The Casbah
• 720 - 11 Ave SW Lower Level | Calgary, AB | T2R 0E4
Average User Rating:
9.31/10
9.31/10
Recommended by:
90%
90%
Sort Reviews by:
"Not as good as we thought it would be"
Ken
March 2012 — "The Casbah downtown Calhary is a beautiful Moroccan restuarant. Decorated beautifully throughout, really feels as though you are stepping off the street and into another world entirely.
My wife and I recently went for the 5 course dinner. It is $114.00 per couple and includes a glass of housewine each red or white.
We were seated prompty as we did have a reservation. I believe it would be hard to get a table for dinner on any evening without one. They take reservations as early as a week ahead but no earlier than that.
Our five course dinner was exceptional.
We found the experience although very different than one of our favorite places we have gone many time in the past for Morroccan cuisine; Sultan's Tent.
They served us cutlery with no suggestion of eating with our hands with is traditional to their country, and a must a Sultan's Tent.At Sultan's Tent they also wash your hands at the beginning of the meal and the end with mint water. Which is very cultural aswell. We really missed out on those things.
The food also, was a little bit dissapointing and was nowhere near the quality of Sultan's tent. We ordered almost exactly what we get at Sultan's, and it didnt compare really.
I dont think we will be going back again.
"
User Rating
7.67/10
7.67/10
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"Exotic fine dining "
Carlee
February 2012 — "My husband and I love Moroccan food and simply cannot get enough of the flavors and exotic tastes of Morocco!
We found a really good coupon on deal find a few months ago, and although we felt we were cheating on our other favorite restaurant we decided to give it a go.
Stepping inside is romantic and feels as though you really are leaving on a trip.
We felt special and were treated as though we were through out our whole evening at the Casbah.
Very romantic setting, somewhere you can take that special someone and really get away from it all. The music serenades you through the evening and captivates you as you walk in.
The food was very good, and our meal was very extensive as we had the five course meal and house wine.
We took our time, eating slowly enjoying each-others company in our breath taking surroundings.
They have a lot of similar menu items as sultans tent.Such as duck, lamb, cornish hen.
For an appetizer I had 5 items to chose from and I went with The Bastella.
It is a Moorish-Andalusian preparation of almonds,caramelized onions and chicken with rich flavors of saffron and herbs, which was full of flavor and an amazing aroma!
As my 1st entree I had 2 choices, and I went with the Rous Chermoula it was fragrant steamed rice topped with aromatic
chermoula and chick peas also served with my choice of beef or lamb and I chose the beef.
The beef was a little tough but the beautiful sauce made up for it.
As my third Entree I chose
Chermoula Tajine
It was a rich zesty stew of tomatoes, root vegetables,
chick peas, olives and preserved lemon
Kefta. Full of flavor and I really enjoyed this one.
We had to sit and wait for awhile before we ordered our tea and dessert entrees as we were so full.
Luckily we had all the big pillows surrounding us to lay back on.
For dessert I chose the Moroccan Mint tea and the Almond Crescent,with a soft almond filled pastry served with ice cream and drizzled with honey. We finished off our beautiful meal and evening with this amazing soft dessert which wasn't too rich and was a great way to end our evening.
Our server was very personal and made sure we were happy all night. He really took the time with us to describe menu items that we weren't sure about and was consistent throughout. We will be going again! Don't miss out try it today!
