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Casablanca Cafe

4 star rating
based on 48 reviews

Category: Seafood

3049 Alhambra St
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304
(954) 764-3500
Price Range:
$$$
Accepts Credit Cards:
Yes
Parking:
Street
Attire:
Casual
Good for Groups:
Yes
Good for Kids:
No
Takes Reservations:
Yes
Delivery:
No
Take-out:
Yes
Waiter Service:
Yes
Wheelchair Accessible:
Yes
Outdoor Seating:
Yes
Good for:
Lunch, Dinner
Alcohol:
Full Bar

48 reviews for Casablanca Cafe

Review Highlights   

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"Went back the next day for dessert and had the key lime pie." (in 4 reviews)
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"Great location on the beach and always friendly waiters." (in 24 reviews)
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"I had the tilapia and my spouse had the mango chutney sea bass." (in 5 reviews)
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Sort by: Yelp Sort | Date | Rating | Elites'
Photo of Kathleen P.

Elite '09

135

117

Kathleen P.

Arlington Heights, IL

5 star rating
11/16/2009

There's not a lot that I can add, it seams the first 45 reviews pretty much cover it.  Here are my favorite things about this place:

Breathtaking view of the ocean.
Lighting-romantic & flattering.
Food- elegant.
Service- excellent.

It's a favorite that I will always visit when I'm in town.

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Photo of Talisha M.

Elite '09

12

75

Talisha M.

Miami, FL

4 star rating
10/25/2009

Great place for a group or romantic dinner for 2!

I was here twice this week on a Saturday night and during the week for dinner. On the weekend they have a singer & a pianist which makes it a bit more romantic. The place is cute & the staff was great! The parking is a challenge since you need to find a meter or there is a small lot down the street that fills up quickly.

The food was all very very good & not a single thing I tried I didn't like. Here is what I have tried: calamari, beef carpacio, mussels & clams, ceasar salad, ahi tuna sashimi app (very large portion & soo fresh), lobster ravioli, Chili dusted scallops, & the Red Snapper. But 2 things standout to me the most #1 being the bread they bring out with this green olive oil garlic dipping explosion in your mouth sauce!! OMG it is soo soo soo the BEST ever. I had to purposely stop eating all of it so I could have dinner. And #2 the Chili Scallops that were Fantastic...the downside is there is only 4 on the plate :( but I guess I can't complain after eating all the bread & green garlic sauce!

Skip all the tourist traps on this beach & eat here!

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Photo of Lourdes D.

 

6

10

Lourdes D.

Miami Beach, FL

4 star rating
10/3/2009

Casablanca Cafe is the perfect place to go for drinks , appetizers and to enjoy a view of the Beach.  I love coming here just to chill...

The service staff attentive, friendly and professional. The prices moderate and the food is generally pretty good.

Anytime I pass by the place is packed.  Anytime I pop in, I recognize a few familliar faces - not the staff but the customers, or the regulars.

The Medeterranian plate and the shrimp cocktail are both excellent as appetizers and more than generous enough to have as a meal.

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Photo of Christian L.

Elite '09

38

63

Christian L.

Miramar, FL

5 star rating
8/17/2009

This place is across the street from the beach so you can see the waves crashing from either the first or second floor balcony. I requested the balcony and the view was great. The host was attentive and we were sat almost immediately.

The server was busy so a manager came and took the drink and meal order. I ordered the barbecue pork sandwich and it came out in about 15 minutes. It was incredibly soft and it tasted like it had been cooking slowly forever. It had a sweet taste to it and it was served with golden brown waffle fries. The waiter came and checked up on us within a few minutes. The food was very good and the view was spectacular. This place is a gem! Great location and great food...

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Photo of Julie T.

 

7

39

Julie T.

Broward, FL

5 star rating
8/27/2009

If you want a great view in an interesting building that looks like a comfy home, then you got your place right here. On top of that, the food is amazing! Their bread sticks with the dip is incredible and we actually braved getting the alligator tail, and it was sinfully delightful! Fried little bits of gator, yum!

