By Denise Ortuno
Palm Desert’s famed Castelli’s Ristorante is turning 30, and to celebrate they are clicking back prices to the 1980’s. Retro never tasted so good!
It’s cray-cray to believe that it’s been 30 years that Casetllis has been around in Palm Desert. I remember going to their 20th Anniversary a decade ago, and it seriously seems like…well, not a decade ago. The Castelli’s brothers, Michael and John have come a long way, and have become engrained in Palm Deserts restaurant history, not an easy thing to do, especially in such a seasonal place like the Coachella Valley.
For their special 30th, they are doing the unthinkable, albeit very generous, rolling back of their prices from when they first opened on Memorial Day in 1988, with the same menu that they had back then. Oh how things have grown and changed in Palm Desert since the late 80’s. Gratefully, one thing that has stayed the same, is the fantastic food and ambience at the treasured Castelli’s.
The menu for the party is quite vast, with many offerings of items that the still offer today. Starters include, Escargot Italiano ($7.95), Antipasto for Two (assorted meats, cheese, seafood & marinated vegetable, $10.95) and Bocconcini de Mozzarella Caprese ($6.95), among others. The entrée selections range from pasta, to veal, chicken, beef and seafood such as, Fettuccini Alfredo (imported pasta, cream, butter, freshly grated Parmesan from Parma Italy-$10.95), Linguini de Mare ( imported pasta, with tender baby calamari, shrimp, baby lobster, scallops, fennel, diced green onion, with their special marinara sauce-$14.95), Ravioli Florentine ( jumbo cheese and spinach filled ravioli, served with tomato cream Parma Rosa sauce-$11.95), Scallopes Cipollina (seared jumbo scallops with a light sauce of white wine, butter, lemon, garlic, green onions and fresh basil, served on a bed of linguine with clam sauce-$20.95) and Veal alla Parmesan ( fresh, thinly sliced and pounded veal, sautéed and topped with zesty marinara sauce, melted parmesan and mozzarella cheese-$16.95) plus many more. And let’s not forget their garlic read, oh the garlic bread!! It is something to be cherished and devoured, and has always been complimentary, then and now. Bless you Castelli’s!
Besides their flash back menu, they will also be offering their regular menu as well…..at their regular prices (sorry). The discounted retro menu also will feature wine as well. Guests can order a glass of their house wine for only $5, and a bottle of the house for $18, the prices alone will make you tipsy. Beer will also be offered at retro prices at $4 for Domestic and $5 for Imports.
Of course the most important elements on their 30th will be the special vibe that Castelli’s exudes, one of the few restaurants in the valley that still has a dressy feel, but not at all stuffy. It transports you to a different place, it is its own event every night.
Reservations are definitely needed for their 30th Anniversary, so don’t delay if you want partake in this special night. It is sure to be a retro wonderful experience. Here’s to 30 more years Castelli’s. Saluti!
For reservations call 760-773-3365, www.castellis.cc
