Kahani
Indian restaurant · Dana Point ·
Upscale Indian fusion with creative dishes, afternoon tea & cocktails
Upscale Indian fusion with creative dishes, afternoon tea & cocktails
"“I started seeing this trend turn with Kahani in Dana Point, California; it’s led by talented chef Sanjay Rawat, who transformed the stodgy Ritz-Carlton Laguna Niguel’s steakhouse into a dimly lit, Indian fine-dining restaurant with New American-style plating and polished curries.”" - Eater Staff
"Born from the Ritz‑Carlton Laguna Niguel’s blowout, six‑figure Indian weddings, this Dana Point dining room lets Mumbai‑trained chef Sanjay Rawat showcase his extravagant menus full‑time since opening in late 2023. I walk past colorful Indian artwork that now shrouds the remnants of the former steakhouse and find a menu melding seasonal California cooking with pan‑Indian classics: ahi‑tuna‑studded bhel puri and spiced burrata with cherry tomatoes and strawberries as lighter starters, while Chennai sea bass arrives atop rounds of roasted delicata squash and a bean ragu. Most nights the room fills with Orange County South Asians celebrating special occasions — many driving in from Los Angeles or San Diego — and Rawat says only about 20 percent of diners are hotel guests, with regulars proudly bringing visiting family and friends to show off a standard‑bearing Indian restaurant." - Matthew Kang
"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