I've now had three frustrating experiences at Minerva's, all involving reservation and service mishaps. The first time I visited, about 11 months ago, I made an OpenTable reservation only to arrive and be told that the restaurant wasn't actually open yet. While this was a disappointing start, I decided to give them a second chance, hoping they'd sorted out these early issues. Last night, I made a reservation for 7:00 PM, expecting a relaxing evening with friends. However, upon arrival, we were shocked to learn that the restaurant actually at closed at 7:00, despite the reservation being accepted. Adrian, the manager, acknowledged the error but told us they'd stay open until 7:30, giving us just 30 minutes to rush through our meal. This felt unfair and completely ruined our plans for a nice, leisurely dinner.
Ahmad, our server, was empathetic and seemed genuinely concerned about our frustration. He apologized for the situation and invited us back the next day for a "VIP comped experience" to make up for the multiple errors. He promised to "take care of us" and make sure our third visit would be different, even saying he'd come in on his day off to personally ensure we had a positive experience and that the "third time is the charm". Trusting his sincerity, we returned the next day for lunch. Ahmad welcomed us, offered us off-menu cocktails, and implied they were part of the special VIP experience. However, when we finished eating, Ahmad asked us if we were ready for the bill, leaving us confused and disappointed.
When we questioned the bill, Ahmad backtracked, stating he had only meant to comp some appetizers, but we were charged for everything, including the appetizers and drinks we didn't order. His explanation was that he "misspoke" and was flustered the previous night. "I chose the wrong words, I was busy, ... I was flustered, ... I misspoke." This contradicted what he had clearly promised--a full VIP and comped experience. At this point, it became clear that we had been misled. When I asked to speak to the manager, Adrian returned to the table, sat down next to us with crossed arms, and was incredibly dismissive. He refused to take responsibility for Ahmad's offer and insisted that we pay the full amount. Adrian showed no interest in making things right, despite knowing this was already our third negative experience with the restaurant.
By the end of the meal, even when Ahmad admitted he had used the wrong words, Adrian, as the manager, still refused to resolve the issue or take any responsibility. Rather than prioritize customer satisfaction, he shamelessly doubled down, charging us for everything--including drinks we didn't order--leaving us feeling deceived, disrespected, and utterly dismissed. After three strikes with Minerva's, I can confidently say I won't be returning, and I urge both locals and visitors to steer clear of this establishment's false promises, poor management, and complete disregard for its patrons. What should have been an easy fix--comping a meal to right their wrongs--turned into a final, embarrassing display of unprofessionalism that left a bitter taste in every way possible.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Andrew
I've had three frustrating experiences at Minerva's, all involving reservations and service issues. My first visit, about 11 months ago, resulted in making an OpenTable reservation only to find the restaurant wasn't actually open yet. Though this was disappointing, I decided to give them another chance, hoping the issues had been resolved. Recently, I made a reservation for 7:00 PM expecting a relaxing evening with friends. When we arrived, we were shocked to learn the restaurant had closed at 7:00, despite accepting our reservation. Adrian, the manager, admitted the mistake but said they would stay open until 7:30, giving us only 30 minutes to rush through our meal, which ruined our plans. Ahmad, who introduced himself as the Manager, seemed concerned and invited us back the next day for a “VIP comped experience” to make up for the issues. He even said he'd come in on his day off to ensure everything went smoothly. Trusting him, we returned for lunch. Ahmad greeted us, offered off-menu cocktails, and implied they were part of the VIP treatment. But when the meal ended, we were handed a full bill. When we questioned the bill, Ahmad backtracked, saying he had only meant to comp some appetizers. Despite this admission and his clear promise, we were charged for everything, including drinks we didn't order. Adrian refused to take responsibility, dismissing our concerns and insisting we pay in full. What could have been an easy fix—comping a meal to correct their mistakes—turned into an experience of miscommunication and poor management. I won't be returning, and I urge others to be cautious of this establishment's empty promises and lack of accountability.
Member
Big disappointment! First, this restaurant does NOT have A/C! It had only one fan working for the entire small indoor dining area and Michael, our waiter (who started month ago, but still had no idea on what the Restaurant Week menu was) could not figure out how to move the fan so that it blew on our table vs. else where! We asked if the a round booth was available, and was told by the "manager" (?) that they were reserved, but the entire time we were there, no one else came in (we had OpenTable reservations). RW menu was $59 for two, but was really a joke! Why would you serve only THREE small bruschetta pieces between two people? Why would you serve THREE small eggplant (burnt) pieces for two people? Charcuterie board was the only redeeming factor. They did not have creme brulee as advertised, but had only a cookie. STAY AWAY from this place.
