I've been meaning to try this place for so long, and it's great! I got the chicken couscous, and the vegetables and couscous were seasoned perfectly. And the plating is very aesthetic. Vibes are very nice and cozy. The music is low key and pleasant, and I could totally see hanging out in the outdoor dining area on a sunnier/less windy day. It seems like a nice place to have a quiet conversation or a cute date. The owner was so nice and even came out with extra vegetables (made fresh) for us to take home with our couscous. read more

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Great hide away location restaurant. I thought it was very cute. The service however can be much better. Barely any greeting. And when we got our menus it took so long before someone came back to check on us to see if we were ready to order that we ended up leaving. read more

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Food was so so Service was ok but not great Ambiance? What ambiance? It's a place to try a little different cuisine from other main stream restaurants, but you will not miss anything if you happen to come to this beautiful town read more

Yummy Moroccan place tucked away on Howe street with a super nice vibe. We got the combination plate that came with falafel, hummus, babaganoush and pita as well as a falafel salad. We also got a pot of the mint tea. Everything was delicious and perfect for a lighter late night dinner. I've had a lot of falafel and this one was super unique -- it was very fluffy and had some corn in it which was a good texture. The waiter and the chef were both super friendly as well, great service. Definitely coming back with friends!! I only had one complaint which is that the chairs are metal and cold but if you bring a jacket or something to put down on them they work just fine. read more

Kasbah Garden Cafe - outdoor seating area at night - Middle Eastern Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

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Visited New Haven/Yale University for the day, and a group of us were hungry after touring the campus and so forth. It's real close to campus so we just walked over. When looking for the address, the restaurant is in the back, you will see some signs pointing the way. It looked closed as we walked up but a friendly gentleman was sitting out front smoking a hookah and having some tea, so we knew we were at the right place. Greeted us and welcomed us in, showed us to a bigger table for our group and gave us some menus to look over. We decided to get some appetizers and started with the Hummus and an order of Grape Leaves. Both were super tasty, seemed to be made in-house and warm pita is served with it. As for our mains, I decided to get the Falafel Plate, it was quite good, comes with like 4 falafels, oddly shaped so it seemed to be made in-house as well, not greasy and flavorful. Comes with a good amount of salad and a cup of soup. All seemed fresh, flavorful and filling. Some others at the table got the Lamb Tagines and the Fish Tagines. Everyone enjoyed it very much, good sized helping, flavorful and perfect for a cold windy day. I was able to get a couple of bites from each and it was quite good. Staff is very nice & friendly, father and son were working that day and they seemed to be the only ones working the lunch hour. Wasn't too busy when we came by so it may take a few minutes longer to get any extras such as plates, napkins, refills as they were going back & forth trying to help everyone. Prices seem good to me, no sticker shock on any dishes, college area so it seemed affordable even for someone way past his college years. Decor is very homely, welcoming and relaxing. Feels like you are at someone's house having lunch. Hookah area upstairs if you are interested, they will crack the window for you while you are up there. We didn't partake but my local friends took a mental note for next time. read more

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A hidden gem. I've been coming here for years. I probably drove past it 100 times and never saw it until the first time I rode my bicycle through the area. It's set back from the street and the outside seating is fully shaded, you'd never know you were in the heart of the city. The food - menu isn't big, but everything I've had has been great. I've tried everything except the lamb and the fish. The falafel is a little different from what I've had elsewhere. Flavor and consistency is perfect. Appearance, it is slightly more yellow than green that I typically get. Combo platter of falafel, grape leaves, hummus, baba ghanouj and a pita is a fun way to share the regional cuisine with people who have yet to experience it. The ambiance - the outdoor seating is nearly fully shaded with trees and or umbrellas with a gravel floor. Basically, a wide driveway. Some light jazz often with a middle eastern tinge is at a correct volume level. At night, randomly placed lengths of string lights provide a nice soft glow. Great place for an easy first date. I've brought dates here a few times, two at once even, as well as friends, co-workers and family members, no one has been disappointed. The service - ordering and getting served is usually reasonable. Sometimes it takes a few minutes to get your check. The parking - on street. Good luck finding a spot nearby. Downtown parking can be a bit of a shitshow at times but you'll find something within a block or two. There is a lot (paid) not too far as well. read more

Extremely delicious and fresh food!  A lot for the price too.  Generous in taste, size and hospitality. You Don't feel guilty about eating it all either, very clean food! The owners a great guy too, nice all the way through, and he even offered me a cookie as I was leaving, and he must have read my mind because I had a little bit of a sweet tooth (which is rare) and was thinking of walking down to Insomnia Cookies for a single cookie, but enjoyed a nice walk in the other direction instead, and got to pet a few dogs, thanks to him. read more

