Morrocan restaurant review

A few days ago, Carolyn and I wanted to eat out and hadn't decided where we'd go.  Thumbing through our Entertainment Book, Carolyn suggested the Casablanca, a Moroccan restaurant at Fair Oaks and Watt.  She called to see if (1) they were still in business and (2) still accepting the Entertainment Book discount.  She also asked if a reservation was necessary. The answers were yes to all three questions.

The locale is anything but impressive.  They share a tiny strip mall with a liquor store on one side and a Goodwill Industry collection storefront on the other.  When we arrived at 7:00 pm there was only one other couple in the place.  We began to feel bad about asking for a discount if they only have 4 customers for the evening. It's a small restaurant anyway with seating for 40 at most.  All the tables are a foot off the ground with a large 3 to 4 foot brass platter serving as the table top.  There were 2 or 3 seating pillows at each table as well as some seating around the periphery of the room.  So people could sit close to the floor (and the food) or at a more normal height but away from the food.

There were basically two choices on the menu - limited selection 5 course meal and no selection 6 course meal.  With the latter, it was really chef's choice.  We chose that because we wouldn't have any idea what to choose anyway.  By the time we had made our choice, the room was almost half full so Carolyn relaxed a little about using our Entertainment Book discount.

Before we could get our food, we had to wash our hands.  To assist us, the Master of the House (MOTH) brought over a portable tin sink and poured lukewarm water over our hands.  Really classy in an old world sort of way.  Next came soup that was not too hot but just right.   After that it was a plate of spicy peas and tomatoes with pita bread then a pastry confection that looked like we had reached dessert.  Our MOTH assured us we had not.

The restaurant was now almost completely full, a third of the people belonging to what looked like a birthday party for a 5 or 6 year old girl.  All her girl friends and a couple of relatives were there.  The MOTH changed the lighting and background music.  We all looked around puzzled until a brightly dressed woman glided on center stage and began belly dancing.  The little girls were entranced, the men in the room seemed slightly embarrassed,  and the woman amused.  Soon either the moms or the dads were pressing a $1 into the young girls hands and urging them to slip the tip inside the belly dancer's costume.  It must have been harder than it looks, mainly because she was such a moving target.

Finally we got our main course which was lamb with rice and trimmings and chicken with a sweet sauce.   Our last course was a dense, very sweet pastry.  By the time were we ready to leave, the dancer was ready for her second set.  The MOTH computer our bill, discounted it appropriately for the Entertainment Book discount then told us that he wasn't going to void the coupon.  We could use it again and again.

During the evening several guests had brought in their own alcohol in a bottle since the Casablanca doesn't serve any.  Now outside we chuckled at the convenience of the liquor store.

All in all we would say it was a very good evening.  With tax and tip it amounted to $72 before the discount.  A little pricey for going there regularly.