Marrakesh is one of my absolute favorite places to eat in Philadelphia!! I wish it existed in more cities. This is a multicourse journey through Marrakesh that cannot be repeated anywhere else except for maybe in the real Marrakesh. From the Bastilla pastry, which is DIVINE, to the salads, the chicken and kebabs... all the way to the baklava and tea.... there is no bad bite at Marrakesh. The owners are welcoming and super amenable and make you feel like you're coming home every single time you visit. It's in a odd location, and you may feel like you are making a questionable life decision as you walk up the alley to the door, but when you arrive, you realize that in fact, it was one of the best decisions you've made in years!! When you enter, it's like you've been transported to a beautiful room in Morocco. The music, the decor, even the authentic seating make for an unforgettable experience. And if you get really lucky, you also get to see the belly dancers who are top notch! There is not a single thing I can think of to say that Marrakesh needs to improve. It is a one of a kind experience that I feel everyone should have at least once in life! read more

This place was interesting! It had a lot of positive reviews so I was excited to try it for my friends birthday. And I called in advance to see if they catered for people with dietary restrictions which they mentioned they did. I think it's a fine place to go if you eat meat but I wouldn't go if you don't! The options for vegetarians were a lentil rice dish and a chickpea rice dish so it was very carb heavy with not too much of a focus on protein. I liked the eggplant that had in the beginning but other than the food was meh. The service was nice and the short bellydancing performance was fun but I wasn't the biggest fan of the food. Especially when they give you served us a fruit plate containing unopened apples and oranges and bananas at the end that was kind of strange. Personally wouldn't return but my friends who had the meat seemed to enjoy it! read more

Marrakesh Restaurant - Moroccan Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

What an incredible experience and much better than our last visit almost 7-8 years ago. The last time we came, the AC was broken on a hot day in the summer and it completely turned me off despite having an amazing visit my first time. I'm so glad my friends wanted to come here to celebrate our Friendsgiving. The food was as good as I remembered , the service as ever warm and welcoming. Since I hadn't been for so long, I ate everything as was prepared - but I'm happy to hear it sounds like they have veg options on their tasting menu. I'm looking forward to trying that my next return. But I couldn't say no to their chicken after almost a decade I highly recommend checking out this business for a delicious family style cooked meal. read more

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If your looking for authentic Moroccan food than look no further! Marrakesh is family owned and has been in business for over 50 years! So they are experts when it comes to authentic Moroccan food. Marrakesh feels and tastes like your dining at the home of a close relative who has welcomed you with open arms and hugs your soul. If you've ever been to the actual city of Marrakesh in Morocco you might find that this restaurant is better than the majority of restaurants in Marrakesh. They just taste more commercial and not as authentic as what you'll experience here. You receive a towel for your lap and you use this to catch any food that doesn't make it to your mouth (lol). It also doubles as your napkin! Before eating everyone gets to enjoy a rose water hand wash. Your hands will feel so silky and soft. You'll definitely notice the difference in the texture of your skin. I dined here with a large group and we had the entire restaurant to ourselves. It was a private booking. We enjoyed a seven (7) course dinner served family style. Three types of Moroccan salad: carrot, eggplant, cucumber and tomatoes. I loved that the eggplant was served warm and everything was bursting with flavor. There was also flat bread in case you wanted to make the salad into a wrap or just enjoy the bread as a compliment to the dish. Even if your not normally crazy about certain vegetables if you have them with the right seasoning it can open your mind and palette to a world of wonder. I normally don't care for tomatoes and even they were super flavorful. The salad was tangy and vibrant. The food really transports you to Morocco!! Next was an appetizer dish called pastillas which is similar to a chicken pot pie but is more like a small cake with sweet notes. Honestly, I'd probably describe it more like Morracan funnel cake with a twist. It was very unique. A taste to be acquired. It's crispy, flaky phyllo dough and a tender shredded chicken filling, eggs, almonds, sugar and cinnamon. Third dish was a choice between two types of chicken, one was light spice with cumin or mild chicken. They spicey chicken was flavorful spicy with a hint of heat. Fourth dish was a choice between beef kabab or marinated chunks of lamb. The beef wasn't as tender as the lamb. I was head over heels in love with the lamb!! Lamb makes such good drippings and there was a hint of sweetness and the shaved almonds was a nice garnish. Fifth dish was the couscous with veggies, chicken and rice. This was a bit on the dry side. Could have used some sort of gravy..maybe from the chicken dish of the third course to give it some moisture. Sixth dish was a variety of fruit: oranges, strawberries, bananas, grapes. Seventh course was baklava, a traditional pastry known for its sweet, rich flavor and flaky texture. It consists of layers of crisp phyllo (or filo) dough, cinnamon-spiced nuts, and a honey. Waiters were friendly and did a great job with keeping an eye on food levels. And to bring additional dishes at the appropriate time. Oh did I mention they have six (6) belly dancers! You will not be disappointed here. Great experience! read more

