Bristol restaurant Casa has made it into the Michelin Guide after just four months of service. The Italian restaurant in Redcliffe opened at the end of October as a reimagining of its predecessor, Casamia, which held one Michelin Star.
Casa is the brainchild of Peter Sanchez-Iglesias with Joel Breakwell fronting the kitchen as head chef, serving traditional Italian dishes with a contemporary twist, which BristolLive recently awarded five stars. The restaurant is a continuation of the Sanchez-Iglesias family restaurant, Casamia, which first opened in 1997 and reaped huge success - closing only in 2022 due to the set-up becoming "financially unviable".
The Michelin Guide entry for Casa reads: "The soundtrack is pumping and the open kitchen bustling, at the Sanchez-Iglesias family’s reinvention of what was previously Casamia restaurant. The modern Italian small plates burst with flavour: the fried semolina with parmesan is a great way to start, the pasta dishes are exceptional, and the tiramisu uses a secret family recipe. Service is nicely paced and attentive."
Our review: Casa is a 'masterclass in Italian cooking' without Michelin price tag
Casa offers a much more relaxed setting accommodating those who are looking for a snack and a glass of wine to a full five-course meal. The neighbours its sister restaurant, Paco Tapas, which has held a Michelin Star since 2017. It is just one of two restaurants in Bristol to hold this status.
A new Bedminster neighbourhood restaurant, COR, was also added to the Michelin Guide in the latest run of new additions. The Michelin inspectors described the small plates restaurant as "somewhere between a Mediterranean restaurant and a tapas bar...imbued with an air of contagious positivity".
Speaking on the achievement, restaurant owner Mark Chapman said: "On a personal level, we are absolutely thrilled that COR has been recognised by and included in the Michelin guide. It’s the greatest food guide in the world and to be recognised with this honour is something I've dreamed of since becoming an apprentice chef in Australia."
Both restaurants, as well as the existing 16 Bristol venues in the guide, await the publication of the full Michelin Guide 2023 on March 27. This is when restaurants will find out if their efforts over the past 12 months have earned (or lost) them a Star, a Bib Gourmand or Green Star.
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