Sweet Basil California Eatery

"It’s a little gem right in the heart of el paseo in palm desert. We really enjoyed our meals and we even got a protein side for our dog, Duke. We started out by sharing the eggplant cigars made from eggplant, goat cheese, sausage and tomato basil sauce. Light enough for a small appetizer and full of flavor. I had the pork sandwich. It was very tasty. My wife had the beet and quinoa salad which she thoroughly enjoyed. And duke and I shared a small flat iron steak as a side protein. It was cooked and seasoned perfectly and was very tender. We really liked the fact Duke was welcomed by the staff as we sat on the outdoor street-side patio. The food quality was excellent, the service was outstanding, the atmosphere was just what we were looking for after hiking all morning, not too fancy, but also not a place where you’d expect to see tank tops and flip flops…although they would probably not turn anyone away. They are just so nice. We will definitely go back."

"Amazing food and exceptional service. I went two days in a row during my visit here. Frankly, this might be the best restaurant in the entire area."

"I met a girlfriend for an impromptu lunch and suggested this spot since I’d dined here before and parking is convenient. It was her first visit, and we both enjoyed our selections—the lobster cakes and harvest salads were very good. That said, the service felt less polished than expected for the price point. At one moment, our server approached the table with a cleaning spray bottle while asking about dessert, which disrupted the dining experience a bit. Given the cost, attentive and professional service is important to me. Overall, the food is quite good, and I would return. I hope the service experience improves, as this could easily be a consistently great lunch spot."