Kestrel A Richard Blais Kitchen + Lounge

Review summary

1. b

   beth

   New York City

   15 reviews

   vip
   5.0

   15 reviews

   Dined 1 day ago

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   We had a lovely anniversary meal The food and service was wonderful
   

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2. K

   Kathleen

   Palm Springs

   64 reviews

   vip
   5.0

   64 reviews

   Dined 2 days ago

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Great vibe. Food was wonderful. We had the special Fish & Chips. It was some of the best that I've had!
   

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3. B

   Bob

   Palm Springs

   2 reviews

   5.0

   2 reviews

   Dined 2 days ago

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   We had a terrific time. Tommy was our main server, but everyone was great... loved the man who lit the fireplace and who ever made my espresso martini. Also loved the french fries... and I grew up on Idaho farm. The new decor was welcoming and perfect for IW. Thanks all! Terri W.
   

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4. T

   Tina

   Seattle

   60 reviews

   vip
   4.0

   60 reviews

   Dined 3 days ago

   1. Overall 4
   2. Food 2
   3. Service 4
   4. Ambience 4

   Ricotta with fig appetizer was very nice…since it is advertised as a “shareable” maybe serving it in smaller pieces would work better. Two of our group ordered the salmon special and declared it delicious…paired with a nice lemon rice and shredded brussel sprouts. One order of the chicken parm tasted ok…a way too large portion, not very warm, should have had some pasta with it. Side salad too awful! Desserts were not ordered as they seemed ho-hum and not interesting. Good service.
   

   Kestrel A Richard Blais Kitchen + LoungeResponded 1 day ago

   Hi Tina, thank you for leaving us a review. It's fantastic to hear you liked most things about your experience. We're sorry you didn't enjoy some of your food. We wish to welcome you back again soon for an excellent 5/5 meal.
   

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5. E

   Eric

   Palm Springs

   17 reviews

   vip
   5.0

   17 reviews

   Dined 3 days ago

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   The new remodel of this restaurant is beautiful. The food is creative and flavorful. Michelle, our sever was gracious, knowledgeable and warm. We will return!
   

   Kestrel A Richard Blais Kitchen + LoungeResponded 1 day ago

   Hi Eric, we really appreciate your 5-star rating! We're excited our staff could be of service and that you enjoyed our great food and new atmosphere. We're hoping this means we'll get to see you again.
   

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6. j

   james

   Edmonton

   2 reviews

   4.0

   2 reviews

   Dined 4 days ago

   1. Overall 4
   2. Food 3
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   We were excited to visit Kestral on our recent stay in Palm Springs. Any new business will have its bumps, so we made sure to temper our expectations and just enjoy the visit. Ahi Poke bowl was pleasant and great value. The steak frites was a bit disappointing - combination of a few things including the cut of meat and the jus was off. The tamarind date ketchup was not provided or present unfortunately. With a few more months this place should be dialled in. Carrot cake was a win. HOWEVER - the staff were fun to connect with. They were all excited to be part of a new venture with RB at the helm. Reminded me that so many people start their professional life in the service industry, which is an awesome responsibility/ opportunity. Shout out to Venus and Miguel.
   

   Kestrel A Richard Blais Kitchen + LoungeResponded 1 day ago

   Hi James, we are happy to see your high rating - thanks! It is so great to hear about how Venus and Miguel made your experience memorable. We're so happy you enjoyed the Ahi Poke bowl, but we're sorry the steak frites weren't to your liking. We're hoping it won't be too long before you join us again and we'll be sure to give you a 5/5 experience.
   

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7. D

   Dale

   Central Coast

   1 review

   3.0

   1 review

   Dined 5 days ago

   1. Overall 3
   2. Food 3
   3. Service 4
   4. Ambience 3

   Food was very average - frites were the best part of the meal. Drinks were slow to arrive and there weren’t that many people in the restaurant. Dessert was also average. Was hoping for better with the big name chef. On the plus side the new decor is beautiful.
   

