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Recently, my companion and I spontaneously decided to eat at Nuovo Casale one evening. We drove to Hohlbeinstraße in Bogenhausen, found a parking spot right in front of the restaurant – not directly accessible by public transport, the Prinzregentenplatz U-Bahn station is about 450 meters away – and entered the friendly, yet at first glance somewhat austere, establishment. In front of the restaurant, under the covered entrance, there are about five tables, also set, outside. The restaurant's interior appears quite simple at first glance, with a glass front running the entire length of the premises along the street.
Nuovo Casale has only about 15 tables: six in the front area and nine tables inside the restaurant itself, each with a candle, centerpiece, and white tablecloth. The restaurant also houses a small, dark bar – without seating. Subtle lighting on the walls, light-colored tiled flooring, green plants on the windowsills of the tall, bright windows, pictures, and a huge gold-framed mirror on the wall all contribute to a rather cozy atmosphere. As mentioned, the restaurant initially appears quite cold and sparsely furnished, as the tables are spaced relatively far apart and seem somewhat lost in the not particularly large space. However, it becomes quite comfortable once you're seated.
The two Italian waiters greeted us warmly and offered us a table already set in the corner. Since I prefer corner seats, I was immediately pleased with the spot, which offered an excellent view of the approximately 35 to 45 square meter (or rather, small) restaurant. The menu, along with the opening hours (Sunday to Friday, 12:00-2:30 pm and 6:00-11:00 pm, and Saturday, 6:00-11:00 pm), was displayed in a small, illuminated glass case near the entrance and was brought to us after we had left our coats in the cloakroom.
The menus aren't particularly extensive, but they offer a good mix. The lunch menu, for example, includes a small mixed salad and a pasta dish for €11.50, or a two-course meal with a meat or fish dish for €18.50. The regular menu features antipasti, soups (tomato or vegetable), salads (Mista, Pomodori, Parmigiano), pasta dishes, fish or meat dishes, as well as five different pizzas (Margherita, Tonno, Prosciutto, Casale, or with Parma ham). Nuovo Casale isn't cheap. Antipasti start at €10.50, soups at €5.50, and fish at €19. Pizzas start at €8 and go up to €11.50 for the pizza with Parma ham, Parmesan, and arugula.
We opted for a minestrone for €5.50, "Pesce misto alla Griglia" – the grilled fish medley for €22.50, and a pizza tonno for €9.50. To drink, we ordered a bottle of still mineral water and a Hugo (for €6.50). The Hugo was delicious, but it was brought to me without a straw. As I've mentioned before, I'm very particular about not having my straw touched directly with my hand before putting it in my mouth. Unfortunately, the waiter brought me two straws directly with his hand, instead of using a napkin as I'm used to in slightly nicer (or at least more expensive) restaurants. The Hugo wasn't too sweet or too strong. The minestrone arrived relatively quickly after we ordered it and tasted very good – even though it didn't look like much – especially with the bread from the small bread basket on the table. The pizza tonno, which was served afterward, was a different story. The base was a bit soggy, the toppings were limited to the center of the pizza, and it wasn't particularly flavorful. My fish plate was okay, served separately from the side dish – carrots, cabbage, and cauliflower – and was just a little too dry since there was no sauce. The portion size was borderline for the price, and I could have easily eaten the same amount again.
When we went to pay, it took quite a while to get the attention of either of the two staff members – in a restaurant that wasn't even half full. We paid €50 by card, including tip. When we got up, our jackets hadn't been brought to us, and we hadn't seen where they were hung up. So we had to go searching for them, but this was made up for when the waiter rushed over, held the door open for us, and wished us a pleasant evening. The staff is quite friendly, genuine, and tries hard. The atmosphere in the restaurant is somewhere between cool and cozy, but the food itself wasn't anything special and – at least for the price – not something we'd want to repeat. We didn't try any of the desserts. They offered things like tiramisu, lemon cream, or a cheese selection for between €5 and €8.50. The food wasn't exactly a disaster, but it wasn't good enough for me to strongly recommend trying it.
I'll be back: Not right now. The food was too expensive for the quality.
Place visited: Nuovo Casale
Address: Holbeinstraße 18, 81679 Munich
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