If you love authentic Italian food, you probably already know all about La Casetta in Deccan Gymkhana. It has been an absolute go-to neighborhood spot for everything from perfectly tossed pastas and wood-fired pizzas to melt-in-your-mouth desserts. Now, the kitchen is shaking things up by rolling out a brand-new menu. I recently dropped by and tried three of their newest dishes, and they are absolute game-changers in Pune’s food scene.
The Deccan Spice Pizza: A Maharashtrian Twist on a Classic
An absolute star of the new menu is the Deccan Spice Pizza. The chefs completely skip the usual tomato base here and replace it with a white sauce inspired by traditional Maharashtrian Pandhra Rassa. They load the pizza with spicy diced chicken cubes and plenty of cheese, before garnishing the whole thing with fresh curry leaves. To finish it off, they glaze the entire crust with homemade, garlic-infused ghee. Every single bite hits a perfect balance. The rich, comforting pandhra rassa base tames the heat of the chicken, while the aromatic ghee and curry ties the whole fusion together beautifully.
Handmade Two-Sheet Lasagna: The Perfect Sauce Blend
Next up was the Handmade Two-Sheet Lasagna, and the texture alone tells you it’s fresh. The kitchen rolls out the pasta sheets by hand. In between the layers, they mix classic red pomodoro sauce and rich white sauce together. Instead of clashing, the two sauces blend perfectly. They toss fresh, crunchy zucchini, bell peppers, and broccoli into the mix, and layer everything under a thick blanket of melted cheese. It is incredibly flavorful and leans delightfully on the creamy side.
Cottage Cheese Steak with Next-Level Pomodoro
If you want something hearty, the Cottage Cheese Steak is a must-order. The kitchen mixes fresh paneer with aromatic herbs, shapes it into a thick block, and grills it until it develops a gorgeous golden-brown crust. They plate it beautifully over a half-and-half bed of fresh herbed rice and bright red pomodoro sauce. Honestly, La Casetta makes one of the freshest, most vibrant pomodoro sauces I have ever tasted in the city. When you take a bite of the warm paneer patty with the fresh sauce and herbed rice, the combination is absolutely incredible.
Sourcing Top-Tier Ingredients Makes All the Difference
The main reason these new dishes succeed is La Casetta’s strict rule around ingredient procurement. They don’t cut corners on their cheeses, fresh produce, or herbs, and you can instantly taste that dedication on the plate. Even when they experiment with bold local flavors, like the ghee and pandhra rassa on the Deccan Spice Pizza, they maintain the high-quality integrity of a traditional Italian kitchen.
The Final Verdict: A New Menu You Can’t Miss
La Casetta has managed to create a refreshingly creative menu without losing its authentic soul. It takes a lot of skill to make fusion food taste this natural and delicious, but they have absolutely nailed it. Whether you are a regular who loves their classic pizzas or a foodie looking for your next favorite meal in Deccan, this new lineup is definitely worth a visit. Bring your friends, order all three, and prepare to be impressed!
