Hard call, wanted to love this place more. Â TV hypes places up too much , people go in with greater than normal expectations and then are let down. Â Veggies and the like, mashed potatoes a little too mediocre and blah. Â Fried Chicken was a stand out star but nothing else was. Â So 4 for the chicken and wish I could give 5 for everything else, but, here's hoping they will change things around.
Review Source:Why don't they call this place casa fried chicken? Their fried chicken is finger licking deliciousness. The mashed potato and mixed vegetables that came with it was ok. The chicken is the definite star. The biscuits were pretty good but once you put the local honey on top, I could probably eat a basket full.
Review Source:I hadn't eaten in Casa Orinda  regularly for about 25 years or so.  I'd always meant to but seldom get to Orinda anymore.  My group was looking for a place near the BART and I suggested Casa Orinda.  Since a couple of members of the gang used to live in Orinda they knew the place so it was an easy choice.  You know something.  The place is pretty darn good.  This is not fine cuisine type dining where the chefs try to impress you by their creativity with mixing culinary traditions with small portions that are exquisite and small.  This is hearty, belt busting good old American style food.  I took a look at some of the other reviews and got a kick out of a ding-dong who gave it a bad review because it didn't serve Mexican food and "Casa" is in the name.  Well, duh,  the Casa Orinda has been there since Orinda was a cow town off the beaten path in  1932 and has never been a Mexican restaurant.  The "hearty" menu of big portions of meat, fried chicken, and potatoes has been a staple of theirs for 80 years.  About 50 years ago they had an Italian Chef and Italian dinner staples were added to the menu.  My friend and I had the Chicken Saltimbocca and we cleaned our plates and even ate the broccoli.  It was hearty, hot, and tasty.  My other friend next to me had a prime rib.  It was a huge piece of meat and perfectly cooked.  He finished everything on the plate except the bone.  A couple of people had the famous fried chicken (which is supposedly what they're known for).  They told me that the chicken was perfectly seasoned, not too dry and not too wet not glamorous but just right.
Other things of note: bread was fresh and warm, ambiance was typical roadhouse with a cowboy/ranch motif from the days it catered to local ranches. Â Parking is valet (although there is street parking if you're patient). Â We did not have coffee or dessert so no opinion on that. Â Our water glasses were kept full and the bartender mixed a good martini. Â Some people will complain that it's too dark and caters to old people but since I'm now one of those old people that's OK. by me. Â This place is an institution and has a good reputation in the community -- deservedly so. Â Mind you this is not fancy smancy fusion French or Italian cuisine. Â It's just good old fashioned food standards with waitresses that call you "honey." Â A type of place that used to be common before the politically correct "food" police took over. Â But hey -- I liked the place and plan on returning with the family soon. Â I know we won't go home hungry. Â I can always go to my favorite Asian fusion place another time.
P.S. Â Those folks that think Casa Orinda is expensive for what you get, must not dine out very often or limit themselves to the 2 fors at Denny's or Black Angus when they do go out.
"You have the rooster, the hen, and the chicken. The rooster goes with the chicken... So who's having sex with the hen?" Frank Costanza - Seinfeld
SOLID Fried Chicken, bisquit & gravy on the side... veggies need a tune up (very pedestrian) maybe freshen it up w/ some sauted brocoli raab? Â Fish dishes here are surprisingly good, there was even a roasted octopus app special which was tasty.
We DID try the chicken fried BACON app... which was really good.. served w/ a mustard dipping sauce.
Old school comfort food style, in a old school setting. Â Nothing wrong w/ that.
I just moved to Walnut Creek and heard this was a good place to go from several locals.
I actually thought it was a Mexican restaurant given the name. Nope.
Decor-wise I would describe it as a casual hunting lodge. It reminded me of what your grandparent's home would look like. This place is an institution. Don't expect to find a ton of young people here. It seems to be frequented by older folks. I love chatting with older people but if you're looking for a hot spot with young people this does not seem to be it.
Food-wise I was very happy with my meal. I would love try the fried chicken next time. Service was excellent. Everyone we encountered was very friendly which is a big plus in my book.
