restaurant was about Bing Crosby's age. The food was average at best--really below average if compared with other Italian restaurants. I had the veal piccata and the lemon sauce was goopy-thick and there was no finesse with the lemon. The accompanying spinach was too buttery and lacked flavor. My wife had the puttanesca and my daughter had the bolognese and both sauces had unusual and somewhat unpleasant flavors. The best comment I can make is that it was inexpensive given the happy hour prices. From 4:30-5:30pm you get three courses for $19.95 and $6 glass of wine. We are so happy to return to La Figue tonight. There is no reason to return here.
(2)
Jim C.

First off, let me say that the food my wife and I ordered was quite tasty, and the portions were generous. That having been said, it wasn't worth the money. A bowl of pasta -- no matter what's in it or how lovingly it was prepared -- should not cost $24. Also over-priced was a half-bottle of run-of-the-mill Chianti Classico that came in at $23. We were sat at a table opposite the booths, which meant that the wait staff was constantly breezing back and forth past our table. I didn't mind the smallish size of the dining room, but because of the layout of the booths/tables and the whooshing wait staff, it felt cramped -- almost like being in the dining room on a cruise ship, but on a much, much smaller scale. Finally, although the service was attentive, it also felt unnecessarily snooty. In my book, charging exorbitant prices for your food doesn't mean that you must appear standoffish. We may go back to the attached bar for happy hour some day, but this was our first and last trip for dinner.
(2)
Gina S.

So we finally made it to Mamma Gina's, it was great. We had a party of 12 and they put us in their back room. The food and service were excellent. When we walked in, we felt like we were in Little Italy. The host looked Italian and was so good looking, you almost didn't want to go to your table. The next time we are in the desert we can't wait to go back!
(5)
Danielle F.

Mamma Gina's happy hour is a home run! $5 wine, $3.50 beers. Pastas are $5 and cooked al dente. Bar environment is hopping and the service isn't terrible even though they are slammed between 4- closing given those are the happy hour hours. I really enjoyed my time here and had some nice wine and food at really great prices! (I did not eat in the dining room which is a completely different experience)
(5)
Tara B.

WOW! Amazing Italian food, old-fashioned service, and employees that really care! This restaurant is a bit pricey, but you get what you pau for. All homemade pastas, risotto, etc. The Mamma Gina house risotto was one of the best things I've ever tasted! So good that the other couple with us ordered one for themselves - in addition to the great dishes already in from of them. If you're looking for a high-end Italian restaurant with the best food, look no further!!!
(5)
CaroLe H.

The portion is very generous. The taste are pretty good but the service is very rough.
(3)
Brad J.

Delicious food. I had the squid ink pasta with calamari. Wonderful. My bro had the bolognese. Also delicious. Deserts were also great. My brother said it is the best tiramisu he has ever had.
(4)
Hutch H.

Can't go wrong with Mamma Gina happy hour,especially if you like to sample lots of different legit Italian flavors Tapas-style. Tonight we shared Wedge Salad Spaghetti & Meatballs, Calamari Milanese (strips of breaded squid steak), Shrimp scampi & spinach (to stir around in the scampi sauce with razor thin slices of garlic), And something new Risotto Asparagi (awesome!) See my pic of the happy hour menu for pricing. Laid back environment and easy seating in the limited bar area if you show up after 7. Most of he locals dine early it seems.
(5)
Lucia T.

Good wine list, diverse authentic menu and very efficient staff.Have the Veal Milanese or any of the pastas with a nice bottle of wine and soak in the ambience. Located on El Paseo it is a lively fun restaurant but with a refined class. Not the best food in the Desert but consistent.
(4)
Tanya G.

Nine of us had dinner and there was nothing left on the plates! The best filet I have ever had. Cooked perfectly.
(5)
Cherie G.

It was a very nice atmosphere. The food I ordered Risotto was al dente and a thick sauce which was rich and tasted like flour. The service was okay. I reserved a table and when I arrived the table was not even ready yet. I guess the highlight was that it was my bestirs birthday and that's where she wanted to go but for me never again.
(2)
George B.

Let me preface this review by saying that the next time I eat here I will probably bump this review up to 5 stars. I came with hardly an appetite so I did not enjoy my meal as much as I normally would have. I had an orichette dish which was very delicious, especially with a little cheese sprinkled on. I wish I had more of it that night but it was still great the next day. I also sampled the creme bulee and it was amazing. Service gets top marks as does the ambiance. I will be back.
(4)
Lauren B.

We have been coming here for 15 years and it's still a go to place ever time were in town because it's still just as good as it was in the old days, the red sauce is on point and the soups are all made in house and delicious. Oh, and the bread? YUM!
(5)
Marvelous M.

It was our first time in last night as we were celebrating our daughter's birthday and pre celebration of her High School graduation. Everything was perfect from the host to our servers. The food was amazing. We will definitely go back again. Cudos to the Host who was so kind, Roger, Carlos and Juan Carlos and the staff.
(5)
Magali B.

Definitely the best pasta I have ever had in the USA congratulations it has been a pleasure to dine here the service is perfect and the atmosphere is cozy and warm
(5)
Lila L.

I love this place. The food and service is spectacular. Truly one of best places in the desert. Can't wait to return. Thank you Mama Gina restaurant
(5)
Susan M.

Finding an open Italian restaurant in Palm Springs during July sure is difficult! We tried two other places before going to Mamma Ginas. Unfortunately it was too busy for that night, so we ended up going on Sunday. What a great find! Our waiter was Emanuele and he was very attentive. A 3 course Tuscan Feast was offered for just $24. It came with a choice of appetizer or salad, a main course and dessert. Both my mom and I had Caesar Salad to start and the Veal Piccata for dinner. She opted for vanilla ice cream, while I had the creme brulee. The salad was huge. The veal was perfect - lots of lemon and tender as could be. It came with creamed spinach and mashed potatoes, but since I had eaten all of my salad, I only ate the veal. The creme brulee was also yummy. It was huge - easily a portion for two! The decor is very nice, with several booths. There is also a bar area. The restrooms were clean and there was a huge onyx sink that was beautiful. I am glad those other restaurants were closed as it led us to Mamma Ginas We will definitely go back!
(4)
Adrienne K.

So, I'm pretty much going to drive 2 1/2 hours from San Diego everytime Im in the mood for Italian food and amazing service. My girlfriend and I were treated with white glove service by the wait staff, and even more graciously by the owner who continued to check in with us to make sure we were comfortable and enjoying our meals. The dining room is cozy and quaint, and the kitchen was so wonderful to customize our entrees which were not on the menu. We started with the burrata Caprese, followed by two pasta dishes to share. The Fettuccini Alfredo was mouth watering which had a perfected sauce that wasn't too heavy and a noodle perfect in weight and texture--almost paper thin, but not too heavy like a pappardelle. We also custom ordered a special Arrabiata sauce tossed in spaghetti, included with fresh homemade Italian sausage. Bellissimo! Needless to say, a good session of yoga & cardio was the first thing on our minds today! Every calorie was an experience, and well worth each bite!
(5)
Chris G.

Mangia, Mangia! My family was feeling Italian, and Mamma Gina delivered, as the Yelp reviews suggested might be the case. If you find yourself in the desert and you're also craving Italian, look no further. The food is outstanding, and so is the service. For entrees, my wife had the Veal Saltimbocca & clams, which was excellent. I had the Cioppino, and it was fantastic, which is a big compliment, this is a favorite meal of mine. Great broth, and it was filled with plenty of good stuff, including a huge crab claw, all the seafood was cooked perfectly. They made special Alfredo pasta for my girls, which was devoured. For dessert, they have a cart with several tempting treats. We couldn't resist the creme brulee, and it passed with flying colors. The top was a perfectly hardened sugar layer, and the filling was equally great. My girls had a spoon battle at the end to see who got the last little bit. If you're drinking wine, make sure to ask the waiter about his/her thoughts on a wine pairing. My waiter gave a great recommendation, and 2 glasses later I had a big smile. As for the ambiance, it's a great place for a date, or to take a well behaved family. The low lighting and intimate tables make for a classic setting.
(4)
Tony U.

