Le Casablanca in Ottawa

If you saw the instagram posts of this restaurant and came here expecting the meat to fall off the bone like I did, youll be very disappointed. We ordered 2 big plates which included lamb legs, kafta balls, and chicken legs... all of the meat was very dry. The babaganoush was potent with garlic flavour - although I didnt mind, it was still much stronger than I would have preferred and some of our group couldnt eat it. The only saving grace of this place is that, despite the quality of the food, the flavours are pretty decent.

Best tea in town

Delicious food !! 100% recommend

Great food

Delicious! Best shawarma I ve had to date!

Tried the Royal Plate, with my wife. Food was tasty and adequate in amount for both of us. The lamb shank was specially very good! Also, their service was very hospitable! Dietary restrictions: They serve halal food.

I took the lamb shank to the hotel and ate it. Its exotic, but it tastes familiar. Vegetables and rice are delicious combined with spices. Whats surprising is that the food comes out faster than you can imagine after ordering.

What I didnt like was the music that was too loud, the fact that we werent asked for our opinion on additions to our order, and the service that wasnt satisfactory.

Very friendly smiling staff, good atmosphere, I recommend :)

Best Morrocan food

Lamb shank was good

Very nice experience in this small, most authentic restaurant. Fast service, fragrant and well-balanced food accompanied by Moroccan tea. I recommend it! (Photo dish to share for 2 and 3 of us ate without problem with vegetable soup)

Very good food and excellent value for money! I highly recommend this restaurant :)

Magnificent

Nice people Good foid Food

Ask for the chicken pastilla a delicious moroccan speciality, they make a generous pie for only 13$. The chef is so friendly and gives free dinks from time to another. Ill definitley go there again

It was so delicious Really thank you very much

The food is overrated. It is not good at all. We tried the soup, lamb shank, and three sandwiches. The meat was not cooked all the way, and the soup had no flavour. The sandwiches were very poor quality. The tables smelled very bad, and the cutlery was not cleaned properly. Overall, it was not a pleasant or authentic experience.

To try if you are in the ByWard Market

Little quiet evening. Perfect for a romantic Sunday evening. The food was good, generous portions and the mint tea, traditional and delicious.

I really enjoyed the chicken pastilla which had the perfect blend of savory and sweet flavors. we also had a Moroccan tea with green mint leaves which was even more refreshing, adding a wonderful touch to the experience

Nice place to grab a quick shwarma for lunch. The sandwhich was nicely wrapped making it fairly easy to eat. However it was saltier than I expected. Fries were potato wedges with some tahini sauce but still tasted great.

Overall, Le Casablanca is an okay choice for a meal out. While the appetizers and desserts are commendable, the main courses need improvement. I would rate it 3 out of 5 stars.

Me and my boyfriend went to have dinner at this spot and we loved it, the chicken the lamb the sausages and the meatballs were to die for everything was so full of flavour the rice and veggies as well cooked perfectly, great big portions we share on of their shareable plates. They do charge 1.50 i believe extra if you share a regular plate. Place was clean, busy but comfortable. We recommend!

Great place delicious food a lot of options to choice from and the place is easy to find in the heart of market square

Very good restaurant! The cuisine is very good and the flavors are there! It s like we re in Morocco! Successful effect! The welcome was very warm, we were even offered oriental pastries when we left! Go there with your eyes closed, the By Ward district is also very nice! Thank you

I recently had the lamb shank at Le Casablanca, and it was absolutely divine! The meat was incredibly tender, falling right off the bone, and the flavors were perfectly balanced with the right amount of spices. The dish was beautifully presented, with a generous portion of vegetables and couscous on the side that complemented the rich, savory taste of the lamb. The cozy ambiance of the restaurant, combined with the warm hospitality of the staff, made for a wonderful dining experience. Highly recommend if you re looking for authentic Moroccan cuisine in a relaxed setting!

Very good, I recommend the Royal Plate to try a bit of everything.

Excellent true Moroccan food. Attentive service.

I loved the mint tea

The best Marocaine Pastilla in Town. The combination of the flavours, cinnamon, almonds, chicken and honey. Delicious Don t forget the mint tea. Food

My wife and I came here for lunch and had the BEST chicken shawarma and Moroccan coffee. The owner was awesome and super friendly!

