The Restaurants Michelin Missed: Four Palm Springs Gems That Deserve to Be on Your List

By Susan  |  Meiselman Registry Lifestyle Blog

Let me be upfront: I love the Michelin Guide. I think the eight Palm Springs restaurants they’ve recognized are genuinely fantastic (see our previous article). If you missed it, go back and read it right now. But here’s the thing about any list — there are always a few places that slip through the cracks, places that haven’t been discovered by the anonymous inspectors yet or that simply defy easy categorization. And in a city as full of character as Palm Springs, that’s saying something.

Rich and I have been eating our way through this desert town for years, and there are three restaurants that we keep coming back to — three spots I’ve pushed on friends, mentioned in hushed tones like I’m sharing a secret, and honestly been a little smug about knowing. I think each one absolutely deserves Michelin recognition, and I’m making my case here. Michelin, if you’re reading this, I hope you’re hungry.

Paul’s Bar Food

Hidden Gem  •  Classic American  •  Speakeasy Vibes  •  3700 E Vista Chino

I need you to trust me on this one. From the outside — a strip mall near the airport, wedged between a vape shop and a foot massage place — Paul’s Bar Food looks like absolutely nothing. The sign just says BAR/FOOD in big letters. But you get a hint that it’s something special when you see the line that stands outside the door most evenings. And I promise you, none of that matters once you walk through the door.

Inside, you’re transported somewhere else entirely. A gleaming mahogany bar, waitstaff in crisp white tuxedo shirts, heavy silverware wrapped in starched linen napkins, and cocktails made from recipes that go back to the Prohibition era. The owner, Paul O’Halloran — an Irish New Yorker who moved to Palm Springs, fell in love with the city, and opened this place in 2018 — greets guests personally, bow tie and all, and has built one of the most loyal dining followings in the entire desert.

The menu is short and unapologetically focused. There are daily specials that change constantly — on one of my visits, a beef short rib pappardelle with peas, tomatoes, and onions appeared as the special and I still think about it. The permanent fixtures include a rack of lamb that is flat-out outstanding, a bone-in pork chop that takes 25 minutes to cook and is absolutely worth the wait, chicken schnitzel, and steak frites. Everything is made to order. Prices are remarkably reasonable for the quality you’re getting. And the rosemary garlic fries are one of the single best things I’ve eaten in Palm Springs — full stop.

No reservations; parties of 5 maximum; they close for the entire month of August. Show up by 4:30 for a 5 pm opening if you want a good seat. The wait is part of the experience — Paul himself often comes outside to chat with the line, and you’ll inevitably end up making friends with total strangers. This place has soul. It’s the real deal.

✦  My Must-Order: Paul’s rack of lamb chops – a house specialty

Crudo Cervicheria

Fresh & Vibrant  •  Latin American  •  Ceviche & Craft Beer  •  515 N Palm Canyon Dr

Here’s a fun word: cervicheria. It’s a mashup of cerveza (beer) and ceviche, and it perfectly captures what Crudo is all about. Owners Moises and Marco — who between them have run Salsas, Cups Cafe, and Oceana Restaurant — set out to bring something genuinely different to Palm Canyon Drive, and they absolutely delivered.

The concept is elegant in its simplicity: extraordinarily fresh ceviche, a rotating selection of 20 to 25 carefully curated specialty beers, and a casual indoor-outdoor space where the walls literally slide open so you feel like you’re dining al fresco while still staying cool. It’s breezy and bright and has exactly the kind of energy that Palm Springs does so well.

Everything on the menu is an original recipe developed by the two owners, and the seafood is as fresh as it gets. I’m obsessed with the traditional ceviche — citrus-bright and clean — but the pulpo bites have outstanding texture, and the crab enchiladas in a creamy pasilla chili sauce are rich and completely unexpected in the best way. The fish tacos are simple and perfect. And yes, they also do truffle fries, which my dining companions have declared life-changing.

For drinks, skip right to the passion fruit habanero margarita if you can handle some heat, or the mango version if you want to live dangerously. The beer pairings are genuinely thoughtful — this isn’t just a list of random craft beers, it’s a curated selection designed to work with the food. It’s a sunny, feel-good spot that I’d happily eat at every day for a week and not get tired of it.

