With sites in London Bridge, Mayfair, and now Victoria, the Casa formula is a winning one: Portuguese cooking centred around piri piri chicken cooked over charcoal, backed up by generous sides, strong cocktails and interiors that are hard not to fall for. Stepping through the doors of Casa Victoria, the Nova development – with all its cold glass edges and corporate offices – feels miles away.
Between the hand-painted tiles depicting pastoral scenes, hanging plants and soft golden light, there's a sense we’ve stumbled into a particularly stylish Lisbon restaurant – albeit one tuned to a London crowd. Anchored by a gleaming bar, with a spacious mezzanine above (think birthday hires and celebrations), even a midweek dinner here could feel like an occasion, without ever tripping into try-hard territory.
Fortunately, Casa Victoria’s menu is every bit as appealing. Iberico pork croquettes are an immediate highlight: crisp on the outside and paired with a prickly mustard bechamel that serves as a clever foil to rich, creamy potato bechamel filling flecked with Iberico pork. Atlantic prawns, too, are good, swimming in a pool of garlic and chilli oil. Do better than us, though – order a side of bread to make the most of it all – skipping all that dipping potential felt borderline irresponsible.
Frango piri piri is the calling card, and rightly so. It’s a major portion, and at just £16 for half a chicken, it’s brilliant value. Singed in all the right places, it delivers exactly what you want from piri piri: juicy meat, smoke, and enough heat to keep things interesting. Crispy golden fries are a natural companion, but the Casa rice is a standout. Generous in every sense, it’s a deeply comforting sidekick: plump grains mixed through with sweet plantain, smoky chorizo, caramelised onions, and peppers, all topped with shards of crisp chicken skin.
Casa occupies a sweet spot: genuinely enjoyable cooking, attractive surroundings and prices that remain surprisingly approachable. It's not trying to reinvent Portuguese cooking, nor does it need to. Kick off with Piri-Piri Margaritas (which are brilliant, and probably a bit dangerous), share everything, and finish with a flaky pastel de nata; you’ll be satisfied. Put simply, Casa Victoria combines generous cooking, a beautiful setting, and genuine value with ease. That’s reason enough to visit.