Must have dinner here on every trip! Absolutely fantastic restaurant! Where do I begin: the service was fantastic (Bill was our Waiter) and his timing to come to our table was impeccable. We started with their Calamari, some of the best we had ever had, lightly battered and fried to perfection. For dinner my wife had Cannelloni alla Fiorentina and the only description that sums it up is that it "melted in her mouth". I had their Linguine Mare and it was fabulous, absolutely filled with shrimp, mussels, clams and salmon, and it was cooked to perfection. For desert we had their "Napoleon which was fabulous, It was light, flakey and filled with exquisite cream on the inside. Bill, you were the best!
(5)
Mehrnoush Y.

We were a party of 7 and walked in 15 minutes before closing on a Wednesday night. Everyone welcomed us and gave us a wonderful table. The service was wonderful and the food was amazing. The server and manager went out of their way to make the pastas and drinks we requested. I would definitely recommend this to restaurant and I will definitely go back next time I'm in town.
(5)
Theresa R.

Last night in Indian Wells. Finished off with veal and cannelloni for a pre - Valentines Day dinner. Both were delicious.
(4)
Michael L.

A nice Italian restaurant in the lower desert. My girlfriend knows I love Italian food and found this restaurant on Yelp. We end up liking our dinner and drinks. The hostess sat us in a cozy corner table which we greatly appreciated because it was date night. The server was friendly and gave good suggestions on the wine. We both got the night's special: seafood pasta for me and succulent steak for her. Oh the food was good and so was the service. Price wise it was not too expensive. Overall, we had a good night and will surely come back
(5)
Lee B.

I loved the Gorgonzola gnocchi! Our waiter, Emilio was an excellent waiter. Prices were a bit high but would definitely go there again if visiting Palm Springs.
(4)
Andrea G.

Went last night. They had our reservation written in pencil but missed it somehow so they gave our table away. They sat us in the corner by the exit, my view was of the waiter's station and men's bathroom. Nice! They made no attempt to apologize and told us it would take an hour to wait for another table. Such great customer service I don't think! Very, very, mediocre food but our waiter was awesome! This is an Italian food factory and we will not be going again.
(1)
Taylor D.

The last 3 times i've been here i've been beyond embarrassed and disappointed... I came here on Fathers Day to enjoy a nice dinner. Well, the only thing nice was the excellent service, but the food was completely disgusting. The veal was completely dried out, and both pasta dishes that I, and my dad ordered had absolutely zero flavor and was poorly made. I only use San Marzano tomatoes in my homemade sauces, but this tasted worse than Preggo and that's an understatement far from exaggeration. We only took 2 bites and pushed the plate aside for the garbage disposal. My father, a pro golfer on the champions pga tour, has probably eaten at more restaurants than days i've been alive, and he claims that this was the worst food for the money he's ever had in his life and plans on crossing this place off his list, which means a lot of other people he knows are gonna stay far away. Pretty unfortunate.. this place used to be good. I know the bar side is pretty fun and the drinks are always good, but this was a major let down on Fathers Day.
(2)
Nati B.

On a rainy Sunday afternoon I came to your place to have the early bird special. Bar was full so I ask to be sat outside. The very RUDE busboy having a very missable time out menu on the table not being very nice about it. I thank him and he didn't knowledge me. Got me bread (like he was doing me a big favor) Make me feel very uncomfortable. No good for business!!!!! Stay home if you don't like your job. Server and food-runner wonderful Thanks
(1)
Jo H.

What a gem. The service here was amazing, from the host Zaldi, and the entire wait staff-everyone made us feel so welcome. The food was superb. No matter what dish you order it's sure to be yummy. I'm sure their secret ingredient is love. We tried almost all of the deserts-again to die for. Definitely recommend for a nice romantic dinner or family dinner. Can't wait to come back.
(5)
Jennifer S.

Fantastic Old World Italian restaurant on El Paseo! We had a large team dinner here earlier this year and really enjoyed the entire experience. The private room was comfortable and warm, the service was great and the food was incredible. The saltimbocca alla romano was incredible - melt in your mouth good. We had an assortment of appetizers and desserts too and everything was worth the carbs and calories.
(4)
Audra R.

There are 2 restaurants here: Mamma Gina and Enoteca Bar 3 stars Mamma Gina- Its pretentious and stuffy. The waiter was a hard ass about making minor modifications that didnt affect his job or anyone's job, and they weren't that busy. The food overall was good. It was refined Italian, but the crowd was extremely old and snotty. Im not being an ageist- I love lord fletchers for example. Not my type of vibe or lame NY city style service here- that's all. 5 stars Bar Enoteca- Completely different than the dining room. The service was warm friendly and attentive. The hour hour/bar menu they have is INSANE! Smaller plates for $3-$13. Everything you could imagine and oddly none of the good items are on the mamma gina menu, huh? Dinner for 4 with plenty of cocktails and too much food was $120. Get her super early or late and the wait wont be too long. Very cool place!
(5)
Ron G.

Nice place with a nice vibe. Greeted and seated upon arrival we ordered drinks and their Ceasar salad which were pleasant offerings. My wife and I both ordered pasta my bolonaise arrived perfectly presented but my wifes carbonara arrived very dry and unappealing..Thankfully our host Zaldy swung by our table to see how we were doing. He had the carbonara remade to my wifes satisfaction and appologized for their missing the mark on her pasta. I must say we also found the service a bit spotty. Server was hard to find when needed. And during our meal I ordered a second glass of wine that never came. This is really a lovely place we look forward to seeing if they can raise they're game...
(3)
Daniel V.

Excellent food, excellent staff.. Chicken Parmesan was very good.. I will be returning next time I'm in Palm Springs..
(4)
Debra S.

When we saw the matre'de for our reservation (made by the concierge at the Ritz Carlton), he gave us an uninviting lecture that we had a 6:15pm reservation and had to be out by 8:15pm because they had later reservations. I understand this is how restaurants work, but my husband and our two teenage children did not need this stress or pressure as we entered the restaurant to enjoy our New Year's Day Dinner. Further, we were sat with no menus and were not seen by a waiter for at least 10 minutes, which would be fine under normal circumstances, but we were told we needed to HURRY! We requested a wine list and that took a long time as did the rest of our appetizers. It was a New Year's Day miss.
(3)
Shannon R.

I go here every time I come to Palm Springs. The menus in the bar is fabulous! Smaller portions (still plenty) and VERY reasonably priced. Their red sauce is what dreams are made of!
(5)
Vicki N.

I've joined the chorus. This place rocks it at Happy Hour. It is delicious.Service could be a bit better, but the place does get jammed. I got the shrimp--delicious. This is a casual, fun place with great energy to match the great plates and Happy Hour.
(4)
Jeff G.

This may be the best restaurant in the area. I've been twice. The ambiance is a pleasure, with an all-male waitstaff. Not that it makes a substantive difference, but there is a certain gravitas that comes with it that is kind of nice for a night. The veal chops are unparalleled, and the calamari appetiizer is excellent. I also love the great mix of people dining. Some young, some seniors, some in the middle, and everyone having a good time. Book a table in advance.
(5)
Betty M.

Delicious food and wonderful wine. We brought our teenage boys here for dinner, and they left full. We all had the Tuscan feast prix fix menu., which included an appetizer, entree, and dessert. The pasta dishes were prefect. I had the cannelloni and my boys both had the fettuccine Bolognese. My husband had the veal picata. The tiramisu was amazing. I had the house Chardonnay and my husband had the house Cabernet. Both wines were excellent. Service was prompt and friendly.
(5)
Nate H.

I've heard much about the happy hour in the bar, but I guess it's over popular, as there was a waiting list and many waiting on benches to be sat in the bar. Never a fan of lines, we took a table in the dining room since we were there. Very nice room with linen tablecloths and napkins and everyone nicely dressed...much nicer than those waiting for happy hour deals in the bar! We ordered a cocktail, then dinner. First red flag, random waiters. Our entrees arrived before our cocktails. I ordered the manicotti which arrived lukewarm. As did my husband's pasta. They both were well prepared, and rich. Pastas were cooked perfectly, even if not at right temperature. One of us ordered a martini and the unused wine glass was not removed until the end of the meal during table clearing. It appeared we were not a priority during our visit, as we felt rushed while other tables who appeared to be regulars, where very well catered to. Even with the lack of interest in having us as guests, I fell for the dessert cart! The Napoleon looked amazing and it was. Flaky pastry and heavenly cream filling. I would come again, but might get in early to try the enoteca (bar) side. Or at least make a VIP Open Table reservation to see if the service warms up...as well as the food.
(3)
Kristen W.