Very friendly staff and welcome, very authentic and delicious couscous.

Came back for the first time in over 7 years, same amazing taste, amazing service, and lovely atmosphere, this is a must stop for byward market!!

Praise be to God, I was going to the highest halal restaurant until I came across this Moroccan restaurant. It has poultry, couscous, and pastilla, and the cleanliness and their prices are reasonable. I advise you to visit it and taste and try the Moroccan delicacies. As for the young people, they are treated well and the service is amazing. Don t forget to order a Moroccan tea pot with mint. A greeting of love and appreciation to the owner of the restaurant and the staff.

We were visiting from the GTA for the Canada Day weekend and were lucky to eat here. Delicious food, excellent service & Moroccan hospitality. Food

Tooooop

I dont recommend this restaurant, I had a bad experience

Went to Le Casablanca for the first with my wife and we don t regret choosing this place to have lunch today. Excellent food and atmosphere, we tried the chicken leg option and it was really good. For sure, we will come back to try the other options in the menu

The food is bland and overpriced, the service is extremely slow, and the owner is rude. His attitude left a worse taste in my mouth than his unflavoured unfilling kafta. Will not ever come back

It smelled better than it tasted, the tables were shaky and the service was mediocre. But if you are from the same hometown as them, the waiters will bite you one by one.

Tried to sit down to enjoy a meal there. I ordered the Moroccan mint tea to start thinking we would enjoy tea and have a few minutes to check the menu and figure out what else we wanted but the older gentleman got rude thinking all we wanted was the tea and insisted they didnt serve just tea. Absolutely rude and uncalled for so we left and went elsewhere where we got much better treatment. Its a shame as I was really looking forward to some good middle eastern food. Edit to respond to the owners reply: While it is your shop and your rules, you were not that busy as there were plenty of empty tables, so thats disingenuous. We had inquired about some of the dishes to ensure my vegetarian wife could eat before sitting as well. Tea can be enjoyed at any time and I doubt Im the only person who drinks it with their food.

The best lamb in town

I visited the restaurant last year And I came back today. Always delicious and friendly staff. Fresh food I highly recommend couscous Food : 5/5

Good taste

I didn t find this restaurant, the restaurant found me and my phone! They were so kind to return it to me, and the food looked so delicious we had to try it. I m glad we did!

Sooooo delicious. We could not get over the complexity of these full flavours for the price! I had the spinach cheese roll with rice, and my husband had the stuffed eggplant. Every bite was a dream, and the portions were generous. We enjoyed the music they had playing and eating in the open air while still being covered. Cant wait to go back!

The service was as lackluster as the cleanliness of the restaurant ; the waitstaff seemed disinterested. Overall, my experience at Casablanca restaurant was far from pleasant. The lack of cleanliness, subpar food, and indifferent service left me with no desire to ever return.

Delicious food, very kind staff and service, extremely comfortable sofa seating and great variety at a decent price. Nothing like it in Downtown Ottawa. Thank you. Vegetarian options: Many vegetarian options.

Very very beautiful best food itams clean quick service

Best service and food in Ottawa

This place is a nice place to eat. I got a shawarma and it tasted amazing

I love the service and the food was just so good for a very amazing price

Always a pleasure to come back here!! Warm welcome, very good quality cooking (the dishes are delicious) and above all very good value for money.

Very delicious

Excellent food, good service, good treatment, Moroccan flavor, thank you very much casablanca

We find the real Morocco at Casablanca, it is among the best specialty restaurants in Canada. Quality service, very pleasant team. Hamza and Oussama, two people filled with empathy and joy, they have a very warm spirit in welcoming us and explaining to us every idea and every detail about the dishes.

Love this restaurant, feel like home cook food. I especially love their traditional Moroccan Mint Tea!

Excellent meal! The team is friendly and good value for money: thank you for this great time!

Must visit place at byward market. You will feel like you are in !!! Great food.

One of the best chicken pastillas Ive eaten!

Very good Moroccan dishes

Very good restaurant, as soon as I entered I was served by an employee named Hamza who showed friendliness. As soon as I tasted their lamb couscous I felt an intense change of scenery thanks to several flavors which took me directly to the depths of the streets of Casablanca in Morocco this time.

I ordered a Royal couscous to take away. The service was fast and courteous, the couscous was delicious, met my expectations and the portion was generous. I recommend it without hesitation. It might be best to go during the week if thats an option.

