Casa Italia

Amazing food at a very busy place queues down the road at 5pm ! Unheard of the place has three large floors packed with people . Starters meatballs in tomatoes with meat platter mains gluten free carbonara and a gf pizza all perfect. Highly recommended but be prepared to wait

Nomad Food Quest visit to Casa Italia on Stanley Street, Liverpool. Seconds away from Mathew Street, opposite the Eleanor Rigby Statue. A beloved Italian restaurant that has been serving generations of Scouse families for years. It has a loyal following and is known for the pretty consistent queue outside. I stumbled upon a rare occasion when the queue was minimal, so I decided to see what all the fuss was about. It took around 10 minutes to get seated, another 10 to be served, and 10 more for the food to arrive. Now, a caveat: I’ve had Carbonara in Italy many times, also at lots of UK Italian restaurants and make it myself. I'd like to think to a high standard - so consequently I know I'm a tough critic. My experience at Casa Italia. Because of the restaurant’s popularity, the staff seemed rushed and had little time for pleasantries. It came across as brusque, but honestly, it reminded me of busy tourist spots in Italy and Paris. Maybe that’s part of the “authentic” experience. I've also been to many places where you are treated like one of the family. I only had one thing in mind: the Classic Carbonara. They do offer the Anglicised version with cream, like the supermarket ready meals many are used to, but that’s not for me. I ordered the piccolo (small) portion, which still cost £13.40. My first reaction: It looked very small. My Second reaction: A lack of garnish. I’m used to seeing Carbonara topped with ample guanciale and parmesan, usually offered with extra cheese and black pepper by the server. None of that happened. The guanciale was a touch sparse and pale, lacking the colour and crispiness I expect to see that comes from properly rendered fat of the guanciale. Then came the taste test. It was... underwhelming, when compared to what I'm used to. The texture was just about right, and the cooking method seemed ok. But it lacked the richness of extra egg yolks, the saltiness I'd expect from the guanciale and pecorino, and the punch of black pepper that defines a true Carbonara. The cheese profile was muted, and the guanciale didn’t add much texture. That said, it wasn’t bad. Just not great. For someone who’s never had a great Carbonara, this would probably be enjoyable. I added a generous helping of the powdered parmesan from the table shaker and a few good twists of black pepper. I was tempted to add a touch of salt - but I couldn’t bring myself to do it. With those additions, it became more adequate than underwhelming. Also, the bowl was deeper than it looked, so the portion size was actually fair for someone not wanting a decent sized meal, I thought £13.40 was a bit hefty for a small portion. My verdict? This isn’t a great Carbonara - not by Italian standards. Based on the flavour, I’d question the quality of the ingredients or how they were prepared, but that’s just my unverified opinion. At the priced charged I'd expect a great carbonara. Still, it wasn’t bad. I think most of their customers would be satisfied. If they are not chasing the “great and good,” there’s no need for them to change. But I think they should take the few small steps to up the game. L I won’t be frequenting Casa Italia for my Carbonara fix. I plan on going back to try a lasagne and maybe one of the other classic penne dishes. The waiter who brought the bill was pleasant - the first to ask if the meal was okay. I’m used to being asked mid-meal, but hey, better late than never. Would I recommend it? Yes. Give it a go. Many think it’s worth queuing for.

I'm dairy free so finding a spot that truly caters for it and doesn't instantly narrow my options to 1 or 2 dishes is quite hard to find. With it being a busy restaurant the waiting can be a little long however, we waited about 20 minutes and we were quickly seated. However,for big groups of 6+,I'd suggest booking beforehand. The atmosphere was great it was the classic European loudness where everyone is in their own world,enjoying food with their loved ones,laughing and talking loudly. Now onto the service,I have to say I felt very well taken care of.Gianluca was truly lovely and catered to my restrictions and let me know that the chef's are able to make everything dairy free,which I think shows the quality of care that they take for their customers. I chose the lasagna which was very tasty(they did not skimp out on the meat,it was served very nicely), and we also had a carbonara which was extremely rich and filling! I would 100% recommend this to anyone who wants a good Italian meal in Liverpool. It was a reasonably priced menu with a good variety of options,again they even offer lactose/gluten free desserts. So its perfect for those with dietary requirements.