One of the hottest and most artisanal places to eat in the downtown area, Workshop is also one of the most striking: a stark, cathedral-ceilinged room sternly done in long tables, concrete booths, and warm filament bulbs dangling on long wires. Don't let the stripped-down industrial look fool you, because every night it's packed with merry-makers and the staff is friendly and accommodating. After a hot day, that stark grey environment is probably exactly what you wished for, but if not, there there are a few tables in the courtyard out front. For a so-named workshop, the offerings are decidedly polished. What's served comes down to the quality of each season's ingredients, which is why the menu is ever-changing, but representative dishes might be octopus carpaccio, a charcuterie plate of duck and other meats, pork chops or brussel sprouts grilled with mesquite, a three-pound California bass grilled and served to the table, or cacao-dusted elk—proving Palm Springs is not only about club sandwiches and cold beer. Cocktails, too, are offbeat but carefully constructed (like the Yellow Buck, a mix of rye, yellow chartreuse, pineapple, and homemade ginger beer). Reserve ahead or you are unlikely to secure a seat.