Del Rey at Villa Royale — Restaurant in Palm Springs

I recently visited Del Rey and was thoroughly impressed by my dining experience. Here's what stood out:

Beef Skewers: The beef skewers were the star of the meal. Perfectly grilled to bring out a smoky flavor, the meat was tender and juicy, hinting at a marinade that was both subtle and sophisticated. The balance between the seasoning and the quality of the meat was exquisite, making it one of the best dishes of its kind I've tried.

Ambience: The atmosphere of the restaurant was simply enchanting. The decor struck a perfect chord between modern elegance and cozy comfort, creating an inviting space that felt both upscale and welcoming. The lighting and layout contributed to a relaxed yet vibrant vibe, ideal for both intimate dinners and lively gatherings.

Service, Especially the Bartenders: The service was outstanding, with a special shout-out to the bartenders. Their mixology skills were top-notch, crafting drinks that not only complemented the meal but also stood out on their own. The bartenders were friendly, knowledgeable, and truly enhanced the dining experience with their professionalism and warmth.

Overall Impression:

Del Rey delivers not just on taste but on the entire dining experience. From the moment you walk in, you're enveloped in an ambience that promises a memorable evening, and the food, particularly the beef skewers, lives up to that promise. Whether you're there for a casual drink at the bar or a full dining experience, the staff ensures you feel taken care of. This place is a must-visit for anyone looking for quality food, great drinks, and an atmosphere that makes you want to linger.

Would I recommend it? Absolutely. Del Rey has earned its place on my list of favorite dining...

My boyfriend reserved a table at the Del Rey, which got us seated right near the outdoor fireplace. Lots of heaters on the patio, the ambience was very nice and the staff was kind and friendly! The indoor area was incredibly dark, so was very happy to be seated outside. The aesthetic and vibe were great, however the food is where things were unfortunately disappointing, especially for the price and the environment the Del Rey offered. The Bombas were fine, but dry and underwhelming. The Brussel Sprouts were steamed clearly, and overcooked, although the flavors with chorizo and dates were bomb! So close but disappointing. We got the Pulpo which was also clearly overcooked, but again, great sauce and great effort, just lacking. And lastly we got the Pan Seared Sole - strange because it was breaded and fried but somewhat soggy and overcooked too. It’s almost like the Del Rey made an effort to be a cool hip spot with a great tapas style menu with exciting flavors, but fell tremendously short when it came to a solid execution and lack of effort unfortunately. It’s a 90% experience and if they just took the added 10% to cook the food properly, to make a proper crema, to finish what they started, it could be a gem. Would not go back due to that even though the cocktails were four stars...

Food gets a solid 4/5, ambiance was great at 4/5, unfortunately, the service was 1/5.

The food was excellent and good for the price, and the space was really gorgeous with a fireplace, dark wood and a great vibe.

However, the service was the letdown. When we walked in with a reservation for 3, the place was empty except for one big group of 10 people, and that was exactly where they seated us. We asked if we could move to a different table a few feet away (the same size as the one they were trying to sit us at) and they refused saying those were reserved for groups of 4, not three... even though they said themselves the tables were the same size. So we sat right next to the group and could barely talk to each other while the rest of the place sat empty. Another couple arrived halfway through our dinner and were sat next to the large group as well. After 10 mins they also asked to move to another table because it was too loud for them, and they did move them. Little things like not filling our water glasses, but rushing drinks over, or not mentioning our chocolate churros wouldn’t be coming without any chocolate was unfortunate as well. Too bad because the food and ambiance were...