meet me @ casablanca

Last night I went with my friend Alain to a little cafe that we saw on Polk Street: Casablanca Café. You can almost miss it when you walk by: it's next to an North Beach-style coffeehouse between California and Sacramento streets.

The café is a small operation run by a friendly Moroccan man and his wife. There's only a few tables, a small bar area, and a deli counter that separates the cooking area from the eating area. It's not "upscale" looking.

Only the man was working last night--which means he waited on tables, poured drinks, and also did all the cooking. We settled into a corner bench with some pillows, drinks, and appetizers, and just waited patiently. And the wait was worth it! Alain ordered chicken tagine with prunes, and I ordered lamb tagine with lemon, artichoke, and olives...both were delicious, and cooked fresh for us while we waited.

Casablanca Cafe is no frills, but the food is good....and it made me feel like I was in the 10eme arrondissement in Paris...or perhaps in Belleville. If you like Moroccan food and you don't mind visiting a small place that doesn't have waitpeople...and you want a bit of authentic ambiance in a distinctly urban environment, then check it out: 1609 Polk Street, San Francisco.