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East Brunswick, NJ

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Casablanca

4.4 (198 reviews)

Casablanca Photos

CASABLANCA ATMOSPHERE

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Moderate noise
Casual
Touristy
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Recommended Reviews - Casablanca

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Roxanne O.

I made a reservation, but had to change it to a half hour earlier the day before and they were very accommodating and polite. We came here as a group of four, and seeing that we had bottles of wine (they're BYOB) they brought out wine glasses and uncorked for us right away. We ordered a couple of appetizers and four of the clay pots. Note--this was way too much food for four people! We got the two person sampler, and the shrimp appetizer dish and by the time we got that done, we were halfway full. I would definitely recommend the sampler though--it's nice to taste a little bit of everything. The clay pots, though they looked very similar, had their own recognizable flavors. I would say for a group of four, the two person sampler and two of the clay pots would have been sufficient. We stayed way longer than a group should, and almost until closing. But even though we did, we didn't feel rushed by the staff even as they cleared plates and gave us our check. Their food and their customer service was amazing!

Pouring the Moroccan Mint Tea
Shelley P.

Highly recommend Casablanca! We were four couples there for the first time and we all loved it! The decor is just beautiful! The wait staff was so attentive, patient and helpful. They assisted and poured the wine that we brought. Half of us ordered the lamb - 'Casablanca Tajine' and 'Kasba Tajine' and the lamb just fell away from the shank bone, it was so tender. It was so flavorful and delicious! The salmon and the vegetarian tajines were also enjoyed. Each with a large side of either mashed sweet potatoes, cous cous, or saffron rice. The starter soup, 'Harira' was really good too! When we were done, our waiter poured us Moroccan mint tea, which was a perfect ending. We were too full for dessert, but it looked yummy!

Vegetarian Tajine
Leena S.

Recently, while looking for something different for a group dinner, I remembered that I had Casablanca bookmarked for some time. Our group of 7 found everything from the food, service to the ambiance to be wonderful. It was the first Moroccan experience for some of my friends. The portion sizes were large and I loved the presentation of the foods served in the Tangine (Moroccan clay vessel used to stew meats and vegetables). I ordered the Atlas Tangine and the hubby got the Nomad Tagine. Both were very good, with a slightly different flavor to them. The entrees come with the choice of rice or other side. Prior to dinner, the complimentary pita was warm, fresh and delicious. We didn't have room for dessert, so I will need to go back again and eat less pita and save room for dessert.

Lenny K.

Great atmosphere. Looks and feels like Morocco. Every dish was a combination of well blended seasons and flavorings. The sampler salad for two can feed four. The on premise owner and his wife are very warm and welcoming. Plenty of parking in this strip mall. Absolutely looking forward to going back again.

Chicken kabobs, it's a lot of food
SuzAnne S.

It was my Birthday dinner with family, and I really wanted to come here for months!!!! Well the planets and stars aligned and everyone's work schedule for a Sunday was in tune so off we went!!! 7:30pm reservation and 2 bottles of Chateau St. Michelle Reisling on ice, and we were all together, checking out the menu. Because it was Sunday and we didn't have the pre-fix or belly dancing, but that was totally okay with all of us. Salad platter for sharing, hummus, Moroccan Cigars with shrimp, soups and it was all delicious--- pacing ourselves we had to order our entrees, I went with the Kasbah Tajine with lamb, hubby ordered the chicken bastilla, Son had the Medina Tajine with Salmon, his girlfriend got the Atlas Tagine with chicken and pears and Mini-Me went with the 2 chicken kabobs. Dinner was absolutley delicious, it has been such a long time since we had Moroccan food and it was simply delightful, our family really enjoyed it and even though we knew dessert was coming, we really couldn't stop eating... but alas the Moroccan Mint Tea was calling our name, and this is a tea, we drink daily in our home, I brew a large pot of it and everyone drinks it after dinner or before bed, it's comforting and relaxing. Dessert of course was Baklava, I love the corners so they induldged my request, we also had the cheesecake with strawberries and the Ricotta Sponge cake. It was a beautiful dinner spent with those I love.

Lay of the land
Steve A.

It's been a hot minute since I've been here, but unfortunately that is going to last. Fortunately I took some notes to help me write this. Food: High 4 stars, could pass for 5. I've had better Moroccan but this is certainly good food overall. For a country that is spices, flavors were a little underdefined for me and that costs a bit. Atmosphere: A bit cramped but passable. Service: 1 star. Owner harshly told me not to take a photo of the kitchen area. I thought it was nice they were lighting a cake. Nope, apparently that is not nice. Ramadan fasters got dates to break their fasts. No dates for me (in 2 ways). Kinda ruins the holiday mood, right? And the waitstaff was not attentive to me, for example with water refill. I almost felt like they were treating me lesser because I'm not one of their people, at least at that point. Verdict: Food can be good, but a bad experience ruins it all. And because it's the owner himself who caused the trouble, nothing anyone says to me will change my mind.