RichardE
It was just too warm in the restaurant, we have lived in the desert for a long time, yet we were uncomfortable with the heat. We had a nice meal and the server was pleasant, but they need to address the lack of sufficient air conditioning.
Sadie Gaia
Came here once for a little food and a drink poolside. Thought it was cute and wanted to look into staying there. They double charged me and when I spoke up about it the bar manager walked over to me to tell me it was only showing up as one charge “on her end” and then Disappeared while I was searching to show her on my phone that it was showing up twice on my bank transactions. Fast forward almost two weeks later I haven’t heard anything back from THE ONLY CUSTOMER SERVICE CONTACT THEY HAVE IN PLACE which is email. Sooo yeah this place doesn’t have their business and that should be the bare minimum lol. Terrible. The phone number for the hotel is literally recorded pointing you to emailing them at every turn. Absurd.
Service: 1
Mercedez Gaia
Came here once for a little food and a drink poolside. Thought it was cute and wanted to look into staying there. They double charged me and when I spoke up about it the bar manager walked over to me to tell me it was only showing up as one charge “on her end” and then Disappeared while I was searching to show her on my phone that it was showing up twice on my bank transactions. Fast forward almost two weeks later I haven’t heard anything back from THE ONLY CUSTOMER SERVICE CONTACT THEY HAVE IN PLACE which is email. Sooo yeah this place doesn’t have their business and that should be the bare minimum lol. Terrible. The phone number for the hotel is literally recorded pointing you to emailing them at every turn. Absurd.
Service: 1
A perfect intersection of chill/casual meets chic and tasteful, great spot to grab dinner (or breakfast) if you're in Palm Springs. Food is delicious, we loved the Branzino but the plant forward menu as a whole is perfectly curated. Gary and all the other staff are wonderful. Attentive but not overbearing, looked after us so well! Beautiful vibes - would absolutely return again.
Peyton Welker
Really cool dinner spot with lots of difference dishes & amazing service. Ask for B - she made my experience at Minerva feel so special!
Service: 5
LisaE
Very hard to find rest no signage, wait staff although attentive didnt seem to care much and socialized among themselves until you got their attention. The cucumber mash salad is excellent the other dishes not so much - too saucy. Main dining room very cute, outdoor area drab compared. Again open table showed full booking and when we arrived much earlier than we really wanted to dine, restaurant was empty. Will not return.
Terri Hanson Mead
We had lunch outside near the pool and corn hole game and think we need to go back and try the actual restaurant.We had the wedge salad and the margherita pizza. Both were ok and we like the plant forward concept. We enjoyed sitting outside and watching folks and their pups by the pool.We had a nice time and we’d like to go back so I can up the review.
We had an early dinner at Minerva's after a long day of travel and the restaurant exceeded our (already high) expectations. The food was excellent and creative, and the service by Bee was outstanding. We'll be back.
Service: 5
KennyP
There were six of us and we all thought the food was just okay. There are only a few entree items, so the selection is very limited. They don't have a large selection of liquor but referred to their best as "top shelf", which it was not. We did not even look at the dessert menu but went elsewhere. All of us said we would not return to Minerva's.
Brian
The place is small but has a nice vibe. The staff was very nice and accomadating, we arrived 10 minutes early so waited for our tabel to be ready on the patio which has nice loungy areas and heat lamps. We were seated at one of the large corner banquets which was wonderful for just two people. The food was very good, had the M Crisps, which is really crisp cuccumber slices in a delicious yogurt mixture and we both had the burger, which was really delicious. You can add on avacado or a fried egg if that's your thing. Cocktails were excellent as well.
Khaja Ahmed
Dinner at Minerva’s restaurant was a five star plus experience!Bee, our waitress, was amazing. She set a new bar for me on how good the wait staff in a restaurant can be.The food was an example of how a meal can be delicious, delightful, and healthy.We shared the “roasted Sunchokes salad”, and the two entrees. “Cauliflower muhammara”, and the “M. Smash burger “.It’s very rare for a restaurant to not go wrong with a single thing in the course of a meal. The timeliness and grace of service, the excellence of the ingredients and the preparation, and the friendliness of the atmosphere. They nailed them all. My wife pointed out that it is very rare for a restaurant to get both the vegetarian and the non-vegetarian dishes just right.Well done Team. I only hope you can sustain this. I know you are new, but it will break my heart if I come back and find that all this has slipped.Note: There are no signs for Minerva’s that are visible from the street. You have to drive into the hotel’s parking lot and then, a not very visible sign on the restaurant door might catch your eye.Food & drinks: Awesome food. Both the vegetarian and the non-vegetarian choices. Exceptional service.