Well, don't believe everything you read on the Internet or TV. Saw this restaurant on TV and  visited last Friday. The famous fried chicken was about the worst I've ever eaten -- and I'm a Southern boy raised on fried chicken.  It was well cooked but absolutely tasteless! The pasta side dish was not hot and served with watery meat sauce. The veggies were room temperature at best.  The service was slow, but okay. When I told the waitress about the chicken, she advised that it was the same chicken they had been serving for 80 years. Baloney! No restaurant could stay in business that long serving this kinda chicken.  If their going to use commercial lo grade chicken, at least take a lesson from Col. Sanders --and use some spices!  Mediocre food and way over priced -- ($17 for 1  serving of fried chicken?)  --  if you go here --  prepare to be under whelmed.
Review Source:Yes we saw it featured on TV and yes we had the fried chicken dinner. We shared the chicken dinner while we sat at the bar, very comfortable dining, bartender was a little busy but he amused us with the recipe story after dinner. Â Was a perfect late dinner after the movies down the street. Â We were tempted to try the chicken fried bacon. Â Next time for sure.
Review Source:My family and I had Casa Orinda last night and I felt that this restaurant was mostly average. The prices were very high and the atmosphere is kind of old school. I had the chicken parmigiana which was a little bland but okay. The pasta it came with was also just okay. My wife had the fried chicken which we've heard so much about so I tried some of hers as well. It was nice and crispy and you got a huge portion but I felt it could have used more seasoning. The waiters did a great job. Overall, I think the place deserves a 3.5 but since I can't give a 3.5 I have to give a 3 since I think a 4 would be a little too high of a score.
Review Source:Old Favorite Hits Rock Bottom.....
My wife and I have been going to this restaurant for many, many years. Â We loved the fried chicken for which they were sort of famous for. Â Last night (Monday) we again visited Casa Orinda. Â I decided to pass on the chicken and ordered the eggplant parmigiana knowing my wife would share her fried chicken order. Â Â The fried chicken was cold and tasted as if he had been under a heat lamp for hours. Â The vegetables were cold as usual. Â My eggplant was so heavily breaded I could not taste the eggplant. Â It was also cold. Â What is going on? Â We decided it would be a waste of time to send back both dishes. Â We just wanted to leave. Â With tip the bill came to $82. Â We had two glasses of Chardonnay and split a salad. What a rip off. Â
The server, by the way, was fine. Â It wasn't his fault.
We will not come back to Casa Orinda. Â Sad !
Don't believe everything you see on TV!
Let me start by saying, this is an overall "okay" restaurant, but according to Yelp! two stars means "meh, I've experienced better" and that's exactly how I felt about Casa Orinda.
How I even ended up at Casa Orinda is an interesting story. You see, last week my fiance and I happened to catch an episode of United States of Bacon, which featured Phat Matt's BBQ in Oakland, Casa Orinda and some other place. On a whim we decided to drive up to Oakland to give Phat Matt's a try today and when we arrived there they were closed because they'd run out of meat. Bummer. Then we thought, "Hey, what was that other place on the show with the fried chicken??"
That, my friends, is how we arrived at Casa Orinda.
The restaurant itself is kind of charming, but it seems like it's caught between to categories, and needs to be either more fancy or less fancy.
Anyway, on to the fried chicken. My fiance and I both ordered it since that's what they're supposedly famous for, but we're really not sure why. It was good enough, but definitely nothing special and the vegetables it came with seemed like they were straight from the freezer. I'm not even sure why it was featured on United States of Bacon because there was nothing bacon-ey about it. I did enjoy the mashed potatoes, but I'm a bad judge for that because I love pretty much ALL mashed potatoes.
I guess maybe it's worth it if you happen to live in Orinda and want some okay friend chicken, but it's definitely not worth a drive from anywhere.
It's old school all the way. From the faux stone outside entrance to the ranchero themed inside decor, Casa Orinda is a landmark.
They claim to have the "best fried chicken" but I'm here to say that my husband's skillet fried chicken is the best in the Bay Area.
I appreciate the mid-century feel and love that this place is still churning out old school food after so many years.
I had heard legends regarding the fried chicken at Casa Orinda, and reports of a cool old-timey ambience and an interesting gun collection made it all the more interesting. The opportunity to visit what is reportedly the oldest operating restaurant in Contra Costa county arose this past Saturday when the family decided to go there for dinner.
First, the descriptions were accurate. It is a totally cool old place. Nice, but with an old-school vibe that was very enjoyable.
