Palm Springs Life / Desert Guide / August 2010 / Mexican Sushi?

 Email  Print  Feed

Mexican Sushi?

In 2005, when the Gutierrez brothers, Owner Ernesto and Executive Chef Lorenzo, took over the former Otani Japanese Restaurant to convert it to a Mexican restaurant, there was something they hadn’t anticipated: respected Master Sushi Chef Shinichi Yoshikawa and the fabled sushi bar. It would be like uprooting a beautiful tree.
 
So they expanded the restaurant’s concept to international cuisine from different continents. In addition to the Gutierrez brothers’ authentic Mexican cuisine and Shin’s famous sushi, Margarita’s also offers a Mediterranean-influenced seafood pasta bar. Each of the cuisines is prepared in separate kitchen areas.

Conveniently located in central Palm Springs near the Palm Springs Convention Center, Margarita’s is a favorite for families, groups, and conventioneers because here they can have the best of several cuisines — steak and lobster, scampi, sushi, enchiladas, tacos, and tamales.

The Gutierrez brothers and General Manager Arturo Gonzalez, have more than 30 years’ experience at a variety of desert restaurants.

Margarita’s architecture and décor reflects the Asian influence: a high-pitched bamboo and beamed ceiling, stone floor, terrazzo-topped central sushi bar, and copper-and-teak framed Japanese “roof” over the pasta bar. Wicker and wrought iron furnish indoor and palapas-covered outdoor patio dining areas. A pub-style bar and lounge off the entrance has several flat -screen TVs for comfortable sports watching.

Enjoy live music by Juracho Kings mariachis Thursdays and Sundays, and jazz musician Michael Bolivar on Fridays and Saturdays, 7 to 11 p.m. Happy hour daily from 3 to 6 p.m. offers special drink and appetizer prices.

Open daily for lunch and dinner from 11 a.m. until closing. Sunday brunch, 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., offers a little bit of the entire menu.

Shown in photo below: A few samples of the variety on the menu at Margarita’s, clockwise from bottom right — Combination Sushi Platter; Sushi Rainbow Roll; Seafood Special. Sautéed Shrimp, Crab, Scallops, Mussels, and Clams in a garlic, basil and wine sauce, served over linguine; and a 12-Ounce New York Steak and 8-Ounce Australian Lobster Tail, served with Baked Potato, fresh vegetables, and choice of soup or salad and Mexican Combination Platter, an Enchilada, Hard Shell Taco, and Tamale, served with Spanish Rice and Refried Beans. Also shown are three of their premium margaritas, Midori, Mango-Rita, and Strawberry Cadi.

Margarita's Restaurant
1000 E Tahquitz Canyon Way
Palm Springs, CA 92262
760-778-3500
www.margaritasrestaurant.net