Great service, quality meal Quite narrow dining room, but it does the job for a quick family meal!

A warm place with typical cuisine!! Satisfaction and smile guaranteed You shouldnt miss this restaurant during your visit to Ottawa! Thanks again

Great taste!

Delicious home cooked Moroccan food in a homey setting with huge servings. I was stuffed.

Delicious food with Excellent service. Friendly people with their wonderful hospitality make you feel like home

The food was decent in taste, but i got sick the next day. The service was slow and the waiter seem to not see us sometimes. Mostly the bill was weird, somehow the owner added random fees in the bill and never gave me the bill nor explained the fee. This is very dishonest business behavior, I hate when business do that. I didnt say anything because i didnt want to ruin my family trip for this petty thing, but still bad behaviour from this owner.

Good food good atmosphere I would recommend just a little more quality of food and cleanliness of service.

Very good service, delicious meals, helpful and humbly staff, may God bless you

Meilleures Café NISIS marocain God bless you.

Delicious food & amazing customer service. Always rather support local. They are very generous with their food portions and homemade, nutritious meals is the way to go and they ve got it down!

The lamb is to die for! Every time I m in Ottawa I come here. Super hospitable environment as well! Highly recommended

The food and customer service were amazing. It really brought me back to some of my favorite dishes. Foods that I have not had in so long, cooked perfectly just the way my family used to make it. Great portions too. The staff is extremely friendly and welcoming. I can t wait to come back.

Haven t had Moroccan mint tea this delicious in so long. The meal was amazing too. We got the Royale dish which was excellent value for the price. The portions are so generous we ended up taking food home. Also ordered some Pastilla for home and they are huge. I m sure they will taste just as wonderful as they look. Great staff all around. Very welcoming and hard working. They checked on us several times making sure we loved the food and had everything we needed. Overall fantastic experience. Will repeat for sure.

Delicious and well-stocked meal, very kind owner.

Service is wonderful and friendly. Portion size is excellent. I lived the decorations and the music Little bite expensive and it was very hot because there was no shades.

The food was great ! .We really liked the lamb it was so tender and yummmmy. We even had a take out food to bring to Toronto. We definitely coming back here to eat again. Thanks! Chef for the delicious food and packing nicely our take out food.

Great meal, a royal couscous worthy of its name!! I highly recommend this restaurant. Its worth the detour and the staff is great!! Vegetarian options: Vegetarian meals offered

Best Msemin from Chef Mohamed

A very warm welcome with a good couscous to warm up. Very appreciated

Very nice staff. Was brought in by the amazing smell just to be introduced to some very delicious food:)

Yummy food and friendly staff.

Not bad

Its really shameful what you presented to the gend its not good and it made me sick your food I vomited everything I ate and Im sick as well as my friend I advise you not to eat at this restaurant

My first review in Ottawa after moving here from Montreal. Our group was starving after a day of packing and moving, and we settled on this place for dinner. The ambiance is great with comfy seats, tasteful decor, and a mild scent of incense in the air. The music is played on low volume for us to be able to converse while still being able to recognize Khaled and Rached Tahas iconic tunes. We ordered Chicken Pastilla, Lamb Shank, and Baba Ghanoush. The chicken and lamb were served with a hearty serving of rice and veggies and the baba ghanoush came with fresh pita bread. The food was delicious, and we savoured every bite. The place had run out of kafta balls and merguez but well definitely be going back for more soon. The staff is super friendly and the service is prompt. The place is on the ground level so accessibility is no issue. Highly recommend this place for the great food and friendly service.

We ended up at the restaurant just before closing time after a long day of moving and driving from Montreal, and boy were we satisfied beyond our expectations. The staff is very courteous and we were greeted with a smile. They had run out of kafta balls and merguez by the time we arrived, so that s something to try for the next visit. We had the pastilla, lamb shank, and a side of baba ghanoush. Not only was the meal delicious, it filled three starving bellies. So you know the portions are good enough. The lamb shank, cooked to the bone and tender and flavourful in every bite. But what stood out for me was the pastilla, it alone is worth making the trip to Ottawa in my opinion. Definitely going back!

Very kind staff! Great place to visit and eat!