My boyfriend ordered the fettuccine, which was absolutely delicious, i loved the little bits of veggies, and I ordered the yellow-tail which was amazing. I loved the atmosphere and the service. I would so love to go back here.

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Photo of Max D.

 

0

58

Max D.

Boca Raton, FL

3 star rating
9/24/2009

Get the grouper sandwich with the sauce on the side...the lamb chops are always good and the scallops are the best.
 Ask for Joe...he will treat you right.   The view is the best on the beach.

As far as Im concerned , this is the only decent place to eat in Fort Lauderdale Beach.  The others are all tourist traps with awful food

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Photo of Chris G.

 

0

21

Chris G.

Framingham, MA

4 star rating
9/8/2009

Amazing seafood.  I had the tilapia and my spouse had the mango chutney sea bass.  The bass was out of this world.  Went back the next day for dessert and had the key lime pie.  Oh my.  Wonderful atmosphere, friendly staff, and amazing views of the beach while you dine.  It doesn't get any better than that.

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Photo of Brian M.

 

1

7

Brian M.

Newport Beach, CA

5 star rating
10/8/2009

I happened upon this cafe by using Yelp for the first time.  The location is beautiful overlooking the beach and the atlantic ocean.  It was a warm and balmy night, so the outdoor seating was wonderful.  The food was excellent, I had fresh wahoo with a lemon butter sauce.  The key lime pie was great also.  Service was slow, but the surroundings are laid back and the food was worth the wait.

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Photo of Eddie C.

 

0

3

Eddie C.

Broward, FL

5 star rating
7/22/2009

One of my favorites!  Casablanca is the perfect setting for that special evening!  The food was good.  (4 stars)  But the ambiance, the location and the view is perfect!  I usually come here and hang out at the lounge.  They have a piano with live entertainment on the weekends.  Not sure about weekdays.

This place doesn't get crowded and is the perfect place to cap out the evening.  Plus the beach is right across the street if you feel like running your feet through the sand!

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Photo of Elena B.

Elite '09

9

94

Elena B.

Arlington, VA

4 star rating
5/3/2009

My fiance and I chose this location for our destination lunch because of the reviews for quality of food and because so many people said the view is great ... and well, we did a good job choosing and people have done a good job reviewing.

Above all, the best thing about this place is the location. The beach and ocean was right across the street. We sat outside on the terrace and happily enjoyed the breeze and scenery.

We didn't wait at all to be seated and it wasn't terribly crowded on a Friday afternoon. Some reviews have said this place is a tourist trap. I can kind of see how that might be more evident on a busy day/night, but the clearly-out-of-towner(s) that sat next too us didn't disturb our own visit or anything by whipping out maps. Maybe those who complain below are just upset because they're hoping to meet a local.

Anyway, after location, the next best thing is the service. Our waiter (wish I could remember his name!) was so nice! He joked with us, was fast to clean the table between courses and brought our drinks over quickly too. I had a vodka Arnold Palmer and it was LOADED with alcohol so you could easily turn this place into your own margaritaville too if that's what you're looking to do.

As far as food goes, that was also very good and the third best thing. We started off with the crab cakes which were fresh and satisfying and I ate the grilled chicken sandwich was very tasty. The Parmesan Waffle Fries that came with it still leave me salivating; not too heavy and perfectly seasoned ... those are my kind of fries!

We finished eating pretty quickly because we were starved when we arrived, but we sat around for a while to enjoy the view and breeze and we were never rushed. I would definitely recommend this place to all and can easily see how this would be *my* locale joint if I lived there.

Oh! ... I was just getting ready to hit "publish" until I realized I forget: PARKING! It was a little hard to find where to park when we first got there especially if you turn down Alhambra too fast. However, there is a lot at the start of the block and it's only $3 for 4 hrs of park time (which I didn't think was terribly unreasonable). I could see how the lot could fill quickly though if it was crowded because outside of the 20-something spots, there wasn't much street parking and if you're lucky to snag a street spot, you better have quarters for the meter!

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Photo of Cameron H.

Elite '09

6

163

Cameron H.

