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This is a great place to have a romantic dinner or a meal with a group of friends.
The ambiance is great, very dark, comfortable low pillow seats, large tables. All very nice. If you're not a fan of the food, be sure to stop by just for the experience.
A belly dancer comes out throughout the day and will be sure to stop by each table if there are only a few customers or by each section. She'll try to get at least one volunteer from each table (one at a time) to dance with her if it's not that busy, or will get one person from each section if it's busy. It's a fun time, but she does this for quite a while, so after some time you kind of want to get back to eating.
The food is great, they wash your hands in a basin, by pouring rose water over them, prior to eating which is interesting, and then you have your prix fixed menu.
It's a 3 course meal I believe and it's enough to leave you sastisfied. You do eat everything with your hands, you can have untensils, but that kind of kills the experience.
If you're oppossed to being bothered by a belly dancer and having a meal where untensils are a no-no, this is not the place to go.
Overall a good time to be had with good food. Not great, but good food. I would definitely go there again if it wasn't too expensive.
The BF and I brought our friends here for dinner last night to celebrate a birthday. I knew going into it that it was going to be pricey, so i'm not going to knock them down for that as some other reviewers have done.
The ambiance of this place is nice. It's very dark in the restaurant, and all the seating areas are made of low sitting comfy couches and chairs, and covered with canopies.
Once seated we evaluated the menu. All of their meals are prix-fixe five course meals, ranging from $24 - $35 per person. We ordered our dinner, and a bottle of wine ($30) and my BF got a Moroccan beer.
After ordering, a man came over and had us wash our hands in a big silver dish and dry them with a community towel. We were then each given a hand towel to use as a napkin for the evening.
Right after they served the first course (more on that in a minute) a belly dancer came out and danced for our table. She was trying to get us involved and asked us to get up and dance with her...as much as we appreciated her efforts, none of us were in the mood, so my friends tipped her and she moved on to the next table.
Okay, the food!
First course: Harira soup, which is vegetables with lentils and garbanzo beans in a tomato-ish broth. They don't give you a spoon, so you drink this soup out of the bowl. It was pretty good. They served lemon wedges on the side and said to squeeze the lemon into it. I wish I hadn't done that, I enjoyed the soup much more without the citrus.
Second course: Moroccan salad with fresh anise bread. The bread was really good, fluffy and warm. The anise made it very licorice tasting. The salads were an eggplant/tomato puree, fresh tomatoes and cucumbers, and perfectly cooked carrots marinated in something delicious. The carrots had a honey flavor to them, very good.
Third course: Bastilla. This was a pastry filled with chicken, eggs, almonds, and covered in powdered sugar and cinnamon. The presentation was nice, the made a cute palm tree out of the sugar and cinnamon on top of the pastry. I didn't particularly like the combo of the chicken and cinnamon, and I didn't finish my piece. Everybody else at my table loved it and my friend ate the rest of mine. I guess it was just me.
Fourth course: The main course! Between all of us we ordered Chicken, Shrimp & Lamb Kabobs, Lemon & Olive Chicken, Roasted Lamb with Honey Sauce and Vegetable Couscous. I personally tried everything except the Lemon & Olive Chicken (my friend liked it, but said it had a lot of little bones in it).
The Kabobs - The chicken was alright, nothing amazing about them. The shrimp was really good, perfectly cooked and seasoned, sweet fresh shrimp, loved those. The lamb had a nice flavor, but were a bit tough, I think they could have been cooked a little better to make them more tender.
The Roasted Lamb with Honey Sauce was to die for! Seriously amazing lamb, meat so tender and falling off the bone. And that Honey Sauce was one of the most amazing things I have ever tasted. The flavor of that sauce was so good, I ended up drizzling it all over the rest of my food to give it all that amazing taste.
Vegetable Couscous...hmmm...I didn't like the Couscous. It was very bland and...I don't know. Just not good. Luckily, I had the Honey Sauce to pour over it and make it taste better. I did however enjoy the vegetables in the Couscous.
Fifth course: Dessert of Baklava and sweet mint tea. This Baklava was some of the best I have ever had. It was super flaky and buttery. Delicious. The mint tea was sweet and yummy. This was a perfect way to end a great meal.
The bill arrived, and for the four of us to each have a five course feast, plus a bottle of wine and a beer, it was $180. I didn't think that was too bad. I don't think I will be coming here regularly, but for special occasions, this was a very nice place with very good food.
Had a great time this week revisiting Marrakesh. The format of the dinners here - a five course mediocre dinner for an unusually high price, is not the best business model in the world, but it's a fun, nicely decorated place, with attentive staff, and it's unique. They wash your hands before you eat in a brass/silver pitcher and bowl set, and everything (almost) is eaten with your hands. They have unusual dishes like rabbit, quail, and lamb. The belly dancer seems bored, but it's the overall experience, not any one part of it, that makes this restaurant stand out.