First time trying Moroccan food and it was delicious! Very generous portions and seasoned well. Very nice owner too. I will come back :)

The Chicken Pastilla is just mouth full of flavors

Amazing food! Very well-seasoned, the meat was very moist, and amazing service!

Great food and friendly owner!

Too good. well done

I was looking for something quick to eat to take and go. The meatball combo with the vegetable flat bread was excellent and just what I needed.

I recently dined at this little restaurant and was impressed by the affordable prices of the meals. However, I did notice that the food wasnt very fresh which was a disappointment. Overall, I had a decent experience, but the freshness of the food could be improved.

Very good restaurant

Bad Food, Pastilla full of chicken bones and waste. Its shameful!

Oh my, it s so good, the portions are very generous and the owners are so welcoming! Absolutely delicious, definitely go try, you wont regret it! We went for Easter, got their special plate to taste it all, and everything was amazing, even the dessert!

I loved the place and food has a good price

Very good, very good price, super friendly welcome like in Casablanca! Wheelchair accessibility: Ground floor, without steps

Very warm welcome, I recommend this restaurant

The lamb shank was so juicy and tender. Absolutely loved the rice and potatoes as well. Make sure you get the coffee after your meal.

First time trying and loved it!

Everything about this place is five star from the Food, the atmosphere, and the hospitality highly recommend it!

There are only a handful of tables in this tiny market restaurant, but the food is excellent and the portions are huge.

Great place to dine in. Fabulous service. Big smiles all around.

A must-visit for any trip to Ottawa. My boyfriend and I have been coming here from Toronto for years and have never found another Moroccan restaurant that even comes close! Incredible food and a great value for the price. Get the Royal Plate (feeds 2) and you ll be glad you did!

Wonderful hospitality and delicious tea

Too much carbs hiding at the bottom of the dish and not much protein on top . there are no flexibility with their standard menu it s a base menu Overly price for what you get . Most ended in the waste.. Not a place if you are hungry and healthy. seeking

I love lamb chops and every time I can I will have it, the ones at this restaurant where not the best, dry because they are seating cook already at the counter, rice had no flavour, besides that they don t give you a price until you tell them how you are going to pay. Owner or the guy at the cashier not nice.

All staff are so nice and the food and really delicious and clean, Thank you guys salamat

Food was okay but when we were dining, the owner started argument with one of the customer. He smashed the plates and start shouting . It was such a bummer.

It taste very bad. The meet balls and the lamp was so dry. I don t recommend it at all

It is a place to visit. Its worth the detour.

Cool

We loved the food and the service!!!

Super service.

Wholesome and delicious! I feel so good now!

The couscous is amazing and delicious Very friendly and generous people

The food was excellent . The people are so nice and kind. The couscous and lamb is a must try. And Rim speaks French .

Amazing authentic flavors, highly recommend the lamb shank with rice, chicken is also very good. Service is extremely friendly, family run, owner/chef is always there, try the sweets for deserts!

Fantastic food for extremely reasonable prices. Everything was seasoned and cooked perfectly. Service was quick and cheerful. Coffee and mint tea are both great too. Definitely the best value in the market area!

I had a vegetable couscous with my granddaughter, it was very good, good atmosphere, attentive service, and the icing on the cake, its not expensive

We ordered the Royal meal for two. The place is in the historical byward market. The Morricone food is very tasty. The royal meal is mixed plate which has all the meat!! Food : 5/5

This horrible cafe was a MUST avoid on your trip to Byward market and here s why: 1. The cook (not chef) has a horrible attitude towards his customers. He doesn t realize that he is a non existent cook at a small eating joint that no one knows about and not Gordon Ramsay. He was extremely rude to us without any reason and gave us horrible anxiety that we almost stood up halfway and left. We had simply asked him about the ingredients of the dish as we dont eat a particular meat and he started demeaning us infront of everyone. If i could punch him, i would have! He deserves a punch. 2. They kept blasting morrocan music so loudly after every 5-8 mins which was extremely noisy and unbearable 3. The servers and chef didnt understand english properly. If you are running a restaurant at Byward market, atleast learn english. The whole world doesnt speak French and they make you feel uncomfortable about it. Typical snooty behaviour. 4. The food was possibly the worst Moroccan food ive ever eaten and Ive been to Morocco before and have had authentic ones in Europe also. The chicken was undercooked and so dry, the salads felt stale and the couscous was the worst, no lemon, no flavours. So bland and dry. AVOID THIS PLACE AT ALL COSTS. THERE ARE MANY GOOD OPTIONS AROUND AT BYWARD.

