El Jefe Desert Cantina — Restaurant in Palm Springs

I recently had the pleasure of dining at El Jefe with a large party we had arranged for a birthday party, and I must say, it was an unforgettable experience from start to finish. From the moment I walked in, I was greeted warmly by the attentive staff, setting the tone for what turned out to be a fun luncheon. Marty and Vinny were our servers and took care of our guests from start to finish with their attentiveness and hospitality.

The El Jefe staff at very generously set up a cute communal table outside in their courtyard with special touches for the birthday boy like a personalized handwritten card and small flower vases to match the colorful theme of the Saguaro hotel. The colorful backdrop was perfect for group photos and the staff had umbrellas setup over the table for plenty of shade.

Now, onto the main event—the food. The appetizers, tacos, plates and cocktails were all fresh and delicious. Our guests enjoyed a casual but still upscale experience with the menu and trendy atmosphere. The menu offered a diverse selection of options, catering to a variety of tastes and dietary preferences. Whether you're a meat lover, a seafood enthusiast, or a vegetarian, there's something for everyone to enjoy at El Hefe.

In addition to the exceptional food, the service was impeccable. The staff was knowledgeable, friendly, and attentive, ensuring that my dining experience was nothing short of perfection. They were quick to accommodate any special requests and went above and beyond to ensure that I had everything I needed.

Overall, my experience at El Jefe was nothing short of extraordinary. It's clear that this establishment prides itself on delivering an exceptional dining experience, and they certainly exceeded my expectations. If you’re looking for a great large group dining experience or a place to celebrate a special occasion in Palm Springs, this is the spot!

Thank you Marty, Vinny, and the El Jefe staff for an end to end memorable...

We were scammed We initially had a fantastic lunch on Friday Sept. 30, 2022 and Richie was our server that day- I'd rate Richie's customer service and the food a solid 5. Can't say enough good words about Richie- polite, great customer service. We had a great experience so my husband and I decided to have dinner there on Monday October 3, 2022 as our last dining experience in Palm Springs before heading home. This second experience was different from the first and I wouldn't give it a rating if it were possible so I gave it a 1.

Our server was Isaac, after finishing our meal and receiving our bill he took our credit card to the bar to process. My husband and I were discussing that we felt this was a strange incident and usually a machine is brought to the table such as our first experience with Richie. While Isaac was processing our credit card another employee, not sure of her position, came to our table and started talking to us and asking us to review the restaurant on Tripadvisor.

Another strange thing happened while we were speaking with her. The bill that was initially brought to our table was switched out in front of us. The woman took it and we were kept busy by this woman asking us about our dining experience. This was all very quick. Once we received our credit card my husband said "we won't be doing a review until we see our credit card statement because something felt very off".

Our credit card statement arrived today and it certainly wasn't for the amount that was on the first bill that was given to us. We were scammed over $80. To the management- we would be more than happy to discuss this with...

Pleasantly surprised.

After a few not so great meals in Palm Springs despite great reviews, I wasn’t sure what to expect at El Jefe. In fact, I was prepared for another mediocre meal with mediocre service.

Quite the opposite. We came on a Saturday night (mind you right before Christmas) and the restaurant was mostly empty. We were greeted and seated quickly. Service was attentive and our food came out so fast.

My partner and I shared the nachos. Again, we didn’t have high expectations but these nachos hit the spot—just the right amount of everything. Sometimes with nachos the chips get weighted down or too mushy from the melted cheese and everything else, but not these.

My partner ordered the Baja Fish Tacos and although somewhat small in size, the portion of the fish was good and the flavor packed a punch (in a good way).

I had the chicken tinga quesadilla which came with a small dollop of chipotle mayo on each slice. At first I didn’t think it would be enough, but the chipotle mayo was plenty. The server was kind enough to ask if I wanted some salsa for the quesadilla too, which I declined since we had so much nachos still.

After we walked out I realized that I forgot to order churros… we’ll be back.

Overall, I was really pleased with our meal at El Jefe and we want to come back for...