Chicago, IL

4 star rating
4/28/2009

This restaurant was recommended for it's location (being that it was close to Sebastian Beach) and for its food.

When we first arrived, we didn't get seated for about 5 minutes.  But after that, the service was polite and quick.

I ordered a mojito (dirty).  It was quite tasty. For my meal, I ordered the lamb sandwich.  It was shaved lamb meat on a pita.  Delicious.  On the side came a Greek salad.  

The scenery was inviting, people were nice, it was a beautiful day and this place will be dined at again.

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Photo of Louis B.

Elite '09

5

185

Louis B.

Washington, DC

4 star rating
5/28/2009

Excellent lunch place, steps from Sebastian Beach and within an easy walk from municipal parking.  Friendly staff and a killer al fresco area, under roof to ensure the frequent South Florida rains don't spoil your fun.

Menu is varied, with an outstanding gazpacho and awesome salads.  Their pulled pork sandwich was also superb.  One of the nicest places to go in the Ft Lauderdale beaches.

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Photo of Doris L.

Elite '09

103

103

Doris L.

Weston, FL

4 star rating
3/7/2009

Captain Renault:  And what in heaven's name brought you to Casablanca? (The cafe.)

Rick: My health. I came to Casablanca for the waters. (Fire water: wine list is great. Salty water: it's right on the ocean. Smell. Ahhh.)

Captain Renault:  Waters? What waters? We're in the desert!  (No, that's really the ocean. Nice view, huh?)

Rick: [sardonically] I was misinformed. (No, Rick, you're right on the money; this place is lovely. And yes- I'm lookin' at you, kid.)

Rick:  Of all the gin joints in all the towns in all the world, she walks into mine.
(But Rick, honey - the food is consistently good, here. You have a piano bar vibe going and a little jazzy jazz sometimes. Ok, they play that song you hate, but, you gotta let that go.  Remember the crab cake appetizer? Better than Paris. The Gazpacho- was that fresh, fresh, or what?? And you can't go wrong with any fish dish. Chilean sea bass is the best. Me likee. That's German for, C'est tres bon!)

Heinrich:  What is your nationality?   (Hard to tell, I know. Did you notice? There is quite a mixed crowd here- locals and tourists. )

Rick: I'm a drunkard. (OMG, I know, was that martini like buttuh, or whaaat!)

Louis:  That makes Rick a citizen of the world.   (Oh, Louis - you crack me up- and you look so much like Claude Rains.)

Rick:  I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship.  (Def! I will always keep coming back to Casablanca Cafe -- as time goes by...play it Sam - go ahead, hit me..)

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Photo of Krishelle L.

Elite '09

36

103

Krishelle L.

Austin, TX

3 star rating
8/19/2009

I yelped this restaurant before we went on vacation in Ft Lauderdale and was very excited to dine outside with the view of the ocean. That is about the best thing about this place. The view is awesome. The menu is awesome too. I was very excited to order my alligator bites to share as an appetizer, along with the mahi mahi for my entree at dinner. Execution is everything. Service was nice, but VERY slow and inattentive and the food was just average. The gator bites were incredibly greasy and small. When we mentioned that to our waitress she nodded in confirmation and said other diners had made the same comment previously... wonder if that feedback has reached management yet. The fish was just okay- nothing great like you would expect from a place right on the ocean. And the crab atop the fish didn't taste fresh. My husband agreed with his entree selection. Based on our dinner, I would have given it 4 stars, just because it could have been an 'off' night- and that view was great....
but... we got caught in a nasty storm the next day at lunch time- right in front of the restaurant by some weird chance! Well we decided to give the place another go. This time we ate indoors of course, on the second floor which was really nice and quaint. The view of the storm was pretty impressive. Unfortunately our food and service was not... again. The time we started with the Mediterranean sampler. The babaganoush was very good and different, but the hummus was very dry, as was the tibouleh. Not enough pita bread- when we asked for more the second time it finally came (about 15 minutes after we asked the first time). I got the grouper sandwich this time. The grouper itself was very good, but the sandwich was covered in roumolade and very messy. The french fries were disgusting. They had had freezer burn at some point.
I'm not going to rate below 3 stars because, while the service was spotty, they were very friendly and accommodating. They just seemed overstretched. And the view....

