Sherman’s Delicatessen & Bakery in Palm Desert

Table of Contents

• Sherman’s Delicatessen & Bakery Palm Desert: Location, Hours, and First Impressions
  • Address, Parking, and Getting There
  • Operating Hours and Best Times to Visit
• Sherman’s Deli Menu Highlights: What Regulars Order First
  • Bakery Counter and Freshly Baked Pastries
• Best Deli Sandwiches in the Desert: A Sandwich-by-Sandwich Breakdown
• Kosher-Style Traditions and the History Behind the Deli
• Dietary-Specific Menu Guide: Vegetarian, Low-Sodium, and Gluten-Conscious Options
• Takeout, Curbside Pickup, and Catering for Coachella Valley Gatherings
• Signature Dish Pairings and Seasonal Specials Worth Planning Around
• Frequently Asked Questions

Last Updated: September 20, 2026

Sherman’s Delicatessen & Bakery Palm Desert: Location, Hours, and First Impressions

Sherman’s Delicatessen & Bakery is one of the Coachella Valley’s longest-running kosher-style delicatessens, and it has built its reputation on oversized sandwiches, a full bakery counter, and the kind of table service that makes first-timers feel like regulars. This guide from Visitor Center for Palm Desert walks through everything a visitor needs: where it sits, when to go, what to order, and how to plan around the crowds.

A delicatessen, in the traditional sense, is a food shop and restaurant that specializes in prepared meats, cheeses, salads, and baked goods sold either over a counter or served at a table. Sherman’s carries that model into the desert with a full dining room, a bakery case, and a takeout counter all under one roof.

The first thing most people notice is the volume. Portion sizes run large, the menu is long, and the bakery display near the entrance is the kind of thing that makes you order dessert before you’ve even sat down. Here’s how to plan a visit without wasting a trip.

Address, Parking, and Getting There

The deli sits along the main commercial corridor in Palm Desert, which puts it within a short drive of most hotels and resorts in the area. Parking is surface-level and free, with spaces directly in front of the building and additional spots along the side. Weekday mornings are the easiest time to find a spot near the door.

If you’re staying elsewhere in the Coachella Valley, the drive is straightforward and rarely takes more than 20 minutes from the surrounding resort communities. Visitors planning a full day of dining and activities can browse Palm Desert and Coachella Valley hotel and resort rates to stay close to the action.

Operating Hours and Best Times to Visit

Breakfast and lunch are the busiest windows, particularly on weekend mornings when both locals and visitors converge. Arriving before 9 a.m. or after 1:30 p.m. on a weekend typically means a shorter wait and a calmer dining room.

Midweek lunch is the sweet spot for anyone who wants the full menu without the crowd. Dinner service tends to be quieter, which makes it a good option for families or larger groups who want to linger. Because hours can shift with the season, it’s worth confirming the current schedule before you go.

Sherman’s Deli Menu Highlights: What Regulars Order First

Sherman’s Deli menu highlights start with the classics: piled-high pastrami and corned beef on rye, matzo ball soup, and a bakery case that regulars treat as a separate destination. The menu is broad enough to satisfy a quick lunch or a long, unhurried dinner.

The hot sandwiches are the anchor of the menu. Regulars tend to order the same handful of items again and again:

• Pastrami on rye with mustard, the benchmark order for a first visit
• Corned beef sandwich, often paired with a side of coleslaw
• Matzo ball soup, a comfort food staple that shows up on nearly every table
• Chopped liver, a traditional deli starter that’s harder to find elsewhere in the valley
• Bagels and lox, a breakfast favorite with cream cheese and capers

Beyond sandwiches, the kitchen turns out hearty breakfast plates, salads, and a rotating list of daily specials. Portion sizes are generous, so first-timers often split an entrée and add a side.

Bakery Counter and Freshly Baked Pastries

The bakery counter is where Sherman’s earns its second reputation. Freshly baked pastries, cakes, and breads are made in-house, and the display case near the entrance is stocked throughout the day.

Rye bread and bagels are the workhorses here, but the dessert case is what stops people on the way out. Cheesecake, layer cakes, and traditional deli cookies are all available by the slice or by the whole cake. If you’re picking up for a gathering, ordering ahead saves time.

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Best Deli Sandwiches in the Desert: A Sandwich-by-Sandwich Breakdown

The best deli sandwiches in the desert come down to how the meat is stacked and how the bread holds up, and Sherman’s gets both right. Here’s how the core lineup breaks down for different appetites.

