Diners' Choice: Italian restaurants in Palm Springs / Palm Desert Cities

OpenTable

Updated June 05, 2025

Looking for restaurants with the best overall Italian cuisine in Palm Springs / Palm Desert Cities? You’re in the right place. Each month OpenTable analyzes more than 400,000 new diner reviews. We sort the results by category to help you discover new favorites. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Johnny Costa's

4.8

4.8 (2374)

$31 to $50

Italian

Palm Springs

About the restaurant

From the classic Italian music to the candlelit tables, the nostalgic atmosphere at Johnny Costa’s Ristorante feels like traveling back to midcentury times. It’s no wonder Frank Sinatra was once a regular at this fine Italian restaurant, which has been honored by Palm Springs Life as best Italian restaurant for 10 consecutive years. The Costa family continues the legacy of late chef-owner Johnny Costa, who was pals with Sinatra when he moved to Hollywood from New York in the 1960s, and a decade later served as the singer’s personal chef at his desert home. Costa’s pedigree lives on in his legendary recipes, including his classic cioppino. Open for dinner at 5 p.m. Closed Sunday & Monday

Top review

ChadVIP

Dined today

Server was absolutely excellent and all the food great from the Caesar salad to the vodka penne and piccata.

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4.8

4.8 (1949)

$30 and under

Italian

Palm Desert

About the restaurant

Four Key Ingredients for PizzaVino's true authentic Neapolitan Pizza--it's all about balance. The Oven, San Marzano tomatoes, Fior di Latte Mozzarella & Doppio Zero Flour. We are more than just pizza at Our Comfortable Home away from Home Restaurant. We offer Fresh Locally Grown, Organic Fruits & Vegetables, Fresh Seafood, Quality Cuts of Meat, Salads with our homemade dressings, as well as Desserts like Your Mom use to or still does make! We are OPEN LATER than Most!

Buon Appetito

Top review

Juanita

Dined 3 days ago

My dear friend and I dined on the enclosed patio, which was nice and cool with fans. Pattie was our server. She was excellent. We shared the margarita pizza and the Caesar salad and they were nice enough to even split it on different plates. Always have had a wonderful experience at Piero’s

Castelli's

4.7

4.7 (4949)

$31 to $50

Italian

Palm Desert

About the restaurant

Named by Zagat Survey America’s 1,000 top Italian restaurants. Enter the doors of Castelli’s and you’ll believe you have just stepped into a small bistro in romantic Tuscany.

No baseball hats, no tank tops and no flip flops.
Womens designer hats are allowed.

* As of Jan 31, 2023, Castelli's is no longer accepting the $25.00 Hanson's Garage Door Gift Certificates.
**The promotion has expired**

Top review

Christy

Dined on Jun 4, 2025

Once again, Castelli's did not disappoint! We enjoyed the caprese salad, the outstanding bread! My husband raved about the cioppino. I loved the tortellini and can't believe I had ever ordered it! Topped off with creme brûlée and cannoli. our favorite place to go when we visit the desert. See you in Oct!

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Sammy G's Tuscan Grill

4.7

4.7 (4059)

$30 and under

Italian

Palm Springs

About the restaurant

Sammy G’s Tuscan Grill is located in the heart of downtown Palm Springs and near some of the city’s most quaint shops and hotels.

Established in 2009, Sammy G’s has is open seasonally for Sammy's weekend Brunch and lunch with an innovative menu, blending traditional Italian with California cuisine. Take a break from shopping and dine al fresco for lunch on the newly renovated patio and soak up the gorgeous desert weather, or venture inside and be transported to Tuscany with the restaurant’s rustic charm.

Dinner becomes a casual yet elegant event, and traditional Italian favorites mixed with updated classics are on the menu. A semi-private room is available for family gatherings or business events.

On Thursday through Saturday nights, the Sammy G’s Lounge becomes an energetic yet intimate place to meet up with friends and dance the night away to live music and enjoy Sammy G’s signature cocktails.

Top review

Martin

Dined 2 days ago

Great restaurant with lovely service 😄 We love this place

Trilussa Ristorante

4.7

4.7 (3514)

$30 and under

Italian

Palm Springs

About the restaurant

Trilussa serves traditional Italian cuisine in an intimate and family atmosphere. They serve great Italian seafood, steaks, pizza and pasta dishes with elegance and a smile. Front door parking to the restaurant available. Gluten-free pasta available. Live Music.

Happy Hour reservations not available.
Table requests are not guaranteed.