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Photo of Mark Q.

 

56

63

Mark Q.

San Jose, CA

4 star rating
6/10/2009

Lovely place to have a relaxing afternoon cocktail and lunch as you listen to the sound of the waves breaking on the beach.

Menu:
Range of food from seafood to carpaccio (something I was not expecting) to sandwiches and burgers. Menu resembles a bistro type selection.

Drinks:
Wide selection of wine and house special cocktails. I had a frozen mojito (blended version of a mojito). A tad sweet but very strong mint lime flavor. Good taste but could use a garnish.

Price:
Prices for entrees ranged from $15-20 for entrees. My bill was$28 for cocktail and entree

Food:
The food was quick to arrive, and the venue was not empty. I ordered the tropical Mahi. Its jerk seasoned Mahi with a papaya salsa served on top of rice and veggies. The jerk seasoning gave the fish a nice flavor and was not overpowering. The only disappointment was the papaya salsa. It was more of a mango pineapple salsa with small bits of papaya. I wold have loved to tasted more papaya flavor. It also came with a ber blanc sauce which was good to cool the spicy jerk seasoning, but could have used a bit more. Overall presentation was decent, color combination was very vibrant.

Location:
Lovely view of Fort Lauderdalebeach which was directly across the street. The venue was at the corner of the block which made it easy to find.

Ambiance:
Mix crowd of couples and friends. 30-50 people in the venue both inside and in the patio seating area. Appears to be a popular joint.

Service:
Welcoming host, nice curb side host stand easy to see as you walk in.

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Photo of Steph N.

 

9

27

Steph N.

Fremont, CA

4 star rating
6/10/2009

Excellent find!  Some friends and I were cruisin' around during our last day in Ft. Lauderdale.  This place has a really nice chill feel to it, just across from the beach.  Although the interior is super cute, we ate outside on the patio and enjoyed the beach scenery. VERY nice.  BREATHE IN.....ahhhhhhhh.

We started w/ the calamari fritti which was excellent, though it could have done w/ less mayo sauce stuff.  For our entrees we all got the lobster salad and BBQ pulled pork sandwich.  We were all pretty pleased with our selection.  The lobster salad sandwich was delicious, but again a lil too much mayo for my taste since I'm not a huge mayo fan.  The pork sandwich was packed with pork and BBQ sauce.  Very strong flavor and just a lot of food.  For dessert we had key lime pie which was FABULOUS and my latte was pretty good too.  I don't think my friends were fans of the coffee tho - too watered down I think.  Our waiter was really nice and friendly as well.  4 entrees, an appetizer, 1 dessert and 4 lattes/coffees later, the bill came out to be ~$85 or so .  They got us on the lattes tho - $6 each.

All in all, it was a great way to wind down our vacation and we all really loved this spot.  We ended up staying for over 2 hours!  Great atmosphere, tasty food and friendly service.  I would totally recommend this spot.

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Photo of Dawn C.

 

3

31

Dawn C.

Hollywood, FL

5 star rating
Updated - 8/29/2009

One word: SCALLOPS!!!!!!!

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2 Previous Reviews: Show all »

  • 4 star rating
    5/2/2009

    I've been back 3 or 4 times with people who all enjoyed the food, ambiance, location, and service.… Read more »

Photo of Eduardo F.

 

0

2

Eduardo F.

Broward, FL

5 star rating
9/2/2009

The location is very nice with ocean view, you can have the lunch or diner in front of the beautiful Fort Lauderdale beach, an the food is really good, I think "original" is the best adjective for this place, great services from waitress and wonderful atmosphere

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Photo of Craig G.

 

8

59

Craig G.

San Francisco, CA

4 star rating
1/6/2009

Dined at the Casablanca Cafe while vacationing in Ft.Lauderdale. We ate there on New Years Eve, and refreshingly there was no need for a reservation and no expensive pre-fix menu!