So something to keep in mind, as with most places, is when and what time you were dining. I made the mistake of coming to Kasbah in the winter at night, so sitting outside was not a practical option. Because of this, I was dining while another table was smoking hookah. Though I personally did not mind it, it is something to keep in mind. Think of the children!!!! With that being said, I had just finished a week of being a ferocious carnivore and wanted to give my gut (and particularly my colon) a break. The vegetarian combination plate definitely hit the spot and, as a big eater, was able to fill me up without making me fill disgusting. I also tried a little of the vegetarian cous cous that was piping hot coming out. Everything was then washed down with a ruby chai with a little sugar to warm the soul from a cold Connecticut winter. For vegetarians out there, this is a spot to consider. tl;dr -A good vegetarian spot -hookah during winter nights, consider not bringing children Food: 4/5 Service: 3/5 Location: 3/5 Pricing:4/5 Overall: 3.5 read more

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Delicious food at a very affordable price! I got the falafel pita with eggplant and it was really flavorful and tasty for only $8.95! I can't wait to come back and try more of the food and the hookah. read more

Kasbah Garden Cafe - Falafel with Eggplant sandwich - Middle Eastern Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

Lamb tagine is tender and flavorful. The garden was nice but at times full of mosquitoesy read more

Kasbah Garden Cafe - Chicken couscous and lamb tagine - Middle Eastern Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

Best falafel in New Haven - hands down. Go no further. The food here is amazing, at great prices. All outdoor seating in an incredible little garden. I've tried multiple things on the menu and it is all authentic, fresh, and flavorful. They have all (and only, i believe) outdoor seating. Coming to eat here is extremely laid back, it is no frills - BYOB also which is pretty cool. read more

Kasbah Garden Cafe - Middle Eastern Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

Went a couple weeks ago for a Sunday lunch based on positive Yelp and Google reviews. Four of us total, we ordered a bunch of dishes and shared - family style. We got the chicken couscous, kefta tajine, fish tajine, chicken pita sandwich, combination plate, harira soup, and iced mint green tea. Simply put, the food was disappointing. Plates, cups, tables, bathrooms, EVERYTHING was very dirty and not maintained. Black specs were frozen in the Ice cubes! I mostly ate the salmon tajine -didnt feel like anything was wrong with it just bland/boring tasted kind of "fishy" but didn't think anything of it I was starving lol. A few hours later I get home with a massive headache and naseaus. I ended up vomiting everything I ate. Like severe projectile vomit, my stomach was NOT happy!That was the only meal I had that day. I'm assuming I got food poisoning from the fish - the others didn't eat the salmon. They did not get food poisoning - only I did. I don't know, I wanted to like this place I really did. It's very much neglected and not cared for. It has so much potential. read more

Nice place for a tagine. A true mom & pop one man operation! . Not a big menu, but you can get all your middle eastern favorites. Get a tea and smoke a pipe! read more

Food is quite personal in this place. Its not precooked all for order. Not busy restaurant but still tasty food.

Amazing cafe and the food, service, and beauty inside and out of the Kasbah is unrivaled. This restaurant (at least to my knowledge) was set to close around December 2023, but I've heard there are plans to create a new moroccan-style restaurant here possibly. read more

Fantastic (and kinda romantic) place to go for a nice meal in New Haven. On a nice day, Kasbah really shines with their semi-eclectic garden. I came here on one of the last warm days of October. The service was okay...friendly enough. I had the kefka sandwich and the meat was well-grilled and seasoned, with nice pita bread. The salad was a decent pairing with the sandwich. The portion was okay. The iced Morroccan tea was so-so as it wasn't really special. Great date place! read more

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#Great food#outdoor#Summer evening#Belly dancing That's all I needed to know to entertain my guest. It's a charming enchanted garden nestled amidst the bustling city...insulating it from all the noise around This was my introduction to Moroccan food...I loved the food the combo plates gives u a chance to sample variety without having to break the bank.... The crowd was amazing and why wudnt it be,they had a hookah bar in a university town...it was my first hookah experience..... I tried the mint mango flavor... Was lotta fun. It's usually easy to find street side parking. It's a great place to unwind and hang out with friends. read more

Kasbah Garden Cafe - My wall art...coz it reminds me of the good time we had here - Middle Eastern Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

They won't pick up the phone very unprofessional. Called the first time got a dial tone. Now I've called several times to place an order for pickup and you would thing they want the business read more

