I was shown kindness at this restaurant in the heart of the ritzy, glitzy Canton Street area…read more Without much hope, I was trying to Yelp something cheapish that wasn't Cantonese, because after a day of dim sum I needed something different. I had already decided to give this place a try, because I find Moroccan food really healthy and refreshing, when a lady on the corner holding a sheaf of fliers handed me one... and it was for Casablanca!
This kind of thing usually makes me less likely to want to dine somewhere, not more, but she had this unique non-pushiness about her, and a kind air. She offered to escort me to the restaurant, which I entreated her to please not do, because I am so fickle and apt to change my mind at the sight of a menu.
When I arrived and was seated and given a menu, I was disappointed to see that the prices were much higher than I would have guessed based on the flier. I apologized to the man who had seated me and mentioned, because he asked, that it was just more than I was intending to spend for dinner. He gave me a beat, then appeared around the corner as I was waiting for the elevator and said that if I wanted, I could order off the lunch specials menu, which was half the price, even though it was 6:30pm.
I did, gratefully, ordering the fish tagine with a starter of some sort of bean or lentil soup. When it came out, it was gigantic, the fish flopping over the edges of the bowl, and hot, the red sauce forming blisters at the edges. The fish itself was fall-apart tender, nothing excessively flavorful, which was fine since the sauce was. It had the kind of sharp smell that hits you right in the top of the nostrils, and tasted much more spice stuffed than it looked. And the rice, a little coconutty, I think, refreshed it.
Was this meal something I'll remember fondly for more than a few weeks? No, at least not for the food, which was satisfying but ultimately not memorable. But I will remember the kindness of the people there. On my way out, I ran into the lady who had handed me the flier on the street. She grabbed my hands in excitement, all her rings creating brief cool spots on my fingers. "It was good, right?"