Sarah C.
Yelp
I have fun memories of visiting a Moroccan restaurant in San Francisco on special occasions with my family growing up. When I learned that Portland had a similar restaurant, I was excited to try it out.
I made a reservation for two around 6 PM on a weekday. Reservations are made via email. Turns out it was not really necessary, as the restaurant was pretty empty. I imagine later in the evening, on weekends, or with a bigger group, reservations would be recommended.
After finding street parking, we entered through the curtain doors. The fun part of a Moroccan restaurant is entering the atmosphere of a "Sultan's tent" and forgetting where you are really located. (Unfortunately, with the window curtains wide open, it was hard to do that while looking out at Portland street.)
Despite the restaurant being fairly empty, they sat us right next to a family with a kid who was loudly complaining. With a small round table and the seating being either a bench, ottoman, or the floor, the tables feel pretty close together and it would've been nice to have a bit more space. Note that the seating can be uncomfortable for some, so plan your outfit and do some stretches ahead of time.
All meals here come with the traditional lentil soup starter, bread, a house salad, the bastilla, a main dish, and dessert. So while the prices of $25-30 look a little expensive, it's actually a good deal for a set menu. It is encouraged to eat most dishes with your fingers, and they bring around a rosewater hand rinse. However, you can request utensils or they will volunteer them if you look uneasy.
There are good vegetarian options. I got the breka and my partner got the 'vegetarian delight.' We were pleased with all the food, it tasted good. Nothing exceptional but I especially appreciated that they could make the bastilla vegetarian - that's my favorite part.
Pacing of the meal was good, and the service was efficient. We were too early for belly dancers (they come at 7:30 PM, Wednesday through Sunday - I couldn't find this info on their website).
So overall I would suggest some small changes to the business to really excel at the experience, but I do think that this is a fun opportunity to get out of your dining comfort zone. I may come back for special occasions or when I am craving Moroccan flavors, but I would make sure to reserve a time when entertainment is provided.