Frank Sinatra Loved This Steakhouse So Much He Had A Regular Table

The culinary loves of Frank Sinatra remain fascinating today, from the rolls of cherry Lifesavers that were his favorite candy, all the way to the old-school Italian stuffed artichoke he frequently dined upon in New York. Although his body of work is often associated with big cities, Sinatra was perhaps at his happiest in the desert community of Palm Springs, California, where he built a home, Twin Palms. Among Sinatra's haunts when he was in Palm Springs was Melvyn's, a retro steakhouse where Sinatra often ordered steak Diane and ate it at "his" table, number 13. Sinatra was just one luminous habitué of Melvyn's during its over 50 years of service — Marlon Brando, Marilyn Monroe, and at least four U.S. presidents have also dined there.

As the story goes, Mel Haber, the owner and proprietor of Melvyn's until his 2016 death, was absolutely obsessed with luring Sinatra to his restaurant for the first time when he opened the steakhouse in 1975. He knew Sinatra frequented local restaurants, and Haber wanted the prestige of courting Sinatra's favor as well. When Sinatra finally showed up and became a regular, Haber installed a glass window on the front door so that the maître d' could see Sinatra coming and make sure the door was held for him. 

When he wasn't parked at table 13, Sinatra could be seen at the bar, sipping Jack Daniels (which he loved so much he was buried with a bottle). Sinatra apparently notoriously hated to pose for pictures, yet Haber badly wanted one with Ol' Blue Eyes. He conspired with restaurant staff to wait for a moment when Sinatra was photographed talking with someone else so that Haber could slip in and photobomb the pair. Eventually, he was successful!

Melvyn's is today nestled within the grounds of Ingleside Estate, a boutique hotel. During the day, the steakhouse offers poolside service of its famed cocktails and light bites for hotel guests. At five o'clock each evening, however, the restaurant opens to all guests for dinner. The vibe is very "vintage steakhouse," with dark, moody walls and chandeliers overhead. Patrons can peruse black-and-white photographs of past visitors, famous and otherwise, before taking their seats at candlelit tables. There is live piano music in the bar on certain nights, and holiday celebrations are said to be second to none. The menu displays fare that is pricey but elegant. Sinatra's beloved steak Diane is still prepared tableside, with a spectacular flambé, for $68. Other steakhouse mainstays include ribeye and New York strip, along with beef Wellington. Seafood lovers can dine on branzino or try the caviar service.

It's notable that, on Yelp, Melvyn's rating is only 3.2/5 stars as of this writing. Reading the reviews is eye-opening and might cause contemporary diners to proceed with caution, as some longtime patrons complain that the food and service are not the same since Mel himself passed away, and that they are displeased with the new owners' standards. Brusque service is a frequent gripe, along with high mandatory gratuities. The food itself has received mixed reviews in the past couple of years. The steak Diane, extra-dirty martinis, and chicken pot pie enjoy near-unanimous praise, however, and most patrons — though not all — appreciate the time capsule vibes of the retro eatery.