A Bristol restaurant has been shortlisted for national award despite being open for less than six months. The National Restaurant Awards has nominated Casa in Redcliffe - the new restaurant by Michelin star Casamia - for the Opening of the Year category.
Casa is the brainchild of Peter Sanchez-Iglesias and Joel Breakwell, serving traditional Italian dishes with a contemporary twist, which BristolLive awarded five stars. The restaurant is a continuation of the Sanchez-Iglesias family restaurant, Casamia, which first opened in 1997 and reaped huge success, holding a Michelin star for many years. It closed in 2022 due to the set-up becoming "financially unviable".
Speaking on the nomination, Joel Breakwell, Executive Chef at Casa, said: "It's a really great piece of recognition and a wicked surprise. I'm really proud of the team and what they are achieving at the restaurant in such a short time."
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The restaurant is housed in a Grade II-listed building on the site of a former hospital right and neighbours the family's successful tapas restaurant, Paco Tapas, which has a Michelin Star.
Last year, BristolLive praised Casa's menu stating it was a "masterclass in Italian cooking" showing excellence in pasta making and an "ingenious" cocktail list. Casa was also added to the Michelin Guide in March, highlighting the modern Italian small plates that "burst with flavour".
Last year, no Bristol restaurants were recognised at the awards ceremony. The National Restaurant Awards sponsored by Estella Dam first launched in 2007 to celebrate the brilliance and vibrancy of the UK’s eating out scene, and reward the very best chefs, front of house staff and restaurants the country has to offer.
On the night of the awards, set to be hosted in the summer, judges reveal a list of the 100 best restaurants in the UK – as voted for by our academy of chefs, restaurateurs and food writers. This also includes a series of special awards, including Opening of the Year, culminating in the unveiling of the National Restaurant of the Year.
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