I was surprised to see some people call this place a "tourist trap" or "mediocre". I guess it could be considered a tourist trap based on the location at the end of Ft.Lauderdale Beach, but it's far from a tourist trap.

First, the decor of the place is excellent. Deep, rich colors with flowing white fabrics, a spiral star case leads upstairs with arched doorways between rooms, and a beautiful balcony which could be very nice to dine at on a warm night. I found the downstairs to be lively (there was live music) and the upstairs was much quieter; so request a table depending on what scene you are gunning for.

The food was very good, seriously - no complaints. The menu had a nice selection of meat and fish but it seemed that fish was the specialty of the house. I had the grouper, which I just had to order b/c it is not something you see on a menu very often. It was cooked to perfection; very light, moist, and flaky.

We also ordered the alligator. It was...interesting. It reminded me of chicken, with the consistency of calamari. My only complaint is that it was breaded and fried, so I could not really taste what alligator really tastes like. I would have preferred a different preparation that focused more on the flavor of the meat than in concealing it with bread and oil.

The clear winner though was the scallops! My God, they were delicious. Perhaps the best scallops I've ever tasted. They were prepared with a caramel, red chili sauce. The sweet/hot of that dish was a homerun! Caramel is tough too, b/c there is a fine line between delicious and burnt. I would order this dish over and over again. It's the kind of dish you'd see someone on Top Chef winning an elimination challenge with.

They had a decent wine list, but we stuck to cocktails. The drinks were ok, but a little expensive. With drinks and shared desserts it was about $60 a person. Service was also very good. Overall a great meal, and I'd definitely return.

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Photo of Veronica F.

 

0

1

Veronica F.

Broward, FL

1 star rating
9/30/2009

The food was just ok, the setting and atmosphere was cheesy and the live music was so loud we couldnt speak amongst the table. To make matters worse i had to go outside to answer a phone call because it was so loud inside, while outside i saw the kitchen staff screaming and trying to get a rat out of the kitchen, the stench by the kitchen was unbearable. The bartenders were slow and our server barely came to our table. I give this place a zero, and wouldnt recommend eating at casablanca to any of my friends or enemies.

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Photo of Justin P.

Elite '09

75

158

Justin P.

Coral Springs, FL

4 star rating
12/9/2008

We all know that most places on the beach are tourist traps, but this one is far enough north along the strip that it is only a semi-tourist trap, which is about all you can ask for in that location.

The service is attentive, the food is above-average and the ambience is extremely pleasant.  The seafood is fresh and well-prepared.  On a nice day, it is a great place to enjoy a long lunch and look out at the ocean.  If the weather isn't great, then I would skip it, because one of its best attributes is its location across from the ocean.

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Photo of Deven C.

Elite '09

117

143

Deven C.

Fort Lauderdale, FL

4 star rating
10/14/2008

Love this restuarant!  Great location on the beach and always friendly waiters.  The food is kind of pricey but if you're 'in the bizz' you get half off your entrees during lunch.

Voted several times as the most romantic restaurant in Fort Lauderdale.  Great place for a date.

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Photo of Teri C.

Elite '09

713

704

Teri C.

Las Vegas, NV

3 star rating
6/12/2008 8 photos

Prior to my visit to Fort Lauderdale, I did my research on Yelp to find out what restaurants I couldn't miss.  Imagine my luck when we were driving along Fort Lauderdale Boulevard and I see the highly rated Casablanca Cafe.  My fellow dining companions has dined there before and was open to going again.

We joined the 30 minute wait on this lovely Saturday night.  With seating outside and in, we chose to go for whatever came first.  Since they had live entertainment, it was actually quite hard to hear each other when we finally got seated inside.  (Perhaps we should have said outside then!)