Very small restaurant with very little space but the food was good and we were well received

Amazing food! Owner is very kind, will come back again and again!

Amazing food, great hospitality and a very warm and welcoming environment. COME HERE!!!

Good shawarma

We ate cake and it was really good, also very nice! Highly highly recommended!

Great food. Huge portions. Very kind personnel!

Excellent and friendly service ! Food was delicious and non pretentious. Prices reasonable. Highly recommended place to stop by if you are on the Byward market.

It was my first time ordering food from this place, the quality was amazing, also the service was great I think it was the manager that he also added extra meat for me to try , I will definitely come back Thank you

It is absolutely the most authentic Moroccan food I have ever had! After spending a whole day in the National Gallery, which is a 7-minute short walk, I was able to enjoy the fantastic royal plate,lamb shank with veggies and rice, a generous portion, and in a most friendly atmosphere. I recommend this restaurant to everyone, locals or tourists!

Amazing food

amazing place, foods looked amazing and they gave me free water

Delicious food

Thank you so much food & Staff & ambiance is amazing at all times 5 star guys

I traveled more than 150km to taste the meals at this restaurant because of the reviews I found and here it is: Its a good restaurant but no longer brings together our Moroccan cuisine. Space too tight and above all not much choice with fries a little strange the price was a little high Good luck with a little improvement

Awesome foods served by great people

The Naan bread is super!

Its very rude and unprofessional. No respect for customer service. Never again

I had a very bad experience in this place, I thought I would find a delicious flavor in the food, and no salt, my family did not like it, in addition to being a small place not as shown in the photo, I spent 1 hour in this place and they had put prayers

Located in the heart of Ottawa s Byward market, and HIGHLY recommend! I ve been coming here since I was in University for their chicken Pastilla (10+yrs ago). Love their lamb shank with rice and couscous for lunch too. Pick up is quick and easy. It gets pretty busy at lunch time but the owner is super nice! Love the hot sauce on the side. I ve sat down and had their mixed plate and it s a great shareable option. It says it s for 2 . But could easily be shared with 3!

Fast service, food and good

Amazing food and great staff

Grab the lunch for two. Its more than enough

Amazing food !!

The lamb shank was very tasty, only the vegetables, though good, did not reflect freshness.

Great atmosphere and the food is so delicious. Must try

Food was good. Service was great.

First time tried the Moroccan food and it was amazing!

I dont recommended at all, the food taste and quality is very bad

The ambiance of the restaurant was elegant and refined, perfect for a special evening. The decoration was neat, and the background music created a relaxing atmosphere.

Delicious food and the staff are lovely and kind!

It was my first time trying Moroccan food. I highly recommend this restaurant! The food, service and ambience were amazing!

I ordered lamb shank, and it was tender and delicious!

Shunk was awful, dried and the portion was not enough for one person. They gave us one spoon and asked for an extra spoon because we are 3 of us, they refused. That is funny. The service was awful. We had to ask for our orders like our extra fries and drinks on our meals. They did not serve themselves. All the tables and glasses and spoons were so dirty, the smell of the restaurant was disgusting and overall, I dont recommend.

I was not happy with the service. Im waiting for a refund. Parking: We parked about a kilometre away on a side street. Food : 1/5 |

If you are looking for Moroccan food with super nice owners, this is the place to go...small but very cozy

Very nice small restaurant. Lamb plate is my favorite.

Large plates of food, polite and quick staff. It was a lovely place for a date. They even have a 2 person plater to share.

Thank you for the warm treatment on such a cold day! TheChicken Sandwich and Potatoes were great! Food : 5/5

Delicious food and excellent service!! It is not meant to be an atmosphere-driven place, but the food wont disappoint you.

Server doesn t know how to take orders properly, he doesn t understand. Sandwiches were one of the worst in the city used to be great 5 yrs ago. Place is too tight can t walk properly.