I'm surprised this restaurant has so many positive reviews. Came here with a party of 6 while visiting from LA last month; we've all traveled Italy and have dined at a million Italian restaurants. None of us were impressed with anything that we ordered and the service was not good or friendly at all. For apps we had a Caesar salad and the Saporita (poached pear salad). The Caesar was bland, the pear on the pear salad did not taste good at all; it tasted like it had just come out of a can. We really wanted a pizza and was surprised they don't have that on their menu or on the bar's menu next door. Hmmmmm On to dinner: I ordered the salmon. The sides offered were mashed potatoes and spinach. I asked if I can sub the potatoes for something else because I wanted to eat lighter; I recieved a stern "no" from the waiter who didn't care to offer an explaination with his answer. WTF? Another person in my party also ordered a different fish and asked him the same question (obviously not hearing what had happened with me a minute prior) to which he got the same answer. It reminded me of that Seinfeld episode with the soup nazi..."no soup for you!" Ok man, whatever. The salmon ended up being very basic and I did not eat my mashed potatoes so they got wasted. After our dinner arrived at our table we did not see our waiter ever again; nobody came by to ask how our meals were or if we needed anything. The restaurant literally cleared out of all staff and the restuarant turned into a ghost town within a matter of minutes. When we were done eating we had to flag down a bus boy (which took about 10 minutes to even spot one) to ask someone to bring our check. This is SO UNACCEPTABLE!!! What kind of restaurant allows their server to leave their table of patrons without saying "I'm leaving for the night...so and so is gonna take over if you need anything"?! This guy was a real a-hole and obviously the restaurant is poorly managed later in the evening. We would have left a very minimal tip, but we felt bad for the bus boys who obviously share tips with unfortunate a-hole servers like ours. Would not recommend this place for food or service. There's a million other restaurants on El Paseo to spend your $$$ at. Good luck!
(2)
Jennifer M.

Yes it really did happen. The waiter could barely be bother to tell us the specials, he pointed to the menu and said they are all on there. The spinach was terrible, I mean terrible. We ordered appetizers because it took over half an hour to get our waiter back, we better get food now, and I was right. I am responding to your response, and only because you are calling me out. I was there with three others, perhaps I should have them all review so you can tell them it is our imagination. Our waiter looks like Paul Gaultieri from the Soprano's show, look it up you will know who your employee was. The service was worse than the food, I assure you I experienced it.
(1)
WA S.

Seems like a fun place, but I wasn't impressed with the food or the service. I ordered a dirty martini, but it came with vodka... kind of a rookie mistake for a bartender. All bartenders and servers should know that when you order a "martini" the default is gin. The only time you should put vodka in a martini is when someone orders a "vodka martini". I sent it back and got a real martini, so that was all good, just a little amateurish. Secondly, I don't eat meat or dairy. It's almost always so simple to find something vegan to eat at Italian restaurants in the USA because of good old pasta, olive oil, and vegetables. So, I asked the server if they could make me a small dish with just noodles, cooked veggies and toss it in minced garlic and olive oil. His reply: "Well... ummm... what vegetables?", to which I said, "I don't know, whatever you have back there? Zucchini, mushrooms, tomatoes, etc.". He continued to kind of imply that they can't do that. WHAT? What cook can't do that??? I didn't want to hold up the rest of my table at this point, so I let them all order. Then when he came back to me he pointed at another part of the menu, from which I ordered the "special", which was Pasta Primavera. I mean... it was a medium sized bowl with pasta and vegetables in it, for $24! Did he not want me to custom order a small bowl of noodles and sauteed vegetables because I'm supposed to pay 2-3 times more than it actually should cost because it's the "special"? Disappointing and just a little bit absurd.
(2)
Green G.

Ouch guys. Poor follow-up experiences. I'm dropping this from 5/5 to 3/5. Our great initial experience has been trumped by 3 consecutive poor experiences. Management still is on top of their game, but the wait staff is visibly unmotivated, the bar staff disinterested in helping guests, and the kitchen inconsistent. One of the best things I've ever tasted is Mama Gina's Ravioli Funghi, (mushroom Ravioli), but I've had the serving size range from 9 - 5 - 3. 3 ravioli is not a meal guys. You should never have let that leave the kitchen. The server didn't check on us once, and tried to pass off my request for extra blue cheese stuffed olives in my Martini as inconsequential. I had to request olives and blue cheese on the side and make them myself. I overheard the bartender say he wasn't willing to give extra olives, and looked at me with distaste. I tried flagging down wait staff several times, and despite making eye contact; was ignored. The coup-de-grÃ¢ce was the downright rude food runner (short hair, mustache, Hispanic looking, worked in lounge 7/14/15). Two encounters with him was 2 too many. This person should NOT be in the service industry. Lastly, had to ask for water refills, more bread, and silverware. All things that shouldn't require asking. Shape up fellas. Management, chefs, and blog-writing customers expects more.
(3)
Dean R.

Most horrible experience I have ever had at a restaurant of this caliber. I am going to write a very detailed review of my experience here at Mama Ginas on Saturday evening of the 23rd. We will never come back here again. My husband and I had not been to Palm Springs in over 20 years and decided to make it our getaway for the Memorial Day weekend. It also just happened to be that a coworker of mine was going to be in Palm Springs so we decided a week in advance to make reservations so our husbands could meet each other as well. Here we go!!!!!!!!!! Our server George slammed our menus on the table which I didn't pay much attention at first. He took about 25 minutes before he came to take our order. When he did come to take our order we all had questions because the food had different names than like an Olive Garden or small Italian restaurant. So my husband asked about a item on the menu which he wasn't sure what it was as he was in the mood for Chicken Fettuccine. When he asked George he rudely replied in a rushing manner " it's not on the menu but if that's what you want we'll make it and grabbed the menu out of his hand while he still had it opened. He looked at me and I said I wanted a spaghetti with meat sauce but didn't see it on the menu in plain English and I asked and he said rudely,sharply, and rushingly that it was the spaghetti bolognese and took my menu. Then he asked my coworker what she was having and she had a question on the fish plate and asked if it was real fishy? And he replied" it's fish what do you think it's going to taste like its fish, do you want that or something else!!!! I mean so rude Then he got to my coworkers husband and he just had the Linguini with peppers. He left and when he brought our drinks we were out of bread and when we asked for more bread he gave us a nasty face. We had to ask several times for refills on the 2 husbands diet cokes when at the last he brings this gallon size glass full of diet coke and slams it on the table as if to say-You want more diet coke buddy well here you go. I mean it was so obvious. So we finish and ask for the bill and we wanted to pay with 2 credit cards(each couple) and he says in a loud tone " you should have told me in the beginning and puts his bill with our credit cards in hand and he swings his hand in the air with the credit cards that go flying across the dining area because he became very upset. So he comes back with 2 separate bills which was fine but did not have accurate items of what each of us had ordered-everything was mixed up. At this point we don't want to cause an even bigger seen so I call the manager over and we explain what happened and he says "well deserts on the house.". We didn't want a free desert. He acted like it wasn't a big deal. Needless to say neither of us tipped him, we all left very upset and tense and it was a horrible, embarrassing experience that evening especially my husband meeting my coworker and her husband for the first time with this type of unacceptable, rude, obnoxious inappropriate behavior caused by our server in Palm Springs on our Memorial Day weekend which we could have gone anywhere else but chose there because it seemed like a well to do restaurant. NEVER AGAIN. We would have done better going to The Olive Garden!!! I really hope the owners really read these reviews and see what's going on in their restaurants and how they lose customers and how these types of reviews can effect a business. This server needs a very serious coaching and additional training.
(1)
Dan A.

