Palm Springs Life's Best of the Best – June 2012

You vote. We reveal. That’s how Best of the Best works.

Site Staff Restaurants

Best Sunday Brunch
Daily Grill

Located in the heart of The Shops on El Paseo, Daily Grill is the go-to place for Sunday brunch, according to “Palm Springs Life” readers. Part of a very successful group of restaurants with its origins in Beverly Hills, Daily Grill is ideally suited for this elegant Palm Desert boulevard. With offerings such as whole grain pecan pancakes, Cobb omelets, chilaquiles, crab cake Benedict, and breakfast staple Aunt Ronda’s Monkey Bread, Daily Grill’s accolades are well deserved. Sit on the patio under the misters and people-watch, or dine inside in cool comfort. 73061 El Paseo, Palm Desert. 760-779-9911; www.dailygrill.com

Best Cocktails   
Babe’s Bar-B-Que & Brewhouse

Babe’s award-winning beers are legendary among those who follow the evolution of fermented hops. Favorites include southern and tap beers, pale ales, lagers, bocks, stouts, Belgian ales, IPAs, lambics, hefeweizen, and Babe’s much-loved house microbrews. Beer drinkers will love Beer Appreciation Mondays, where you can drink your fill at half price from 3 p.m. until close. But this popular bar and restaurant is also known for its outstanding cocktail selection, including the Blue Oasis, Raspberry Lemon Drop, Madras, and Babe’s Sangria. If high-end spirits are more your style, check out Top-Shelf Tuesdays, with top shelf drinks half-price from 3 to 6 p.m. 71800 Hwy. 111, The River at Rancho Mirage, Rancho Mirage. 760-346-8738; www.babesbbque.com

Best Bar
Sullivan’s Steakhouse

Rich wood, a hip-yet-casual atmosphere buzzing with energy, friendly staff, and killer specialty cocktails make Sullivan’s Steakhouse on El Paseo the desert’s favorite place to unwind. Voted “best bar” by “Palm Springs Life” readers, this comfortable dining establishment offers a well-rounded selection of beers, wines, hand-shaken martinis, and assorted spirits for everyone from occasional imbibers to connoisseurs. Enjoy live music and an impressive bar menu that serves up blue cheese chips, gnocchi, seared beef satay, burgers, and more. For business or pleasure, Sullivan’s presents a stimulating bar scene in an excellent restaurant. 73505 El Paseo,
Palm Desert. 760-341-3560; www.sullivanssteakhouse.com

Best Sushi
The Venue  

Chic. Modern. Unexpected. The sushi bar and Japanese restaurant created by young Turkish-born Engin Onural is an experience in sensual dining, featuring bites of tuna, yellowtail, eel, and octopus carefully draped over rice and wrapped with seaweed. Creative hand rolls include California Dream’n with crab meat and avocado topped with spicy tuna, aioli, and teriyaki sauce and The Venue with spicy tuna topped with seared salmon, spicy mayo, teriyaki, micro greens, and tobiko. Or go omakase — in the chef’s hands — for a total sushi immersion. 73111 El Paseo, Palm Desert. 760-346-1500; www.thevenuepalmdesert.com

Visit www.mybestofthebest.com for full results of the poll, including runners up and information on how to participate. Remember to cast your votes for Best Appetizers (deadline June 4), Best Automotive repair (deadline June 11), Best Day Spa (deadline June 18), Best resort Spa (deadline June 25), and home décor and accessories  (deadline July 2).