Interview by Jorge Perezchica
Photography by Everette Solomon
For years, The Steakhouse at Agua Caliente Casino Palm Springs has reigned as one of the best Sunday brunch destinations in the Coachella Valley. Now, beginning October 5, the restaurant is taking things to the next level with the launch of The Steakhouse Brunch Buffet—an indulgent, elevated spread designed to bring back a beloved dining tradition with a modern twist.
Executive Chef Brian Kenney, who oversees all culinary operations at Agua Caliente Palm Springs, saw both an opportunity and a responsibility to revive the grand brunch experience.
“My inspiration came from seeing a lack in the Palm Springs community,” Kenney explains. “I know that brunches at the resorts of old used to be a really popular thing. And then because of COVID and because of things that happened, people didn’t want to do them anymore. And we thought now is the time to bring it back into the community. People need to have that value when they’re eating again—and what better place than The Steakhouse to bring it back.”
The Buffet Experience
Every Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., guests can enjoy all-you-can-eat selections for $46 per person. The buffet is presented alongside The Steakhouse’s regular à la carte brunch menu, allowing diners the flexibility to choose their own path.
The spread includes both classic brunch favorites and locally inspired creations: a chilled seafood display, prime rib and ham carving station, bagels and lox, quiche du jour, charcuterie boards, fresh salads, parfaits, and tableside eggs made-to-order. Sweet offerings include pastries sourced from Swiss Donuts and seasonal items featuring local farms like Canyon Creek Mushrooms.
The way this brunch elevates our existing program, now you no longer have to choose between one delicious dish or another, you’re gonna to get it all—your seafood display, your prime rib, you’re gonna have a featured vegetarian item, sweets from local vendors… a whole bunch of items for you to choose from.
Executive Chef Brian Kenney
Inspired by Palm Springs
Chef Kenney’s culinary career spans over 25 years across the country, but it’s Palm Springs that provides his deepest inspiration.
“I get really inspired living in the Coachella Valley,” he says. “We have such great access to food here, and this place has so many amazing elements from the palm trees to the amazing landscapes, to this sunset. Everything about this place is just awe inspiring, and this is where my family calls home now.”
That connection to place is reflected in his menus, which balance sophistication with a sense of local flavor. Guests will notice dishes featuring prime beef, farm-fresh eggs, seafood flown in daily, and the best ingredients sourced from both local and international purveyors.
“We’re the only ones using prime beef, farm fresh eggs, the freshest seafood flown in daily,” Kenney notes. “We have local vendors, like Swiss Donuts, Canyon Creek Mushrooms. We have the biggest purchasing power in the valley, and that’s what makes us special… Sometimes the ingredients are right here, sometimes they’re international, but either way, you’re gonna get them here at The Steakhouse.”
Must-Try Bites
While the buffet offers variety, Kenney has a few recommendations. “The most important thing to try is, if you’re a vegetarian, our vegetarian entrée,” he says. “But our prime rib is a must-try, and if you’re not fortunate enough to come here on a week where it’s featured, our eggs Benedict—that will be there in its place—is equally as good.”
When asked to sum up the new buffet in three words, Kenney says with a smile: “Delicious, fun, and surprising.”
A Brunch to Remember
The buffet is more than just food—for executive chef Kenney, it’s a way to bring people together and create community.
“It’s the people, he reflects. The community that the team at Agua Caliente has built around us, around this company—we just celebrated our 30-year anniversary this year, and I’ve been fortunate to be part of it for the last two. This is my family, and I couldn’t be happier being part of this team.”
The Steakhouse, Agua Caliente Casinos
401 E Amado Rd #6403, Palm Springs, CA 92262
Reservations are highly recommended through OpenTable.com