"
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10/10
10/10
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"Like a scene from Aladdin"
Ashley
June 2011 — "The only Morrocan food I had eaten previously was at a very westernized place and although it was delicious after eating at The Casbah it was nothing in comparison. When I walked into the door I felt like I had been transformed; the atmosphere was authentic, from the music to the draperies and tea pots! Our server was very passionate about the food and always checked to ensure we weren't in need of anything. We started out with the soup that I spotted at the top of the menu which sounded delicious but exceeded all my expectations once I tasted it. The mix of ingredients they used was perfect and although I would probably never think to use them the way they did the soup was amazing. We also ordered 2 main entrees with bread to share -- one of the stews and one of the cous-cous dishes. Unfortunately the stew we ordered came with lamb instead of chicken as requested but my friend isn't a fan of sending things back so we didn't say anything. I enjoyed the lamb in both dishes despite the mix up and my friend enjoyed everything else. We were quite full after our meal was over but the desserts sounded too good to pass up so we ordered some more of their fabulous Morrocan mint tea along with an almond pastry type thing served beside ice cream. When the bill came our server even offered us $20 off coupons for our next visit -- great service! I'd say we both left very satisfied even though there was the minor meat mix up and I realized I was still in Calgary once we left! "
User Rating
9/10
9/10
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"Outstanding evening"
Jacob
April 2011 — "I was early for a meeting, so I popped by The Casbah for a drink. The server was very polite in explaining that their license has to include food to be served any alcohol. He suggested having a salad or appetizer to go along with the wine. Understanding I had the lamb sausage with a really flavourful hot sauce. If the appetizer was this delicious the rest of the menu had to be outstanding. I actually was so impressed by the service I made a reservation later that evening with my wife. I was right we had a dish of cous cous with vegetables and a variety of very tender, tasty meats. I have had cous cous before but I never knew how incredible it tastes when cooked by a moroccan chef who knows what their doing.
The ambiance is amazing, I'm sure it must be hard for them to keep their tables reserved just for diners as it was so relaxing just to hang out afterwards. Thank you Casbah staff for being so accommodating on such a busy night."
User Rating
10/10
10/10
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"Exotic experience for wedding party"Michelle
March 2011 — "My girlfriends and I wanted to give the bride an experience that she would not forget. I did alot of research and found The Casbah has everything I'm looking for, an exotic atmosphere, unique dinning and a whole lot of fun. I asked the manager If i could bring in a belly dancer in for the evening, so we could dance and play our own music, since we had a fairly private section. I was pleasantly surprised how open they were to our ideas. When it came time for dinner, the staff was so helpful in explaining every detail of the menu. Some of us decided to have the pre-set menu, while myself and a couple others enjoyed the regular menu. The food was outstanding, the staff was very attentive to our needs, the manager even came by to show the proper etiquette of eating moroccan food using the bread. We had an amazing time there and would highly suggest it to all our family and friends."
User Rating
10/10
10/10
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"AMAZING!!"
Desmond
January 2011 — "Had an amazing evening with a group of friends, best place to go for a great dining experience! 5 star service, 5 star cuisine, 5 star ambiance. I already made my Valentines reservation with them and was not surprised that they had to squeeze me in. No doubt an amazing place to take your sweetheart! I'm looking forward to it."
User Rating
10/10
10/10
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"Sultry atmosphere with delectable cuisine!"Bryce
User Rating
10/10
10/10
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"Loved every minute of it!"Darlene
January 2010 — "So, The Casbah truly Rocks!
What a delightful experience. I agree, the owners are adorable. If you have any questions about Moroccan food, culture or history they have the answers. Just when you think the experience can't get any better, it does right up to the end! Highly, highly recommend the Tour of Morocco, about 50$ per and well worth it.
"
User Rating
10/10
10/10
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"So.Delicious."
Stefanie
September 2009 — "After going to the Casbah I never want to eat any other type of food again. It was DELICIOUS. Normally I don't like shrimp or olives, but they were delicious in the appetizers. The owner and his wife are very friendly and helpful. My tastebuds have never been happier.
And the atmosphere was great. The music was great, the decor was beautiful.
It was amazing."
User Rating
9.83/10
9.83/10
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"Amazing Moroccan, even better atmosphere"Melissa
July 2009 — "This restaurant makes me weak in the knees. It has the most breathtaking decor, romantic ambiance, beautiful mid-eastern music... This place is very sensual. The server pours water over your hands to wash them before your meal, and they serve their exquisite mint tea from about a mile above your glass for the longest and most elegant pour you’ve ever seen.
Oh sorry, you wanted to know about the food? We've tried a number of things off the menu, but my favourite is any of the tajines with saffron sauce. Or the T’mar Tajine, with sweet potatoes, medjool dates, and pecans in a honey sauce. Decadent. Heavenly.
