Casa Orinda

Casa Orinda Restaurant Review:

Open since 1932, when the surrounding area was wide-open chaparral, Casa Orinda is a delightful throwback to a time when gastronomic correctness wasn’t even a gleam in its advocates’ eyes. Don't let its Spanish name fool you: "The Casa" specializes in classic Italian and American fare: prime rib, broiled steak, veal Parmigiana, chicken saltimbocca and more---including sweetbreads for the brave. In the often impossibly packed Western-motif dining room, feast on tire-size onion rings with a blue cheese and sour cream dip, huge pieces of fried chicken with plenty of rich cream gravy, and towering, old-fashioned ice cream sundaes drenched in chocolate sauce.