Palm Springs: Lunch at El Jefe

 

We stayed at the Saguaro Hotel in Palm Springs and had lunch one day at the hotel’s cafe, El Jefe. Tinto, another restaurant at the hotel was closed for off-season so it was good to have another option. It’s got your Mexican favorites like nachos, tacos and queso fundido but the food is not your average Mexican food.

We saw orders of nachos whizzing by so of course we had to get some.

 

The crab soup was deliciously refreshing for a light lunch. However, we don’t do “light lunches” while on vacation so the onslaught of food kept coming and coming. We ordered and then ordered some more.

 

I thought the yellowtail ceviche sounded fab and it was easily the most amusing dish to me with its tiny tortilla circles garnish and sorbet. Luckily the fish was good.

 

Unfortunately we couldn’t mix and match the tacos during lunch time so my friend went with beef.

 

I had a very fancy chicken tamale that came unwrapped and drizzled with crema. It was savory and comforting.

I’m pretty sure I ate all the duck queso fundido by myself. I love that duck is showing up on menus all over the place. And it sneaked into this cheesy dip. With some tortillas, this could easily make a (not so light) lunch.

 

The guacamole was super fresh and was soon part of every bite no matter what the bite was. Guac and tacos. Guac and chips. Guac and queso fundido. Sure, and more please.

I hope Tinto is open the next time I visit but I would happily munch at El Jefe again.

 

El Jefe at the Saguaro Hotel

1800 E Palm Canyon Dr., Palm Springs, CA 92264  —  (760) 322-1900

© The Minty  2014