Solanos Bistro

Fabulous dinner from start to finish! The BEST swordfish ever! Lovely atmosphere and our waitress was terrific!

Overall very disappointed with the service and underwhelmed with the food. The waiter — and the other wait staff — seemed to be oblivious that we were without drinks for a long period of time, that our food was slow to arrive and then there was no check-​ins after the food arrived.

Cute swanky place… we sat in the bar area looking for a good happy hour. Ended up ordering off dinner menu happy hour prices and selection was limiting. I had the Coachella Valley chicken. Such an interesting flavor profile I was very impressed. Slightly overcooked but still very delicious. My husband had the short ribs. They were tender and juicy good. Service was friendly price points seemed a bit high for drinks but all in all we enjoyed ourselves.

I gave the stars more for the wonderful service and ambience but food was mediocre and underwhelming. The best part was the fresh warm olive bread and butter in the beginning and the Hahn Pinot. The Italian sausage soup was good but the main dishes failed to deliver. The stuffed chicken had an odd taste and wasn’t sure if it was even cooked to a safe temperature. The cheeses were little too rich inside taking away from the meat. The mahi mahi special wasn’t blackened as described and bland. I love the patio but wouldn’t rush back for the food.

Pan fried halibut special was excellent. Perfect portion size, healthy preparation, delicious flavor. Service was excellent, as always. We look forward to returning again soon!

This was a great little place in Old Town La Quinta. very cute, fast service and the food was great. Wasn’t a fan of the Quinoa salad, but most places make this dish kind of bland. Otherwise everything else was super good :) The location, ambiance, and price point, really made this place a gem. Not too expensive, and a gorgeous patio. We did eat inside because it was warm outside (93* in March :/​) but inside was just as cute. Would certainly come back!

Came in for happy hour so my perspective is limited, but service, selection and food quality was good, above average I’d say. Butter lettuce salad included heirloom tomatoes and a tasty dressing. Bruschetta features a sweet slice of mozzarella, with tomatoes, basil and balsamic vinegar– caprese on toasted rustic bread. Kobe beef sliders had a nice charred exterior, juicy pink center, nestled on a soft brioche bun with a creamy herb spread. Chicken wings were crisp on the outside, juicy inside, and just lightly coated with a sweet blueberry barbecue sauce. Nicely done.

Sat on the patio around 5pm in March. Sun can be a bit strong at that time, but we had a nice table in the shade. I had the short ribs — wonderful. Hubby had the Chilean sea bass which was delicious. We had to ask for bread for the table, but it came quickly after we asked. The waiter was wonderful, informative, and attentive. We will go back.

An enjoyable evening.
Though I had a reservation for 6, our table was not properly prepared, and it was an afterthought of staff to attempt to seat my party.
I rejected the table settings (10 chairs around the table for six settings, no wine glasses, no napkins). Finally, 5 minutes later, the table was properly set, so we all sat down. I always «pre-​inspect» a table when entertaining guests, and this was an appropriate action at this restaurant.
Food was very good, and our service during the meal was attentive, and professional. Corkage policy is very fair, $ 15/​bottle.
All in all, a positive experience, and I would return.

Excellent service… bread they bring to table is really bad hard as a rock… food is ok. good atmosphere… good wine list

We enjoyed a delicious Valentine’s Day brunch for four. The servers are friendly and helpful, and the restaurant accommodated our special food requests. Many of the dishes included fresh ingredients from the organic farmers’ market held on Sunday mornings just outside the restaurant. The presentation of the food was lovely, and everything tasted fresh and delicious.

Sat on the patio for a wonderful evening. Sheldon our waiter was very good and attentive without being overwhelming
Had the Sol with lobster glaze over rice and asparagus cooked so tender. Sol was done just right Flaky het with a hint of lobster
My wife had the sea bass with avocado relish. So good. We shared and enjoyed
Started off off with Ceasar without anchovy. Done well
Sheldon was attentive yet not too intrusive
Enjoyed the evening Yes I do recommend and yes we will be back

This place has great bar food. Nice patio area in Old Town La Quinta always plenty of parking and very friendly staff.

