Welcome to Cooper Eats! In this column I will be reviewing small restaurants around my hometown of Santa Monica. I have always loved food and I love spreading the word about lesser known restaurants so they can be promoted and appreciated just as much as some of the bigger chains. I’m super excited to be able to share my love for food in such an authentic way to anyone who is interested! I’m always looking for new places to review, and I would love suggestions if anyone ever has any. My overall goal is to encourage others to find their own passion for food. Without further ado, my first review will be on one of my family’s all time favorite restaurants, Casablanca.

Located in Venice, Casablanca is a delicious Mexican spot known for its fresh flour tortillas made in the heart of the dining room and delivered to your table piping hot. For me, living in Santa Monica and growing up going to Casablanca made it the perfect place to showcase for my first review. As I walked into the restaurant for dinner, I felt at home hearing the live music that plays every night, not at all surprised by the bustling atmosphere despite it being an ordinary Tuesday night.

Although it was busy, I was seated right away, the steaming tortillas with tangy green salsa following not long after. Owner Carlos Haro was kind enough to take time out of his night to talk to me. He emphasized the importance of taking education seriously and told me to take advantage of the many opportunities life gives, referencing his own success and happiness as the ultimate example. Growing up in Mexico, Haro was the son of a movie theater owner and loved the movie Casablanca. This inspired not only the name but the movie themed décor that creates the distinct environment I love so much about his restaurant. Casablanca opened its doors in 1979, the tradition of live music being present from the very beginning. When I asked Mr. Haro about his favorite part of his restaurant, he told me that the opportunity to meet so many different people and be of service enriches his life and is what keeps him coming back every day.

I ordered my usual, the chicken fajitas, asking to have them well-done for some extra crisp. They arrived sizzling within minutes, accompanied by a refill on the fresh tortillas taken from the griddle just a few feet away. Just as I always do, I assembled a burrito, wrapping the chewy tortilla around the rich, crispy chicken, rice, and beans, digging in at long last. While crispy and cut small, the chicken still had plenty of juice, flavored with a delicious acidity of sauteed tomato paired with a white wine sauce. As always, I took down my entire plate far too fast and was already looking forward to my next visit.

Overall, my experience at Casablanca was just as special as always. The combination of the fast, welcoming service, the live music, the fun, movie-themed environment, and the lively, bustling atmosphere is something that I have never experienced anywhere else. Casablanca is a truly special restaurant that everyone should try to go to at some point. Overall, I would rate Casablanca as a 5/5 on the fresh tortilla meter.