Counter Reformation

Lovely wine bar inside a hippy hotel. They have small menu but I enjoy every dish I had. I love the beef carpaccio with pickled cauliflower and truffle. Interesting wine selections.

You MUST get their escargot. It comes with a puff pastry on top and it was the best escargot I’ve had in a while. A cute spot at the Parker, a little hidden so ask someone to help you find it

Adorable place, great ambiance and delicious small bites! Perfect place for a date night (partner, family or friends). Customer service is top tier, our order was input incorrectly and the server proactively took care of us without having to point out the obvious! That’s what great customer service is about, not making the customer feel like they are at fault or having them feel the need to explain themselves. 👏🏼 love the entire hotel in general, our go-to place when we visit Palm Springs!🌴💛

Absolutely gorgeous little bar tucked into the Parker Hotel. Make sure that you get reservations! The Parker is pretty exclusive, and they won’t allow you even to enter the grounds of the hotel unless you have a reservation at one of their bars or restaurants. The service was great, and we enjoyed tasting several wines and multiple tasty treats from their menu. Be sure to get the quail eggs with caviar. Absolutely amazing!

Counter Reformation is such a cool, unique and perfect place. Jocelyn the bartender, food runner, meat cutter, and I’m sure more is absolutely amazing. She gave us great recs for food and wine. Such a cool good vibe in here. Spain meets portugal meets tapas meets palm springs meets trendy wine bar. Totally recommend for anyone coming to town. 5 stars easily. The garlic shrimp are amazing with a great bravas sauce. The truffle chimmichuri on the the beef carpaccio is incredible. Thanks to counter reformation for a great night!

How do I start it? The bar is small and currently only allowed 10ish people, which is good. There is a rule of minimal two plates for a person. I ordered 4 different plates, the presentation is above average. However, their taste were below average. I couldn't tell what it was within the grilles cheese and I just couldn't even finish it. For sure it's on the tip of my wrong choice. Not because it tasted quite bad. It's just bad value.

I absolutely loved it here. Great find for amazing wines and small bites in Palm Springs. The champagne was delicious as well as the octopus. I highly recommend for all wine lovers.i couldn’t resist the fresh out of the oven bread and house made butter.

Wish Uber can deliver their foie gras macaron to my house every week. Amazing tapas menu in a medieval reflective tiny setting. It’s hiding in the gardens of the Parker Hotel. The bartenders are fantastic. Food and drinks are like the hotel design - tastefully and poetically thoughtful. Been to many places around the world, this is one of my all time favorites in Southern California. If I lived in Palm Springs, this would be my ‘reformative’ hang out place at end of the week.

Vibes. Vibes. Vibes. This spot is an experience from start to finish. The ambiance is dark, moody, and intimate--feels like a secret speakeasy but with top-tier food and wine. The menu is small plates but packed with flavor, and their wine selection is on point. Perfect for a relaxed evening of grazing and sipping. The beef tartare and the jamón ibérico were stand

Celebrated our 9 yrs anniversary in Palm Springs and since my husband is not into fancy Michelin star type of meals, I had to meet him in the middle. I booked a reservation online, it's a wine bar located inside Parker hotel. You walk by the Parker lobby and out to get here and it is beautiful. The wine bar itself is tiny, about 10-12 bar seats? But romantic and cozy. We ordered the ff: Jamon Iberico- 5/5 - generous portion of jamon, the pan con tomate balances the dish. Garlic & prawns - 5/5 delicious. Escargot cassolette- 4/5- it's good, tastes as expected. Really hot though, burned my tongue so be careful. Pastel de bacalao-5/5- I've had plenty of bacalaos and love that this dish was simple made perfectly well. The fish battered and lightly fried. Caviar and donuts- 4.5/5- perfect way to end our meal, sweet with a touch of savory. I love caviar so any dish with it is a winner for me. The food was paced well, and our server recommended the best wine to pair with our dishes. Laura our bartender/server was attentive and knowledgeable. I had an amazing night here and can't wait to go back.

Like others point out this is a wine bar so no spirits other than wine and limited beer. There are no tables. There is simply a bar. The ambiance is wonderful and the theme is carried out well. The bar stools, while attractive leave much to be desired. While visually impactful they seem flimsy and are difficult to maneuver in and out of. The overall setting of Parker is an experience as a one of a kind boutique hotel. You really must take the entire place in. The food was very well done. In true tapas style we ordered five items and were pleased with each one, some more than others, but each enjoyable. We did not peruse the wine selections but a nice Rioja was available so that was my choice. The service was very well established and obviously a major focus of the entire experience at the hotel and Counter Reformation. One suggestion...everything on he menu cannot be "my favorite" and "the best". While it is all very good and this place will be on my return lists for the area it would be good to have an honest assessment as service teams should have their opinions and personal tastes reliably valued but now I'm knit picking.

