The Casbah Restaurant is apparently one of the best Moroccan restaurants in Calgary, but be prepared to pay up for that food.
For those who don’t know, a casbah is sort-of a hightower or medina/fortress that identifies a city from atop the hill. When battle ensues, the leader of the town usually hides in the casbah since it is the most defended structure in the town.
Right when we were seated, our server (the co-owner) immediately provided excellent service! He explained to us the dishes and his recommendations. Before eating, he also “washed” our hands with rose water, a dining tradition in Morocco.
I have never eaten Moroccan food before, so this dinner is a first for me. We ordered the “Tour of The Casbah,” and included a three course meal from appetizer to dessert.
For appetizer, I had the Dinjal phyllo. For entrée, I ordered the Chermoula tagine. Lastly, I had the pistachio rose for dessert, which contained pistachios in a phyllo pastry with rose essence.
The appetizer and entrée were scrumptious and delightful! I think my favourite is the Dinjal phyllo appetizer: the roasted eggplant in phyllo pastry was a delight of texture and flavour.
While the food was delicious, I was left with a bitter aftertaste since it was expensive when compared to the portion sizes. The whole three course meal cost me $50 with tip and tax. 🙁
Walking into The Casbah Restaurant, you’re instantaneously transported to Morocco. I feel like this is something I would see from Aladdin. The patterns, colours and decor seem so authentic!
Because the Moroccan food scene is severely lacking, I suppose The Casbah Restaurant is the best Moroccan restaurant in Calgary. Even so, take that with a grain of salt. 😐
Recommended? Sure, if you have the money.
COST: Pricey. The prices at The Casbah are pretty steep! Appetizers start at $10, and entrées start at $18. For my three course dinner, I paid ~$50 with tax and tip…oh, my poor wallet. 🙁
TASTE: Very good. My first taste of Moroccan food at The Casbah was really good, but I found my portions were small for the price. There were flavours and tastes that I definitely won’t be able to mimic at home without full knowledge of the cuisine.
ACCESSIBILITY: Moderate. The Casbah is located along 11th Avenue in the Beltline, and it’s ~15 minutes by foot from 4th/6th Street station. Parking is severely limited; however, you can park curbside after 6PM.
ATMOSPHERE: Very nice. This restaurant is appropriately-decorated, and automatically transports you to Morocco. The patterns, tables, cloths, and decorations all scream “Morocco!” The dimmed lights also romanticize the restaurant, making it a great place for dinners and dates.
SERVICE: 9/10. Our server (the co-owner) was really friendly and hospitable! He explained to us Moroccan cuisine, and the different dishes that they offered in the menu.
The Casbah Restaurant
Address: Lower Level, 720 11th Avenue SW, Calgary AB
Phone: (403) 265 – 9800
Hours:
- Monday: 5:30PM – 11:30PM
- Tuesday: 5:30PM – 11:30PM
- Wednesday: 5:30PM – 11:30PM
- Thursday: 5:30PM – 11:30PM
- Friday: 5:30PM – 11:30PM
- Saturday: 5:30PM – 11:30PM
- Sunday: Closed
Website: www.casbahrestaurant.ca
This is not a sponsored post.
To visit Morocco was an incredible experience for me. I made many friends and learned a lot about the food, the culture, and the beautiful natural beauty of the nation. Morocco Tours is a fantastic option to think about.