Casablanca: distinct Moroccan cuisine

If Bloomington represents a melting pot for individuals from diverse cultures and backgrounds, then Fourth Street, with its variety of restaurants and ethnic cuisines, epitomizes the city's spirit. \nHolding its distinct identity among an array of restaurants is Casablanca. Offering Moroccan and Mediterranean cuisine, the restaurant at 402 E. Fourth St., will celebrate 13 years of business in April.\nThe quality of food and the ambience make Casablanca a great dining destination. The personalized touch ensures that visitors come back to it, said IU graduate student David Mitchel. \n"The last time I came here, the owner personally spoke to me," he said. "So that personal touch and the good food brought me back."\nSanae Sentissi, the owner of Casablanca, prides herself on the close relationships she has built with members of the IU community over the years.\n"We are friends with IU. We see the students here grow," Sentissi said. "Parents meet us when they come to drop their children and see us again when they are visiting town. We feel good when children choose to celebrate their graduation parties here, but miss them when they leave. Students don't just eat here but also work here. We also cater for several departmental functions."\nBusiness brought Sentissi to the United States 15 years ago from Morocco. She said it was a perfect case of love at first sight with Bloomington, the place she now calls home.\nCasablanca started as the Tea Room and offered tea and sandwiches. Evolution led it to its present form. \n"Casablanca is like home to us; here we invite guests to have lunch and dinner," she said. "Bringing it up was easy because we thought of it as our home. We just brought to life images that were there in our mind. It came naturally and gradually."\nNamed after the Moroccan city, Casablanca's specialties include authentic Mediterranean cuisine, olive oil and saffron preparations, outdoor dining options and belly-dancing weekends. Chef Enrique Lopez excels in preparing entrees true to their native style. \n"I have fallen in love with Moroccan cuisine, so much that I could go and live in Morocco and thrive in cooking," Lopez said. \nPaella, lamb shank, gyros, pasta bella and seafood kebabs make up customer -- as well as chef -- favorites at the restaurant. \nEach piece seems to be chosen with care to offer an experience of the Mediterranean to Bloomington inhabitants. Particularly enticing are rich, velvet wall carpets that are actually Moroccan tents. The walls are adorned with Moroccan plates, the tables with Moroccan vases. \nSentissi said she hopes the restaurant's music and authenticity add to the overall dining experience. \nSo are there plans for expansion? \n"No," Sentissi said. "This is just the right size to feel like home. It allows me adequate time for my children as well as my customers. I am content and happy." \nAnd the customers don't seem to be complaining.\nShalena Antoine, a guest at the restaurant, sums up her experience: "I would surely recommend Casablanca to everyone"