Casa Tua Italian Restaurant Review, Kings Cross, London

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In recent years, the area around King’s Cross has undergone something of a Cinderella transformation. It used to be a desperate place where drug dealers and prostitutes plied their trade. Fortunately all that has gone and Casa Tua, arriving here 10 years ago, has seen all the changes.

Even though it’s only five minutes’ walk from the station, Casa Tua seems far away from the hustle and bustle. It’s truly a neighbourhood restaurant and, on a busy Saturday night, we hear plenty of Italian spoken amidst the diners.  Décor is simple, all soft colours and wood table tops. It’s on two levels, with large parties occupying the downstairs.

We’re greeted by moustachioed Giuseppe Miggiano, who founded the original branch of Casa Tua in Camden back in 2013. He’s from Puglia and the dishes are inspired by his mother’s cooking, always using quality ingredients, many direct from Italy. You can order a selection from their delicatessen, Casa Tua Delizie, also in Camden, along with wines and olive oil.

The restaurant is open all day, every day, providing breakfast, lunch and dinner. The evening menu is divided into appetisers, starters, pasta, other mains and pizza.  In true Italian tradition, they recommend sharing, picking four dishes for two people. That sounds good, so we ordered glasses of their very reasonably priced Trebbiano from Puglia.

First up is Casa Tua Burrata (15.90), the cheese served on pumpkin puree and dotted with black truffle cream. The freshest of the fresh, even though it comes all the way from Southern Italy, it’s surrounded by caramelised red onion and amaretto crumble. The mix of textures works well, with special mention for the distinctive vegetable puree.

A second starter is Casa Tua Arancini (14.90), warm and crunchy on the outside, with Arborio rice, king oyster mushrooms and truffle inside. An added extra is a homemade Gorgonzola and black truffle dip, just right for spicing up the Arancini. We’ve also enthusiastically ordered their Artisan Rosemary Focaccia (10.90), two big slabs of fresh bread which prove slightly unnecessary, excellent though they are.

So bring on the pasta, all made in-house using Semola flour from Altamura (Puglia) and British free-range eggs. Puglia’s signature dish is Orecchiette Sausage & Cime Di Rapa (20.90) so we’d be crazy to miss it. Orecchiette translates as “little ears,” and they’re the perfect shape to scoop up the slices of sausage. The key sauce is a mix of turnip greens, parsley, garlic, and chilli. Add toppings of parmesan, anchovies and Tarallo breadcrumbs, and all is good.

The portions here are ample, certainly enough for two and by the time we’ve tucked into the side of Rocket Salad (7.90), we’re beginning to struggle. Fortunately, the Spaghetti Ai Frutti Di Mare (24.50), a seafood mix of clams, mussels and tiger prawns, is relatively light. It gets an extra zing from the fresh chilli and orange zest in the lobster and saffron sauce.

Giuseppe tells us all his deserts are made fresh every morning so we can’t resist his Tiramisu (8.50), with secret ingredients Marsala and Amaretto. It arrives in a see-through teacup with a moustache icon stencilled on the outside. From the cocoa topping, down through the creamy egg and mascarpone mixture, to the alcoholic coffee crunch at the base, this is a definite hit.  

VERDICT

Casa Tua, or “Your House”, certainly lives up to its name. It’s a cosy, friendly space serving authentic Italian comfort food at very good prices. Best of all, it’s not a chain, just two locations, and Giuseppe or his partner is always there to welcome you.

Casa Tua – King’s Cross is open all day 7 days a week.

106 Cromer St, London WC1H 8BZ.  020 7833 1483