Casa Orinda

This is my all time favorite restaurant. I've been coming to the Casa since I was 21 years old, im 70ish now. Food is always great, never a bad one. Try to get there at lease once a week. The hostess are so wonderful, call you by name. All around the best!

I've wanted to go here for 30 years and finally went. Met up with family (here from Louisiana) and had the famous fried chicken I've heard so much about. $23 for chicken would seem excessive except that it was exceptional in every way. The experience was was great from the valet to the hostess reception, and the table service. I will return.

The Casa Orinda never disappoints. The menu is not overly complicated but has plenty of choices. The food is delicious, and the atmosphere is always pleasant. It's a great place to take friends. Reservations are needed.

Big servings, great flavor and lots of character. What is there to say about Casa Orinda that hasn't been said in 60+ years in the business. The atmosphere feels stepping into a time machine. Low light and dark wood. If it ain't broke, don't fix it. Bring your appetite and your wallet!

It's been about the fried chicken it's still about the fried chicken, it will always be about the fried chicken :-) Plus the ambiance is great, services good, bar is always pouring some stiff drinks and you always get to talk to some group of older people that are cool! I don't think I've ever had a bad experience here and had a great one again :-) thanks Casa Orinda!

Chicken chicken chicken! The fried chicken here never fails to impress everyone I bring. I know it's just fried chicken but it's epic! The bar pours stiff drinks, the service is on point and you always can check out the cool memorabilia hanging on the walls. A great place to go after a Cal football game!

I don't give 5 stars just because...the staff treated us amazing...we didn't have reservations and they fit us in with stipulations that we would be finished in 1.5 hours..but how they did it was just so mellow and chilled. I had fried chicken and would go back again just for that..heck...I am hungry thinking about it...but the service and food plus the decor and ambiance of Casa Orinda earned them 5 stars!!! Reservations of course highly recommended..I already recommended to my friends whom were giving a going away party to Casa Orinda and needless to say...they had similar results and loved it.

Prime Rib, Chicken, can't go wrong.

Classic fine dining! Really enjoyed Brie, our server and martinis were wonderful. Good eggplant and Caesar salad. Handled our group like pros

Classic American chop house with a wonderful menu. I enjoyed the rack of lamb; it was prepared exactly as I ordered it, not over or under done. They make a fried chicken dish that is amazing. For dessert I had a lemon cream pie that tasted like a small slice of heaven. The pours for the cocktails are generous and the conversation with other patrons at the bar made my time here even more enjoyable. I will return and I suggest that you come check it out!

We came here last night with a party of 10. They had complimentary valet which was nice. They seated our party off to the side which I also liked since we had small children. I ordered the filet mignon. My husband the prime rib and for the kids the Alfredo. We also tried the Calamari and a side of Onion Rings. We thought all the food was delicious. The service was great. Portions were huge. We left stuffed and satisfied. We will definitely be back.

Greeted by the valet with a smile and "how are you tonight?" Surprised me as I pulled in the grab a spot and he happily opened the door for us. Entered into a low lit atmosphere, friendly staff, low music playing a slow jazz in the background while images of cowboys grace the walls, cattle brands on the table and brass tealight "oil" lamps adorn the tables. The flavors explode from the perfectly cooked chicken in an amazing sauce as the waiter asked how things were. The food was simply amazing. Heavenly even.. Large portions where one plate would feed the two of us but happily taking home some left overs. The price reflects the larger portions as well. But we will be back to this hidden Orinda gem of a place to try the fried chicken 🍗 Capon Dore Chicken Cacciatore

Great place for cocktails and THE BEST fried chicken in the West Coast. Can be super crowded on Fridays and Saturdays, but for good reason. The skilled servers and the comfortable, old fashioned, Wild West motif really allow for relaxed, friendly dining for those that prefer to skip the boisterous younger crowd.

Wonderful dinner this place is a classic.5 stars.

John Herring

Classic American chop house with a wonderful menu. I enjoyed the rack of lamb; it was prepared exactly as I ordered it, not over or under done. They make a fried chicken dish that is amazing. For dessert I had a lemon cream pie that tasted like a small slice of heaven. The pours for the cocktails are generous and the conversation with other patrons at the bar made my time here even more enjoyable. I will return and I suggest that you come check it out!

Mina Ramos

We came here last night with a party of 10. They had complimentary valet which was nice. They seated our party off to the side which I also liked since we had small children. I ordered the filet mignon. My husband the prime rib and for the kids the Alfredo. We also tried the Calamari and a side of Onion Rings. We thought all the food was delicious. The service was great. Portions were huge. We left stuffed and satisfied. We will definitely be back.

