Casa Grille is not what you would typically consider traditional Italian food - or so I gather from the "traditional" places I have gone to in more "cosmopolitan" areas. That said, and let's hope that I never have to use ironic quotations with that frequency again, Casa is very good. Let me inform you why they are very good. There are two basic areas to cover.
First, the food is somewhat commercial but done very well in embracing its commerciality. If you are looking for subtle flavors that are often the mark of more authentic cuisine, then go somewhere else. The tomato sauce that complements much of Casa's menu is VERY sweet, and somewhat runny. The noodles are very soft. The food is delicious though, with meat that is of a good quality and food textures that greatly complement each other. The ovens are very high temperature and, when employed skillfully as they are at Casa, give the food a pleasant charcoal aspect to its flavor. Yes, I'm afraid that is indeed a cheap off-brand cheese sauce with your breadsticks, similar to a cheese sauce you might find at Pizza Hut or Taco Bell. Don't order the breadsticks. Do order the eggplant sticks.
Second, the staff are incredibly friendly and seem to genuinely want you to have a good time while you are there. There are stereotypical, fat Itallian looking guys wandering around to tell you jokes and make sure that you are satisfied with how your dining experience is progressing. They will comp you things and just be legitimately friendly and human to you, and I really like that.
Casa Grille is not quaint Italian dining, nor do I believe it is trying to be. What you get in Casa is the opportunity to enjoy good food in a very good environment as opposed to going to The Olive Garden, Maggiano's, or some other bleh-ish pseudo-Italian experience elsewhere.
I'm lovin' this place. Â Many Fort Wayne locations to choose from. Â Casa has an amazing menu with a large variety to choose from. Â The appetizers are not everyday run of the mill place holders. Â They are impressive. Â The entrees are significant, flavorful, and offer a great variety for every need. Â Don't forget the desserts...you don't want to miss them.
Great place to entertain or take guests.
Am not from Fort Wayne area, but when my in-laws decided to take us out last nite, I was pretty excited about going to an italian restaurant, especially since being on a diet since Thanksgiving!
What a LETDOWN. My husband and I frequently make fun of the mediocre crap that is Olive Garden, and that ridiculous place is heads and tails about the Casa Grille. We had to wait for 20 minutes for a table, then we were stuck in a corner where a draft comes off the windows. Our white, no flavor bread arrived (which as a surprise since we ordered breadsticks) and it was so loud in there I could not hear the person next to me. The breadsticks came with 3 dipping choices, one being a flavorless  (cheddar?) cheese. Talk about authentic Italian.
We also ordered Calamari, which was greasy and flavorless. Then, my husband and I split a Chicago style pizza, which would be a total insult to anybody from Chicago. The tomatoes on it were actually good, but you could not taste the sausage and the crust was a slimy joke.
The service was decent, but that doesn't make up for the sorry atmosphere and the crappy food. So many people comment about the "large portions" but what is so great about having large portions if it's just flavorless crap???
Brought my mom here, and she actually enjoyed the place. She normally doesn't like to go out to eat, but ended up enjoying her meal, especially the bread and olive oil+parmesan.
The food is decent and the portions are large. The cannelloni is very rich and creamy. And I'd recommend the butter tortellini.
Casa Grille (and the other Casa area family restaurants) is a very good Italian place in Fort Wayne. Â The price is right, and the pasta is very good.
However, the reason I'm writing this review are for the two things that have always stood out in my mind from Casa Grille:
1 - With the meal, they bring out a very tasty bread, and they're well known for giving you olive oil to dip it in. Â However, the unique and memorable thing here is that they put Parmesan cheese in the olive oil. Â I know that's a little detail, but it's very delicious, and always stood out in my mind about the Casa restaurants. Â
2 - The baked pasta (Pasta Al Forno) is EXCELLENT here. Â If you like baked pasta, this is about as good as it gets. Â Particularly, I'd recommend the Spaghetti Parmigiano, though all of their baked pasta selections are likely as tasty. Â The sauce is rich, deep, and tasty, and the cheese on top really brings the dish together. Â
If you're looking for a great appetizer here, try the toasted ravioli. Â Also, they have a very good Tiramisu.
I'm an infrequent out-of-town visitor to Fort Wayne, but had heard good things about the local Casa chain. I had been inside previously to pick up some catering orders and found the decor and atmosphere to be inviting. I just ate my first and only meal at Casa Grille and was less than pleased.
I ordered a bottle of Sangiovese only to have a Merlot sent to the table. I ordered the grilled pork chops and mushroom risotto. The risotto was pretty flavorful, but a little dry, which unfortunately matched the doneness of the pork. The pork was not medium, but dry and there wasn't enough pan gravy to make it palatable. The portions were good for the price, but I couldn't finish the second chop because it was so dry. The pasta dishes ordered by other members of my party were lukewarm when they arrived at the table. The restaurant was crowded when we arrived, but there were only 4 tables seated when our food arrived, so I wouldn't expect the kitchen to have problems with timing. I had a better meal at Biaggi's across town a couple years ago.
This is a pretty popular local chain, with pretty good pasta, but not great or anything. The atmosphere is usually kind of loud, and the place is generally full, so that makes it more fun for dinners out. The gluten free pasta is fairly good, and the vegetarian menu is so-so, kind of limited and pretty salty overall. This place is better for a local dinner with friends or a date than for the food itself.
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