Coachella Valley, California, is in Riverside County, approximately 35 miles southwest of Palm Springs and 140 miles southeast of Los Angeles. Visitors to attractions in the Coachella Valley area, like the General Patton Memorial Museum and Joshua Tree National Forest, who have a craving for Italian food can find a small number of dining options off of the Redlands Freeway. These include both casual and upscale Italian restaurants that serve classic dishes as well as new interpretations on traditional cuisine, such as Latin American and Italian fusion.
Mario's Italian Restaurant
Mario's Italian Cafe is a small, local chain of five Italian restaurants in Riverside County with a location on the corner of Avenue 48 and Jackson street in Coachella, approximately 11 miles from Coachella Valley. The restaurant is family-owned and is known for its sausage marsala and its eggplant parmigiana. Smaller versions of the restaurant's generous portions of pasta are available; the restaurant assesses a fee for sharing an entree. Beer and wine are served.
Mario's Italian Cafe is open for lunch Mondays through Saturdays and for dinner nightly. Reservations are not taken; a wait is not uncommon, particularly during peak dinners hours on weekends. Casual attire is appropriate. An on-site parking lot is available.
Mario's Italian Cafe
83103 Ave. 48 # 1D
Coachella, CA 92236
760-863-1611
mariositaliancafes.com
Ciro's Ristorante And Pizzeria
Established in 1966, Ciro's Ristorante And Pizzeria has two locations, including its first in Indio, around 13 miles from Coachella Valley. The restaurant is known for its pizza and offers 17 specialty pies, such as the smoked oyster and the Paisano, topped with pepperoni, salami, beef and sausage. Lasagna is a best-selling pasta dish, and the meatballs served with the spaghetti are made fresh daily. The wine list includes 13 selections, including Italian vintages. Draft and bottled beer is also served.
Ciro's Ristorante And Pizzeria is open for lunch Mondays through Saturdays and for dinner nightly. Reservations are taken, but typically not required. Casual attire is acceptable. The restaurant offers a children's menu and has booster seats and high chairs available. Parking is available in the restaurant's on-site lot.
Ciro's Ristorante and Pizzeria
81963 State Hwy. 111
Indio, CA 92201
760-347-6503
cirospasta.com
Pom
Pom is located inside of the Fantasy Springs Resort Casino in Indio, about 13 miles from Coachella Valley. The menu combines dishes from both Latin American and Mediterranean culinary traditions with Italian dishes like pork osso buco, chicken parmigiana with prosciutto and fettuccine alfredo with chicken or shrimp. Diners can finish the meal with a classic Italian dessert like tiramisu. The restaurant has a full bar.
Pom serves breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. A late night menu is also available after midnight each evening. Reservations are highly recommended and taken online as well as by phone. Request a table by the window on the second story of the dining room for overhead views of the resort grounds. Business casual attire is the norm. Valet parking and an on-site lot are available.
Pom
84-245 Indio Springs Pkwy.
Indio, CA 92203
800-827-2946
fantasyspringsresort.com
Tags: Coachella Valley, Ciro Ristorante, Ciro Ristorante Pizzeria, Mario Italian, Ristorante Pizzeria