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This establishment is cash only. They need to update the website because it says that they take credit cards. They told us that there's ATM around the corner but it didn't work. I love how they can accommodate my friend's dietary restrictions. They served modified dishes just for him. Going there on Monday night is a breeze. No crowd and we were seated on first floor. Ornate decorations that makes you feel being in the Middle East. First, the server pour warm rose water to wash your hands. The first dish is the appetizer of carrots, cucumbers, and roasted eggplants. All of them are packed with flavors and not too acidic. They provide pita bread that you can grab as many as you want. The next dish is egg and beef dish. It's sweet and addictive. After that are the entrees: chicken (spicy or not spicy, you can ask the spicy sauce on the side), lamb or kebab. The kebab is a bit tough, The next dish is couscous, perfectly cooked and seasoned. Dessert: a plate of fruit: grapes, bananas, apples, and oranges. Dessert: baklava and mint tea. Everything is for $40. I highly recommend this spot for a unique experience. It's BYOB read more

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great establishment and nice staff. we did a large group party upstairs and there was so much food ! everything was amazing. wonderful flavors. read more

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Enter a world of scrumptious food (7 courses!), billowing textiles and belly dancing through the locked door. Climb the narrow staircase up, up, up into a room full of atmosphere and strangers who feel like friends. Everyone gets a towel as a napkin because after your hands are bathed in rose water you'll be using your hands to scroop up the lovely eggplant, carrots, cukes, chicken, lamb, couscous and things whose names you don't know, ending with fresh fruit and baklava. BYOB. Clap for belly dancer who may engage you, if you feel frisky. Delicious and entertaining, you will feel lucky that you made the journey! read more

Marrakesh Restaurant - Woo-hoo, entertainment, too! - Moroccan Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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Make reservations. There are seven tables inside . Cozy and so exciting. The servers are very busy bringing & taking ... constantly! Taking such good care of you. It's a very relaxing atmosphere. The music was all sorts of dreamy Arabic music... maybe Um Kolsum ... it was an interesting playlist. Most of it seem to be traditional style, but there was one sort of disco track that was very upbeat. It was all very wonderful. We started off by washing our hands in such delightful way. The gentlemen server poured the rose water over her hands to cleanse them, and prepare us for our dining experience. Beautiful rugs and lanterns adorn the room . I am loving this! 1) mezze plate ( hot babaganough , cool carrot salad ! Cool Cucumber salads. So fresh & flavorful. The carrot and cucumber items were so refreshing and chilly! Delicious. 2) we chose this heavenly roast chicken with olives, (cumin lamb and grilled beef) were the other items if you wish . I wanna write poetry about my Mezze , plate and this chicken. I am smitten. 3) pastilla was a big hit with my table! Flaky meat pastry. Yum. 4) . They are often visiting your table seeing if you need more pita bread because you're scooping up all this wonderful food from this giant plate and into your mouth . They mean, just falls off the bone and is so delicious . cous-cous with veggies and garnished with reasons is just so delightful.. a delicate sweetness. --- another meat dish, lamb. I'm stuffed, but my friends aren't. Eat authentically with your fingers & don't worry you can get a plastic fork if you need to. When it's time for dessert, it's a big bowl of fruit (apples/oranges an banana and some grapeS and they're also four pieces of baklava! You also get some honey mint tea. I added some ice to mine just to cool it down a bit. It was very, very hot. I will tell you that this was so lovely. Gentle, sweetness, and wonderful scent of mint. It really went well with my baklava. I would love to come back here. Dreamy!!! read more

