Spring Break
Hot tapas aplenty at Casa Mia
LAUREN LEIGHTON & SALLY OSTEEN
Issue date: 2/1/07 Section: Out & About
- Page 1 of 1
Hola! This is just what customers will say when they enter downtown's new tapas restaurant, Casa Mia.
This quaint, yet spacious new hot spot is located on Clayton Street next to Last Resort.
Our new favorite Spanish eatery is a great place to go with a group of people, since tapas are meant to be shared. Tapas are small portioned dishes that give everyone a taste of lots of different menu items.
Because Casa Mia just opened its doors, the menu isn't as extensive as most restaurants of its kind, but it still has a decent variety of foods to choose from.
When we arrived at the restaurant, we were surprised to see how many people had already heard of the restaurant and were glad to have so many fellow diners. We were seated in the back but still had a view of Clayton Street and enjoyed a pleasant atmosphere.
Funky Spanish tunes filled our ears as the food filled our bellies. As for the lighting, it was quite dark but suitable for dinnertime.
It struck us as a perfect place to take a first date.
Casa Mia offers a decent variety of different tapas. It even has special deals, such as four tapas and a half bottle of wine.
Some of the cuisine offered includes arepas venezolanas (crispy corn pockets stuffed with a choice of shrimp, chicken, reina-pepiada, ham and cheese, shredded steak or spinach and cheese), empanadas (South American style turnovers stuffed with a choice of chicken, steak, shrimp, or spinach and cheese served with Casa Mia's spicy vinaigrette sauce), ceviche (tilapia cured with lime juice, red onions and cilantro, accompanied with boiled yucca and toasted corn) - each for $4.95.
Sally chose the empanadas and an ensalada ($3.95). She was very impressed with the empanadas and almost didn't let anyone else try them. They were just the right size, had a delicious dipping sauce and were gooey in the middle while remaining crispy on the outside.
Lauren had the creamy shrimp soup ($3.95). The soup was portioned well, leaving room for the rest of the meal. It was creamy but had texture to it. It came with a couple of slices of bread that weren't toasted, which was a disappointment.
Lauren also got an ensalada and really enjoyed the avocado and dressing. The salad is a great idea to mix with the other dishes or to help fill patrons up if the small portions don't.
As for dessert, we could not resist ordering the meringue with ice cream and chocolate sauce. When the waitress brought it out, it looked incredible and it was delicious. It's difficult to bake meringue, but Casa Mia's melted in our mouths the second we ate it.
We highly suggest it to anyone who wants something sweet, yet light to finish off a meal.
Where: 269 N. Hull St., next to Last Resort
Phone: 706-227-4444
Food Score: Immediate: 100, Emerging: 100
Grade: A-
Verdict: A worthwhile restaurant with much potential to grow and become a new hot spot.
The restaurant also offered flan (traditional Spanish custard) and chocolate cake with orange jam filling, among others.
Those who are too busy to go out to eat, Casa Mia did inform us that they will start doing call-ins and take-out in about a week.
All in all, we found Casa Mia to be a great place to eat for a fun dinner with friends or a date. It would be nice to see a few different options on the menu after it gets settled in, but for now it's worth a try.
This quaint, yet spacious new hot spot is located on Clayton Street next to Last Resort.
Our new favorite Spanish eatery is a great place to go with a group of people, since tapas are meant to be shared. Tapas are small portioned dishes that give everyone a taste of lots of different menu items.
Because Casa Mia just opened its doors, the menu isn't as extensive as most restaurants of its kind, but it still has a decent variety of foods to choose from.
When we arrived at the restaurant, we were surprised to see how many people had already heard of the restaurant and were glad to have so many fellow diners. We were seated in the back but still had a view of Clayton Street and enjoyed a pleasant atmosphere.
Funky Spanish tunes filled our ears as the food filled our bellies. As for the lighting, it was quite dark but suitable for dinnertime.
It struck us as a perfect place to take a first date.
Casa Mia offers a decent variety of different tapas. It even has special deals, such as four tapas and a half bottle of wine.
Some of the cuisine offered includes arepas venezolanas (crispy corn pockets stuffed with a choice of shrimp, chicken, reina-pepiada, ham and cheese, shredded steak or spinach and cheese), empanadas (South American style turnovers stuffed with a choice of chicken, steak, shrimp, or spinach and cheese served with Casa Mia's spicy vinaigrette sauce), ceviche (tilapia cured with lime juice, red onions and cilantro, accompanied with boiled yucca and toasted corn) - each for $4.95.
Sally chose the empanadas and an ensalada ($3.95). She was very impressed with the empanadas and almost didn't let anyone else try them. They were just the right size, had a delicious dipping sauce and were gooey in the middle while remaining crispy on the outside.
Lauren had the creamy shrimp soup ($3.95). The soup was portioned well, leaving room for the rest of the meal. It was creamy but had texture to it. It came with a couple of slices of bread that weren't toasted, which was a disappointment.
Lauren also got an ensalada and really enjoyed the avocado and dressing. The salad is a great idea to mix with the other dishes or to help fill patrons up if the small portions don't.
As for dessert, we could not resist ordering the meringue with ice cream and chocolate sauce. When the waitress brought it out, it looked incredible and it was delicious. It's difficult to bake meringue, but Casa Mia's melted in our mouths the second we ate it.
We highly suggest it to anyone who wants something sweet, yet light to finish off a meal.
CASA MIA
Where: 269 N. Hull St., next to Last Resort
Phone: 706-227-4444
Food Score: Immediate: 100, Emerging: 100
Grade: A-
Verdict: A worthwhile restaurant with much potential to grow and become a new hot spot.
The restaurant also offered flan (traditional Spanish custard) and chocolate cake with orange jam filling, among others.
Those who are too busy to go out to eat, Casa Mia did inform us that they will start doing call-ins and take-out in about a week.
All in all, we found Casa Mia to be a great place to eat for a fun dinner with friends or a date. It would be nice to see a few different options on the menu after it gets settled in, but for now it's worth a try.
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