An Italian countryside experience at Casa Mia

Meridien Village at the sophisticated Le Meridien Dubai is one of the very few places in this part of the town that transports you out of the city into a locale that feels so non-Dubai like. Quite similar in ambience to the nearby Century Village, this beautiful part of Le Meridien Dubai nestles some of the best fine dining as well as casual dining restaurants, all in a picturesque setting amidst friendly, welcoming vibes.

Giving you the feels of dining at a rustic Italian trattoria on the streets of Italy, Casa Mia, one of the oldest gem’s in Dubai, serves hearty home-cooked North Italian cuisine that fuses in perfectly with its traditional dark wood accented furnishings and stone walls. Showcasing a menu that is dotted with premium ingredients like black truffle, porcini mushrooms, fresh Burrata and Italian coffee among others, this restaurant lives up to its authenticity.

We opted for the terrace seating outdoors, which was quite well lit, but just enough to create a romantic ambience. Candle lit settings, wooden side tables and light drops of rain with an occasional leaf falling beside where we were seated just added to the perfect date night.

Pictured here is the welcome bread basket – with freshly baked homemade breads varying from sundried tomato bread and Italian roll to focaccia, along with tomato bruschetta.

 

Exceptional in every way and curated with distinct skills, the dishes at Casa Mia are prepared by chefs who really know how to combine flavors in ways most pleasing to your palate. We were a little sceptical about trying 3 starters, but nonetheless went ahead with it, and that’s a decision we didn’t regret.

Burratina Pugliese su selezione di pomodorini conditi

Burrata, what can I possibly say about this heavenly indulgence that you have not already heard of or experienced yourself. So creamy, yet surprisingly light, this classic appetizer featured Burrata cheese from the southern Italian region of Apulia. This was beautified with an Heirloom tomato salad, wit seven different varieties of tomatoes, attractively placed around the Burrata.

Vitello tonnato alla maniera tradizionale

Casa Mia offers a wide selection of cold cuts, so it was only fair to try one of these. This dish came with thin cold veal slices delicately placed over a tuna and caper mayonnaise and topped with pungent capers for a spicy finish. At first I thought these would be dry, but they turned out tender than I expected.

Muffin salato ai porcini, fonduta di Fontina e tartufo ner

This mushroom muffin was not only my favorite dish at Casa Mia, but one of the top 10 dishes I have tried in Dubai. Made with the porcini variety, this muffin wonderfully captured the earthy taste of mushrooms. And then took it one level further with its black truffle garnish. Black truffle is one of the most prized ingredients, worth its weight in gold, so it was an honor to be served this exquisite dish. The mushroom muffin was carefully placed over a bed of creamy Fontina cheese fondue. This not only gave the dish a creamy finish, but also added to its rustic appeal. Highly recommend this one.

For mains, we opted to try three different, and quite contrasting dishes at Casa Mia. Not just so we can gauge their variety, but also because every item on the menu was a discovery in itself.

Fettucine al rosmarino con agnello brasato, with crema di Parmigiano e porcini

First off we tried their much acclaimed pasta. This rosemary herbed fettucine, intertwined with slow braised lamb was smothered in porcini mushroom infused parmesan cream. The lamb was as tender as you could possibly imagine. And it was quite a surprise realization to me that I had never tried pasta with lamb before. Beef, yes, chicken, yes, shrimps, yes, but not lamb. But now I have found a new favorite.

Risotto mantecato agli asparagi e gamberoni

Another signature item on the menu, this risotto was to die for. I have always loved risotto rice dishes, simply because they are so creamy, so flavorful, and so effortless. They are hearty and wholesome and comforting to an extent that there is a fine line between calling this a premium dish at a sophisticated restaurant or probably something I would want to curl up in front of the TV with. This creamy risotto came with a wonderfully contemporary combination of tender cooked deshelled prawns and green asparagus, both of which were a delight.

Tagliata di filetto alla Valdarnese

Even though I love risottos so much, it was the third main at Casa Mia that stole my heart. Just like the mushroom muffin took the cake (pun intended), the Tagliata di filetto alla Valdarnese, patate saltate e rucola was a show stopper. This signature at Casa Mia came with wonderfully tender beef fillets, cooked to our preferred doneness. We opted for medium well. The fillets were soaked in a savory salty onion pepper based Valdarnese sauce, giving a juicy flavor to the beef. They were served with thin slices of sautéed potatoes with some roquette leaves and delicate parmesan crisps. If you are a beef lover, then definitely try this out.

Panna cotta alle bacche di vaniglia, zuppetta ai frutti rossi e fragole

There’s something about Italian desserts. One glance, and before you know it, you have fallen deeply in love with their appearance, aroma and appeal.
This bestseller was the Panna cotta alle bacche di vaniglia, zuppetta ai frutti rossi e fragole. The creamy melt-in-your-mouth Panna cotta bavarois was flavored with vanilla, centered amidst sliced strawberries and placed over a spiced red berries sauce. I simply loved how Casa Mia so generously used premium ingredients in their dishes – like the petite vanilla bean garnish.

Casa Mia’s famous Tiramisu

But this indulgence wasn’t all. Classics never fail you. And how could it be possible to dine at an Italian restaurant and not try their Tiramisu. Flaunted as Casa Mia’s famous Tiramisu, this dessert truly lives up to its fame. With the density of a cloud, and creamy layers of mascarpone espresso cream, this dessert is pure indulgence. The coffee used in this Tiramisu is of premium quality and Italian origin. Not only is every bite so delicious, but the presentation too, is top notch. Especially the powdered spoon silhouette and the chocolate rolls.

Casa Mia is everything you would want from an Italian fine dining restaurant. It has al fresco seating, premium selection of wine, romantic ambiance and of course, authentic Italian food.

Casa Mia

Location: Méridien Village Terrace, Le Méridien Dubai Hotel & Conference Centre, Airport Road, Garhoud, Dubai
Contact: 04 5509120