Giulia by Casa Italia
G/F SM North EDSA, Quezon City
Contact: 281-2364
Open daily from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
(SPOT.ph) It’s always a treat whenever you find hidden gems in the most unexpected places—like a crowded mall, for example. Giulia by Casa Italia is one of them. A reincarnation of Casa Italia, this charming little restaurant combines the comfort of home cooking with a modern gelateria.
The restaurant's ambience is cozy, making you want to linger; gelato in hand, of course. The decor features eye-catching shapes, colors, and textures—walls are patented with wooden boards, while the floor’s mismatched tiles work in the favor of “shoefie” addicts.
But long before Giulia, there was Casa Italia, a Singaporean gelateria that offers fun gelato flavors and quick snacks for people on-the-go. Co-owner Jay Tan shares that one of the reasons why he created Giulia was so he can introduce more crave-worthy and all-time favorite dishes.
“We have so many recipes that we wanted to share with our customers that weren’t necessarily Italian. We have this great fried chicken recipe, and we wanted to center on familiar and go-to comfort food. But when it comes to the Italian dishes on our menu, it’s the same—it has the same recipes with imported Italian ingredients that were approved by our Italian partner chefs. Everything that our regular Casa Italia customers enjoyed, they’re still all here,” Jay says.
Loaded Fries
Giulia’s Loaded Fries (P265) can be a meal on its own. With a skillet brimming with melted mozzarella, you’d actually wish there were more of those long and crispy fries swimming underneath the cheese, chunks of bacon, sautéed ground beef, and Spanish chorizo.
Nacho Supremo
Meanwhile, the Nacho Supremo (P230) is a mountain of toasted tortilla chips and gooey sharp cheese that comes out exactly as it appears on the menu. The sauce is surprisingly rich and spicy thanks to the well-seasoned ground beef, but the peppery taste is tamed by the refreshing tang and crunch of the pico de gallo.
Carne Asada Pizza
Their signature beef makes a reappearance in the Carne Asada Pizza (P355). Besides Giulia’s signature seasoned ground beef, it’s the fresh cuts of tomato and lettuce that will make you feel like you’re eating a taco—minus the mess, of course. The pizza is drizzled with thick garlic mayo and garnished with tortilla bits for that extra crunch.
Aunt Giulia's Legendary Fried Chicken
According to Jay, the recipe of Aunt Giulia’s Legendary Fried Chicken (P285/single, P495/sharing) has been passed down from generation to generation. Each piece bursts with flavor from the cayenne and paprika, and flaunts a crispy, golden skin that just crackles with every bite. The dish is served with different sides, including mixed grains, long, chunky cuts of Russet potato fries, and spiced corn.
Italian Beef Stew
Having a short list of ingredients doesn’t necessarily make a dish taste less interesting. The Italian Beef Stew (P455), for one, uses a braised beef shank that is slow-cooked in tomato sauce for four hours to come up with a robust dish.
Choose from their assortment of gelato flavors
Giulia’s opening and location seem like a well-calculated plan—the holiday shopping rush can be quite draining but there’s nothing like good ol’ fries and fried chicken or a sweet scoop of gelato can’t fix.
Photos by Vincent Coscolluela