When I first heard about this restaurant from my friends, I was very excited to dine here. The dining area was spacious and pleasing. The food was excellent and the deal for the early meal was incredible. That being said, if your friends are running late, expect the staff to be less than cordial. It's understandable the frustration that may stir amidst the staff when a table of early diners take up space well into the busy dining hours. However, this does not call for the reaction of the wait staff to ignore your table rather than service it. Neither does it call for the help staff to ignore you when you finally wave them down to fill a glass of water, and after saying "thank you," refusing to respond to your words of gratitude. It most certainly does not call for a continued dismissals of gratitude when a guest is being cordial. For a classy restaurant such as this, one would hope that those who service it will be reminded the importance of treating its diners with the utmost respect and patience that I am certain is given to any diner who does not inhibit the flow of the dining room. As for me, feeling disrespected and ignored is not an appetite I would chance again anytime soon.
(2)
Cameron K.

Not bad, but I feel this could have been better. There were six of us crammed into one of those circular booths, seemed odd when there were plenty of 6 top tables and the place was hardly jumping. Our server was very impatient and edgy and I swear he was putting on accent because it seemed to change throughout the evening. The food was pretty good, we all got the early bird thing, $19 for appetizer (soup, salad or calamari, nice) entree and dessert. I got a caesar, steak and creme brule. All three were definitely worth getting again. And seriously, what is the point of putting the women's room on one side of the restaurant and the men's room as far as possible the other direction? SMH.
(4)
Ryan M.

Don't listen to the bad reviews. This place really is one of my favorite to dine. It never fails to impress out of town guests with their impressive happy hour menu. Iv never had bad service, although I almost always have the same waitress (Marry) who is amazing. Make sure you try the chicken parmesan, actually, try it's all great. Try everything!
(5)
Maria S.

Best dinner ever! I love coming here. The food is always amazing and I can't stop talking about it. If you want to taste heaven order the "Napoleon" for dessert. I love the restaurant. Mamma Gina's thanks for always being so delicious.
(5)
Shae C.

Had a very nice time here with family. So thankful I made reservations too as it was packed when we arrived. Maitre'd was amazing. Waitstaff was a bit impatient with us as we were trying to decide which bottle of wine to order. Dinner was good and dessert was delicious. Next time I'm in town I might just drop in for coffee/dessert and call it a night.
(4)
Marie E.

Ma dove Ã¨ finita la cucina autentica? Nothing but the menu is Italian. Service is somehow weird and food doesn't taste anything. As the restaurant has been fully booked I can't get around affirming that the customers have no idea of what Italian cuisine should look like.
(1)
Ralph C.

Enjoyed our dinner Friday night after our movie. Excellent dinner! Just wanted to thank the staff and some customers who helped find my wife who has Alzheimer's. She had gone to the ladies room and instead of coming back to the table, wondered outside and was found in a bar a few doors down. She doesn't drink and just got lost. I usually wait outside the ladies room, but was a little late getting there. Thank you and God Bless! Ralph Cicurel
(5)
Bruce F.

Italian dinner at it's best presentation. The waiter was nice enough to split our orders on salad and entree. Green Salad was traditional style, in small pieces and mixed with a light dressing and some capers. Bread was hot with crunchy crust, excellent. We were not very hungry so we ordered eggplant parmigiana, shared. The eggplant has excellent flavor and very tender, all cooked through with cheese throughout. Oven baked and slightly burned crusty top. Excellent. Served with their marinara sauce that hard rich home cooked flavor. Dessert Tirimisu was just perfect. The best. Very light, powder chocolate on top, just fantastic. $55 for two including one glass of wine. By the way, the Matre'De looks just like Tony Benett. The waiter was excellent, always attentive. Great ambiance
(5)
Donald W.

Just had a very abrupt conversation with Gino the manager. I was given a $25 promotional gift certificate that unfortunately expired 2 days ago when asked if the certificate could be extended "we didn't get any money for those so no". The whole point of the certificate was to get people in the door so I guess this place does not need business in off season. Very poor business relations especially to locals.
(1)
Laurence K.

It second visit here and it was very very good ! Started with antipasto actually a double order prosciutto cheese olives artichoke hearts salami and other meats. Very tasty. I had a kale salad with olives cheese and a tart lemony vinegarete. Jim had mixed green with Italian and Darlene had the caprese salad which looked wonderful. Entrees I had the sautÃ©ed shrimp over linguine , which was awesome the chimp 6 of them were so fresh and large I literally had to cut into 3 bites . Jim had the butternut squash ravioli. Which I tasted and was delicious . Cynthia had a pasta with sausage and mushrooms whichever looked really good and Darlene had the veal a slipping which was also very good! Dessert we skipped , no room , but they have a cart , old school, but cool. Wine we had le creme pino noir which was very tasty. This is a definite try if your looking for good solid Italian food .
(5)
Norm G.

This place is certainly one worth dining at while in the area. Get in around 4pm to get a table, as it fills up early. We had a party of 9 and had a fabulous time. We enjoyed a happy hour Martini which was great, however the Chicken Parmesan was one of the best I have ever had. Served simply with mashed potatoes, it was excellent. Whether looking for a quick bite while shopping El Paseo or getting together with a group, this priced right restaurant is worth all the stars, some of the supporting wait staff could've been a bit friendlier for the final star.
(4)
Michelle R.

Five stars for authentic Italian cuisine. Delicious!!! I ordered the butternut squash stuffed ravioli with a lemon sage sauce. It was so tasty and just amazing!!! To start they brought us some crusty bread with olive oil and balsamic vinegar and then they brought some olive tapenade which was also delicious! Highly recommended! Can't wait to go back to try some other dishes:)
(5)
Crissy L.

The good: The servers were really attentive-- bringing us another basket of bread when they saw we finished it and always making sure our water glasses were full. The bread was really good (although the foccacia was a tad bit on the salty side). The meh: The only hiccup wtih service was at the end of our meal when it took quite awhile for us to get someone's attention to get our check. We were clearly done with our meal and waited for maybe 10 minutes. What really bothered me was it took a very long time to get our check.... and it seemed like it was juuuust long enough for someone to come by and try to sell us dessert, even though we had already asked for our check and didn't want any. Funny how quickly we got our check after we said no to dessert. The bad: Nearly $60 for two bowls of pasta primavera (simply just penne pasta, red sauces, and some chopped up veggies-- nothing fancy at all)?! Yikes. I can't justify paying that much for a simple bowl of pasta ever again. ------------------------- EDIT: Just to clarify, when I say that it was nearly $60 for two bowls of pasta primavera, I mean that my total bill for the night was almost $60, and all I got was two bowls of pasta primavera. So that includes tax and tip.
(2)
J C.

Food is excellent. Tip: Eat in the bar during happy hour for the incredible prices and food. Service is excellent and fun place.
(5)
Elizabeth D.

I like the happy hour as you typically get great food for the price. On the full service dinner side, the price is just too high for what they serve. Given the success of happy hour, the food is becoming less consistent. One time, I got the chicken parm and spinach and it was excellent. The next time, the chicken parm was drowning in oil and the spinach was under seasoned.
(3)
Jayne C.

SMALL WORLD! We ate at the Mama Ginas in Firenze, Italy about a year and half ago and we found that they have a place here in the desert! Wow I'm so happy to know this place is here and it's just as fabulous as their place in Florence.. My husband surprised me today and brought me here, they even made us the delish Campari and orange drink that Italy is so well known for. We will definitely be back. The staff is amazing and very accommodating and the food is amazing too!
(5)
James G.

Excellent. If I am in the area, I will definitely come back.
(4)
Chelsey O.

I walked in a bit confused. There is a fancier fine dining side to the restaurant on the right and then there is the more casual side to the left. On the left it is a first come first serve basis. I sat on this side. It has a patio and bar area. There is a Happy hour that runs from 11:30 to 2pm and 4pm to close on Monday thru Saturday. And 4 to close on Sundays. Mind, I came in at 1pm on a Friday, not busy in the restaurant. I read a review to try the salmon so I ordered it. I actually really wanted a salad. Ill have to come back for the frutti di mare. That one sounds good. The salmone has a choice of scampi or diavolo. I asked the server which is a better option and he suggested the scampi. The presentation of the salmone was poor. See the attached photo. It just doesn't look like the chef put any care for the looks. Taste was delicious, so maybe he thought the taste would make up for the lack of presentation. About the service: I came in and walked to the table in the back on the patio. It was the only option open at the time. As I watched the server, he seemed like he was the only one covering the floor today, a little overwhelmed. He looked at me a few times and he still hadn't brought out the menu until ten minutes later. Then someone else brought me two waters, although I was dining alone. I figured it would probably take a while to get my order taken, and I was right. Another ten minutes passed and then the server came back. It just seemed like the server was pulled in many directions. I would come back to try the rest of the menu and probably see if there was another server working. It wasn't bad here, it just wasn't exceptional.
(3)
Ronda W.

