Kahani
Indian restaurant · Dana Point
1 Ritz Carlton Dr, Dana Point, CA 92629
Highlights
Fusion Indian dishes, afternoon tea, and creative cocktails.
Fusion Indian dishes, afternoon tea, and creative cocktails.
"Chef Sanjay Rawat is offering his version of afternoon tea in celebration of Holi, running March 15 to April 19, serving an assortment of masala chai alongside Indian street food sandwiches like fried bread pakodas filled with fig jam, paneer, and brie cheese; a curried lobster roll with caviar; and a chutney and cheese sandwich. Sweets include gaja halwa scones, gulab jamun cheesecake, and more. Reservations are available through OpenTable." - Rebecca Roland
"Deep in Orange County, hidden away in the Ritz-Carlton Laguna Niguel, chef Sanjay Rawat prepares what could be the most incredible Indian fine dining that Southern California has seen. Rawat’s inventive and playful presentations don’t hold back on flavor in a venue that was previously a staid hotel steakhouse. It’s clear that Rawat and his immense wedding feasts for the property translate into something that OC diners can wrap their heads around, like the spiced Chilean sea bass with roasted delicata squash or the exceptional rack of lamb over forbidden rice and handi sauce. — Matthew Kang, lead editor" - Jenn Tanaka
"After generating plenty of attention for his high-flying Indian wedding dinners at the Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel, it was only a matter of time before chef Sanjay Rawat opened a place to call his own. Kahani, a dimly lit dining room tucked into the coastal Ritz-Carlton, buzzes with folks excited to experience some of the most modern Indian cooking in Southern California. The $265 curry sampler feeds two to four people and is a great way to get a feel for Rawat’s culinary vision." - Virali Dave
"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
"After generating plenty of attention for his high-flying Indian wedding dinners at the Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel, it was only a matter of time before chef Sanjay Rawat was going to open a place to call his own. Kahani, a dimly lit dining room tucked into the Ritz-Carlton, buzzes with folks excited to experience some of the most modern Indian cooking in Southern California. The $265 curry sampler feeds two to four people and is a great way to get a feel for Rawat’s culinary vision." - Virali_Dave, Eater Staff
