Babe’s

There’s never going to be a consensus on good barbecue. No matter who’s making it, the person eating it will have always had better, be it in some Texas smokehouse or their granddad’s grill. But as far as good barbecue goes, you’re not going to get closer to perfection than Babe’s. Founded by Don Callendar (of Marie Callendar fame), the joint mixes the inherent enthusiasm of good barbecue (hands on eating and all) with the classier aspects of eating out—a great craft beer selection (some brewed in house; the restaurant has won awards as a microbrewery), fresh ingredients, support for local produce and more.

While Babe’s is hardly the kind of place you’ll go on date night, it does make for an incredibly fun meal to start off a weekend especially with kids in tow. The wooden décor is reminiscent of a barnhouse on prom night, not quite in keeping with the Coachella Valley’s usual aesthetic, but close enough to get the point across. You’re here to enjoy barbecue, not to mingle with the stars.