Casa Mia

Casa Mia has rapidly earned a reputation as one of Dumfries and Galloway's better restaurants, serving a consistently good quality of cuisine with a decidedly modern European twist.

Open seven days and situated literally minutes from Dumfries town centre, this delightful place is set in a secluded corner on the bank of the River Nith. Casa Mia has about it a distinctive level of elegance, refinement and sophistication.

You can either choose from their extensive a la carte menu or, if you are looking for excellent value, then try an early evening or lunchtime special, running seven days a week, for as little as £10.95 for two courses and £12.95 for three. For that special occasion, whether for business or pleasure, it is worth noting that their function room holds up to one hundred and twenty guests.

A choice of fifteen starters includes warm salad of smoked duck, bacon, shallots, hazelnuts on a bed of baby spinach with hazelnut oil vinaigrette, white snow crab cigar pastry served on a spring onion and mange tout salad, with sweet chilli and lime dressing. Located where it is, hardly surprising that a tower of haggis, neeps and tatties with creamy whisky sauce also attracts appreciative attention.

Roasted '7 hour' lamb shank is served on a bed of mashed potato drizzled with lamb jus, and with shallow waters of the Solway Firth only a couple of casts away, give or take, the mixed seafood platter is always worth investigation. Served with a trio of tomato salsa, lemon mayonnaise and garlic butter it does truly reflect the best landings in the locality.

After epic lists of choices for the first two courses a sense of deprivation threatens when only nine items appear amongst the desserts until common sense reminds you that this is more than adequate, with such delights as the Scottish raspberry and oatmeal cranachan with whisky scented cream and melt in the mouth homemade shortbread, or homemade apple crumble with chocolate chip ice cream readily available.

A lunch menu could start with chunky North Atlantic fish soup with garlic croutons, before moving on to a delicious Spanish style paella with prawns, squid, mussels, sea bass, chicken and chorizo sausage finished with whole langoustine and fresh parsley. Just over the Bay is Cartmel so it would only be loyal to give the sticky toffee pudding a whirl.

They also offer a two or three course set menu at lunchtimes and early evening a fine example of how a restaurant that offers high quality can produce the same, but by good management can reduce the prices to a 'neighbourhood' level. Roll mop herring on mixed leaves salad, homer made beef lasagne with crispy mixed salad and golden syrup sponge served with vanilla ice cream - all for £12.95 - fantastic value.

A highly credible wine list rarely strays above the £30 mark, and when it does there is good reason to do so. Refreshing house white and red at £12.95 does very well.

Their Website is a mine of further information.