Outside, we saw the red velvet rope, the parade of fancy cars awaiting valet parking, the buff bouncer and the growing line of folks eager for nightlife, portending a momentous evening. With live entertainment seven nights a week, the many reviews I read covered a lot of ground, including fun hotspot, fine dining, dancing. When they got to cougar bar and middle-aged meat market, I promised I’d keep an open mind.
Inside, we were met by Dodi; a statuesque blonde of undetermined age and European origins, sporting diamonds and sipping champagne. Intriguing to say the least. Dodi met her husband Kevin at the Nest in the early 90s and they now co-own the club. Kevin was onstage, singing with the band. I did a quick scan of the bar and dance floor, where old standards and 80s favorites played. An NBA game on a big screen added a sports bar angle, and immediately the scene felt electric. We were whisked to our table in the mood-lit, spacious dining area. Fascinated by the mix of the crowd, we quickly got to people watching. For sure we saw some “usual suspects,” but as the night wore on, the guests skewed younger and more diverse, and everyone was smiling and having a good time. This scene was so welcome after the cocooning and misery of the last 20 months. I talked with a gay couple, a young woman and two older women roomates — Michelle and Linda — who come to the Nest twice a week to dance. They all beamed, gushing about Dodi and Kevin and the oasis they have created.
Dodi was buzzing around — clearly everyone knows and loves her. She sat down with us amidst the bustling scene and all was revealed. We asked about the diverse menu and learned it is a provocative mix of Continental and Mediterranean selections, with some surprising items like goulash and a few Bosnian family favorites. Dodi hails from Sarajevo and came to this country as an exchange student in the 80s. Her uncle was a restaurateur and she started working in the industry at places including Arnold Palmer’s. The Nest has been in business since 1965, surviving and thriving through the hippie era, Disco, the Go Go 90s, the new millennium, and now the pandemic. Dodi worked as the hostess at the Nest for 20 years. She and Kevin bought it a decade ago and took it to another level with a recent remodel, maintaining the cozy feel while adding a more modern update, spotlighting sophistication and elegance. There is patio seating and the dining room and ambiance is warm but dignified. Dodi and Kevin are fixtures, and many guests come for the food and fun, but also because of their devotion to them. One guest out for date night with his husband said he just “loves the smiles on people’s faces.” Dodi and Kevin work hard; she works the room while Kevin performs. Together they have built a thriving business and a mecca for good times.
We had just ordered a few appetizers when Dodi sat down to discuss the business. She insisted we try some of the family favorites. She brought her parents to the U.S. in 1992, as the war in the Balkans was raging, and mom — now 92 — shared her recipes for Adriatic sausages, stuffed cabbage rolls, moussaka and goulash. You can get an 8oz. filet mignon, an Australian rack of lamb, as well as seafood, veal, pasta and chicken dishes, but it was the family recipes that won my heart. Yummy, but also a meaningful touch — a nod to her heritage — for a successful immigrant to feature on her menu. We had the artichoke dip, sausages, fried calamari and stuffed cabbage; all delectable. The veal/chicken marsala and piccata melted in the mouth. The cocktails and wine selection were superior and we were very full, but we saved room to share a few desserts. Next time I want to try the special Bosnian Queen’s cake. The food was excellent across the board and is one of the reasons the younger yelp cohort is coming.
By 10pm the dining room clears out — once the first audience is served with an early bird special and happy hour offerings — and the people outside in line around the block are ready to usher in phase two of the party in the bar and on the dance floor. If you are looking for love, want a great meal or just want that feel-good vibe of people enjoying a night out, make a beeline for the Nest — you’ll be in good feather!
75188 CA-111, Indian Wells, CA 92210, USA
(760) 346-2314
Weekdays 4pm-1am
Weekends 4pm-1am
Happy Hour
Daily 4-6 p.m.
Wednesday All Night
Live music & entertainment nightly starting at 6:30 p.m.
www.gotothenest.com
