We came across Casa Pepe by chance, as we walked out of the Medina, without the benefit of any reviews. We were greeted by Hisham - such a great and friendly waiter. During the first night we had a great chat with a couple at...a next table (regular clients), we chatted with some members of the owner’s family and felt so much at home, that we went back three more times during our stay in Morocco. The service has gotten friendlier at each visit, that we felt nostalgic at our last evening. The fish refrigerated display was fabulous with langouste, gambas, crab, john dory, sea bass, rock lobster, daurade, and turbot. As we came several times during the week, we were reassured to find new and different fish everyday in the display. We only ate fish dishes and they were all great. We always asked for the fish and vegetables to be undercooked (In Morocco the tendency is to overcook everything) and we got everything right. We had fabulous a la plancha fresh tuna (again had to ask for it rare), tuna and anchovies ceviche, seafood soup, the famous paella, different but fresh and tasty. The lightly floured fried sardines and calamari were also tasty, crunchy and not greasy.
We tried the creme brûlée/Catalana and we can say, it was good.
The service included some appetizers that were offered : fresh sardines in escabeche, and other Moroccan entrees that my Moroccan friends described as very good even in terms of home-made standards: Zaalouk (cold aubergines with tomatoes and garlic), tomato/pepper puree, spinach puree. Tea came with tasty homemade biscuits and a Moroccan version of Contucci.
As for wines, they carry a good selection of Moroccan white, rosé and red wines. We liked a light Sauvignon that was good enough to accompany a late night supper.
If we ever come back, we will certainly make sure we stop at Casa PepeMore