Roy's
Rancho Mirage
Hawaiian Fusion Cuisine
By
Carol & Joe Davis
Dining Detectives
We've
always enjoyed our trips to the Palm Springs area for rest,
relaxation and of course the excellent dining. We know Roy's
Hawaiian Fusion Cuisine Restaurants well, as we have
met Roy and dined at his restaurants in other cities. We even
own one of Roy's beautiful cookbooks and have recreated the
cuisine fairly successfully but only after several hours of
preparation. Roy Yamaguchi has built
an empire since 1988 with his unique Hawaiian Fusion Cuisine
and now has over thirty locations around the U.S. Each restaurant
has its own local flair but stays mostly true to Roy's menu.
Rancho Mirage's Chef/Partner Charles Andres
has added his own touch to Roy's famous cuisine to cater to
the clientele that can range from golfers to families who
are locals or tourists, as well as celebrities who like to
winter in the Desert.
We
were warmly welcomed as we arrived by Managing Partner April
McCaa and were seated at a comfortable table in the center
of the dining room with a view of the exhibition kitchen.
The atmosphere is sophisticated yet casual and we started
out with Roy's refreshing Fresh Hawaiian Cocktails. We loved
the Original Hawaiian Martini which is shaken, not stirred
and made with Maui pineapples, Skyy Vodka, Stoli Vanilla Vodka
and Malibu Coconut Rum served with a slice of fresh pineapple.
Equally enjoyable was the 1988 Cocktail which is a tribute
to Roy's opening year in Honolulu. It is a perfectly balanced
blend of tart grapefruit and tangy pomegranate with Absolut
Ruby Red Vodka, SOHO Lychee Liqueur and Patron Citronge Liqueur
served with Lychee garnish.
We perused the menu then
opted for their three course Seasonal Spring Fusion Prix Fixe
Menu which was well priced at only $35.00. There are multiple
options for each course which makes it a great way to order.
The appetizers that we really enjoyed were the Mochi Crusted
Ahi Sashimi with ponzu, truffle emulsion and the Wagyu Beef
Pot Stickers with kim chee cucumber and hot Firecracker sauce.
The entrée that we loved was the Herb Grilled Lamb
Chops with port wine bordelaise sauce served with herb au
gratin potatoes, carrots and broccoli. The wine list is extensive
and the Rutherford Ranch "Roy's" Cabernet paired
perfectly with the Lamb Chop. The Desserts were both fantastic
and so were the espressos. We loved Roy's signature dessert
which is the Melting Hot Chocolate Soufflé that is
a Flourless chocolate cake with a molten hot center served
with excellent vanilla ice cream a la mode. The Strawberry
Cheese Cake with kaffir lime essence was also terrific. The
cuisine was both excellent and reasonably priced. The attire
is Desert Casual and we enjoyed the overall atmosphere of
the restaurant and the professional friendly service. Roy's
Rancho Mirage is a worthy dining destination!
Roy's
Rancho Mirage
71959 Highway 111
Rancho Mirage, CA. 92270
760-340-9044
www.RoysRestaurant.com