The Cliffhouse, La Quinta

Need some advise, I%26#39;m planning our meal outings and trying to find a more up today account on the Cliffhouse, would like to take my better half there. Its been 30 years since she was there last and I wish to suprise her but the reviews on TA about this place are not consistant. So who%26#39;s been there lately and what is it like?

thanks is advance

The Cliffhouse, La Quinta

If you really want to impress her take her to Melvyns in Palm Springs. My wife and I go there when we go to Palm Springs.

The Cliffhouse, La Quinta

The La Quinta Cliffhouse is one of our ';regular'; spots, but not necessarily for the kitchen or the service. We just like the ambience.

I don%26#39;t mean to criticize the food, which is reasonably good. Nor do I criticize the staff, whose members are energetic and friendly. We think the outdoor terrace, on the lip of the rocky cliff (mostly fake rocks erected in front of the real ones -- for earthquake safety) is unique in the valley. Let%26#39;s face it, there aren%26#39;t many places where you climb stairs over a madly rushing waterfall to reach a restaurant! (There%26#39;s an elevator, too.) Self-parking is extremely limited so you may very well have to valet-park.

They won%26#39;t guarantee an outside table when you make your reservation, so if you want to be sure to snare one, go early, before 6pm. And (despite heaters and vinyl windbreaks) very cold or very windy weather in winter will scotch outside service.

It%26#39;s always buzzing, the cliff concept is perfect for the Santa Rosa Mountains, and I think it%26#39;s an easy place to enjoy.

Having said all that, if you have other priorities, there are dozens of restaurants in the valley with outstanding qualities: local color (Wally%26#39;s Desert Turtle), perfect steaks (LG%26#39;s), beautiful view and live music (outside terrace at Adobe Grill at sunset), sophisticated cuisine in intimate ambience(Desert Sage or Jillian%26#39;s).

If your wife has not been to the desert in 30 years, she will probably not recognize LaQuinta (town) at ALL. The Old Town LaQuinta development is up and running and growing, and it is charming. Narrow meandering streets, a piazza, specialty shops and some decent restaurants. Stuft Pizza is casual and popular, with nice mountain views from the patio. My favorite for drinks or dinner ambience in Old Town is outside at (Clint Eastwood%26#39;s) Hog%26#39;s Breath Inn. There is something so European about sitting on their balcony and watching the street life in the piazza below, with mountain views, too! Another actor, William Devane, is putting the finishing touches on his new location next door, Devane%26#39;s, which should open in the spring of 2009. And although their schedule is somewhat limited during their start-up phase, the LaQuinta Playhouse now sparks the Old Town scene with live theater (laquintaplayhouse.com).

But back to the Cliffhouse -- I would not hesitate to recommend it to anyone for a pleasant evening out. It may not be all things to all people, but nothing I read in those negative reviews struck me as being a complete or consistent picture of the place. Hope your visit is memorable! Enjoy!

We go there all the time. Best are Spring and Fall, when it%26#39;s pleasant to sit outside by the boulders and waterfall. If we go in winter, we usually request to sit inside across from the fireplace. It%26#39;s very enjoyable. Have a good time!

nars