My wife and I somehow managed to escape the clutches of parenthood for a night, so we decided to seize the moment and have a date night at Casaléna. We’d been eyeing the place for a while, driving by it like, 'One day, we’ll be cool enough to go there.' Well, that day finally came. When we arrived, we quickly discovered that Casaléna believes in old-school charm—by that, I mean there’s no parking lot. Just the thrill of street parking on Ventura Boulevard or surrendering your car to the valet gods.
Once inside, the restaurant was stunning, with olive trees and trendy lamp décor that screamed, 'We’re fancy, but also laid-back.' There was a bar with sports games on, for those who like to pair their artisanal cocktails with a side of touchdowns. The service was top-notch, and our waiter was so friendly I half expected him to pull up a chair and join us.
I ordered the coconut pistachio-crusted salmon because, well, how could you not? We also got a Bianca pizza with feta and pistachios to share, because sharing is caring, and we’re trying to set a good example for the kids. The food was delicious, though the pizza was a bit dry, like it had gone to the beach and forgotten sunscreen. The ambiance was a mix of hipster vibes and that 'let’s all gather here to celebrate someone’s third cousin’s half-birthday' energy.
But of course, it wasn’t all perfect. The air conditioning seemed to be set to 'sauna,' which was awesome if you’re into sweating while you eat. And let’s not forget the parking—I ended up parking down the street because valet parking feels like admitting defeat.
All in all, I wouldn’t go out of my way to return to Casaléna unless I got roped into a friend’s or relative’s birthday celebration. There are definitely better options in Woodland Hills, especially ones where you can park without performing a parallel parking miracle.
Main location22160 Ventura Blvd Woodland Hills California 91364 US(818) 704-1185