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Two different people had recommended this place to us to check out while we were in town for vacation. Then some locals had also mentioned hearing great things about it despite not having gone themselves yet. Needless to say, we were pretty dang excited after all of the hype. The dining experience truly is an entire experience. You have to knock at the front door to be let in, and then you're led up winding staircases and every room is intricately decorated. You're seated along casual benches with a small table for you and your party to lean over to eat. Outside of telling them any food restrictions, you don't select your courses. It's 7-8 courses and they're all predetermined. Every course is delicious, and you almost have to struggle to remember that more food is coming. The last course was a pile of fresh fruit, but I'm not sure we were able to eat any of it because we were so full. Belly dancers also come around and dance, and encourage the guests to get up and dance as well. As everyone else has warned, it's a cash only establishment. Luckily we were also advised ahead of time. Otherwise, you have to go find an ATM. While the food and atmosphere is great, I do feel like I managed to cross something off my bucket list that I don't necessarily need to repeat. read more

This had been on my bucket list for an interesting and unusual restaurant in Philly. Upon reading where reservations are recommended, I was glad to do it because the place got busy fast. It's a seven course meal with variety offerings, just two sections require some sort of decision between the type of meat. The service is fast, flavors were all good. It's a fixed rate and I believe they only accept cash. It's one of those special treats, unique experiences type of meal. The restaurant itself, the layout and decor made you feel like guests at a friend's home. When we first entered, host told us they've been n business for 50 years plus a month! That says a lot! read more

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fantastic food. i love the carrot salad, the eggplant and the spicy chicken. i usually go with the lamb over the beef but they're both good. the only thing that isn't great is the bread but it's just a vehicle for everything else. read more

This was a meal that I will be thinking about for weeks to come. As soon as you enter this speak easy esque restaurant you are transported to Morocco. There are rich colorful tapestries, gorgeous lights, plush sofas, and low tables. The smells alone were amazing to start with. Lounging on the couches with your party and being brought 7 stunning courses. Everything was delicious. The veggies were great. The chicken was unreal. The lamb. The couscous. The baklava. The mint tea at the end. Truly every single course was a delight. The service was also really great. read more

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What a great time we had for my husband's birthday! We brought our own wine bottles, loved the food and the bellydancing. It was our first time at a supper club, and the fun began wi the the fact you have to knock on the door to gain entrance read more

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It's like being transported to Morocco! The decor, the smells, and the food are all spot on. The dishes are tasty, and meant to be shared, making this a great spot to bring family or intimate groups. The service is friendly but can be a tad slow, especially when they are crowded. We waited about 20 minutes for our first dish to arrive after ordering. However they treat you well and are responsive to requests! Overall, highly recommend dinner here as it is a unique experience! read more

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Food and experience is absolutely amazing. If you enjoy middle eastern and Mediterranean this is worth a try. I strongly recommend a reservation - the proprietor who is a character likes to turn away walk-ins, not all of them but I did see this happen. I'll definitely go out of my way to eat here again. read more

Marrakesh Restaurant - Interior decor contributes to warm, authentic experience! - Moroccan Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Beautiful hidden entrance to a three floor restaurant. All seatings are couches so get ready to get comfy. 7 courses, and you get to pick between beef or lamb for one of the main dishes. Also BYOB! All the courses were delicious and flavorful, ending with a bowl of fruits at the end. $40 pp and they accept credit cards. Would recommend! read more

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WOW OH WOW! I went here after a recommendation from a friend! The food and presentation was simple but so flavorful! I loved the family style and cozy vibe of the restaurant. It made be so homesick and happy to be there. Each course was more and more flavorful from the last. The amount of food was also insane! Definitely don't eat a big meal before going. Huge surprise- there's a belly dancer! Great middle eastern vibe! read more

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What a great cultural treasure! I loved everything about this restaurant. It felt like stepping into Morocco. Great food and service. Come hungry and be prepared to eat a lot. Portions are sizable and by the time you get to the last course, you'll be stuffed! read more

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Great service, great food, and fun vibes! BYOB Make a dinner reservation. Be prepared for 7 courses. The first platter of food will be the best. read more

Family freindly with a fun ambiance! After 7pm it starts to get really busy! Belly dancers and food ?! Love this spot ! Service ir great! Music is great. Their mint tea is just acceptional and just like the one they serve you in Morroco. They start off by washing your hands in Rose water. My kids loved this and the smell was exceptional! read more

