Rating: ★★★☆☆ (3 out of 5 stars)
Welcome to the Brighton Bites Back, Casa Don Carlos Review! One of Brighton’s most well-loved restaurants, Casa Don Carlos, offers traditional tapas and can be found in The Lanes. While Spanish cuisine is famous for its meat dishes, you’ll also find a good selection of vegetarian and fish options on the menu, showing that they are aware of their audience here in Brighton. The interior is charming, with fun Spanish decor and music that makes you feel like you’re on holiday, with tables inside and outside.
While we enjoyed the overall experience (who doesn’t like tapas?), some of the food lacked freshness, likely due to the wide range of options on the menu and the challenge of catering to tourists in one of the busiest spots in the city. The service was friendly, but there was a sense of urgency from the staff. All in all, it’s a good spot for a casual dinner with friends, but there are better restaurants in Brighton if you’re really into your food.
Hygiene Rating: 5 out of 5 (as of 22/07/2024)
Address: 5 Union St, Brighton, BN1 1HA
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TLDR
- Traditional tapas menu with many vegetarian options 👍
- Caters to tourists and it does get busy here 🫨
- It is advised to book ahead 📲
- Large portion sizes for tapas 🍲
- Recommended dishes: Gambas al Ajillo (garlic prawns), Albondigas (meatballs), and Patatas Bravas ✨
Casa Don Carlos, Detailed Review
Casa Don Carlos’ menu has three columns: Vegetables, Pescado (Fish), and Carnes (Meat). Each plate is also numbered, making group orders breezy. There are also specials on offer, such as swordfish, ox-tail, and rabbit, though these are on the pricier side and I opted to skip these so that I could try a wider range of dishes on the traditional menu.
The portion sizes are generous for tapas, and the staff even advised us against over-ordering, which felt very genuine. They also recommended the meatballs, which turned out to be a great choice!
During our visit, we started as everyone should with green Spanish olives and bread. The olives were tasty, with a slight nutty flavour, and the generous portion was appreciated so that I could munch on these whilst the others took their time to select their tapas. The bread also came with a creamy garlic dip that I enjoyed.
The Gambas al Ajillo are succulent peeled prawns served in a delicious tomato and garlic sauce. The waiter recommended these over the grilled prawns (shell on) as they are less fussy, this was a good shout!
The Patatas Bravas (Spicy Potatoes) were enjoyable, though not super spicy. I did really enjoy the garlic mayo dip that they come with. I’ve had better patatas bravas elsewhere to be honest, but it was still one of my favourites on the table and they weren’t at all bad.
The Champinones al Ajillo (Garlic Mushrooms) were also a big hit with everyone at the table. Despite being a simple dish, they had good flavour and worked well with other dishes when things started getting mixed up on our plates.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the table, The Tortilla Española, a thick and fluffy Spanish omelette with potatoes. The Pulpo a la Gallega, octopus served on new potatoes, was cooked well and not chewy, though this dish was paprika heavy, which I quite liked, but it’s worth knowing this before you order it.
With so many plates to choose from, I’d advise skipping the Ensalada Rusa (Russian salad) and Garbanzos con Espinacas (chickpeas with spinach). These weren’t bad, but considering the other options on the menu I’d suggest going for something else! Unless you’re after more veggie dishes, in which case these do the job.
As for my top recommendation, the Albondigas (meatballs) were the main event for me. Served in a rich tomato and wine sauce with herbal flavour, these bad boys were moist inside and I’m glad that I was recommended to order these by the waiter when I asked what Carne dish they’d recommend. The reply was an indication that they would be tasty when they answered, “the Meatballs, definitely.”
Overall, I would recommend a visit to Casa Don Carlos if you’re in the mood for tapas. Expect a friendly but ‘bish bash bosh’ service. This restaurant gets lively and is well-suited for groups to enjoy a casual dinner and drinks before heading out for more drinks! While it might feel slightly average for self-proclaimed foodies, they certainly know how to fill bellies and provide an authentic enough experience to a large number of diners.
If you decide to book a table, let me know how you find it. Thanks for reading Brighton Bites Back! 🙏
Based in Brighton since 2023, Mitch is all about uncovering hidden gem restaurants and supporting independents over chains. With a seasoned palate developed from years of eating out, he’s your go-to for discovering the best local spots.
