First, I have to say it’s been SIX MONTHS since I last posted. A lot has passed since then, but it’s not for here. What is for here though, is good food. And with eager neurons and a satiated appetite, I’d like to welcome you back to Eats Too Far!
Today’s adventure takes me to a place so familiar, Fairview a.k.a the mythical Far-view. But Fairview is not just an allusion for remoteness. On a positive note, Fairview has long been associated with an incredible dining scene which ranges from casual eats to fine dining. The restaurant scene there (and in many parts of QC as well) is the brainchild of its entrepreneurial, upper-middle class residents. It’s pretty much part of Fairview’s culture, and I have to tell you, they might be cursed by remoteness, but when it comes to food, they are oh so blessed by the abundance of choices blocks away from their homes!
Enough of my obsession with Fairview and how it came to be. The real star of today’s blog post is Casa Renato, a picturesque fine dining joint along Dahlia Avenue Extension.
What awaits behind these closed doors? You’ll find out in a minute! (blog time, I mean)
The restaurant opens at 11:00 AM, and I arrived there at around 10:50. I happened to have met the owner and I thought he was a patron so when he went in I also went in and he said that the restaurant was still closed. My bad. Anyhow, the wait was worth it because when the accommodating doorman let me in this is what I saw:
Casa Renato’s welcoming interiors bear some Western European and Mediterranean influences
I am a sucker for classic European styles and Swiss-style (chalet-type) interiors. The moment I saw the doors I knew what lies inside would be a treat for the eyes. And this is it! I was like Whoopi Goldberg winning an Oscar the moment I saw how lovely the foyer is.
Just like this, but not like this (oooh I am not racist!)
Restaurant Review
Casa Renato
When I got in the restaurant itself, I almost fainted. The interiors are so dreamy. It reminds me of a cozy restaurant in the mountainous regions of Italy, Austria, or Switzerland. The table setting is impeccable. The chairs are comfortable and classy. The decor, really adds to the mood. My impression was that the owner of this restaurant painstakingly made sure every detail was captured to yield the intended effect. Had Brillat-Savarin been alive, he would have flown all the way from France just to tap the owner on the shoulder and say, “Oui, oui!”
Every little detail makes the big picture awesome, at Casa Renato
For today’s meal, I decided to order the Pesto with Roast Chicken and a slice of Brazo de Mercedes for dessert.
Pesto with Roast Chicken
The first time I saw it on their menu, I knew I had to try it. I am a fan of pesto, bechamel sauce, mushroom, and chicken, and since it has all these elements, I went for it. The presentation is so-so. I don’t think it looks sloppy. I actually like how bold it looks. It’s like you can feel the passion poured into the cooking by the way the elements were placed together. As for taste, I have to say it’s as bold and beautiful as it looks. The pesto didn’t taste minty, but rather savory, and the bechamel had the right amount of saltiness and creaminess to it. The olive oil, a little on the extra side, but it wrapped everything together well. The chicken is the supporting character to this dish, and well maybe that’s the reason why it wasn’t as tasty as the pasta. Intentional or not, I dunno, but I feel that it was meant to supplement the pasta, not compete with it. The additional bread sticks gave the dish an extra texture.
Brazo de Mercedes
Now I am not a dessert person, but a slice of Brazo de Mercedes always makes me go “ooooh gimme!”. Sadly, that was not what I felt with the brazo I had. I do not want to use the term, but it tasted commercial. I did not feel that it was something from their kitchen. It was kinda forgettable, like I forgot I ate it. You know, that kind of feeling.
Price-wise, all this cost PhP 505.00 (I forgot to mention I ordered iced tea). Considering it’s a fine dining joint, I do feel that the price is right for the quality of food offered.
Overall Rating
- Price: 3.9
- Ambiance: 5.0 (Casa Renato is like the Nadia Comaneci of ambiance!)
- Presentation of Food: 3.6
- Flavor of Food: 3.9
- Service: 4.0
- OVERALL RATING: 4.1
I had a great time in this restaurant that I already had in mind booking two appointments in the future! The server who tended to my needs was very nice, and he kept me company since I was the only one there, ALONE, AGAIN, NATURALLY. The doorman also took photos of me without any hesitations. The service crew seemed distant, I have to say, but maybe it’s because I did not really need anything else. It’s not a big deal.
Fairview will always be the land far, far away, but with a lot of amazing food joints tucked in its swanky subdivisions, it’s worth a visit. And if you do find yourself in Fairview, you have to try out Casa Renato. It’s like home away from home, for your appetite.
How to get there
Casa Renato is most accessible from North Avenue MRT Station. Take an FX heading to SM Fairview and go down on Regalado Avenue (not Regalado Highway [it’s something you have to be keen about when in Fairview] at Fairview Central Mall. Then, take a tricycle to Dahlia Avenue Extension corner Walnut Street and you’ll see Casa Renato. Alternately, you can go from Quezon Avenue MRT Station and take any jeepney with the signboard “FAIRVIEW-DAHLIA” since it will go straight to Dahlia Avenue (not advisable in hot or rainy weather though)
Eats Too Far 
Hi, thank you very much for your very generous blog. Please, whenever you come back to Casa Renato, ask for me, i would like very much to meet you and probably walk you around the backyard venues which i think you have not seen.
Again, my deepest appreciation for your comments.
This is Renato.
LikeLike
I was there last Sunday, the 18th of June. And def, I will return 🙂 Your restaurant is like what I’ve always dreamed of seeing! Thank you for making it a reality for everyone 🙂
LikeLike