3rd visit, and I still love this place. Our bartender was incredibly knowledgeable about the food offerings, and the subtle differences in the wine. It is a dark place, but it feels good to walk in from the 114 degree brutality that we faced this weekend in Palm Springs! I had been concerned about not making a reservation, but at 5 pm on a Sunday...plenty of spots to sit. The overall theme is fun, with the confessional at one end, and lighting which reminded me of the dark cathedrals of long ago. The music, oh the music. Being a more "seasoned" individual, these are my jams! The curated tunes combining a funk vibe from the late 70's early 80's was so very fun for us. Drinks: We went with the Vouvray, and the Godello, followed a brute flute. These complimented our seafood choices. My husband recalls the wine as "fantastic." Food: Bacalao 4/5, Escargot 1/5, Cavier donut 5/5. We have found the Bacalao pretty hard to find in the states, and we were happy to see it offered. It was prepared similar to previous experiences in Spain. I am cognizant of how pretentious this sounds, but, well, if you love Bacalao, you can relate. The escargot was really really bland. In general, it seems mussels, escargot & clams, can be excellent vehicles for a delicious broth...not this time. It was really disappointing. Now the Cavier donut...We both really loved the variety of flavors that hit your mouth simultaneously! Hint of lemon, the sweet donut, and the salty caviar...a one of a kind mouthful! The baguettes are perfect, and the butter was so creamy & not too salty. Our bartenders friendly & knowledgeable service, along with the unique menu and decor of the Parker, will probably be something that we will want to experience each time we are in Palm Springs.

Really loved this spot tucked away in the Iconic Parker hotel. The vibe is great, the drinks are fabulous, varied wine list and excellent service. The big surprise was the tapas menu, it's not large but everything we had was delicious. From the Spanish sausage and papa bravas, to the burger, the cod cakes were too salty for me but that is how cod cakes typically go so it's a preference thing. The donuts with caviar looked yum, next time.

A stunning secret little spot in Palm Springs that had impeccable decor and absolutely lovely staff. My friend and I loved the little confession booth and as a graphic designer, I was obsessed with their attention to detail with the branding and menu. The bartender recommended some nice wine for us to pair with the food we ordered. Food was phenomenal and we ate it all super quickly. My own complaint would be that the beef carpaccio gave me severe diarrhea throughout the night after our dinner date only a few hours prior. I have eaten raw meat such as beef carpaccio before and had no issues before. Maybe a bad batch? Just don't order that and you will have a great night!

Glad we finally checked out this unique, dark, and eclectic restaurant. Food was delicious and unique. Loved the small plate format. Service was quick and knowledgeable.

One of my favorite places to go in PS. It's all so special. Make sure you get the inside scoop on the bread/butter from the staff. And the confessionals! #onestopshop

Pretty cool place! Located in a hotel. It is just a bar with seating at the bar. Their drink menu has wine. They have food options, mostly small bites but lots of meat and vegetarian options. I wasnt familiar with any of their wines but the bartender was pretty knowledgeable and helped me figure out what to order. Their food is pretty and tastes really good. Food comes out pretty quickly. The ambience is cool. Small space but accommodates quite a few people because of the bar seating arrangement. Because of how small the space is the noise level can get pretty high but I didn't mind it. Pretty cool place, will be back.

Hope to come back soon! Came here on a Saturday around 8:15. Not busy at all inside. I liked that the bar is tucked away making it feel like a speakeasy. During my time there, I had a glass of Sangiovese Bianco by La Selva. Absolutely refreshing and I enjoy the different sizes of wine you can get (you pay for the glass size). I also tried the beef tartare 7/10, charred black pepper beef carpaccio 10/10, pork belly beignet 5/10, and oysters 10/10. Presentation was beautiful. The bartenders were also very attentive! Give it a try, may be even fun to stay at this hotel considering how beautifully decorated and relaxing it was.

