La Casa, Mill Street (ex-Pastiche).

Franklin_Delano_Roosevelt

Well-Known Forumite
Haven't been in for a couple of years to be honest. Me and Mrs FDR went there in the height of summer, we had booked a table, sat down, menus arrived and before we had even ordered we just had to get out of there - the heat was quite literally unbearable. On the way out the waitress asked "are you leaving because it is so hot up here?" When we confirmed she said "totally understand, we have had loads of customers do that of late"
A real shame because as others have said the food and value for money is first class, however no matter how good it is I'm not prepared to sit and eat a meal in a puddle of my own sweat. As I say this was a couple of years back and so perhaps the situation has improved - I suggested to the waitress as a parting shot that maybe a few aircon units may prove good for business - perhaps they have now done this, perhaps now we don't get summers that are quite as hot or perhaps people are happy to eat in a sauna....

If you could find a way of combining Pastiche food & value with Post House venue then you would be on to a winner.
 

ATJ

Well-Known Forumite
I stopped going to Pastiche for a while because the monthly menu just stopped looking interesting, all the unusual stuff and variety had gone and month in month out was pork chop, chicken, burger, tart.

However, in the last few months the menu has looked better again and as a result, I have been back and it was as good as I always remember it being. My only qualm last time I went was that we walked, pre-booked, into a completely empty restaurant and were given a terrible table next to the stairs with no room at all, for no apparent reason.
 

Trumpet

Well-Known Forumite
Have they changed their billing format recently? Last time I was there, a few years ago admittedly, by the time you'd added extras to the set meal eg veg, potatoes etc it worked out about the same pricewise as any other cheap to mid range restaurant. Didn't think the food warranted the prices then and have twice since had vouchers as presents and passed them on to friends.
 

ATJ

Well-Known Forumite
Have they changed their billing format recently? Last time I was there, a few years ago admittedly, by the time you'd added extras to the set meal eg veg, potatoes etc it worked out about the same pricewise as any other cheap to mid range restaurant. Didn't think the food warranted the prices then and have twice since had vouchers as presents and passed them on to friends.

The first time I went to Pastiche about eight years ago (was it really that long?!) that was the way they worked, and after that I didn't visit for a long time, but every time I have been in recent years, the meals have been full meals and you don't need to order extra veg to top up.
 

Trumpet

Well-Known Forumite
As it should be, my main annoyance was the 'necessary extras' policy. Bit like buying a car with no engine, you don't know until you get in.
 

tek-monkey

wanna see my snake?
Like just before the Castle Tavern finally died, I ordered a steak and it turned out that was all I ordered. No veg, tatties or sauce at all, just a few leaves at the side of the plate.
 

flossietoo

Well-Known Forumite
Just had a look at their website. Am puzzled, not only by their cavalier approach to the apostrophe but also by the statement that Pastiche began in Stafford in 1997. Have I already reached the age of confusion? I remember going to an office Christmas party there when I was fresh out of uni. It would be indelicate to state the year but it wasn't 1997. Or even that decade. I am sure I recall lots of meals there, long before 1997. Have I got completely befuddled? Was it called something else? Or is it a literal - do they mean 1987?
 

Lucy

Well-Known Forumite
Just had a look at their website. Am puzzled, not only by their cavalier approach to the apostrophe but also by the statement that Pastiche began in Stafford in 1997. Have I already reached the age of confusion? I remember going to an office Christmas party there when I was fresh out of uni. It would be indelicate to state the year but it wasn't 1997. Or even that decade. I am sure I recall lots of meals there, long before 1997. Have I got completely befuddled? Was it called something else? Or is it a literal - do they mean 1987?
Didn't it close down for a while? I have a very early memory of going there and having crepes, maybe when I was 3 or 4. There used to be a ladies clothes shop up there too.
 

Tants

Well-Known Forumite
After living in Stafford for so long and never going to Pastiche we thought we'd give it a blast last night. Very, very impressed with the food in there, especially for the price.

I had Mussels to start and the Battered Monkfish for main and they were great. Mrs T had Salmon and the Duck. Well presented and decent sized portions too.

Hope more people give it a go as we'll defo be going back and can't understand why we haven't tried it before over the usual places!
 

ATJ

Well-Known Forumite
Went to Pastiche last night. The food was good, they seem to have become a bit more adventurous again with their monthly changes, but the service was a bit slow.

Also, just a pet peeve, it my food is advertised as coming with a sauce or purée, I want a decent amount on my plate, not just a smear on the side.
 

My Name is URL

Well-Known Forumite
Headed over to Pastiche last night and had a lovely meal.

Mussels in Thai Green curry sauce with prawn crackers were particularly delicious. Gammon and Sea Bass mains were also very nice.

Always forget about this place but it is very good to be fair. Unfortunately it was quiet last night, only ourselves and three other (small) parties in unfortunately.
 

littleme

250,000th poster!
Yesterday on their Facebook page, they were advertising for a Chef, min 4 years experience.

I've never had a bad meal at Pastiche, my only gripe is that in my advanced age I find the noise deafening, could hardly hear what husband was saying when we went on Valentine's night......but then he says I never listen anyway! ;)
 

My Name is URL

Well-Known Forumite
Wouldn't have been a problem last night, could have heard a pin drop above the hushed tones of lovers' conversations....
 

Andreas Rex

Banned for smiling
I tried to book a table at Pastiche for tomorrow night. I've called many times and had no answer, so resorted to using their contact form. The reply to the form said something like "Thanks, we'll aim to get back to you within 72 hours"...which isn't much use to me!

Considering the owners/managers will more than likely have smartphones, and therefore email on-the-go, this is a poor show. It wouldn't be unreasonable to expect someone from there to be checking the contact form on a regular basis.
 
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