Casa Teresa — Restaurant in Washington

Casa Teresa, located at 919 19th Street NW, Washington DC, offers a charming and inviting atmosphere perfect for a leisurely lunch with friends. When my two girlfriends and I visited recently, we were delighted by both the ambiance and the culinary delights of Casa Teresa. Upon entering the restaurant, we were taken by the warm and welcoming decor. Because it was such a nice day out, we opted for their outdoor seating, and were very pleased with the cozy and comfortable setting. Our lunch experience began with the “How to Pà amb Tomàquet”, a simple yet exquisite dish featuring cristal bread, tomato, and extra virgin olive oil. The bread was delightfully crispy, and the combination of fresh tomatoes and rich olive oil was a perfect start to our meal. My friend, who is originally from Spain, instructed us how to prepare the bread so we did not need the instruction card provided by our server – although the cards are a nice touch. Next, we enjoyed the “Tortilla de Patatas Clásica”, a traditional potato, egg, and onion omelet. My Spanish friend told us that these two dishes are staples in many Spanish homes. The “Vasito de Gazpacho Andaluz” followed, serving up a refreshing and flavorful cold tomato soup. We also shared the “Ensalada Verde Para la Mesa”, a green lettuce salad dressed in sherry dressing. This simple yet tasty salad provided a nice balance to the richer dishes, adding a crisp and tangy element to our meal.

For the main courses, we savored the “Pescado a la Llauna”, featuring the daily catch grilled Catalan style with ember roasted potatoes and romesco sauce. The fish was perfectly cooked, and flavorful, while the romesco sauce added a delightful depth of flavor. Two of us opted for the “Punta Paleta a la Brasa” - offering grilled steak from Roseda Farm in Maryland, accompanied by fries and aioli. The steak was succulent and cooked to perfection, and the fries crispy. Our dining experience was elevated by the excellent service provided by our server, Marbin. He was attentive, knowledgeable, and made us feel truly welcome. To top off our meal, Marbin surprised us with a complimentary “Tarta de Queso”, a goat cheese burnt Basque-style cheesecake served with walnut praline. This dessert was a delightful finale. Overall, our lunch at Casa Teresa was a memorable experience filled with delicious food, exceptional service, and a warm, inviting ambiance. It's a wonderful spot to gather with friends and enjoy a taste of Spain right in the heart of...

Given the price point, I would have expected a better overall experience. I wanted to enjoy my time here given what it touted and where its roots are. The problem I noted from the start is that boxes are checked, but they're done inauthentically.

The PA AMB TOMÀQUET sounds like a fun experience, the menu inviting you to "Let [them] show you how it's done!". It arrived at the table with a postcard containing instructions on how to do it ourselves, with the server basically dumping it and saying "read the card" before disappearing. Wow. What a fun story to tell.

Side note: this appeared to be the theme of all servers aside from our primary waitress. Haphazard, mute, or borderline rude interactions, including the host who could not be bothered, it seemed.

We ordered drinks which arrived after our starters for some reason. One was a MIGRONI, described as "a negroni but not quite." I agree. 80% of the drink was a massive ice cube. I suppose to be fair, the margins on using a few drops of six different vermouths must be slim on a 23 dollar drink. Another was the BUCHA VINO, which I should have known to be a poor choice from my server wincing as I ordered it. I'm not sure they understand what "no waste wine" is, as this was an absolute waste of wine with enough kombucha to fill my nostrils with the smell of dirty socks with every sip and zero hint of wine. Divine.

As for things that weren't disappointing, I will note the catalan sausage dish BOTIFARRA CATALANA AMB SEQUES and the roasted eggplant BERENJENA AL-ANDALUS. Unfortunately, they were just that: not disappointing. The catalan sausage dish lacked cohesion, reminding me of leftovers I would slap together because I didn't want to cook that night. The roasted eggplant lacked any texture beyond the creamy ajonjoli sauce and the mustard greens were wholly absent. It was fine, I guess?

Do yourself a favor: make yourself some pan con tomate at home as a fun experience. It's as easy as...

It's been almost 2 weeks since my visit to Casa Teresa and am still so very appreciative of the entire experience... The food and the atmosphere are great; however, it was the service really did it for me. The gentelman that served my table is named, Andres. I was at the restaurat with my daughter Julianna, but Andres treated like were were special guests. This was not a celebratoin dinner, not a birthday, not anything special... just a meal. But Andres, made that meal incredibly special for both myself and Julianna, by his genuine desire to help us have a great dining experience. It didn't hurt that the food was actually excellent... It also didn't hurt that the place was emaculately clean and pleasent - but those things are to be expected (or at leaset should be).

Servicing a table table of two is generally less desirable that one with more guests, especially a father and daughter table, where the bill is likely less resulting in a lesser gratuity. I rememer when I served tables - duces were always less desirable. But like Andres, I poured my heart into the service experience for my guests and was often rewarded with friendly banter and generally a better gratuity for the service and experience I provided. Andres did just that, he treated us like we mattered to him, and for that I give Casa Teresa huge check marks - one for being a great restaurant and seriving delicious dishes, and 4 more for hiring Andres to represent your establishment. I can go on... but the take away here is... Julianna and I will remember that experience for a long time.

Thank you to Casa Teresa for a great meal, and a special thanks to Andres for turning what started out to be a rough night (at a different restaurant that we walked out of) and turning our night around resulting in a great and memorable evening.

Warm regards to...