Would have given 2.5 stars but it's not an option. I do hold Counter Reformation to a high standard based on previous visits. This is (was) my favorite spot in Palm Springs. Sadly, it is not what it used to be. Went a few months back, waited to review to make sure I still felt the same. First things first, I've been going to Counter Reformation since 2017 or so. It's always been the best experience. I've made reservation and also just walked in. It was always packed. If we needed to wait for a seat, we would gladly wait. This new process is ridiculous. Having to pay for your seat on top of your meal?! I understand fees for last minute cancelations or using those $30 pp toward your meal. But just charging and additional $30 per person to be able to sit and then pay for you dinner is too much. Not even 3 Michelin star restaurants do this. Ambiance- It always felt very welcoming and lively. Everyone was always engaged and attentive. Recommending wines and different pairings. This is no longer the case. servers seemed very disengaged. Only interacting with a small group who told them they were restaurant reviewers. I understand keeping them happy, but what about the rest of us. It's a wine BAR and I trying to call the servers attention for a while to get a second glass of wine. Food- They eliminated the best dish on the menu, the caviar Quail egg toast. I'm all for changing it up, but you've got to leave the things that are working for you. Nothing truly memorable on this new menu. The pork belly beignets, were a little bland and too sweet to be a middle course. We had to send the oysters back, just inedible. There was this one dish we really liked (pictured below). Wanted to order more food, but since we couldn't get their attention on time, they started cleaning up to end service. We were never told of a last call for food or anything. Their attention was completely on the other group with the "restaurant reviewer" Would give it another (reluctant) try, when they have a new menu and eliminate that reservation process.

Conter Reformation might be my favorite spot in Palm Springs. Loved the ambiance. Make sure to make a reservation, because it's not a big place. The beef carpaccio is to die for. Get a bottle of Champagne and get a few apps and you are in for a great night.

The ambiance is amazing at CR. The staff at the resort is very welcoming and the restaurant service was on point. Reminder this is a wine bar so beer and wine are only available at this venue on the property. The small plates were delicious and we tried many. It was a great spot for an intimate setting.

What an adventurous dining experience... Walking through the lobby out the double french doors we were greeted by an associate from the Parker. He kindly walked us over via a hidden pathway to the doorstep of Counter Reformation. And this my friends, is where the magic started. Upon entry, you see a complete bar set up with two confessionals in the back and a love bench to your left. We opted for high bar seating and eagerly browsed the menu (although I admit I did preview the menu on Yelp a few days in advance). We started our wines from white to red: Txakoli (poured the traditional way), Albarino, and Tempranillo. We also sampled the Areni (red) from Armenia. Kudos to the sommelier for adding this wine from Areni-1 winery, which is a 6100-year-old winery discovered in the Areni-1 cave. Food items ordered: 1) Seared Bay Scallops - 3/5, interesting bottarga/champagne rosemary dipping sauce 2) Jamon Iberico - 5/5, tasted just the way I remembered it in Spain, the pan con tomate was dangerously good as well 3) Charred Black Pepper Beef Carpaccio - 5/5, personally loved this! But if you are averse to raw meat, approach with caution. It is very flavorful and the truffle chimichurri leaves you begging for more. 4) Truffle & Fontina Club - 5/5, grilled cheese but make it classy as hell wrapped up in black truffle I wish we had room for more! The presentation of each dish was great. I felt like I was at the chef's tasting table. Really a wonderful experience. Our host/waitress/bartender was so well versed with the menu (both dinner and wine) and provided great feedback/suggestions to our inquiries. I will definitely be coming back here as it seems they rotate items on their menu. Reservations are a must and can be easily obtained via Open Table.

Had heard about this place for a long time. Was not what we expected. Very small room, maybe 24 bar stools. Menu claimed plates that were more than an appetizer but less than a meal. Well if you are not a wine drinker, you're outa luck. No beer, no Bloody Mary. Wine that's it. As for menu? I guess for the one per center from out of town they might pretend to be impressed. But $20 for two scallops? Two? Sure they were great but, two? And warm bread served with no butter, no oil, nothing. Hmmm. So, if you are the retentions out of towner, drive up in your Maybach and have at it. Locals, forget it. Staff were more than pleasant, only reason it's not one star.

So great! Get the donuts with caviar on them - one of the best things we ate in Palm Springs!

So sorry. I know it would be very 'uncool' to say anything negative about this place... but allow me to be the 'uncool' guy. I've travelled the world and have eaten at ma and pa Restaurants in the most questionable parts of the planet. I know how good food tastes... Did you travel too? Do you love this place? If you do I bet all the places you travelled to 99% of your meals were at the Four Seasons in that country or at some safe tourist recommended places, and hence you don't really know what real food tastes like.. sorry... If you have travelled and know what you are talking about then i suggest you go here for two plates just so you know what's considered the best on the planet Is a joke. Music here was good and the food is fine but it's a bit of a pretentious joke. Sorry.

We loved this little place. Cozy, hip surroundings tucked away in the Parker hotel. Excellent wine selection with a knowledgeable sommelier. And the food was inventive and delicious. Check this place out for a romantic cozy light dinner and drinks.

