Casamara — Restaurant in Washington

Casamara DC, an ambitious establishment, offers a truly unique dining experience, even if it occasionally veers into the theatrical. Our recent celebration there for my fiancée's birthday provided ample opportunity to assess its various facets.

The atmosphere is immediately striking. Upon entering from the lobby, the space dramatically unfolds, revealing an architecturally pleasing design with elegant marble tables, a commanding oval bar at its center, and a myriad of stylish seating options. We were escorted toward the back to a chic circular booth. The techno/house music, surprisingly, lent a rather chill and sophisticated vibe, a refreshing departure from typical restaurant soundtracks. Throughout the evening, the service was impeccable, with attentive staff anticipating our needs. However, the reset between courses, while undeniably classy with new silverware and plates, felt somewhat over the top and created a distracting break in our conversation and overall dining experience.

The drink program deserves commendation. We indulged in Pepperoncini-tini (Grey Goose, drai siderale vermouth, feta stuffed pepperoncini), which was so delicious that I ordered a second. The ladies in our party raved about the refreshing Acqua Verde (Tito’s vodka, salted cucumber, cordial kiwi, lime). The Côte d’Amour (St-Germain elderflower, malfy gin, lillet blanc, strawberry, mint, cava) could be described as a French summer countryside in a glass – a delicious and light concoction.

Our culinary journey began with a selection of appetizers. The Otoro Prosciutto & Melon (Tuna belly, chili, honeydew, cantaloupe, mint, extra virgin olive oil) was a delightful exercise in balance, with the toro, melon, and chili oil creating a harmonious blend of flavors. The Crab Dip (lime, green chili, dill, fennel, flat bread) was refreshing and crisp, a perfect palate cleanser. The Potato & Mozzarella Dumplings (with truffle, wildflower honey, brown butter, aged balsamic), ordered in duplicate, proved to be a highlight – delightfully cheesy with an unexpected yet welcome sweet shell topping. Even the accompanying focaccia, while seemingly simple, was elevated by the delectable herbal butter served alongside it, prompting a mental note to inquire about its preparation.

For our second course, we indulged in the Ricotta Gnocchi (Morrel, pea, ramp leaf, balsamic, caprino goat cheese) and the Truffle Bucatini Cacio e Pepe (Pecorino romano, black pepper, butter). The bucatini was a triumph of flavor, with the truffle and garlic butter achieving a perfect equilibrium. The gnocchi, with its unexpected sour tang, was surprisingly delicious and memorable.

The main courses, however, presented a more mixed bag. The 8oz Tenderloin (Rosemary salt, bone marrow & herb butter), while cooked to the requested medium-rare, was disappointingly cool to the touch, failing to melt the accompanying rosemary butter. In contrast, the grilled Seabass (with chermoula, lemon, urfa) offered a pleasant citrus kick that brightened the dish. The undisputed winner of the mains, oddly enough, was the XXL Grilled Shrimp (prepared eith garlic butter, white wine, fresh herbs) – a masterclass in charred garlic floral perfection. The sole side we ordered, asparagus, was unfortunately massively over-seasoned with Herbes de Provence, although the candied olives that accompanied it were a nice touch.

Despite the minor setbacks, the dessert course truly knocked it out of the park. The cheesecake, mousse, and key lime pie were all mind-blowing, providing a spectacular conclusion to our meal.

All in all, Casamara DC offers a dining experience that is both innovative and, at times, a little dramatic. While some dishes could benefit from minor adjustments, the overall culinary ambition, impeccable service, and captivating atmosphere make it a noteworthy contender. The highlights, particularly the excellent drink selection, the crab, bucatini, shrimp entrée, and the spectacular desserts, certainly shine through. I highly recommend...

Last night, five of my friends and I went to Casamera to celebrate my 39th birthday. Upon arrival, we were told the waitlist was an hour. I put my name down and we went to Reynold’s for a drink while waiting. After nearly two hours with no notification, we checked back in ourselves. The staff’s response, “ohhhh you were Jonida”, made it clear our table had been given away without notice. We were then told we could go upstairs but would have to stand by the bar.

When we reached the rooftop, the hostess (Corey/Kori) immediately questioned us about the reservation THEY HAD MISHANDLED and asked us to step aside. Security quickly approached us, repeating the same questions as though we were trying to sneak in, when in fact we had already explained that our reservation was botched. From the doorman (Patrick) to the hostess (Corey/Kori), to the security, the tone toward our group was hostile and out of proportion from the start.

The most alarming part of the night happened shortly after. While we were sitting at the end of the bar, away from the entrance, security pulled aside one of my friends and accused him of stealing a phone from the bathroom. My friend had not even been to the bathroom. This accusation was baseless, humiliating, and rooted in profiling. The staff eventually admitted the “description” was simply “a man in a white shirt.” That description could have applied to countless patrons in the venue, yet somehow the suspicion fell on one of the only Black men present.

When we escalated and asked to speak to the owner, Hanif, security escorted us into the elevator hallway, closed the door behind us, and tried to silence us by telling us to lower our voices instead of addressing the actual issue at hand. Hanif gave a hollow apology and offered to buy us drinks, as if that could erase the indignity of what just happened.

As a business owner in Washington, DC, a city built on diversity, the lack of cultural competency, awareness and accountability is unacceptable. In that very moment, Hanif had a responsibility to correct his staff on the spot, to hold them accountable for their words and actions, and to demand an apology to my friend. None of these things happened. Instead, he minimized the incident, literally threw his hands up in the air after we declined his drinks offer, and said “well, I tried”.

This was racial profiling, plain and simple. It was humiliating, offensive, and unacceptable. Casamera needs to take a hard look at its staff and train them accordingly. No one should walk into a bar or restaurant to celebrate life and leave feeling profiled and...

Casamara is a delight to walk into, the hostess greeted us at the door, we stepped in to a beautiful room, marble checkered floors, soft inovative lighting, an elegant oval bar in the middle and a stunning large fabric piece of art that continues on the length of the dining room. Service was timely and informative, that welcomed gift of professional and welcoming. We ordered the Otoro Proschutto & Melon, gorgous presentation of tuna belly draped ovr honeydew melon, mint extra virgin olive oil, I will highly recomend this dish, a delightful presentation and flavors. A plate of Crispy Artichoke, with parmesan aoili, mint, lemon and white anchovy gave a lovely balance to the dish. Next was Potato & Mozzarella dumplings, in a blend of truffle, brown butter, wildflower honey, ( thank you bees )and aged balsamic vinegar,what a treat! The Beef Carpacio was served with a black pepper lavash, oyster crema, horseradish, panagratto and watercress, again the blend of flavors was amazing. I ordered the Truffle Bucatini Cacoe e Pepe, pecorino, romano, truffle, butter, a lush dish that I will order again. All pasta is made in house and it shows! We had a plate of Jumbo Garlic Shrimp that was full of flavor, followed with a dish of lemon oregano and parsley Roasted Potatos. Our server was attentative and brought new dishes out in a timely manner, was quick to refill water and any wine requests. I look forward to a return visit and wish that I had the fortitude to save room for desserts as what I could see from neighboring tables...