Had Fried chicken, Chicken Parmesan and chicken piccata all of which was fantastic. We went early to avoid the rush on a Sunday night. Friend had the salmon special but she felt it was undercooked so make sure to say how you like it cooked. Western atmosphere, casual and really good food. We will go back.
Christine
A Warm, Nostalgic Sunday Dinner at Casa Orinda If you're looking for an early Sunday dinner that feels warm, comfortable, and wonderfully timeless, Casa Orinda is the place to go. Walking in feels like taking a step back in time—in the best way possible. No trendy neon signs, no complicated cocktails you can't pronounce—just classic Western charm, cozy fireplace seating, and an inviting atmosphere that makes you want to settle in and stay awhile. The vibe is unbeatable. The bar has a nostalgic feel that fits perfectly with the restaurant's old Western aesthetic, and it truly adds to the experience. My dirty martini was excellent—simple, well-made, and exactly what I wanted. Our server, Brie, was fantastic. Attentive without hovering, she somehow always knew when we were ready for another drink, when to refill, and when to just let us enjoy our meal (which came in generous portions!). Her timing and hospitality really added to the evening. Another perk: complimentary valet parking. It's such a small detail, but it makes the visit feel special from start to finish. If you're searching for a low-key spot with comfortable ambience, great service, and genuinely good food, Casa Orinda is absolutely worth a try. A true classic.
Roger
The food was mediocre across the board. The so-called “famous fried chicken” was nothing special, and the Veal Piccata was equally underwhelming. Service was poor — our server ignored empty wine glasses and didn't bring the additional glass we ordered. Definitely check your bill; ours included several creative additions we never ordered or received.
Mary
The vegetables were rather mushy. They could be more al dente. The fried chicken and chicken with pasta were very good.
Michael
Food was very bland. The fried chicken was food but the mash potatoes needed a bit more seasoning. the chicken Marsala was very bland and sauce was a bit watery
Richard
We arrived for our 6:00 reservation about 5 minutes late because of local heavy traffic. The atmosphere and ambiance is wonderful. I've been coming to this restaurant since the mid seventies and it is just wonderful. Great food, great service and it's just like so consistent. I finally had the fried chicken and was not disappointed. We're returning soon to try the other wonderful dishes on the menu.
Karla
All of our out of country guests were extremely satisfied with their entree choices: fried chicken, pasta dishes, and salads. Lovely atmosphere for guests.
Patricia
My partner & I had reservations for 7 pm, we were greeted & immediately seated at our table. Our waitress Jackie came over, greeted us, & ask us if we'd like to order a drink, which we did. 2 cold Stellas. She then came back with a basket of bread & some butter. She told us about the dinner specials. Salmon sounded great, I'll go with that next time. We perused the menu & ordered our app, we ordered the Buffalo Wings with the sauce on the side. We also ordered our entrées - fried chicken for he, veal parmigiano for me. The wings were very good, the sauce that came on the side tasted odd. Very vinegary. The ranch & celery were fresh. Jackie asked us if we were enjoying our wings we told her yes, but we mentioned the sauce tasted a little off, she offered us some Texas Pete or some chola sauce - we declined, the wings were tasty. Shortly after, Jackie brought us our entrées, they both looked very appetizing. My partner was really happy he ordered the fried chicken dinner, the chicken was crispy & delicious, not greasy, the potatoes & gravy were delicious, the biscuit was warm & flaky & he enjoyed the butter & honey. We both enjoyed the vegetables served with our dinners. The fettuccine & meat sauce was very good & garlicky. The veal parm looked great - the veal tasted good, but the sauce was not an Italian sauce it was Mexican. Off-putting.
Erina
I wanted to try this place out for my birthday based on its history and longevity surviving Covid I figured must be good! It was ok. Came Friday night after making online rsv. The 3 stars is for price gouging - I asked for a vesper martini and they charged us $33!!! It's a tiny martini glass and I've paid $20 for a cocktail in Hawaii but here?!? It's ridiculous. If I knew it would cost that much, I would've cancelled it. The server was pleasant and courteous but the kitchen was slow! Took forever for the drinks and calamari appetizer to come out. Tried the prime rib - was cooked perfectly medium rare but lacked flavor. For the price I did expect more. Portions are large but even my hubby felt his NY strip lacked flavor too. Baked potato seemed microwaved as skin was tough. Nice to have free bday scoop of ice cream at the end but sadly the rest of the meal with my family was lackluster. Also I don't know if it's old acoustics but it was so loud, it was hard to have a conversation.
Tim
Step back in time at Casa Orinda. Everything is perfect circa 1940s. Rosario and Cynthia went above and beyond last night.
Delicious meal, great service. Chicken Saltimbocca and side of pear salad. Great flavors. Fiancé got chicken parmigiana and really enjoyed it as well. Ambiance was great and our waiter was fantastic. I wish I remembered his name.
Donald
I always enjoy a dinner at Casa Orinda. The menu never fails to offer a dish that fits my needs. The atmosphere is perfect and the staff is exceptional.
David
Casa Orinda is a classically warm atmosphere. Service was very good. The food is average. We enjoyed the ambience, there were many specials to choose from and the drink menu was original and interesting. There were many good wines available by the glass. I would go back for the overall nice time, however the food could use a little more attention.
Synneve
We love this place. And it is really thanks to the staff. Not a one of them seem to ever have a bad day. Always smiles and love!
Ben
Casa Orinda is our go-to restaurant for their fried chicken. We live in San Ramon, which is a 30-40 minute drive, but well worth the drive. The food is always well prepared and the service is excellent.