A few tips: come hungry. It's a lot of food. Searching for coupons on http://Restaurant.com (I used a buy $35 get $25 off coupon), or elsewhere on the internet, can be fruitful. This restaurant is never busy during the week, and the bar can be a place to have a drink and eat if the restaurant is filled during the weekends. Some nights are valet parking only, and bring ones for the belly dancer. This restaurant is especially great for groups.
There aren't enough unique ethnic places like Marrakesh. We asked if we could sit on the floor on… Read more »
Different dining experience. Food was ok to pretty good. Belly Dancer was fun and got the kids involved. A great place for Orange County - different, unique, fun for the kids. They get to have their hands washed at the table! and then eat with them. Who could ask for more.
This place is pretty special. They wash your hands, serve you 5 course meal, belly dancers, great food! Go with at least 3 or 4 friends and great atmosphere and fun time! A little more expensive but it is well worth it... highly recommend the honey lamb and kabobs! Great fun place!
I'm happy spending $50+ for my meal. I'm hungry and want 5 courses. I'm not fussy with the quality of the meal. I enjoy seeing a belly-dancer for just a couple of minutes. I am comfortable sitting a foot off the floor.
And if I were honest and the above statements were true, I would be giving this place 5 stars.
Overrated and overpriced, the food was fine but the experience could have been better.
This place is great if you have a group of friends and you're looking for something different! I've been here for numerous birthday dinners, including a surprise 60th birthday party for my mom, and had a great time each time we came. The belly dancer helps to liven things up for a crowd too!
The food I love from the salad, couscous to the lamb with raisins and the sweet hot tea you get at the end. You basically order an entree and go with the meal plan which goes from apps to dessert. Of course an entree only menu is available for those that don't wish to gorge themselves, but what's the point in that?!
What I do not recommend is their signature drink - I don't remember what it was called, but I knew I was in trouble when it came lookin' like a tropical-fruity drink. I can't do fruity foo foo drinks and yep, took one sip and didn't finish it. I'm an extra dirty ketel martini girl and had to stick to it.
Anyhow, try it if you're in the area. Better to go with a bunch of friends, but keep in mind, you sit on these stools/couches and eat off of a small table. Not the most comfortable setting, but the ambiance of being in Morocco (or inside a Genie's bottle) is entertainment in itself.
Foods are great! It's 5 courses for $50+. Everything is unique, authentic and yummy. Atmosphere is awesome. The belly dancer... kinda cool. Great for date or party.
It's pretty pricey as the whole menu is prix-fixe but it's worth it. The decor is borderline cheesy but fun and whimsical, like if you were dining in the casbah. There is SOOO much food that gets thrown at you and all of it is delicious. You get to wash the whole thing down with mint tea, which is so delicious and refreshing. Great night out with friends that is really fun (just be prepared to spend a lot).
This place was so much fun (and delicious!).
I came here with my boyfriend's family for a birthday celebration. The inside decor immediately grabs you and you are seated at one of those 1-foot-off-the-ground tables that are common in Moroccan culture.
You pay a fixed rate depending on what meat you want, and then they serve you several courses. It's a little pricey, but this restaurant has a good ambiance and you get what you pay for. Good for the occasional celebration or indulgence.
My favorite was the filo dough meat pie ("bastilla"). So amazing!
They have belly dancers that come around throughout the night, and they will stop at nothing to get the person at your table least likely to belly dance up and shaking their thang like there's no tomorrow. This place is worth it just for that!
Everything was delicious...I'd say best Moroccan food I've ever had, but it's the ONLY Moroccan restaurant I've ever been to. Only 4 stars because of the price.
Went here for a girlfriends birthday dinner and I must say that I really loved the ambience and decor. It's like you've stepped into a different world once you arrive. I love the tent-like effect and the low tables & pillows. The low table did get uncomfortable towards the end of our meal though.
The service was also excellent. We were late for our reservation on a Saturday night but they sat us right away even when our entire party wasn't there yet. And they didn't give us attitude about it either which was nice.
The lentil soup was yummy. A spritz of lemon made it even better. Free, warm bread in a basket is always a plus! The traditional salad consisted of carrots, eggplant, potato salad, and cucumber. I don't even like eggplant but I ate a bunch of it anyway 'cause it was that good. I think for me the salad was the best part.
I really loved the chicken kabobs. So delicious! The shrimp was so-so and the lamb was a little too dry for my taste. The cous cous was amazing. Because of my friends birthday they sang & gave her a special plate of baklava with chocolate drizzled on top. Super yummy! Definitely a lot of food and I did leave with a full stomach.
I really loved the ritual hand washing at the beginning of the meal. Also, the tea at the end was a nice touch as well. The tea was a little strong for me but everyone else seemed to love it. Also the drinks from the bar were pretty tasty. Nice and strong which is exactly what I like! If you're a boozer like me then you understand.
