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 Photo by Susan Werner
When Adam Gash was born in 1970, Bing Crosby had 28 of his 38 crooning albums under his belt. The two men’s lives overlapped for only seven years, leaving Gash’s childhood memories of the legendary talent to consist mainly of listening to Crosby’s White Christmas album each December and catching a few of his family’s Minute Maid orange juice commercials on television.
But that doesn’t mean Gash is the wrong person to be named regional operations manager of the new Bing Crosby’s Restaurant and Piano Lounge in Rancho Mirage.
Gash says that when he left Ruth’s Chris Steak House in Palm Desert after a seven-year stint, some people thought he had lost his mind. “To leave that kind of company is risky,” he says. “But I wouldn’t have left if I didn’t see the vision in this place. I really connected with the owners and wanted the opportunity to help build this brand.”
But Bing Crosby’s is more than a brand — as Gash is well aware. Many regular dinner guests remember Bing, either personally or from memories of the era. They come in and want to reminisce about the music, the movies, and the persona that was Bing.
They’ve come to the right place. A glamorous ode, the lounge and restaurant are tastefully decked out in 60-inch, glossy black-and-white photos of Bing and his friends and family. Interior details exude more of an estate than a restaurant feel, with tactile elements crafted of luxurious materials. Tall curved mohair booths, embossed wallpapers, and leather barstools with high backs work aesthetic wonders with onyx-topped café tables, a double-sided fireplace, and glass dividers filled with bottles of wine. The menu is “California country club,” and the lounge claims a full third of the restaurant, making it easy for guests to pop in for cocktails throughout the evening.
“In my previous life, people would come to have dinner and then leave to go do something else,” Gash says. “Here, people like to come early, kick back in the lounge with a drink before dinner, then stay for the music afterward.” Bing’s beloved standards blend easily with other tunes from the ’30s and ’40s.
Bing’s wife, Kathryn, was heavily involved with the concept behind the first restaurant (in Walnut Creek) and plans to be at the opening for every one in the growing chain. She pops in to the Rancho Mirage restaurant now and then and sang a couple numbers during a charity function for the Boys & Girls Club. She has given the restaurant her blessing, as well as access to original photographs and memorabilia.
“These are actual historical memories, and we want to honor that,” Gash says.
— Lisa Marie Rovito
Bing Crosby’s Restaurant and Piano Lounge is located at 71-743 Hwy. 111 in Rancho Mirage. see map and more
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