Casanova Ristorante has been in the same shopping center in Dana Point for decades and this was the first time I finally enjoyed their food. First off, it has a great vibe inside with large booths, a bar, and then on the other side more of a dining vibe, and an outdoor patio. I went on a Saturday night around 6:45 and there was plenty of seating available. We started with some complimentary focaccia with olive oil and balsamic, and then I ordered the cheese and spinach ravioli, that comes with a small side salad. My friend ordered the chicken Parmesan and I highly recommend. That one also comes with a baby side salad as well as broccolini and a small portion of delicious fettuccini Alfredo. It was quite the meal. We finished dinner with one of the best pieces of tiramisu I've ever had. The portion was huge, enough to have some left over for later. I wish I could remember our server's name...she was wonderful! Super friendly and helpful. She also gave great recommendations on what to order. Looking forward to coming back soon! read more

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We went to Casanova Ristorante on a Thursday evening around 6:00 PM to celebrate my wife's birthday, and the entire experience was absolutely amazing. From the moment we walked in, everything felt welcoming. Our waiter was awesome--attentive, friendly, and genuinely cared about making the night special. The owner even stopped by and was incredibly warm and personable, which really added to the experience. The food was super good. The Bianca Pizza and the Bolognese were straight-up bomb--fresh, flavorful, and perfectly executed. You can tell a lot of pride goes into the kitchen here. Great service, great food, great atmosphere, and a perfect spot for a special occasion. We can't wait to come back and try more items on the menu. Highly recommend! read more

Casanova Ristorante - Bianca Pizza - Pizza Near Me - Dana Point, California

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The eggplant parmigiana melts in your mouth. My wife said the chicken Marsala was the best. Good service, nice atmosphere. We love it and always come back read more

Casanova Ristorante - Chicken Marsala - Pizza Near Me - Dana Point, California

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I grew up at my Italian grandmother's stove. So trust me, I know eggplant Parmigiano, I've had it a hundred times, and it's almost never worth writing home about. But Casanova? They actually made me forget every other version I've ever had. The eggplant was thick, tender, not greasy, and that sauce, I don't know what they do, but it's got this depth that just hits different. And it wasn't just that. The rigatoni had that perfect bite, the kind you chase. Even the salad was shockingly fresh. But the real kicker? The espresso. I'm not one to rave about coffee after a meal, but this one was smooth, dark, no bitterness, just a perfect little punch to end the night. Look, I'm picky. Like, annoyingly picky. Italian food is my baseline, my comfort zone, my measuring stick. And this place cleared it with room to spare. The vibe is warm, the service feels genuine, and you leave feeling like you actually ate something made with care. Casanova is a gem. Plain and simple. If you're in the area and you love real Italian, not the glossy, overpriced kind, go. You won't regret it. read more

Casanova Ristorante - Special touches in every booth. - Pizza Near Me - Dana Point, California

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Incredible customer service! We just moved to Dana point this month and on our first night we ordered the creamy mac n cheese with fried chicken (10/10 delicious!!) and then a week later my mother in law came to visit and we ordered here the gluten free version (she is celiac) well when we got the order she took a bite and it had bread crumbs on it. We called the restaurant to confirm and they were extremely apologetic, delivered a fresh new gluten free dish within 20 mins to our house and gave us a giftcard, I mean incredible customer service to turn that situation around! We just went in to the restaurant to eat and they are so friendly, and the creamy Mac did not disappoint!!! read more

Casanova Ristorante - Creamy Mac n cheese with fried chicken - Pizza Near Me - Dana Point, California

We were in Laguna Nigel and our Son suggested this Italian restaurant. We made reservations and when we arrived we were seated immediately. Garlic bread was provided, olive oil and balsamic vinegar were already plated on the table and our server, Mario brought the wine we asked for quickly. What great service! The vibe was very chill and had a romantic feel with an Italian flair. I order the Carbonara and my wine was a Pinot Noir. Both were excellent! The Carbonara was rich and filling and the Pinot was so smooth, I wish I had ordered a bottle! All in all, this venue is a must visit for a romantic eventing. read more

Casanova Ristorante - Carbonara - Pizza Near Me - Dana Point, California

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We ordered takeout. We had it delivered by DoorDash. The DoorDash server was very good. His name is Kelvis. My husband and I enjoy Italian food. Being raised on the jersey coast in what is referred to sometimes as a little Italy, I know Italian food, both good and bad. This is good. We started with bruschetta, and shared a Casanova salad. We both ordered Godfather tortellini. The food was molto bene. I only recommendation would be to add packets of red pepper. I really enjoyed their balsamic vinegar. It was very thick very delicious and went very well with the bruschetta. This is the only Italian restaurant where we've dined in Dana point area, and I would recommend it if you're looking for italian. read more