The belly dancer was very nice. I loved watching her embarrass other people by making them dance with her. Nobody in our party got up to dance with her. But we did tip her a few bucks anyway. She made us laugh by moving her hips every time we tried to put dollar bills in her costume.
I really dislike the fact that they only offer $3.00 valet parking when their parking lot is adequately sized for self parking. I just feel as if that's just another way to suck money out of your wallet. Additionally, it's a pain when you don't carry cash.
I will be back at some point but I do believe it's a little overpriced. The valet parking really bummed me out. But a cool place to bring friends & family. Possibly a good date place.
I came here for my birthday with a group of 15 people, as soon as you walk into the venue, you'll feel the change in environment. They seated my group in a private booth area with cushioned seats that had pillows all around us. The tables were low right up to the knees which made it difficult for those with long legs to sit. I've never been to Morocco before, but being at Marrakesh gave me a taste of how their culture is like and the interest of visiting one day.
We didn't get any menus but instead we had a guy tell us what they were serving that night, (prior to the birthday dinner I had looked online to check out the prices and their dinner options) so I had an idea of what I wanted. Since there was 15 of us, the waiter said it was best if we ordered the same thing so it can come out family style and we all agreed on the Shrimp, Chicken and Lamb Kabobs grilled and served over Couscous. The Shrimp Kabobs was the best tasting of the three, it had a flavor that just satisfied my tummy as soon as I bit into it and as we were eating my friends and I couldn't stop talking about how amazing the shrimp was :)
In addition to the Kabobs and Couscous, our order came with their traditional salads along with bread and Bastilla. The salads were great and so was the Bastilla (filo dough stuffed with rice and almonds baked and covered with powdered sugar and cinnamon.) - totally hit the spot after dinner, OMG mouth watering amazing!
The only downfall about this place is that the price of our dinner was more than the price I saw online, for what we had ordered I saw that it was $34.95 per person, but when the bill came each person had to cough up at least $60 or more for those that ordered drinks???? Oh well, I guess we were paying for the experience and not the food. And the belly dancer that came by our table was a bit old with lots of wrinkles on the face and body, not something we all wanted to look at (sorry lady if you're reading this). Ohhh! One more thing, do not let them handle your cakes! My friend brought in a cake for me for my birthday and it had cute ribbons and all the trimmings and when it was time to present the cake, they took off all the ribbons! They turned my cute, pretty cake into an ugly cake *sad face*
Oh and you have to valet which was about $3-$4 a car? (don't remember exactly.) The funniest thing that happened that night was when one of my friends didn't have any cash to give to valet so she started counting out coins, literally counting nickles and dimes and he saw what she was doing so he just let her go without paying. WooHoo to free valet!
3.5 Stars
This was my first time with Moroccan food. It sure was an interesting dining experience. You sit under tent like settings with pillows. This was pretty cool as I have never been to a place like this before. Then you get your hands washed at the table. Traditionally, I hear that you eat with your hands, so making sure the hands are clean is a good thing. They bring you utensils at Marrakesh tho.
The menu is set and you just choose your main dishes. The menu ranges from $27 - $35 per person depending on what you order. I thought the whole dining experience with the decor was much better than the food. The food is decent but not bursting with flavors. It is worth trying once as it is so different from so many other restaurants.
They do have a belly dancer here at night. And of course I busted out the Washingtons. I came here with two old friends and we did have a good time. Would I come back again? I might if I had a large group. This place is unique and entertaining.
Food was mediocre but definitely overpriced for their group dinner menu. The belly dancers are a nice touch, yes, but for $45+ a head it wasn't worth it. I can hardly remember any entrees and it was nothing to be excited about, but the best part was the mint tea, the baklava, the folded cinnamon thing, and the rice.
The real kicker was the crappy service. It took awhile to get seated even though the place was empty. They charged us for two vodka tonics even though everyone else at the table also recalled we had only ordered one with double lime. Even if we did have a double vodka tonic why would you charge for two drinks? And we only had one drink, what the heck? And when my boyfriend brought it up they shrugged and offered no apologies or refunds they just said "the server remembers a double." Being that I am not a bitch and didn't want to cause a scene at someone's birthday we paid and left. We couldn't reflect this on a lesser tip because it was a banquet and everything was already tabulated.
I will be down the street eating tacos at the next birthday party and bringing a flask as not be overcharged.
Wonder if it's still the same Genie-in-a-Bottle ambiance as first discovered here w/some friends, a little more than half a decade ago? Mean this in a very nice, non-racist way of course b/c experience there was superb!
Throw pillows everywhere, close-to-floor seating, exotic vibrant colored drapery, enticing belly-dancers, w/enchanting music--what's not to enjoy?
