Casa Tajine

We had a lovely dinner here last night as a table of 4 and 1 child.
Firstly, the service. Warm, welcoming and very hospitable. The lovely gentleman who attended to our table with the lovely accent was just that, Lovely. We asked some questions that he gave us answers to without any fuss and he just had a friendly and calm nature. He had taken our order for drinks within a few minutes of us sitting down and made and served the drinks promptly.
Secondly, the ambiance. Don't judge a book by its cover on this one. Oce you walk in the Moroccan lights and ambiance makes you feel like you are eating at a friends place. It's cosy and comfortable.
Thirdly, the food. We started with eggplant chopped salad and a pepper shakshuka. This was served with a traditional bread which was absolutely delicious. The smokey flavour of the eggplant was incredible. I'm middle eastern and it reminded me of the same smokey flavour that comes through when my mum makes her smokey eggplant dip! Just wonderful. The shakshuka was a nice surprise also, flavoursome and the egg cooked perfectly for my taste.
For mains we had 4 tagines. A lamb, 2 veg and 1 chicken with olives. My husband devoured the lamb. He said the lamb was tender and the prunes and apricots in the dish, as well as the seasoning, was spot on and all the ingredients complimented each other. He did not want to share it! He ordered it with rice and he actually said it was the best rice he had ever eaten. I tried the rice and I only wish I could cook rice as well.
The chicken tagine was also very much enjoyed. My sister said the Chicken was cooked to perfection and the complimentary spices were lovely. She also loved the olives throughout and the dish was moist not dry so was very easy to eat.
The veg tagine was lovely also. It came with a dressing which we poured on top. Personal preference here I am not a big fan of sultanas/raisins and would prefer this dish with slivered almonds or a nut or seed for texture. That's how I would make it at home but completely understand dried fruits are the tradition in Morocco and like I said, this is my personal preference. My 6 year old ate all the dried fruit and enjoyed the food all night as well which is fabulous when your child is a fussy eater.
All in all a great restaurant and we will definitely return. I notice a few comments on the price and portion sizes on other reviews. I found for what we paid we were well feed and did not leave hungry. Quite the opposite, we ate everything and left with full and happy bellies. Serving sizes were perfect for the price.
One last thing, the owners are lovely. Casa Tagine is a family run business and the family actually cooks for you. Can't do better than that.

Having never tried authentic Moroccan food, I was looking forward to experiencing a taste of Northern Africa. With promises of rich, spicy flavours without the heat of other regions, I anticipated a fantastic meal. Casa Tajine is a comfortable space, with generous hosts who are happy to talk about the origins of the dishes. I love the homely decorations and the rows of authentic tajines are beautiful.

Starting with a traditional mint tea, this delicious brew came with a side of theatre; as the art of pouring is as important as the tea itself. The minty freshness was soothing and palate cleansing at the same time. The menu is generous, and centres around a range of tajines, dips, breads and mest dishes.

We started with some sweet peppers topped with a poached egg, and this was served with homemade flatbreads to dip into the dish. Each dish was presented to us in a tajine, and I really fell in love with this gorgeous earthernware. It really is just stunning. Removing the lid to reveal the meal underneath adds a level of suspense and anticipation.

For mains, we had a lamb tajine and a Bastilla, which is a chicken pie that is traditionally served at weddings. The Bastilla was amazing, and I had never had anything quite like it. With minced chicken meat, and an abundance of aromatic spices; this delight was encased in filo pastry and sprinkled with icing sugar. There were definitely notes of cinnamon, and this slightly sweet pie was absolutely delicious. The flaky pastry was amazing, and the fillingvwas just so tasty.

The tajine was served in the traditional style, surrounded by chips rather than rice or couscous. I had never heard of this variation, and considered it unusual, but was happy to try something considered unique to the region. The lamb cutlets were tender and flavoursome, and the prunes and apricots added some sweetness to the spicy sauce. I wasn't too sure about the chips, as I found them a bit soggy with all the sauce. Next time I would probably have couscous instead. It was still a fantastic dish, just not how I would usually eat chips.

Not known for over the top desserts, we finished with some baklava, semolina cake and almond biscuits. They were all delicious and a lovely way to end our tasty dinner.

I loved the atmosphere of Casa Tajine, and felt that the hospitality was welcoming and generous. Staff were lovely, the venue was fantastic and the food was very nice. If this is an authentic taste of Morocco, then I have found my new favourite cuisine.

As we entered Casa Tajine, we were transported to another world, greeted with the aroma of spices and incense. Being the first time trying Moroccan food, our visit definitely didn’t disappoint!
We tried the shakshouka and chicken harira soup for entree and enjoyed a chicken apricot couscous tajine. Before we even tasted the dishes, we were captured by their tempting fragrance. The flavours were new and unique to us, yet felt comforting at the same time.
Following dinner, we had the chance to experience Moroccan tea served the traditional way.
Overall, this was a wonderful first taste of Moroccan food and culture.

MOROCCO. One of the top countries in my travel bucket list and an ideally located culinary location that sees influence from both Mediterranean, Middle Eastern and African cuisine. Casa Tajine, the newly opened Moroccan and Spanish restaurant is a Carlton gem that not only captures the authenticity of this unique cuisine, but also has the vibes that teleports you to the cosy comfort of a Moroccan family household, that is, the home (or “Casa”) of the “Tajine.” My very first, and definitely won’t be the last time trying Moroccan food in Melbourne!

After having been to Morocco, we were craving some Moroccan food. This restaurant really took us back there and on top of that the service was superb. Compliments to the chef the Lamb Tajine is a must have.

Lovely experience! We got lucky to be received by the chef with his warm welcome. Ohhhh the eggplant salad was amazing!!! Really don't know which main was better - tunisian lamb couscous or the moroccan chicken tajine with preserved lemon and rice. They were delicious. And also the chef's special bastila - a wedding dish - exotic kind of dessert but very satisfying with the shredded chicken and nuts on its filling. Simply amazing!! Highly recommended.

My first ever having Couscous. I had it with vegetables and left chicken and lamb for next times 😁. Definitely will try the bailla in the Marrakech room attached here. The room reflects a mix of moroccan and tunisian culture. Not to forget enjoy the experience with the background music and cool lighting and the morrocan tea with spices.

Great family owned & run business with delicious food. Paella, order ahead, was delicious. Tajines? Take your pick! Great Spanish & Tunisian food.