This place is so aggressively mediocre, the positive reviews truly puzzle me. The brioche with caviar was all brioche, totally imbalanced, completely disappointing. Dish didn't shine at all. The Jamon was the best thing we had. Just got quality Jamon, but the rest of the dish was meh. Burned toast came with one of our dishes. Not a nice crispy char, true left it too long and burned. You will be shoulder to shoulder with your neighbors. Literally rubbing elbows. Ambience is crowded and not luxe. Carpaccio was not great. Underwhelming. They were out of 3 of their wines by the glass. I would absolutely never recommend to anyone. I resisted posting this but I literally drive past the Parker and think about how disappointing this meal is months after the fact so my two cents.

No, no - no! Not a Speakeasy. To me it's a wannabe hip kinda wine join - yet falls so far from the mark. I dislike a place that tries to pass off low cost, weird and obscure wines at high prices. I asked if a Cabernet is available, the young female bartender says they have a Cab Franc. It was a yes or no question. I gotta tell you, based on the description of the place, I was really looking forward to going. Once there, we were so disappointed with the wine/food menus as well and the naive bartender - we walked out.

Whoa. As a local, this used to be our favorite place for wine and tapas. I went to book a reservation and they asked for my credit card at $15/person, JUST FOR THE SEATS at the bar. After reading other reviews, they do not apply this to your meal. Is it true? Is it because you want to cater to in-house guests? Well, after reading all the other reviews, unless your policy changes...We won't be back. You had a very good thing, it's sad to read all the 1 stars and we wish you all of our best.

A hidden gem in the outskirts of Palm Springs, Counter Reformation offered a brief escape from the bright outer world and into a dark secret den where food is beautifully unique and has its' own story. The service was excellent, and she explained a origin behind all parts of our meals. We had an amazing time wondering around the grounds after our meal and laying in a hammock people watching.

A religious experience even for the non believers. The flavors will have you thanking every divine power that made this meal possible. The brioche is masterful, the oxtail tart exquisite, and that prosciutto? Psh. Amen.

Tried booking a table for my sister's 60th birthday...I've been here multiple times and really loved the place but they have changed their reservation system in a way you have to buy or bid for a table. It is the most elitist thing I have ever heard in my entire life and my friends and I won't be going back until this system is changed. Very ridiculous way to piss off your loyal customers in my opinion.

Very nice selection of wine, although it is somewhat limited, but they are all good wines. Servers were very friendly and made sure you were well taken care of.

What every wine bar aspires to be-this place easily earns a rare 5 stars from me for their food quality, wine selection, knowledgeable staff and cozy atmosphere. It's located in the upscale Parker hotel and was a bit tricky to find-after you leave your car with the valet walk straight through the lobby and out the back doors-do NOT be confused by the tiny 6-seat bar in the lobby, this is NOT your destination. Anyway, head out the back door and follow the path around to your left through tall hedges and you will find it, or do what we did and ask a staff member in the lobby to show you the way. Step inside to the low-ceilings bar rocking out to a 70's sound track and if you are lucky, nab a seat at the bar (room for maybe 20 people). The two servers will guide you through the great eclectic selection of wines and tantalizing small plates. To make things simple and easy all the wines are one price; $7/half glass, $13/full glass or $46/bottle and the selection ranges from Austrian gruner veltliner to Portuguese blend to French champagne and much more-a great amount of well curated wines. I really enjoyed the Tempranillo-driven Portuguese red followed by a unique varietal from the country of Georgia. The Spanish red blend was also quite nice. Their French chef insists on high quality ingredients and the small tapas menu reflects that very well. The cheese mongers daily selection was delicious and the Spanish jamon was as good if not better than what we had in Madrid last year. The bar is very cozy and perhaps a bit tight but it makes it even more special. Easily one of the best wine bars we've been to anywhere and a must for all wine lovers. Tip: we got there before 6:30 on a Thursday and were able to easily find a seat but after 7 people were waiting for spots at the bar.

If six stars were an option . . . The service was fantastic . . . we almost ordered the faux gras macaroon early on, which would have been a huge mistake. The bartender advised us not to--she was so right. (Moe on the macaroon below.) The wine options are unique and great. Really great. The vibe is awesome. Great music. Has a speakeasy, hidden space feel. Did I mention how fun the music is? The food is stellar. The oysters were delicious--the cucumber granita with a hint of heat--who knew desert oysters would be so good. The tuna and the duck breast were really wonderful. The faux gras macaroon....where to begin...my significant other, who is well traveled and knows great food called it, "perhaps the best dish, I've ever had." Sounds about right. I want to call it a dessert...but who cares how you label it...it is amazing. If Tony Bourdain were still around (rest in peace) he would travel here just to have it. I'm serious. (And for the banana photo, see below.) Parting tip, on the way out get your photo taken with the giant banana sculpture in the garden....I'm talking a seven foot banana. Because who doesn't need a phallic double entendre photo for their social media.

