Casa Nostra

My family and I called into this place thinking it looked quaint, classical and would do good honest italian food. How wrong we were. Basic menu of tagliatelle, a few different pizzas and a steak with or without sauce. My brother in-law and I both ordered the steak and they both managed to arrive burnt, surrounded by what appeared to be tinned peas and sorry looking veg. Difficult to swallow for £18.98 each. To boot we were almost overcharged £13, the gentleman was most put out at being corrected. Desperately disappointing. Avoid, avoid, avoid!

Been eating here since 1986. My favourite restaurant & despite the many others I frequent this is one I always return to. The Florentine and Venetian menu always excites, there's no form over substance here, the focus is on the food that's produced with very high quality ingredients. There's great meat dishes done in a wood fired oven as well as amazing pizza's and pasta. The best dish is steak on the stone. Desert has to be Zabaglione and you must order the Focaccia. But if you like fancy food in fancy places it's not your kind of place. G

I really like this place the food is great and it has an ambience fro a different decade. Sadly, the prices are just way too high for the package or compared to other places in Henley.

This is the last place to eat as you leave Henley on the Reading Road and get missed if you don’t know it’s there.

I managed to get a late night pizza during regatta week and still got a place to sit, although two people in our party and only 1 eating, the waitress did manage a 'paddington hard stare’ of disapproval and sorted our wobbly table.

All pizza’s are £10 and are authenticaly made in some fancy very old oven / fireplace

The owner was busy outside catching passing trade with pizza sliced and kept us ammused, what a great character.

There’s a myth perpetuated around town that this place is used to launder money for the mafia.

Certainly, it’s very unusual to see anyone eating there - even at weekends.

It’s a very traditional Trattoria serving a very down to earth variety of pizzas and “home made” pasta (with free salad).

On occassion they accept Euros (presumably, if the pound is in decline) and will usually accept only cash.

There are the great old checked cloths on tables and an expansive - if somewhat intimidating - host.

All that said though, the food is bloody good. Despite the nagging worry that someone is going to appear from the kitchen or entrance and “off” you, one can’t help but smile at the total honesty of the place.

In it’s own way it’s kind of romantic. The prices are really good too, and you may find that - should you try it once - you become the regular. Go there enough times and you may become “made up”.