Dining With The Davids F.
Yelp
At Dining with The Davids, we don't just try a dish or two--we bring a group of food lovers, known as our Taste Buds, and order a wide selection from the menu so we can truly experience what a restaurant has to offer. At the end of the night, everyone votes for their favorites. Our reviews reflect the collective opinion of the group, not just one person's take. With that in mind, here's our experience at Kestrel in Indian Wells.
We were excited to visit Kestrel, the newest restaurant from celebrity chef Richard Blais. Given its location in one of the wealthiest towns in California, we expected an elevated dining experience with bold, creative flavors. While there were certainly some standout moments, a few elements fell short of expectations.
The highlights:
* The restaurant itself is stunning, with multiple dining areas and a welcoming atmosphere that's great for groups.
* The liquid nitrogen margaritas were a hit--fun to watch and well-balanced.
* Two appetizers stood out: the Fromage Blanc with Wild Mushrooms & Truffle and the Hamachi with Blood Orange Ponzu & Pickled Serrano--both beautifully executed.
* The best entrée was the Pan-Roasted Chilean Sea Bass with Coconut Rice, perfectly cooked with a flavorful tomato-ginger sauce.
* For dessert, the Carrot & Date Cake was the clear favorite--moist, well-spiced, and a great way to end the meal.
Where things missed the mark:
* Service was slow. Our dinner stretched to five hours (these events normally take 2.5-3 hours to complete), with a significant delay in sorting out the checks for drinks.
The verdict:
Kestrel has a beautiful space, a fun cocktail menu, and some fantastic appetizers, but there are still some kinks to work out in both execution and service. Would we return? For drinks and small bites, absolutely. But if you're expecting a flawless fine-dining experience, it's worth managing expectations.