Top review

Ann

Dined 2 days ago

The ambiance was wonderful. All of the waitstaff were pleasant and helpful. Most importantly the food was delicious. Highly recommend

Mimmo's Italian Restaurant

4.7

4.7 (2182)

$31 to $50

Italian

Palm Desert

About the restaurant

We are open! Come and join us and check out our beautiful new bar and dining area.
The foundation of good Italian cooking is the freshest of ingredients prepared with simplicity, bringing together flavors so no one ingredient overpowers another. Mimmo’s Italian roots begin in his hometown of Bagheria, Sicily. The fresh fruits and vegetables picked from his family’s farm were on the table, or tavola, that night. Our logo of the lemon and lemon flower, or zagara, is a symbol of Sicily’s rich history of growing and exporting lemons, and a reminder of Mimmo’s many memories of lemon picking in his grandfather’s groves. APRIL 30TH 2012 WAS OUR OPENING DAY. WE WILL BE CLOSED JULY 27TH THRU AUGUST 28

WE ARE OPEN DAILY FROM 5 PM.
HAPPY HOUR ARE DAILY FROM 5PM AT THE BAR & BAR DINING ROOM.
sorry, no reservations are accepted for happy hour .
No happy hour on Valentine’s Day or special holidays

GIFT CARDS ARE NOW AVAILABLE AT: Mimmospd.com

Top review

SusanVIP

Dined on Jun 6, 2025

The most delicious Buratta appetizer so glad they are open through the Summer

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Popular dish

Bruschetta Classica

Italica

4.7

4.7 (339)

$31 to $50

Italian

Indio

About the restaurant

Parties of 7 or more should call 442-400-3479 or email info@italica.bar.

Italica is a unique, intimate hidden bar/restaurant with outstanding Italian cuisine. Our dishes are served tapas style and are meant to be combined and shared with others in your party. We have several dishes on and off our menu that are vegetarian and vegan friendly. Enter through the silver door on Miles Avenue to the right of Indio Taphouse.

Due to our limited capacity, reservations are required for dinner service. We welcome walk-ins at the bar, based on availability, and encourage late-night walk-ins to join us when possible.

To ensure that all our guests can savor our exquisite offerings, WE ALLOCATE A 90-MINUTE DINING TIME FOR PARTIES UP TO SIX PEOPLE.

Please note that Italica is an adults-only establishment. We kindly ask that our guests be above the age of 18 and are dressed appropriately.

We appreciate your understanding and look forward to providing you with an exceptional dining experience.

Top review

CindyVIP

Dined 3 days ago

Wow!! This place nails it!! There is beautiful attention to detail, and each dish has a great marriage and balance of flavors. This is a MUST and a great place if you want to have not just your meal be amazing, but your entire evening be super special.

Al dente

4.7

4.7 (1173)

$30 and under

Italian

Palm Springs

About the restaurant

Al dente Trattoria - A quaint cucina with a decidedly European atmosphere, has served Palm Springs and international clientele for over 30 years.

Al dente proprietor Kendra Riccio and Executive Chef Oscar Cardenas present an extensive menu of pastas with homemade sauces, beef, veal, and fresh seafood entrées for lunch and dinner in a casual fine dining atmosphere. Located on historic Palm Canyon Drive, downtown Palm Springs, within walking distance to major hotels, convention center, shopping and casinos.

Top review

AlanVIP

Dined 6 days ago

Always an excellent experience at Al Dente..Delicious food and gracious service. Thank you.

Le Donne Cucina Italiana

4.5

4.5 (1164)

$30 and under

Italian

Palm Desert

About the restaurant

Taste the authentic flavors of Italy at Le Donne Cucina Italiana! Voted best Italian restaurant in Palm Desert three years running by the Desert Sun and Palm Springs Life, Le Donne Cucina Italiana makes pastas fresh every day using old-world techniques. You'll love the sophisticated atmosphere and delicious, authentic Italian dishes.

Top review

Don

Dined 1 day ago

Great find for good Italian food! Reasonable priced!

Palmina by Puglia

4.4

4.4 (133)

$30 and under

Italian

Palm Springs

About the restaurant

PALMINA BY PUGLIA ITALIAN RESTAURANT --
NEW MENU!!!!!!! 1 APPETIZER 1 ENTREE 1 GLASS OF WINE ONLY $39.95!!!!!!!!!!

Best Pizzeria Napoletana at Italian Pizza EXPO 2023

When it comes to food, Puglia is celebrated for its simple yet delicious cuisine. It is known for its excellent olive oil production,
with many olive groves dotting the landscape.

At Palmina we make everything from scratch every morning following our tradicional recipes, to give you the opportunity to explore the real italian experience.

The region's cuisine features abundant fresh seafood, often prepared in traditional Mediterranean styles. Puglia is also famous for its bread, including the iconic Altamura bread, and its pasta varieties and dishes like Braciola. Other culinary highlights include local cheeses, vegetables, and wines, such as the robust red wines made from the Primitivo grape.

Grazie

Top review

George

Dined 4 days ago

The Italian food is really excellent, the next best thing to real Italian, no Americanized like most other places! People definitely need to try this amazing place. Staff is friendly too. Highly recommended!!

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