Almost everyone at the table ordered the salad with beets and fried chicken, except for my brother-in-law who ordered ham and eggs - for dinner. In any case, the chicken was fantastic! Crispy, tender and juicy without excessive grease. It was half a chicken, served with reasonable portions of mashed potatoes, gravy and vegetables (not overcooked, boiled to death vegetables no less). The biscuits were fresh and light. The chicken gravy was a little bland, but this was not a big issue for me, especially after adding a dash of pepper.
The ham is a giant, cartoonish slab with a bone in the middle, and it's really good!
The menu has a number of classic Italian/American dishes on it, including a number of veal dishes (hard to find veal in most restaurants these days), so this is a place that stays true to its roots. Had a great time and left very satisfied!
Horst sagt: "Mach schnell hin - echt gut, Leute!"
If you want good old fashioned comfort food, you have come to the right place, with great size portions.
I've been coming here since I was a little girl. Â I used to eat red meat, and this aws THE place to come for Prime Rib (on the bone) and Tournedos of Boef. According to some of my friends who still eat red meat, it still is! Â You can't beat their fried chicken with gravy and biscuits and mashed potatoes. Â The fried chocked is not doughy or greasy. Â And the portions are amazing, get ready for the take home box. Â Their fish dishes are delicious, along with all of their pasta dishes, and their chicken
Orinda used to be a farming, ranch town and this is where all the cowboys hung out, and where they all went on Friday and Saturday nights. Â The original brandings are still up in the min part of the restaurant, and they have the brandings on the placemats. Â They have great down home salads, and let's face it, it's just real good honest food. Â
If I were to eat red meat again and go to have a steak or prime rib, this is the first place I would have it at. Â Like I said, I have been coming here since I was a little girl. Â It's the best. Â The waitstaff is pretty awesome, as well. Â You have to wait when you get here sometimes, even if you have a reservation, but it's worth it!
Cocktails, no frills here...just the good ol straight shooting stuff, so if your looking for the fancy frilly kind of cocktail bar, please go somewhere else. Â This is a real martini, T n T, Whiskey type place. Â If you are looking for that French Bordeaux to go with your Steak, or your Prime Rib, please bring it with you and pay your corkage kindly. Â Or kindly double the tip for your server. Â These guys work really hard and deserve it!
Thanks so much...a devotee of Casa Orinda! Â And no this is Not a Mexican Restaurant.
My review is only for the bar. Â I came here with a few of my girlfriends for drinks last Friday.
I didn't see any taps on the bar, but I didn't know what the deal was because I hadn't been here before. Â I asked the bartender what they had on tap -- standard question for a bar tender. Â He was the portly older guy with white hair and his response was, "Let me put it this way... Do you see a tap?". Â Ick.... not coming back here.
Some of the finest friend chicken in the bay area. Â And compared with some of the deluxe comfort food spots around this place is a bargain. Â Which is one way of saying that you get side dishes with that $17 chicken entree. Â And the portion is a half chicken.
Service and atmosphere were nice, this place has an old school upscale western feel, animal heads on the wall, and a cracking fireplace. Â So if that appeals, there you go.
LOVE this place!
Great service, great food, great place! Casa Orinda has the best fried chicken and the delicious mashed potatoes! Everything on the menu is good, but the fried chicken stands out the most. The staff is very friendly, and the service is fast and attentive. I live in El Cerrito, and it is definitely the drive out to Orinda!
Fair warning: You will never want to eat KFC again after trying Casa Orinda's fried chicken.
That being said, the fried chicken is literally to die for. I had my doubts, as I'm sure many do, that one could find good fried chicken in Orinda...but man was I wrong! It is fried to crispy perfection, and served with awesome biscuits and local honey.
The chicken piccata is good too, just very rich. I couldn't even finish half of it. The decor was my main reason for wanting to try this place, and that in itself was worth it. There are hundreds of antique firearms on display and you could spend the whole night just admiring them. The ambiance is very dark, as there are no windows in the restaurant (that I could see anyway). It is a perfect romantic setting.
"Best Fried Chicken in the Bay Area!" my boss proudly declared about Casa Orinda and he challenged me to disagree. Â He went on and on about it, quite passionately, probably six times in the ten minutes I was in his office. Â
As Barney Stinson says, "Challenge Accepted." Â This, of course, placed me in a tough spot. Â If I end up with the worst fried chicken in the world, it could cost me major brownie points with the big guy, but if I agree too much, I'll come off as a brown noser. Â
I'll just be honest (a rare trait in my profession) and, in this situation, he made a good case. Â Casa Orinda's fried chicken is seriously very very good, in the running for the best I've had to date (miles above farmer browns, though I've never been to Ad Hoc). Â
The "famous" chicken, as Casa calls it, tastes like it was soaked in buttermilk for several days. Â The buttermilk adds a nice smoothness, but slightly mutes the flavor too. Â I still prefer the oregano taste at Wayfare. Â But with regards to the crunch factor, Casa cant be beat. Â And its amazing crisp tells me that they found the perfect frying technique. Â My guess is that they cook it in some pressurized cooker, though pressure cookers typically dry out the insides. Â Not here.
