Casa

Low-intervention wines, home-style hospitality and a drawcard menu drive this neighbourhood heavy hitter.

Casa excels at many things, but perhaps most striking of all is its absolute mastery of the casual excellence that typifies the best of Perth dining these days. The hint is in the name: it means ‘home’ in both Italian and Spanish, and stepping off the street into the warmth of this room – flanked by a long bar and temperature-controlled glassed-in wine cabinets – very much feels like being enveloped into someone’s abode. Servers greet you like old friends; the banter is strong. The moniker also hints at the menu’s influences, which aren’t tied to any particular nation but lean Italian and Mexican. The oysters royale, which see fat raw oysters topped with tuna belly, a tongue of uni and aguachile, are a decadent seafood feast in one bite deserving of cult status. Pastas enjoy the best seasonal treatment; springtime tonnarelli is jumbled with a bright mixture of crab, asparagus and jalapeño. Inventive veggie sides are a standout, with umami being their guiding force – think roasted cabbage with macadamia, kombu and salsa macha made from dusky pumpkin seeds. Stop in for a Tuesday night burger and beer, or settle in for a blowout special occasion meal – it fits as many purposes as any home should.