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Quite honestly one of the most unique dining experiences in Philadelphia! The food was not the most memorable I've had, but the interior vibe with belly dancers visiting the table and authentic experience made it a dinner I'll never forget. Bring cash to tip the staff! read more

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I have a new favorite restaurant!! Marrakesh, located at 517 Leithgow st! is a incredibly, enchanting restaurant offering authentic, delicious Moroccan cuisine! This amazing experience begins right when you first knock on the beautiful door! You are welcomed warmly through a red velvet curtain and transported into the most beautiful & luxurious Moroccan styled room lined with soft couches, colorful pillows and gold platters with Mystic music playing in the background. When everyone in your party has seated, the lovely staff comes over and gently washes your hands with rose water. You are then able to choose your options for each of the 7 courses! - See menu below! Everything is soo good!! But the standouts are the sautéed eggplant, Fall off the bone lightly spiced chicken, The B'stella, a layered, flakey pie, with cinnamon, assorted nuts and powdered sugar! The lamb with almonds and honey was divine! The marinated beef shish kabobs were outstanding! To finish the meal we were served hot mint tea and sweet baklava! A glass of white or red wine was $4 dollars! Mix drinks were $5! Price per person, $44 dollars!! Also I heard there are belly dancers on the weekend!! Definitely need to go back for that! The staff was so warm and kind and made us feel so at home!. Don't walk, run to Marrakesh today!! read more

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Polite and welcoming service. The experience started with a unique hand-washing ritual using a teapot filled with warm rose water, leaving my hands smelling like roses was such a nice touch. The meal began with three refreshing salads, each tasting fresh and full of veggies. Then came a pastry filled with eggs and topped with powdered sugar. It was interesting, but the combination of sweet and savory didn't quite work for me. The spicy chicken, on the other hand, was incredibly tender and flavorful, with a slight lemony taste, spiced but not spicy. By the time I reached the fourth dish, I was full! The lamb was good, though I felt it could've used a bit more seasoning, but the natural flavor of the meat paired nicely with the honey. The couscous, the fifth dish, was absolutely delicious. It was soaked in chicken juices with tender carrots, potatoes, and raisins. For dessert, I took home a bowl of fresh fruit and baklava. The meal ended on a high note with a sweet, minty, and lovely hot tea. Overall, a rich and satisfying dining experience read more

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Had high expectations going into it and was disappointed. Cash-only, Moroccan courses. Brought my friends here to tell the crazy story of the restaurant and personal Moroccan travel details. Best dish was the first one. Pastilla is fun if you've never had it but overall mediocre. The ending dish of fruit is literally inedible. I actually had other groups planned to take here but decided not to anymore. read more

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I give Marrakesh a rating of 4.5/5*. This restaurant is an excellent choice for groups. I had a group of 10 people for my doctoral graduation celebratory dinner, and the owner Samir was incredibly accommodating. We opted for a prix fixe style meal (7-course @ $40 pp). Ambiance: As soon as you walk in, you feel like you're in an authentic Moroccan dining area. The seating arrangement and wall decor are reminiscent of a genuine cultural set-up. This is lovely. Seating includes wall-mounted benches and single person upholstered seat cushions. Something that enhanced the ambiance during our meal was the incredible belly-dancing performance as an intermission to our 7 courses. The dancer was so playful/engaged us and skilled in her craft. This was a hit with my family! Service: The service here was so excellent. All employees are incredibly kind and understanding. They do a wonderful job attending to allergies/preferences after you tell them just once. Food: The food here is pretty good, but I would say a bit underseasoned. One thing my family and I appreciated was how the 7 courses exposed us to different foods in the Moroccan cuisine. We enjoyed, for instance, the bastilla and the spicy chicken -- both were fantastic and had distinct flavors to them. On a different note, the final "course" was a part of dessert -- this included baklava and fruits. The fruits, however, came whole (unchopped!). This was a bit of a disappointment; I would suggest Marrakesh slice/chop their fruit before serving to guests. All this being said, I truly loved my experience here, and I would definitely go back! Marrakesh is a must, when in Philadelphia. read more

