I was in Aspen for the Food & Wine Classic. There are only so many meals one can have a day and I took a lot of care in determining which restaurants to try. Friday night I went to Casa Tua and they sat me at their bar outside which was perfect. The ambiance was great. Then 15 minutes passed....
...finally the bartender gave me a menu. Then another period of time passed...
you get the point...it was bloody SLOW. The food itself was better than average but definitely not worth the wait. The price was pretty much on par with what you will find around Aspen. A local told me they just opened the back bar so maybe (hopefully) that is what was going on here. I'll be back next year and might try again if other yelpers between now and then disagree with my experience.
The food quality and service is very good. That said, there is a pretentiousness that now pervades this place. Our hungry party of 5 guys (who have been directly involved in developing integrated resorts around the globe with some of the world's most renowned chefs and restauranteurs) have eaten at Casa Tua 3 or 4 times in the past. It seems that the departure of General Manager, Christiano has led to a big decline in the overall experience. We were seated near the entrance of the restaurant. Due to a draft coming in from either the front door or behind some curtained off area inside the restaurant, we felt ilke we hadn't come in from the cold. We were told that it was because there was a private party in the restaurant and the guests were entering from a side door that was opening frequently. To Casa Tua's credit, they eventually offered to move us and we did not hesitate to take them up on that offer. Â Now for the food. Bottom line, we left hungry, aggravated and feeling like we were taken advantage of. The portions are "small plates" at full price. The Red Snapper ($36) was litterally the size 2 match book covers. The pastas were great but pasta is one of the cheapest things to make in a restaurant. They need to step it up...a lot.
Review Source:Let me premise this review by saying that the critique might seem picky to some, but ones expectations at olive garden vs. Casa Tua are worlds apart.
We were a party of 6 on a Tuesday night. Our table was ready and waiting. When we entered the restaurant, there was an overwhelmingly bad smell that we could only guess was sewage. Possibly a broken pipe? The smell was strongest in the basement where the restrooms were. One restroom was marked out of order. So, I get that pipes break but when we asked the staff what the offending odor was, they denied any bad smell. Very puzzling.
After being seated, we waited over 10 minutes before the server approached the table. She launched right into listing their specials before taking any drink orders. Kind of odd, but we will let that slide.
Next, a guest in our party asked for a black napkin (instead of white) to avoid the little flecks of lint that can cling to black pants. The server checked, and reported there were no black napkins to be had. Ok.
Finally we get down to the food. The tuna tartare was exceedingly salty. Beet salad was completely unmemorable. We ordered the Buratta and asked for prosciutto to be added to the dish. They added a healthy portion (best part of the entire meal) and laid it on the table. We asked twice for basalmic vinegar for the beet salad and most importantly the Buratta and prosciutto platter. First they brought a bowl of olive oil with a few drops of basalmic in the bottom. I then asked again for plain old aged basalmic vinegar. I was brought a small dish with about a tablespoon of basalmic reduction that had some other seasoning that significantly altered the taste. Again, not what we asked for. After asking a third time, we were told the restaurant had no basalmic whatsoever. Very strange for a high end Italian restaurant. Without basalmic, what was their reduction made from? Maybe it came in a pastic jar from Sysco? Ok, I'll let that go too.
Pastas came next. Linguini with mushroom was the least offensive of the lot. You can tell the pasta is fresh and it had a nice texture, but the fun stops there. The saltiness was overwhelming. The bolognese was marginal at best and also salty. The risotto was salty as well.
After the appetizers our friendly waitress spilled a glass of water on one of our guests.
Accidents happen, I understand, but would have been better to aim for our mouths.
We ordered more water.
Finally, the entrees arrived. Â Roast chicken was alright. Lamb chops were salty and a very fatty cut. Osso bucco was the biggest disappointment of the night. The meat was chewy, fatty, and salty. Not at all the melt in your mouth dish one expects at the very best Italian restaurants.
We skipped dessert and headed out the door. For almost $900, we had expected much more. Of all the fabulous meals we have had in Aspen (Su Casa, hotel Jerome, Matsuhisha) this was our only disappointment.
