Woodland Hills’ buzzy new restaurant Casaléna serves coastal Mediterranean cuisine in a warm and welcoming atmosphere.
Burrata plated with black garlic balsamic and basil oil; PHOTO BY WONHO FRANK LEE
In June 2023, The Valley rekindled its culinary scene with the opening of Casaléna, an elevated restaurant, bar and event space in Woodland Hills. Noted for its Mediterranean-style fare, the roomy two-story destination eatery—brought to life by siblings Brandon, Chloe and Tyler Makhani of Avondale Equities and designer Margaret O’Brien—has been a success since the start due to its luxe look and memorable menu by executive chef Lobo Leon (The Rose, Cento). The thoughtful, full-bodied dishes infuse Italian, Spanish and Californian influences into every bite, attracting loyal clientele—and plenty of newcomers—each week.
Casaléna co-founders Brandon, Chloe and Tyler Makhani; PHOTO BY CALLUM WALKER HUTCHINSON
Casaléna is more than a restaurant; if anything, the ambiance mimics an upscale social club. On a Saturday in The Valley, we were pleasantly surprised to see all tables booked, bar seats overflowing, and groups—big and small—antsy to get in. The space consists of five luxurious dining areas: a lush sunken patio, a glass-enclosed terrace, a modern bar and lounge, and an elegant second level with an accompanying atrium. We were seated on the terrace, which perfectly balanced privacy and party vibes.
The modernized main dining room designed by Margaret O’Brien; PHOTO BY AVABLU
Every seat at the bar was taken, so we knew drinks were a must. The cocktail menu is standard in size, offering wine, beer, cocktails and mocktails for the non-drinkers that all touch on the same coastal regions as the kitchen. Many of the mixed drinks incorporate citrusy notes and herbal accents—like the orange cordial and black lemon mocktail I ordered, but my boyfriend went with the R’espressotini, a sweet but strong mix of coffee and tequila.
Sip on a Caprese Martini made with Italian gin, dry vermouth and tomato celery bitters; PHOTO BY WONHO FRANK LEE
Casaléna offers a few different menus, serving lunch and dinner daily with breakfast on weekends. We visited for dinner. For the appetizers, we tried the whipped eggplant, a creamy and rich dip topped with pickled red peppers, and the wagyu meatballs, which were so delectable our only critique is that we wish we had more!
The grilled Caesar was equal parts filling and flavorful, and the kale, avocado and white bean salad is supposed to be a huge hit. The main course standouts, according to our server, were the butterflied whole branzino and the spicy soppressata pizza, but my order of short rib was deliciously hearty and warranted a to-go box. For dessert, Casaléna offers a handful of classics; of course, we had to try the evening’s special: a pistachio bread pudding with orange creme, which we savored to the very last morsel.
The Valley has long been in need of culinary love, and Casaléna almost instantly exceeded expectations; even folks who live in L.A. proper are making the drive across town for the lively atmosphere and trendy F&B. Since reservations are still booking up nearly a year into the restaurant’s inception, we have no problem saying Casaléna has permanently staked its claim in The Valley’s culinary scene, and we can’t wait to go back. casalena.la
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