If you haven’t heard, downtown Indio is in the midst of a major revitalization project. This once sad area was home to Yellow Mart and not much else, but you can’t say that anymore! A new crop of restaurants, bars, and coffee shops have set up in downtown. One new restaurant in Indio is Italica. My friends and I decided to give it a try. Is it worth it? Read on to find out.

Italica is Skip Paige’s Newest Endeavor

Skip Paige is no stranger to the Coachella Valley. Former COO of Goldenvoice, he opened Little Bar in Palm Desert in 2019. In March of this year, he and co-owner Roman Whittaker opened the Indio Taphouse and have now created Italica. Adjacent to the Taphouse, the entrance to the restaurant is an unmarked silver door. When I say adjacent, I do mean they are connected. You can travel from one establishment to the other through the shared co-ed bathroom.

First Impressions of the New Restaurant in Indio

Italica definitely has a “speakeasy” vibe. There is no sign above the silver door to let you know where you are. Once inside the door, you travel down a large corridor adorned with pictures and mirrors. The actual restaurant is quite small with a long bar, a row of high-top tables and a row of booths. The décor includes black and white photos of Italian stars such as Sophia Loren and other art deco and rock n’ roll prints. Gold accents and dark walls give it an edgy feel. When we arrived, the music was Italian themed. As the evening progressed, it switched to a techno beat.

The Menu at Italica

I have recently adopted a pescatarian lifestyle, so I was delighted to find many vegetarian and vegan options on the menu of this new restaurant in Indio. Dishes are meant to be shared and are served family style. Now, with two meat eaters and one pescatarian, this made sharing a little challenging for some dishes, but overall, we found plenty to partake in.

The Cocktails

Two of us decided on the Italica Spritz. Similar to an Aperol Spritz, this version was not as sweet, but was refreshing with hints of orange. Our cohort chose the Fumo. This bourbon and scotch drink was brought to the table, covered and lit on fire. The cedar covering the cocktail added an aromatic smoky taste. So far, so good.

The Food

For our appetizer, we went with the Diffusione. Charred house made bread came with three accompaniments of our choosing. The lemon basil ricotta was bright and sweet, the bruschetta was a nice mixture of tomato and garlic and paired well with the burrata we chose. Other options included an olive tapenade, cannellini bean puree, anchovy butter and cambozola (I had to look this up. It’s a type of cheese). We did ask for more bread, and they happily accommodated us.

Salad was our next course. The Panzanella sounded intriguing. This Tuscan bread salad was a mixture of Campari tomatoes, cucumbers, ciabatta croutons, basil, salt, extra virgin olive oil and balsamic glaze drizzle. While I enjoyed the taste, I would have liked a few more tomatoes.

We all ordered an individual entrée. My Pasta Al Limone was very tasty with a mixture of lemon and ricotta cheese. The Milanese was much larger than expected and crispy with a delicious lemon caper beurre blanc over an organic chicken breast cutlet. Last but not least, the Involtini did not disappoint. This dish consists of organic chicken breast, mushroom pate, fontina, fresh greens, pecorino Romano and a marsala demi glace. Again, the portion was big enough to split. We all raved about the food at Italica.

Final Thoughts About the New Restaurant in Indio

The service at Italica was friendly and knowledgeable. The hostess seated us quickly (we did make a reservation). The chef visited our table at one point in the evening which was lovely. We experienced a couple of minor hiccups. Our salad was served with our entrees and our server was so busy, she had a hard time checking in on our table. It was nothing out of the ordinary for a new restaurant getting their timing down.

Italica has a dress code which is stated on their website. I love this! They encourage you to “look your best” and reserve the right to refuse service based on inappropriate clothing. Finally, a reason to get dressed up for dinner!

So, is this new restaurant in Indio worth it? My answer is a resounding yes. I can’t wait to go back.

For more information on Italica, visit their website.

For one of my favorite restaurants in San Diego, check out my blog on the amazing Cesarina.

Have you been to Italica? Tell me about your experience in the comment section below.