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Brad A. Johnson

Food & Travel

Brad A Johnson
  • Blog
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    • Food Photography
    • Travel Photography
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10-Second Review: Porta Via, Palm Desert

  • June 26, 2022
  • Brad A. Johnson
The new Porta Via restaurant in Palm Desert is the third offshoot of the original restaurant bearing that same name in Beverly Hills — and this one is absolutely gorgeous. It is also hands-down the hottest reservation in the desert right now, especially with the ladies who lunch, all properly dressed to see and be scene. Here’s a very quick look. 
Lighting at Porta Via, Palm Desert (Photo by Brad A. Johnson)
Porta Via, Palm Desert (Photo by Brad A. Johnson)
Porta Via, Palm Desert (Photo by Brad A. Johnson)
Porta Via, Palm Desert (Photo by Brad A. Johnson)
Terrazzo tile floors at Porta Via, Palm Desert (Photo by Brad A. Johnson)

It’s been ages since I dined at the original Porta Via in Beverly Hills, but I distinctly remember that it didn’t look anything like this. The interior design in Palm Desert is a masterclass of California midcentury modern, a truly elegant study in green with stunning terrazzo tile floors, maple woodwork and polished brass trimmings. Natural light streams in from every angle. Entire walls of doors slide out of the way to create a lovely indoor/outdoor aesthetic, with the A/C blasting on high indoors and the misters keeping things cool on the patio. 

I was probably very lucky to get in. It was just serendipity, really, as it appears there had just been a cancellation mere moments before I began searching for a reservation. I didn’t have much time to linger because as I was actually on my way out of town, stopping in for a quick lunch before hitting the road.

Blackened barramundi at Porta Via Palm Desert (Photo by Brad A. Johnson)
Dr. Feelgood cocktail at Porta Via Palm Desert (Photo by Brad A. Johnson)
Soy-glazed Chilean sea bass at Porta Via Palm Desert (Photo by Brad A. Johnson)

There’s nothing on the menu you haven’t seen a million times before somewhere else. My blackened barramundi was a flashback to the ‘90s and absolutely delicious. Ditto the miso-glazed Chilean sea bass. Apparently everyone here has a cocktail at lunch. Mine involved mezcal, and it was very good, served straight-up in a daiquiri glass. 

The ladies all around me were nibbling on huge salads — dressings on the side — with no intention of eating more than a few bites. The tablehopping was in full swing, and I felt like an interloper in this company, but I gladly basked in the joie de vivre. 

73100 El Paseo, Palm Desert, 760-610-6670, portaviarestaurants.com/palm-desert

Porta Via, Palm Desert (Photo by Brad A. Johnson)

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Brad A. Johnson

Brad A. Johnson is a writer and photographer specializing in food and travel. His work has been honored by the Lowell Thomas Travel Journalism Awards, James Beard Awards, World Food Media Awards, Food Photographer of the Year Awards, Society of Features Journalism Awards and others. Based in Southern California, Brad currently serves as Editorial Director of the new luxury consumer travel magazine of the Global Travel Collection (launching Spring 2023).

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Brad A. Johnson
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Writer. Photographer. Traveler. Restaurant Critic.

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