Since I didn't try other menu items, I'm not sure if Casa is a one-trick pony. Â Service was excellent, though the overall feel of the restuarant was a little creepy. Â One thing is for certain, the fried chicken here is crazy good. Â I know, right? Â The small and sleepy town of Orinda would not have been my go-to spot for amazing fried chicken. Â Go figure.
Add my five star yelp!
The food is great and there is plenty of it!
The service, off the hook! Kudos to Gene on his 20th year at The Casa! Jairo, keep burning in the back of the house! And congrats to Denny the Bartender for a much deserved retirement!
Just please, next time, save me a Prime Rib End Cut!
Me Casa, su Casa, me like this Casa!!
I had heard great things about this place from family and friends over the years, I had also driven by it plenty of times though, I never would have imagined it was anything special.
So come to find out after doing a little research, there supposedly famous for there Fried Chicken and also known for making some really good, strong drinks.
My yelper bud David D. suggested going here and wanted me to check it out. So of course I hopped at the chance and am really glad I did.
I absolutely love the ambiance of the place! Dark dimmed lighting, old world rustic atmosphere with no windows to the outside world, an old lengthy rustic bar, walls adorned with bull horns probably dating back to the 1930's- I literally felt like I walked into a scene straight out of an old Clint Eastwood flick, they seriously could film a scene for a movie here it would be classic!!
I started with a lemon drop and it was superb! It was just made perfectly-Tart, sweet and refreshing!
I don't have fried chicken often though, after reading and hearing such wonderful thing's about there their supposedly "Famous Fried Chicken" you know I had to taste what all the rave was about.
I got the Fried Chicken which comes with mashed potatoes, a biscuit and veggies.I'm not into mashed potatoes so I opted for a side of Alf redo pasta instead.
David ordered some sort of veal dish.
Generous in size were our dishes and quite tasty they were. I don't know if this was the best fried chicken I have ever had, because I don't consider myeself an expert in knowing good fried chicken however, I do know it was lip smacking delicious!! The flavor was nice and it was fried to a crispy golden perfection Yum! Alfredo pasta was tasty, rich and creamy. My vegetables were sautéed nice and were incredibly flavorful. I also had a bite of David's veal and it was FANTASTIC!
What was even just as fantastic, was our server Gene!He delivered exceptional 5 star service all the way!! Perfect example of true, professional outstanding service at its best! I f only I could experience this more often.Cheers to our server!
Cheers to a great time! I will definitely visit again!!
Cowboy Up to a fine plate of eats!
There are many reviews of the Casa Orinda, and everything is pretty well covered. Â Out of 2 visits, every bite of food was excellent! Â The steak sandwich seems popular and tastes great! Â Huge portions too. Â The fried chicken is famous and for a reason. Â Â Mrs N and I shared this and the asparagas salad. Â This was a unique salad that I really enjoyed. Â The warm bacon chunks and cold potato pieces played well together. These foods are every bit about the quality as anything else.
This most recent trip was for my cowgirl-at-heart daughter's birthday dinner. Â I give Mrs N full credit for matching the decor to the joy button found on her heart. Â They toured the dark interior, eye's wide open, and soaked up the wild west scene. The brands and antique guns were some of the favorite items. Â I'd say this alone was a gift to her.
We did find ourselves being younger patrons, but it didn't bother us. Â Felt like Orinda to me. Â Though the ball game was on at the near by bar, voices are always low. Â Very low-key crowd.
Ther service was friendly and prompt. Â Prices are a little high but not too bad. Â They're open at 4, so it's your dinner plan. Â It's a short walk from BART, but if you drive, they valet park or you're looking for a spot somewhere. Â They don't validate for the public parking, but it's not too expensive.
The chicken is still amazing. I just heard a rumor that Colonel Sanders sold a chicken fryer to the Casa back in the day.