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4 people and we couldn't finish everything. So good and so filling. THERE IS A BAR, but you can byob also. They told us they take credit cards, but their device was down at the time. Now worries, we came prepared. The chicken and lamb were so tender. The beef had a flavorful crust. That pie thing, sweet & savory, yum. Appreciate fruit at the end of a meal but the baklava, yessss!! Probably the best baklava I've had. Decor is beautiful. I may decorate one of rooms in similar fashion. Nice wine and charcuterie vibe. Staff very attentive. Great meal, will definitely return. read more

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Wow! I can't believe how amazing this place is...the food, service and ambience are all top notch! Can't wait to visit again the next time we are in Philly. Make a reservation and go, you won't be disappointed and you'll thank me later. read more

It gets 4 stars because of the experience. The food was about a 3.5. It was mysterious that we had to ring a doorbell upon arrival. The place seemed packed as people streamed out and in. The bummer was we had to wait outside and it was a bit colder than I had expected. Since we were traveling the jacket I brought was all I had. We had reservations and got seated within 5-7 min. Our host brought us into a lively, Brightly colored room with couches/benches and low tables with tin ornate table tops. One of our many servers flung towels at us (it was quite entertaining) and then another brought a bowl and warm rose water for us to clean our hands. The meal was explained to us, drinks ordered, and after that the parade of food started arriving. We started with a tasty tangy eggplant, carrot, cucumber platter with bread like naan, then the mystery dessert looking egg, chicken sprinkled with connecting sugar and cinnamon (not my thing...I thought I tasted sardines and tofu). Then we had a lamb dish which was very good, then i think we had a rice dish, followed by a flavorful whole roastec chicken dish. Before the delicious baklava finale, we had a fruit platter (with whole apples, bananas, strawberries and grapes...if you have a hungry college student be prepared to take some home). Arrive hungry and leave very full. I recommend bringing your own bottle of wine but they do have a decent list. It's definitely worth going if you are hungry, want to have a fun dining experience and /or like Moroccan food. Staff were busy but attentive when you could get them. read more

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I went here for my birthday dinner in a group of 5, and it was such a lovely experience. Come hungry and bring $40-$50 for dinner + tip + ones to tip the belly dancer! The servers were so kind and hilarious, and my group was thoroughly enchanted and entertained at the service during all of the courses being brought out. The belly dancer was so energetic and fun. As someone who has visited Marrakesh, I can say that the atmosphere seemed very authentic as well. The restaurant is tucked away in a quieter street and has beautiful lighting and seating outside. The food was delicious as well. read more

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7 COURSE DINNER with a prefix menu This hidden gem is in an alleyway located near South Street. Knock on the wooden door to enter! They have been around for many many years and have a total of 3 floors. It is a very lowkey restaurant and perfect for date night. Bonus: it is BYOB. The space is small on the 2nd floor and we were squished at a table. We were a party of 4 and had plenty of leftover. Although, even if you come with 2 or 3 people, you'll get the same amount of food as if 4 people were to be served. Make sure to make reservations ahead of time! Although its a prefix menu, it takes a lot of time for the staff to prepare it. They sit you at a table and greet you with a bowl of rose water to wash your hands. They also give you a large towel to wipe your hands and as a "napkin". The rose water smells wonderful! Course 1: Salad platter (cucumber, tomato, carrots, eggplant) served with pita bread Thoughts: a lot of people don't like eggplant, but they season the eggplants with tomato paste & cumin, which brings out the flavor. The cucumber & tomato portion was a little bit pickled. Course 2: Sweet & Savory pie (egg yolks inside a pastry that is topped with confectionery sugar & cinnamon) Thoughts: not a fan of the cooked yolk inside, but the pastry and sugar/cinnamon was delicious! Course 3: "spicy chicken" served with pita bread. Thoughts: The meat was really tender! The server told us it was cooked for 3 hours. Which is why reservations are recommended!! They ask if you want the chicken mild or spicy. The spicy is not as spicy as you would think! It was a quick kick but the spiciness does not linger. We sat around tables of couples and they were also served a full chicken, but likely less pounds. Course 4: lamb with honey drizzle & almond slices and Beef Kebab Thoughts: the lamb is tender and gamey. There is also bone marrow for those who enjoy it. The honey made the meat sweet. The beef was tough to chew and has great flavor! They will also ask if you want lamb with honey & almond drizzle or if you want beef kabab. Our server was super nice and offered us half & half, so we got to try both. Course 5: Couscous with carrot, potato, chicken, garbanzo beans, raisins Thoughts: flavorful couscous. The raisins were an interesting flavor to add. At this point we were all very full.... Considering we shared a full chicken. Course 6 & 7: fruit platter & Baklava Thoughts: We finished the meal with fruit and dessert, which was hard to finish. The Baklava was really sweet. Full of honey. They also gave you a sweet hot mint tea to finish the meal. Hospitality was amazing and the experience is definitely worth it We ended paying $160 for 4 people. 18% tip was included in this. 10/10 recommend going to Marrakesh at least once! read more

