I was a little wary when I walked in to see an empty restaurant, but I had a Groupon, so I stayed. Boy am I glad I did.
The food was really, really great. We had Moroccan salad, chicken briwat rolls, fez tajin and baklava, washed down with mint tea. I shared it all with a friend. We were full but not stuffed, in a good way. I got excited when the baklava came because you can tell they actually make it themselves, unlike the other places that all seem to buy theirs from the same three bakeries. Their menu is small, but in a good way.
Service was great, I think the owner was waiting on us. He was really hospitable, you can tell he cares about the business and takes pride in the food.
I'm not sure why people are complaining about the prices. This isn't Sultan's fast food blech. Two of us had a delicious meal for $38 (before the Groupon discount), I call that a win.
The place feels a little like a converted church basement, but the food is so good and the staff so friendly that it doesn't matter at all. This is an excellent place for an intimate dinner--especially since it's open so late. The mint tea is superb, as is the lamb couscous and chicken tajin. Such an awesome respite from the fast food mediterranean dives or over-priced chic spots that are popping up everywhere.
In the minds of Marrakech Cuisine's owners, providing diners with a range of hearty, stick-to-your-ribs Moroccan dishes is not enough. They want to offer an establishment reminiscent of their homeland, and have taken great pains to create a space that mimics an authentic Moroccan bazaar in the heart of Wicker Park.
The storefront retail shop carries a multitude of curiosities, from marble chess sets to embroidered tapestries to hand-thrown pottery. Browse to your heart's content, then step down into the cavernous dining room, where you'll discover low lights and modest decor, including woven tablecloths and colorful artifacts meant to maintain the marketplace atmosphere.
Upon sitting, polite servers present the menu, which is moderately priced ($8-$15) and serves to further the restaurant's sense of authenticity. It includes several tangines (meaty, aromatic stews filled with beef, chicken lamb, or salmon), combinations of meat and couscous (the lamb shank with dried prunes is especially recommended) as well as harira (a tangy vegetable broth with tomatoes, onions, chickpeas, vermicelli and fresh herbs) and kebabs.
If those choices don't leave you full to bursting, be sure to sample the homemade baklava as well. This flaky, honey-drizzled pastry is too sweet to be consumed solo, so ask for two forks and try not to get in a duel over who gets to scrape up the last few morsels. BYOB, with $3 corkage fee.
Oh, so fantastic! Though extremely unbusy, the atmosphere was inviting. The service was attentive yet relaxed. Our group of six spent nearly three hours lingering over appetizers and stretching out tea and dessert--I really appreciated the way our server paced out the arrival of the appetizers so we could enjoy our food and conversation in a leisurely manner. The food quality was top-notch, and the prices modest. A very refreshing and flavorful change of pace!
This place is interesting..went there 2 years ago and the food was Ok. Then went back last week and the food was better. The waitress was really friendly, recommended dishes to us and at the end, it was all very affordable. Oh and there was music, we went on a Friday night.