Ally P.

First of all when you walk into this place, it is so colorful and filled with beautiful decorations. You would have never known from the outside. Came here after a bridesmaid's dress fitting. We got there pretty much when they opened so we were the only ones in the restaurant. The service was great and they suggested we try the mint tea. The tea was good after a filling meal. We ordered a couple of things to share and all of it was good. I would definitely come back. Great spot for a date night.

Chicken tajine with pears, caramelized onions, and honey
Liza F.

When you walk into Casablanca the first thing you see is a beautiful mosaic tiled fountain welcoming you into this lovely space. Try and sit in one of the round corner tables. They are exquisite and the seating is very comfortable. Since the entrees sounded so tempting, my daughter and I skipped the appetizers and instead ordered three main dishes. I highly recommend sharing. They are known for their tajine, so we ordered two and also the chicken bastilla. Lamb tajine with potatoes, olives, and lemon- very good. Lamb was melt in your mouth tender. Normally I don't love large potato pieces, but these had so much flavor Chicken tajine with pears, caramelized onions, and honey- super dish. The chicken are boneless breasts which I wasn't expecting, but they really worked. The meat was juicy and flavorful. The pears were super soft, and complimented the chicken perfectly. Chicken bastilla- mind blowingly fantastic. You must order this dish. It's an absolute flavor bomb. Shredded chicken, almonds, parsley, cilantro, cinnamon all wrapped in crispy phyllo dough with a dusting of powdered sugar. Sweet and savory heaven. The service was very friendly and helpful. I also recommend the mint tea. Served in a beautiful pot, the tea was minty and not too sweet. Even the complimentary pita was divine. Buttery, pillowy perfection. Go and try this place. You will love it!

Tangine lamb
TH C.

I always see this place when I get Chinese food next door - so decided to try this place out for the first time and did delivery. Their food was okay but I wouldn't rave about it. Ordered the lamb shank tajine, which is a huge platter for 2. The lamb was cooked properly and had good flavor but I wasn't a fan of the rice or veggies cooked underneath. Ordered calamari too, I didn't like that. Was soggy and mostly tentacles. Good dips for it though. I'd prob try them out again later on in life but just not anytime soon.

Harira
Penelope H.

Casablanca is hands down the best Moroccan food I have had in NJ. It reminded me of the some of my favorite food I had Marrakesh. The portions are massive (I had leftovers for days). The appetizers could easily be shared with a group of 4. For my vegetarians out there: this is the BEST falafel I have tasted in a long time, and hands down the best vegetable tagine. There was so much variety and flavor. And there were whole preserved lemons!!! The restaurant is beautiful. I could not stop admiring the artwork, tiles, lighting, plates... If you have the chance, definitely dine in. Please take the time to check Casablanca out!

Most amazing salad!
Susanna C.

I am always looking to try new restaurants. We had the perfect opportunity after a fundraising event that took place at the JMPAC located at the middle school just a couple minutes away. More on that later! Service was outstanding. The owners and the staff were so friendly and helpful, giving us lots of good recommendations. Upon being seated they brought us warm pita with a dish of feta cheese, grapes and olives (I think my son would have been happy just eating that!). Our group of 9 ordered family style, selecting several appetizers and some main courses. Every dish was outstanding. The Moroccan Salad was a highlight - a mix of several veggie items all beautifully displayed. I generally am not a huge falafel fan, but this falafel was delicious. Most importantly, everything was FRESH! Everything was topped off with a lovely tea and baklava for dessert. We will most certainly be back to see the belly dancers on the weekend! Food is a wonderful way to learn about other cultures without getting on a plane. This restaurant provides an immersive experience, with everything served on the most lovely plates I have seen, and the ambiance provided by the decor. Clearly the owners took pride and worked hard to provide an immersive experience. Now, what makes this place really special, is that the owners are committed members of the community. Remember that fundraising event I mentioned? The owner, Moussa, participated as a "Celebrity Dancer" in the East Brunswick Education Foundation's celebrity dance-off, which raises funds that are then distributed as grants back to East Brunswick Public Schools. As the owner of two restaurants in town, I'm sure Moussa has plenty of things to keep him busy - but he made the time to support a worthy cause. The event raised over $55k that night!

Falafel
Shorouk A.

