Casa Mia – A warm southern Italian hug in Dunfermline

Caprese Salad and a glass of Pecorino

Casa Mia is a family-run restaurant in Dunfermline that radiates the kind of warmth you hope for but rarely find. When Mr Bite and I visit, we’re greeted by Fabio in the kitchen and his 'mamma' Sylvana front of house — a duo whose hospitality is as comforting as the food they serve. The space is light, bright, and crisply decorated, tucked into an unassuming corner of the Auld Grey Toun.

The menu leans into sourdough pizzas and Italian classics, but the atmosphere is what first strikes you: convivial, generous, and rooted in the communal. At a nearby table, a family celebration is in full swing, with bottles of EVOO and balsamic vinegar being passed around.

We skip pizza this time — though not without regret. The Diavola, with San Marzano tomato sauce, Fiordilatte, spicy sausage, peppers, chilli, fresh basil, and EVOO, has Mr Bite’s name on it. I’m already dreaming of the Golosa: salty pistachio cream, mortadella, Fiordilatte, crushed roasted pistachios, and burrata. Next time, we say.

To start, I opt for a Caprese Salad — generous, refreshing, and colourful: joy on a plate. Mr Bite chooses Garlic Prawns on sourdough, scattered with scarlet cherry tomatoes and bright green samphire. The fish and sea vegetables are sourced from HS Murray in Inverkeithing, a local favourite.

We learn that other ingredients — like rapa — are imported from Italy. Mr Bite’s main is a plate of lean, meaty Tuscan Sausages with rosemary roast potatoes and a surprise side of leafy greens. They’re delicious. When we ask, Chef Fabio tells us they’re tender stem broccoli leaves, simply cooked in garlic and oil — a beloved Southern Italian staple. The leaves grow much larger under the Italian sun.

Meanwhile, I’m lost in a bowl of Panciotti di Mare: fresh pasta stuffed with king prawns and scallop, tossed with garlic, prawns, cherry tomatoes, and white wine. It’s perfectly al dente, garnished with parmesan, and paired with a glass of Pecorino. I couldn’t be happier — until dessert arrives.

We share a classic Tiramisu made with Savoiardi biscuits, mascarpone, and espresso. It’s the kind of finish that lingers. Casa Mia is the gastronomic equivalent of a big, warm hug.

Casa Mia - 13 Nethertown Broad Street Dunfermline, Fife KY12 7D - 01383 726669

Open - Wednesday - Friday 16.45 pm - Saturday & Sunday 1pm - 9pm

Delivery - minimum order: £10, fee: £2

Fabio, Sylvana and Papa Casa