Most memorable foodwise: the flavorful Bastilla (egg & meat combo enveloped in a large cinnamon wrapped flour fold) - yum! Must revisit. But in small group of no more than 4.
Disagree w/some reviewers: 2nd visit here for BDay party of 20+ costed a small country's fortune. Perhaps b/c some guests were so friggin cheap, scape-goating the bill by leaving early or ignoring the equal pay rule. That or, some charges were excessively over-counted. Even when the BDay friend insisted to foot half the heavy share, the remaining guests still shelled out a sizable sum per head.
Best-fit-motto: "Party made for a princess, meal fit for queen, paid on a king's ransom, left feeling like the sad broke court jester!" ={
Out of everyone I know, I think I'm the only one who actually likes Moroccan food enough to seek it out. So naturally, I pulled rank on my last birthday and had everyone meet me at Marrakesh!
I think Marrakesh has been around for years. Did my baby boomer aged aunt and uncle mention they had their wedding reception there? At first glance of the building exterior and interior, age will be incredibly apparent, but it really adds to the charm of the place. Just picture a Disneyland-theme crossed with what used to be the old Aladdin hotel in Vegas. Slightly cheesy, but nonetheless gives it that "I'm eating in a themed restaurant" kind of feel. Expect that ambiance, and find yourself becoming mildly amused at the start of your evening. And because it's themed, expect to sit on floor cushions or on very low stools, and to eat with your hands (unless you specifically ask for forks, of course).
Prepare yourself for family-style eating. Their family style set menu consists of "Harira" (vegetable soup infused with tumeric, cinnamon, nutmeg and other spices), 3 types of salad, "bastilla" (a traditional Moroccan specialty of chicken, eggs, crushed almonds, cinnamon and sugar, layered among sheets of delicate filo dough), and a main course - either cous cous, fish, lamb, rabbit, and a few other ones. You select two main courses to share. I'd go there alone for the "bastilla," which is not found in many places around Orange County. On my night, we selected the lamb and rabbit, which were quite tender with tons of seasoning, although a bit on the salty side.
Another novelty of this place (and great reason to go) is the belly dancer. I think she performs on Fridays and Saturdays. Great way to make fun of your friends trying to give her tips while she shakes her way around your table!
So all things considered, if you feel like trying something different, Marrakesh gets my vote for a fun night out. Bring your camera to dinner - there will be no shortage of photo opps!
My fiancee took me here for the first time for Valentine's Day. I have a list of things I want to try and places I want to go to. On my list was Moroccan food!
Although I wished they would explain some of their traditions to those who haven't been there before, the atmosphere and food were remarkable. I'm not one to enjoy sweet with my salty, but I will try everything at least once.
The menu was pre-set. First, we had three traditional salads with freshly baked bread. The salads included marinated eggplant, tomatoes and cucumbers, and spiced carrots. Then, we had a seafood bastilla followed by chicken with lemons and olives, cous cous, chicken and lamb kabobs, and braised lamb. For dessert we had dark chocolate covered strawberries and baklava served with fresh mint tea.
It was a great experience and I look forward to going again in the future.
Hands down one of the best restaurants I have been to in Orange County. We went late on a Wednesday night, so the place was pretty empty. However, the ambiance was absolutely amazing. So authentic and gorgeous, I instantly fell in love with this restaurant before I even sat down. We were seated on what looked like a couch in front of a huge table. The dinner was a set family-style menu with five courses.
Our waiter was an adorable Moroccan man who was very friendly and helpful. He told us that the busiest days for the restaurant are Fridays and Saturdays because there is a belly dancer that performs around 7pm.
Overall, the food was absolutely amazing! So delicious, and there was so much, we could not even finish it all. Just talking about it makes me want to go back.
Amazing ambiance. Amazing service. Amazing food.
I've been to this place 2 times, once for a graduation party and another for a birthday party. I mean I'm not opposed to trying different foods, I'm very open to at least trying it.
The bread is good, the soup is yummy, the bean stuff is tasty, and the lamb is yummy. The tea even tastes sweet and yummy. However, after every visit to this place, I always have this excruciating stomach ache that lasts all night. Maybe, my stomach is not used to the Morrocan herbs/spices.
As for the ambiance, its fun, you sit in booths filled with pillows and low chairs. Then comes the belly dancer and its over- you've got to represent and shake them hips. Some of these belly dancers are very talented in the hip area, it almost brings Shakira to shame.
Price? Yea, its what I call "Riiich," about 50 bucks a person for family style dishes and no alcohol.
Well, even with the positives this place has, I cannot rate it above 2 stars if it makes both my stomach and my pocketbook hurt.
Go if you have a big group, have an empty belly, are vegetarian, have no shame, like crazy Aladdin Moroccan decor, and have a lot of money in your wallet.
