Casa Don Alfonso

So we now know Casa Don Alfonso in Clayton has had such high accolades since its opening in 2021.

First of all the space is fantastic.   Adjoining the Ritz Carlton, you walk into a welcoming bright and open space.  From the seating in their bar/coffee area, to seating around the kitchen watching the chefs in action, to the main seating area - there is something for the largest to smallest party size.  We sat at a table that because of how it was set up, still felt intimate and private even in the large open space.   And everything about the food was not only delicious but the presentations were done to perfection.

We started with cocktails, their Old Fashioned which included clear cubes with a logo in the middle, and a dusted logo cappuccino martini.  We tried 3 appetizers - the Classic Eggplant Parmigiana, the Beet Root and Orange Fennel Salad and the Tuna Tartare - all great choices for starters - especially the tuna.

For entrees we had the deep fried shrimp and calamari as well as the margarita pizza made with sourdough crust (which by the way can be seen being made in the kitchen).  And an order of the lemon profiteroles rounded out the meal.  Care and thought went into each dish, each with their own special touches.  For example the calamari was cut in large pieces with 4 large shrimp served with 3 different mayos (garlic, beet and lemon), and lightly seasoned greens and tomatoes.   Much different from the usual calamari dish.  The pizzas are a signature dish for a good reason.

As we sat there, we talked about coming back even to just sit at the bar and have drinks and dessert.  If we were staying at the hotel, we would definitely not walk out the door to someplace else, as this restaurant is a great choice.  We certainly were not the only ones who liked this restaurant as it took us 2 months to get a reservation for a Tuesday night in January.  And dining with reconnected friends made it even better.