Porta Via Palm Desert — Restaurant in Palm Desert

We have been here multiple times and usually would sit at the bar and occasionally sit down at a table. The servers and bartenders had always been friendly and attentive. Then on a recent occasion we had an uncharacteristic encounter on a given week (where we had come in about 3 times that week and all 3 times service was off) where the service was off at the bar. It made us not want to continue to dine or visit this establishment.

We had reached out to management about our experiences and Rebecca, the general manager, listened to our comments and criticisms and assured us this was not the level of excellence and customer service they want to provide. She invited us to came back and visit again. And we did come back!

That night Rebecca was not there but we mentioned to the hostess that we would like a table and we asked for Lauren, the assistant manager. We sat at a table and had wonderful dinner and service with Ramon. Lauren came by and welcomed us back and was cordial, professional and warm. She welcomed us back like a good friend would. The food and drinks were amazing like always.

Then later in the week we came in for a drink at the bar and once again the service and drinks were top-notch.Julian and Dylan were amazing behind the bar! We decided to sit down and eat and our server Magdalena was a rock star! The restaurant was buzzing with life and activity as this is a popular place. Despite this busy atmosphere, we never felt that the service suffered and throughout the night we received attentive and amazing service. We had an incredible meal and wonderful experience.

We love this place. Food is amazing. Ambiance is sleek and modern. We also love the warm lightening.. . it really sets the mood and doesn't overpower you and fill the room like klieg lights (some restaurants do that and my wife hates that).

We are locals and have dined at some amazing places in Coachella valley and in the world including best restaurants in world (3 Star Michelin, San Sebastian, Santiago, Copenhagen, London, Paris, Barcelona , Cape Town etc). We usually give a place multiple chances to figure out a place as we know everyone can have an off day. This restaurant is a gem in the Coachella valley and we will continue to dine and visit this amazing place....

I take no pleasure in writing this review, but I feel this needs to be shared. Feels like you have employees that prey amongst the Elderly population of this community.

I dined here earlier this month with my father (whom has accelerated Alzheimer's and Dementia and suffers from frequent strokes). My father can not and does not drink due to his health, and alcohol can quite literally induce strokes and potentially kill him. We dined at the bar for an early dinner, and was served by a bartender named Jul*an. Meal was fine, we left cash for the bill, and before we were getting ready to leave I excused myself to use the restroom, leaving my father waiting at the bar. I came back, and collected our things.

1. As we were leaving I see this bartender collect and count the cash, he put some in the register, and then looked around and put the rest of the cash in his pocket. WEIRD!!! Not sure if this is normal practice, but it certainly looked like stealing tips.
2. I did not think anything of it at first, but my father had this to-go cup, and as I am helping him into the car he dropped it and it spilt all inside the car. Not a big deal... but what is a big deal?
3. IT WAS ALCOHOL!!! This bartender, whom we had declined alcohol while dining, had apparently sold my elderly father alcohol in a to-go cup while I was in the restroom. Extremely upset by the behavior of this individual. And upon a quick google search, this is not a legal practice. If anyone reads this, this sole action had my dad NOT spilled this, could have induced a stroke, hospitalized my dad, if not something worse.

This has been reported to: the Police, the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (not only a report of the individual, but also reported the business), as well as a report with the Better Business Bureau of California.

We will not be dining here again. I will advise anybody and everybody who will listen not to dine here. Shame on the employee for their behavior. Management should seriously audit their supervision of illegal activities of employees. You all could have seriously seriously...

PROS: Beautiful restaurant and bar. Mid-century modern boho chic vibes. Great for groups, a girls' dinner, or a dinner date.

Eclectic menu with quite the variety of offerings from pastas to seafood and steaks.

CONS: Food was just meh. We ordered the tuna tower, and though the presentation was enticing, the execution of the dish was lacking. The tuna was definitely not rhe highest quality -- and I've traveled to Japan 3X and have had great tuna there and in LA, etc -- this was just whatever. Also, if you did not add the soy sauce, the tower or mixure itself, was very bland.

We shared both the parmesan-crusted Alaskan halibut and grilled skirt steak with chimichurri with a side of mashed potatoes. Because they doused the beurre blanc (emulsified butter sauce) over the halibut, the "parmesan crust" was non-existent.

When you read or hear the words, "parmesan crusted," you expect crispiness and at the very least some flavor of parmesan -- we got neither of that. The beurre blanc should have been served on the side or topped sparingly with the rest on the side.

The grilled steak was overcooked -- we had asked for medium rare and received medium to medium well steak. We did not send it back as service was already very slow. The chimichurri was the best thing of the entire dish.

Service from our female server was slow and inattentive.

Drinks were OK. The old fashioneds aka "Older Brother" were a tad too sweet. Need to scale back on the demerara sugar. The Smoke Show, though refreshing, needed more mezcal as it was hardly noticeable.

Would I come back here? No. Not when there are other reataurants on the scene...