Mitch's on El Paseo Prime Seafood

The story

Crafted with passion, served with love

A Familiar Face Behind a Distinctive Table

Mitch's on El Paseo Prime Seafood is the work of Mitch Epstein, a restaurateur with more than 40 years in the business, and James Holder, a sushi master who grew up in Japan as the son of an American serviceman and a Japanese mother. Holder traces his craft back to age 13, when he began learning to cut fish in his village of Hiyama — a background that gives the sushi program here an authenticity that is hard to manufacture. Executive Chef Kelly Walling rounds out the kitchen leadership, bringing the American side of the menu into focus.

Where El Paseo Meets the Mountains

The restaurant occupies the former Augusta Restaurant at the corner of Portola and El Paseo, on the east end of Palm Desert's most celebrated avenue. The space is generous — seating up to 275 guests across upper and lower levels — with a wall of windows that frames the desert mountains and a lush back patio where dinner under the open sky is a genuine option. Two bars, fire pits, and eye-catching wall art give the room an energy that works equally well for a quiet weeknight dinner or a larger gathering.

Prime Seafood and Serious Sushi

The menu moves fluidly between American and Japanese traditions. On one end: prime steaks, fresh fish selections, soups, and salads. On the other: traditional sashimi, innovative specialty rolls, and a curated sake list that reflects Holder's deep familiarity with Japanese ingredients and technique. Toro, hamachi, and sake appear as menu touchstones, and the sushi bar has become a local favorite for both special occasions and casual evenings out. Craft cocktails — including signatures like the Blood Orange Margarita and the Purple Paseo 75 — and a wine program recognized with a Wine Spectator Award of Excellence round out what is a notably complete drinks offering for the Coachella Valley.

Private Events and Personal Hospitality

For private and corporate events, rehearsal dinners, or holiday parties, Mitch's accommodates groups of varying sizes across its multiple spaces, with pre-selected menu options coordinated through Milissa Epstein. The combination of mountain views, landscaped patios, and flexible indoor-outdoor flow makes it a practical and attractive choice for occasions that call for something more considered than a standard event venue.