   Kestrel A Richard Blais Kitchen + LoungeResponded 1 day ago

   Hi Dale, we appreciate the feedback. Thank you for letting us know how you felt about your food and drinks. We will take all of this feedback into consideration so we can improve. We're thrilled, however, that you loved our atmosphere. It would mean a great deal to us to have another chance to give you a lovely experience not too long from now.
   

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8. M

   Matthew

   Los Angeles

   1 review

   2.0

   1 review

   Dined on November 16, 2024

   1. Overall 2
   2. Food 1
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   This was my first visit to Kestrel since it opened in the space at the Indian Wells Golf Resort, but I had been a frequent visitor to the previous restaurant. I know that the city of Indian Wells spent an insane amount of money renovating it and hiring Richard Blais, whose PR team apparently did a great job of selling him as a “celebrity chef” to the 65-80 year old City Council members who probably would have hired anyone with a good headshot who could claim to have been on a Food Network show. The prices would have been reasonable at a nice restaurant in a trendy part of LA. If the food was amazing, they would have been reasonable in Palm Springs. They were exorbitant for Indian Wells, and especially for the quality and presentation it was a huge ripoff. We went on a Friday night. My parents live nearby, I was visiting them. I ordered their medjool date Negroni. Unbelievably sweet, zero bitterness to balance it out. The proportions were all wrong. It was like cough syrup. My dad ordered the prime rib, which came out way too undercooked for him after he specifically asked for it to not be bloody at all. He asked for it to be done a little more, specifically saying it was fine to just throw it on the grill for a minute rather than serve a whole new piece. It came out slightly more done, but no longer hot. My mom and I ordered specials, which I guess was foolish. She had a halibut cheek dish that was actually not bad, the only redeeming part of the meal. I had a short rib pappardelle special that was supposed to be in a mushroom cream sauce. The pasta was so over cooked it was mush, there was barely any short rib to be seen, and it was less a mushroom cream sauce and more a “the watery juice from the short rib pan” sauce. I can’t remember the last time I sent a dish back, but I couldn’t eat it. I just left it there. The little gem salad was similarly bland. The “crab cake hasbrown” was a fast food hash brown topped with a strangely sweet canned crab. Terrible.
   

   Kestrel A Richard Blais Kitchen + LoungeResponded 1 day ago

   Hi Matthew, thank you for taking the time to let us know what you thought about your meal with us. Your feedback about our menu is greatly appreciated. We'll be taking your thoughts into consideration. We hope your next meal is a 5/5! Please don't hesitate to contact us directly.
   

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9. K

   Karlene

   Los Angeles

   8 reviews

   vip
   4.0

   8 reviews

   Dined on November 16, 2024

   1. Overall 4
   2. Food 4
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   The new VUE restaurant Kestrel is wonderful. Food, service and ambiance are great. A must needed remodel and food upgrade. Try it, you won't be disappointed.
   

   Kestrel A Richard Blais Kitchen + LoungeResponded 1 day ago

   Hello Karlene, thank you for sharing this great review with us! It is fantastic to know our staff was able to meet your every need and that our wonderful atmosphere and food added to your experience. We're hoping you'll come to see us again! We'd like to show you a 5-star meal.
   

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10. n

    nancycunningham

    Palm Springs

    27 reviews

    vip
    3.0

    27 reviews

    Dined on November 16, 2024

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 2
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4

    This new restaurant has a limited, but creative menu and a striking appearance. The hostess seated our party of four in a lovely side room that was unfortunately dominated by a loud party of about 12 that included unruly children. It was not necessary to seat us there… there were other open tables. The service was very good ( but sales oriented) and the flavors in our dishes were rich and creative. But, the halibut was “ stringy”. ( how did that occur) and the steak in the steak frite was not tender and somehow unappealing. We were very disappointed in the evening because we want this place to be vibrant and successful.
    

    Kestrel A Richard Blais Kitchen + LoungeResponded 1 day ago

    Hi Nancy, we appreciate hearing your feedback. Thank you. The interaction you had with our hostess is not a typical one here and we're sorry your meal was negatively affected, but we are glad you were still able to enjoy our lovely atmosphere and creative menu. We hope to see you again soon!
    

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