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

OpenTable

Updated February 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 analyses more than 400,000 new diner reviews. We sort the results by category to help you discover new favourites. 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 (2260)

$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

CarenVIP

Dined 4 days ago

Johnny Costas is one of our favorite Italian restaurants in Palm Springs, which includes Palm Desert, Rancho Mirage, etc. I have never had a bad meal and we have gone there many times in the last 6 years we have been wintering in Palm Springs. Their Eggplant Parmigiana is the best; however, other people in my family would argue that the chicken parmigiana or spaghetti and meatballs are the best. You cannot go wrong with anything you order. It is old school Italian food, Delicious.

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4.8

4.8 (1869)

$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

JimVIP

Dined 3 days ago

I love their gluten free pizza! Everything was good. Service was good, too!

Castelli's

4.8

4.8 (4794)

$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

markVIP

Dined 6 days ago

I have dined at Castelli’s at least 50 times over the years and never disappoints

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4.7

4.7 (3391)

$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

Suzy

Dined today

We enjoyed a fabulous anniversary dinner here last night. We ordered chicken Marsala and lasagna and both were excellent. The carrot cake and Tiramisu were equally delicious! Highly recommend and would love to return.

Al dente

4.7

4.7 (1113)

$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

James

Dined 2 days ago

The food was very good. The service was excellent, and the whole experience was surprising. I thought this was probably just for tourist which means mediocre, but it was surprisingly much better.

Italica

4.7

4.7 (206)

$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

ElizabethVIP

Dined 2 days ago

Superb drinks and food. We enjoyed the fig flatbread, Caesar salad, vodka pasta, warm toffee cake and espresso martini! All superb choices!

Sammy G's Tuscan Grill

4.7

4.7 (3875)

$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

Steve

Dined today

Excellent food and great service. Would definitely cone back.

Le Donne Cucina Italiana

4.7

4.7 (1116)

$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

Diane

Dined today

The food was excellent, but the noise level was very bad.

Mimmo's Italian Restaurant

4.6

4.6 (2097)

$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.

PLEASE BE AWARE THAT WHEN BOOKING FOR OUTDOOR, YOU WILL SEATED OUTDOOR.

WE ARE OPEN DAILY FROM 5 PM.
HAPPY HOUR ARE DAILY FROM 5PM AT THE BAR.
No happy hour on Valentine’s Day or special holidays

GIFT CARDS ARE NOW AVAILABLE AT: Mimmospd.com

Top review

Patti

Dined today

Small, intimate setting. Delicious food, wine and our server Jen made it special night.

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Ristorante Mamma Gina

4.5

4.5 (1703)

$31 to $50

Italian

Palm Desert

About the restaurant

Now Open for a Wonderful Indoor & Outdoor Dining Experience!
For over 34 years, Ristorante Mamma Gina has been serving truly authentic Tuscan dishes to the Palm Desert community.
Our family grew up in Florence, and we love sharing the delicious flavors and traditional recipes that have been passed down through the generations.
It's a real passion for us -- giving our best and showing total devotion to our customers is just what we do. We consider every member of our team and every person who walks in our doors as a part of the family. With a welcoming atmosphere and meals that are sure to delight, we'll make you feel as if you've stepped into Florence.

Top review

NancyVIP

Dined today

Chris was our server and he was absolutely wonderful -- added so much to our experience. The food was generally really good. The veal was very tender and the spinach was truly perfect. The side of mashed potatoes were uninspiring at best. This is a lovely venue for a special occasion.

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