Casa Bianca
Italian restaurant · East Cesar Chavez
1510 E Cesar Chavez St, Austin, TX 78702
Highlights
"When to get it: Tuesday, 4pm-close This self-proclaimed “weirdo Italian restaurant” has a daily Happy Hour from 4-6pm, with oysters going for about $3 each. But things really get good on Tuesdays when they’re marked down to $1. Head over on the early side—Casa Bianca can fill up, and the oysters sometimes sell out. Even if they do, you can still order half-priced bottles of champagne." - matthew jacobs, nicolai mccrary
"A restaurant with neon lights offering unexpected availability and memorable meals and cocktails." - Nadia Chaudhury
"East Austin modern American Italian restaurant Casa Bianca opened up its rooftop bar in late September. The similar “weirdo-Italian” ethos from the restaurant applies up here — find bar snacks like conservas and mussels, along with sandwiches and chilled pastas, perfect for alfresco dining. There are outdoor dine-in services." - Nadia Chaudhury
"The solid menu of classic cocktails at this Italian-ish restaurant in East Austin, which opened in April, is worth a visit all on its own. Try on-tap cocktails including the Aperol spritzes, palomas, and Old Fashioneds. There are whole sections dedicated to Negronis, martinis, margaritas, and tiki drinks with flavor profiles that are all over the map. And there’s a promising section of “new Italian” drinks — updated takes on classic ideas. There are indoor and outdoor dine-in services." - Nadia Chaudhury
"Casa Bianca likes to be different, starting with the self-proclaimed title of “weirdo Italian restaurant.” Most dishes at this East Side spot sound familiar, but nothing really looks how you expect it to. Mussels arrive shelled and swimming in a shallow pool of absinthe butter, raw ocean trout is dressed in a puttanesca sauce, and clams casino takes the form of a savory turnover with bacon jam. It’s fun and exciting, and most of it works better than you’d imagine based on the descriptions alone. The majority of the menu is made up of snacks and small plates—plus a few larger options available primarily at dinner—accompanied by cocktails that are equally inventive. If you’re looking for classic pastas or the moody interiors of Austin's other Italian restaurants, you’ll probably leave disappointed. But if you can handle some minor shock and awe during dinner, head to Casa Bianca to see if you can guess what form your favorite dish is going to take while enjoying a round of parmesan, vodka, and sherry martinis. Food Rundown photo credit: Nicolai McCrary Mussels In Absinthe Butter These don’t taste nearly as absinthe-y as we were worried they would. The mussels arrived pre-shelled and buttery, alongside crispy garlic toast. This is a nice way to start the meal. photo credit: Nicolai McCrary Ocean Trout Alla Puttanesca The puttanesca sauce makes the ocean trout taste a little too fishy, but the blue cheese crackers it's served with are the main thing you’ll taste anyway. Get this if you really like fish and blue cheese and want to explore less-conventional combinations. photo credit: Nicolai McCrary Fried Olives A few of these go a long way, which makes them a great table snack to share with a group. For one or two people, they might be a bit much. photo credit: Nicolai McCrary Cavatelli Our cavatelli was served with cannellini beans, serrano pickles, guanciale, and pecorino. It tastes like autumn on a plate, and the pasta is cooked and seasoned perfectly. photo credit: Nicolai McCrary Pork Fat Sticky Bun The sticky bun is presented on the menu’s savory main courses, even though it leans more into the dessert realm. The bun is a little dry, but it’s an interesting combination of flavors, particularly with the optional fried guanciale add-on. photo credit: Nicolai McCrary Limoncello Doughnut A few of our bites had a heavier limoncello soak than others, but these are an all-around satisfying dessert that’s not overly sweet." - Nicolai McCrary
