Workshop Kitchen + Bar Now Open in Palm Springs

Palm Springs Restaurant Brings Handcrafted Food & Beverage Program To The Desert

Workshop Kitchen + Bar, located in the historic El Paseo Building in Uptown Palm Springs Design District on North Palm Canyon Drive, officially opened its doors to the public. In a city known for its beautiful landscapes, eccentric modernism, celebrity residents and stunning architecture, Palm Springs has been a destination for residents and travelers seeking a smartly refined getaway. With the opening of Workshop Kitchen + Bar, guests now have a dining destination to mirror the fun and sophistication that is synonymous with Palm Springs.

With a food program crafted by Chef-Owner Michael Beckman, who studied at the Paul Bocuse Institute in Lyon, France and formerly of The Ritz Carlton in Berlin, Lameloise (a 3 Michelin Star restaurant in Burgundy) and most recently as a Private Resident Chef in Beverly Hills, the design of Workshop starts with the food. Best described as Americana with many outlying influences, Chef Beckman has created a market-driven menu comprised of seasonal food highlights harvested from local farms. “Our approach to everything at Workshop Kitchen + Bar from the interior design to the food and cocktail program is based on a playful creativity” says Beckman.

“I feel like Palm Springs is ready for a dining destination that offers a well-constructed food and beverage experience in a fun setting. There really isn’t anything like this in town.”

The menu features a well-balanced collection of House-made pastas, fresh seafood, meats, salads and wood-fired pizzas. Items like the Octopus Carpaccio cooked sous vide with Pickled Cauliflower Fleurettes, Peppers, Cilantro with Lemon and Olive Oil as well as Squab with grilled Rosemary Apricots, Kale, Guajillo and a Maple-Jus, offer a small sampling of this eclectic menu. Other menu options include a wide range of choices like the Lamb & Fennel-Pollen Sausage Wood-Fired Pizza, Brick Chicken with Chanterelles, Arugula/Pesto smashed Gold Potatoes and Braised Oxtail Cannelloni with Summer Truffle. For guests looking for more of a social dining experience, Workshop offers ‘Large Format’ dining, a selection of dishes served for multiple guests which include: Whole Roasted Grey Mullet with roasted Fennel, Peperonata and Sauce Rouille, Whole Grilled Chicken Diavolo and even a Bone-in Rib-Eye.

The carefully assembled cocktail program will also follow the concept of fresh and seasonal. Part American classic cocktails from the 1800’s and part signature cocktails created by Bar Manager Rene Dominguez (formerly of San Francisco’s Quince Restaurant and before that, Boulevard) guests will be treated to an array of cocktail experiences. Several house specialty cocktails will include the Boxers and Bobbysocks: Gin, Cherries, House-Made Rosemary Gomme Syrup, Fresh Lime Juice, Angostura Bitters and Seltzer Water. Also on the unique house menu is The Higgins: Amber Rum, White Whiskey, Cinnamon Infused Sweet Vermouth, Local Honey and Fresh Orange Juice. Classic cocktails include The Painkiller: Silver Rum, Fresh Orange & Pineapple Juices and House-Made Coconut Cream and Georgia Buck: Local Peach Infused Bourbon, Fresh Lemon Juice, House-Made Ginger Beer and Angostura Bitters. Workshop also offers an array of specialty “Buzz Free” cocktails for the under 21 sect. as well as Punch Service (17th Century punch recipes that change daily and served in vintage punch bowls).

The design of Workshop Kitchen + Bar, executed flawlessly by design firm SOMA Architects, has followed its own recipe which reflects that of the neighborhood where culture, trends, preferences and art come together. Located in the El Paseo Building (originally built in 1926), the space features 27’ high cathedral ceiling trusses and exudes an Industrial Chic feel featuring architectural concrete, black steel, monolithic forms and earthy modern tableware from Heath Ceramics. The design of the restaurant carefully balances vintage with modern from the eclectic antique stemware at the bar to the modern and sleek light fixtures designed by Beirut-based PS Lab (Workshop being their first U.S. project). Guests will have an array of dining experiences at Workshop from intimate dining for small parties in the dramatic concrete banquets to al fresco dining in the courtyard as well as a sleek bar and even a private dining room for up to 16 guests. The design of Workshop celebrates the style of its Palm Springs neighborhood and the history of the space, which at one time was the home of posh grocer Jurgensens from the 40’s to the early 80’s. Soon, the space will again focus on offering guests fresh foods in a sharply designed space.

Workshop Kitchen + Bar is the vision of two dynamic friends and fellow culinary classmates Michael Beckman and Joseph Mourani. While Beckman was building his culinary resume, Mourani was building successful restaurants in Beirut. When Beckman wanted to open a Palm Springs location, he turned to his old friend Mourani. “I’ve always appreciated Michael’s skills and talents in the kitchen and he’s always respected my sense of design, concepts and business. We are natural friends and business partners and look forward to making Workshop a huge success. This isn’t just the start of a restaurant, it’s the start to a restaurant group” says Mourani. “At Workshop Kitchen + Bar, dining well is simply a matter of taste.”

Workshop Kitchen + Bar is located at: 800 N. Palm Canyon Drive Suite G., Palm Springs CA 92262 www.WorkshopPalmSprings.com