Casbah Cafe

Amazing experience! A group of us came out for my fiancé’s birthday and wow we left so satisfied! Jessica was amazing, attentive, and kind. The group enjoyed hookah which was flavorful and rich. The food was delicious and the arabic espresso martini is the best I’ve had in Jacksonville. I was entertaining guest from out of town and this cafe exceeded expectation and gave a lasting impression. I will definitely return.

Our dinner plans for tonight started last night when my wife said she wanted to go somewhere with hummus on Friday. I said "you know what? Let's use this as an excuse to finally go to The Casbah Cafe Cabaret & Hookah Lounge for the first time". They're at 3628 St Johns Avenue in Avondale. We've heard so many good things and finally made it there tonight. We started with the Old City Sampler because it has hummus along with a whole bunch of other stuff. I mean....a LOT of food for the price. This is probably going to come as a surprise but among as a surprise to many but because of the sampler we both had grape leaves for the first time ever tonight. We loved them! And yes, my wife really liked the hummus. I ordered the Shawarma Platter with Lamb for my entree. Normally I wait til the end of a review to shout a server but I'll throw that part in here. Not only was Victoria delightful but she REALLY saved me from mistakes I was going to make in picking sides. I was trying to go as plain as possible with my sides and she really steered my towards Baba Ganoush. Again, this was my first time ever trying it. Listen to Victoria. Order the things she tells you to order. It was great! The lamb itself was great but honestly, I expected it to be. I was more taken with the fact that everything worked together so well given I'd never tried a whole side dish before. On her own accord, my wife tried something entirely new to her as well. She ordered Musakhan Wraps. She loved how tangy the meat was even though she wasn't expecting it and she liked the texture a lot. The wrap dough was flaky and great. She got to pick one side so she chose more hummus because that's what brought us to the dance this evening. This was a GREAT first visit to Casbah. I totally get why we've heard such great things. Like so many places, I'm sure there's a ton on the menu we need to go back for too. Even though I already gave her a shout out, it's worth saying one more time that Victoria was an awesome server! A version of this review originally appeared in the Jacksonville Fun, Eats & Drinks Facebook group.

There are a few mediterranean restaurant’s in Jacksonville that capture the essence and vibe quite like Casbah cafe! I’ve been coming here for about 20 yrs and have seen the transitions over time. The owners care so much about providing the best quality experience for everyone.. the food, the drinks, the hookah’s and the service! Especially Victoria who is our regular server, she’s so on top of everything and keeps our tables drinks full and our food always comes out how we request.. I always look forward to my visits! A++ place and the first hookah restaurant in Jacksonville!

It was my first time at Casbah Cafe, and it was INCREDIBLE 🥹 The whole environment feels like back in my second home of Lebanon: beautiful outdoor, gorgeous tree hanging above, amazing music, and incredible service. ❤️ Kylee and Sarah took incredible care of us, and made us feel right at home, and the manager Pat clearly runs a great crew. The food was phenomenal, so much flavor in each bite of the fried kibee, pita, tome, and fattoush. Just so thankful I got to go, and can't wait to go back next time I'm in Jax! 🥹

Very cozy place with excellent service and quality food. We hade the Lamb chops over rice, and Arabic Salad. It was delicious! Cooked just right! Green tee with mint was also very good. And the pistachio ice cream for dessert was absolutely amazing! The live entertainment by: “Fermin’s Spanish Guitar” totally made our evening enjoyable. We definitely plan on coming again and recommending this place.