Al dente Trattoria

A pretty nice Italian restaurant in downtown Palm Springs, with outdoor misters, a pleasant interior with comfortable booths, and a nice little bar. My friends and I came here when we were hungry for Italian during a recent stay in the Palm Desert. They offer a large variety of sauces that can be applied to spaghetti, rigatoni, tagliatelle, etc. they also have a lot of salads, soups, and meat dishes. I ordered broccoli soup, a burrata salad, and tagliatelle with Pomodoro sauce. Everything was really fresh, though I think the burrata was the highlight for me, with the exceptionally flavorful, purplish tomatoes and the creamy cheese. The soup was all right, though slightly underwhelming, and the pasta, while perfectly cooked, lacked a bit of flavor in the pomodoro. Overall, a pretty good experience, stacking up to ~4.4/5 stars. The service was very attentive and friendly, the atmosphere was pretty good, and the food definitely had some high moments.

Ate here 3/28/2026 5:30 pm. Fantastic host at the Front Desk. We sat outside for dinner and our server and the support staff were very polite and provided excellent service. Food was delicious too.

Update 2: I have pesto sauce now :) yaaay! I think it’s their best sauce. If you like a thicker pesto I recommend scooping from the bottom to get more of the basil and garlic. Previous: I ordered celery soup, pesto, marinara, and 4 cheese sauce. I didn’t receive my pesto sauce—instead I got a different red sauce. The restaurant would not admit to making the mistake themselves even though my bag came tied and with my name and order info listed on it. They insist I get support from Uber Eats but Uber Eats will not take any action or respond either. The hostess could not get the manager to take the phone. No kind of remedy or apology offered to me. I didn’t like the white or red sauces (with the noodles I cooked at home), but the celery soup is nice to sip on. Update: Management called me back. I sent an Uber Courier now to try to pick up pesto sauce. Will update again once I receive it.

Overall great experience. We had the Caesar salad, burrata, bolognese with meatballs and the Quattro formaggio with shrimp. Great service. One star deduction because the bread was really lackluster for an Italian restaurant. Otherwise, fantastic food.

Incredible service, incredible pasta! I doubt I will ever be in Palm Springs again, but if I am, I will be returning. The pink sauce is really good.

Great staff, makes you feel comfortable and at home. Quick service and checking in to make sure the food and experience is great. Food was delicious, especially the veal Marsala with mushrooms. But not a fan of the pesto with cream. Great outdoor space to sit and people watch.

The pasta dishes were too good here. I had a smoked salmon in cream sauce on linguine, my wife had meatballs in red sauce on ribbon pasta. It was difficult not to over eat. We shared a bowl of broccoli soup, no cream and it was amazing. I was checking the internet for recipes on the way out. And for dessert we split a piece of tiramisu. I would definitely go back here. You should try it., but reservations are recommended.

**Review:** I recently had the pleasure of dining with my boyfriend this weekend, and I can confidently say it was an exceptional experience! From start to finish, everything was top-notch. The food was absolutely amazing. Each dish we ordered was beautifully presented and bursting with flavor, showcasing a perfect balance of ingredients. It was clear that a lot of thought and care went into the menu, making it a delightful culinary adventure. The drinks were equally impressive. Each cocktail was crafted to perfection, with unique flavors that complemented our meal beautifully. It was the perfect way to enhance our dining experience. What truly stood out was the excellent service. The staff was attentive, friendly, and knowledgeable about the menu, making us feel welcome and valued throughout our meal. They went above and beyond to ensure we had everything we needed. Overall, this dinner was a memorable experience, and I highly recommend this restaurant to anyone looking for a fantastic dining experience. We can’t wait to return!