Service: 5
David L
Great pool area with a bar. Drinks were tasty and it's dog friendly. Good times
I've now had three frustrating experiences at Minerva's, all involving reservation and service mishaps. The first time I visited, about 11 months ago, I made an OpenTable reservation only to arrive and be told that the restaurant wasn't actually open yet. While this was a disappointing start, I decided to give them a second chance, hoping they'd sorted out these early issues. Last night, I made a reservation for 7:00 PM, expecting a relaxing evening with friends. However, upon arrival, we were shocked to learn that the restaurant actually at closed at 7:00, despite the reservation being accepted. Adrian, the manager, acknowledged the error but told us they'd stay open until 7:30, giving us just 30 minutes to rush through our meal. This felt unfair and completely ruined our plans for a nice, leisurely dinner.
Ahmad, our server, was empathetic and seemed genuinely concerned about our frustration. He apologized for the situation and invited us back the next day for a "VIP comped experience" to make up for the multiple errors. He promised to "take care of us" and make sure our third visit would be different, even saying he'd come in on his day off to personally ensure we had a positive experience and that the "third time is the charm". Trusting his sincerity, we returned the next day for lunch. Ahmad welcomed us, offered us off-menu cocktails, and implied they were part of the special VIP experience. However, when we finished eating, Ahmad asked us if we were ready for the bill, leaving us confused and disappointed.
When we questioned the bill, Ahmad backtracked, stating he had only meant to comp some appetizers, but we were charged for everything, including the appetizers and drinks we didn't order. His explanation was that he "misspoke" and was flustered the previous night. "I chose the wrong words, I was busy, ... I was flustered, ... I misspoke." This contradicted what he had clearly promised--a full VIP and comped experience. At this point, it became clear that we had been misled. When I asked to speak to the manager, Adrian returned to the table, sat down next to us with crossed arms, and was incredibly dismissive. He refused to take responsibility for Ahmad's offer and insisted that we pay the full amount. Adrian showed no interest in making things right, despite knowing this was already our third negative experience with the restaurant.
By the end of the meal, even when Ahmad admitted he had used the wrong words, Adrian, as the manager, still refused to resolve the issue or take any responsibility. Rather than prioritize customer satisfaction, he shamelessly doubled down, charging us for everything--including drinks we didn't order--leaving us feeling deceived, disrespected, and utterly dismissed. After three strikes with Minerva's, I can confidently say I won't be returning, and I urge both locals and visitors to steer clear of this establishment's false promises, poor management, and complete disregard for its patrons. What should have been an easy fix--comping a meal to right their wrongs--turned into a final, embarrassing display of unprofessionalism that left a bitter taste in every way possible.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
I've had three frustrating experiences at Minerva's, all involving reservations and service issues. My first visit, about 11 months ago, resulted in making an OpenTable reservation only to find the restaurant wasn't actually open yet. Though this was disappointing, I decided to give them another chance, hoping the issues had been resolved. Recently, I made a reservation for 7:00 PM expecting a relaxing evening with friends. When we arrived, we were shocked to learn the restaurant had closed at 7:00, despite accepting our reservation. Adrian, the manager, admitted the mistake but said they would stay open until 7:30, giving us only 30 minutes to rush through our meal, which ruined our plans. Ahmad, who introduced himself as the Manager, seemed concerned and invited us back the next day for a “VIP comped experience” to make up for the issues. He even said he'd come in on his day off to ensure everything went smoothly. Trusting him, we returned for lunch. Ahmad greeted us, offered off-menu cocktails, and implied they were part of the VIP treatment. But when the meal ended, we were handed a full bill. When we questioned the bill, Ahmad backtracked, saying he had only meant to comp some appetizers. Despite this admission and his clear promise, we were charged for everything, including drinks we didn't order. Adrian refused to take responsibility, dismissing our concerns and insisting we pay in full. What could have been an easy fix—comping a meal to correct their mistakes—turned into an experience of miscommunication and poor management. I won't be returning, and I urge others to be cautious of this establishment's empty promises and lack of accountability.
Big disappointment! First, this restaurant does NOT have A/C! It had only one fan working for the entire small indoor dining area and Michael, our waiter (who started month ago, but still had no idea on what the Restaurant Week menu was) could not figure out how to move the fan so that it blew on our table vs. else where! We asked if the a round booth was available, and was told by the "manager" (?) that they were reserved, but the entire time we were there, no one else came in (we had OpenTable reservations). RW menu was $59 for two, but was really a joke! Why would you serve only THREE small bruschetta pieces between two people? Why would you serve THREE small eggplant (burnt) pieces for two people? Charcuterie board was the only redeeming factor. They did not have creme brulee as advertised, but had only a cookie. STAY AWAY from this place.
