Casa Don Carlos

I tend to eat here every couple of months, and the quality never fails to impress. I generally go for the special lamb shank, falls off the bone melt in your mouth. Is served in a morish rich sauce and a few roasties. However we try something different each time and I loved the seafood soup! I never liked mussels before I tried them at Casa. So well done. The pork skewers are very good as is the fried aubergine. House white - good. Staff - very friendly and even let us sit down at a table before they were even open as it was cold outside! Bless. The atmosphere is always busy and loud authentic! Lots of groups of diners all happy and enjoying this great Spanish food. You cant get better really, we always say that at the end of our meal. You cant beat lunch at Casa! Ive always arrived just as they open as its nearly always pre booked. To the next time! Thanks!
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foodiehove - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Monday, December 13, 2010

I must admit to liking this place, good atmosphere and excellent food, could it have been just one bad night?

I use it a lot, a real regular treat that's always busy.
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David Beddding
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 9
Monday, November 01, 2010

Upon entering Casa Don Carlos we were greeted with a quite small, noisy and busy environment, which created a nice atmosphere as from past experience with this kind of place means that it's busy for a reason, and expectations rose.

The tapas menu looked interesting, the idea of paella, chicken livers cooked with wine, chorizo with mushrooms, and a couple of other dishes that temptes us, we quickly ordered after the drinks arrived with some tasty olives. Unfortunately, this was the end of the good experience, and the beginning of the bad experience.

Suprised that the food started arriving less than 5 minutes from the time of order, suprise quickly turned into disappointment despite the generous portions.

The chicken livers which could have been so tasty were hugely overcooked, the flavour had been boiled out of them, and there were far too many.

The paella was the worst I've ever had, the prawns and mussels were dried to the point where I was starting to wonder if they were simply dried to start with and had not been rehydrated. The rice wasn't particularly well cooked, with random soft/hard grains, I wonder if it had ever been stirred! And to top it off, the whole dish was cooked with chicken on the bone, which in itself isn't a problem, but the chicken and bones seem to have been smashed into the paella resulting in bony lumps throughout and the chicken that was salvageable was as dry as the seafood.

The most misrepresented item on the menu was the chorizo with mushrooms, this turned out to be a plate full of button mushrooms with what must have amounted to 10 or so tiny cubes of chorizo, if I'd ordered mushrooms with chorizo, I'd have not been so suprised.

The other dishes, I recall stuffed peppers, they were okay, but smothered in what I think must have been simply boiled chopped tomatoes, and a vegetable dish of potatoes, courgettes, and mushrooms (50% mushrooms), were probably the least dry and added much needed moistness to the other dishes.

After reading some other reviews of this venue I wonder if the normal chef was off, even more confusing is that other people in the place seemed to be quite happily enjoying their less than good tapas. Perhaps the spanish way is to cook the life out of things, remove the flavour, dry the good bits out, and toss on a lot of boiled mushrooms, but having been to Spain several times in my life and having never encountered anything so badly cooked, I don't think it can be normal. I can only imagine that the people frequenting the restuarant have not eaten anywhere else,

The pricing does not in any way match the quality of the food either, and unfortunately, my britishness stopped me short of complaining, but now I've slept on the experience, I'm more than compelled to review this place as honestly as I can.

I simply cannot reccomend this place, which is a huge shame given the good atmosphere, the friendly waiters, and the promising menu. This has to be one of the worst places I've ever eaten.
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Rick
Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 0
Sunday, October 03, 2010

Feeling slightly lost in the lanes, hungry and thirsty in the midday sun, we stumbled upon this little tapas place by accident.

A number of Spaniards were enjoying their lunch which is always a good sign the food has an element of authenticity.

We sat at a table in the small side street and were quickly waited on. The grilled fish and the chorizo al vinos went down very well.

Going back again in the evening we found the place to be packed. Perhaps book before you take a wander.
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Mr. Green
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 8
Friday, August 20, 2010

My wife, friends and I have been to Casa Don Carlos so many times we've lost count. It speaks volumes that the place is ALWAYS full and I have never known anyone complain; either about the service, the food or the bill. Quite the opposite in fact. A true Brighton institution, it make all other tapas restaurants in Brighton look like rank amateurs.
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Alan Phillips
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Saturday, August 07, 2010

I too have visited this restaurant many times & must agree that it is fantastic. You do have to book early, even on a mid-week night, or a lunch time, you will miss your opportunity if you dont get in there fast!

The staff are truly lovely, whilst still very professional. They have had the same staff for as long as i have been going there, which also speaks volumes. They are so calm even when the restaurant is overflowing. They are very good at what they do and that always adds an awful lot to a great restaurant experience.

The food at Casa is delicious. So authentic. No microwave techinicians in their kitchen! The service completely attentive and friendly.

I always reccomend this place and it is easily the best Spanish restaurant in Brighton.
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Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Thursday, July 08, 2010

I have been going to this restaurant for years and it just never disappoints...another fabulous lunch there yesterday. Great, authentic tapas and friendly service. I have friends from London who come down just to eat here. Perplexed by the two recent bad reviews...maybe they were off days...all I know is that I couldn't get a table (yes again!) for this Sat because they are fully booked - surely not the sign of a bad restaurant!!
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Jo
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Thursday, July 01, 2010

Average food, cold and inattentive service let this restaurant down on our visit last week. it is in a nice location and looks good inside. but i have eaten better in other restaurants in Brighton.
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Robert Askey
Overall rating
Food 3 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 2 | Value for money 1
Sunday, June 27, 2010

Out of this world, great people, great atmosphere, exceptional value for money and most importantly did not feel rushed or pressurised to free the table. This is my third visit and I will be back time and time again.

All food appears to be homemade and I believe it is as you can taste the quality and freshness.

Still have not managed to eat here on a friday or saturday night as not used to booking tables but will do next time as busy busy place!
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Simon Lawrence
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Saturday, June 19, 2010

Had a very disappointing meal here recently. Service was very slow and inattentive. Overall a poor experience.
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Greg
Overall rating
Food 2 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 2 | Value for money 1
Friday, May 21, 2010