Lunch was okay, but I bet dinners are better. Like that they offer ‘healthy’ options. Excellent service. Cute little bar. Tons of wine by the glass selections. Not so much on the beer selections however. Needed to get food in tummy before heading over to the new La Quinta Brewing Co. Taproom down the block.

Another stellar night at Solanos. Great ambiance, great food and personal service. The fish tacos are amazing as are many of the fish entrees and the short rib.
Always our must go to when we are in the greater Palm Springs area.

Quickly becoming my favorite place. Kobe Beef Sliders, Spinach/​Bleu Cheese Flatbread & a Jalapeño Margarita? I am in HEAVEN and I did not need a stairway.

Food & Wine…5 Stars
Service…4.5 Stars
The reason service lost a half a star is because one item that we ordered didn’t arrive and water wasn’t refilled enough for our table. The funny thing is that the item we ordered was also water, just fizzy Pellegrino that they could have charged for.
All my friends enjoyed their wine except one. I didn’t taste her wine but it didn’t smell yummy… eh…Maybe it’s just not my type of wine… My wine was perfect!
Certain wines are served by the glass as well as the whole bottle. Some are served by the half bottle or bottle only. Didn’t see if there was a corkage fee for bringing in your own bottle but honestly I wasn’t looking for it. Hehe
I ordered the one of the night’s specials… Seared Ahi with a Chipotle Lime Avocado Sauce (can’t remember the specific name). It was wonderful! Great presentation on top a bed of delectable rice & asparagus. Because of the way the waiter presented it, we ALL thought that the cup of soup or side salad was included with the Entrées…Not so. But now you know & now I know… That being said… I’d still order the delicious Potato Leek Soup for $ 4. Yum! Worth every cent!
When I looked around, I didn’t see any leftovers… All the plates & wine glasses were empty. Cheers to the chef!
The atmosphere was nice. Low ambient lighting. Very soothing. The restaurant was full so there was a bit of volume coming from conversation but it’s not like the acoustics made it worse. We were still able to hear each other in our party of 8. We’ve been to places where it was impossible to hear across the table, so this was nice!
I’ve already told my husband that we need to go back there for date night… maybe double date night. ;-)

Went on a Unilocal review and my husband and I were very very happy with this restaraunt
Service excellent
Food Devine
And we were there on a Wednesday night when all wine bottles are half off
Woohoo!

Solano’s continues to be my home-​away-​from when I’m in LQ. The food is consistently delicious, the wine and beer selection food friendly, and the staff delightful. Add to that Wine Wednesday, where all bottles are ½ off (might just be for the end of summer when it’s 115 out!)
I loved the gazpacho and the halibut specials. I always love the soups and the idea of yesterday’s soup. And hanging out in the Velvet Lounge is the best way to go in my book.

The bar is colorful, the outside patio is lovely, but the menu too limited for this Unilocal «elite». Two fishes, 4 pastas, a steak, a short rib, and a few other items — I had to hunt down the Velvet Lounge menu for what I really wanted. Yep, that’s right, quite a surprise, a burger.
1. Brie Brioche Burger ($ 12) — 7oz kobe beef patty, brioche bun, lettuce, tomatoes, red onions, brie cheese, fries. Slightly small, but well enough. Fries tasted like out of freezer, could get anywhere at a fast food burger stand. My Mom loved hers, I would rate it better than okay, somewhere between 35 – 50 on my «Berger knows: Burgers» list. (4.0 stars)
2. Freakshow Cab ($ 12) — a nice pour, as delicious as can be. (4.5 stars)
I like the vibe, the crowd skews younger than the normal 65+, but I can’t quite rate it 4.0 stars. Service was friendly and knowledgeable. Happy Hour is served daily from 4p-​6p (that’s cool), and a brunch on Sunday. Overall = 3.5 stars.