The waiter forgot my whipped cream (for the biscuit, trust me - it's otherworldly) and was surprised by my request, but was really nice.
Still a fabulous place- was there with my sister, bro-in-law and nephews- I equate this place with family and good times!!
The Lemon Drop - 4 stars
The Fried Chicken - 4 stars
The decor - 3 stars
The free drink refills - what? 0 stars
Some friends and I went to Casa Orinda because we wanted to try the fried chicken. It's supposed to be the best, right? As a person with southern roots I'd like to think I know a thing or two about fried chicken. So when I heard claims like those I had to investigate.
The waiter came to our table to take the drink orders, a very nice chap indeed. I ordered a cocktail and my non-drinking friends all ordered sodas. We all asked for water. The water glasses looked like juice glasses (probably about 4 oz. capacity) and the soda glasses looked like they could hold about 8 oz., but with the ice, more like 4 oz. of soda. More about drinks later. The waiter took our food order. Three out of four people ordered the chicken. The food came fast. You get: the equivalent of a half a chicken--drumstick, thigh; breast and wing; mixed vegetables (broccoli and asparagus); mashed potatoes with gravy; and, a biscuit. The gravy for the mashed potatoes is a white gravy and comes in a personal server. They also give you honey for your biscuits, which you will need because the biscuits are pretty dry.
We all ate happily. The chicken was as good as the claims. Now, back to the sodas. The waiter came back to make sure we had everything we needed, etc. A friend at the table asked for more soda only to find out that she would be charged again--there are no free refills! What? You have the smallest drink glasses alive, fill them up with ice so that you really get about a mouthful of soda, and there are no free refills? No stars for you (on that point).
I recommend and will return.
Classic place dating back to the 1930's...
Went on Saturday night for the little womens B-Day.
Ask for a table near the fireplace(Salon) when making reservations, as there is normally a wait on the weekends and the fire place add's a nice touch..
Chicken Picata was cooked perfect ,lightly coated, pounded chicken breast with a side of Fettuchini Alfredo,broc & green beans.
The flyer had the Eggplant Parmesian with the same greens.
I had the alfredo also.
Mudd pie for desert.
All three meals were excellent,bread water & tip $80.10...
All were fat & sassy on the ride home.
Our Twin Cities friends, Meg and Ron were in town this week and wanted to get together for dinner with us on Friday night. Â The last time we all got together for dinner in the Bay Area, our Va da Vi (Walnut Creek) experience was a bit of a disappointment, as Ron didn't take kindly to the small plates experience or any associated sharing.
This time around we needed to find a place with a kitchy, yet comfortable Midwest flare, big portions, and perhaps a crusty waitress that would call him "honey". Â Casa Orinda immediately came to mind, since Gayle and I had already decided that this was where we were going to take my Iowa parents the next time they were in town.
No one called Ron "honey", but we all had a very nice time at Casa Orinda.  I'm in my "Blue" (cheese) period and this time it overwhelmed the burger.  Fortunately, Gayle's salmon and Meg's Veal Piccata and the shared onion rings and dungeness crab salad were better.  And after Ron devoured his entire Prime Rib, he deemed Casa Orinda  as an excellent choice.  Best of all, we had a great time catching up, sharing some laughs, and in a place where it was easy and comfortable to do so.
The service was great too. And when we were done, it was a simple matter of retrieving the car from the complimentary (plus tip) parking and dropping them off at BART for their journey back into the City.
This restaurant is a Bay Area staple. Come for the great food, the stiff drinks, the top service & the occasional local celeb spotting!
My family and I have eaten here for years and there always seems to be something new on the menu. The atmosphere is pretty funky -something between a western bar, and early bird haunt & your grandparents place. The food & people however are top ranked.
They have, hands down the best fried chicken available! And the cute boys parking cars is always a perk too ~
If you go, ask for Gene's section - he's GREAT!
