The Casablanca Grill is a hidden gem within the culinary landscape of Erie, PA. It is located on West 8th Street just east of the intersecction of West 8th and Pittsburgh Avenue on the North side of the road. The restaurant itself may be small in size, but the flavors and level of customer service are quite the opposite. The cuisine is Middle Eastern/Mediterranean, and there are a wide variety of dishes to sample. Scott and I almost invariably stop in at lunch time. If you stop by at lunch, you will likely be served by the owner or her daughter. All of the dishes are homemade, and each one is delightful and consistently excellent. Every time that we’re there, we comment on how we should eat there more often due to the high quality of the cooking, and the “off the eaten track” flavors that can be had in any one of the dishes that are offered.

My normal selection is either the Beef Shawarma or the Lamb Gyro (pictured below):

Also pictured are homemade pickled beets and cabbage as well as some Turkish coffee that is seasoned with a dash of Cardamom. You can’t go wrong for lunch with either the Gyro or the Shawarma. Both include a mix of vegetables (lettuce, onions, and a small amount of shredded carrots) that is mixed with a small amount of Olive Oil; a sauce (either a Tahini or Tzatziki) that is used as a dressing and a small amount is included on the side for dipping; as well as some rice that is lightly seasoned with Sumac. The meat itself is made fresh every day and cooked to order (nothing under heat lamps here!). It is always tender, flavorful and comforting. Yes, I would classify my favorite dishes at Casablanca Grill as Comfort Foods. I can’t fully explain it, but that’s the other benefit of coming to the Casablanca Grill, the food itself can go a long way towards improving an otherwise dismal day. It’s that good!

The environment is also unlike any other in town. It’s not over the top, but it is tastefully decorated to show the owner’s Middle Eastern roots. The service is very personal (maybe that’s just how the owner treats the regulars, but I suspect everyone is treated the same way!), and your order will be ready in a timely fashion every time. The cost for lunch is VERY reasonable. We often barely make it to the $10 dollar mark (with tip) for one of our usual lunch dishes.

Even if you’re someone who is on the fence regarding “ethnic foods”, I would encourage you to give this place a try. Not only will you experience something new and tasty, but you’ll also be supporting a local business. We don’t hate restaraunt chains here at Fat Guy Approved, but we’re also big proponents of supporting local businesses. We hope you enjoy your time at Casablanca Grille!

Thanks for reading! Merry Christmas!