Walking into Casablanca Cuban Grill in Boise, you first notice the Welcome to Cuba sign and the vintage Cuban travel posters from the 40’s and 50’s, when Cuba was the hot place to visit. Cuban salsa music plays out of the speakers in the dining room. The illusion of being in Cuba is even more when the waitress comes to the table and in a lovely accented voice, explains she came here from Cuba. The only thing that would make it even more like sitting in a restaurant in Cuba would be to look out the window and see Overland filled with vintage American cars from the 40’s and 50’s, Chevy Bel Airs, Ford Coupes and Plymouth Deluxes the most desired transportation in Cuba.
Cuban food is essentially known as the gourmet food of the Caribbean. Many elements are the same as other areas nearby, such as stewed and roast pork, chicken and rice and beans. They do share the popular dish Ropa Viejas, a shredded beef dish common throughout the Caribbean with many versions. However, Cuban food stays away from the incendiary spicing of the areas further south, instead relying on subtle herbs and seasonings along with fresh citrus to create an exotic flavor palette to enjoy. At Casablanca, they have these flavors down, giving you a nice tropic island experience.
The most iconic dish of Cuba is the Cubano Sandwich. Many places do it, even non-Cuban places, but no one does it as well as Casablanca does. A Cuban Bread, basically similar to a baguette, gets a layer of roast pork, slices of ham, Swiss cheese, pickles and mustard. The Cubano Sandwich then goes into a panini press to get warm and oozingly tasty. Between the crunchy exterior, the soft bread and the flavorful fixings, this is a sandwich that pleases all the senses. There is also a similar version, the Medianoche (midnight) sandwich. This is similar, except served on a sweet egg dough bread.
The appetizers at the Casablanca Cuban Grill give a nice introduction to a Cuban meal. There are several, including some nice combination plates to share at the table. Another thing to try is the Tostones con Mojo, fried green plantains with the delicious mojo sauce for dipping. Main courses are plentiful, giving a nice look at many of Cuba’s famous foods. A Grilled Pork Chop (Chuleta de Puerco) is marinated in garlic and cooked nicely, then topped with tender grilled onions. Sides include Cuba’s version of rice and beans (Moros y Cristianos) and Yuca, fried cassava root served with mojo, a garlic sauce. About that mojo sauce, also called mojito sauce. It is the signature sauce of Cuba, a blend of fresh herbs, garlic, cumin, lime juice or sour orange juice, oil and other spices. Cassablanca’s version is—well, I wish they sold it by the gallon, it can make anything taste good!
Bacalao a la Vizcaina is an interesting dish. Originally a Spanish and Basque dish, it is peasant dish of codfish croquettes. The cod is mixed with potatoes and then the balls are deep-fried. Served with a Cuban Creole sauce with peppers, onions and green olives, it is a very tasty dish, the mild fish adding very subtle flavoring. Another delicious dish was the Puerco Asado, the Cuban roast pork. Piled high, the tender roast pork had crispy bits interspersed with tender, meltingly smooth pieces of pork. It is one of the traditional dishes of Cuba and a must-try. Another must-try is their “old clothes”, otherwise known as Ropa Viejas. The shredded beef is served in the Cuban Creole sauce, making a very flavorful and tender dish.
Sitting at the table, it really did feel like Cuba, except seeing all the regular cars on Overland. Then, looking out the window, suddenly a black ’57 Chevy drove by. Was I in Boise or Havana? Maybe it was Casablanca’s excellent sangria that was making my eyes see things. I checked my camera though and sure enough, it was a ’57 Chevy sedan, the unmistakeable ’57 logo clearly visible on the trunk, the chrome rims looking much like the pictures of what many in Cuba who have these collector cars as their prized vehicles do to keep them beautiful and running well. I really felt like I was dining in Cuba now.
Other dishes give plenty of choices for everyone. Chicken, beef and seafood entrees grave the menu. There are several salads, including a very nice House Salad. Soups are made fresh with a different one every day. There are also a good variety of beverages, the standard fountain drinks also accompanied by Cuban Coffee, Café con Leche, fruit juices and even Malta, a popular Caribbean drink.
Desserts are nice too, especially the traditional Flan de Leche, a delicious custard topped with caramel, and their house-style Flan de Coco, with coconut topping the flan too.
My waitress, Eliany, came by and talked a bit, her Cuban accent making me still feel I was in Havana itself. As I sat there I thought, if I can go to Cuba like this and not need a passport, I’ll be traveling to the Casablanca Cuban Grill a lot.
Casablanca Cuban Grill
5606 W. Overland
Boise, ID 83705
(208) 331-2370
Website: www.casablancacubangrill.com
Photo Gallery follows. all photos by Ed Simon of The Boise Beat.
