Casa Fofo

We left feeling that the restaurant had some good ideas, but the overall experience didn’t quite come together - good technique but not at the service of good flavours. Some dishes could have used a bit more context, for example a piece of soggy bread from the day before with potato puree - not sure what was that supposed to be. A few dishes mixed flavours that we didn’t enjoy, as if creativity was the goal rather than coherence. The dessert course in particular tried to do too much: a bowl of scattered flavours paired with a sweet Tokaji, followed by a second “dessert” with chocolate and mushrooms. It was surprising, but not in a way that added to the meal and made the closure neither refreshing or satisfyingly sweet. The mackerel dish was the exception. The salty fish with crisp apple actually worked. Simple, sensible, and not trying too hard. The wine pairing overall was fine. Most of the wines were natural, which fit the restaurant’s style, but didn’t always elevate the food. Service was kind and uncomplicated, and the room itself was pleasant, though it would have been nice to have somewhere to put a long coat other than the back of a chair. The experience was overall ok, but below expectations. There were glimmers of something interesting, but the flavours, pairings, and overall storytelling never fully came together.