KASBAR – (SISTER OF INDABAR)
MODERN MOROCCAN CUISINE GENEVA
by Kelly Marcisz
In February this year, we wrote a review on the trendy and modern Indian restaurant IndaBar founded by Morad El Hajjaji. We were won over by the delicious cuisine and stunning décor; so when we found out that IndaBar was welcoming its sister restaurant KasBar to lively Eaux-vives, we just had to try it!
What Inda Bar did for Indian cuisine, KasBar does for Moroccan. No boring tagines here! In stead, there are tasty sharing plates (with the option of having main plates as well) to really whet your appetite and welcome you to the flavours of Morocco, right here in Switzerland.
FIRST IMPRESSIONS
KasBar really wows you with their décor, much like their counterpart! The deep emerald plush seating coupled with touches of gold, makes for a beautiful setting to enjoy great food. Low gold lighting, wicker chairs, hanging plants and mirrored walls allow you to be transported to another world. Not only does the décor make a good first impression but so does the excellent service – always a breath of fresh air in Geneva!
BUT FIRST, COCKTAILS
Cocktails were the first thing on our agenda and KasBar did not disappoint! We tried the Bab Eaux-Vives and the Jade cocktails, both equally good to look at and to drink. The Bab Eaux-Vives is definitely Instagram-worthy, served in a gold-rimmed glass with a foamy head of vanilla and passion fruit.
BAB EAUX VIVES –Polish vodka, passion fruit, vanilla
JADE – Orange blossom gin, rose, citrus and bubbles
PERPETTE LES OLIVETTES – Olive infused pisco, lemon, almond and arugula
EVERLIGHT– Agave, cucumber and spices
COCO MADEMOISELLE – White rum, sake, coconut with a touch of salt
MIKI – Bourbon, pineapple and sage syrup and herbal scents
MAYA – Dark rum, raspberry, honey and pepper syrup
TIME TO DINE
After reading their enticing menu we’re very excited to get stuck in. Since there are two of us, we decide to go with the sharing plate option so we could try as many of the dishes possible. We can definitely recommend the chicken and vegetable brioautes (similar to samosas) and the stewed lentils with harissa. We also try the smoked eggplant zaalouk, the beetroot salad with argan oil and the assortment of Moroccan breads – all of which was delicious, although the breads were a little dry. There are lots of vegetarian options and many tasty sounding dishes that definitely warrant another visit to KasBar.
BUT WAIT, THERE’S MORE
Although the sharing plates all sound appealing, make sure you save space for dessert, as this was the highlight of the meal for both of us. We chose the pear crumble with cinnamon ice cream and the crème brulee with Moroccan tea flavours – both to die for! Again a feast for the eyes, as well as for the tongue. Overall we really enjoyed our culinary experience at Kas Bar. The décor, food and drinks beautifully tie together to make for an enjoyable dinner.
WHERE: 23 rue Henri Blanvalet, 1207 Genève. Telephone: 022 736 2746
SOCIAL MEDIA: @kas_bar