They immediately greeted us with the yummiest bread with pesto dipping sauce.  I could have easily stuffed myself silly with this starter.  We also ordered the "Calamari Fritta with shaved scallions, crispy ensalata and lemon-thyme aioli" ($7.95) and "Phyllo Wrapped Baked Brie with blueberry chutney, sliced French baguette, walnuts, and fresh fruit" ($12.95).  The calamari was pretty good, and the aioli made it taste special.  The brie platter looked fabulous and I did enjoy it all.  However, I think they should have provided more bread to accompany this dish.  Our table was pretty crowded by now with our starters, the candle, and our large water glasses.  It's a good thing we didn't order additional drinks because there wouldn't have been any room!  (Some assistance, like removing the candle, would have helped!)

For our entrees, my companions ordered the "Casablanca Crab Cake with lemon aioli and roasted red pepper coulis" ($12.95) and the "Tilapia Francaise dipped in egg batter and pan fried, served with rice, Casablanca vegetables and lemon sauce" ($19.95).  The crab cake was a nice size and had a good flavor.  The tilapia was also pretty tasty too, and this was from someone who doesn't like fish!

The BF ordered the "Blue Crab Crusted Mahi Mahi that's pan roasted, served with whipped potatoes, Casablanca vegetables, lobster sauce and chives" ($25.95), while I had the "Chili Dusted Sea Scallops with crispy plantain, whipped potatoes, chipotle-orange caramel sauce" ($26.95).  The Mahi Mahi was pretty good, but I focused the most on my dish. I was really enjoying my dish with it spice and sweetness, until I noticed it was a bit sandy.  Thinking that it was just that one scallop, I soon realized it was like that with all my scallops.  It tasted like there were shell bits, and I know it's not the black sesame seeds.

For dessert, we all shared the Key lime pie since you can't leave Florida without a taste.  Once again, beautifully presented with a couple of lovely sauces that had us guessing what they were.  Although it was good, my companions found the pie to be more gritty then silky and smooth, and the latter is what they are more familiar with.  I was so caught up in the sauces myself.  (Were they raspberry and passion fruit honey?)

For the food, I give them a solid 4 stars (except for the gritty part of my dish).  

This brings me to the service portion of my dining experience.  Our waiter was below average.  He took away our dishes not once, but twice, before we were done eating them!  He picked up the calamari plate, only to have my friend tell him she was still eating from it, before the plate came back down.  And this was also the case with the brie platter as well, he picked up the dish to remove and the BF had to tell him we were still eating it.  He also wasn't very good about refilling our water glasses and wasn't around much to check on us.  I think he was a bit too casual as a waiter.  I give the service alone a 2 star.

Therefore, a solid 3 stars sums up my experience at Casablanca Cafe.  Yes, I would definitely go back there again and dine outside the next time.  Hopefully I'll get a different waiter by then.

(Pictures from our dinner can be found in the business profile.)

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Photo of George M.

 

3

24

George M.

Los Angeles, CA

5 star rating
8/15/2008

A friend suggested this place. It has a nice patio overlooking the ocean. The cocktails we had to start the evening with were very good. Then I had the gazpacho and it was almost as good as the one Marco's has in LA. My friend had the Walnut Chicken and he practically licked the plate clean. He said it was fantastic. It was really difficult to choose from the many fish dishes they offered (including 5 as specials of the night), so I went with the sea bass. It was just simply amazing. I can imagine that all the other fish specialties are just as fantastic. We got full, so we didn't have dessert.
The service was top notch.
No wonder this place only gets good reviews. If I'm ever back in Ft. Lauderdale, I will surely come back here to try another fish plate.

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Photo of Allan C.

 

1

7

Allan C.

Hollywood, FL

4 star rating
5/23/2009

Great food, great service, great atmosphere, great views, great location. Casual dining across from the ocean.

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Photo of Denise F.

Elite '09

157

122

Denise F.

Fort Lauderdale, FL

5 star rating
3/12/2008

This place is great! I first got a chance to check it out on a business lunch with my boss and a co-worker. The ambiance is second-to-none! With it's view of the beach, you feel like you're on vacation even if you're a local or just stepping out of the office for a bite to eat. I have a feeling this may have been a home before it became a restaurant, and you get that feeling of being a guest in someone's very nice house when you are dining here.

The service is nothing short of excellent, and the wait staff is professional and attentive, but also friendly and approachable. There seems to be a majority of male servers here, so I'd be interested to find out the reason for that.