We ordered 2 appetizers. The falafel & fried calamari. The fried calamari was a solid 2/10. No flavor, tasted like frozen calamari, overcooked/ almost rubbery texture. The sauces that came with it were good. The falafel was a 5/10. Average taste/ flavor. Undercooked on the inside. The tahini on the side was practically water. Extremely runny & no flavor whatsoever. My husband ordered the Fez Tagine, with saffron rice. It was a 8.5/10. Flavors were amazing. Lamb shank could've been slightly more tender. But overall an amazing experience. I ordered the lamb couscous. I give it a 5/10. The lamb was flavorful & falling off the bone. Very tender & juicy. The vegetables were nicely flavored & cooked to perfection. The reason why I gave it a 5 is because the couscous was not fresh. Some parts tasted bad and had a slimy texture. I couldn't finish eating it & I was looking forward to that dish for so long. They gave us complimentary Moroccan tea. It was okay. Also lacking flavor. But it was alright. Staff was very courteous & the interior design of the restaurant was beautiful.

Moroccan shrimp cigars

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Visited this restaurant twice. Tasty Moroccan food. Welcoming host. Quick, friendly service. Interesting decor.

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3 years ago

Truly outstanding!!! The best Moroccan food I have ever had. Excellent service. This place is the real deal. Run, don't walk, to Casablanca.

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Excellent food, the owners were friendly. This is authentic Moroccan food just how you would get in Morocco. Highly recommend.

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Ask the Community - Casablanca

Are the falafels gluten-free?

Are you BYOB? I'd like to bring wine from my wine cellar.

Hi, I have an enquiry. Can you help?

Is the meat halal certified?

All our meats are halal

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Dar Lbahja - Lamb Tajine/Tagine With Prunes. $22. Very tasty

Dar Lbahja

4.4(33 reviews)
35.4 mi•Astoria

Note- Menu has changed a bit since I was there, with the prices having been updated (especially the…read moretagine,) with there also being some new dishes on the menu. Recommendations- Bastilla/Pastilla, Tagines, Zaalouk. Grilled platters are alright. On a side note, some dishes, similar to other Moroccan places, such as couscous, are only available on weekends. As per many of my recent reviews, I was at this Moroccan spot a good while ago, with our host having heard about it prior to the place being featured in the NYT Top 100 as well as on TasteBuds, a highly recommended Instagram/TikTok account. The woman who helped us, whom I believe was one of the owners, was very friendly, and the place inside was casual and decently busy, especially for how far away it is from the subway. The food was overall very tasty, with a particularly good bastilla/pastilla, among everything else, and I can see why this restaurant has gotten so much publicity. My preference of the two appetizers was the $7.99 Zaalouk, or eggplant cooked in tomato sauce and marinated with charmoula. The dish reminded me a bit of Egyptian-style moussaka due to the mix, though less tomato-focused and more about the sweet eggplant. The chermoula was very light, with a hint of sourness and spice. Overall, this was delicious, especially with the bread. The other appetizer was the Moroccan Carrot for $6, which was a mix of sliced carrots with a spicy chermoula. Of everything we ordered, this was the least favorite dish of the night, as the cold carrots lacked much flavor, as there was a lack of chermoula flavor, just like with the eggplant. Best of the dishes was the $12.99 Chicken Bastilla, or Pastilla, listed as a traditional Moroccan pie stuffed with chicken strips, crushed almonds, and dusted with icing sugar and cinnamon. A lot of people might find this sweet and savory combination odd, but I have gotten used to it, and this was a very good version. The chicken was well-spiced, the pie was flaky, and it wasn't overly sweet. The previous place, which had the best version, was the long-closed La Shuk in Harlem, and this is better, though I do want to compare it to the other popular Moroccan spot in Astoria, Siham. Second favorite was the Lamb Tajine, or Tagine, With Prunes for $22, consisting of slow cooked meat with prunes, dried apricots, roasted almonds, and sesame, and served with rice. The lamb inside was very tender and fell off the bone. I liked the roasted almonds and sesame as the bit of nuttiness helped with the overall sweetness of the dish. We also liked this dish, and it paired particularly well with the rice. My preference from the grilled section was the $16.99 Merguez, listed as Moroccan merguez grilled over charcoal, and served with rice. The dish came with many pieces of sausage, which had a slight spicy kick and a bit of a snap. For the same price, there was also the Grilled Lamb, or tender lamb with a choice of rice or fries. The lamb was pretty flavorful, but some pieces were a bit overcooked. It was good, though, but not as notable. The fries on the side were a mixed bag, with some being crispy and some a bit soft, so between the two, I would recommend the rice more. While I didn't love the grilled platters, the rest of the dishes were delicious. Combine that with the friendly service, and we had a very good time. I wouldn't mind going back and trying again, though this might also be because I want to have more of their bastilla.

