4 Restaurants to Try This Weekend in Los Angeles: September 6 | Eater LA
"Tucked deep in Dana Point at the Ritz-Carlton Laguna Niguel, Kahani feels unexpectedly fitting once settled into the wood-paneled dining room; I returned after 10 months and found families dining comfortably with kids using iPads and phones, which keeps the room from feeling stuffy. Chef Sanjay Rawat, a former Indian wedding catering chef who converted the hotel’s old steakhouse into a full-time restaurant, serves upscale Indian food that leans American in plating and construction while staying true to Indian flavors: a scallop sliced into thirds swimming in cauliflower crema and okra masala; an arresting whipped yogurt sauce built into a dreamy pavlova covering crisp pakoda chaat (spinach fritters); a curry sampler of six shareable dishes available meat or vegetarian; and a hulking rack of lamb—riblets held up like lamb prime rib—served over forbidden rice with a tomato-based handi sauce. The property is gorgeous at sunset with beach views and surfers nearby; there are still refinements to be made in beverage, service, and menu design, but for what I consider best-in-class Indian food in Southern California, I’ll make the hour-plus drive." - Eater Staff
