We'll always have Casablanca

Several times in our lives, we are given the opportunity to try amazing and wonderful food. Often, these meals stick in the back of heads. Latter meals are compared to these. It's like that long lost love--you know how wonderful it is, and you just wish you could go back for more.

Lucky for me, my long lost love of food can be found on the corner of Watt and Fair Oaks, in this little tiny strip mall next to the Shell station. Casablanca looks like it's nothing--next to a liquor store and what is now an empty store front, you would never know that one of the hidden gems of Sacramento is right there.

There are many things great about Casablanca. One highlight is the lack of liquor license. Ok, I know what you're thinking. But just because they can't serve it doesn't mean you can't bring it in. Beer and wine are welcome here without a corkage fee. It's like a huge BYOB party. With belly-dancers. I don't remember any frat parties quite like this! Another great thing is the belly dancer herself. She creates quite a scene, often with the women of the tiny restaurant dancing alongside her (I'm sure encouraged by their rather large liquor intake). While she starts dancing to the traditional Moroccan music, often it turns into a dance party with Abba's "Dancing Queen" playing loudly in the background. And while this could be disconcerting and unappetizing in other places, it just fits here. The host of the restaurant is also quite a draw. Hilarious and irreverant, yet he always makes sure you are well taken care of, that you have everything you need (even if it's just another hit of the orange blossom water). Yes, he can give you a 20 minutes explanation of the Family Guy marathon and always starts his sentences with "Dooood". But you can't help but love him, especially since he calls himself the "Conehead" due to his traditional hat. Truly though, the highlight is the food. A few rules of thumb: don't go to this restaurant with ANYONE who has food issues or who can't get over them. You eat with your hands, and often the food just needs to be eaten, no matter how or what or why. Just eat it. I promise you won't be disappointed. I recommend just going for the Sultan's feast, a huge meal that provides you with all the best the restaurant has to offer. We had hummus, carrots, beets, some small game hen that we could literally pull apart with our spoons, beef, couscous, rice, something else, and the highlight of the evening, a lovely lamb dish that one of my dinner partners called quite simply "Ecstasy" and another commented that it was like losing his virginity for the seventh time. (I'm not sure what this means, but I know it was good.) We ended with baklava and tea that I just couldn't get enough of.

The orange blossom water doused on your hands is the final, lovely step. You come home with your hands smelling so exotic, so wonderful, that you can't help but remember your experience. A few things to keep in mind--this is not the place to go for a romantic night out. It's crazy and nuts, perfect for a celebration. You will drink a lot, or at least want to. Bring plenty and have a cab number handy, or have a designated driver (who I will feel for, being the DD last night). Don't bring any friends likely to freak strangers on the dance floor. And most of all, bring your adventurous spirit and your appetite! I promise this will become a favorite place. (And get there before 9--everybody's hammered by then.)