I'm so full from a six-day Marathon of dining, Even writing a review about food hurts
Casa Orinda is what I would call a classic Restaurant. An older crowd comes in about 5 for cocktails, then has dinner, and is out by 7. Â This is where I come in. I am now the older crowd. I celebrated my sixty- fifth Birthday here Sunday night. Any Yelpers know where I can get senior discounts? Bring it on. Â Â
About Thirty years ago I had Breakfast at Casa Orinda and have never forgotten the Ham steak that I had. Well believe it or not they still serve that huge piece of ham. The Ham is the size of a paper plate, and 11/2 inches thick. Â There isn't a soul in my family that likes ham, so I have to get it when I can. Â Yes, for my Birthday dinner, I had Ham, hash browns, and poached eggs just to keep it healthy. Â
The Casa Orinda once served Veal T-Bones with a choice of Baked Potato, or those over cooked Ravioli. There is some thing about those Ravioli...just gotta have em' some times. Â The Veal might be on the specials during the week, for those of you who are into eating babies. Â
Our server was sweet, helpful, and funny. But then again it was not busy, so he had nothing else to do. The Casa is not as lively as it once was,
The Daughter that almost caused her Mother to have a heart attack when she rang my doorbell on Thursday to surprise me with a 5-day visit , WAS the life of the party. Â Those Southern Bells know how to party.
Check out Casa Orinda when you're in the mood for meat. They have plenty of it, and know how to prepare it.
Ok... so i drove 30 miles one way to eat fried chicken. Â Thats not crazy right? Â well it wasnt crazy to me anyways. Â My friend and I went and we both ordered the fried chicken. Â we thought about ordering only one order of fried chicken, but decided to order two, because we figured that it will prob be half a chicken and there will only be one piece of thigh, which we both wanted. Â And we figured correctly. Â the chicken was crispy and it was fried when we ordered, so it was juuiiccccyyyy... well at least the leg, thigh and wing was. Â My friend said the breast was a little dry. Â It wasnt spicy, but it was flavorful. Â I think as far as driving there to get it, it was worth it as a one-time deal. Â i wouldnt drive there again just to have it. Â It wasnt bad, just not worth driving all the way there for.
We also ordered an appetizer of fried portobello mushroom and mud pie for dessert. Â The mushroom was awesome. Â It was crusted with bread and Parmesan cheese and it came with mayonnaise as a dip. Â LOL. Â It was really really good, especially with the mayo. Â The mud pie was OK. Â On the plate bottom is a layer of chocolate syrup and then on top is the mud pie. Â On top of the mud pie is whipped cream and they do use Hagaan Dass coffee ice cream. Â That was pretty good, a little too sweet tho.
So all and all, it was a very good and satisfying meal. Â will i drive just to go there again, No. Â Will i eat there if I was around that area anyways? Â Yeah, sure why not...
The fried chicken is excellent, but that's only part of the story.
I hadn't been to Casa Orinda in about 25 years. Â A friend wanted to try the fried chicken. Â So a bunch of us went along for the ride. Â I had fond memories of wolfing down homemade fettucine alfredo next to a roaring fire in the lounge, so I was hoping that reality wouldn't ruin my nostaltic reverie. Â I was not disappointed.
First of all, everying about the place is a genuine throwback to another era. Â Casa Orinda is at the crossroads of what was originally two cattle routes back in the 1800s. Â It started as a little shack in 1932 and then expanded to its current location some time in the '40s. Â The grandfather of one of our dinner companions designed and built the building. Â The place is dim, yes. Â But it's spotless. Â The copper trim over the fireplace is so brightly polished it even sparkles in the gloom -- which gets much less gloomy after your eyes adjust to the cool dimness. Â Everything -- the longhorn horns on the wall, the gun collection (AIEEEE!!!! Â don't worry, they're all locked up), the framed paintings and photos -- is a romanticized, nostalgic interpretation of the old west. Â Yes, it's total corn. Â But it's classic corn, beautifully maintained.
The service is also beautifully maintained. Â Here we were, a group of non-regulars, and we were greeted cordially, seated as soon as we wanted to leave the cocktail lounge, and waited on discreetly and graciously. Â Even with the place packed on a crowded Saturday night, we didn't feel rushed -- nobody was hovering over us, asking if we'd like anything else before we got the check. Â
The food was as excellent as I remember. Â Our friend moaned over the chicken. Â Another wolfed down a monstrous steak sandwich with a pile of fries that were perfeclty cooked. Â The Spousal Unit had a some of the best sweetbreads he says he's ever had in his life. Â And I had papardelle with rabbit ragout: Â out of this world good. Â The fudge brownie sundae is mighty fine.
After dinner, while the rest of us took a stroll around little downtown Orinda, The Spousal Unit enjoyed a digestif at the bar, chatting away with a woman who'd been coming to Casa Orinda for fifty years, and talking with the bartenders, whose combined experience was probably about 100 years, and who were as friendly to The Spousal Unit as if he were the 50-year regular.