Dar Lbahja was phenomenal from start to finish. We tried the lamb tagine, beef tajia, beef tagine…read morewith vegetables, and the chicken tagine, and every single dish delivered. The portions were generous, the meat was consistently tender, and everything was packed with rich, comforting flavor. This is the kind of food that really sticks with you. Even though we ordered to-go, the experience stood out. The staff treated us incredibly well during the wait and even offered complimentary Moroccan mint tea and bread. For a brief moment, it genuinely felt like a glimpse into Moroccan hospitality. I do not rave about places often, but this is absolutely one I would recommend to others without hesitation.

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Dar Lbahja - Inside

Inside

Dar Lbahja - Moroccan Carrots. $6. Cheap, but bland as it lacked chermoula flavor. .Would not recommend

Moroccan Carrots. $6. Cheap, but bland as it lacked chermoula flavor. .Would not recommend

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Marakesh Restaurant

Marakesh Restaurant

4.1(288 reviews)
30.6 mi
•$$

Its name means "far west" or "where the sun sets." Morocco is a country located in the westernmost…read morepart of Africa, with borders reaching both the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. Various influences have shaped its rich and diverse cultural history over the centuries. The country has been home to several cultures, including indigenous Berber cultures, Arab-Islamic influences, and contributions from various Mediterranean, African, and European civilizations. Located off a busy Route 46 in Parsippany, we decided on Marakesh Restaurant for a celebratory event. My partner, our friends, and I easily made a reservation for a party of 6 by visiting their website. Upon entering, it felt like one truly walked into a family-owned BYOB establishment in Morocco with its decor and subdued lighting, creating a cozy and intimate vibe. The staff greeted us as first-timers and guided us to a central area in the dining space. The atmosphere is enhanced by colorful, comfortable-looking overstuffed couches that serve as our seating (no hardwood chairs here), shiny brass trays perched on pedestals that function as tables, imported artifacts (ceramics, pottery, artwork) tastefully placed throughout, arched Moroccan-style doorways, subdued lighting, and soft Moroccan music playing in the background. The hospitality began when one of the servers approached our table carrying a decorative pitcher and basin so that we could wash our hands. On weekends, a prix fixe family-style menu is offered and called the Sultan's table, which begins with garden salad, dip platter with pita bread, shrimp kebab, and Moroccan cigars. The first course featured mixed kebab (breast of chicken and beef kofta) over saffron rice and vegetables. The second course opted for chicken and salmon tagine. Thanking my friend, Bea, for bringing the delicious cake from Dulce de Leche Bakery in Englewood. Our meal ended with a mint hot tea. We were all excited to sample Moroccan cuisine, as each dish was packed with flavors that were completely unfamiliar to our taste buds. The staff was kind and attentive and went out of their way to help. The belly dancing performance was the highlight of the evening, enhancing the overall experience. The staff were friendly and explained what the menu offered. I had a pleasant moment with the chef/owner, Abdelfettah El Akkari. It turned into a very fun party with excellent food and music, among friends, and Marakesh did not disappoint. Shokran (thank you).

Went for a birthday party. Happy birthday Vina!!! Amazing atmosphere. Beautiful decor. The only…read morething better than the belly dancer was the food!!! Yummy and healthy. FYI BYOB. Will be back. P.S. I loved table side hand washing with rose water!

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Marakesh Restaurant - Hummus, Baba Ganoush, Zaalouk, and Grill Combo

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Shalel - Bacalhau Croquetas

Shalel

4.0(742 reviews)
33.5 mi•Upper West Side
•$$

Amazing food, amazing staff, very quick accommodating and generous. The bacalhau and all chicken…read moredishes are great. Drinks too. Interiors are most beautiful in the uws.

Shalel has a subterranean, dimly lit, moody atmosphere that feels intimate without being overly…read moreformal. There's low sofa-style seating throughout, which adds to the cozy, tucked-away feel. Definitely a good date-night spot or somewhere to take out-of-towners when you want to impress. They have a balanced menu of large and small dishes. I ordered the halloumi and cauliflower, and while it was tasty, I was a little disappointed by the portion for $22 It was mostly cauliflower with barely any halloumi, so I didn't think the price quite matched what was served. I also offer a side of pita, not realizing most of the small plates come with pita. Since I was still hungry after the cauliflower, I also ordered the gambas al ajillo, which were delicious. I didn't try the larger dishes this time but the person I was dining with ordered the steak kebab and really enjoyed it. I also love that they have an all-night breakfast section on the menu. There's truly no wrong time for shakshuka. Next time, I'd love to try one of their sandwiches or pitas. Service was also great in a very understated way. They're attentive and present without hovering, which I really appreciated in a space that feels designed for conversation and privacy. Overall, a really cool atmosphere with an interesting menu and plenty I'd like to come back and try.

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Shalel - Bar

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Casablanca - moroccan - Updated October 2026

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