Italica’s menu, cocktails, music, lighting and decor have all been thoughtfully choreographed to deliver an immersive experience that you won’t find anywhere else. Our dishes are served tapas style and are meant to be combined and shared with others in your party. We also serve nightly specials in addition to the items listed on our menu, but you’ll have to come sit with us to find out what’s not listed. Mangia bene!
Judie Chinskey
What a great place. Probably the bes Italian food in the valley. Pour on the drinks are generous and an inventive menu. Food was fabulous. Dark and moody atmosphere which is very chic. Great service. We will be back.
… moreLeticia Jensen
I really wanted to give Italica a 5 star but it fell short of our expectations, but I have to say the atmosphere and feel of “a speak easy” was definitely there. But here is why we gave it 3 and 4 stars of food and service.
1. While we were greeted warmly by our bartender Evan (hope I am spelling it correctly) he kept forgetting things like:
Steak Temperature, refilling cocktails, water and side plates, but
he did make a beautiful and taste Blood Orange Margatini, but when I ordered the second one Margatini tasted completely different.
2. On the food, the Calamari was tasty but for the price of $ 22. we expected a little more that what we got, there were 12 pieces of baby squid that meant we had 4 each of the small Calamari. On a good note ide sauces were tasty and the Aioli had a nice
bite
3. On our entrees:
1st person ordered the filet ( bartender forgot to ask for
Temperature) I had to get his attention to let him know what temp she wanted. Steak was ala Carte and served on a small plate which made the steak look like platting it was an after though.
2nd person ordered the Branzino which bartender didn’t
offer to debone, second bartender came back and ask if
she wanted it deboned (nice touch) it came with blanched
spinach
3rd. I ordered Italica Salad. what a disappointment (1star)
First there were large long rustic pieces of Gorgonzola cheese which I love but since they were drenched on a terrible
white balsamic vinegar ” I could not enjoy the cheese at all, the Salad was overdressed and White Balsamic vinegar was really awful it tasted watered down. could not find the micro arugula, should’ve sent it back, I only was able to eat half of it.
4. Presentation on the dessert were beautiful, we didn’t ordered
but the guests sitting next to us had them, I just took a pic
Not sure if we will be back, but maybe we will try the taproom next time to see the difference in food since we all thought
was a little pricey for what we got and they have to do something about their restroom situation, sharing it with the taproom the “speak easy atmosphere” goes out the door.
… moreDavid Burke
This is a fun little Speakeasy in Old downtown indio. Ask the bartenders at the bar next door to find the secret entrance in the back. Or you can go through the silver door on the street. There is no signage for the restaurant. It is small and you will need reservations, even for the bar seats. We had a little bit of everything and no complaints about any of the food. Everything was pretty exceptional.
… moreJames Reed
I first had dinner at Italica in late December. And my experience was outstanding all the way around – excellent service, food and ambiance. So, rather than going to LA to have dinner for my birthday, I chose Italica. This second time around was completely different. The service was slow and spotty (ironic since they want to limit your time to 90 minutes); the hostess was “spacey” and strange; the entrees (pasta dishes) had clearly been sitting around in the kitchen before being served – probably under a heat lamp. These were the same pasta dishes that we had loved 6 weeks earlier – last night, they were flavorless, pasty, stuck together and room temperature – something drastically changed and for the worse. The champagne that I ordered wasn’t available and both wines I selected were also unavailable – I had to settle for cheaper, lower quality options. The server forgot what we had ordered (three times) and kept coming back to re-confirm what we had selected. The one cocktail that we ordered was excellent 6 weeks ago – and last night was awful. Maybe they were having a “bad night” – but for the prices and hype – they can’t afford to have too many nights like this or we will all start to avoid this place (I’m a full-time local resident).
… moreBen Nickel-D’Andrea
We made a reservation for a work event. The food was fantastic, didn’t take too long to show up and the server suggestions for portion sizes to share amongst us was spot on. The drink was delicious.
… moreL Robinson
Owner was present as we were seated. He was very nice. That is where the nice stopped. The wait staff, was inattentive, the atmosphere is dark, dark and dark. We had to use our cell phones to see menu. We ordered the Carbonara, it was mediocre at best. The rest rooms are a piece of work, no privacy, male and female together, although stalls are private. Won’t ever be back.
… moreJill Herlihy-Wilson
Fun, hidden gem in Indio with creative cocktails, wonderful appetizers and delicious entrees. The atmosphere is dimly lit and beautifully decorated. The service was wonderful and everything we ordered tasted great. We’ll be back soon.
… moreMichelle Murrieta
Italica is truly one of a kind! From the moment we walked in, we were greeted with a warm and welcoming atmosphere that instantly made us feel at home. Romano, the owner, personally checked on us throughout the evening, ensuring everything was perfect. The servers were incredibly attentive, taking the time to explain the menu and make recommendations.
The food was nothing short of spectacular—the dish we got was uniquely flavorful and beautifully presented. The drinks were equally impressive, Every bite and sip were a delight!
If you’re looking for a memorable dining experience, Italica is an absolute must-visit. We can’t wait to return!
… moreShaniece Degazon
Very cool sexy ambience. The owner is very sweet and down earth. Best italian food in the desert. I highly recommend the espresso martini, chicken milanese,carbonara pasta and calamari. Make reservations in advance as it gets packed fast. Dress nice.
… moreAngel Fuentes
There is so much potential. The cocktails were the same quality as taphouse next door. The food was much better, but unfortunately, they got our order wrong twice. For a speak easy, it has too much hype. The service is slow. Not sure if they are trying to have a little bar essence, but they are falling short.
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