Casablanca Café
3049 Alhambra St., Fort Lauderdale, FL
954-764-3500

Putting the Aaahhh in Al Fresco

By Tim Slivinski

Aaahhh … those first few fall evenings in South Florida when the breezes are blowing, the humidity has dropped, and the air smells fresh and clean. That time of year when so much of the country is putting away the patio and deck furniture while we are preparing to put ours to good use.  South Floridians come out of their hibernation and get ready to revel in the outdoors for the next seven months or so. It is evenings like this that make us want to take advantage of our surroundings and dine al fresco.

One of those very recent evenings found the car making its way to Casablanca Café, that gem of an historic landmark overlooking our beautiful beach. With mild breezes blowing and a night when long sleeves felt appropriate and comfortable, we decided to dine at Casablanca. This a spot where dining outside is nearly mandatory. We were willing to wait for an alfresco table, which is often the case on busy nights, but our wait was not

long.

Comfortably seated at a two-top overlooking the ocean and with the soft breezes bringing an ever-so-slight chill, we were ready for a true Fort Lauderdale experience. Along with our cocktails, we decided to begin our evening with an order of Prince Edward Island Mussels ($11.95), in honor of our view of the sea. Large, succulent mussels arrived at the table in an aromatic broth – spinach-pesto cream, smoked bacon, and tomatoes. The mussels were tender and juicy, while the broth was beckoning us to sop it up with some bread. Casablanca serves an amazing basket of what I can only call “bread fingers.” Warm and brushed with olive oil and a sprinkling of Parmesan cheese, they are not mere bread slices or dinner rolls. Their texture and size were excellent vehicles for enjoying the tangy and smooth broth surrounding the mussels. It was oh so very good. We managed to consume very bit.

Time for a second cocktail and entrées. Casablanca offers a menu brimming with choices in poultry, seafood, beef, pasta and more.

Clearly there is something for everyone on the menu. The features menu caught our eyes, however, and we decided to order in keeping with our “dining by the sea” theme. I selected Basil Grilled Yellowfin Tuna ($26.95). I ordered it grilled medium-rare, as tuna should never be overcooked. It came to the table perfectly grilled to my order. It was nestled on a white truffle-portabella risotto and topped with crispy straw onions and micro greens. The tuna was flavorful and moist and complemented well by the risotto, which was also prepared beautifully. Neither mushy nor too tough, it had a little “tooth” to it, as a good risotto should. The addition of the crispy onions added an interesting and tasty texture contrast. The entire entrée was presented and prepared with care and skill.

My partner, Caleb,  chose the Moroccan Spiced Swordfish ($28.95), as he has always been a fan of the traditional Moroccan seasonings. His plate arrived with a nicely pan-seared filet of Atlantic Swordfish scented with cinnamon, cardamom and other aromatic spices. It was accompanied by cous cous, a cucumber relish, and a honey-yogurt sauce just to finish that Middle Eastern flair.  While he was at first skeptical about how it would all play together, he ultimately decided that not only did it work, but it workedvery well indeed. It was nearly like having a tzatziki sauce for dipping the fish. He devoured every bite, only later confessing that he is often not a fan of swordfish. He certainly was that night!

Casablanca also offers a lunch menu, and it is open seven days a week. Happy Hour runs 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. There is a piano bar inside, and live entertainment is featured most nights in season. We enjoyed our early autumn evening at Casablanca theservice was friendly and prompt, and the space itself was perfect. Yes, it may, at times, be a little “touristy.” And, yes, at times it is rather crowded with tables quite close together. But put that aside. We live in an area where we are fortunate to enjoy beautiful weather while so much of our country does not. Casablanca is made just for those evenings. I know that we will return again before summer does. And I look forward to it.