As a local I've been coming to Counter Reformation for years. It was our go to place when friends who love wine came to stay with us. We've also consistently recommended it to others we know in town. No more! The new reservations system where you have to bid or pay for a seat is confusing, ridiculous and leaves you up in the air without a confirmation almost up to the time you were looking to book. I'm sorry, but I don't plan on spending my evening waiting for a text or email to arrive saying my offer was accepted. Until this system is changed we won't be going back. There are a lot of new speakeasies in Palm Springs anyway. Looks like we will be trying the Tailor Shop tonight!

The atmosphere is super cool and it was cool to have a chance to check out the Parker hotel which was amazing. However, for how much they build up the wine tasting experience, I was expecting a bit more sophistication in terms of both the wine offerings and service. I was particularly disappointed when they brought out our first $18 glass pour and I realized it's a bottle that I commonly see at the grocery store for $13. I realize there's a big markup for restaurant wine, but I expect them to source something a bit more interesting than the bottom shelf at Safeway. The server didn't know much about wine and didn't offer any recommendations. So the experience was still fun, but expect just a fun spot to hang out as opposed to a transcendent wine experience.

Not great. We see this place gets great reviews, not sure why. Let us start with the oysters. They were sweet! Literally, whatever was the sauce it had a sweet taste which I was not a fan of, not a great shuck either, some shell. Over dressed, too much sauce. We also think my wife got a bad one. She immediately felt a bit sick. We are very experienced oyster eaters and she did do the sniff before eating. The caviar and quail eggs on brioche was next. The standard was three so, of course we upgraded to four. Since this is a sharable small plates place, not sure why four wasn't the standard. Our waitress said pop it in you mouth all at once. Well my mouth isn't that big. Could not taste the caviar at all. The flavor was dominated by something other than caviar or quail egg. I got a hint of citrus, my wife didn't. The dish just didn't work for us. We love caviar. Not served this way, though. Last the jamon. Good, not great but, by far, the best of this meal. Last suggestion, order each dish separately. The people next to us ordered all at once and they brought everything out at once. Strange for a small plates place, maybe they wanted it that way but it did not look appetizing at all. We ordered next dish when one was delivered. Made a lot more sense to me. Very, very dark, no windows, tight shoulder to shoulder seating at the bar, no tables, music a little too loud. Attentive waitstaff, decent wine pour. $12 valet parking but food prices were not terrible, just wish the food was better. $150 out the door, three glasses of wine, parking and a good tip included.

Note: MAKE A RESERVATION AHEAD, OR YOU WON'T GET IN :) If you're coming to Palm Springs, for a bachelorette party or otherwise, and are looking for that perfect pre-party Instragram-worthy spot, look no further. It's a hotel bar, but I can't convey in words how it's so much more than that. The food? It's absolutely incredible. Light bites, select wines, just don't come here with a giant appetite thinking you're going to get full but rather nosh on some stellar appetizers. Besides the 5-star food, the ambience is really what makes this place special. While the inside is lit for intimate occasions, the grounds outside and the hotel itself are just absolute masterpieces of beauty, interior design, and architecture. This is another absolute MUST VISIT for those Bachelorette parties and others visiting Palm Springs.

I'm writing this review to share something I wish I had read before going here. It is tiny. Shoulder-to-shoulder bar seating. No windows. Door closed. Low ceiling. No fans, and we didn't feel the air circulating. I haven't been unmasked and this super close to strangers inside since pre-pandemic. And, I'm not ready yet. The vibe was great and people were enjoying themselves, but we threw in the towel after just two of the small plates. Bummed, but in this pandemic you have to make your own risk calculations. I knew ahead of time that it was indoors and bar seating, but the seats were just too too close. If they removed 3 or 4 and had a fan blowing, I think we might have had the elbow room and airspace to feel better. As for the food, wine and service - impeccable. All the things the other reviews said. Bartender was knowledgeable and friendly. Will definitely return someday - after our booster! The Parker staff were great. We were still hungry and sat at their outdoor cafe Norma's. It's not a destination for dinner (it was mostly breakfast, salads and sandwiches), but they had cold martinis and a top-notch staff. Special thanks to Tim the Parker hotel greeter who brought us a little fan (which I promptly dropped and temporarily broke). Lol. Overall, a night out is what you make of it (with an assist by some nice people).

