Brasserie style and buzz in Marbella
Text Jessica White
Its sister restaurant Casanis has been a favourite among Marbella locals for years so it is no wonder that, only three weeks after opening, Casamono is already buzzing with clients and friends of owner Guy.
The restaurant has been designed by the same artist who painted Casanis, Aldo Gigli, a long-time friend of Guy’s, and the main theme becomes obvious as soon as you walk in: Guy’s favourite animal, the monkey. The animal is a continuous theme throughout the restaurant, appearing on the menus, lights and windows, while the wall designs feature the monkey’s habitat – the jungle. Warriors, tall flowers and expertly carved wood – hand-carved by Mudo, Guy’s friend in Mallorca – adorn the walls, and large plants are carefully positioned around the large two-storey restaurant.
Outside is a cocktail bar that will certainly thrive in the summer months. It is just minutes from the beach, so regulars and visitors to the Coast will love to be able to take the short walk and enjoy sumptuous cocktails while watching the hustle and bustle of the town.
Inside, meanwhile, guests can enjoy an excellent lunch during the day or a great evening buzz listening to the relaxed funky tunes and waiting in anticipation of the sumptuous culinary delights. Guy opened this restaurant for the people around him: that is, to give his staff another challenge and a new motivation. The team is used to working together, bringing quality and freshness to the plate. While Casanis is more like a bistro, Casamono is in the style of a French brasserie – mixing original classics that are not overly elaborated with a few fresh favourites of Guy’s – and head chef Tulio Ricardo Zampieri.
We were delighted to be invited to taste some of the mouth-watering dishes that included starters of moules Provencal served with chips; red beet, goat’s cheese, red onion salad with balsamic dressing; king crab; and sweet breads of white veal. Sharing all four meant we could enjoy the different flavours and tastes of each, something Guy says guests will be able to do with all dishes – making the meal more sociable. For the main course we enjoyed roasted country chicken with salad; salmon beurre blanc; leg of lamb; and bouillabaisse – four delicious dishes that we ate with vigour. The crispy skin on the chicken, the smooth, perfectly cooked salmon and the tender lamb all had flavours that exploded and melted in the mouth. While they were my fellow diners’ favourite dishes, the bouillabaisse was definitely the one for me. The fish was cooked to perfection, with juicy prawns and scallops that would leave any diners feeling enormously satisfied.
We were tempted to decline desserts as many of us are on that bikini diet for summer but, after hearing what they were, there was no stopping us trying them. Banana bread with vanilla ice-cream, clafoutis, apple crumble and chocolate fondant finished the meal perfectly, leaving us comfortably full and very happy.
Casamono has great service, a fantastic buzz and atmosphere, and wonderful food – the perfect venue for a night out with friends or a fun night out with a partner.