Back at Casa Verde to try the pizzas in particular. Was there more than half a year ago for my birthday treat and I had good memories of the place though they have done away with set dinners, serving only ala carte.
1-for-1 takeaway pizzas!
Fried Squid with Arabbatti Sauce and Anchovies Mayonnaise ($16)
Skipped this but the company polished it off readily.
Shellfish Soup with Garlic Bread ($11)
Every seafood lover's dream though the price would set one back. I could easily get three cans of Campbell's soup! The stock's packed with seafood gems resulting in the multitude of flavours within one spoonful. It's one of those soups that packs a fiesty punch, with all the spice plonked in. The wedge of crunchy garlic bread was an equally brilliant move.
Tomato Salsa, Mozzarella, Parma Ham, Parmesan Shaving, Rocket Leaves and Olive Oil Pizza ($24)
The gf highly recommended this and we followed suit. The chewy dough was appetizing on its own, together with parma ham...delicious baked in one pizza. The abundance of rocket leaves made this "greener" than it should be but I was grateful it was not bitter.
Tomato Salsa, Mozzarella, Mushrooms & Ham Pizza ($23)
This paled in comparison, coming across as ordinary.
Oven Baked Fillet of Cod with Black Olives Crust in a Sweet Pepper Bell Coulis ($28)
A clear winner and favourite of the mains we attempted. Fresh fish should never be wasted fried, neither should it be overcooked. The freshness of the cod was further affirmed by the succulence of the meat, juices overflowing and leaving you thirsting for more.
The selection of cold cuts and rocket salad proved refreshing and most appetizing.
The crispy bread slices was a good to have.
Grilled Beef Ribeye with Mushroom Sauce ($27)
The second favourite. I cannot find a better word apart from tender to describe this. The mellow flavours were complimentary, not over the board spicy or set to blow your senses.
Oven Braised Chicken Leg with Rosemary, Olives and Mushroom ($25)
Nothing spectacular.
Dinner Special Lamb Rack with Passionfruit confit ($35)
When the server teases me with "dinner special", I become extra interested because...
1) It's a special in the most bimbotic way spells "limited edition", not something they have on the menu every other day.
2) It sounded delicious when the server rattled off enthusiastically.
3) I was not feeling entirely beef.
And the long wait upped the expectations more than a few notches higher.
Three lamb racks on a bed of what looked like mashed potato turned out to be passionfruit confit. The mind was confused with what I was tasting and what it apparently was. It tasted like dense egg mayo or cous cous. I tasted passionfruit in the gravy though. Lamb was painfully tough, no where near the melt in your mouth tendency I was looking out for.
Homemade Squid Ink Tagliolini with Fresh Clams ($21)
Another sore disappointment that not only arrived late but tasted normal. Liked the firm cherry tomatoes however.
Home-made Profiteroles filled with Orange Curd ($10)
I was expecting more than 3 plumped up profiteroles. One of the better ones around, the pastry was light and orange curd had a zesty twang to it which tantalized the dessert muchly.
Service was attentive and props to the waitress for buzzing around us without being intrusive. I say stick to the pizzas and cod fish should dinner be an option at this place..beyond Casa Verde, the location is quite a charmer on its own.
Casa Verde
Botanical Gardens
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