In terms of the food, everything I have tasted is excellent! Their three cheese onion soup is FANTASTIC, and I order it even sitting on the patio on hot South Florida afternoons. I can't seem to get away from the Mediterranean sample as an entree, as it is one of the few vegetarian menu items offered. It is a delicious sampling of homemade hummus, tabouleh, and an eggplant caviar (a very light babaganoush) served with warm pita bread points. DELICIOUS! I have dined with friends and family who have tasted a wide array of the menu items, and have yet to hear a complaint! The drinks are also delicous, creative, and brought to the table quickly and with great presentation!

Overall, this is definitely a great place to visit if you are in Fort Lauderdale for vacation, or if you are a local looking for a new spot outside of the typical Las Olas scene!

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Photo of matthew h.

 

7

24

matthew h.

Philadelphia, PA

5 star rating
3/24/2008

I was a tourist for a long weekend in FLL and I ate here twice for two reasons, 1. the food is very good, 2. the food everywhere else is not.

Great calamari, yummy cobb salads and fresh fish!  Make sure you order a mojito.  A glass full of green goodness!

"Loud Rob" was my server and he did an outstanding job.  Ask for him if you go.

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Photo of Kevin N.

Elite '09

130

332

Kevin N.

San Francisco, CA

5 star rating
3/16/2008

Being the capricious person that I am, I really really wanted to find fault with a place that is near the water in Fort Lauderdale, and had been given straight 5-stars by every Yelper, most of whom are not from Florida.

Alas, Casablanca Cafe is fantastic.  Like it's namesake, it is filled with desperate characters of any and all types.  I happened to go during Spring Break (the kids still do that?  who knew?) but that did not detract from the Cafe.  Sure, there were some of the older college kids there (seemed to be seniors and grad students) but the median age was probably something like 39 with the ages running the full gamut.

Even though we went on Sunday, there was live music.  Well, a guy and a keyboard.  And he was pulling out all the stops:  Van Morrison, Jimmy Buffet, Steve Miller...  need I go on?

Oh yeah, the food...  FANTASTIC.  I had the scallops with the dusting of chili powder and this sauce that was amazing.  Mom had the crab encrusted mahi mahi.  Both great (but mine was a tad better, ha!) and our waiter even recommended a wine that was cheaper than the two I was asking him about.  wow.

Tip:  If you are going somewhat late (we went @ 9:30pm) avoid parking until the last minute. If the attendant is not there, you can park for free.  This is in the Casablanca parking lot at the end of the street.

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2

56

Adriana K.

Seattle, WA

4 star rating
5/9/2009

maybe it was the fact i really hadn't eaten in several days and started out by sharing a bottle of wine, or maybe it was the outdoor seating on the upstairs patio with a fresh ocean breeze and a beach side view...or just that it was amazing food.  yes, that must be it, but this place was great.  can't say too much about the over-priced smaller wine selection, but the crab cakes were a great starter followed by excellent fish specials.
i have to say, the dessert menu didn't sound too impressive, but overall, i really enjoyed my dining experience

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2

25

scott s.

Chicago, IL

5 star rating
5/5/2009

Probably actually 4.5 starts, but hey I'll be generous.  Anyway, we were in Ft. Lauderdale for a week and this was by far the best restaurant that we went to .  My fiancee and I both were happy with our food, the service was good, and Casablanca has a very nice view of the ocean on their patio.  It is also a little better priced than some higher end restaurants further south.

We will definitely be back if we are ever in Ft. Lauderdale again.

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Elite '09

52

423

Rebecca O.

Amesbury, MA

5 star rating
1/1/2008

Wow.

This could be the best service I have ever had.  Our waitress was perfect.  Her timing was impeccable; no interrupting, flawless service.  So much so, we even told the manager.  

And to top that off, the food was mouth watering.  We first came here for dinner (I had the Walnut and Goat Cheese Chicken - and all I can say is that entree had everything I love perfectly combined into one dish).  Others had various fish dishes which they equally loved.  

