Mitch's on El Paseo Prime Seafood

The wine list at Mitch's reads like a greatest hits album of California wine — Caymus, Jordan, Rombauer, all present and accounted for. It's the kind of list that says 'we know what our guests want and we're not going to surprise you.' On El Paseo, that's probably the right call.

The California focus is tight and deliberate — this is Napa and Sonoma territory, full stop. Caymus and Jordan anchor the Cabernet side, Stags' Leap adds a touch more nuance for those paying attention, and Duckhorn holds down the Merlot lane without apology. On the white side, Rombauer and Sonoma-Cutrer handle Chardonnay duty, which tells you the list was built to satisfy a specific, well-heeled Palm Desert clientele rather than to challenge it. There's nothing from France, Spain, or anywhere outside California that we can identify — which is a gap, especially given the sushi program that could really use some Grüner Veltliner or Muscadet.

We don't have a confirmed by-the-glass list in front of us, but given the producer lineup, expect the usual suspects poured by the glass at desert-market prices. If Rombauer Chardonnay is on pour, it'll move — that's a crowd-pleaser for a reason. Just don't expect anything rotating or adventurous.