I haven't posted a review in aeons; frankly I'm not a fan of this platform as I see the opportunity to abuse it at restaurants' expenses far more than I see benefits. I work in the industry. And that's why I'm so disappointed in my experience at Counter Reformation. I can't speak to the reservation charge that doesn't apparently go toward your bill - I booked a slot that had no fee. It was the last slot, 9:45. It was available. My partner and I arrived maybe 5 minutes late, mainly due to having to find the place (which is fun - who doesn't like a secret club/speakeasy vibe?) We walked it, loving the church-y decor and the funk soundtrack. We were directed to seats at the bar and, after saying hi to the CdC who wandered past, were told curtly by the woman tending bar (so to speak) that it was last call. Look. Again, my partner and I both work in the industry. We understand rolling eyes at the latecomers. But we also know that we have two choices: a) not to take reservations more than 30 min before closing and not to accept walk-ins either or b) suck it up, and give those late reservations and late walk-ins the proper dining experience they were hoping for. We quickly scanned the menu, ordered 1 glasses of wine and one of champagne each, and 4 dishes. Everything came out within 10 minutes. We were not told a single goddamn thing about any of our wine, our food was practically thrown at us - the disdain this woman had for us was palpable, unpleasant, and tremendously unprofessional. We stayed, frankly, as long as it took us to eat and drink. We were not lingering, but we weren't going to scarfe and guzzle and rush through the meal. We were on a rare mini-vacation, we were dressed up and in good spirits. We did meet the two lovely girls who'd come in on a 9pm reservation (they paid $40 each, none of which contributed to their bill) and stayed nearly as long as we. We ended up having a drink with them at Minibar and bonding over our mutual disappointment. To the food: the tartare was killer. So good, we asked to order another, only to be told no, kitchen was closed. Again again - I understand the annoyance but can't accept that someone couldn't take 2.5 minutes to mix the meat, torch the bread, plate, and send. I do it, all the time. The scallops were fine but flavors weren't balanced unless you had a bite with finger lime. Scallops were cooked well, though. The beignets didn't wow me, they lacked both the pork filling and Madeira gel. The bone marrow custard tasted only of egg. Meh. I really hope to return and give this joint a second chance. I'll even concede to making an earlier reservation..

Ambiance is fantastic, but the cocktails are appropriately priced, at best. Solid panel to wet your beak prior to an event. Also not a spot you go out of the way for.

It is always a pleasure to enjoy a night at the Counter Reformation!! The food is excellent, staff is very helpful with their suggestions. Every time my boyfriend and I go dine there, we enjoy every single bites of it. Can't wait to be back!

I am very saddened to report that this restaurant is not even close to what it was when Chef Herve was there. (This used to be our favorite restaurant in Palm Springs and major reason for staying at the Parker.) The $14 salad had three (I kid you not, three) small pieces of lettuce, and although flavorful, it was three pieces of lettuce. A fried dish pictured in another review looking like purple leaves tasted like grease and nothing else. The jamón was okay but the pan tomate was bland. One server was somewhat standoffish and unwelcoming and the other, although friendly, did not know anything about the menu or wine list, stating it was her first day. We came back a second night to give it one more chance and sadly it disappointed again. Please consider returning to the old menu that is responsible for the 5 star reviews and save this restaurant. We will be staying elsewhere since Normas is the only viable restaurant at the Parker now.

This review is for the reservation process. I would give the wine a 4 and the food a 3. To make a reservation you have to go online and pay $30 just to get a spot at the bar -- we assumed this would go toward our bill, but it didn't. We looked for a credit on the bill and when we didn't see it inquired. Nope, no credit, but rather a "cover charge." Plus tax and a processing fee -- adding up to $34.28. What is this, Ticketmaster? Never in my life, in all my decades of restaurant experiences, from Los Angeles to Napa to New York to Paris to Barcelona have I ever experienced this type of gastronomic fraud. Bamboozled. Never going back. Consider yourself warned.