Cozy place with a welcoming atmosphere and tasty Italian food. The portions were good, and everything arrived fresh. The staff was polite and helpful. The experience was enjoyable overall, though there is a little room for improvement with the timing during busy hours. I'd be happy to visit again. read more

This lovely gem is consistently on point with amazing food, amazing service... a little piece of Italy right here in Dana Point ! Great for special occasions as well as a delicious family meal, any day of the week! Want to add a special THANK YOU to Casanova for your community support and supporting Dana Hills Lacrosse! read more

I came to visit my son and his wife as they just moved to Dana Point. After a long day of unpacking we decided to get some take out. They told me to look and see if Casanova had anything gluten-free for me, because they had had a meal here and really liked it. They had a GF pasta so my son called it in and he ordered gluten-free pasta with a grilled chicken breast on top for me. He told the restaurant that it was a gluten allergy. We picked up the food and when I got it back to the house, I took my first bite and heard a little crunch I looked down and under the chicken breast were some breadcrumbs. We called the restaurant immediately and the owner or manager, i'm not sure which, was so apologetic and said he would remake the dish and deliver it to us. He showed up not 20 minutes later with a fresh made pasta and chicken apologized again and handed my son a gift card! We were all so impressed with the level of service, not to mention the food was delicious! Last night, we were trying to figure out dinner again and decided to go in and eat there and again the food and service was amazing! We will definitely be going back. I highly recommend this restaurant! read more

We had such a great experience at Casanova Ristorante in Dana Point. From the moment we walked in, the atmosphere felt warm and inviting -- the kind of place where you can settle in and really enjoy your meal. The food was fantastic and felt truly authentic. Every dish was beautifully prepared and full of flavor, and you can tell they care about the quality of the ingredients. We also loved the handcrafted cocktails and the wine list -- lots of great options whether you're in the mood for a classic Italian pairing or just a great glass of wine with dinner. Another highlight is their daily happy hour from 3:30-6pm, which is such a great excuse to stop in for drinks and a few bites before dinner. If you're looking for authentic Italian in Dana Point with great service, cocktails, and wine, Casanova Ristorante is absolutely worth a visit. We'll definitely be back! read more

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Terrible service waiter put the wrong order in for my 82 year old mom so she wasn't able to eat with me. Then he tried to upsell me on a glass of wine because we had to wait for them to cook the pasta. Didn't offer us anything for waiting and ruining our dinner night out. Had to take it Togo. Manager didn't even come over to try to fix anything. I won't be back. read more

Do not order their marinara sauce unless you want your mouth to burn incessantly. The food tonight was awful. I ordered pasta with mushrooms and she gave me tons of bell peppers and broccolini stems. Why would anyone put green bell peppers in pasta? The sauce was awful and so spicy. read more

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This place has a lot of hit and miss on everything in my opinion. The hostess sat us and gave us one wine menu and one dinner menu. Which would be fine if I was solo dining but I wasn't. The decor is nice with big booths to sit in. The water tasted like refrigerated sink water. Didn't come with ice. Their free focaccia bread was absolutely delicious. Lots of herbs and salt on it. We were told it was fresh baked in house. You don't need the olive oil and balsamic vinegar that comes with it. When it was brought to our table the man immediately dumped a puddle of oil and vinegar on my bread plate without even asking if I wanted any and just said it was for the bread. I ordered the spinach and cheese ravioli. It's actually 6 pieces of cheese ravioli on top of spinach, burnt pine nuts and came soaking in a huge puddle of oil for $26. Got stomach pain soon after, even though I tried shaking most of the oil off prior to eating. Despite the grotesque amount of oil, the ravioli had a nice flavor to them. I tried eating a bit of the soggy spinach but the woody stems from the addition of some herbs was really off putting. $4+ per ravioli is not worth it. If the ravioli didn't come in a puddle of oil it would have been a wonderful dish. My husband got a basic pasta dish that he said was delicious but way over priced. The waitress was ok. Not planning on coming here again. read more