Great, now I am craving that sweet raisin rice pilaf powdered sugar dish with the cinnamon camel! SO GOOD!
Not sure what's so special about this restaurant. The cons outweigh the pros, hands down.
After trying to coordinate dinner for a party of 7, our friend highly recommended this place because of the fun atmosphere and good food. Five of the seven of us arrive on time, while the last 2 are running late. They seat us in a very dark corner of the restaurant. So dark that you can't even see what is in front of you. Fifteen minutes pass by and none of us got any menus. I flag down the waitress, asking for menus and her response was, "I don't handle that. Actually, we don't have any written menus. Your server will tell you what we have." Another 10 minutes pass by and we had to ask someone else for who our server is. Finally, a guy comes by and speaks so fast that none of us had a clue as to what he just said. We just opted for the most simple thing, which was the Chef's Special of the day.
At last, the last of our party came and they served us. With every course (6 total) that was served, the service got worse and worse. It almost seemed like they just threw the dishes onto our table. No smiles, no one bothered to come back to ask if we needed anything else. Even water had to be asked for 4 times before it was brought out.
The food itself was OK, nothing spectacular by all means. And with the way the service was, even if the food WAS spectacular, I wouldn't go back there. The seven of us shared one bottle of their Moroccan red wine, 2 of us had ice teas and 2 others had cokes. The total came out to $51/person. To say that was $51 well spent is a far stretch. Even the belly dancing was mediocre at best.
I had my 21st birthday here because I had heard such good things about this restaurant, and I love morrocan/middle eastern cuisine.
Anyway, We went in a week or so before to make the reservation because we were having about 25 people. The manager was very attentive and nice and I was worry free about the whole thing.
The day of the party, we got to the restaurant and they had blocked off an entire room for us, the staff was attentive and making sure to direct late-comers of our party to the room we were in.
Ordering was a breeze because it is family style so we were set. The food was absolutely amazing. Bastilla (as the rest of you yelpers have already said) is really good, but you have to like the combination of sweet and savory.
The chicken, unreal. The salad, really good. and the BAKLAVA... holy shit, the baklava, i almost had to change my pants it was so good. THe sweet morrocan tea at the end of the meal was also a very nice, essential, touch.
We had some belly dancing too, and being that it was my 21st birthday and I had indulged myself in one tee many martoonies, i was more then excited about dancing with the belly dancing woman.. she wouldn't really leave us alone though.. kind of annoying.
Anyway, the overall bill was like 800 but if you consider there was over 20 people there who each had a drink, this is a pretty good price. The service could have been a BIT better but overall I really enjoyed my experience at Marrakesh and would definitely go back.
Excellent place to let your hair down and enjoy the colorful and delicious culture of Morocco. The decor is great, the food is extremely tasty and the entertainment is, well, entertaining.
Try the lemon chicken, lamb and the bastilla. Three of the best things there. The chicken falls off the bone and is perfectly cooked. The lamb is heavenly and very tender. Bastilla is sort of a pastry but the size of a small cake. It's filled with marinated, tender beef and cooked within the pastry. It's then sprinkled with powered sugar and cinnamon. Really. It's an appetizer but it seems like a light desert but with beef inside.
Eat everything with your hands. It's customary and accepted. They hand you forks but please don't be American for a couple of hours while you're there. It's ok. They hand you a small bath towel to wipe your hands and face with so you'll still walk out of there clean.
Of course, there's a belly dancer who toys with everyone there. She's good and knows her stuff. Keep a few dollar bills handy for her.
They have a full bar so order anything you want. They have a handful of drinks they call their own. The Belly Dancer is good. (The drink, I mean).
I'd consider this place a good first or second date spot. It's got culture and entertainment so you could blow at least two hours here and not just have to stare at each other over a bowl of spaghetti like at some plain old restaurant. Goodbye awkward silences! Hello belly dancer!
My boyfriend had made reservations here for Valentine's Day. The entire experience and food was ehhh and I will not come back!
First, there was plenty of parking but you have to pay to park. It's $3 for valet.
When we arrived inside, there were two people by the door but they did not acknowledge us until a few minutes later. They were just talking to each other and then finally seated us after we told them we had reservations.
Service was SLOW. Once we were seated, it took forever for someone to come by and ask us what we wanted to drink, which then took at least another 10 minutes before our beverages arrived. Then a server/mgr came by to give us the menus and left. We waited about another 10 minutes before the server came back and took our order.
The food here is mediocre. The chicken (lemon herb and the kabob were just okay). It reminded me of the $5 chicken they sell at costco and your local market that is already pre-cooked and sitting in the heat warmer. The only thing that I thought was good was the dessert at the end. We had mint tea, chocolate covered strawberries, and baklava. That was the only good part.
