Cuistot - Palm Desert, California

Lee Burton (Chef Lee)

Always a great experience at Cuistot. All of the food is delicious, traditional French cuisine. Enjoyed some of the best mushroom soup I’ve ever tasted. Beautiful interior, excellent service, fantastic cocktails.

Justin Willhite “JDubb”

Cuistot is pretty good when it comes to food. That Classic Cassoulet Toulousain was everything I wanted – the meat was just how you’d hope, and the whole thing was spot on. And the bread they serve is fantastic. I recommend keeping some on hand if you ordered the Cassoulet as well!

Had a Black Manhattan too, and let me tell you, it was strong in the best way. It’s nice to find a spot that doesn’t mess around, many I've had are so light on the alcohol it's almost a waste of time.

But, fair warning, the service could use a speed boost. Waiting for our drinks felt like forever, and the food took its sweet time too. The good news is, it's all worth it once you get it.

Plus, the place itself is gorgeous, especially if you catch that patio scene at sunset. And as a side note there is a sculpture garden with awesome water features next to the restaurant for an after dinner stroll.

So, if you’re down to chill and not in any rush, Cuistot is where it’s at. Just sit back, enjoy the scene, and get ready for some top-notch eats and drinks.

Nicholas Long

Not a good visit at Cuistot tonight, for my birthday I was looking for my favorite sliders. Decades of memories. I would come back and give a second chance but the chef stated the food is better than ever. We all know the old saying. . Let me know if I'm turning into my old man. It seemed dry, old and led me to another restaurant. Merry Christmas and happy new year!!

Sally Pinales

The place is beautiful.. the atmosphere was great. The manager is nicely funny.. the servers are on point..

JC's On El Paseo

My wife’s 65th Birthday Dinner… Excellent food and service. We were seated in the best table positioned right in front of the fire place. Chef Cuistot stopped by to check on us. We will be back…

Ken Privett

My partner bought gift certificates for here but passed away before we could use them. After finding the certificates a while later, I took a very good friend to celebrate his birthday. This was our first time here and what a treat it was.
The place is located very close to the intersection of Hwy 111 and El Paseo. Valet parking is available as well as sell parking.
From the outside, Cuistot has a beautiful, large European / French classic style building. Very elegant entrance that opens to the reception desk. The first thing I noticed was their dress policy - "Desert Business Casual". No t-shirts, tank tops, or short shorts - just nice and classy.
The receptionist checked verified our reservation and offered indoor or outdoor seating. Also whether we preferred a table or booth. We chose an indoor booth. He sat us in a large, beautiful, French dining room with a beautiful vaulted ceiling and fireplaces. Gorgeous!
The wait person arrived in a few moments, gave us a menu, and took our drink order. He chose hot tea and I chose iced tea.
The menu offered a wide variety of French cuisine and a wide range of prices. Their menu is posted on their website so you can see what is offered ahead of time.
Shortly, the wait person brought our drinks and took our order. My friend chose the Carpacio and I ordered the Mushroom Soup. For the entre we both ordered the beef filet substituting asparagus for the green beans.
The appetizers arrived shortly. The Carpacio was excellent and was served with all the fixings. The Mushroom Soup was excellent. Slightly tangy with the rich unami flavor of the mushrooms.
They also served slices of a hot, crusty baguette with butter - delicious and the butter was soft enough to spread unlike a lot of other places.
Shortly, the steaks arrived, cooked to perfection. Chopped shallots topped the steak with perfect asparagus, and other items that were delicious but I don't remember their French names. But, everything was excellent!
When we finished, they surprised my friend with a puff pastry stuffed with custard and with hot caramel sauce and raspberries. I don't remember the French name but saw it on the online menu.
Overall, it was a delicious meal. Pricy but worth it. The food, the service, the ambiance, everything was great. No complaints whatsoever.
I have a couple more gift certificates and look forward to coming back soon!

Monica Potter

Went to Saturday brunch at this beautifully appointed and furnished restaurant. It was a rather wintery day so the fireplace seemed especially welcoming. On the menu were mushroom soup and creamy spinach soup, both delicious. This was followed by fresh berry compote and croissants. The entrees were a Gruyere and cheddar cheese souffle, very classic, as well as eggs and steak with Bordelaise sauce. This seemed more American and very generous portion size. Next time we will be sure to save more room for dessert!

Bonnie Stromberg

Ambiance fit with the French theme. We both enjoyed our dinner. The quenelles were spectacular. Short rib ravioli was excellent. Spectacular choice of wines.