El Mirasol Cocina Mexicana

This is a Southern California original. Mostly outdoor seating, thick with vegetation, Mirasol is hidden away off Palm Canyon Drive in the Movie Colony area, offering what can only be called "authentic Mexican food "and beverages in a zen-like setting. This is a restaurant made for the season in Palm Springs with most of it 's seating outside with ample heaters to ward of the desert nights. In the summer you are stuck with a small dining room and bar, unless you really like 100 degree evening. The place is family run, we met many of them the night we dined, from dad in the kitchen to Karina the daughter, who told us a great deal about the place. It is lovely and quiet, and adjacent to a small boutique hotel also run be the family. The food is not the light fare found in some recent Mexican locations, it is sauced and plentiful and yes with beans and rice. It is good. Each table has a giant bottle of their homemade hot sauce. Believe it, hot is the word. And delicious, too. I can 't say that the service was friendly or fast, it was adequate, but not personal, maybe a little brisk. Not complaining mind you, but it kind of takes the shine off the total offering. Maybe it was the night or maybe everyone had a tough day or maybe we did something to shut down the feeling of family that Karina was so good at, but it kind of felt like we were intruding. Better service would have earned an additional star. But the food is the star. I had the pork burrito, and it was enough for my wife and I to share with no problem. We saw a couple of shrimp dishes go bye the looked wonderful. The cocktails were good, although the Skinny Margarita was a bit of a let down for one member of the party. It is on a very busy street but can be hard to fine, follow your gps, and there is parking in the rear which is nice and unusual for the area. Well worth the trip.

On a recent visit to Palm Springs we dined here. Party of 4 on a Saturday night. Seating options are outside under misters or inside. It was 103 so we sat inside. Everyone agreed the drinks were great but disappointed with the food. My order is pictured, Large Cadillac Margarita with a combo chicken enchilada and chicken taco. Beans and rice tasted great, chicken tasted days old. The locals I dined with said they wouldn't go back. I agree.

Went with high hopes and got disappointed. Food was lacking a lot of flavor. Maybe it's because I'm from Los Angeles and Mexican but all you see here is white people who know nothing about true Mexican food. But on a good note all the workers there are friendly and on the dot with service.

I went here to enjoy some good food and didn't get a chance to. When I walked up to be seated a server greeted me and said the host would be with me shortly. So I waited. A few minutes later the host walks up doesn't greet me. So I stans there for about 5 min while he fumbles around with the table seating tablet. Yet he still doesn't acknowledge me. So I greet him still no response. Why is this? So I turn around and leave. Wow I've never experienced anything like this.

El Marisol has a wealth of meat and vegetarian mexican dishes. All dinner plates are accompanied by rice and beans. Their beans are beautiful and very tasty. Chips and an amazing salsa are brought to each table. Margaritas are also very popular! Most of the nights in El Marisol are filled with lively crowds of streets.