We like to come here for special occasions, and we have recommended it to so many people... I just love this restaurant.
"
User Rating
9.83/10
9.83/10
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"Casbah was great until it wasn't..."mary
April 2009 — "The Casbah was a mixture of delight and disappointment. The decor is rich with colours, patterns and textures, drapery, simulated rock walls, plants, lovely mosaic tiles, archways, iron work, warm lighting and interesting music playing in the background to complete the sensation of being somewhere besides the basement of a building in Calgary. Well done!
The menu was extensive and interesting, with very nice "plain language" explanations of each dish - thank you for this. The prices seem about the same as other restaurants in the same genre. Soups and salads were between 6 - 9 dollars, appetizers around 8 - 10 dollars, and main menu items 9 -25 dollars.
My partner and I split the appetizer special, briouats with Moroccon hot sauce - we chose the shrimp crevette, eggplant blend and spinach blend, all in a light pastry. They were very tasty and aromatic, and a really nice beginning to our meal experience., along with some very nice mint tea. I chose Jibana Tajine as my main meal, a mixture of peas, artichokes and roasted potatoes in saffron sauce and with pieces of preserved lemon ($16) with a side of saffron rice. Although I decided to stick with vegetarian, I had the option of adding dark or white chicken meat, or lamb for another $6 - 9, depending on your choice. I was somewhat disappointed with my meal -I usually love the unique taste sensations that come with Mediterranean food, but in this case the lemon seemed to overpower the other flavours; I wonder if the meal would have been better with a meat to balance the flavours.
I found I couldn't finish the meal because the taste was too overpowering. It was then things went a bit downhill - a group of people sitting very close to us were getting louder and louder, and then they were joined with another person who really amped up the noise...the ambiance that I was enjoying was literally wrecked - I'm happy they were happy (and they weren't being inappropriately rude or anything) but in such close quarters I may as well have been sitting with them; I think they even knew the server and it was all about going to some party/bar after work. I'm sure the server would have tried to fix the meal for me if I had asked - the service was generally great - but I had hit the wall of patience and decided to leave before I got too annoyed.
Overall, I would definitely recommend the restaurant for the ambiance, excellent service, and probably the food, although mine was disappointing...I'd go back though, and try again."
User Rating
8.67/10
8.67/10
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"Best Experience"
melissa
December 2008 — "I went to Casbah for a dinner with colleagues. We had a nice sampling of many dishes, most of which I dont know the names of. The food was delicious, The whole experience was amazing. There mint tea is amazing. It's slightly sweet, but very fresh tasting. Was a truly amazing experience.
I would highly recommend The Casbah "
User Rating
10/10
10/10
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"Unbelievably great dining experience!!"
Sinclair
October 2008 — "I am not the kind of person who normally fills these out but I just had to considering the times I've had there (numerous)and a couple other reviews that people(person) gave this incredible restaurant.
First of all, I can't help but notice two of the reviews being so similar in content. Sounds like the same person trying to give this great place a bad rap.
Secondly I have been back to this restaurant numerous amounts of times since they opened 4 years ago. It is beautifully themed, the Diffa is the only meal I choose because it doesn't get better then that!
The only time I have ever tasted cinnamon was the garnish on my plate of the bastalla. The flavors of the Casbah's food are just as rich and seductive as the restaurant itself. The wait staff is great!! I will go to no other Moroccan restaurant on this planet other then The CASBAH. Go try the experience you will see what I mean. Thank you for reading."
User Rating
10/10
10/10
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"Amazing Night Out"Mark
March 2008 — "I was truly impressed by this restaurant. I've had Morrocan food both in Europe and here in Canada, and this place was the best yet!
I find that usually in restaurants you have one course that stands out for its deliciousness...but in the Casbah, it was EVERY course (including the mint tea at the end) which stood out!
Truly impressed!"
User Rating
10/10
10/10
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"Not Rocked at the Casbah!"Dani
February 2008 — "I treated my friend to a birthday dinner at The Casbah. We ventured into downtown Calgary to this secluded, underground retreat.
