Alice B.

Alice B is one of the newer restaurants in the Palm Springs dining scene, having opened just under two years ago. My first visit was right around their opening, and right away, I was really impressed by the food. I was excited to try Alice B again almost two years later. From the moment I walked in, I felt super welcomed. The staff was very kind, and there was an immediate sense of hospitality. The space itself is lined with beautiful paintings and art, however, it does have a bit of a hotel restaurant vibe. The menu is fairly limited. It is one page and doesn't have much variety. Specifically for seafood, I was surprised to see that there were only two seafood options on the entire menu, one being the roasted salmon entree and the other being a grilled prawn appetizer. There are some rotating specials that aren't listed on the menu, but it is only a couple of dishes. In general, everything was fairly reasonably priced. Most entrees are around 30 to 45 dollars, while the more expensive steak options are upwards of 70 dollars. There are three salads, all between 18 and 19 dollars, and vegetables that serve as sides for 11 to 12 dollars. We started with the Bibb lettuce salad, which comes tossed with cucumber, avocado, squash seeds, and snap peas in a green goddess dressing. At $19, the portion size wasn't huge, but the ingredients felt incredibly fresh, and the dressing was creamy and delicious. The herbs were aromatic and flavorful, and all of the vegetables were nice and crisp. For the main, the pork shoulder was a standout. It was exceptionally soft and tender, bursting with flavor the second I bit into it. It was served with beans that were rich, creamy, and textured perfectly. For sides, the potatoes were beautifully crispy, and we also tried a Brussels sprouts special. These were equally well-executed. They were crispy and savory, with a sharper cheese topping that did a great job of cutting through the oiliness of the dish. The only gripe I had throughout the meal was the service. While our server was a very nice person who clearly took a lot of pride in the food, the experience was mediocre in terms of efficiency. The food and drinks took a long time to come out, and the attentiveness wasn't quite there. Waters stayed empty for stretches and he struggled to answer specific questions about the menu. It often felt like he was rambling a little. However, the outstanding quality of the food really made up for any inconsistencies in the service. Alice B clearly has a talented kitchen and staff with warm hearts, but the slow pace and hotel-like atmosphere mean it's more of a relaxed, lingering spot than a polished destination.