When you come to Palm Springs, you HAVE TO stop here. THE AMBIANCE: Super small and intimate. Bar seating only. If it's full, you have to wait for someone to leave. Luckily, our wait time has never been very long. I would say about 20 people or so fit at the bar. They have a small ledge behind the people sitting at the bar if you want to enjoy a cocktail while you wait. THE FOOD + DRINK: Amuse bouche. They start you off with FRESH, CRISPY, CREAMY bread. Oh my... The best fresh bread I've ever had. By creamy, I mean becomes creamy in your mouth as you chew it. Side of butter, of course. Everything I have tried at Counter Reformation has been delicious. First time I came to Counter Reformation was on June 22, 2018. We ordered the Charles de Cazanove champagne and liked it. For food, we tried the Sauteed Hen of the Woods, Spanish Chorizo and Poached Eggs, Grilled Prawn Brochette, Seared Sea Scallops, and Foie Gras Macaron. Favorite: Foie Gras Macaron. WOOOOOW. Crazy. Innovative. Super flavorful. We were shocked at how good it was. When we left, my fiancé was mad at himself for not ordering a dozen to go, if he could. The second time I came to Counter Reformation was this past August 9th, 2019. We ordered the Charred Black Pepper Beef Carpaccio, Caviar Creme Fraiche & Quail Egg, Cabernet Short Rib & Poached Egg, and the Faux Gras Macaron (Foie Gras is banned in CA at this time). Favorite: Between the Beef Carpaccio and the Caviar Creme Fraiche. The Carpaccio was perfectly balanced in pepper and flavor, and fresh. The Caviar Creme Fraiche dish is atop a delicious, crispy, and airy toasted brioche. Least favorite: Cabernet Short Rib & Poached Egg. Needed more flavor. The Faux Gras Macaron is still good, but obviously if you've tried the actual Foie Gras Macaron, you miss it dearly. You are coming for a treat, without question. They change their menu here and there, but some items remain because they are that good and people would probably riot if they were removed. We like getting a bottle of champagne because we're really going to enjoy our food with our drink. This last time, we ordered two. We didn't finish the second bottle, but the server put a cork in it and gave us a bag so we could take it with us. This last time, we were greeted by the chef, Herve Glin. Bravo, Mr. Glin. A pleasure. SIDE NOTE: Fresh Jamón Ibérico sliced in front of you. THE TIPS: My favorite place to eat in Palm Springs, hands down.

Omg so glad we tried this spot while in Palm Springs and I'm definitely going to return anytime I'm ever in Palm Springs again. We enjoyed a beautifully presented meal of wine and tapas style small plates. My friends and I ordered the beef carpaccio with truffle chimichurri, caviar with quail egg on brioche, smoked Greek octopus, Spanish chorizo and baked burrata, tuna crudo, boquerones, and scallops. I did not try the beef carpaccio or burrata with chorizo since I don't eat meat but my friends were very those dishes. All of the dishes were beautifully plated and tasted but my favorite dish by far was the scallops. They were cooked so perfectly with an amazing buttery texture. The smoked octopus was also tasty but the salted French toast that accompanied it was actually my favorite part of that plate. We were also given a loaf of French bread and butter to start. The interior of the bar is very cute. It's small but we didn't have to wait when we arrived although it was a weekday night. There is also a beautiful confessional installation in the back that makes for cute photo ops. Like others have explained this bar is kind of hidden towards the back of the hotel and you walk through a garden path past a large banana sculpture however staff was very helpful when we asked for directions along the way.

5/5 all around. By far some of the best shareable plates I've had. It's inside the Parker hotel which is absolutely gorgeous. Amazing for date night! Make sure you make your reservations, and know that's it's bar seating only - don't let that scare you it's absolutely amazing. Wine selection is fabulous with nice pours and pricing. We have maybe 6-7 plates and everything was absolutely amazing. Be sure to finish your journey with the macarons...just trust me.

I'm so glad that I came to this place on my last night in Palm Springs. Found a last minute reservation at Open Table and decided to give it a try. First of all, the decor of this place was so beautiful, and the concept was awesome as well. All of their wines are priced the same: $10 for every glass or $42 for every bottle, how cool is that? We decided to make our visit at this wine bar as a full blown dinner so we had ordered every single thing on their menu (except for the cheese). Surprisingly, we were stuffed. They looked like small bites but they were pretty filling and each little bite was very delightful. I don't remember every single dish that came out since there were so many of them, and I was getting a bit tipsy toward the end of our meal. However, I do recall the following dishes as they were amazing: the beef carpaccio with truffle chimichurri, the toasted brioche with Caviar, Creme FraÎche & Quail Egg, the Cured Scottish Salmon on a warm crunchy waffle, the Jamón Ibérico, and last but not least......drum roll......the Foie Gras Macaron, which we had as our dessert with some champagne. It was to die for.... a lil bit sweet, a lil bit salty, and 100% luscious!

Very good food, good drinks. Just don't know if it was a quiet weekend to go there but all of Palm Springs was asleep the Saturday we went out. Music that was a bit more energetic would have helped the overall vibe of the place I think.

