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The Godfather Table.  - Waldo's Ristorante, Palm Desert, CA

Waldo's Ristorante

4.4
4.4
979 Reviews
$31 to $50
Italian
74970 Country Club Dr, Palm Desert, CA 92260

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 22 times today

About this restaurant

  • Good for special occasions
  • Neighborhood gem
  • Lively
Welcome to our home!
Waldo’s was founded by restaurateur Waldo Cesoni with the intention of becoming “the destination point” for a true Italian culinary experience.

The restaurant pays homage to the essence of the great Italian American restaurants of mid-20th century in New York, where delicious, exceptionally well-prepared food was served in settings that were simultaneously elegant, comfortable, and unpretentious.

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Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    Italian, American, Contemporary Italian
  • Hours of operation
    Mon–Thu, Sun 4:00 pm–8:00 pm Fri, Sat 4:00 pm–9:00 pm
  • Phone number
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Business Casual

What 979 people are saying

Waldo's Ristorante reviews from people who’ve dined at this restaurant. Based on recent rating.

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.4
4.4 based on recent ratings
  • 4.4Food
  • 4.5Service
  • 4.3Ambience
  • 4.2Value

NoiseModerate

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Waldo's Ristorante is a beloved dining spot offering "outstanding food" and "wonderful service" that keeps patrons coming back. The extensive menu features Italian classics, praised for their authenticity and flavor. Guests appreciate the "friendly staff" and "cozy atmosphere," making it a "must visit" in Palm Desert for Italian cuisine enthusiasts.
979 Reviews
  1. Candice Estey VIP

    San Francisco240 reviews

    4.0

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    It was Friday night so it was packed I had a reservation but the only table was almost in the entry. Service began bad but did improve. I don’t think anyone was assigned to our table. The beet salad was good but over dressed. The bolognese was ok. It was packed with happy people. I may have ordered wrong.

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  2. Mark VIP

    Seattle26 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 4 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Great food. Great variety on menu. Quality. Best calamari we’ve had in a long time

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  3. William

    Indiana7 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 5 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We always go to Waldo’s when we come to Palm Desert. Good food and friendly service

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  4. Sheryl VIP

    Tucson39 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 5 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We really liked Waldo’s! The staff is friendly and accommodating and very welcoming. The food we ordered was excellent. Our server, Victoria, did a great job. It was everything a good Italian restaurant should be!

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  5. Douglas VIP

    New York City136 reviews

    4.0

    Dined on March 30, 2025

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Our server Yanin was great 👍Food was excellent!! My only complaint was that the blue cheese olives were a little mushy and warm. Also the dressing on my wedge salad seemed to have very little flavor. But this will not stop us from returning to Waldo’s restaurant….

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  6. Marlene VIP

    New York City23 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on March 30, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Although the restaurant was very busy they honored our reservation within. 5 minutes. Had the old classics; chicken parm, eggplant parm and meatballs and spaghetti. Food was outstanding!

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  7. Richard

    Los Angeles4 reviews

    4.0

    Dined on March 30, 2025

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Very noisy. Food is good but the vegetables served with it not very interesting. Need more fresh and abetting vegetables next to main course.

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  8. Lynne

    Toronto6 reviews

    4.0

    Dined on March 29, 2025

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 3
    Sadly the patio was closed due to weather and the restaurant was packed. Cesar salad had no taste but the rest of our meals were delicious. Coffee ridiculously priced but otherwise prices were in line with other establishments.

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  9. Joel VIP

    St. Louis5 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on March 26, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Wonderful experience, excellent food, very friendly staff and manager. A must visit in the Valley!

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  10. Alice VIP

    Portland55 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on March 25, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We regularly go to Waldos because we enjoy everything about the place. The food is outstanding, and the service is wonderful and friendly.

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FAQs

Waldo's Ristorante is rated 4.4 stars by 979 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

  1. Home
  2. United States
  3. Palm Springs / Palm Desert Cities
  4. Palm Springs / Palm Desert
  5. Palm Desert

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 22 times today
Google Map for Waldo's Ristorante

74970 Country Club Dr, Palm Desert, CA 92260

Additional information

  • Neighborhood
    Palm Desert
  • Hours of operation
    Mon–Thu, Sun 4:00 pm–8:00 pm Fri, Sat 4:00 pm–9:00 pm
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    Italian, American, Contemporary Italian
  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Dress code
    Business Casual
  • Parking details
    Public Lot
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Additional
    Beer, Cocktails, Non-Smoking, Wheelchair Access, Wine
  • Privacy Policy
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