Casa Italia Pizza Restaurant — Restaurant in Sa Pa Ward

Aye, and it was in that remote and mist-veiled province of SaPa, where the spectral peaks of the Hoàng Liên Son brood over the valleys, that I chanced upon a most singular haven: Casa Italia. Its door, a weathered timber, seemed a portal unto another world, far removed from the clamour of Asiatic fowls and the pungent aroma of phở. Upon crossing its threshold, I was met not by the chill of the highlands, but by a warmth most palpable, as of an Italian grandmother’s silent and encompassing hug—a solace woven from the very air of the place.

The heart of this sanctuary, and the source of its genial spirit, was a great brick oven, within whose fiery belly the logs crackled a low, primeval hymn. From this forge emerged the pizzas, their crusts blistered and charred by a most virtuous flame, bearing a scent that spake of the old earth and simple flour. One could not but behold the warm glow of that oven playing upon the features of the pizzaiolo, a man whose solemn devotion to his craft was like unto a priest at his altar. To accompany this manna, I was served a Chianti, a draught of a most sanguine hue, whose rustic notes of dark cherry and dry soil upon the tongue conjured visions of sun-drenched Tuscan hills, a world and an age away from the Vietnamese fog that clung to the windows.

There, in the soft luminescence of the hanging lamps, amidst the murmur of contented travellers and the faint melody of a mandolin, I partook of my meal. The cheese, stretched and milky, the tomato, bright as a summer morn, and the basil, a fragrant herb, all conspired upon that charred canvas to create a profound and simple truth. In that high, foreign land, Casa Italia doth not merely serve sustenance; it offers a gentle reprieve, a memory of a hearth one never knew, yet forever missed. It is a blessing to the weary soul, a vesper sung against the...

Probably the rudest service I have ever experienced in my life. We decided to go here as we’d walked past it a few times and it always seemed busy and nice. The meal was off to a great start as the restaurant had a lovely atmosphere and the interiors were very nice. When we ordered our food I felt the waitress was a little off but I didn’t think much of it. We thoroughly enjoyed our pizzas and had left a few slices so we wanted to get them boxed up to takeaway. However it took us way over 10 minutes to try and grab someone’s attention as they were too busy messing around with each other. I also witnessed one of the waiters take his shoe off and itch his foot and then go on to serve food which I found pretty unhygienic. One lady started clearing the table next to us who had just left so I very politely decided to ask her if we could have a pizza box for our pizzas. To which she rolled her eyes and put her hand up to me (as if to say who are you talking to me when I’m busy clearing a table). This I couldn’t actually believe as I have never experienced this kind of rudeness from a waitress before. This moment made me see red so I went up to discuss this with the manager who couldn’t have cared less about what I had to say not even a single apology! He just asked if I wanted the bill to this I said yes and also asked for the pizza box. This then took way longer than it should have and we still had to go up and ask for the bill ourselves again. I also noticed a few tables who were sat there with menus closed for quite some time, meanwhile 3 staff members were clearing and resetting the same table. Where’s the logic? I left this restaurant feeling outraged about our experience which was disappointing as we were having a good time up until that moment and really...

The price of food here is comparable to Australia. The restaurant boasts a beautiful ambiance, an extensive wine list, and a diverse drink menu, including cocktails. It's an excellent spot for a date night. The built-in wood-fired oven makes pizza a standout choice. Here's what we ordered and our thoughts:

Seafood Pizza: Generously portioned with a thin, fire-baked crust. Not overly salty or seasoned—balanced and enjoyable.

Top Blade Steak (Medium Rare): A lean cut cooked to perfection with excellent flavour and slight chewy texture since its a blade cut. The accompanying sauce was delightful, though the salad had too much balsamic vinegar.

Beef Burger: Beautifully presented with flavours comparable to Australian standards.

Tagliatelle with Sapa Mushroom and Creamy Sauce: A little bland and overly creamy—needed a touch of salt. The mushrooms were enjoyable.

White Coffee: A local Vietnamese style, leaning on the sweet side—next time, I'll request less sweetness.

Matcha Latte: Overly sweet with a unique fragrance compared to pure matcha lattes in Perth. I'll ask them to halve the sugar next time.

Notes:

A glass of water costs 10,000 dong.

The restaurant was very busy, which led to a bit of a wait for food.

The waitress seemed frustrated when I took time deciding what to order. While understandable, it would have been better if she had offered more time instead of sighing.

Overall, a great dining experience with a few areas for...