The ambiance was inviting, rich and warm. Burnt tangerine and and rich reds colored the rooms which were draped with thick cuts of dark tapestry curtains. We ordered the Diffa; a crash course through the traditional Moroccan dishes. We were immediately unimpressed with the first course, a bland tomato soup of noodles, lentils and chick peas. (I was mortified when my guest said it tasted like Chef Boyardee.) The second course was a plate of marinated beets, corn and carrots. Subtle hints of cinnamon and the contrast of vinegar made this an unusual and interesting salad. We waited a bit longer for the appy's. We chose the spicy beef sausage in phyllo and the chicken and caramelised onion and almonds in phyllo. The sausage was sweet and hot, but when dipped in the traditional hot sauce, we found we needed to cool off with sips of water. The chicken roll was dusted in cinnamon and icing sugar and was a strange, but flavorful combination.
We waited another 25 minutes for the main courses. We chose two different dishes with the intent to share. First was the cous cous with grilled prawns, lamb, chicken and beef sausage with vegetables. The spices used to grill the prawns and the chicken were pleasant. The dish on it's own was actually quite dry, and would have been served best with a sauce or marinade on the side. Second was a chicken tajine with artichoke, peas roasted potatoes and preserved lemons. We were happy with the tender meat, saffron sauce and the explosion of tang that the lemons produced. The potatoes were also very good. Dessert was a baklava type dish served with frozen strawberry compote and vanilla ice cream. We had the strong, but unique Moroccan coffee to end the meal.
Overall... cinnamon was an over-used spice. The experience was marred by rookie staff, who were not consistent at checking throughout the courses. (Quite mandatory, as water glasses sat empty during the spicy moments) We were only asked once, during the meal, if everything was alright and I believe it was the owner who stopped. We waited 15 minutes after the dessert then had to get up from the table to find someone to bring the bill. For the small size of the restaurant, there was no excuse for the complete lack of attention.
Thank goodness for the ample decorations, and ethnic eye candy! We were distracted enough by the surroundings to shrug off the poor customer service.
We will not return. We do not recommend this establiment to anyone.
Overall value for the experience: very very poor. "
User Rating
3.40/10
3.40/10
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"Best Moroccan I've had in Canada!!"Moe
June 2007 — "While in Calgary on business I went to your restaurant for a quick bit to eat, I have never been to a moroccan restaurant in Canada that has ever brought me back to my culture (I have been to many in Toronto and Montreal and both of the other Moroccan restaurants in Calgary too.) But yours Truely brings me back to Morocco. Thankyou Casbah, You have made Morocco proud!!!! As a frequent traveler to Calgary, I'll be seeing you again and you have my vote for "THE" place to dine in Calgary."
User Rating
10/10
10/10
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" Senses Feast, But The Service Was Less Than Desirable."Danielle Mary
February 2007 — "I Treated my friend to a birthday dinner at this secluded, underground retreat. The ambiance was inviting, rich and warm. We ordered the Diffa; a crash course through the traditional Morrocan dishes. We were immediately unimpressed with the first course, a bland tomato soup of noodles, lentils and chick peas. (I was mortified when my guest said it tasted like Chef Boyardee.) The second course was a plate of marinated beets, corn and carrots. Subtle hints of cinnamon and the contrast of vinegar made this an unsual and interesting salad. We waited a bit longer for the appetizers. We chose the spicy beef sausage in phyllo and the chicken and carmelized onion and almonds in phyllo. The sausage was sweet and hot, but when dipped in the traditional hot sauce, we found we needed to cool off with sips of water. The chicken roll was dusted in cinnamon and icing sugar and was a strange, but flavorful combination. We waited another 15 minutes for the main courses. We chose two different dishes with the intent to share. First was the cous cous with grilled prawns, lamb, chicken and beef sausage with vegtables. The spices used to grill the prawns and the chicken were pleasant. The dish on it's own was actually quite dry, and would have been served best with a sauce or marinade on the side. Second was a chicken tajine with artichoke, peas roasted potatoes and perserved lemons. We were happy with the tender meat, saffron sauce and the explosion of tang that the lemons produced. The potatoes were also very good. Dessert was a baklava type dish served with frozen strawberry compote and vanilla ice cream. We had the strong, but unique Morrocan coffee to end the meal. I also must note, I enjoyed a Ceasar and it was perhaps the best one I have ever come across in Calgary.