HIDDEN GEM! The garden is a perfect location for a relaxing dinner or lunch with friends, or even a date. It's relatively private, and isn't filled to the brim with college students. Also the food is spectacular for the price! The pita is always warm and fresh, and I particularly love the chicken couscous: always juicy and well seasoned. The meal is like a home cooked comfort. The service here is great: quick, friendly, but not intrusive. A bonus is that when you pay, you get a chocolate chip cookie on the house. I can't wait to come back the next time I'm in the Elm City. read more

Visiting from Mass and this was a last minute pick. What an Unexpected delight! Creative, casual, outdoor seating surrounded by flowering plantings. Excellent service with personal care. And the food was outstanding! Had combination appetizer, feta and olives, Lamb tagine, chicken shish kebab and baklava. We've been to Morocco and can attest this is all homemade, delicious, top notch and authentic. Portions are large and our leftovers will make another full meal. Will definitely recommend and return. read more

TL;DR: mosquito bites in a nice outdoor garden. uber slow serving speed. server who managed to be unpleasant while providing almost non-existent service. We went as a party of two close to 8pm on a Tuesday night. It was our second time -- we went back because we thought the garden was nice, despite the unmemorable food from the first time. Huge disappointment/unpleasantness. Our server, a man past middle age, was the single biggest source of that unpleasantness. He looked like as if we owed him money and should not have been there -- RUDE. When he poured us water -- which, by the way, was the ONLY time that he attended to us other than bringing us food -- he basically snapped the cups on the table -- again, RUDE. In comparison, he seemed much jollier when serving the two young ladies sitting immediately next to us, which made me wonder if he had a problem with gay couples, alas I could only speculate. Turned out, he didn't come by again, like, EVER. In the end I simply lost all patience and we went up straight to the counter to pay so that we could get out asap. Food-wise, speed was a major problem. We waited for at least 45 minutes for two simple dishes to come. Granted, there were other customers, including two tables of half a dozen people. But that was no excuse for taking almost an hour eh? Might as well shut it down if a restaurant can't handle what wasn't even a full house. It was also very much annoying that the folks next to us, who came LATER than us, got their food WAY BEFORE us. I guess "first-come, first-served" doesn't apply when there's a nice little garden eh? In which, by the way, we both got MULTIPLE MOSQUITO BITES. ZIKA ALERT, anyone? As was last time, the actual food was not bad or anything, but nothing extraordinary nor impressive. Based on our experience that night, I would have straight up tipped zero if not negative if it were up to me, but unfortunately my boyfriend was paying and he was apparently more forgiving to their BS (what, because "the garden was nice"???) Anyways, I don't care how nice the garden cum homeland to an army of mosquitoes is, I ain't never going back. P.S. They gave us styrofoam/paper plates! At an actual restaurant! Now that's just PATHETIC. read more

Kasbah Garden Cafe - styrofoam/paper plate - Middle Eastern Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

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This place is so great, I come here all the time. It has really good food and hookah, the owner is so incredibly nice and the service is great. Please try this place if you're ever in the mood for Moroccan food. It has a perfect ambiance for if you're working on homework or just want to hang out with your friends/family with some good food. read more

The restaurant decor is very nice and the indoor area gives you the feeling of being at a small shop in Morocco. I've only been to Marrakesh. The outdoor area too was nice and subtly lit at night. The service was average and there was one person attending to all the tables. I love kafta kebab and so came to the restaurant hoping to get some. Was disappointed to learn that they have taken it off their menu. :( Proceeded to order the soup which was tasty and wholesome. I also ordered the fish cous cous. It is basically a fillet of salmon on a bed of boiled veggies and cous cous. The sauce on the fish had a lot of fresh parsley in it which in essence over-powered the other flavors. The cous cous too was plain and could have benefitted from some herbs/lemon. Overall not impressed with the food. Perhaps I just miss my kafta! read more

Kasbah Garden Cafe - Middle Eastern Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

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Gotta give some love to Kasbah. A bunch of us raid this place on a regular basis to play dominos and the owners have always been very accommodating and friendly with us, even though I'm sure we make an incredible racket what with all the trash talk and other bones-throwing mayhem. Kasbah is especially nice when it's warmer and you can sit outside. Live music adds a special touch, though occasionally, it's REALLY TERRIBLE (but we pretend not to notice). It's a relaxing place - order at the counter, food brought to you, no rush, no fawning. It's a shame they don't have a liquor license, though, because it's the kind of place I'd love to sit at and get slowly drunk. The food is really good. I don't know what they do to their chicken, but it's oh so tender and flavorful. I've had the chicken cous cous dinner and a couple chicken salads and all have been fantastic. I can't really vouch for the sketchy-looking pastries that sometimes sit by the register, but what I've had has been top-notch. Highly recommend. read more

