By Denise Ortuno
Relaxed elegance and cool vibes await you at Solano’s Bistro in Old Town La Quinta.
The Old Town La Quinta Village has a wonderful quaint feel, with shops and restaurants that give it an almost European feel. Owned by Chef Francisco “Paco” Solano, Solano’s Bistro encompasses that quaintness with a style all of its own, enthralling guests since 2009.
It’s a little ritual that I’ve adopted when visiting Old Town. My boyfriend and I usually stop off at Stuft Pizza for some delightful Happy Hour indulgence, and before calling an Uber, we head on over to Solano’s to cap out our excursion. We enjoy the subtle swankiness that their bar area provides, with colorful and distinct décor. The bar is populated with an equal balance of happy guests, all reveling in Solano’s recipe for a stand out establishment where they can enjoy Bar Bites such as Roasted Brussel Sprouts (honey balsamic and roasted garlic aioli), Brie Brioche Burger (Kobe beef patty, brioche un, lettuce tomato, red onion, and brie cheese) or Chef Paco’s Fish Taco’s (panko halibut, pico de gallo, chipotle aioli) among other items.
Of course there are the drinks as well, which our joyfully made by Solano’s bar staff. Imbibe on concoctions such as the Pomegranate Royal (citrus vodka, fresh lemon juice, simple syrup, Champaign float), Coconut Mojito ( Malibu Rum, fresh mint, soda, pineapple juice), or Watermelon Martini (Titos, citrus juice, simple syrup, watermelon puree) plus many others. I recently had the most amazing Manhattan made by Juan the bartender, who gave my request heightened attention and made the drink just the way I wanted….even surpassing my expectations. Thank you Juan!
The menu at Solano’s reflects the Chefs innovation and passion for his creations. Appetizers include Grilled Artichoke (lemon caper dipping sauce and melted butter) or Dungeness Crab Cakes (mixed greens, orange aioli), to name a few. For entrée’s enjoy the Boneless Beef Short Ribs (red wine, onion, and rosemary), Coachella Valley Stuffed Chicken (free range chicken, mascarpone cheese, spinach, and date chutney) or Caramelized Whitefish (golden raisin caper butter, toasted almonds) as well as other selections.
If you find yourself strolling along in the Old Town La Quinta Village, stop into Solano’s Bistro for some cool vibes, great service and innovative dishes. You just might want to make it your own kind of dining ritual.
Solano’s Bistro is located at 78-075 Main St. #105, La Quinta Ca 92253
