
Casa Nostra, Wimbledon
When my dad and I came out from the cinema yesterday, I saw a sign saying that you could get 30% your meal at
Casa Nostra if you presented your cinema ticket. This sounded like a pretty good deal, and since it was lunch time, we thought, why not pop in?
Casa Nostra is a lovely Italian restaurant in Wimbledon, and I have always been impressed when I've gone there.
What used to be a noisy coloured Pizza Hut filled with kids has now been transformed into relaxing environment for adults, with low lighting, a soft colour palette, a elegant decor. The canvassed photographs on the wall depict everyday Italian life, and a fresh rose on the table makes you feel welcome and that you will be well cared for.
There is an extensive and varied menu that will suit most tastes. You'll find pastas from a traditional spaghetti bolognese to a penne friulane with strips of steak, mushrooms, mustard, and creamed sauce. They also risotto, calzone, and thin-crust pizzas cooked in a stone oven.
We weren't ready for a full meal, so took a look at the antipasti menu. There were so many things on offer, I had trouble choosing. Eventually I settled for a £6.35
Cozze, which is fresh muscles in a tomato and basil sauce. Although it was a little under seasoned, it was a delicious meal, and the left over sauce was mopped up with a lovely slice of soft garlic bread. One thing that would have been nice was a finger bowl so that I could dip my fingers clean afterwards, but otherwise not complaints.
Dad opted for
Rustico at £7.95. This was a Tuscan sausage served with parma ham and Sicilian rice balls, which he thought was excellent, if not a rather large for a starter.
To finish off, I had an apple cheesecake, which I was very impressed with. For £3.95, I got a layer of chunky sliced apple at the bottom, with a refreshing hint of lime in the cheesecake. I must admit though, what I liked best was the fresh strawberry on the side.
If you like Italian cuisine,
Casa Nostra serves a quality meals in a quiet environment. I would highly recommend it, especially as a place to eat after a trip to the cinema.