✦  My Must-Order: De Los Patrones Ceviche and a frosty beer

Sandfish Sushi & Whiskey

Modern & Sophisticated  •  Japanese Fusion  •  Whiskey Bar  •  1556 N Palm Canyon Dr

Chef and founder Engin Onural has been quietly doing something extraordinary in Uptown Palm Springs since 2018, and I genuinely think it’s only a matter of time before Michelin’s inspectors walk through the door and realize what the rest of us already know. Sandfish Sushi & Whiskey is one of those restaurants that’s firing on every single cylinder — food, atmosphere, creativity, service — and it stands in a category of its own in this city.

The interior was designed with Scandinavian influences — clean lines, warm lighting, sleek and inviting — and the patio is one of the loveliest outdoor dining spots in the whole Uptown Design District. The vibe shifts depending on the night: weekday evenings are calm and intimate, perfect for a date or a slow dinner with friends, while weekends can get lively with DJs on the patio and a buzzy crowd that shows up dressed for the occasion.

But let’s talk about the food, because that’s where Sandfish really earns its place on this list. Onural draws on his world travels to layer global influences over a Japanese foundation, and the results are creative without ever feeling gimmicky. The Experiment roll — snow crab, mango, avocado, and cucumber topped with tuna, thin jalapeño slices, cilantro, and yuzu aioli — is a masterpiece of balance. The Venue Roll with its seared salmon, spicy aioli, and tobiko is visually stunning and tastes even better than it looks. And the tuna tataki tacos are a must-order appetizer that I’ve never once skipped.

For the full experience, do the 13-course Omakase if you can — it’s a commitment of time and appetite, but Chef Onural’s tasting menu is the kind of meal you’ll be talking about on the drive home and still describing to people three months later. The whiskey list is legitimately impressive (they take that part of the name seriously), and the sake selection pairs beautifully with the sushi. This one punches at a major-city level. Palm Springs is lucky to have it.

✦  My Must-Order: Squash blossoms stuffed with crab and lobster and deep-fried in tempura batter.

The Barn Kitchen at Sparrows Lodge

Intimate & Rustic • Family-Style Suppers • Reservation Only • 1330 E Palm Canyon Dr

Okay, this one’s a bit of a cheat because it’s technically a hotel restaurant, but hear me out — The Barn Kitchen isn’t your typical hotel dining room. Tucked inside Sparrows Lodge, a tiny boutique property just south of downtown, this place feels less like a restaurant and more like you scored an invite to the best dinner party in the desert.

Here’s the deal: seating is genuinely limited, hotel guests get first dibs, and there are no walk-ins allowed. You need to plan ahead. But if you can snag a reservation for one of their Wednesday or Saturday dinners, you’re in for something special. The supper is served family-style at long, communal wooden tables set out in a garden that feels totally private, like you’ve been let in on a secret at a friend’s gorgeous desert compound.

The menu changes, but it always starts simple and lovely — think a date and orange salad to kick things off — before moving into hearty, comforting mains like marinated rib eye with garlic smashed potatoes or roasted chicken with wild rice. There’s nothing fussy about it. It’s the kind of food that makes you want to linger at the table, refill your glass, and talk to the strangers sitting next to you, because by the end of the night they don’t feel like strangers anymore.

If you’re looking for a quieter, more intimate way to close out an evening in Palm Springs — one that trades hype and buzz for candlelight and conversation — this is it.

✦ My Must-Order: Whatever the rib eye special is that night — just trust them.

The Verdict

The Verdict: The Michelin Guide is a remarkable institution, but no list is ever complete. Paul’s Bar Food’s old-soul hospitality and heart-on-its-sleeve cooking, Crudo’s fresh and festive celebration of Latin flavors, Sandfish’s globally-inspired sushi artistry, and The Barn Kitchen’s intimate garden suppers all represent exactly what makes Palm Springs’ dining scene so thrillingly diverse. These aren’t consolation prizes for not making the Guide — they’re destinations in their own right.

So here’s my challenge to you: the next time you’re in Palm Springs with a Michelin restaurant on your itinerary, add one of these to the mix. Get in line at Paul’s Bar Food before sunset. Order the tostada sampler at Crudo with a cold craft beer. Let Chef Onural take you on a sushi journey at Sandfish. Or book ahead and pull up a chair at The Barn Kitchen’s communal table.

You can thank me later — and Michelin, well, I hope they figure it out soon enough.

— Susan