Tortillas, Tequila and a Toast to North Africa?

An intriguing tribute to Curtiz's 1942 masterpiece, yet oddly enough Mexican in every other way, guests are greeted at the door with a placard to note, "You are leaving Venice, California and entering Casablanca, Morocco." Small, quaint and uniquely relaxed, a mix of rounded booths and four-tops orbit around this gem's center attraction - a small fire cast inside a brick oven with handmade tortillas arranged in a salute to all things amazing. You won't find grease-laden chips diapered by a sheet of wax paper here. Guests enjoy freshly prepared flour tortillas served with verde salsa and butter - hot, moist and tinged by traditional cookware - this is undoubtedly one of my favorite portals of south-of-the-border cuisine.


Casablanca, located eight blocks from Venice Beach, sits on the corner of Rose Avenue and Lincoln Boulevard (220 Lincoln, Venice). Seafood-based dishes are their specialty, however, I've sampled the chicken fajitas and shredded chicken burrito - both of which brought joyous satisfaction to an already delightful pre-meal of handmade tortillas. For it is impossible to leave this refuge of sacred cuisine hungry.

Tiered levels of tequila bottles cascade behind the bar in an usual display of gold and glass, clear and corked; it is obvious that Casablanca's diversified tequila selection is not for the faint of heart.


But not to worry. For those guests unable to pair their dish with a particular refinement of tequila, Casablanca offers daily specials served with two shots of distilled agave, hand-picked and carefully matched to the cuisine at hand.

Simply put, this establishment is more than a restaurant - it is an oasis of unique intrigue only found in Venice, California. Enjoy my friends and be sure to try the Cadillac Margarita - it's every bit classic mixed with everything octane.

Casablanca is located at 220 Lincoln Blvd., Venice, CA 90291