My friends and I came here on Mother's Day. I felt like being fancy so I drove us to El Paseo and we walked to see what stood out to us, then I remembered that I'd always heard good things about Mamma Gina's, so I decided that's where we'd go. However, I think my hunger reached my brain and I entirely forgot that it was Mother's Day until we went inside and the host asked if we had a reservation. I nervously said no and began thinking about how to delicately extract my group from the situation in case no tables were available, but that turned out to be unnecessary, and we were seated in less than five minutes. I ordered a glass of wine, and no appetizers, as the bread that was delivered to our table was absolutely delicious. I wanted to ask for another basket of it, but I was 1)afraid I'd fill up on bread and not have an appetite, and 2) worried that the server would think we were too broke to afford the entrees. But still...do you think I can go back and just get the bread? I don't know, maybe because it was the first thing I'd eaten all day is the reason why it was so good. I couldn't make up my mind on which pasta dish to get, so I got the pollo al matone. The chicken was delicious and juicy, I wish they came with more roasted potatoes because they were so good! As soon as I can, I'll come back. But seriously, do you think they'll let me just come and eat the bread?
(5)
Kym C.

Absolutely wonderful! Great atmosphere, yummy food, great service! Very happy with our evening and dinner at Mamma Gina. This will be one of our regular stops when in PD.
(5)
Delcie H.

What an outstanding meal we had here! I yelped 'wine bar' and this came up. It appears to have merged with the wine bar next door but we ate on the restaurant side. So glad we did! Pricey meal but outstanding. I had the sand dabs special in a white lemon garlic sauce (picante) which was excellent! My husband had veil saltemboca (sp?) and a side of the wild mushroom soup. He said the veal was fantastic. I don't eat the baby cow so I'll take his word for it. The soup however, I did try and it was out if this world! We had a lively bottle of Bianco to complement our meal and a fruit tart to finish it off. Bill was about $140 so a bit on the pricey end but well worth it. I would not call the attire her casual. My husband was in jeans and felt very under dressed. The sign on the door said desert casual, not sure what that is but slacks for the fellas was the norm.
(5)
A H.

The only thing that overshadowed the great food and fun atmosphere was our server Jennifer We have had her numerous times but always impressed She is efficient and just warm Great smile I have heard service is better and more fun in bar I don't know that first hand but I would recommend the bar I was brought up in an Italian neighborhood in NYC so I know know Italian food and it is superb And so reasonable They need to being back the old bread with the tomatoes though Thanks Jennifer !
(5)
Hrepsime B.

Was in Palm Desert for the weekend from LA to visit some friends and they brought me here for happy hour. This place is amazing. I loved everything about this place. The food, the atmosphere, the service! They have a variety of great food during happy hour. I had there wedge salad and the lobster ravioli. I'm a huge fan of Creme Brulee and one word to describe there's... "WOW". This is the place for amazing Italian food in the area. I will definitely be coming here whenever I'm in town!
(5)
Barbara B.

Had an early dinner in Mama Gina's a short while ago. After ordering drinks we were presented with the menu. After perusing the menu we decided that we would order but only after confirming that the meat is free range. Our waiter was not aware so he called another colleague who's attitude was close to being aggressive. His words were "what do you expect for $19.95???? And his next curt statement was that our bottled water was free range. Can he be any more insulting??? If we would not have been entertaining a guest we would have walked out, never to return. We should have done just that How insulting, inappropriate and down right nasty!!! Do they not teach their waitstaff manners? An absolutely nightmarish experience.
(2)
Liz P.

Amazing italian food in the heart of Palm desert! Great happy hot deals too! The service was great and will definitely come back next time we are in the desert. If you are looking for some classic, comfort italian food at good price value I would definitely suggest trying this place!
(5)
Jess R.

Having been brought up in an Italian neighborhood in Brooklyn, I am extremely judgmental in regards to Italian restaurants, and critical of a vast majority of California establishments that in my opinion fall woefully short of my expectations of what fine Italian dining shoul be. That said, Mama Gina's is absolutely one of my very favorite Italian restaurants in our country, right up there with Rao's, Angelo's (NYC), Tomaso's (Phoenix), Cafe Portonfino (Kauai), and Casa Di Amore (Vegas). Everything is spot on in this Florence based restaurant, from the atmosphere to the attentive wait staff to the incredible cuisine. This evening, my wife and I feasted on the bread with olive oil, balsamic and tapenade, the delicious salad saporita with poached pear, walnuts, and blue cheese, the incredible linguini carbonara, the absolutely humongous crispy paper thin veal chop milanese, Mama Gina's unsurpassed napolean, along with a perfect cup of espresso for dessert - need I say more? A feast worth gaining three pounds over - you can work it off tomorrow. Please do yourselves a favor and order a variety of courses/dishes to be shared family style. Simply put, Mama Gina's rates a 10 out of 10, borderline 11.
(5)
Julie M.

The small plates are superb!!! Happy hour prices all day on food. Wait staff is the BEST!!!
(5)
R T.

Classic Italian. They were very accommodating in seating us an hour ahead of our reservation. No complaints from our group on the food. The bread basket at the start was warm and delicious.
(4)
Paul O.

We have been to Mamma Gina's twice in the last month and enjoyed the happy hour menu tremendously. The food is first class delicious and plentiful. I will say that sitting in the bar area may get a little noisy but the patio seating, usually for a party of two is cozy and quieter. Start off with a drink or not, they present you with a really good bread basket that you cannot help but to ask for a second helping? I'm writing this review and getting hungry. If I hurry Mamma Gina opens in 35 minutes.
(5)
Wayne S.

Love their Cannelloni. Best I have ever had. I am sure everything else is wonderful but I can't resist the perfection they show with this dish.
(5)
Clarence D.

Went for Happy Hour Thursday. Sat at the bar. The place was very busy. We ordered the fried calamari to share, a salad, and a pasta dish (bolognese for me and meatballs for my friend). The calamari was excellent but took about 30 minutes. The salads were also very good, but took another 30 minutes. The pasta never arrived. After an additional 45 minutes we cancelled our entrees. Evidently, this restaurant is not equipped to serve large crowds. One of the pasta dishes arrived as I was paying the bill. They put it in a "to go"container and did not charge for it. Bottom line, be prepared to wait....and wait for your food during Happy Hour Thursday. Perhaps the table service would have been better.
(2)
Stacey M.

Authentic Italian food, perfect sized portions served from the happy hour menu served all day on East side of restaurant (cheap) ambiance authentic, food delicious and its on beautiful El Paseo! My new fave!
(4)
Adolfo E.

Very much less then impressed. Service, they don't have any. The seafood salad was composed of canned shrimp and previously (recently) defrosted calamari. Never going back!
(2)
Maggie B.

How incredibly rude and arrogant is the "reply" from Mamma Gina's! My dinner companion has travelled the world and has visited Italy many, many times. While I haven't eaten in Italy, I have eaten at L'Arpege in Paris (a 3 Michelin starred restaurant) so I think I know what good food is. We were fed slop. My companion's mashed potatoes were watery and bland. My polenta (which I make frequently as I am an accomplished chef) was also bland and slop. We learned why those sides looked as they did when the dessert "cart" came around. Even in my high school cafeteria in the '60's I've never seen anyone scoop up something with the consistency of tiramisu with a large, utilitarian, serving spoon and plop it loudly and messily on a plate and pretend it is good cooking. We were shocked. This is not a restaurant to eat at, especially when a customer advises them what went wrong and is then insulted by the management for not "appreciating real Italian food". Why hasn't the owner offered to meet with us in person and take note of our concerns instead of writing a reply that insults two very sophisticated diners from another country?
(1)
Cathy W.

We had dinner at Mama's and enjoyed a delicious Italian dinner. I had eggplant ravioli which was great and another in our party had Osso Bucco (sp?) and he said it was very good. Service is great and wine selection was good. Enjoyable dinner!
(4)
K G.