Came here on Halloween, was seated quickly. The server was nice and attentive. As soon as our water got low they were there refilling it! Awesome service! The restrooms were clean. The oil they use for the bread was so good. The shrimp was tasty and fresh. The sauce was not spicy at all. The mozzarella sticks were so good and cheesy. The egg plant was one of the best plates , so much flavor super delicious. && fulfilling. Calamari was good and fresh not chewy at all just prefect. Pizza was good not too thick on the bread and cheesy. The meatballs just melted in my mouth so good so soft, the sauce they use was not heavy at all. (No heart burn) I will say One of the best meatballs I have had in a long time. The only dish that I was not a fan of was the pink lady. The chicken was okay didn't really like the flavor the pasta kinda tasted old . But overall what a great restaurant! I will be returning to try more dishes. read more

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Great fresh twist on Italian. Fresh offerings and great service. Not your typical kids kind of place but tasty and unique. Food is next level read more

Hands down some of the best pizza I've ever had. The prosciutto, ricotta, and arugula pizza was outstanding, and the Margherita and pepperoni were just as amazing. So flavorful and perfectly done. Make sure to get a side of the creamy Italian to dip the crust in. Chef's kiss! read more

Casanova Ristorante - Prosciutto, Arugula, Ricotta - Bianca Pizza. - Pizza Near Me - Dana Point, California

Love this place. Food is delicious and drinks were great. Their happy hour menu is also great. I like the fact that HH is every day

Looking for a cozy, romantic spot in Dana Point? Casanova Ristorante is must in South Orange County for a charming Italian aesthetic, rich pasta / pizza / antipasti and an incredible wine list. Whether you're inside soaking up the moody, wine bar aesthetic or enjoying the fresh air on the patio--every bite feels like a little trip to Italy. Oh and don't skip dessert!!! The crème brûlée is divine. read more

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What the hell is wrong with you people. It cost me an extra $3.00 for them to "Prep" my $14.00 Martini. Bring it to me and I will shake it on my own to save the $3.00. Isn't it part of giving me a drink is prepping it. Never again. read more

Casanova Ristorante - Pizza Near Me - Dana Point, California

We were visiting Dana point for our anniversary and I looked up several restaurants. Casanova was the one we decided to visit. The restaurant is located in a little strip mall, but don't let that deter you from visiting... Once you enter, the atmosphere is very cozy. I loved that the servers and hostesses were dressed professionally in slacks, shirts and vests. Not leggings and jeans. I would like to suggest that the hostess wear black sneakers instead of white. Onto the food... The bread and soft flavored butter was superb. We had the clams, meatballs and eggplant and all were very, very good. Wonderful atmosphere and very good service. Not disappointed. read more

I returned from a month in Italy and wanted the same pasta with clams. Hoping it would compare, I headed to our local Italian restaurant Casanova's in Dana Point. Amazing!! Just like Italy! The ambience is nice as well as the service. We enjoyed a Best Friend BonVoyage dinner and lingered having wine and dessert. A wonderful evening. read more

Casanova Ristorante - Vongole! Excellent! Just like in Italy - Pizza Near Me - Dana Point, California

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Amazing from start to finish. Leo is the absolute best! Give this man a raise and keep him! My family went in for dinner tonight we had delicious lemon raspberry drop martinis, a glass of Pinot- highly recommend. We then shared a pepperoni pizza (perfection) and the creamy rigatoni- sooo good! We ended the meal with a crème brûlée- so good!! Cant wait to come Back! read more

I hope this was a one off. Very disappointed in salad that comes with the meal. I know this might come as a shock but if you include a salad with the meal, please fill the small plate with lettuce. Paying $28 for pasta with chicken that includes a salad should have a decent amount of lettuce. Please improve this part of the meal and don't nickel and dime on an extra piece of bread for $4. read more

Casanova Ristorante - Side salad - Pizza Near Me - Dana Point, California

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We arrived early on Sunday evening when the restaurant was not busy hoping for a romantic evening to celebrate Valentine's Day weekend. We were drawn in by the white tablecloths in the photos, but there were none. We first had to return an empty water glass set on our table which was wet and covered with fingerprints. My wife ordered lamb chops well done, but one was medium well and the others were medium. She couldn't eat most of them. I ordered the Rigatoni Grande Pesto which was described in the menu as "rigatoni, scallops, basil pesto, pine nuts, lemon zest." Instead, it was a bowl of greasy oil and heavy cream drowning some rigatoni with 4 small scallops. The hollow rigatoni didn't help because they were filled with the viscous sauce. Even more concerning is that no dairy was disclosed on the menu, and I have a sensitivity to dairy products. I don't want to patronize a restaurant and spend $100 before tip where you have the awkward choice of trying to muddle through two substandard dishes or sending them back. Dining out should be enjoyable. read more

Casanova's donated dinners twice to the entire Dana Hills Boys Lacrosse team and the food was amazing!

