Ristorante Casa Mia — Restaurant in Efate

Generally good experience, but disappointed on my last night:

After spending three weeks at The Melanesian on a work-related trip, I developed a genuine appreciation for the staff at Casa Mia Restaurant—especially the morning team. They greeted me daily with warm smiles, friendly conversation, and efficient service. I was so impressed that I even encouraged a group of friends to have dinner there, and we had the pleasure of meeting the chef.

The food was excellent. Because I sometimes experience digestive discomfort in the evenings, I had twice requested a customized meal of grilled chicken, which the chef kindly accommodated. The chicken was perfectly cooked—tender, juicy, and full of flavor.

Unfortunately, my final night (October 12, 2025) left a very different impression. I requested only the grilled chicken for take-away, as I already had a starch I wished to finish before departure. Since my room had no microwave, I politely asked if my starch could be reheated—a request that had been kindly fulfilled once before.

This time, however, instead of a courteous explanation or refusal, I received a condescending response from a staff member. I was also charged the same price as the full meal, which felt unfair. The staff member’s tone and insistence on knowing exactly what I wanted reheated (even asking “if it was rice”) made me feel uncomfortable and disrespected. To make matters worse, the staff member then spoke to another colleague in their own dialect while staring directly at me, which gave me the impression that they were saying something rude or mocking. It was deeply uncomfortable and unprofessional.

It was a hurtful and disappointing end to what had otherwise been a lovely stay. After three weeks of positive experiences, it was upsetting that a single encounter left such a sour note. I left and had dinner at LaLaLa, where the service was impeccable.

While I still commend the chef and much of the Casa Mia team for their warmth and excellent cuisine, I urge management to train staff on how to handle unusual or special requests respectfully, even when they must decline. I also recommend that the hotel consider providing guests with a way to reheat food, as this would greatly enhance comfort during...

Disappointing! Based on previous reviews we were really excited to visit this only Italian restaurant on the island, but the overall experience was just disappointing and underwhelming.

I made a booking for the dinner in person early in the morning asking for a specific booth table. Upon arrival the staff was confused and couldn’t find the reservation and left us unattended for 5 minutes trying to decide if we should be sited at table we requested or not. It took another good 5 minutes before we got our menus despite not many other customers in restaurant. Vegetarian and vegan options are almost non existent, we had to ask few times and eventually got orders placed after waiter going back and forth to kitchen. Unfortunately delivery of the food took forever, almost an hour and we didn’t even get the starter we have ordered. I blame it on chef who was busy sucking up to some couple next to us, who arrived way after us and got their food personally delivered by chef before everyone else. It’s not how you treat your customers. It’s clear there is no order and mess in kitchen. Waiter was polite and apologetic, but the experience is ruined. I found in general staff being like lazy flies, they however around being very slow and not too attentive, takes forever to get water refilled or they attention to order or ask a question.

What is even worse the food was really terrible. Vegetarian pasta was undercooked and not tasty and pizza was not authentic, just some shop purchased base and too cheesy, tasking like a cardboard. It was supposed to be vegetarian pizza , but there were hardly any vegetables. Bruschetta starter we ordered which never arrived as starter, only with main dish, which is another disappointment, was equally tasteless.

Unfortunately you have to pay a lot for this terrible experience. Save your money and get some authentic and fresh food...

Food five star and recommend Service poor had to approach to ask to be seated, was not greeted. Extremely rude lady at till. No drinks offered. Not once asked how meals were etc. Meals took long to arrive with our child’s accidentally being wrongly wrapped to room service, they proceeded to use their hands to unwrap it and serve with the chef running out and giving our child a fresh serving (thank you). Many other local restaurants with great friendly service. Asked for wifi and was told no unless staying in connecting accomodation. The woman behind till with short hair was so rude, ignored me when I had to go up to the staff to...