She’s an Oscar winner, a living legend, and perhaps most notably—for fans of fabulous food—Barbra Streisand once had The Tropicale Palm Springs’ very own Tony Di Lembo as her personal chef.
Di Lembo lights up at the mention of Streisand. “She’s a fascinating lady. As you might think, she was a tough woman to work for, a perfectionist. She knew what she liked to eat. It was kinda simple because I knew what she liked. You kinda have to give her what she wanted.”
And what she wanted was gourmet perfection, every day.
“It was a lot of work! I can tell you that,” Di Lembo recalls. “There was never a dull moment. A lot of special parties. It was every day, every morning, every afternoon—and there were dinner parties every night. It was a lot more work than you might think it would be. I enjoyed it, but I always wanted to work in a restaurant. After a couple of years, it was just time to move on.”
Did Streisand Inspire The Tropicale?
Asked if his current menu at The Tropicale reflects any culinary echoes of his famous former client, Di Lembo chuckles, “There’s really no connection at this point, food-wise. It’s been quite a while. She was a healthy eater—she followed a macrobiotic diet for a while. I don’t know how she eats now, but the food here isn’t quite like that.”
The Move to Palm Springs: A Recipe for Reinvention
As Di Lembo prepared for the next course in his culinary career, Palm Springs simmered in his mind like a dish just waiting to be plated.
“I lived in Los Angeles for many, many years, and like most people there, I used to come to Palm Springs on weekends—every weekend, every other weekend, once a month, maybe twice. You kinda like it, and then it becomes more and more frequent. Eventually, you just decide to come here. And that’s what happened.”
His move to Palm Springs proved to be more than just a change of scenery—it was the start of something iconic.
Finding the Perfect Spot: From Auto Body Shop to Dining Hotspot
The future home of The Tropicale wasn’t always shimmering with mid-century glam and vibrant cocktails. It began as an overlooked auto body shop built in 1975.
“It came by accident,” Di Lembo says. “This building had just gone out of business when we saw it. It was closed, falling apart, really neglected. But it was sitting in a prime location. I thought it had a lot of potential for a restaurant, and that’s how it started.”
And what a transformation it was. The Tropicale opened its doors and immediately began redefining upscale dining in Palm Springs with bold flavors and a splash of retro-chic ambiance.
Setting the Table for Palm Springs’ Dining Renaissance
“Building the restaurant took about a year and a half, so we’ve been here for almost 11 years now,” Di Lembo explains. “Palm Springs 15 years ago was quiet—almost too quiet. In August, you were alone. No traffic, no lines, nothing. Now, it’s totally different. There’s energy year-round. The gyms are full. The grocery stores are full—even when it’s 115 degrees out!”
As a culinary visionary, Di Lembo sensed the shifting tides early.
“The city needed a restaurant like this. There just weren’t many options, and people were starting to move here. There was a resurgence of real estate activity. People were buying homes, and every person you met would say, ‘I just moved here.’ But you need businesses to support those people. One of those was a great restaurant, and that’s how The Tropicale came to be.”
The Tropicale Today: A Global Menu with a Palm Springs Soul
Since opening, The Tropicale has become a dining destination in Palm Springs—celebrated not only for its ambiance and service but for its ever-evolving world cuisine.
“We focus a lot on weekly specials—probably 10 per week,” Di Lembo shares. “That’s about 80% of what we serve. It helps us stay fresh through the seasons and lets us cook what we want to cook. It’s worked really well.”
The menu is inspired by flavors from across the globe—creative, flavorful, and always a little unexpected. It’s a style that reflects Di Lembo’s love of variety and his fine-tuned culinary instincts from years in celebrity kitchens.
A Cookbook Worthy of a Silver Lining
The Tropicale’s success recently leapt from the plate to the page with the release of its very first cookbook, a labor of love that earned a Silver IPPY Award for culinary excellence.
“It started about a year and a half ago and took about a year to write,” Di Lembo says. “Just yesterday, we found out we won the award. There were hundreds of applicants, and we got Silver. It was a real surprise.”
The cookbook brings the Tropicale experience into home kitchens, blending Tony’s signature flair with accessible recipes for seasoned chefs and enthusiastic home cooks alike.
Experience The Tropicale for Yourself
Whether you're a longtime local, a weekend visitor, or simply someone who appreciates fine food and unforgettable vibes, The Tropicale Palm Springs offers an escape into decadence—with a side of star-studded backstory.
It’s not just a restaurant. It’s an experience—a flavorful journey that began in Barbra Streisand’s kitchen and found its forever home under the desert stars. Reservations recommended.
The Tropicale Palm Springs
330 E. Amado Road
📞 760.866.1952
Dog-friendly patio.
Check out their daily happy hour for discounted drinks and a special menu.
