71593 Sat Jul 23 23:05:36 -0700 2005 14 2 Los Angeles Area 0 392030 Boy, is this place terrible. No chips and salsa, unless you ask three times. The clientele has to have an average age of 80 - at least. The food is just horrible. Even in New York, where I am from, this stuff is BAD. Just don't bother. Unless you need to see flourescent straws. Sat Jul 23 23:05:36 -0700 2005 0 Mr. Taster 1 392031 So its not even good just for camp value? Sat Jul 23 23:07:11 -0700 2005 392030 0 Xericx 2 392032 Just save yourself the trouble. This place has to be the worst Mexican in thie city - no comparison. It's so bad. There is an attractive woman who is "making" the tortillas (from pre-made dough of dubious origins), but this place smells like window cleaner, tastes worse than a TV dinner and is all-around awful. Sat Jul 23 23:12:47 -0700 2005 392031 0 Mr. Taster 3 392042 I ate there for a bridal shower luncheon at least 10 years ago and hated it. Don't understand how or why it has survived!!! Sun Jul 24 01:37:21 -0700 2005 392032 0 compumom 1 392045 I ate there last Monday. I thought it was pretty good. I had Calamari sauteed in butter and garlic covered with shrimp and crab. Instead of chips and salsa we were served a flour tortilla and salsa as an appetizer. I also had an enchilada on the side. Anyway, I enjoyed the meal. Sun Jul 24 02:56:07 -0700 2005 392030 0 David The Diner 2 392055 Ate there last night and totally enjoyed as well. Calamari and seafood dishes are excellent. It's best to go with what a place is known for--the reason there were no chips is because of the fresh, excellent tortillas they serve. Margaritas were good too. Sun Jul 24 11:48:51 -0700 2005 392045 0 Adsvino 3 392057 "It's best to go with what a place is known for" I really think this is why many people will love a place and others simply hate it. Every restaurant will have it's hits and misses. Sun Jul 24 12:18:38 -0700 2005 392055 0 Curt 1 392095 Maybe not to your taste, but "Avoid Like the Plague", perhaps a little too extreme!! Where else can you get unlimited fresh homemade flour tortillas, a delicious green salsa with fresh avocado, great margaritas, the best calamari steaks in town, pescado verecruzana as good as I have enjoyed in Mexico, great service and live music all at extremely low prices...in addition to the kitschy Casablanca environment...I can't think of any! Casablanca has been a West side fixture for years...for a reason! My wife and I have been going for the better part of twenty years and when ordering their specialties, have never been disappointed!...and as a former resident of New York, I would have killed for a place like this when I lived there! With all this talk, I think it will be a calamari steak with lemon and capers tonight...and a margarita with fresh tortillas...all for under $20! Sun Jul 24 19:24:56 -0700 2005 392030 0 Travel Path 2 392096 My wife and I have been a half dozen times over the years and I have to ask you, being a veteran Casablancan, why do their tortillas have that dusting of flour or whatever it is on them? They almost taste like they weren't cooked enough. Sun Jul 24 19:41:45 -0700 2005 392095 0 WLA 3 392134 I think it has to do with the way the young lady rolls out the dough...on a flour coated board. Since they are so fresh when served, the excess flour does not have the chance to absorb into the tortilla...much as fresh bread often has a coating of flour just out of the oven. Let it cool down a little and the moisture in it will combine with the excess flour and you don't notice it. On occasion, I have observed that the tortillas that are a little "older" are not as flour covered. Personally, I like them when they are fresh and actually like the flour taste...I have traveled extensively in Mexico(four years worth)and have found that no two tortilla makers are the same and I have had tortilla with a floury coating and some without!...and yes, my wife and I went for an early dinner at Casablanca before the Robert Plant concert tonight...the tortillas and calamari steak were great! Mon Jul 25 03:01:39 -0700 2005 392096 0 TravelPath 4 392138 Thanks for the thoughtful reply. I just don't care for the texture of the flour coating or the "raw" flour taste. As to good Calamari steak, they do a darn fine version at Tia Juana on Olympic just west of Barrington on the north side of the street. It has a very tasty garlic butter sauce and it comes with some lovely pan roasted veggies. They also have two ladies making fresh, thick style tortillas as you enter and give you a basket with your dinner. I am also partial to their margaritas, non-blended which taste just like the ones we whip up in the parking lot of the Buffet concert every year down in Irvine. Mon Jul 25 09:38:26 -0700 2005 392134 0 WLA 5 392355 Tia Juana is the same owners as Casablanca I'm told. They also own La Cabana, which is adjacaent to Casablanca on Rose. I actually had dinner at Casablanca last night and enjoyed as usual. While it is not difficult to find better mexican in this city, there is a certain charm about this place. Those tortillas are delicous, my gf absolutely adores them. I've found the pescado and salmon dishes to be the best things there. Some may feel the decor and music to be cheesy, I actually think the place rather romantic. It's not really advertised but they do have an inexpensive champagne brunch on Sundays. -Sam Tue Jul 26 01:10:46 -0700 2005 392138 0 mobleyfan 1 392242 For all you regular hounds that recognize my postings from the past 2 years, this Mr. Taster is not me... (The Original) Mr. Taster Mon Jul 25 17:57:35 -0700 2005 392030 0 (The Original) Mr. Taster 2 392267 Aha - I was pretty sure the REAL Mr. Taster would know how to spell "fluorescent"... Mon Jul 25 19:37:34 -0700 2005 392242 0 Will Owen 1 392283 I love Casablanca. The Fake Mr. Taster's complaints make no sense to me. I was there the other night and had a delicious (albeit old-fashioned) meal in a fun, friendly environment for a bargain price. Casablanca's been a favorite of mine for probably 20 years. I love the tortillas and that wonderful green avocado salsa. Mon Jul 25 20:16:22 -0700 2005 392030 0 NeNePie