We had a fantastic meal with great service from Max. My daughters declared the spaghetti the best ever and my husband loved his veal parmigiana. I had chicken piccata which was also very good. Will be back next time!
(5)
Lupe B.

Great Italian restaurant. Made reservations in a second via yelp. Fast service and had the best waiter. What a nice guy. Food was amazing. The calamari appetizer was delicious. Dessert was, of course, the bomb. Will definitely come here again.
(5)
Lauren K.

Food was great. If Yelp allowed half stars, I would rate Mamma Gina's 4 1/2. I would only dock that last half a star because it was a little slow. We were seated quickly upon arrival in a booth near the windows. The decor was cute and the staff friendly. We ordered a half bottle of red wine, and proceeded to have a three-course meal. I ordered the caprese salad to start, and my boyfriend had the melon with prosciutto. For entrees, I had the linguine mare, and he had the lobster ravioli. Both were delicious. For dessert we split the creme brulee (very very good), and the profiteroles (not great). The check was a little more expensive that I thought, but I would definitely come back next time I'm in the area.
(4)
William G.

Bar very Kool. Restaurant. Just SoSo. Nothing special. And overpriced. Probably won't go back or recommend must be 50 better Italian places in the valley
(3)
Amy C.

For Sherman's in palm Springs. Food was great and the service was terrific. The pastrami was great the cabbage soup and matza ball soup were terrific. We feel soup and 1/2 of sandwich is the way to go for lunch. The combo sandwiches were huge. We will deffinity be back
(4)
Erik A.

I came here on 12/162014 because I have been here many times before. The ambient at the lounge side at Mamma Gina is fun, and exciting, however this time I was seated in the restaurant for dinner. The food was great no regrets, I ordered a soup because it was cold outside, and I wasn't really that hungry. My only problem this time was with the waiter that served me. He appeared to stare at me in a way that made him look racist, I ignored him at best, but did make my experience feel a little uncomfortable to say the least. I think a class of ethnic diversity, and tolerance 101 coild be of grate benefit for this place.
(2)
Gail C.

I recently went to Florence, Italy - but did not go to Mamma Gina's there. It was lovely to have a good taste of Italy in Palm Desert. Their mushroom pasta was especially divine. Overall, a little pricey (didn't pay as much for the real thing in Italy), but would still recommend.
(4)
Lauren C.

Tried happy hour here on the advice of a local, which runs 4 pm to close. Crowded on a Wednesday night! Luckily there were 2 spots left so we took one in the back. First impression: the look is a little dark for my taste and oldy-worldly. But lively and pleasant. Guests seem happy. The happy hour menu here is EXTENSIVE. Wow. It's like a full dinner menu but in miniature prices - many dishes in the $5 to 8 range. Not much above $10. We order the house chianti - which is very ORDINARY. Not really surprised for $5. What did surprise us was the food we tried. We weren't particularly hungry so we just sampled 2 items. Spaghetti bolognese and spaghetti carbonara. When they brought it to our table, we were a little shocked. The serving size was at least double what I expected for $6. The quality was very good. The pasta was PERFECTLY al dente and the sauces on both were strong in character. We actually liked it enough and the portion was of sufficient size that we had to take some home! Need to mention that the service here was EXCELLENT. Probably the best service I have had in any restaurant in many months. FRIENDLY. EFFICIENT. Made you want to come back again. Other restaurants could learn a thing or two about service from Mamma Gina's. Not sure I get this whole happy hour thing, but I will be back for the food. And the service. And maybe happy hour!
(4)
Donna O.

We come to Palm desert around May every year. We make it a point to come to Mamma Gina's. The early specials are great! YOu get three courses for a good price. I had the Caprese Salad, Fillet Minigon and Tiramusu, all excellent! My husband had fried Zuchinni, Meat Bolinegse pasta, creme brulee,,wonderful Eating here is like you went to you friends moms house. The food is so fresh and just like homemade. I did not get the minestrone soup but when I had before it was the best I have ever had. The dining room is wonderful and the staff are very attentive. One of the best places to eat at in Palm Desert. If you eat later in the evening call and make a reservation. You will be glad you did!
(5)
Hector H.

I went in with my friend Adolfo and he was not impress but I thought my plate was pretty good and enjoyed it very much .
(4)
NS H.

Editing this review because the manager contacted us apologizing for poor experience. We will be trying this place again & appreciate restaurants who are receptive and value patrons. Food is ok. Gnocchi wasn't cooked through and had a strong dough taste/texture. However the dessert was good (shared cheesecake and creme brÃ»lÃ©e') Service wasn't friendly. Atmosphere, while very nice, we were surrounded by flies.. One landed on my lip and that kinda ended the experience for me.
(3)
Lynn S.

Excellent as always!!!! Great eggplant Parm. Zucchini fries, Caesar salad...all wonderful
(4)
Steven P.

Ate here for the first time. Went for happy hour and not only were the drinks good but the food was as well. Great gluten free options. Be sure to sit in Jennifer's section, she awesome!!
(4)
Roy S.

Great ambiance. Good service. Excellent food. Menu has great options for vegans, gluten-free, allergic people and gourmets.
(4)
Amy O.

One of the best deals in town (if you sit on the bar side). Amazing selection of pasta's, small portions but perfect for the $7-10 range. Can't beat the $5 wine and desserts either. The Bolognese is truly delightful, also tried the Saporito Salad with poached pear and kiwi vinaigrette. The Gorgonzola gnocchi and ravioli neri are quite tasty! My favorite is the cappuccino ice cream for dessert. The downside is out of the roughly 10 times we've visited, the service has been poor 60% of the time. There never seems to be enough help on the bar side.
(4)
Tami B.

Mama Gina's is a go to place in the desert for excellent pasta! I've gone numerous times, but get the same entree every single time: lobster ravioli! It is the best I've had!! It's just the right amount of creamy and has a perfect pink sauce and lobster is scrumptious! I think I could eat it everyday! My friends and family have had various other entrees from veal to salmon to steak and the bolognese. I just love mine so much that I can't order anything else! The servers have been known to be snotty at times. It's not a constant problem and it's something I'm willing to put up with for my ravioli! Bread is really good! A perfect preview for the meal.
(5)
Jessica S.

My dinner tonight was a tragedy. I was excited to try this place after so many positive reviews but unfortunately my dinner did not prove to be anywhere near what I had hoped. It was all terrible. First, the massive roach between the booth and the wall that peeked up right near my hand. Really? I'm a tomboy and bugs don't scare me but this was horribly gross and sent my stomach turning. I alerted the maÃ®tre de. He told me it happens there sometimes but that they try to control it then he moved us but it didn't resolve the situation. We should have left then instead of spending the remainder of our dinner imagining every speck of spice or herb was a leg or antenna of that roach or any roach for that matter. We hoped the evening would improve. Not a chance. Second, the food. No. Not ever again. The filet mignon was tangy and tough. It was nothing remarkable at all. The potatoes tasted like greasy breakfast potatoes from a road house. You made good spinach, great. Good for you for not messing that up. The caprese with "buffalo" cheese devastated me. It was goopy and sloppy. It hurt my feelings to see such a simple yet tremendous dish turned on its ass and made into something so vile. How could you?! I'm going to stop there. Writing this review is making me relive the horror and I cannot. No apologies were made. We weren't comp'd. No goodwill dessert. No personal note. Nothing. We got to watch the obnoxiously indifferent owner sit and gab with his pals over wine while we got terrible, slow, and unfriendly service. In the end, we received a bill for $82 that honestly felt horrible to pay and it wasn't because of the price. How do you say "you should be ashamed of yourselves" in Italian? Avoid, avoid, avoid.
(1)
M C.

I can only review the bar area for Happy Hour. The dining room area is another story (other than very expensive, I don't know anything else). There is a good reason why there is always a super long lineup for their Happy Hour - the alcohol prices are reasonable and good quality; the food is great (love their zucchini fries!); prompt service even though they're super busy.
(5)
alison t.

The food and service is four stars but since when does a restaurant with $24 pasta pomodoro qualify for $$ not $$$ or $$$$. My veal scaloppini was fabulous as it should be at $30+. And it was one of the less expensive items. I'm comfortable paying for fine dining but I was looking for $$ Italian for the family of five (3 young kids). I felt tricked. When I opened the menu and saw the prices, I wasn't going to march out, but boy did I feel duped!
(1)
Tara S.