They have great pasta and excellent service. Everyone is very kind and helpful giving in to requests. The pasta is creamy and delicious and I totally recommend it. read more

Great food, great atmosphere, great martinis! An evening well spent in a cozy booth with good friends.

Wonderful local restaurant with delicious Italian food offerings! I loved the old school feel of the restaurant- this was a nice break from all the modern restaurants in the OC area. Everyone in our group was very pleased with their dishes and we definitely plan to come back! read more

Casanova has to be hand down one of the best Italian restaurants in Dana Point! The food is amazing the staff is kind, accommodating and always on their game. The interior is cute with plenty of space to wine and dine. Not only are they an amazing restaurant but they go above and beyond for their community. Helping out in every way they can and always giving back to local sports teams and causes. 10/10 don't miss out on this place! Dana Lacrosse Loves Casanova. read more

Ordered out for Dana LAX Team. Food was delicious. Definitely would go back. Must try it!

Good and service are good but they should consider different live music that is more in step with the ambience

Had the short rib ragu with their "el passera" cocktail and omg, you're kidding right?? Absolutely delicious!! This place is insane, my friend ordered their spicy rigatoni which is also a 10/10. We finished it off with their Italian Ice - ya'll this is game changer !! Also went on a busy night, so sat at the bar - Omar was great!! Will absolutely be coming back read more

Casanova Ristorante - Short Rib Ragu, El Passero - Pizza Near Me - Dana Point, California

WOW WOW AND WOW AGAIN! The experience was just awesome. Everything was super super tasty! You can feel that all ingredients are fresh and the tastes are spot on! The service is amazing. Just an FYI, we got a kids Alfredo Mac and cheese, it had a strong garlic taste - which we, the adults LOVED! But for kids might be a bit too strong. However, our 2yo loved the Capellini a la Checa so it might just be a taste preference. Either way, you HAVE to go there!!! I know I would come back! Great environment, music, and clean. Thank you read more

I love eggplant Parmesan and have tried it at several Italian restaurants in the area, but Casanova's is the very best! All of their food is delicious and their server, Raquel, is absolutely delightful. read more

First time here last night and let me tell you service and food "chefs kiss"! It was busy in there so that definitely says a lot. Despite that everything was well organized highly recommend! I got the eggplant parmesan and the Godfather tortellini did not disappoint! read more

Casanova Ristorante - Pizza Near Me - Dana Point, California

Casanova is my dad's favorite restaurant & a place we love as well, so I decided to cater his 90th birthday party with food from Casanova's. They were amazing to work with & really helpful! With assistance & recommendations from the owner & Katrina, we put together a perfect buffet. The assistance was great & the food *chef kiss* Our guests were so pleased & loved each dish. People went for seconds & thirds!!!! They provided basil infused olive oil along with plenty of fresh Parmesan. Casanova's helped make my dad's party a smashing success! read more

Casanova Ristorante - Lasagna catered by Casanova - Pizza Near Me - Dana Point, California

We really like it here. We used to come more often many years ago and recently started coming again. Seems like for a couple years it wasn't great so we stopped going but decided to try it again last year. The food is consistently fresh and the staff is good for the most part. Great for easy dinner out if you want pasta or pizza. We also like the Lamb dish and the garlic bread. read more

A disappointing end to years of loyalty It's a shame to write this, but I can no longer recommend Casanova Italian Restaurant in Dana Point. The new management is noticeably apathetic and seems to have lost the "hospitality" part of the hospitality industry. We were loyal customers, but after being nickel-and-dimed over bread charges on a $600 bill--amidst already rising menu prices--it's clear our business is no longer appreciated. There are too many great restaurants in town to settle for being treated like a transaction. 1/5 stars. read more

The portions were huge and all of the food was absolutely delicious. The eggplant was a huge portion and cooked a perfection. The Bolognese was amazing and hit the spot. I had no idea that each entrée also came with two salads and the garlic bread was toasty soft and warm. The tiramisu was good, but not as good as the one I make it home. I completely forgot to ask for silverware in the order so be sure if you're ordering online for delivery that you indicate you need it. I will definitely eat her again. Feel free to judge me because yes, all of that food was just for me, one person and no, absolutely none of it went to waste. read more