Then, we came back for lunch the following day.  I had the grilled chicken caesar salad.  I think it is hard to make popular dishes stand out and this one certainly did.  

If you are in the Ft. Lauderdale Beach area, you definitely want to have a meal or at least a drink at this spot!

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15

aiala z.

Miami, FL

4 star rating
12/3/2008

i love Casablanca's. the servers and bartenders are always really nice and as busy as it gets i don't ever feel as i i am at a touristy restaurant.
i always get the lobster salad sandwich with the side salad, and it has never failed me. i really liked their wine selection and appreciated them having Santa Margherita pinot grigio in a half bottle.
i have sat outside and inside and either way the atmosphere is always right.
i also really like the fact that the parking lot right down the street offers parking for only 3$ if you are a Casablanca customer which is a steal especially on weekends on ft. lauderdale beach.

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2

10

m c.

Fort Lauderdale, FL

4 star rating
4/16/2009

Great location, atmosphere, service, drinks, food!

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2

40

Shawn M.

Philadelphia, PA

3 star rating
9/9/2008

My partner and I visited this restaurant a few weeks ago while in Fort Lauderdale. I can't help to walk away with the feeling that it is a real tourist trap. I totally agree with CP's review of this place. It does have great staff, view and it is aesthetically pleasing but the food was very middle of the road. There are much better places to eat in Fort Lauderdale if you have time to do your research.

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9

50

Ruby F.

San Francisco, CA

5 star rating
3/23/2008

My dad comes to F.L. quite often for business and this is his all time favorite restaurant (I think he's sampled everything on the menu.) Apparently a lot of "locals" - as opposed to the spring break crowd - come   here for dinner.  When my family and I went on Friday my sister ordered the hamburger (yum!) and my parents and I had the talapia, sea bass, and snapper, respectively.  Each dish was unique but delicious and not greasy.  Dessert was tasty but the selection was small.

Highly recommended!

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31

394

Michele T.

Rocky Hill, CT

5 star rating
2/24/2008

Amazing food, ambiance, and climate. At first they wouldn't take our reservation for 7 people. They only take reservations for 10 or more, then it became they only take reservations for 12 or more. Luckily we were staying only a few steps away and got on the list.

Once seated we began dining on calamari served on top of cole slaw, and bread with pesto. Most of us ordered the eggplant ravioli, a few people dined on the mahi mahi, and lobster ravioli. Everyone loved their dish. We left fully satisfied. Service was phenomenal and we loved the feel of the different rooms and balconies.

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0

64

Peter C.

Miami, FL

5 star rating
1/23/2009

Found this place during one of those perfectly sunny and breezy afternoons for a late lunch.  Sat outside with an impeccable view of the ocean, with a wonderful atmosphere that is truly exotic and relaxing.  The alligator appetizer was quite good (with no prior experience to compare, that is), and the burger very juicy.  The keylime pie was a great finish.  I enjoyed the experience so much I went back two more times during my stay in Ft. Lauderdale.  Highly recommended.

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2

6

John M.

Surprise, AZ

4 star rating
9/23/2008

We had just arrived in Ft. Lauderdale after a day-long trip from the west coast.  Very tired, very hungry at the time.  Wife and I both ordered the Walnut Chicken......and we loved every bite of it.  Sure, we were starving, but man o man was the chicken delicious.  We ate inside to stay cool.  I know that others have declared Casablanca a tourist trap......but we didn't feel the tourist vibe, but then again we were the only ones in the dining room (everyone else was eating outside).  I would eat there again.

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1

8

Teesh A.

San Jose, CA

3 star rating
4/28/2009

above average food, friendly wait staff and unbeatable scenery of the atlantic.  actually 3.75 stars.  

we had the escargot, cocktail shrimp and a hamburger medium-done.   everything was great!

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13

Bruce D.

Washington, DC

4 star rating
1/17/2009

Excellent restaurant on the beach. Great old historic house with a very busy energy. Salmon was excellent..topped with very thin sliced pickles...but very subtle! Good wine line with good priced.  Waiter was very attentive.

Loved the place

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