Tried to make a bachelorette party reservation here & the host & manager were absolutely RUDE!!! Never ever go here, they do Not deserve your business! WORST CUSTOMER SERVICE I HAVE EVER RECEIVED IN MY LIFE!
(1)
Jessica V.

Mama Ginas is one of my favorite places. The food is always great and the drinks are even better. They have a great happy hour that runs late with great dinner items so I go in usually about 6:30. My favorite is the chicken parm with a side of spinach (if you like spinach is soooo good). The bartenders are so friendly and funny. The whole staff treats us like family. But get here early because the bar gets packed this time of season.
(5)
Erin V.

If you sit in the bar, the prices for food are lower and the portions are smaller! The food is fabulous! They have some very nice wines also!
(4)
Jolly M.

Excellent Happy Hour! I stopped by for a glass of wine and small bite before a jazz concert and was delightfully surprised. The $5 HH Cabernet was soft as silk with a nice finish. I ordered the pasta y fagiola soup- so creamy and delicious!- and double bonus, it's vegetarian Even better- Awesome, Handsome, Attentive bartender. I'm visiting a few more days and I'm going back!
(5)
Mike O.

Solid 4. Maybe even a 5. We love this place. Did the patio this time and reaaly impressed. Carbonara was wonderful. We'll have to go back soon and give them another chance or three.
(4)
Joshua B.

Went here on a whim one day for Italian food while in the Palm Desert area. I was looking more for a family style restaurant and not so fancy since my wife and I weren't really dressed for it and out 4-year old son was in tow. But the host informed us we'd be fine (BUT NO PIZZA). The place is defiantly more of an up-scaled Italian job with mood lighting to set the tone (great for wife and I alone time). I ordered a pasta dish with sausage and a duck sauce and my wife ordered a stuffed beef dish, both were excellent and I mean excellent! Not a run of the mill pasta dish. When it came to my son who has an egg allergy the waiter went out of his way offer the penne dish and show my wife the packaging to confirm the egg free pasta, are you kidding me! Hell yeah on his tip. We had a great time and great food including the desserts. Mamma Gina has my thumbs up!
(5)
Rachael W.

We sat at Enoteca for happy hour which didn't serve food till 4p but they still serve drinks at happy hour price before 4pm. Kitchen closes from 2-4p. The chef has been with the restaurant the entire 29yrs they've been open. That says enuf already! The happy hour menu is huge...just like a regular menu & gr8 prices too! My fiancÃ© & I literally had a 4 course meal with 2 drinks each for only $90! & the food did not fall short!! Not too mention a gr8 bartender as well! We will b back!
(5)
Amber M.

I have had the pleasure of dining at Mama Gina's many times; in both the Enoteca Bar and dining area. Mama Gina's is a great place to catch up with friends or have a nice family dinner. I often refer my customers to this restaurant as well. However, my last experience ruined my perception of Mama Gina's. A couple of weeks ago, I walked in the Enoteca Bar on a Friday night around 9:15pm. Two gentlemen cleaning up a table said, "Just tell them we are closed." I confirmed, "Are you closed for the night?" One of the servers said, "I don't know, let me check..." and walked away. Not only did I find this rude, but uncanny because I have arrived close to 10pm and was welcomed without hesitation. After waiting for a minute, we decided to dine somewhere else. Unfortunately, after this experience, I will not be visiting Mama Gina's for a while.
(3)
Amy A.

Great service, food was wonderful. We had a large group and sat in the wine room. Had the seared scallops with roasted red pepper coulis. It was served with mashed potatoes and spinach.
(5)
Melanie K.

Amazing happy hour! Shrimp diablo with spinach is one of my favorites, but have never had anything there I didn't like! It does get crowded in the bar so get there early, if you can.
(5)
VJ C.

Went again this time 4 of us. Had the antipasto Italiano, just a nice taste for 4. Pollo Fungi delicious, sauce was excellent. Calamari Milanese, you have to try this breaded Calamari steak, tender & better than I've had since I was in South Africa. Spaghetti Bolognese cooked just right & sauce perfect. Homemade Ravioli & this guy literally licked his plate. Dessert was 2 Creme BrÃ»lÃ©es plenty for the 4 of us. This is creamy, rich, top caramelized perfectly. Wish we had ordered the wedge salad, saw it go by, but we were full. Jamie our waitress did not steer us wrong, her advice always appreciated. You won't find a harder working staff member & she loves her job! Good house wine & discovered 805 beer by Firestone.
(5)
Robo R.

Love this place. The food, service and ambiance is not only great for a romantic evening out, but for taking the entire family as well. Lovely wine list full of excellent reds to accompany the wonderful menu. I love their risotto with mushrooms and paired it with an Italiano antipasta plate to go with my Amarone bottle wine. A hidden gem in Palm Dessert, the locals like to keep this one secret
(5)
Aloha A.

This is one of my favorite local spots for happy hour. The food and drinks are well priced and the atmosphere has a good vibe. Expect a wait for a happy hour table, but worth it.
(4)
Lucy L.

I have been to many happy hours in the Coachella valley. Until this day I still feel MaMa Gina has the best happy hour in town! If you never been here before, this is definitely a spot to check it out! My favorite dishes are "Shrimp Scampi" "Creme BrÃ»lÃ©e"
(5)
Raechel P.

I have been in the desert on business for the last few months. My friend and I have been wanting to try Momma Gina's because we've heard great things about it! We finally made it in last week. It was awesome! The 20-30 minute wait is worth it! While we waited we grabbed a drink in the bar. Our server was Juan Carlos. He was very friendly and had great recommendations. Food is to die for and authentic! Prices are beyond reasonable. We had appetizer, salad, entree, dessert and drinks for about $20/person. This will definitely be my go to spot when I'm in the area! Thanks Juan Carlos!!
(5)
Alanna B.

What a fantastic place. Came here with the entire family for a "pre-thanksgiving" dinner. Excellent atmosphere; very sophisticated and upscale. Our server was excellent, very professional and courteous, but not stuck up or snobbish. He was able to serve my 90 year old grandmother and my 10 year old niece and everyone in between perfectly. Of course, the food was outstanding. Since our party was relatively large I think we managed to try a little bit of everything, veal, seafood, pasta, soup, and salad - everything was excellent. Deserts were phenomenal as well. We will definitely be back next time we find ourselves in the Desert.
(5)
Pair A.

We just had another excellent happy hour meal at Mama Ginas. My partner had the lamb skewers over a bed of sautÃ©ed spinach I had the wedge salad with blue cheese dressing. We share the gluten-free zucchini and cocktails. The service was excellent the food was excellent can't wait to go back. And I hope yelp publishes this posting since they tend to filter things indiscriminately and blame it on the algorithm.
(5)
Julie C.

Yum!!! Great choice for Italian!! I love this restaurant for MANY reasons!!!! The bar is AWESOME with a killer good happy hour!!! Really good Bolognese and the Italian sausages with peppers are amazing!!! The bar can get quite loud and busy, so beware! You may have to wait, especially during season! Service is always friendly and inviting. Food is always consistent. Come and enjoy, never a disappointment for me!!
(5)
Rosette K.

Love the food. I would give it a 4 star but the bread basket became the quality of a fast food place. They used to have a great bread basket to compliment their meals. What happened? RK
(3)
Taryn S.

I don't understand all the bad reviews from other yelpers. This place was absolutely delicious! No complaints at all - best dinning experience all weekend on our girls trip to Palm Springs. We tried the happy hour menu in the bar area which was full with many others enjoying their Sunday evening. We ordered a glass of the $5 canyon road Pinot Noir. For appetizers we had the calamari and shrimp cocktail. For entrees we had the lobster ravioli and petit fillet. For dessert we had the creme brÃ»lÃ©e. Again everything was absolutely delicious. We hope to be back soon on our next trip!
(5)
Nazanin S.

I love this place. THE FOOD IS AMAZING!!!! The drinks are great too. Every time I travel from LA to here, I have to come here. They have great service as well.
(5)
Rosa B.

