Circa 59

Could not have had a better experience at this place. We had never been, but most def. will be going back. The place looked cool, the food was great, and above all else, the service was top notch. Never waited for anything, the food came out quickly, and they really made us feel like we were regulars. We cannot wait to come back in a big group and really do it up! more

This place was recently given a grade of ""C"" by the health inspector. The management thinks its funny because instead of fixing the problem they have taken down the grade of ""C"" put it on the floor and put wet floor signs in front of it in a attempt to fool and decieve the public. This establishment is only concerned about making a dollar and will do it at any cost even risking the health of its patron's. Decide for yourself look up their latest health inspection report and you will see what i mean. They should be stopped and fined and or closed down by the health inspector for these infractions and their complete disrespect of the health inspector and the patrons who frequent this establishment. Pros: place looks great Cons: can't keep a good grade from the health inspector more

Last Friday night we had an incredible evening reconnecting with old friends. The staff at Circa truly made the evening so special. When GM Morgan stopped by our table, his charm, warmth and friendliness made the evening even more special. He is a master host making you feel simultaneously like a VIP and an old friend. This is truly the place in Palm Springs to celebrate every special event! more

We had to check out the new hot-spot in town last weekend. From the moment you arrive at the front of the hotel you are wowed by the most beautiful design & decor one can imagine. Stunning is really the only way to describe the ambiance and the old meets new Hollywood feel it exudes. We had a couple of cocktails prior to dinner at their Starlight Bar off the lobby. Great mixology at work here! Staff is also very friendly & attractive. Jarred, the bartender was great and made us a couple of his 'special' cocktails. Dinner at Circa 59, their main restaurant was a positive experience as well. Our food & service was good on that night, but it is not a cheap restaurant to eat at. At the end of our meal we moved over to the 'scene' at their pool bar, where a couple hundred people were hanging out and having a good time. Loved the numerous fire places and seating areas around the pool and the bar! Great music, too! Fun place to spend an evening. Save up for it though ...not cheap, but then again - you pay what you get for. Pros: Fun, entertaining, visually stunning, good food, friendly service more

Four of us flew to Palm Springs for a little get-away. I was told the best new place to eat in town was Circa59. We had the absolute best service, best entrees, best desserts, best drinks ever! As a starter we had the Iced Seafood Tower, which was the freshest seafood beautifully presented on a 2-tiered plateau. The Filet Mignon was to die for - the Halibut was delicious and the Wild Salmon was absolutely exquisite! We decided if we ever visit Palm Springs again we will definitely want a repeat of this scrumptious meal! Our waiter divided our steak and fish right near our table and we all ordered our side dishes so each of us could serve ourselves. We had Lobster Mac & Cheese, Truffle Fries, Creamed Spinach & Cheddar Potato Puree. Each dish was done perfectly. Then, we shared desserts. Magnificent experience! I highly recommend this restaurant. Pros: Thumbs Up! more

My husband and I have lived in Palm Springs for a few years and decided to try Circa59 at the newly renovated Riviera Hotel. Wish we hadn't waited so long because this place had it all - the kind of dining experience we'd been looking for. Service was impeccable, the food was amazing and the ambiance was just the right blend between being trendy and romantic. We could tell the management and the chefs took the details to heart when creating their menu and service standards. Service pluses: Our silverware pre-sets arrived at the perfect time, our bread & butter was refilled before we even realized they were out, our server was extremely knowledgable about the food and wine menu and on our way out we were thanked by the our server, the hostess and manager. Food: The Lobster Bisque was delicate and tasteful, the entrees were beautifully presented and the desserts were decadent and perfectly portioned. After dinner we enjoyed a couple of well crafted cocktails in their swanky, cool Side Bar. A+ Circa59! Pros: A flawless staff and food more

We went to Circa 59 on a Friday night with another couple from San Fran. We came in without a reservation on a very busy night and a wonderful man promptly greeted us and answered all of our questions while he waited for the hostess to come to the front. we were given a table, not the best in the restaurant, but considering the crowd we were feeling lucky to be seated. \r Our waiter was extremely nice & attentive. He answered the many questions we had about the menu and gave us fabulous recommendations on both the food and the wine. The appetizers that we had, Oysters Rockefeller & Ahi Tuna Tataki, were so incredible, they just melted in our mouth. The Roquefort-crusted filet was one of the best beef entrees I've had in a long time. This kitchen really knows the true meaning of medium-rare. My friend had the Yellowfin tuna which was also very good. The flavors that they pair at Circa are interesting, but not over the top, just plain fabulous. The desserts are also very good.\r \r This place is simply one of the best restaurant in this town. Pros: Everything ... more

