Casa Fofò | Good Value Michelin Starred Dining in Hackney
Adolfo De Cecco is the former head chef at Pidgin, one of the most highly acclaimed restaurants in Dalston. And now, after making a lot of people rather peckish, he’s flown the coop to start his own place (and taken a few former staff under his wing, too).
Named after De Cecco’s grandfather, Casa Fofo is a cosy sleeve space in Hackney kitted-out with wood & bare brick – the only wall adornment is an angular iron shelf covered in wine & greenery. Out back there’s a small covered courtyard for when the sun is feeling generous, and there’s a single, huge, handsome communal table in the blue-hued basement which almost doubles the capacity of the venue.
Photo credit: Camila Almeida
At the back of the main, ground floor space however, you can see the open kitchen where De Cecco himself expertly assembles the day’s menu. And to be clear, we mean that specific day. There’s a new menu at Casa Fofò every morning and – as with Pidgin – it’s a tasting menu only. Thankfully – although the place now proudly bears a Michelin star – they all come in at a surprisingly reasonable £62 for eight courses, with a curated wine pairing available for another £49.
Those courses take the form of inventive dishes like crab with almond & monks beard; pink fir potatoes with kimchi & claytonia (aka ‘miner’s lettuce’); middle white pork neck with peanut; and pine with sour cherry and popcorn. They make as much as possible in-house, even the charcuterie. It’s all globally inspired, and ever-changing, so you really should expect anything.
Photo credit: Camila Almeida
There’s some nice low-intervention wine to go with all of this, and the Casa Fofò team even make their own house version of ratafia, a sweet liqueur made with fruit, herbs, and nuts.
In short, this casa is definitely su casa.
NOTE: You can book a table at Casa Fofò, and find out more, HERE. Please note that they can accommodate most dietary requirements given at least 48 hours notice.
Casa Fofò | 158 Sandringham Road, E8 2HS
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