Casa Ora Reopening – Dining with a smile

Sep 18

Sep 18 Casa Ora Reopening – Dining with a smile

If you’re looking for elegant comfort food in Brooklyn, there’s no place we recommend more than Venezuelan family-owned restaurant Casa Ora. A Williamsburg staple since 2019, the restaurant, run by Isbelis Diaz, her son Ivo Diaz, and his wife Rachel Diaz Pirard, has reopened just in time for Hispanic Heritage Month— making it the perfect place to both explore the many layers of Venezuelan cuisine and have an intimate dining experience like no other.

Led by Chef Ivo Diaz, menu items at Casa Ora include creative dinner plates such as the Baby Shark (monkfish wrapped in ripe plaintain and simmered in caramelized coconut milk), and the delicious Asa Negro (braised short rib with burnt papelon sauce, yucca, pickled papaya, and peanut praline). All ingredients inspiring the seasonal brunch and dinner menus are locally and sustainably sourced whenever possible, which emphasizes the family’s commitment to making every dining experience not just pleasant but also sustainable. The corresponding cocktail menu offers an extensive selection of mezcal, tequila and rum-based drinks. This, coupled with Casa Ora’s tropical and eclectic aesthetic, will transport guests right from NYC to the country’s subtropical grasslands.

But the restaurant’s features and menu are not it's only exceptional aspects. Adding a unique homey feel to the environment is the constant presence of it’s namesake—aka Ivo and Rachel’s three-year-old daughter. Look for her signature on the back of the menu or, if you’re really lucky, greet her in person if she’s there making the welcoming rounds.

Fine dining isn’t the only reason to visit Casa Ora. Humanitarian at heart, Isbelis and her family are dedicated to raising awareness and support for the local society in Venezuela throughout their current crisis. The Casa Ora’s team donates a part of their revenues to Fe y Algeria, a nonprofit organization supporting Venezuelan refugee families, which makes every dining or brunch experience a genuine feel-good moment on every level.

If you would like to learn more about Casa Ora or get your own impression of the beauty of dining there, visit their website or Instagram for more information .Should you get a chance to visit the family-owned gem before October 15th, you’ll also be able to take advantage of the limited-edition tasting menu developed for Hispanic Heritage Month that includes offers such as a six course Abuelita’s Tasting Menu with gluten-free classics such as fresh summer ceviche and tart passion fruit mousse for only 65$.