Dining at Circa is an entertaining way to spend an evening. Though we had a to wait a few minutes for our table, the bar is not a bad place to have to sit for a while. The bartender was very knowledgeable about wines and pointed us towards their fantastic house-made cocktails we wouldn't have selected on our own. The food was delicious (the Bershire pork belly is really amazing) and the service was spot on. The space is really interesting - very elegant yet a bit edgy - impressive to be able to pull that off. All in all, a wonderful evening and we will certainly return. Pros: Great food, good service, WOW atmosphere more

My husband and I dined at Circa 59 for the first time on the day after the grand opening and had the best dining experience ever. The valets were very courteous and prompt, and we were greeted immediately upon arriving into the restaurant. We arrived early, because we wanted to have drinks in the lounge before dinner. The decor was gorgeous - a perfect combination of old world charm & modern decor and the mood that was set could not have been any better. Our waiter, was a pro -- informative and knowledgeable, and showed up at all the right times to check on us, or at least inform us of the status of our meal. We found the dinner options to be comparable in price to other top restaurants in the area or LA ($30-$40 entrees, or $45 for the lobster pot-pie, desserts $10 ea, appetizers & salads about $10-15) however, we were a little naive about ordering a bottle of wine - we weren't sure about what wine to get, so we went with the managers suggestion of a bottle of Bordeaux to go with our meal (husband was having the bone-in ribeye, me - diver scallops) -- it came to be $105/bottle! The service was impeccable, and we felt like royalty -- the staff, in their own harried way, did not direct any tension towards us, and even when our food was brought out to us, our waiter and another server did so in an almost rehearsed manner. Our car was standing by ready to go as soon as we stepped out the door. My husband joked (but he's really kind of serious) that he would like to move into the restaurant -- it's really that beautiful inside. Best dinner ever. Pros: Best looking restaurant we've been to - Service - Atmosphere - GREAT cocktails more

We've had a truly great experience at Circa59 restaurant in the new Riviera hotel. We were a party of 6 and made a last minute reservation this past Saturday. We were greeted with gracious hospitality by the host who offered us a couple of seating options for our party. We ended up sitting outside under the trees. The food was nothing short of superb. Service was attentative & friendly. The ambiance was so pleasant that we ended up staying for a round of drinks on the adjacent lounge patio. We'll definitely be back. Pros: Beautiful decor, superb food, very friendly & professional service Cons: A bit pricey ... more

Circa 59 was decorated as beautifully as the rest of the hotel, truly giving The Parker a run for its money. Sadly, this is where the comparison ends. We went to the restaurant for a birthday dinner with great expectations. Unfortunately, what we got was a pretty gift box that opened up to reveal a lump of coal. When we got to the host stand, there was immediate pandemonium. No one seemed to know what was going on (which was the theme during the entire ordeal), but finally, we were seated right near a door, despite asking to be seated in one of the outside tables (having been told that those were already reserved for those who specifically requested them...note: no one sat in at least 3 of the tables during our 4 hour dining fiasco). We then were given menus with tiny flashlights to read by (a'la the Parker)...but only one tiny flashlight per table. When we asked for more than one so that we did not have to take turns, the waiter told us this was not possible. Somehow, we still somehow managed to order our meals. Very long story short, it took 4 hours for us to finish our meal (eating time was maybe a half an hour, as the food was atrocious when it did finally arrive): at least 3 times we were given the wrong food, the food that finally arrived was oversalted (Oysters Rockefeller should not have large pieces of rock salt floating on the bottom), overcooked, and completely sub-par & uninspired. When we complained, we were given free desert (Woopee), but not allowed to choose the desert ourselves, and the taste of the desert only confirmed that the pastry chef should be fired along with the chef and the rest of the dining room staff. Oh, and the restaurant's music was competing with the music from the Bikini Bar outside. So much for the great atmosphere. Bad service when a restaurant first opens can be expected and forgiven, so long as your food exceeds expectations. Sadly, the only expectations that Circa 59 exceeded were our lowest. Pros: Decor Cons: Food, Service, Lighting, everything else other than decor more