Had Fried chicken, Chicken Parmesan and chicken piccata all of which was fantastic. We went early to avoid the rush on a Sunday night. Friend had the salmon special but she felt it was undercooked so make sure to say how you like it cooked. Western atmosphere, casual and really good food. We will go back.
A Warm, Nostalgic Sunday Dinner at Casa Orinda If you're looking for an early Sunday dinner that feels warm, comfortable, and wonderfully timeless, Casa Orinda is the place to go. Walking in feels like taking a step back in time—in the best way possible. No trendy neon signs, no complicated cocktails you can't pronounce—just classic Western charm, cozy fireplace seating, and an inviting atmosphere that makes you want to settle in and stay awhile. The vibe is unbeatable. The bar has a nostalgic feel that fits perfectly with the restaurant's old Western aesthetic, and it truly adds to the experience. My dirty martini was excellent—simple, well-made, and exactly what I wanted. Our server, Brie, was fantastic. Attentive without hovering, she somehow always knew when we were ready for another drink, when to refill, and when to just let us enjoy our meal (which came in generous portions!). Her timing and hospitality really added to the evening. Another perk: complimentary valet parking. It's such a small detail, but it makes the visit feel special from start to finish. If you're searching for a low-key spot with comfortable ambience, great service, and genuinely good food, Casa Orinda is absolutely worth a try. A true classic.
The food was mediocre across the board. The so-called “famous fried chicken” was nothing special, and the Veal Piccata was equally underwhelming. Service was poor — our server ignored empty wine glasses and didn't bring the additional glass we ordered. Definitely check your bill; ours included several creative additions we never ordered or received.
The vegetables were rather mushy. They could be more al dente. The fried chicken and chicken with pasta were very good.
Food was very bland. The fried chicken was food but the mash potatoes needed a bit more seasoning. the chicken Marsala was very bland and sauce was a bit watery
We arrived for our 6:00 reservation about 5 minutes late because of local heavy traffic. The atmosphere and ambiance is wonderful. I've been coming to this restaurant since the mid seventies and it is just wonderful. Great food, great service and it's just like so consistent. I finally had the fried chicken and was not disappointed. We're returning soon to try the other wonderful dishes on the menu.
All of our out of country guests were extremely satisfied with their entree choices: fried chicken, pasta dishes, and salads. Lovely atmosphere for guests.
My partner & I had reservations for 7 pm, we were greeted & immediately seated at our table. Our waitress Jackie came over, greeted us, & ask us if we'd like to order a drink, which we did. 2 cold Stellas. She then came back with a basket of bread & some butter. She told us about the dinner specials. Salmon sounded great, I'll go with that next time. We perused the menu & ordered our app, we ordered the Buffalo Wings with the sauce on the side. We also ordered our entrées - fried chicken for he, veal parmigiano for me. The wings were very good, the sauce that came on the side tasted odd. Very vinegary. The ranch & celery were fresh. Jackie asked us if we were enjoying our wings we told her yes, but we mentioned the sauce tasted a little off, she offered us some Texas Pete or some chola sauce - we declined, the wings were tasty. Shortly after, Jackie brought us our entrées, they both looked very appetizing. My partner was really happy he ordered the fried chicken dinner, the chicken was crispy & delicious, not greasy, the potatoes & gravy were delicious, the biscuit was warm & flaky & he enjoyed the butter & honey. We both enjoyed the vegetables served with our dinners. The fettuccine & meat sauce was very good & garlicky. The veal parm looked great - the veal tasted good, but the sauce was not an Italian sauce it was Mexican. Off-putting.
I wanted to try this place out for my birthday based on its history and longevity surviving Covid I figured must be good! It was ok. Came Friday night after making online rsv. The 3 stars is for price gouging - I asked for a vesper martini and they charged us $33!!! It's a tiny martini glass and I've paid $20 for a cocktail in Hawaii but here?!? It's ridiculous. If I knew it would cost that much, I would've cancelled it. The server was pleasant and courteous but the kitchen was slow! Took forever for the drinks and calamari appetizer to come out. Tried the prime rib - was cooked perfectly medium rare but lacked flavor. For the price I did expect more. Portions are large but even my hubby felt his NY strip lacked flavor too. Baked potato seemed microwaved as skin was tough. Nice to have free bday scoop of ice cream at the end but sadly the rest of the meal with my family was lackluster. Also I don't know if it's old acoustics but it was so loud, it was hard to have a conversation.
Step back in time at Casa Orinda. Everything is perfect circa 1940s. Rosario and Cynthia went above and beyond last night.
Restaurantji Recommends
Delicious meal, great service. Chicken Saltimbocca and side of pear salad. Great flavors. Fiancé got chicken parmigiana and really enjoyed it as well. Ambiance was great and our waiter was fantastic. I wish I remembered his name.
I always enjoy a dinner at Casa Orinda. The menu never fails to offer a dish that fits my needs. The atmosphere is perfect and the staff is exceptional.
Casa Orinda is a classically warm atmosphere. Service was very good. The food is average. We enjoyed the ambience, there were many specials to choose from and the drink menu was original and interesting. There were many good wines available by the glass. I would go back for the overall nice time, however the food could use a little more attention.
We love this place. And it is really thanks to the staff. Not a one of them seem to ever have a bad day. Always smiles and love!
Casa Orinda is our go-to restaurant for their fried chicken. We live in San Ramon, which is a 30-40 minute drive, but well worth the drive. The food is always well prepared and the service is excellent.
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