There’s a whole lot of Southern hospitality and home cooking going on at the recently reopened Twin Palms Bistro & Lounge in Palm Springs.
The restaurant was closed for eight months after a combustion fire broke out in the kitchen, causing extensive smoke damage throughout the building. But the comfortable, cozy environment designed with warm woods and eclectic artwork has been scrubbed clean and the newly built kitchen is once again turning out the comfort food that Twin Palms regulars have been craving.
“The menu has a strong Southern flare to it,” says Pat Daltroff, who owns the restaurant with his partner, Mel Moncrieff. “We’ve got catfish, chicken fried steak with mashed potatoes and gravy, and we’re going to be adding dishes with alligator and crawfish.”
A number of the recipes come from the cookbook Gimme Some Sugar Darlin’ by Laurance Daltroff Triplette, who is Daltroff’s sister. (You can purchase a copy at the front desk.)
“Fried okra is one of our customers’ favorites,” he adds. “And the fish and chips has been a huge hit. It’s a beautiful white fish that’s beer-battered and fried, and we do it as a whole filet instead of little pieces like a lot of other places.”
Daltroff notes that they have made an effort to keep the restaurant’s prices modest. Indeed, the fish & chips filet delivered to our table was huge and came with a large pile of crispy fries and a side of coleslaw — a real bargain at just $12.
One of my dining companions went the traditional Southern route and ordered grilled catfish ($16), which arrived with creamy mashed potatoes and plenty of mixed vegetables, as well as a good-sized bowl of black-eye pea and greens soup as a starter.
The diverse menu includes traditional items such as steak, chicken, and pork chops. Like many of the entrées, the juicy, perfectly cooked grilled pork chop we ordered came with a choice of soup or salad.
Throughout the week, Twin Palms also features nightly “all-you-can-eat” specials, including fried chicken, spaghetti with meat sauce, pot roast, and red beans and rice.
Or stop by for their Sunday brunch and enjoy the mountain view from the back patio while you sip glasses of their bottomless champagne for just $5.
And those people at the next table with the big smiles on their faces? Those are the regulars who are really happy to be back.
Twin Palms Bistro & Lounge, 1201 E. Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs, 760-322-3730
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