A Moroccan oasis in the middle of New Haven. Who would have thunk it? The owners of this place thunkd it and their gamble paid off. I was looking for a place to wind down on a hot summer day. A place where I could have a small bite to eat and a cold drink. I read about this joint and had to check it out myself. As it was a BYOB establishment I picked up some cold ones from Zachary's Package Store around the corner. I then headed over. As you walk in through the Moroccon arch and down an alley way you don't know what to expect. You then arrive at a beautiful garden, spotted with tables, umbrellas, Moroccan music playing, and lights hanging in the trees. It is a true escape from the hustle and bustle of New Haven. I sat down and looked at a menu. To my surprise they had Hookahs among a number of nice food menu items. I went with the feta and olive plate and a Strawberry hookah. The hookah arrived promptly with a plastic mouth piece. Hooray for sanitation! As the hookah warmed up I looked around me. I got lost in the moment and felt like I was in a secret garden in Casablanca. The cheese and olives arrived. Perfectly salted. Melted in your mouth. Warm pita. Totally deliche. I sipped on a cold one, smoked the hookah, and enjoyed my food. It was a perfect summer night. Take home: do yourself a favor and give it a go. read more

Kasbah Garden Cafe - Upstairs. Lounging. - Middle Eastern Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

Delightful Mediterranean restaurant in the heart of New Haven. The garden is a perfect spot for lunch or dinner. The appetizer plate is delicious and can easily be shared. All of the food selections we tried were excellent--vegetable plate, lamb tagine, couscous and fish with rice. Our waiter was very attentive and brought us fresh lemonade. If you want to drink alcohol, it's possible to BYOB. Prices are moderate and the desserts are wonderful, especially the baklava. read more

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My wife and I live close to New Haven and are ALWAYS dining in NH. We've passed this placed many times have been meaning to check it out. We were there Sunday July 26th in the afternoon. Happily we sat outside in the garden. Due to COVID19 there was no indoor dining. I mention the pandemic because it is germane to dining out these days. The waiter who I believe is the owner and chef was friendly enough but wore no mask when serving us. The food was poorly presented, and less than mediocre. The service was terrible and there were very few people there. It was so bad and we were so disappointed and wanted to leave but I couldn't get his attention so I had to get up and seek him out. He was preparing food without a mask. We won't go back, no tip was left, and I don't think this place deserves even one star. read more

In the warmer months this place is gorgeous. It is like walking into a peaceful secret garden just steps away from the noise of the street. I really enjoyed the decor with hanging lamps, flowers, plants, and garden decorations. The food i've tried has been so so. I enjoyed my platter of hummus, babaganoush, and stuffed grape leaves... However, the tabbouleh was made with quinoa instead of bulgur wheat and not really seasoned at all. We also got a lamb and quinoa dish and though the lamb was good the quinoa had no spices whatsoever, just plain quinoa so it was really bland. On the contrary, I've been there other times for just hookah and tea and both the hookah and tea were great. The service was also very good. This place is good for hanging out with a group of friends. I'd definitely come back here for some hookah and ambiance but probably not for the food. read more

Kasbah Garden Cafe - Middle Eastern Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

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This place could easily win as New Haven's most unusual restaurant. That's because from the outside it doesn't look like much, with its hidden location squeezed between two tired looking residential buildings on Howe Street. But if you take a leap of faith and walk past their arch you'll find a pleasant oasis filled with a patio, plants and trees. Oh, and Moroccan food. Can't forget about that. Now I admit, I've had Mediterranean food plenty of times, I'm just not an expert at it. But I will say that the food I had from here was some of the best Mediterranean food I've ever had. I can vouch for their hummus, falafel, and stuffed grape leafs. They're all very good. Even the pita bread is warmed up (a nice touch). Service is OK, but if you think your going to get Union League level service then you likely need to get your vision checked. Because one look around and you can probably figure out that most people don't come for the service. They come for the food (it's a better alternative to Mamouns IMO) and they come to sit outdoors on a open patio. Since I love both Mediterranean food and eating outdoors, consider me a fan. read more

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This place is pure magic! Exceptional food! The meal began with their combination appetizer -all very tasty. The falafel salad was just wonderful. The freshest of vegetables- tasted like they picked them and served them. Lovely light dressing and crispy flavorful falafel. Lamb Tagine also exceptional and enjoyed by another in my party. Nice tea selection and pure heaven with their baklava- also just perfect. Service by Jonathan excellent and the atmosphere of this place is just incredible. Outside dining under twinkle lights in their hideaway garden make this place magical all the way around. Never disappoints, and always spectacular! read more