Le Casablanca is a gem of a restaurant in the Byward Market Ottawa I often eat there, and had them cater for a Family of fifteen, this week. It was absolutely amazing.We had lamb shank, chicken legs, meatballs, lamb merguez sausage, egg plant and chicken pastilla. All Served with rice potatoes couscous mixed vegetables, and a wonderful sauce. Everyone said it was the best meal they have had. Everything is made from scratch, and so healthy and tasty. I strongly recommend this restaurant for eating in , or take out. Oh very friendly service also. Marie

Food was excellent. Dropped my airpods in the restaurant and they returned them in a pouch. Food

Food was amazing and good vibes and customer service

Casablanca restaurant is a great place to have lunch if youre visiting the byward market downtown Ottawa. This serving healthy and tasty Moracian Food. Try it and you will thank me later. Cheers!

I recently had the pleasure of dining at La Casablanca Restaurant in Ottawa, and I must say it was a wonderful experience that transported me to the vibrant flavors of Morocco. From the moment I stepped inside, I was greeted with a warm and inviting atmosphere that set the stage for an unforgettable culinary journey. The restaurants interior was beautifully decorated, showcasing traditional Moroccan elements such as colorful tiles, intricate lanterns, and ornate furnishings. The ambiance was cozy and intimate, making it an ideal spot for a romantic dinner or a gathering with friends and family. The soft lighting and soothing background music added to the overall charm of the place. Now, lets talk about the star of the show the food. La Casablanca delivered an exceptional dining experience with its authentic Moroccan cuisine. The menu featured a wide range of dishes, each bursting with aromatic spices and bold flavors. From the fragrant tagines to the flavorful couscous and grilled meats, every bite was a true delight. I started my meal with the traditional Moroccan appetizer, the mezze platter. It was a beautiful display of various small dishes, including hummus, baba ganoush, falafel, and stuffed grape leaves. Each component was prepared with care, and the flavors were perfectly balanced. The highlight of the meal was the lamb tagine I ordered for the main course. The tender meat was cooked to perfection with a medley of spices, dried fruits, and preserved lemons, creating a harmonious blend of sweet and savory flavors. The service at La Casablanca was exceptional. The staff members were attentive, friendly, and knowledgeable about the menu. They were more than happy to provide recommendations and cater to any dietary preferences or restrictions. The pace of the meal was leisurely, allowing me to savor each dish and truly enjoy the dining experience. In terms of pricing, La Casablanca offers good value for the quality of food and service provided. While it may fall into the higher end of the price range, the portion sizes were generous, and the attention to detail in the preparation and presentation of the dishes was evident. Overall, La Casablanca Restaurant in Ottawa is a gem for those seeking an authentic Moroccan dining experience. With its inviting ambiance, flavorful dishes, and attentive service, it captures the essence of Moroccan cuisine and culture. Whether youre a fan of Moroccan food or simply looking to explore new flavors, La Casablanca is a must-visit destination that will leave you with a memorable and satisfying dining experience.

Wow, what a discovery. I got a chicken and rice to go. The server, very kind, highly recommended this dish to me. Arriving at the hotel we devoured this hearty dish. Perfect cooking, well-dose seasoning and spices. The chicken was tender and flavorful as were the rice and vegetables. Extra!

Superb discovery me and my mother we had the Moroccan couscous with lamb it is just extraordinary the meat very well cooked tender well seasoned we had the pastilla rice a wonderful discovery. The service is just perfect. Thank you very much. A small recommendation: play Moroccan music instead of Syrian or Lebanese, it will give a real Moroccan atmosphere. Well done again. Thanks for the tea too

It was a pleasure to taste a Morrocan authentic cousin. We were welcomed by a lovely chatty hostess with great genuine smile . We ordered the Royal Platter. It was delicious, with some unleavened bread and Baba Ghanoush. What a treat it was Thank you

Delicious Moroccan cuisine, generous and tasty dishes! And what about mint tea, we close our eyes and we are somewhere else!

Une expérience culinaire exceptionnelle au restaurant Casablanca à Ottawa! Les saveurs exquises de la cuisine marocaine authentique transportent les papilles dans un voyage sensoriel inoubliable. Lambiance chaleureuse et laccueil attentif ajoutent une touche charmante à cette escapade culinaire. Un incontournable pour les amateurs de cuisine marocaine à Ottawa!

I stopped by by chance and what a superb discovery! Top service and a friendly atmosphere, generous and delicious cuisine... thank you for this wonderful time at your home!