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| - We have always enjoyed Moroccan food for its fruit and savory flavors, the use of unrefined olive oil and spices--and most importantly--the communal dining experience underscored by great hospitality. It was these repeated experiences that brought us to this Tempe restaurant eager for another Moroccan fare. On this day, we were the first to arrive to the restaurant. The interior was large, spacious, with the vibe supported by natural sunlight, and a row of TVs placed along the walls. The interior also had a crepe and gelato bar. Being so close to the campus, the overall make up was conducive for large group gatherings.
We started off with a plate of Dolmas ($3.99) that came with rice wrapped in grape leaves. The centrality of the lemony flavor was a positive, and the leaves were easy to break into. The rice was more soggy than necessary, but it was good overall, especially when served warm.
The Chicken Tagine ($11.99) came with half of a chicken braised with onions, potatoes, preserved lemon, green olives, ginger, saffron, and cardamom. The base of the sauce was flavorful, but the chicken was small, uncut, boney, and difficult to share among the four of us. For the price, the portion on the chicken could be more generous. It was decent, but not amazing.
The Beef with Prunes Tagine ($11.99) came with four small cubes of beef braised with ginger, white pepper, garlic, apricots, and prunes. Again, the base sauce was fantastic, but the portion size was not good at all. The meat itself was too dry, and over reliant on the pool of sauce to keep us entertained. Not recommended.
The Mixed Grill ($13.99) was put together with skewers of beef, chicken, chicken leg, kefta kebob, rice, French fries, salad, and pita. There was too much filler, as the skewers were way too small except for the kefta. By this time I started to get the sense of being robbed. Not recommended.
Overall, we were pleased with the mix of seasonings and base flavors. However, the meat was too skimpy and inconsistent to worth another visit. I also find it unacceptable when the server gave us only two small pieces of bread to share among the four of us.
Lastly, we were extremely offended by the service throughout the entire meal. The server had a poor attitude, and clearly did not want to be there. Whenever we needed service, I had to walk across to the gelato bar to find her chatting with her friend. She was clearly reluctant when we asked about the items on the menu, and acted as if she was there to do us a favor. In the end, she had the audacity to tell us to all get out of our seats to walk to the entrance in order to pay. It was a poorly orchestrated meal, and when the food does not meet expectation, bad service only amplified the experience. Interested diners should opt for Couscous Express and Alzohour Market instead. We will not be coming back.
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