Steve De Graw

Greeted by the valet with a smile and "how are you tonight?" Surprised me as I pulled in the grab a spot and he happily opened the door for us. Entered into a low lit atmosphere, friendly staff, low music playing a slow jazz in the background while images of cowboys grace the walls, cattle brands on the table and brass tealight "oil" lamps adorn the tables. The flavors explode from the perfectly cooked chicken in an amazing sauce as the waiter asked how things were. The food was simply amazing. Heavenly even.. Large portions where one plate would feed the two of us but happily taking home some left overs. The price reflects the larger portions as well. But we will be back to this hidden Orinda gem of a place to try the fried chicken 🍗 Capon Dore Chicken Cacciatore

Nick Grebe

Great place for cocktails and THE BEST fried chicken in the West Coast. Can be super crowded on Fridays and Saturdays, but for good reason. The skilled servers and the comfortable, old fashioned, Wild West motif really allow for relaxed, friendly dining for those that prefer to skip the boisterous younger crowd.

Very Californian old style Restaurant .. Many Antigua Style decorations..... Many old style collection of pistols, rifles... Antigua style Bar, with long horns decorations, Cowboy & Indian wall pictures....Great service, food made to order.....

Old school cool. Former pony express stop with cowboy charm. Historic. Decor is from another era, but not dated or worn. Food is extraordinary (best fried chicken, mashed potatoes you’ll find outside a southern grandma’s kitchen). So is the service: waiters have been here for decades and take great pride in their profession. A definite new favorite.

First time here after 26 years in the area. What a pleasant surprise! This place has an old-timey parents out to dinner atmosphere with down home charm. Nuthin’ fancy but the food and drinks were top notch. Started with cocktails made perfectly, and the most delicious fried calamari I’ve ever had…all crispy and tender-not rubbery. Best sole almondine ever. Not overly breaded, perfectly crusty almonds, served with broccoli cooked just right still green and a bit of crunch (white rice kind of boring). Other guests had a pork chop with perfect fries, chicken Parmesan, and desserts were huge. one enough for 4 people (unless you’re really piggy!). Waiter informative, friendly and efficient. Sorry I didn’t discover this place years ago.

Food is great, kinda pricey, but worth it if your looking for quality food. They have good specials usually

Thank God this place is still around as they really keep it real and the food is excellent, so is the service!

Atmosphere was amazing!! Love this place! It reminds me of John Wayne, classy cowboy!

I wish I can go again! Truly a highlight of you visit Orinda. The chicken is the best, period!

Casa Orinda: A Step Back in Time with Southern Charm Immerse yourself in the spirit of the Old West at Casa Orinda, an Italian restaurant known for its delectable Southern fried chicken. The restaurant's cozy and nostalgic atmosphere, with its wood accents and vintage artifacts, transports you to another era. Savor Southern Comfort and Italian Delights Indulge in a blend of classic American comfort food and Italian flavors. The menu features mouthwatering Southern fried chicken, juicy steaks, fresh salads, and pasta dishes that will satisfy any craving. Pair your meal with a refreshing cocktail or a glass of wine from their extensive selection. Experience Warm Hospitality and Unforgettable Memories Casa Orinda's inviting ambiance and attentive service create a welcoming atmosphere for friends and family.

Michael Ramirez

Food is great, kinda pricey, but worth it if your looking for quality food. They have good specials usually

Justin Rentz (Ethereal Visions)

Atmosphere was amazing!! Love this place! It reminds me of John Wayne, classy cowboy!

Rufino Ramos

Very Californian old style Restaurant .. Many Antigua Style decorations..... Many old style collection of pistols, rifles... Antigua style Bar, with long horns decorations, Cowboy & Indian wall pictures....Great service, food made to order.....

Cristina Alvarado Engfui

I wish I can go again! Truly a highlight of you visit Orinda. The chicken is the best, period!

Patricia Benson

First time here after 26 years in the area. What a pleasant surprise! This place has an old-timey parents out to dinner atmosphere with down home charm. Nuthin’ fancy but the food and drinks were top notch. Started with cocktails made perfectly, and the most delicious fried calamari I’ve ever had…all crispy and tender-not rubbery. Best sole almondine ever. Not overly breaded, perfectly crusty almonds, served with broccoli cooked just right still green and a bit of crunch (white rice kind of boring). Other guests had a pork chop with perfect fries, chicken Parmesan, and desserts were huge. one enough for 4 people (unless you’re really piggy!). Waiter informative, friendly and efficient. Sorry I didn’t discover this place years ago.