It was just too warm in the restaurant, we have lived in the desert for a long time, yet we were uncomfortable with the heat. We had a nice meal and the server was pleasant, but they need to address the lack of sufficient air conditioning.
Came here once for a little food and a drink poolside. Thought it was cute and wanted to look into staying there. They double charged me and when I spoke up about it the bar manager walked over to me to tell me it was only showing up as one charge “on her end” and then Disappeared while I was searching to show her on my phone that it was showing up twice on my bank transactions. Fast forward almost two weeks later I haven’t heard anything back from THE ONLY CUSTOMER SERVICE CONTACT THEY HAVE IN PLACE which is email. Sooo yeah this place doesn’t have their business and that should be the bare minimum lol. Terrible. The phone number for the hotel is literally recorded pointing you to emailing them at every turn. Absurd.
Service: 1
Came here once for a little food and a drink poolside. Thought it was cute and wanted to look into staying there. They double charged me and when I spoke up about it the bar manager walked over to me to tell me it was only showing up as one charge “on her end” and then Disappeared while I was searching to show her on my phone that it was showing up twice on my bank transactions. Fast forward almost two weeks later I haven’t heard anything back from THE ONLY CUSTOMER SERVICE CONTACT THEY HAVE IN PLACE which is email. Sooo yeah this place doesn’t have their business and that should be the bare minimum lol. Terrible. The phone number for the hotel is literally recorded pointing you to emailing them at every turn. Absurd.
Service: 1
A perfect intersection of chill/casual meets chic and tasteful, great spot to grab dinner (or breakfast) if you're in Palm Springs. Food is delicious, we loved the Branzino but the plant forward menu as a whole is perfectly curated. Gary and all the other staff are wonderful. Attentive but not overbearing, looked after us so well! Beautiful vibes - would absolutely return again.
Really cool dinner spot with lots of difference dishes & amazing service. Ask for B - she made my experience at Minerva feel so special!
Service: 5
Very hard to find rest no signage, wait staff although attentive didnt seem to care much and socialized among themselves until you got their attention. The cucumber mash salad is excellent the other dishes not so much - too saucy. Main dining room very cute, outdoor area drab compared. Again open table showed full booking and when we arrived much earlier than we really wanted to dine, restaurant was empty. Will not return.
We had lunch outside near the pool and corn hole game and think we need to go back and try the actual restaurant.We had the wedge salad and the margherita pizza. Both were ok and we like the plant forward concept. We enjoyed sitting outside and watching folks and their pups by the pool.We had a nice time and we’d like to go back so I can up the review.
Service: 4
Restaurantji Recommends
We had an early dinner at Minerva's after a long day of travel and the restaurant exceeded our (already high) expectations. The food was excellent and creative, and the service by Bee was outstanding. We'll be back.
Service: 5
There were six of us and we all thought the food was just okay. There are only a few entree items, so the selection is very limited. They don't have a large selection of liquor but referred to their best as "top shelf", which it was not. We did not even look at the dessert menu but went elsewhere. All of us said we would not return to Minerva's.
The place is small but has a nice vibe. The staff was very nice and accomadating, we arrived 10 minutes early so waited for our tabel to be ready on the patio which has nice loungy areas and heat lamps. We were seated at one of the large corner banquets which was wonderful for just two people. The food was very good, had the M Crisps, which is really crisp cuccumber slices in a delicious yogurt mixture and we both had the burger, which was really delicious. You can add on avacado or a fried egg if that's your thing. Cocktails were excellent as well.
Dinner at Minerva’s restaurant was a five star plus experience!Bee, our waitress, was amazing. She set a new bar for me on how good the wait staff in a restaurant can be.The food was an example of how a meal can be delicious, delightful, and healthy.We shared the “roasted Sunchokes salad”, and the two entrees. “Cauliflower muhammara”, and the “M. Smash burger “.It’s very rare for a restaurant to not go wrong with a single thing in the course of a meal. The timeliness and grace of service, the excellence of the ingredients and the preparation, and the friendliness of the atmosphere. They nailed them all. My wife pointed out that it is very rare for a restaurant to get both the vegetarian and the non-vegetarian dishes just right.Well done Team. I only hope you can sustain this. I know you are new, but it will break my heart if I come back and find that all this has slipped.Note: There are no signs for Minerva’s that are visible from the street. You have to drive into the hotel’s parking lot and then, a not very visible sign on the restaurant door might catch your eye.Food & drinks: Awesome food. Both the vegetarian and the non-vegetarian choices. Exceptional service.
Service: 5
Great pool area with a bar. Drinks were tasty and it's dog friendly. Good times
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