Strolling by at the foot of the Albayzin district, I was drawn into the Moroccan-style tea salon Kasbah by its magnificently decorated seating area. Beautiful embroidered cloths, stained glass lamps, and patterned cushions and tables surround diners and travelers searching for a respite from the hot sun.
The menu here is diverse--plenty of drinks and dishes from several different cuisines as well, including Arab, Mediterranean, and even Indian, perhaps to cater to the diverse palates from the tourists passing by. I started with a bowl of gazpacho, a cold, thick, and nicely flavored tomato soup. I then had the Moroccan "pastela de pollo," a phyllo pie stuffed with beautifully spiced minced chicken and almonds, and dusted with cinnamon and powdered sugar! We also got an order of the "menu of the day," starting with a simple mixed salad and moving on to an amazing fish tagine (a Moroccan stew). The flavors of the tagine were incredible--there was plenty of harissa, but the sauce wasn't overly spicy. Rather, it provided the perfect coating for the tender fish fillets, the soft sliced potatoes, and the medley of stewed vegetables, including carrots and peppers. To round it all out, I also got a cup of the Moroccan mint tea, which was a surprisingly refreshing warm drink!
While the flavors of the dishes we had were very nice, the restaurant got rather busy, and our server repeatedly ignored our requests and forgot to bring us dessert (included with the set menu) with the bill. Despite this, however, I still thoroughly enjoyed the experience (and most of all the setting) of this magnificent teteria! read more