Mark Yolton

Old school cool. Former pony express stop with cowboy charm. Historic. Decor is from another era, but not dated or worn. Food is extraordinary (best fried chicken, mashed potatoes you’ll find outside a southern grandma’s kitchen). So is the service: waiters have been here for decades and take great pride in their profession. A definite new favorite.

catherine cole

Classic fine dining! Really enjoyed Brie, our server and martinis were wonderful. Good eggplant and Caesar salad. Handled our group like pros

Troadio

Casa Orinda: A Step Back in Time with Southern Charm Immerse yourself in the spirit of the Old West at Casa Orinda, an Italian restaurant known for its delectable Southern fried chicken. The restaurant's cozy and nostalgic atmosphere, with its wood accents and vintage artifacts, transports you to another era. Savor Southern Comfort and Italian Delights Indulge in a blend of classic American comfort food and Italian flavors. The menu features mouthwatering Southern fried chicken, juicy steaks, fresh salads, and pasta dishes that will satisfy any craving. Pair your meal with a refreshing cocktail or a glass of wine from their extensive selection. Experience Warm Hospitality and Unforgettable Memories Casa Orinda's inviting ambiance and attentive service create a welcoming atmosphere for friends and family.

Wings are fantastic. Love the vibe here. It's nostalgic in the right ways.

This place was a fun discovery. We decided to eat here because it was near the movie theater. It turned out to have really great food and a fun atmosphere !

We enjoyed our dinner: great ambiance and service. The calamari, fried zucchini and cannelloni were great My prime rib was huge but very tough; our dog is enjoying it. We will try it for another oçcasion.

This place is very old school so it has a lot of charm. However, they stick to old school so hard that some things are a little lacking in today's world. For instance, I know of no high-end restaurant that still uses Rose's lime juice in their bar. Management really needs to bring this place into the 21st century. This is a small nitpick though, the portions are good and the food is high quality and the service is excellent. Just everything in here is a little bit dated from the dishes to the decor. That is part of its charm however. I have yet to try the prime rib but it looks absolutely amazing.

Great place with fun vibes. Massive menu but everything we had was delicious. The calamari was some of the best I've had, extra lightly breaded! Great meal and fun place that is clearly different (in a good way) from a common restaurant these days. Definitely recommend as a fun date night!

First time visit. We didn't know what to expect from the restaurant as we were with family that really love it. I had the famous fried chicken with mash potatoes, vegetables and biscuit. It came with some chicken gravy. The chicken was moist and good chicken gravy. The eggplant parmesean was also very good. The prime rib was thick and tender. The portions were great. The bar could make a stiffer drink, but overall good. We were seated in the gun room that displays a wide selection of old guns. The rooms are old school dark. We will definitely be back.

Justin Snider

Great place with fun vibes. Massive menu but everything we had was delicious. The calamari was some of the best I've had, extra lightly breaded! Great meal and fun place that is clearly different (in a good way) from a common restaurant these days. Definitely recommend as a fun date night!

Robert Zavala

First time visit. We didn't know what to expect from the restaurant as we were with family that really love it. I had the famous fried chicken with mash potatoes, vegetables and biscuit. It came with some chicken gravy. The chicken was moist and good chicken gravy. The eggplant parmesean was also very good. The prime rib was thick and tender. The portions were great. The bar could make a stiffer drink, but overall good. We were seated in the gun room that displays a wide selection of old guns. The rooms are old school dark. We will definitely be back.

Jeff Saylor

This place is very old school so it has a lot of charm. However, they stick to old school so hard that some things are a little lacking in today's world. For instance, I know of no high-end restaurant that still uses Rose's lime juice in their bar. Management really needs to bring this place into the 21st century. This is a small nitpick though, the portions are good and the food is high quality and the service is excellent. Just everything in here is a little bit dated from the dishes to the decor. That is part of its charm however. I have yet to try the prime rib but it looks absolutely amazing.

Is a real shame that such a cool looking restaurant should be hampered by such poor service and mediocre food. We repeatedly had to ask for the same things over and over. The prime rib was served cold and was flavorless. The waiter never came back and asked how the food was. We had to ask for the same drinks several times. And after all that we still didn’t get things we had asked for. They even brought one meal we never ordered and one of the servers didn’t know what one of the meals they were bringing us was called. Despite having reservations it was nearly half an hour after the scheduled time that we were sat at our table and they set more place settings than we had asked for. Everything was just a mess. The craziness extended to outside when one couple in our party had parked their car in the lot not knowing it was valet. The valet driver informed them of such and where he offered the valet his keys the valet had the audacity to tell him he needed to pull his car back out of the spot and then the valet would pull it back into the same spot!!!

The staff and ambience are phenomenal: the staff welcoming, friendly, and attentive; the ambience clean, unique, and comforting. Those who seemed to be regular custom were happy and seemed excited to see old friends. However, the food was uninspired and flavorless. It wasn't "bad", but wasn't "I want this again." It fell more in the realm of "if nothing else is available..." We tried the steak (no flavor) and ravioli (no flavor, cardboardy and with string in it). We try basics on our first visit because if the basics aren't nailed, then we have concerns about "specialties". In this case, the basics need work - especially for the price.