Great wine/ tapas bar in the Parker. Eclectic wine list, very solid choices, and knowledgeable bartenders. The caviar and quail egg with creme fraiche was awesome, and only outdone by the smoked octopus - perfectly tender. Great French baguette with really good butter to start. Short rib with poached egg perfectly executed, and charred scallops with seaweed salad. Not to miss!

We had a lovely experience at Counter Reformation. A quick note that they only serve wine... no cocktails. We had assumed from the interior that it was a cocktail bar :). However, we still had a lovely experience staying for a glass of wine and to try one of the tapas. We had the beef carpaccio. My husband loved this dish even though he doesn't like truffle (and the truffle flavor is pronounced). We had the Tempranillo and Cab Franc. Excellent wines and at a decent price point. The baguette they brought out was warm and delicious. The staff couldn't have been nicer or more attentive. I'm not sure we would have gone had we known about the lack of cocktails so I'm glad we were surprised by it and didn't miss checking it out!

We really missed dining at Counter Reformation which just opened up again 3 weeks ago. They haven't missed a beat with their menu, and surprisingly enough, actually improved on it. We loved the quail egg and caviar on the toasted brioche, which melts in your mouth with savory, creamy goodness. Also, enjoyed a new menu item of the bay scallops which were perfectly cooked and came with a velvety white cream dipping sauce. We also had the thinly shaved beef carpaccio which melted in your mouth. Lastly, we dream about the foie gras macaron, which we save for our final course. Service is spectacular with our favorite server manning, or rather womanning, the entire bar of patrons with a friendly smile behind her mask. It's a small place, so make sure to make a reservation.

We've been coming to Counter Reformation for years and the system now for making a reservation is terrible. You actually have to pay for a reservation now and it varies on the time you want to come. This amount does not get taken off your bill. Pretty terrible, we won't be coming back. Which is a shame because it's one of our favourite rooms in town. They also have a new chef and items were not at the same caliber as they once were. Sorry Counter, Bar Cecil is where we'll be spending our dollars now. What a terrible policy!

Amazing little restaurant. The ladies behind the counter were so informative about the wines and foods on the menu. You must order two entrees per person to eat here. The servings are more tapas plates. Everything that we had was delicious and exceptionally prepared. We had to try the Fresh Shucked Oysters, which were fresh and delicious. Next the Oxtail Bourguignon Tart, the Sautéed Hen of the Woods, my favorite dish and the Caramelized Spiced Duck Breast. One draw back for me was that the bar was crowed with seating chairs right next to each other, nothing like the picture. Maybe in a different time, this might go unnoticed, but we are in a pandemic with Covid. The restaurant is closed on Tuesday and Wednesday. Open from 5:00 till 10:00, this is a fun little space. Reservations are strongly encouraged.

Saw some negative reviews about the high volume and close proximity: that's an accurate description, so be warned and skip if either of those are important factors. This is not sedate dining But the food, wine, and service are all good. If you want enthusiastic staff who are happy to offer sound advice, a series of interesting plates that will spark conversation with your neighbors, and a lively vibe ... it's an enjoyable place I'd also agree some negative reviews about food and drink, but challenge the low ratings: 1) the food is not the most refined but, for example, the brioche toast was fantastic even if it did overpower the caviar 2) the wine list, at least tonight, was not 100% accurate, but the servers were quick to offer some alternatives by actually asking about our taste preferences Enjoy the place for what it is

Well this was certainly a find! After consulting a number of sources, one restaurant name came up repeatedly, Counter Reformation. Thank goodness one of them indicated that the place was s part of the Parker Hotel, otherwise I'd have been doubly confused. Once I finally found it, the shallow ceiling, intimate bar was a joy. A well versed staff behind the bar is forthcoming with advice and options. There are a number of small production wines and a selection of about a dozen to 20 tapas plates. I sampled four ( yes, I was hungry!) and each was better than the next. The sliced-at-the-moment Jamon Iberico reminded me why I like this. A beautiful flavor and just a touch of salty ness. The accompanying toasts were more than just bread as well. The sautéed Hen in the Woods Mushroom was a delight. A rich woodsy taste that proved their freshness. The Prawn duo came with a side of greens and were prepared perfectly to avoid that indicator of a amateur chef, rubbery texture. No dessert, so I opted for Caviar on Brioche with Quail Egg. Yum! Especially with the champagne! No reservations, no place to wait. I have to imagine this places fills fast. Remember all that, but most importantly, remember to visit this stunning place! Cool business cards also!