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It's definitely a UNIQUE experience, starting from entrance to exit. Our host was the BEST. polite, courteous, extremely humble. A seven course prix-fixe meal for three of us Started with. 1st course - Baba ganoush , pickled vegetables - carrots & cucumbers. Extremely delicious 2nd course - Then came egg, nuts, chicken sugar pie of some sort. Very unique taste 3rd course - was chicken tajine- done to PERFECTION. falling off the bones and *chef's kiss* 4th course - was lamb on bone- OMG delicious. It had so much fragrance. With almonds and sweet tasting sauce. 5th course - couscous with lamb, potato, and raisins. By this time, we couldn't breathe. We were so stuffed. 6th course - mint tea and baklava, you could taste the freshness. 7th course - fresh fruit. Throughout the meal, they kept coming with fresh pita basket. Our hands were washed with rose water thrice. I'm so stuffed but already reserving for next time! For 3 people we paid 113$ including 18% gratuity. Extra 6th star for reasonable prices read more

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This place is really cool. The service is impeccable and the ambiance makes you feel like you are in Marrakesh. We came here for a family dinner on a Friday night. They were so friendly and accommodating as we had 2 two year old with us. The food was soo good. It comes out family style. It's a prefixed menu and each course comes on a huge Sharing plate. They don't have fries but the kids wanted fries and the owner got it for them!! You can't beat that for great service. The place got packed really quickly and they also have a belly dancer on weekend. Great experience over all. read more

Marrakesh Restaurant - Moroccan Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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We went to Marrakesh for my birthday this year. I haven't been since a previous birthday about 8 years ago. Happy to say it was just as awesome as I remembered it! You really come here for the ambiance and fun rather than solely for the food. It's really cool directions and there is a belly dancer on the weekends who was amazing! Food wise it's an 8 course meal so even if u don't live everything you will have plenty to eat and enjoy. The first course was salads and they were very good. Next was this thing with powdered sugar on it which was just ok. Then we had chicken which was really really good. U don't even need a knife because it's so tender. The lamb my parents liked but I didn't so I guess just personal taste. Finally for desert there was baklavas which were ok and fruit which was a great way to end the meal. Although this isn't a place to go every week or even month - it's a great place for a fun night and special occasion. read more

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We had been here years ago and had a great experience, so we were excited to return. We had a party of 5. Once we sat down, the owner sloppily throws towels onto our laps, nearly hitting us in the face. We had called on our way to the restaurant, literally 20 mins before our reservation time, and told they take both cash and credit card. Upon our arrival, we ask again, and get a very rushed, incoherent ramble from the owner about how the machine is broken. We expected this from prior reviews. Course 1: Eggplant, carrot, and salad. Very delicious. Course 2: Weird chicken pie with almonds and powdered sugar on top. It was...interesting. Course 3: Spicy chicken. AMAZING. Juicy and fell off the bone. Course 4: Honey almond lamb. No flavor and no honey to speak of. Super bland. Course 5: Couscous with raisins and a plain boiled potato. It was okay but disappointing. Course 6: The most ridiculous dish I've ever received at a restaurant. A Stop & Shop haul of basic unpeeled, unwashed fruits. Apples, grapes, oranges, and bananas with the stickers still on. They really couldn't peel and cut? We couldn't stop laughing at the ridiculousness. Course 7: Baklava and hot rose tea. The baklava was amazing! Very sweet as expected. For drinks, we got a carafe of red wine, which was good. Also a white russian which just tasted like a milkshake. The experience wasn't too bad until the laughable "fruit platter". They take your food away even if you're not totally finished, and don't box it up, so eat quickly. While the food was overall good and the decor is unique and beautiful, the whole thing felt a little shady, especially with the credit card excuse, and we won't be back. It could be worth a visit just for the vibe, but I'm sure there is better Moroccan food in the city. read more