Overall... cinnamon was an over-used spice. The experience was marred by rookie staff, who were not very consistant at checking thoughout the courses. (Quite mandatory, as water glasses sat empty during the spicy moments) We were only asked once, during the meal, if everything was alright and I believe it was the owner who stopped. We waited 15 minutes after the dessert then had to get up from the table to find someone to bring the bill. For the small size of the restaurant, there was no excuse for the complete lack of attention. Thank goodness for the ample decorations, and ethnic eye candy! We were distracted enough by the surroundings to shrug off the poor cutomer service.
Total bill: $108.00 (before tip)"
User Rating
6.67/10
6.67/10
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"Best Gathering for Friends"Margot
January 2007 — "The Casbah is the best place to get together with your friends! The atmosphere is so comfortable, its like being in your own home. The food is beyond excellent. It is more than a dining experience, its a dining event! And there is something for everyone. Ask them about thier buffet! Because of their experience at the Casbah, my friends are still raving about my gathering! Trust me, I have been to the most exclusive restaurants in Australia, New Zealand, the Philipines, Hong Kong and Japan. Only to find the best restaurant is right here at home in Calgary!
M.R. Anderson"
User Rating
10/10
10/10
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"Wonderful Experience!"Tara
January 2007 — "I just wanted write to express how wonderful my experience at the Casbah was. When you first walk into the Casbah you are taken back by the beauty and unique design and it makes you feel welcome and invited. The staff were extremely friendly and took the time to explain each dish that we asked about, it was delicious!! I'm looking forward to booking a party there so all my friends can enjoy the same experience I did.
Thanks again for a wonderful experience!"
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10/10
10/10
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"Awesome Customer Service"Les
December 2006 — "The experience was very unique. I don't think we have ever been to a restaurant that had all the memoriabelia regarding the country of the cuisine. The food was very good. Not at all what we would think Moroccan food would taste like. The cuisine was very tasty right down to the delicious desserts served. The waiter(s) (male & female) were very knowledgable about the cuisine. A special plate was given to try some of the menu that we did not know how they tasted. Very good service. I would strongly recommend this restaurant to anybody whom asked me about the experience."
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10/10
10/10
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"It was beyond "A feast for the Senses" , Exquisit!"Katie
November 2006 — "We made a reservation not knowing what to expect, once we started our journey down into The Casbah on 11 avenue s.w., we were blown away at the beauty of the interior. We definitly were not in Calgary anymore. Our Moroccan server took the time to explain thouroghly the Moroccan culture, the cuisine along with ediquette. we had The Casbah's Diffa, simply put Tour of Morocco.( 5 couse meal) Which we left in the hands of the Moroccan Chef to create a wonderful entourage of dishes. The server beautifully paired our meal with a rare wine from the foothills of the Altlas in Morocco. I expected the food to be spicey but it was the most flavourfull cuisine I have ever enjoyed. Our main dishes ranged from a sweet and savory Cous cous Fassi with tender medallions of lamb to the robust taste of lemon and olives paired with a hint of sweet peas in the Chicken Jilbana tajine. What an experience, you must escape to The Casbah!!
Katie- Calgary"
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"Absolutely incredible experience!"D
October 2005 — "Having nothing but a Fast Forward recommendation at our fingertips, we planned a family anniversary dinner at the Casbah and we were overwhelmed by the experience. From the moment we arrived we were treated as guests of the house and we greatly enjoyed the food. We highly recommend the 5 course feast if you have a few hours and a good appetite!"
User Rating
9.50/10
9.50/10
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DescriptionA museum of imported artifacts, pottery, mosaic tiles and soft fabrics. Perfectly paired with the decor is the authentic cuisine, imported beer and rare Moroccan wines. Great for an intimate evening for two or a celebration of friends and family.
Location Information720 - 11 Ave SW Lower Level
Calgary
AB
T2R 0E4
