Review: bluEmber at Omni Rancho Las Palmas Resort

With a contemporary spin on classic California cuisine, BluEmber at the Omni Rancho Las Palmas Resort & Spa offers a warm inviting setting. Recently awarded the "Best of the Best" in outdoor dining by Palm Springs Life, the restaurant boasts six fire pits, providing an enjoyable and romantic evening at this well–known Rancho Mirage Resort. This signature restaurant is literally lighting up the Rancho Mirage dining scene. Bringing more than 35 years of culinary experience to BluEmber, Executive Chef Robert Nyerick’s sourced his seasonal menu from ingredients locally grown for freshness. Texture and appearance is key to chef Nyerick’s culinary vision for dining at Omni Ranch Las Palmas. Guests can choose to dine al fresco on the plaza, where the lively ambiance is accentuated by blazing blue–fire pits and a dramatic fire–topped fountain or indoors around the handsome carved wood tables to enjoy an inspired menu that showcases the region’s diverse bounty from local farms and top vineyards. 

According to Chef de Cuisine Brandon Testi, the Beet Trio salad is a consistent favorite of guests. The trio of fresh local beets is served with a buttermilk ricotta, black pepper spoon red watercress, citrus aioli and blood orange oil. Another favorite from the small plate menu is the Grilled Jumbo Shrimp, served with creamed white corn and roasted grapes in paprika oil. Off the main menu, the Crispy Sea Bass, Pan Seared Scallops and Pork Osso Bucco are the stand–out favorites. The Crispy Sea Bass is served with black lentils, king trumpet mushrooms, asparagus, mini sweet peppers and grapefruit balsamic vinegar. The Pan Seared Scallops are joined by cauliflower and parsnip puree, crispy pork belly, dressed pea tendrils and chipotle molasses, while the Pork Osso Bucco shares a plate with stone ground mascarpone polenta, wilted winter greens, apple pepper demi and tobacco onions. 

An extensive wine list compliments the BluEmber menu with an array of California chardonnay, pinot noirs and cabernet, sourced

from great vintners and elegant boutique wineries alike. Locals know that the experience of this desert gem is one of the best kept secrets

in the valley. The patio is known to fill up quickly on a warm evening where you can cozy up with a cocktail by the fire pit and admire the

majestic mountains and lush fairways. Adjacent to the restaurant is R Bar, a sports bar that offers its own small plate menu. Live music is

added to the sophisticated ambiance every Thursday through Sunday and reservations are recommended, especially for the patio.