Marrakesh Restaurant - Unpeeled, unwashed "fruit platter". Laughable. - Moroccan Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Really awesome place and very good ambiance. It feels very authentic and the service is amazing. They go above and beyond to make your experience positive. The food was also really good, my favorite dishes were the appetizer veggies dishes and the lamb dish and I don't even like lamb! Every dish was delicious. read more

Vibes: How I imagine being invited to a Morrocan home for dinner would be; bring your best friends Tasting notes: - Salad platter: served with thin, pita-like bread; well-marinated cucumbers and carrots; eggplant was tender and swipeable with the bread - Bastilla: crispy, powdered sugar covered phyllo pastry wrapped around a predominantly scrambled egg-type filling; surprisingly light - Mild chicken: absolutely fall off the bone with an aromatic, truly mildly spicy sauce - Lamb: pulls off the bone with the plastic fork super easily; honey just adds a little sweetness to counter the gaminess of the meat - Couscous: just savory and salty enough to be addicting, with minimal dried fruit sprinkled in for a sweet surprise every few spoonfuls - Baklava: wonderful crispness with just enough syrup and filling for the indulgent bite - Fruit platter: surprised to get whole apples, oranges, bananas along with bunches of grapes - simple yet felt luxurious Other thoughts: - Very worthwhile for the amount of food. Two decision points offered: two different spice levels of whole chicken, and lamb with honey and almonds versus beef kebab. - Fantastic, attentive service. Upon sitting down we were given large towels to place in our laps and washed our hands with rose water-scented warm water. At the end of the meal, our hands were sprinkled with more rosewater - Very much enjoyed the dining experience of sharing from the course plate in the center. Wished we had bigger personal plates, but there wasn't much room on the table. - Full bar available with the option of BYOB. We got a carafe of white wine that was very sippable and lasted the four of us for the entirety of the dinner Impression: such a unique experience that was worth the hype! read more

Marrakesh Restaurant - Mild Chicken - Moroccan Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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Marrakesh is a Moroccan restaurant located in a South Philly rowhome. The entrance is on the side of the building where you have to knock to get in. Once you're in, it feels like you've transported to an entirely different place and the restaurant really portrays the culture. There are multiple floors and we were on the second floor. It is a fixed meal with 7 courses and the food comes out so quick. Service was amazing. Of note, we were unaware that there are belly dancers on the weekend! Quite a surprise for us. They turn on the music and dance for 10-15 minutes? They'll ask that you participate and dance with them. Don't forget to bring cash so you can tip them. Now for the food: The first course were 3 different salads: cucumber, sweet potato, and baba ganoush. They were light and refreshing and served with pita. I would highly recommend saving some on your place to eat with the chicken that comes out later. Next, was this egg omelette that was dusted with powder sugar. I can't say it was my favorite item but it was unique combination of sweet and savory. It tasted like if your breakfast from a diner came out on one place and your French toast and eggs were accidentally touching. Then, the chicken came out. We asked for the spicy sauce on the side but I personally would have preferred it all over it. It wasn't spicy at all and it paired beautifully with the chicken. We were super surprised by this dish because we thought it was going to be dry. However, it was one of the juiciest chicken we have ever had at a restaurant. It was perfectly marinated with lemon and herbs and it was delicious. Next, were the kabobs. They were good but on the dry side, nothing super remarkable. By this point we're full. The couscous was just ok. Came with raisins, sweet potato, and I think pumpkin on top? Again, it was a unique combination of sweet and salty that we just personally weren't a fan of. Lastly, courses 6 and 7 is just a platter of fruit and baklava. The baklava was super sweet and indulgent. The fit was refreshing although not all of them appeared to be fresh. Overall, I would say food is a 4/5. It's definitely worth a try if you've never had this cuisine before. I think this may be the most authentic place to try it. Just remember to be open-minded as you might not like all of them! Vibes are definitely 5/5, especially with the belly dancing! read more

