Tucked behind a stylish courtyard dotted in modern white outdoor tables in Palm Springs Downtown Design District, Workshop is a welcome gust of new gastronomy to a city that struggles with good restaurants. The eyes are given the first glimpse as to Workshop's true wonders, namely a glass-enclosed dining space with towering ceiling and honed concrete details. A communal seating area in the front leads to a hostess podium and galley-style dining room with natural-grain wooden booths concealed on both sides and lively mixologist bar at the end.
The Food
A menu infused with local produce and specialties of the valley includes a lengthy menu of wood-fired specialties infused by chef Michael Beckman’s linguistic culinary prowess. Small plates of chicken liver pate, oxtail shepherd’s pie and roasted cauliflower impressed, the ho-hum pizza and almost-whole Brussels sprouts less so. Bowls of faro salad with calamari and lentil salad made us regret sharing their magic, as well as a great brick chicken and signature burger that packed a flavorful gusto.
Last Word
Architectural kitchen and bar in downtown Palm Springs offer stylish, culinary refuge from the usual desert dining scene.