Now the kicker! When they finally gave us our bill, my bf gave them his credit card. They came back and already INCLUDED an 18% gratuity tip and charged that amount!! First of all, is this even legal? I understand when you come with a group of 8 or more in certain restaurants, they automatically charge gratuity. However, it was just me and my bf. No where on the menu did they state they were going to charge us 18% gratuity. Was the gratuity included because it was Valentine's day? I don't know. Had they told us in advance that they were going to charge gratuity, that would have been fine, but they need to let their customers know AND the service better be superb. It just didn't sit well with us that they already included tip. My bf is a very generous tipper. Indeed, when they took his credit card, he was already calculating on his iphone how much 20% tip was so he could write it down.
The Valentine's Day meal was 39.95/pp. After tax and their 18% gratuity, it came out to about $105ish. For the food we got, it was way overpriced.
I actually think I'm being generous by giving them 2 stars. The restaurant did give a rose to all the ladies at the end of the night.
3.5 stars
I have been to several Moroccan restaurants throughout California but this one was just okay. First, why do they have a vallet service when their parking lot is not even full. You can park on the street and save yourself 3-5 bucks. When my friend and I walked in, there was no host standing at the front and we waited for awhile. Where was the host? It was a Saturday evening and they place was nearly empty. We finally got seated and we were not handed any menus for awhile and nor did we get our orders taken for awhile too. We got the chicken and lamb couscous entrees along with bastilla, mosaic salad, mint tea, baklava, and lentil soup. Everything was good except for our entrees. It just looked plopped onto our plate and tasted dry and no flavor. We took our entrees togo because we could not even finish half of it. Overall, an ok restaurant. I would rather order grilled items here. The atmosphere also was lackluster.
Well, let me start by saying this is the only place my wife would ever let me get away with stuffing dollar bills into another woman's wardrobe!! No I'm not talking strippers, I'm talking belly dancers at an amazing, tapestry draped Moroccan themed restaurant. Let me tell you this place is not just skating by on the theme. The food is spectacular!! They have a few selected pre set menus to choose from, depending on how hungry you are. The lamb is succulent and my favorite part of the meal. They have a great eggplant dip, couldn't tell you what it's called. The servers do this crazy pouring your hot mint tea at arms length that is scary yet exhilarating!! Hopefully they never miss!! The only thing I didn't care for is the camel pie, which is a meat pie that is topped with powdered sugar(must be an acquired taste!!). All in all a great meal and an unforgettable experience!!
I have to admit, Moroccan cuisine didn't really at first appeal to me. But I'd like to change my mind. Marrakesh is one of those restaurants that can offer you a true culinary experience. Granted, I've never been to Morocco but felt after leaving dinner I'd been there for a few days.
Well...not exactly but the belly dancers sure seem to make the time pass.
In my opinion, the food is decent. In our group of eight, we ordered a customized traditional family style course meal. The food was presented in large bowls and dishes. Servers - wearing those red Moroccan hats called Fez - came by to offer bread. I thought the skinless shrimp on the kabobs were rather tasty and the lamb was tender. The lemon chicken tasted dry but countered with plenty of sauce. Fruit and baklava, one of my favorite desserts, were provided at the end as a nice touch to a rather heavy meal.
Marrakesh is quite expensive. If you are looking for value, steer clear of this place. Otherwise, brace yourself for a unique world of dining.
Oh, and the belly dancers. While you eat, they prance around from table to table and shake their bellies - round, and a round, and a rrrrrround to the playing Moroccan music. Just watching them made me dizzy. I was tempted to get up and dance with one of the dancers but humbly declined.
Maybe next time, with a group of closer friends and a roll of dollar bills.
Went here last night and I really loved the place. I felt like I stepped into a Morraccan tent party with the music playing loud and the belly dancer entertaining each table. This place gets a thumbs up from me.
Pros:
- traditional decor was colorful and inviting
- great for groups, kids and dates
- seats were cozy
- service was great
- food was delicious. The bastilla tasted like a sweet meat pie and the main dishes were tender and flavorful. The reviews here about the lemon chicken are so right! I loved it!
- belly dancer was friendly and entertaining to watch
- parking was not a problem. $3 for valet
- overall a great 1st time at Marrakesh
Cons:
- after a while the blasting music and belly dancer's bell sounding things on her fingers (forgive me for not knowing what those are called) started to get annoying
You sit on sofas, you eat with your hands, the food rocks, and belly dancers come out and dance on your table.
You wash your hands in rose water and eat baklava for dessert.
Go with the lemon chicken.
Trust me on this.
This place is definitely unique...a lot to look at and after a few drinks, u sure do feel like you're in a tent in the dessert mid Morocco. The service is pretty cool here, it's fun to sit on poofy furniture and eat with your hands (hey, when in rome!) I love diverse food, and most of the food is very palatable, but just take some getting used to. When the belly dancer comes around and you haven't had enough to drink, it can be kinda stressful ( I need to chill out more! ) But it's fun watching her shake her stuff. She's so fun and inviting. So overall, a great experience, just not used to the food quite yet. :)
What Kind of place is it?