Save your pennies and go with a few friends for a festive treat. Â Take BART, even: Â it's a five minute walk to Casa Orinda from the Orinda Station.
"So there was this one time I walked in on my parents. I think they were having sex."
Girlfriends gossiping over cocktails? No, those would be the words of my mother after two glasses of wine on the back deck at home. See, she was on this weird diet where she wasn't allowed to drink alcohol for two months and in an embarrassment for our family, her tolerance is now quite low. It was when she steered the conversation into asking my teenage brother if he was checking his testicles for lumps that we collectively knew it was time to go to dinner to celebrate her birthday.
Casa Orinda is a good place to go for a birthday if you're "getting up there" because no matter how old you are, every other patron is at least 30 years older. It's like Rossmoor takes field trips to the restaurant and dumps off all of the turquoise high waisted pants-wearers and gives them a $50 to take care of things. The decor isn't much better...imagine the dining room of your grandparents' place, and then add a gun collection mounted on the wall. Yep.
The food is kinda like how your grandparents make it...decent but tired versions of what you can get at home. Lots of meat and potatoes...my filet mignon was way overcooked and not seasoned at all. My mom loved her veal oscar, and I must say the Bearnaise sauce was pretty sweet. However, my brother's 16 oz. ny steak was a hefty $38.50 and was equally bland in flavor. All in all, quite the experience, but not one that I'd need to go through again.
I'll give them a high five for the wine list - a good selection and reasonably priced. And trust me, when you're trying to wash the image of your grandparents getting it on out of your head, you're eating mediocre but expensively priced food, your mom is willingly falling off the wagon, and you just happen to be surrounded by senior citizens, a good bottle of chardonnay is crucial.
*Upon seeing this review, my mother notified me that I've been written out of the will. Awesome.
Whenever Casa Orinda is mentioned, people practically blurt out "fried chicken". Â They are known for having some of the best fried chicken around, but the distinction does not end there. Â
Thick cuts of perfectly done prime rib also await the diner at Casa Orinda. Â Also, many veal and chicken dishes which are extremely tasty. Â Casa Orinda has managed to be a chop house that has a fairly lengthy and well done Italian menu. Â
If you are in the area, definitely try "the Casa". Â It is worth it for the photos in the entryway of old Orinda before the Caldicot tunnel. Â Also, the kitchy dining room complete with a moose head and antique pistols should not be missed.
I went here for dinner years ago and still remember the luscious veal. Â I've been a couple times more recently for post-work gins + appetizers (calamari!!!)... really nice way to kill a few hours.
It's way dark in there and other than the barstools, only one table for the bar  area (if you're skipping dinner.)  Service has always been quick, unobtrusive, nicely done.
Yeah, I'll be back, with my porsche and my hummer, and any rental trucks that might tag on.
Casa in the title, does not a mexican food restaurant make.
This is fried chicken and Yosemite Sam folks. Â Pistols on the walls, moosehead watching you eat, covered wagons on the bar, etc.
Ice in the urinal, in a co-ed bathroom? Â I really don't get that one but hey, I'm down with the strange and unusual. Â After taking down half of a bottle of the house Cab (which was excellent, btw), trying to justify why it was there was kind of a fun mind game.
The service was excellent and the food was fantastic. Â It's a very dark but lively & loud atmosphere.
It's a good place to bring your Annie Oakley's - not your Scarlette O'hara's - if ya know what I mean.
Overrated and Overpriced.
The fried chicken is good, but I'd rather go to Popeyes at these prices. The ribeye I ordered wasn't even worth the money. It's amazing that this place is an institution, especially since it's in Orinda. I'd rather drive into Walnut Creek or Berkeley and eat there instead of Casa Orinda.
The 5 best restaurants in the 2015 Denver Restaurant Week
3,611 Views | Category: Denver
The complete list of 2015 Denver Restaurant Week businesses
1,972 Views | Category: Denver
The tourists' guide to Portillos: 5 must have dishes
3,318 Views | Category: Chicago
Pho = Pronounced "fuh" not "foe" for pho-king sake
2,915 Views | Category: Denver
Indulgery selected to exhibit at Collision Conference
2,987 Views | Category: Press Releases
Not Logged In
BUSINESSES
Local Businesses
Near Me
My Favorites
SOCIAL
Blog & News
MY ACCOUNT
Login
Register
Contact Us
Add Your Business