Hidden gem nails it on the head! I want to keep this place my secret as I haven't found food this good anywhere in New Haven. The legendary falafel is actually HERE. Everything was so fresh. I can't say enough great things about KGC! read more

1 star for a pretty location in the middle of New Haven. Another added bonus is the menu is affordable! Other than that, our experience at the restaurant was relatively frustrating. We sat outside for our dinner where there was basically no service throughout the night. The staff came out once to take our order and then again to bring out our food. Luckily, the establishment is BYOB, so we had some wine and beer with us--a perk my friends used to convince me to come. Unluckily, we were not only charged corkage for the wine but also for each beer. Fascinating. The food wasn't noteworthy but like I said it was affordable at least. After we finished eating, we continued to chat for a very long time. Eventually, we lost our patience and someone went to go settle the bill inside, which is when we found out about the odd corkage fees. We were too tired to ask why and just wanted to leave. read more

This is a little hidden gem. My husband always raves about the food from here. I understand why. We had dinner tonight. Everything was delicious and the atmosphere is perfect. The location is very baby friendly. Highly recommended! Thank you again! read more

Kasbah Garden Cafe - Middle Eastern Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

Beautiful food and setting. Didn't try the hookah but others looked like they were enjoying it! Some of the best lamb I've had, very tender.

Service was crapy and hookah was not thaat good.

got the chicken kasbah salad and the kafka sandwich for take out - both were very mediocre but the staff were very nice and the outdoor patio looked really cute! maybe i'll give the cafe another try. read more

Kasbah is an unsung New Haven hero. It's pulled away from the street, intimate, and lush -- think rose bushes, green-leafed and swaying sleepy branches, a tiny bridge to an even more remote and forested seating area. This may be the best outdoor seating in all of New Haven. And the food is incredible, too. Their falafel is my favorite. It's softer, fluffier, and more delicious than unnamed other falafel panderers in the city, and definitely the freshest. Their combination plate is always a safe bet: fresh hummus drizzled in olive oil, baba ghanouj, pitted olives, delicious grape leaves, and a little side of thick tahini. Fresh and perfect. The tagine and couscous are always amazing, too. I always have loved the lamb (fall-apart tender and juicy), but recently tried the fish and was impressed by that too. Also, their hookah is great, though it would be helpful if they gave tongs with each (I used my butter knife to move the coal and wipe away ash) and carried floral favors, but that's a bit nit picky. Kasbah is beautiful, peaceful, has delicious food, and feels absolutely authentic. 5/5 read more

A hidden, relaxing garden oasis! Homemade Middle Eastern cuisine! Plentiful outdoor seating! Evening chiminea fires! Hookah! A cafe with fresh teas and coffees! What more could you ask for? Vegetarian options like falafel, salads galore along with the most tender lamb and fish dishes. They also are available for private parties. I have attended a few here and it is the best setting. Street parking available. Safe walking distance to and from most of Yale campus. I love the leisurely 1.15 mile walk from Wooster Square. Highly recommend! read more

Kasbah Garden Cafe - a plate of food on a table - Middle Eastern Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

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I'm torn, and would like to give Kasbah four stars, but they call themselves a cafe, and their coffee is consistently bad. The atmosphere is great, and so it's a good spot to hang with friends or study. If it's a nice day, you can sit outside. All this makes for a great cafe, but in my opinion, you also need good coffee. Sad. The food is good - although they were out of lamb when I went there, we got the chicken instead and it was solid - served with couscous and vegetables. They also have a $5 minimum to use your credit/debit card. read more

It took me a long time to discover this place. I think it's because Kasbah is set back from the street, away from the hustle and bustle of the rest of downtown New Haven - and that's why I like it so much. The garden is like a little retreat. It's a lovely setting to sit back with friends, drink some tea, smoke hookah, and enjoy each other's company. On my first visit, a friend and I just smoked hookah, and it made for a really nice evening. After seeing everyone around me get food, I came back with a larger group for dinner. It was a great time, and the food was delicious. I ordered the combination plate, which came with falafel, tabbouleh, hummus, and stuffed grape leaves. The falafel was the highlight for me - it had chunks of chick peas and corn, which was different from other falafel I'd had, and I liked it. The hummus wasn't my favorite, but it was still really good. Prices were reasonable in general. We got charged for extra pitas, but it wasn't too bad. It's BYOB with a $5 corking fee, so you can bring a six-pack or bottle of wine. Bonus: By the time you get to the area of Kasbah to park, there are no street meters, so parking is free. read more