It's a dining adventure, with a very distinctive atmosphere and feel, entertainment, and pretty good food, too.
How good is it?
The food is good, but the experience is the key here, it is total immersion. It is not cheap, though, so value-diners beware!
To prepare for this place...
Set some cash aside.
You'll like this place if...
You need a way to loosen up and have some fun while enjoying a very different meal.
You won't like this place if...
You are only concerned about the food and you are price-sensitive at all.
Try the...
Lamb
I had an amazing night out at Marrakesh, we had the place to ourselves and at the recommendation of our friends we had the rabbit and quail with lamb and chicken kabobs. I have never had rabbit or quail previous to that night, and I must say it was amazing! The service was very gracious and I felt very attended to. I think my boyfriend like d the belly dancing most of all :) I recommend to anyone who wants something a little off the beaten path in Costa Mesa!
What can I say about Marrakesh? Marrakesh is the place to be for those who are tired of the same meal evareeday. It's where you go when you want to really branch out and try something new and exotic that you're not even sure you'll like. It's the ideal setting for a great feast in a beautiful, comfortable setting with friends and family - That's Marrakesh. I'd say it's 60% experience/ambiance and 40% food.
Atmosphere:
If you've ever set foot in a Vegas - themed hotel, you'll know what it's like at Marrakesh. You'll feel like you've stepped into another world - You'll feel like you are sitting in the middle of the desert. The ceilings are painted blue w/puffy clouds, canopies draping from poles and lots of Moroccan flair everywhere. Candles are the only lights in the restaurant. The tables are low to the ground under the canopies and you are seated on plush sofas with plenty of Moroccan pillows to lay on when you are ready for food coma! Price is steep, but you can make a wonderful night of it, and It's worth it to try it once =)
You start w/washing your hands the traditional Moroccan way - the server comes with a pot of warm rose water and an empty bowl. You lay your hands on top of the bowl and wash your hands w/the fragrant water. Very refreshing and it def perks one's appetite!
Food:
Come with an empty stomach - you'll need it! Your only options are five course dinners meant to fill you up and have you lay comfortably happy on those plush sofas. First course : a vegetable lentil soup that goes well w/a good squirt of lemon. Then comes three types of salads: marinated carrots, eggplants, potatoes seasoned w/I believe dill and other types of Moroccan spices - yum. Another server walks around making sure you never run out of their fresh Moroccan bread. third course, and one of my favories, is the Bastilla. Bastilla is a flaky pastry w/sugar, cinnamon, nuts and chicken inside. A great balance of savory, salty and sweet! Then you have a choice of the following main courses - shrimp w/cous cous (which I recommend), lemon chicken, fish tagine, lamb w/honey, vegetable tagine, rabbit and quail to name a few. Don't worry vegetarians, you'll not miss a beat because they have a vegetarian course as savory as the rest of the courses! I was never a fan of cous cous, but loved it ever since I had it freshly made here. After your main courses, you get fresh fruit, mint tea and a very sweet baklava to top off your meal. By this time you're just out of it from all the food, drink and entertainment. Did I also mention you eat w/your hands? Forks are off limits, unless you ask for one :)
Entertainment:
While you eat, a belly dancer comes around each table on Fridays and Saturdays to mesmerize you with her moves and really make you feel like you are dining with the elite in Morocco.
The servers were very knowledgeable, friendly and fast. They are very watchful to make sure they don't hurry you w/your current course. Once you are finished, they're ready to take your plates away and serve you your next course ! I came on a slow night, so maybe the service isn't always like this, who knows.
Overall, the food's not bad. It's not crazy amazing, but its still decent. It's great when you really want to try something new, but it's tame enough that you'll enjoy it. I feel you really go to Marrakesh for the atmosphere. You can't really go wrong though w/a five course meal, authentic entertainment, wonderful ambiance, comfortable, relaxing environment and you can have all this in the company of good friends. I say this makes a nice Friday or Saturday night out wouldn't you? =)
I went here for a friends birthday and it was sooooo much fun. We had one of the semi private booths off to the side. The atmosphere inside is great, the outside needs some work. The benches and tables are pretty low so if your tall you'll want to sit on one of the chairs.
They don't give you silverware so you have to eat with your hands. All the meals are set up the same, the only difference is the entree, and it is family style. Before you start you meal they come around and and place a bowl in the middle. You place your hands over the bowl and they poor water so you can wash your hands.
