About Us
Two Southern Italians,
International Cuisine
Two Southern Italians, international cuisine, a shared passion for good food and the ambition to create somewhere special to eat in Gotha: that is the idea behind CASA.
Rino and Gregory are united by their Southern Italian roots and a vision of hospitality that reaches far beyond any single national cuisine. At CASA, they bring together their experience, a range of culinary influences and their own ideas in a modern, international kitchen.
At the heart of it all are high-quality produce, artisanal precision and flavour. Modern techniques and international aromas combine into dishes with a distinctive signature — clear, elegant and, at times, surprising.
Both chefs have spent many years living outside Italy, absorbing very different influences along the way. Rino's path led him through Italy and France to Germany. Gregory was born in Ukraine, grew up in Italy, and later lived in, among other places, London, Florida, Lviv and Germany. Different countries, cultures and cuisines are woven into their story and shape their idea of what good cooking means.
The point is not to pin a dish down to a single country. What matters is what comes together on the plate: produce, flavour, technique and idea.
Out of the former Casa Diavolo, which was initially used mainly as an event venue, a new culinary concept has emerged. CASA stands for modern international cuisine, a personal signature, and the freedom not to confine itself to any one culinary tradition.
More Than Good Food
The idea behind CASA begins with the food — but it doesn't end there. Rino and Gregory want to create a place that can be experienced quite differently depending on the occasion.
In the evening, the CASA experience takes centre stage. Gregory's ambition for his kitchen is as simple as it is bold: to serve his guests dishes they won't find just anywhere. Working with high-quality produce, international aromas and diverse influences, he develops dishes that follow their own idea, with curiosity, imagination and a great deal of attention to detail.
For Rino and Gregory, a special evening at the restaurant is about more than what's on the plate. With CASA, they want to create a place unlike anything else currently in Gotha. Kitchen, service and the atmosphere of the historic rooms are meant to work together, forming a coherent whole down to the smallest detail — for an evening that stays in the memory.
At midday, CASA shows a different side of itself. Whether a relaxed lunch or a business lunch, the kitchen at CASA stands for quality and personal care during the working day too. Business meetings, presentations or smaller events can, on request, be combined with a coordinated two- or three-course menu. For an especially undisturbed setting, our private room is available.
In this way, CASA takes on its own character at different times of day: a place for good food and company at midday, a place for indulgence and memorable experiences in the evening.
A House with History — the Emminghaus Villa
The villa was built in 1898 for Prof. Dr. Arwed Emminghaus, one of the defining figures of Gotha in his time. As long-standing director of the Gothaer Lebensversicherungsbank and a noted economist and insurance scholar, he was closely tied to the city and was later made an honorary citizen.
Emminghaus also left his mark beyond Gotha. During his time in Bremen, he was among the founders of the German Maritime Search and Rescue Service (Deutsche Gesellschaft zur Rettung Schiffbrüchiger, DGzRS) and was involved in various social and charitable projects.
The villa was designed by Bruno Eelbo, an architect, artist and writer who created numerous stately buildings and villas in Gotha and beyond.
More than 125 years later, a new chapter is being written in the Emminghaus Villa. The historic rooms give CASA its distinctive atmosphere, connecting the building's history with a style of dining that looks deliberately forward.