Sandwich	What’s On It	Best For	Notes
Pastrami on rye	Hot pastrami, mustard, rye bread	First-time visitors	The signature order
Corned beef	Sliced corned beef, rye or roll	Classic deli fans	Pairs well with coleslaw
Turkey club	Turkey, bacon, lettuce, tomato	Lighter appetites	Triple-decker
Reuben	Corned beef, sauerkraut, Swiss, Russian dressing	Comfort food seekers	Grilled, hearty
Bagel and lox	Smoked salmon, cream cheese, capers	Breakfast crowds	Best before 11 a.m.

What most guides miss is that the bread matters as much as the meat. The rye is baked in-house, and that’s the difference between a good sandwich and a great one. Ask for it toasted if you want the structure to hold up under a heavy pile of pastrami.

If you’re coming from a lighter sandwich tradition, expect a much bigger portion than you’re used to. A common mistake is ordering a full sandwich plus a side per person.

Kosher-Style Traditions and the History Behind the Deli

That distinction has real consequences for diners:

• If you keep kosher strictly, kosher-style is not a substitute. The kitchen is not certified, meat and dairy are prepared in the same space, and the standards that govern a certified kosher kitchen do not apply here. Confirm specifics directly with the restaurant before planning a meal around it.
• If you’re there for the flavor tradition, kosher-style is exactly what you want. It’s the same pastrami, the same matzo ball soup, the same chopped liver, the cooking that defined the American Jewish delicatessen.

Understanding that context makes the rest of the menu easier to navigate, and it’s the kind of background that directory listings skip entirely.

Dietary-Specific Menu Guide: Vegetarian, Low-Sodium, and Gluten-Conscious Options

Dietary needs are easier to manage here than the menu’s size suggests, but you have to ask. The kitchen handles most requests, and the staff are used to fielding questions about ingredients.

• Vegetarian: Salads, bagels with cream cheese, egg dishes, and several sides work well. Ask which soups are made with vegetable stock.
• Low-sodium: Cured meats are naturally high in salt, so build your meal around grilled items, salads, and fresh vegetables instead. Request dressings and sauces on the side.
• Gluten-conscious: Rye and bagels are the default, so ask about gluten-free bread options and confirm how items are prepared. Cross-contact is possible in a busy deli kitchen, so flag any serious sensitivity to your server.

Takeout, Curbside Pickup, and Catering for Coachella Valley Gatherings

Takeout and catering are two of the most underused services here, especially for visitors hosting a group. The deli offers takeout orders, curbside pickup, and catering for events, which makes it a practical option for everything from a hotel-room lunch to a full party spread.

Signature Dish Pairings and Seasonal Specials Worth Planning Around

Signature pairings at a deli this traditional follow a simple logic: something hot, something cold, and something baked. The combinations below are the ones regulars come back to.

• Pastrami on rye + matzo ball soup + a slice of cheesecake for a full, classic meal
• Bagel and lox + a side of fruit for a lighter breakfast
• Reuben + coleslaw + a black-and-white cookie for a lunch that carries you through the afternoon
• Chopped liver + rye bread + pickles as a starter spread to share

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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the signature dishes at Sherman’s Delicatessen & Bakery?

The pastrami and corned beef sandwiches on freshly baked rye anchor the menu, along with matzo ball soup and cheese blintzes. The bakery counter draws regulars for black-and-white cookies, rugelach, and fruit danishes. Portion sizes run large, so many guests split a sandwich and add a side salad. Seasonal specials rotate through the year, and the deli’s kosher-style approach means traditional recipes rather than strict kosher certification.

Is there a difference between the Palm Desert and Palm Springs locations?

Both serve the same core delicatessen menu, bakery selections, and kosher-style classics. The Palm Desert location sits along the El Paseo shopping district, making it a convenient stop for lunch between gallery visits. Seating layouts differ slightly, and wait times vary by season, with winter months busier at both. Call ahead or check the official site for current hours before you go.

Does Sherman’s Delicatessen & Bakery offer outdoor seating?

Yes, the Palm Desert location offers patio seating, which suits the Coachella Valley climate for most of the year. Shaded tables fill quickly during lunch rush and weekend brunch, so arriving before noon improves your chances. During summer, indoor dining with air conditioning is the more comfortable choice. Reservations are not always required, but calling ahead helps for groups of six or more.

What are the best deli sandwiches in the desert for first-time visitors?

Start with the hot pastrami on rye, the Reuben, or the corned beef special. Each comes piled high and pairs well with a side of potato salad or coleslaw. If you prefer lighter fare, the turkey club and tuna melt satisfy without the heaviness. The best deli sandwiches in the desert come down to personal taste, but these three are the ones regulars order most.