Kiki's Dining & Drinks — Restaurant in La Quinta

We were greeted warmly by the hostess who sat us immediately. Server came by and offered us water, wished she could have greeted us and either asked or gave us a small intro to Kikis Menu since menu on website is almost completely different than what we got, plus she could have suggested drinks and/or appetizers to start. Staying on menus, they need to increase the size of font on the cocktail menu, you really need an eyeglass to see what was offered. We all decided on our drinks after a few minutes and the housemate foccacia ( which we all enjoyed specially the whipped cheese) Our entrees we selected: (1) Hanger Steak, Half Chicken Parma & Pepperoni Pizza. The Pizza came out just the way we expected nice and hot, cheese was gooey and enough pepperoni (great for only $ 25) Now the Steak while it tasted wonderful it was cold and pricey $ 43 so was the Chicken Parma $ 32, it seems they sat waiting for pizza to be ready. But everyone enjoyed the flavors of all 3 dishes. When Manager and it seemed like owners approached our table and asked about our dinner, we shared with them and they did say we should have said something about the cold plates, we just wanted for them to know it for future.

We ordered Tiramisu for dessert and flavor was on point. Just wished they would not put it on a bowl, so we could appreciate the layering of the mascarpone, lady fingers etc.

All flavors were great, even though items were cold, a few items were over priced, server was friendly but on my opinion needs to be trained to offered another round of drinks, offer dessert, offer after dinner drinks etc. and we asked for the check it took long to arrive.

Also we arrived when around 8pm there was enough light to see it was open, but when we left the front area looked dark, maybe strip mall needs better lighting for future guest see that...

I recently dined at Kiki's in La Quinta, and I must say, it was quite an underwhelming experience. From the moment I walked in, I was struck by the upscale ambiance and the promise of a fine dining experience. However, it didn't take long for me to realize that appearances can be deceiving.

First and foremost, the prices at Kiki's are exorbitant. I expected to pay a premium for what I assumed would be a top-notch meal, but the cost far exceeded any reasonable expectations. Unfortunately, the hefty price tag did not equate to generous portion sizes. In fact, I left Kiki's feeling hungrier than when I arrived, as the servings were disappointingly small.

The most significant letdown of the evening was the quality of the food. It lacked refinement and fell short in terms of flavor. It seems that Kiki's relies heavily on salt to compensate for the lack of taste, resulting in dishes that were overwhelmingly salty. If you appreciate well-balanced flavors and subtle seasoning, Kiki's may not be the place for you. It was a struggle to discern any true culinary craftsmanship in the dishes I sampled.

However, one bright spot in this otherwise lackluster experience was the friendly and attentive staff. The waitstaff were courteous and eager to accommodate, which provided a small silver lining to an otherwise forgettable meal.

** In light of the owner's remarks, my intention was not to undermine or harm any business. Instead, I aimed to share my personal encounter as a patron of your establishment. Rather than interpreting it as a personal affront, consider it as constructive feedback to enhance your menu. As I mentioned earlier, your staff was exceptional, possibly one of the finest teams I've come across in a while. I genuinely hope for KiKi's success, as we truly need a thriving restaurant in that...

Don’t let it’s location deter you (sandwiched between Marvyn’s Magic Theater and Cinemark Century La Quinta and XD), the outside isn’t a true reflection of what you’re about to experience inside.

Kiki’s strikes a perfect balance, offering a laidback yet upbeat atmosphere that doesn’t put you to sleep nor overwhelming—not easily achieved for a new restaurant to the valley.

The precedence is set by the staff who are all of the things you’d hope for but don’t always find. Everyone consistently delivered welcoming interactions throughout our visit, especially our server River. While we had great conversations with him during our visit, he embodied everything that Kiki’s is striving (and successfully) standing for. And his insightful menu recommendations didn’t disappoint:

What I tried and would try again and again:

The Hamachi Crudo – If this was the only dish I ordered, I still would’ve been happy. Caesar Salad – The last time I had a Caesar Salad this fresh was homemade from a family friend, so fresh you would’ve believed they caught the anchovies themselves. Rigatoni Bolognese – 95% of the pasta made at Kiki’s is made fresh and you can taste it. I’m choosing to believe the other 5% is modesty to disarm any skeptics. Meatatarian Pizza – This is how pizza is supposed to taste.

Reservations–I’d recommend getting them. However, if the only available seating is at the bar or high-top tables, you won’t be disappointed.

Kiki’s sets itself apart from other local establishments with their thoughtfully crafted end-to-end positive experience. My first time having dinner at Kiki’s...