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My husband went to Marrakesh years ago and spoke so highly of it, so it's been on my radar for a while. We had the perfect excuse to visit when my parents were in town; I called and easily made a reservation for a Saturday night (preferentially picked a weekend night in the hopes to see the belly dancers). The ambience of the restaurant starts even before you enter the restaurant - the front of the restaurant is adorned in on-theme decorations and cute lights. It is on a side street, so a bit tucked away - if you didn't know Marrakesh existed, you would certainly miss it! Upon arrival, we were escorted to our table. The space is fairly large with various rooms and floors; we were on the top floor in a more "private" space. Our room had beautiful tapestries decorating the wall, ornate tables for our meal, and lovely (and cozy) colorful couches as the seats. It was a touch drafty in the room, but not a huge deal - I would suggest you bring a jacket, though! Marrakesh is a BYOB, so we brought a few bottles of wine, and our server kindly opened them and brought out glass ware. Different from my husband's experience a few years back, Marrakesh does now provide silverware for their diners (my parents were pleased by this), so we got our settings and then the feast began! At first, the food was coming out pretty quickly, but as the servers realized that we were not the quickest to consume, the pace slowed down, which was appreciated. As a pre fixe menu, we loved not having to make decisions, especially with a group of 5, and it was so great to have a taste of the entire menu. Our highlights of the meal were the eggplant starter, the lamb, and the baklava - although everything was so authentic and delicious! We wound up taking a decent bit of food home, but still left quite full. While we were enjoying our meal, we were excited that we got to experience a belly dancer performance, which really solidified the excellence of the evening. My 70-year-old dad even got a chance to dance along, so he was in all his glory. Overall, we truly enjoyed our dinner at Marrakesh! The food was authentic and delicious, and the pre fixe menu allows you to try all the options. The price is reasonable for the quantity and quality of the food, and you gotta love the BYOB aspect of the restaurant. The hospitality was on point (I had a coupon that was a bit sketch, but our server was so kind about it and gave me no issues), and the ambience is unlike any other restaurant in Philly. Highly recommend Marrakesh for a group or a date night if you're looking for quality Moraccan food! read more

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We made reservations here for a special graduation dinner and it did not disappoint. This was my first time here and eating Moroccan food. We were asked if we wanted to sit outside or indoors, and since it was a beautiful day, we chose outdoors. We were seating on cushions surrounded by a large brass tray. The dinner is a 7 course meal, and we were asked our choice of chicken or beef. We chose chicken, and were asked our preference for spices. The meal began with the washing of hands; the server put a basin on the table, and poured rosewater over our hands. Instead of napkins, guests are given towels to place on their laps. It was a pleasant way to start the evening. The dinner is a 7 course meal, with many of the same dishes served to all. We looked around and noticed that the same dishes were served to others around us. You can bring your own alcohol (we didn't) but were asked if we'd like any alcoholic drinks. The first course was a tray of eggplant (delicious), carrots and zucchini (all flavorful); second course was a baked dish in a flaky phyllo dough dusted with powdered sugar (interesting dish- light and unusual topped with confectioners sugar); chicken with sauce (we ordered the spicy version and it had flavor but wasn't too spicy; the meat was tender and fell off the bone), lamb with honey and almonds (very tender and lightly flavored); couscous with raisins and potatoes (flavorfuL0; and the last dish was baklava, fresh fruit, and mint tea. The meals are served family style, with everyone eating from the same dish. They do offer small paper plates if you want to scoop your own individual portions. There were three of us from the same family, so we opted to eat family style. At some point in the evening (it was a Friday night), a belly dancer came on the street and performed for a short time. By this time, all the seating in the alley was full of people. Also during the evening, a large bread basked was located in the center of the street on a cart, and guests were offered light, thin, tasty flatbread to eat with the meal. I took a trip inside to use the facilities and the interior was decorated beautifully, with guests seated around family style tables. It was cozy and busy and warm. With the interior decorations and the hospitality, and the family style of eating, it felt like we had stepped into the cultural traditions of Morocco. It was a special and enjoyable evening, with delicious food and atmosphere. I would come again! read more

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Good food and great dancers . Not the easiest place to get parking, but once you get in it's like a journey to a new place. food is served in multiple courses read more