Casbah Tea House
$$ - average
American, Eclectic (Varied)
All vegetarian food in an exotic atmosphere
Reopened as of October 26, 2007 at 4 pm.
The Casbah Tea House is one of Tucson's few all-vegetarian restaurants. They use organic ingredients when possible.
They're located on 4th Avenue, the perfect location for this hippie/bohemian joint. There's a small coffeehouse in front, with a full restaurant in the back. The restaurant is decorated with Middle Eastern/Asian/hippie flair.
The Casbah has recently started serving breakfast, which means they are open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
On 4th Avenue, near University.
- (Mostly) Organic
- Kid-Friendly
- Live Music
- Outdoor Seating
Added by Suzanne on Jun 17 04 (updated Jan 17)
Reviews
I really like this place. It can seem a little overpriced when you consider the humble ingredients that make up the meals, but the food is always good and the produce is incredible.
Some have commented on poor service. It's true that the place seems to be run with a laid-back hippie attitude. This means that service can be very slow at times, but if you try to adopt that laid-back attitude and have some patience, you'll be fine. Bring a book if you're alone, or enjoy a conversation with friends during the wait.
I love all the food but am most impressed by the fajitas. The vegetables and protein (your choice of tofu, seitan, or tempeh) are grilled in a wonderful raspberry-chipotle sauce, and it is served to you with a couple of whole-wheat tortillas (or one huge tortilla, depending on what's on hand). Also impressive are the black beans and the Mediterranean platter.
There are almost always vegan desserts available, usually cakes. They vary in quality depending on freshness. The cakes are wonderfully moist when fresh, but sometimes they'll be more than a day old and kind of dried out.
I was not impressed by their chai tea (bland) or vegan milkshake (way too thick to drink through a straw).
The food was quite good...which made up for a lot...
We visited the restaurant on an (of course) excruciatingly hot summer day, so eating inside was a must. However, they are not very handicapped accessible or friendly (stairs to dining areas and very low 'crash pad' type seating with Asian-inspired low tables). My dining partner was handicapped, so we had to get our food and eat it on the road.
The take-away order was filled very slowly, and they were out of a number of things (it took me 3 tries to order a dish that they had available). Then, they forgot part of my order, but it had been such a long time, I just asked for the money back for that item.
Our order was of a Vegan Reuben, Burrito, Mocha Shake and Vegan Malt Shake, and as I said, it was very good. I was particularly pleased that they made Vegan malts, and it did not disappoint.
I will go back again, but this time prepared with the knowledge that although my order will be placed for take-away, I am still going to have to wait.
This place is currently one of two all-veg restaurants in Tucson. Of those two, this is the only one I go to. (Govinda's is the other, and I wouldn't recommend it for vegans.)
Casbah is a pretty funky place. My out-of-town guests love going there for the decor. The food ranges from OK to good. Not great, but good. They also have lots of yummy desserts, but recently their selection of vegan desserts has shrunk. They still always have one or two vegan desserts, but they used to carry more. Also, they have a new category, it seems, for "vegan with honey." So vegans who do not eat honey should ask about that. But why eat a carob brownie when you can try their fantastic chocolate malt milkshake with vegan ice cream and soy milk? (So good.)
Enough about dessert. The lunch/dinner items are priced a little above what I think they're worth, but they use organic ingredients whenever possible, so I guess it's forgivable. The seitan fajitas are quite good, as is the chili. If you're on a budget, I recommend the "kind veggie burrito," which is simple but tasty.
Casbah is a good place to go, chill out, and unwind. Service is often very slow, sometimes sloppy, so don't go if you're in a hurry or have somewhere else you need to be soon. I feel kind of bad complaining about the service, because everyone there is so nice, but I must confess that I often will eat next door at La Indita (fantastic Mexican food) just because I don't feel like waiting 20 minutes just to get my water refilled.
The dishes aren't always spotless, and the outdoor seating can get a bit dusty (this is Tucson, after all).
But with all my minor complaints, I have still given this place an "8" rating. They do provide vegetarian and vegan food in a fun atmosphere. Kids will love the outdoor seating. And the belly dancers at night are always fun to watch. So when you've got an evening free, head over to Casbah for some veggie fajitas. You'll have fun.
Oh, one last note: They often close during the summer, and their hours the rest of the year can vary from what's posted on their window. So when in doubt, call first. Or just head on over. If Casbah's closed, go next door to La Indita.
Great food. The vegan shepherd's pie is superb. But the service is so so slow.