Casa de hungry

Rating - Overall: 4  Food: 5  Service: 5  Ambience: 3

bubbaferal
Rookie Reviewer
Member since Aug 09
Rating: 0

1 Aug 2009

My girlfrined and I have just been to Casamia. After working all week in Bristol and a load of friends recommended this restaurant to us.

The food was absolutely everything we could have hoped for.

The variety and tastes were outstanding.

The service was with a smile and friendly and welcoming.

Unfortunately with eight different dishes to choose from we thought we would be full. However after three hours we left over a hundred pounds lighter in the wallet but still had to go and get something else to eat because we were not at all full.

I am writing this as my lady is cooking a snack to satisfy our appetites. Its not that we are huge gregarious eating machines.

The problem lies in the amount of time you are left chatting over an empty table between each course.

Casamia is a great and different restaurant heavily influenced by The Fat Duck but forgetting additional courses asked for at the beginning of the evening and querying when the next course would be coming and not being able to tell you whether a meat is organic or not leaves an unsavoury taste in the mouth.

Visited: July 31, 2009
What I ate: Everything I could

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Outstanding, innovative food.

Rating - Overall: 5  Food: 5  Service: 4  Ambience: 5

iainpb
Gastronome
Member since Sep 08
Rating: 3

17 Jul 2009

Casamia offer well executed modern Italian food in relaxing contemporary suroundings. The restaurant is a little piece of Italy set down a European style piazza, the tiled floors and cool white walls all contribute to the impression of being in a trattoria far away from Bristol.

From the puffed polenta amuse bouche through to the playful deconstructed tiramisu every dish of the tasting menu was truly outstanding.

The a la carte menu is small offering only a few dishes and steers you in the general direction of the six or ten course tasting menus, both available with wine flights.

We embarked on the six course menu which starts with a clever Ferran Adria stlye combination of chilled lime juice and hot gin foam theatrically created at your table from a soda siphon. The contrasts between temperatures and foams is very enjoyable,a fun start to the meal and leaves you wanting another, if only these were on the digestif menu.

After the first course a perfectly crispy freshly baked loaf arrived at the table along with evening's menu to browse again whilst waiting for the courses.

The beetroot risotto paired well with pickled fennel led onto a perfectly soft salmon poached in olive oil, tasting subtly of good oil without a hint of greasiness. The salmon was served with a puree of black salsify and a vibrant lemon emulsion. Followed by an excellently prepared quail, it was tender and well accompanied by celeriac puree.

A pleasantly surprising risotto of apple and turnip bridged the end of the main courses with dessert. This dish can really not be explained and must be tasted, it was an amazing fusion of textures and tastes and topped off with truffle.

The deconstructed tiramisu was a very well thought out dish and finished the meal on a high point. Until now deconstruction had only been something I had read about. Amaretto jelly cubes, a coffee soaked sponge and rich cherry emulsion combined into the perfect dessert.

I enjoyed the wine flight, although some of the wines were not what I would perhaps order myself, they were skillfully matched to the food and of good quality. As we ordered the tasing menu we were not presented with the usual wine list so I did not have a chance to see the wines ofered by the bottle. Water is provided, but only bottled water was offered.

The food is practically faultless as is service, the staff are genuinely friendly and have an intimate knowledge of each dish. Only once did the service fall slightly short between the fourth and fifth courses with a wait of just over 30 minutes, unfortunately this was also the course without wine. This interrupted a menu that otherwise flowed perfectly.

Casamia easily ranks as the finest restaurant I have visted so far and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to anyone. The six course tasting menu with wine flight for two, two digestifs and service came in at around £110.

Visited: July 7, 2009
What I ate: Six course tasting menu with wine flight

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Happy Birthday

Rating - Overall: 5  Food: 5  Service: 5  Ambience: 5

seamusmarw
Rookie Reviewer
Member since May 08
Rating: 0

21 Jan 2009

My girlfriend & I visited Casamia two days after it was awarded a Michelin Star. It was her birthday treat and my absolute delight. We were warmly greeted and after looking at the menu opted for the Ten course tasting menu with the wine flight. We were seated and from that moment until we left were looked after and attended to without intrustion or fuss. I don't want to list all the dishes we had, however the deconstructed Ceasar salad and the lamb were my favourites. The wine and sherry that came with all but 3 dishes was a success in complementing the food. I normally drink one type of wine but it was worth the extra for the experience. I do not know what Michelin inspectors look for when awarding a star but if its excellent service, innovative and delicious food and a warm and friendly atmosphere Casamia deserves its new accolade.