Great place. I'm a local and hadn't tried this restaurant because I wasn't sure if I wanted to pay top $$ for Italian food. I won a contest and ended up with a free lunch for my friends and I. The food was amazing and so was the service. For starters I had the mushroom soup, which was delicious. Then, I ordered the homemade black ink lobster/ricotta ravioli. Amazing. The best part was dessert! Creme brÃ»lÃ©e. W.O.W! It was fabulous.
(5)
Roy M.

Great bar menu! Jose and Juan Carlos bartenders are excellent, good food, prices, atmosphere. Lunch or Happy Hours! Awesome Mushroom Soup
(4)
Carol H.

We enjoyed the restaurant very much, the waiter in the beginning seemed a little put out but as the evening moved on he was fun. I had the eggplant and it was delicious.
(5)
Melissa D.

Dear god. This place is absolutely delicious. My boyfriend and I came in to celebrate my birthday during our visit in Palm Desert. I made my reservation via open table-- which was super convenient. The owner (I'm guessing) was so welcoming and had a genuine conversation about the restaurants history that I appreciated. During the meal he came back often to check on us, really went above and beyond to make us feel special. Together my boyfriend and I order the mussel and clam appetizer in marinara, the minestrone soup, the linguini mare ( a seafood linguini with clams mussels salmon shrimp and bay scallops in a red sauce ), lobster ravioli, and tiramisu (my favorite dessert on the planet). The food was dynamite. The seafood was extremely fresh (I work in a high end seafood restaurant myself which unfortunately makes me a little picky) the shrimp were over done but nothing to complain over. The tiramisu melted in my mouth, so yummy! When asking to box it they brought us an extra piece for the road, which was unexpected and kind of our server Ernesto (who by the way was very knowledgeable and friendly) Thank you for making my birthday special. We will undoubtably be back on our next visit!
(5)
Lindsay R.

Its a shame there aren't 1/2 stars. For this place I'm in between three and four stars. Three for the service and four for the food. My girlfriends and I were recently in Palm Springs for a girls weekend and the valet at our hotel recommended this place. We walked in with a party of seven on a Friday night with no reservations and they were able to seat us right away. The server was not so attentive though. It took him forever to come over and even take our drink orders and then about 45 minutes later we kept seeing people around us being served when they had been seated well after us. The food was really good I must say. We ordered the gorganzola gnocchi, the poached pear salad, and the butternut squash ravioli. The wine was good as well. Good prices. I would come back to this restaurant because of the food. The waiter just needed a little help.
(3)
Jaymee T.

Night out with my girlfriends. They have a good selection of wine and food. I got the Lobster Ravioli with rosÃ© sauce. It was good. The serving was kind of small for me. I wanted to lick the plate after. Also tried their tiramisu and panacotta. I liked the panacotta better. Really light and refreshing. The best part of my whole experience? I get to see three tennis pros! Andy Murray, Juan Martin Del Potro and Stan Wawrinka! Fun! Fun! Fun! I'll be back for sure next year when I attend the BNP Paribas Open! I hope to see more tennis pros! Lol!
(4)
Stephanie P.

Came in with a girlfriend and sat in the bar for happy hour! We had the most wonderful service, the food was so full of flavor and delicious. Had such a great time drinking wine and listening to the the musical duo in the corner. Manager stopped by our table to see how our dinner was. So pleased with this little gem.
(4)
Peter S.

Mamma Gina, El Paseo, Palm Springs mammagina.com - An elegant, small, very popular restaurant in a plush neighborhood with an intimate, comfortable ambience! Has a large selection of tasty dishes and drinks - Especially Nice for Happy Hour (4:30-close). Excellent service. It has a small, inviting bar counter; an intimate bar area with several bar tables. The dining room is medium in size with comfortable, elegant setting. My wife and I had a wonderful happy hour experience here last Sunday evening (Sept)! We had classic martini (6.50), wine (5), draft (3.5); salad (5), fried zucchinis (6), and scampi with spinach (8) - ALL DELICIOUS! They had quite an extensive bar menu actually. Wish we had a bigger stomach to sample more! Well, there's always next time! Our waitress was very friendly, attentive, and humorous, too! We were not surprised that the bar was filled to the gills during our happy visit (6-8pm). Most of the customers seemed to be local regulars, especially those sitting at the bar counter. - Dinners? Their dinner menu looked great, but we were too stuffed from our bar dishes to give it a try. Based on the waiting line, its dinner must also be pretty good, too! ADDITIONAL STUFF YOU REALLY DON'T NEED TO READ: - This was actually our 2nd time there. One afternoon in our vacation here 2 years ago, we took a nice walk along the beautiful El Paseo Blvd, a friendly local told us about this great place for happy hour or dinner. We did and had a delightful happy hour! So, this time, we went back to Mamma Gina to re-live the experience - and it was another memorable one, indeed! We'll be back again next time, perhaps, will even sample its dinner menu as well! Peterskis, Sept 2012 --
(5)
Traci S.

I love this place. I cant believe I waited so long to go back there. The food is really good. I just had plain pasta..The sauce was sooo tasty. The service was great!! Will be going back soon!!
(5)
Alan F.

This place is amazing! Every time I'm in the desert we come here. The happy hour menu in the bar is criminally underpriced....incredible food for so cheap. If you are in palm desert you are doing yourself a disservice if you don't come here
(5)
Board W.

Fabulous dinner tonight at Momma Gina's. Bill was our server. Attentive and entertaining. Our meal was amazing. Really enjoyed the evening. Food was excellent. Mushroom soup - incredible. We had the veal and lamb chops! Great food,more at ambiance. Tiramisu was a wonderful end!
(5)
Jackie T.

Substandard service and food. Really bad performance all around....they had no idea what they were doing.
(1)
Mack T.

I have been eating at this enoteca bar for 12 years. When I read the negative comments I wonder if these people would be satisfied with anything? Living in Tuscany every summer, I can tell you this food is as good as it gets and is the most authentic of any Italian food I have tasted. I know some people get a kick out of bad mouthing places, they should stay home, I am glad the positive comments out number the few negative ones.....MAYBE THESE PEOPLE ARE LOOKING FOR FREE MEALS!!!
(5)
Jeff F.

Higher end Italian restaurant on El Paseo. When you're wanting something up market from Mario's, Mamma Gina is the place. Elegant atmosphere, very nice veal dishes, more than adequate wine list, efficient, non-intrusive service. I highly recommend.
(4)

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Address : 73705 El Paseo
Palm Desert, CA, 92260
Phone (760) 568-9898
Website https://www.mammagina.com
Click To Get Directions

Opening Hours

Mon :4:00 pm - 9:00pm

Specialities

Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Valet, Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : No
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Classy
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes

Claim Restaurant

Italian Cuisine

The immense popularity of Italian cuisine globally isn't unknown. You can find an Italian Pizzeria around every corner of almost every city in the United States. Not to forget that in every house, people enjoy mac and cheese as comfort food. But it would be wrong to believe that Italian food starts with pizza and ends with good pasta as this Mediterranean country has much more to offer other than these two dishes. In Italian Cuisine, there is a high use of fresh tomatoes, all kinds of herbs, great quality of cheese, all types of meat, seafood and fresh handmade pasta. Many find it hard to believe that Italians have been making noodles long back.

Italian and Greek cuisines are always mistaken to be same, but they are poles apart. The primary difference between the two cuisines is the use of cheese in most of the Italian dishes. Italians love to cultivate their own cheese and process them as per their food requirement. It is believed that some cheese is so expensive that cheese producers secure them in lockers.

If you are bored eating the same old pasta or pizza, you can try some of the authentic Italian dishes like Risotto, Polenta, Ribollita, Lasagna, Fiorentina Steak, Bottarga, Ossobuco, Carbonara, Focaccia, Arancini and Supplì. Another item which Italians love to relish every morning is a good cup of Italian Coffee. Once you taste a freshly brewed cup of Italian Coffee, you might not visit Starbucks ever again. Authentic Italian food is made with heart and soul, so go find a restaurant where you can relish Italian cuisine in your city.

WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES

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Ristorante Mamma Gina

73705 El Paseo, Palm Desert, CA, 92260

Ristorante Mamma Gina Menu

Bar Menu - Appetizers

Bar Menu - Soups

Bar Menu - Desserts

Healthy Meal suggestions for Ristorante Mamma Gina

Bar Menu - Appetizers

Bar Menu - Soups

Bar Menu - Desserts

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