By Raymond Bill
When I think of gourmet food here in the desert, a hamburger does not immediately come to mind. That is, unless one is speaking of Eureka! Restaurant. This upscale eatery has soared to the top of my list of highly recommended restaurants in the valley. When I first dined at Eureka! in Indian Wells, I was quite skeptical and chose to order off of their “House Signatures” section of the menu, which offered signature dishes including Naked Chicken Saltimboca and Pan Seared Salmon. While I enjoyed my chicken entrée, it was a bite of my date’s Napa Burger that won me over. Now, Eureka! has made some delicious additions to their already mouthwatering menu. On a recent visit with a few close friends, I rediscovered why this restaurant is not your typical burger joint.
We had the pleasure of being seated in a spacious and comfortable booth which provided much room for the many dishes we would share throughout our evening. Beginning with some new signature cocktails, we enjoyed their Capuchin’s Greyhound with fresh basil garnish. To accompany our libations, we shared a few appetizers, including my favorite, the Osso Buco Riblets. These tender morsels of braised pork were tossed in a creamy, mildly spicy aioli and fell off the bone. They were so delicious that I could have made a meal from them. The Bruschetta was loaded with diced tomatoes, basil and goat cheese, drizzled with a sweet balsamic vinaigrette. The starters are unique and great to share with friends.
New to the menu is a summer favorite, their Watermelon Salad. This item is great to share as a starter or perfect for an entrée. A generous helping of arugula and quinoa tossed with crumbled feta, crunchy walnuts and sweet chunks of fresh watermelon in a lemon vinaigrette. After sharing this new salad, we all ordered a burger. The Cowboy burger was topped with thick cut bacon, cheddar cheese, crispy onions and tangy barbeque sauce. Our server, Lisa, suggested the Fresno Fig Burger as it is her favorite. Topped with a sweet homemade fig marmalade and savory bacon, this burger is balanced with creamy goat cheese and an addicting porter mustard sauce! Incredible! But the best burger of the night, and certainly the most original, is the new, Bone Marrow Burger. This masterpiece is topped with a bone marrow porcini butter spread that offers a rich earthy flavor that is unlike anything I have had before. Finished with a mustard aioli, charbroiled onion and roasted tomato, this burger is exquisite!
These incredible burgers are complimented with french fries or, for a small additional charge, sweet potato fries or onion rings. The onion rings are huge and crispy, (ask for a side of the porter mustard sauce to go with them, you will not be disappointed). Our entrées were filling. The burgers are made from vegetarian fed, hormone free/ antibiotic free all natural beef. You cannot get a better burger period! If beef is not a part of your diet, ask your server to substitute with a turkey or veggie patty. And speaking of servers, I must thank our attentive and always smiling server, Lisa. This woman made our evening truly special and as one who has spent many years in the service industry, I appreciate her genuine kindness and professionalism.
Our meal would not be complete without a couple orders of Butterscotch Rum Pudding with caramel, whipped cream and a touch of sea salt. I cannot visit Eureka! without ordering this little dish of heaven. New to the menu, we also shared a hot Apple Crisp with crunchy toasted pecans and sweet vanilla ice cream. Great for a date night, even better with a group of friends; Eureka! should be at the top of the list of best dining venues in the desert. Visit them online at www.eurekarestaurantgroup.com or call for more information at 760-834-7700. facebook.com/EurekaIndianWells