Visited: January 21, 2009
What I ate: Ten Course Tasting Menu & Wine Flight

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Casa Mia

Rating - Overall: 5  Food: 5  Service: 5  Ambience: 5

eatup
Rookie Reviewer
Member since Dec 08
Rating: 0

22 Dec 2008

A wonderful evening of delicious food - never heard of deconstruction before! - and excellent service-no fussing even when we were the last out!

Visited: August 9, 2008
What I ate: deconstructed caesar salad

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Michelin star?

Rating - Overall: 5  Food: 5  Service: 5  Ambience: 5

cheese1
Foodie
Member since Jul 08
Rating: 0

21 Dec 2008

This place was divine....a felt like I was miles away from the city and walking into a European oasis. The service, friendliness and overall genuineness of all of the staff was impressive. Each course from the taster menu was presented with meticulous detail and tasted like little pieces of heaven. The whole experience took nearly 3 hours so perfect for anniversaries and catching up time. The lighting was perfect and the sherry we had mid menu was a perfect accompaniment. If you feel like treating yourself, or a friend as a wedding present and so on, then this is it.

One couple I know said they were still hungry after the endless courses because they were there for 3 hours, but I think that's unusual. I'd go back any day if I had the cash.

Visited: April 17, 2008
What I ate: deconstructed caesar salad, foie gras milk, sherry

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Casamia/Fat Duck!

Rating - Overall: 5  Food: 5  Service: 5  Ambience: 4

Thediner
Gastronome
Member since Oct 08
Rating: 2

28 Nov 2008

It's taken me 5 days to write this review because I needed to time to have a good think about the experience, as it was more than just going out for dinner!

Last weekend my partner, some close friends and myself went for the Taster Menu experience @ Casamia. It was a bit of a trip to the other side of the City but was it worth it?

Yes yes and yes again, you hear about Heston Blumenthal & The Fat Duck this, the fact Duck that. Well the fact of the matter is we are a long way from Berkshire and the Taster Menu is around £125. They say that's the best, well it may well be but if you want something closer to home the go to Casamia for there taster menu (Genuine foody's only) you will really appreciate it.

The Restaurant is Family run, Father front of house, Mother one of the fine professional waitresses and the 2 sons which I believe are Jonray & Peter run the kitchen with some help obviously.

12-13 courses of what can only be described as a one off Dining pleasure, Service was up there with best I have received, the restaurant was well lit with tasteful decor. I noticed a few chefs from other restaurants in Bristol dining & trying out the fruits @ Casamia, a sign that this is a Top restaurant??

Every course was interesting and well thought out, there were things I tried that night I will probably never have the pleasure of eating again!

If you’re serious about food then book yourself a taster menu @ Casamia

Surely a Michelin star will soon be presented to Casamia

Visited: November 22, 2008

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A real fine-dining experience

Rating - Overall: 5  Food: 5  Service: 5  Ambience: 3

brownie
Rookie Reviewer
Member since Oct 08
Rating: 0

5 Oct 2008

My boyfriend took me to Casa mia for my birthday treat - and what a treat! Eating here is quite an experience.

We went at lunchtime when the menu is slightly restricted but more affordable. Having said that, the evening menu is no more expensive than many of Bristol's more central restaurants, yet the quality was higher than most. Unfortunately the restaurant was almost empty so a bit lacking in atmosphere, but I can imagine it's much cosier at night.

The food, however, was excellent. I can well believe that they could be in the running for a Michelin star. See their website (www.casamiarestaurant.co.uk) for the menu - it's really too complicated to go into here! Suffice to say your meal will be scattered with jellies, foams, intensely-flavoured drizzles and comprise a variety of textures, temperatures and colours. It might sound a bit pretentious but it was all delicious and beautifully presented. It may not make for the most filling meal you've ever eaten but I certainly left feeling very satisfied.

In the evening you can opt for the 10 'course' tasting menu. At £45 it's definitely one for a special occasion...so I've got my fingers crossed that it will be my birthday treat next year!

Visited: May 24, 2008
What I ate: Beetroot risotto, pigeon-coffee-almonds, deconstructed tiramisu

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