Haven't been here in a while. Prices have gone up. Ordered a panzanella salad special that was pretty bad. Also someone added a maraschino cherry to my scotch rocks cocktail. That was a do over. Maybe new staff? Won't go back anytime soon. And it used to be great...

First, I'll start with a positive, our server was quite pleasant and attentive. The restaurant was very interesting, albeit dark inside. I chose the pork chop, yikes, it was about 3+inches thick, cooked thru, but very tough. Others in party enjoyed their meals.

Lorraine Stout

First, I'll start with a positive, our server was quite pleasant and attentive. The restaurant was very interesting, albeit dark inside. I chose the pork chop, yikes, it was about 3+inches thick, cooked thru, but very tough. Others in party enjoyed their meals.

As much as we heard raves from locals about this place, I really expected to be better. The atmosphere, though quaint western style, was nothing spectacular and is a bit dark inside. Our server was pleasant enough and kept the table clear of dirty dishes but did not offer any recommendations. After ordering, I heard the server at a neighboring table list recommendations and specialties, one of which was a beet salad I think I would have enjoyed instad of the house salad I opted for that had too much balsamic dressing. My husband had the minestrone, which was a small cup of soup that could use more flavor. My husband ordered the "famous" fried chicken, which had a nice crisp to it and was moist. It was a decent amount of food (half chicken with mashed potatoes, steamed vegetables, and a biscuit). But for $28, I expected more flavor and potatoes that did not seem to be instant. I had the chicken parm so we could try a variety of items on the menu. Again, a good amount of food (2 prices of chicken parm, steamed veggies, and fettuccine with meat sauce), but it all lacked seasoning and flavor and was bland. If lack of seasoning or food without flavor is your thing, then this is the place for you. But if you desire food with more flavor, I'd opt out unless you're bringing your granparents who can't take a lot of seasoning in their food.

Sadly, my entire meal was terrible. Steak sandwich, no salt on any thing. Onion rings were a total disappointment and the steak itself was old, tough and grissley. The only saving grace was the very strong gin and tonic.

The service was great. We ate their fried chicken and mashed potatoes which lacked a lot of flavor. The atmosphere is on the older historic side but still very nice inside.

I really wanted to like this place. Made a reservation not still waited 30 minutes. Service and food was average at best.

Calvin Seaman

I really wanted to like this place. Made a reservation not still waited 30 minutes. Service and food was average at best.

Jasmin Sanchez

The service was great. We ate their fried chicken and mashed potatoes which lacked a lot of flavor. The atmosphere is on the older historic side but still very nice inside.

I have been coming with my family for the past 4 years for special occasions. Unfortunately the last two meals were TERRIBLE! I ordered veal parmesan the other night and the breaded veal was burnt/black, then smothered in red sauce. Barely touched my food. My wife did not finish her fried prawns either. I spent over $400 for 5 adults, and we were all extremely disappointed. Must have changed cooks recently. Needless to say, I will not be coming back. There appears to be no quality control. So sad...

We visited this restaurant for our anniversary dinner, but unfortunately, the experience fell short. Our server didn’t introduce himself or make any effort to engage with us, which made the service feel impersonal. We ordered some specials, but the server didn’t explain what they included, as they weren’t listed on the menu. Overall, the lack of communication and attentiveness was disappointing. We have to call servers to fill up our water. Based on this experience, we wouldn’t return.

Do not order the prime rib here! Mine was so over cooked it was basically pot roast! By far the worst experience I’ve had ordering prime rib. I asked for as rare as possible. I think they knew as no one came to check if the food was alright.

If confusion were an ingredient, Casa Orinda would serve it by the gallon. I ordered a vodka on ice—on the rocks—you know, the world’s simplest request. The bartender looked at me like I’d just asked for a cocktail made out of space fuel. After a long conference behind the bar, they proudly brought me… a glass of ice water. When I clarified that I meant vodka on ice, no mixer, they acted like I was trying to reinvent alcohol. I’ve seen toddlers mix better drinks in their toy kitchens.

Vivienne Smith

If confusion were an ingredient, Casa Orinda would serve it by the gallon. I ordered a vodka on ice—on the rocks—you know, the world’s simplest request. The bartender looked at me like I’d just asked for a cocktail made out of space fuel. After a long conference behind the bar, they proudly brought me… a glass of ice water. When I clarified that I meant vodka on ice, no mixer, they acted like I was trying to reinvent alcohol. I’ve seen toddlers mix better drinks in their toy kitchens.

Bryanna Davison

Do not order the prime rib here! Mine was so over cooked it was basically pot roast! By far the worst experience I’ve had ordering prime rib. I asked for as rare as possible. I think they knew as no one came to check if the food was alright.