RM Coffee Cafe/ Restaurant — Restaurant in Rancho Mirage

The following review is from my partner of 30 years, Sam Z. :

Anyone would be crazy to give this place just 1 star (I couldn't believe it when I saw the solo "1" rating below). The man who runs this shop (and no I don't know him personally, I simply frequent the place every weekend that I can!) puts his sweat and tears into this business: Every pastry is hand crafted to the highest levels I have EVER seen in my lifetime. I have been to over 2 dozen countries (including, of course France) and have lived in a French speaking province (Montreal, Quebec), but am as American as apple pie, having lived and obtained 6 different state licenses, and have been through as many careers (no, I'm not a vagabond, but am just well travelled and credentialed). In other words, I've been "around the block" and think I know a thing or two about provincial food offerings in numerous locales.

Simply put, the pastries ARE works of art. They just are. Every last one. Unfortunately, they're hard to spot. Why? Because they sell out so darn fast!!! Seriously, you need to get to this place when they open (as I do, and am often #1 in line every weekend day) to observe the delicate beauty of each pastry, both sweet and savory. Every ounce of each pastry is handled with such care that you imagine them as works of art. While waiting in line for your order, you "endure" the aroma of this shop, which is seductive and tempting all at once, with its notes of almond, arabica coffee, and raw sugar hanging in the air.

Under normal circumstances, there are probably only a handful of places where one can honestly say they remember every last detail of what they ate on any given day due to some memorable event. That's no longer my reality.

Ever since I found this place, despite ordering the same or similar pastries each and every visit, (though I do try different sweets once in awhile) I remember the subtle details of each pastry that I've consumed here. Why? Because I am not simply ingesting food that is hand crafted. No. At each visit, I am having a culinary adventure and an almost memory indexing (think old school library card cataloging) event where I place each consumed pastry into a kind of virtual hall of fame glass enclosed case to be memorialized and reflected upon, for all of time, for the pastry's achievement in being more than the sum of its parts of flour, sugar, and oil.

My wish is that everyone who reads this who has never had an opportunity in their lifetimes to really savor EACH mouthful of food, every single time eating their favorite pastry, to experience what this feels like. It's kind of like defying the odds and having an improbable experience of a daily win without losses EVER, or NEVER having been inconvenienced with anything in life, or only having positive experiences with the DMV. It just doesn't happen nor is it likely to ever happen to anyone! And yet, by just the simple act of driving to RM Coffee and stepping foot into this place you ARE defying the odds: You WILL have an experience like no other. You WILL be transformed, like a "kid in a candy shop," and you WILL come away with the feeling that this is not just a place where food is served, but a place where works of art are showcased and remembered...

I’m torn. So, this was a very small bakery but the pastries all looked delicious! I ordered a dozen for a client meeting and it was about $100. I keep trying to rationalize how expensive a dozen pastries could be and no matter what I do, I’m still shocked. Some of them were just chocolate croissants for $6-$7 dollars…it was very expensive for a dozen pastries. Porto’s Bakery has amazing, delicious pasties made same day and if I spend $100 I’m walking out with multiple boxes of pastries and maybe a cake for incredible quality. Anyway, I had a coffee which I anticipated would be delicious and I didn’t like it at all. It didn’t taste like Starbucks burnt coffee but it just didn’t have good flavor. As far as the pastries, they were beautiful but I can’t speak to the actual flavor and quality since I didn’t try one.

I think this may be a really great spot if you want to walk in for a nice pastry but if you’re buying in bulk, it’s going to get expensive and fast. I’d like to say you can sit and enjoy your coffee and pastry but I didn’t see much seating (there’s a small seating area in the back which still works) or work on the aesthetics here. Basically, it’s a grab and go sort of spot. Again, beautiful looking pastries - I just personally cannot rationalize the cost. If you want to splurge on yourself, I say go for it I’m sure the pastries...

THE WORST EXPERIENCE EVER. The worker (male) cut us off every time. We asked simply how do you make the coconut latte with marshmallow and he kept talking over yelling at us until we told him to stop and then he started to laugh. I’ve worked for a coffee shop for 4 years and I’d never tell my customers “to be quiet” when they asked for a customization or question about a drink. NEVER COME HERE UNLESS YOU WANNA BE DISRESPECTED. He was also rude to the previous customer who kindly asked for a pastry with his coffee. When we asked who your manger is, he points at a lady sitting on her computer and she laughed. There will be an OSHA call about this scenario as well as the health standards are not up to policy as he touched his face and nose while making a cup of coffee and then sneezed straight into the cup as he poured the steamed milk. Let alone I also saw cleaning chemicals on the food counter.

EDIT RESPONSE: ODD I WOULD KNOW PHILLIPS NAME THEN. HE GAVE IT TO ME WHEN I ASKED. YOUR RESPONSES ARE VERY RUDE AND UNPROFESSIONAL AND ALL YOUR RESPONSES SHOW YOUR POOR...