The only reason Casa Tua Aspen is not receiving 5 stars is because the waiter we had was terrible! Â He was rushing us the entire time!
However, the food was wonderful and so was the ambiance. Â We ordered the tuna tar tar, carrot soup, fettuccine with mushrooms and truffles and carrot cake :)
The name Casa Tua evokes settings of a stunning and petite restaurant in Miami with a breathtaking courtyard, superb service and wonderful food.
Casa Tua Aspen does have a beautiful setting. Dim lighting and modern, sexy art lines the walls. There are perfect roses atop each table in deep crimson red. But, there was a little something left to be desired.
We ate here on a very quite Monday in mid December. There was only one other table in the restaurant.
A mixed bread basket came out with bread sticks, olive rolls and foccacia. They also brought out a complimentary amuse bouche of polenta with truffle oil and mushrooms.
Service was more then friendly and very helpful when it came time to order.
The reason I am only giving this 3 stars is due to the food. It all fell a little flat. It wasn't bad. But it wasn't special. I've been to Casa Tua in Miami several times and always been incredibly impressed with the pastas and the entrees. I've had items like quail and rabbit, both impeccably cooked.
I was most disappointed to see only a few local dishes on the menu. Apart from the veal and lamb, all other items were from far off. Very few (if any) items on the menu seemed seasonally inspired.
I had the ricotta cavatelli as well as the dover sole, the bolognese, the beet salad and the veal. We ate family style. Â The veal was probably the most impressive although it could have been a bit warmer and had more sauce. The dover sole was lacking in flavor and the the cavatelli was a clean and simple pasta that I did enjoy.
If you are looking for a wonderful setting, this is your place. Food may not wow you, but it's definitely edible. I was just looking to be romanced, the way I had been in Miami.
Oh well... Another time perhaps.
With complete respect to the reviewers before me, if you're wanting huge portions for your money, I recommend Golden Corral.
Casa Tua makes fine dining relatively accessible. Yes, it's slightly pricey, but the prix fixe menu can keep dining for two well under $200 with gratuity. A stretch for some (including me), but if you love really great food, I can assure you it's worth the splurge for a special occasion. For the quality of the experience, I feel like the price was an incredible deal.
The service was fantastic. The food was exquisite. And yes, the portions are small, but I'm not a small guy and I left feeling fully satisfied. European palates will be satisfied. This poor kid from rural Ohio felt like he was eating like a king.
Is it possible that the Saturday night menu has higher prices than the menu during the week? They certainly are high, in any event, especially in light of the fact that the portions are so tiny. The pasta dishes are appetizer sized but at $20 and up they should not be. The wine list should have many more reasonably priced wines. Fifty dollars a bottle for an adequate but not great wine is not acceptable. We understand that restaurants like to make a healthy profit on wine and other drinks, but there should be at least a dozen forty dollar bottles, such as Dolcettos and Chiantis. The sommelier is very good; the ambiance is terrific; the location is great and probably expensive to rent. The bread for the table is mediocre. You have to ask for a green salad; they don't offer it on the menu. Food in Aspen is not great, except Japanese (why is that?), so by Aspen standards this restaurant is perhaps four stars.
Review Source:An exquisite dining & private club experience in Aspen. Â Unlike the Caribou Club which is hidden underground, dark & reminiscent of a hunting lodge, Casa Tua has a large 2 floor, art-filled, sexy & chic atmosphere. Â Immerse yourself in the gorgeous dining room, communal table or adjacent patio where you can enjoy al fresco Italian inspired cuisine. Â
After you relish in the delicate and tastefully presented food, head upstairs for a glass of prosecco or a cocktail by the bar, outside on the patio or by the fire in winter. Â Get inspired by all the B&W sensual photographs that line the walls. Â Kick your heels up to great music by the house DJ and meet some new friends....you never know who will be upstairs mingling. Â It's always a good time at CT.
If you need extra special attention, seek out Clay the Maitre d'...his attention to detail is superior. Â Thanks Casa Tua for a great summer 2011!!!
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