In a space known for its star chef Cristina Saulini over the past few seasons, Casa di Stefano arrives to a marquee dining room with impeccable Italian cuisine in the middle of Old Town St. Tropez. In a space most recently occupied Cristina's, Casa di Stefano is by the same owner that recently set-up a second location in London's Mayfair. Here, a familiar laid back dining concept with gourmet beach club vibe on a narrow inner-village street with one-room dining area filled with local elite. The space is decorated in a communal banquette of colorful Mediterranean colors with fluffy blue pillows and light tablecloths that attract a more casual food-minded crowd than those the frequent the town's other Italian hotspot, namely La Villa Romana.
The Food
Meals begin with an arrangement of homemade breads and focaccia accompanied with Tuscan olive oils that are so delicious and homemade that they shouldn’t even be free. With a menu inspired by the cuisine of Puglia but with obvious French references, appetizers of grilled seafood and market-fresh salads topped with heaping of burrata offer extraordinary flavor and presentation. Main course is heavy on the truffles, Italian of course, used atop grilled meats, buttery pastas and occasional vegetarian request that shows the versatility of this local star chef.
Last Word
By far one of the most successful restaurants in recent seasons, Cristina gets a new name as Casa di Stefano but with a familiar Italian dining room that offers the chic casualness of a St. Tropez beach eatery that just happens to be in the old town.