The meal begins with a lentil soup; I like to put lemon in mine. Next is the salad which consists of eggplant, pickled carrots and cucumber served with bread. I'm don't like eggplant but I devour this eggplant dish. After that comes the pastry which has meat, eggs, and nuts in a flaky pastry sprinkled with cinnamon and sugar. They have a few choices for the entree, lamb, lemon chicken, shrimp and rabbit. Everything is real tender and good. They serve baklava and fresh fruit for desert with hot tea.
This restaurant is an experience.
They have excellent service and the decor well it does feel like your part of one of Alli Baba's thieves. The way they have decorated the restaurant is just beautiful. Once you open the door your transported to another time and place. They have set it up so that it looks like your eating under tents in the middle of a beautiful desert night. They have about 5 people who serve you. When your seated they come over to your table with a gold looking kettle and a large bowl so that you can cleanse your hands.
The food was amazing, I'm in love with their Eggplant salad and lemon chicken. The lemon chicken is like eating a dish your grandma took hours just to make for you, that is how good it is.
At the end of the meal they give you a wonderful mint tea that just hits the spot.
My boyfriend took me to this restaurant and we had a great time, it took us about 2 hours to finish our meal because we were having so much fun. They have a belly dancer who comes around the tables, she picks out a couple of woman so that they can belly dance with her.
This place is great to take your sweetie, you will score extra points with your girlfriend. My boyfriend scored high for taking me to this place and now I feel I can't whine or complain for the next month:)
They have valet and some side street parking. The area is a tad creepy because I think the area is full of seedy motels but it's on the border of Newport so I think nothing to bad happens around there.
Reservations - I heard it use to be super crowded, but things had slowed down bc of the economy. We didn't need our reservations, but it was 4th of July weekend...
Parking - Valet
Ambiance - Super dark. Tables are super low and so are chairs. I was really uncomfortable the whole night stretching out my legs. I'm average height and I already had a problem with the low tables and small chairs!
Entertainment - Belly dancer. She was nice and tried to engaged everyone to dance with her.
Service - Good. Owner (I presume) came around a lot to serve us and we ended up with complimentary dishes. When we couldn't decide on what we wanted, the owner was sweet enough to make us three dishes instead of two.
Food: Huge portion for the price. The way the menu was explained to us was a bit confusing. I wasn't sure if our entire group had to pick only one entree or two. Loved the rose water hand washing in the beginning. Also, the warm hand towels at the end was a nice touch. I thought we were going to eat with our hands, but they gave us forks and small plates for each meal.
1. Harira (Vegetables Soup) - Our server recommended adding a splash of lemon to this. We did and it provided a tangy bite to a rich soup. Delicious with the lentils.
2. Salad - Marinated eggplant, potato salad, cucumber and carrots. I'm not a big fan of eggplant. I don't really care for the mushy texture. Therefore, the eggplant here accompanied by soft bread just didn't work for me. Cucumber were diced and tangy. The carrots were slightly sweet and cooked. Everyone really like the carrots and the potato salad.
3. Bastilla filo dough stuffed with rice and almonds baked and covered with powdered sugar and cinnamon - Our favorite! I couldn't eat this everyday bc it is a bit sweet. However, the sweet and savory combo was really good with the filo crunchy texture.
4. Quail - A bit dry and little flavor. Served with rice.
5. Rabbit - Tasted like chicken and served with raisins and garbanzo beans. Moist but little flavor.
6. Honey Lamb - Came highly recommended and didn't disappoint! Very moist. Meat fell off the bone and had the distinct honey flavor.
7. Combo of Kabobs with Couscous - We weren't sure if this came with the meal or not. However, the kabobs were really flavorful.
8. Sweet Mint Tea - I love the presentation of the tea pour. Similar to the Southern sweet tea but with a hint of mint.
9. Baklava - I don't like my baklava that sweet so I had a bite and passed it on.
Bill came out to about $200 for 4 ppl, including tax/tip. We also ordered two bottles of rose. Would highly recommend the honey lamb and kabobs.
the honey lamb was awesome. free bread is always delightful.The whole Mediterranean experience was neat. from looking at pictures im guessing its the same and only belly dancer. she was probably hott in her hay-day, but kinda old now. but shes cool though. i thought the tea they give at the end of the meal was WAY to sweet. But the mini mug they serve it in was nice. and Yes, i did take it home haha.
This place is more about the experience than it is the food. If you go with a big party, you get your own seating area with couches, cushions, etc. The food wasn't anything spectacular - everything had a similar flavor. The belly dancers were entertaining and the service was good.
Belly Dancing, Hot Tea, and that oh so good Bastille -( Filo Dough Stuffed With Eggs, Chicken, Almonds And Spice, Topped With Sugar & Cinnamon, Then Oven Baked) makes me coming back for more. Party atmosphere. Love this place!
This place is awesome. Be prepared to eat if you dine at Marrakesh. The food was delicious, the atmosphere was incredible, and the decor was suiting. It's a great place for a date or even a nice dinner with family and friends.
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