Kahani — Restaurant in Dana Point

In a restaurant like Ritz Carlton, one would expect Ambience and Food to be good. Unfortunately, recent visit to Kahani was rather underwhelming.

I want to start with the Ambience...for an Indian restaurant one would expect much more but, the first thing I noticed was very tacky arrangement of cheap fabric highlighted with spot lights. They really really need to do better.

Next, to my surprise was the exposed drain outlet. I thought the tables at least could have had table cloth but, what really turned me off was I could see the drain outlet right where I was seated. Whatever happened to good old carpets.

We ordered bunch of things. It is nice that the Chef and his team are trying to bring a twist to Indian Cuisine but, to be honest the food lacked the whole essence of Indian Flavors. Except, the Cardamom Bisque (which also felt overpowered with Cardamom) everything else tasted very bland in terms of flavors. I have tasted Paneer Dishes which were much more flavorful in average restaurant.

e.g. Yellow Chillies may have average service but, the food there has been consistently tasty.

Overall the service was good but, it is not worth the type. May be it will serve well for an American Palette but, for an Indian who is well aware of its flavors and how the spices work this is not worth at all. There are many good restaurants in SoCal if good food is a priority over a...

We had the pleasure of dining at the newly opened Indian restaurant, Kahani in the Ritz Carlton Laguna Beach, and it was an extraordinary experience. As the first of its kind Indian restaurant set in the fancy Ritz Carlton, it truly set the bar high. The menu featured Modern Indian cuisine with a delightful twist on cocktails.

One of the highlights of the evening was the complementary cardamom chai that greeted us at the beginning and the fennel chai that bid us farewell. These little touches added to the overall charm of the meal. The balance of flavors in the dishes was impeccable; each bite was a delightful journey through the intricacies of Indian cuisine.

What made this dining experience even more special was the chef Sanjay’s personal touch. He took the time to visit each table and inquire about our dining experience, ensuring that everything was to our liking. It's not every day that you get to interact with the chef in such an intimate way. It’s hard to get bookings so you may need to wait a few weeks. If you're a fan of Indian cuisine and appreciate exceptional service in a luxurious beach setting, this is the place to be. I can't...

This is a high end restaurant within Ritz Carlton at Laguna. For a high end they need to do something about managing large groups with unruly children. It’s insane how many shrieks we had to hear with parents not willing to manage their children. Perhaps a restaurant policy will help. That’s why the three stars for atmosphere - do not plan a romantic dinner here unless you are sure there are no large groups as the space is small and the voice is amplified.

The food is a twist on Indian food - some of it is excellent like the Ajwain Scallops and coconut curry shrimp. The panner Zuchinni dish was a damper with too much dryness to it. The servers very were nice and did their best to accommodate the issues with noise. The person at the entry desk is excellent. The final sign off with complimentary masala tea is a damper for people with lactose intolerance and someone should ask before bringing it if milk tea is wanted. For the high price of food some more attention to details will help. The competition among the new upcoming Indian chefs in Orange County is high and hopefully Sanjay Rawat keeps improving his...