Gary I.
Yelp
A mysterious, intricately carved, bas relief patterned door in aquamarine framed by peach colored rectangles with cast iron latches is what strikes your eyes upon seeing Tagine which refers to the conical lidded cooking ceramic cooking utensil common in North African cooking that steams and grills at the same time.
Wall colors varying from reddish teakwood and the same peach are vivid in the early evening when the setting sun rushes in and then becomes saturated as the sun sets turning the dining room into intimate darkness.
Round tables whose surfaces inlaid with geometric parquetry, plush banquettes and crimson throw pillows, and sturdy wood chairs create formal yet laid back comfort.
Don't expect theatrical & touristy "One Thousand One Nights" titillating belly dancing, sword balancing, "exotic" music. Tagine is an oasis to refresh & rejuvenate.
Amuse Gueule:
0) Creamy, charred black grill marked Pita bread that becomes creamy is used to dip into garlicky, lemony, ultra puréed, soft Hummus.
1) Bastilla: A mélange of salmon & seabass baked together with complex herb mix incorporating a touch of piquant red chile Harissa sauce. Olive oil may be present for a fatty rich feel. All is wrapped in delicate, crispy, airy filo dough.
2) Tagine au Loup de Mer/seabass is flavoured with Charmoula which includes garlic, cumin, coriander, oil, lemon juice, salt. Also a mild, sweet tomato based thickened sauce surrounds the Tagine based dish.
Sweet carrots, zucchini, broccoli are placed under large pieces of fish with good seabass flavor; firm yet flakey, parts are pleasantly chewy like dried cod. All the flavours meld together.
0-2a) Rosé: Domaine de Sahari Vin Gris de Maroc 2019 is Grenache lightly macerated to give this wine a reddish, yellow orange tint. Grown at the foot of the Atlas Mountains in Morocco at 1800 feet.
Bouquet: tangerine, waxy, gold raisins, mildly resinous Taste: raspberry, sour cherry, unripe strawberry, tingly, refreshingly very acidic, bitter, high minerality Finish: raspberry, tingly tongue & palate, agrodolce/sweet sour.
3) Soupe au Chocolat: Banana ice cream, chunky roasted almonds. Milk chocolate syrup is poured over for dramatic effect.
Pleasant atmosphere takes you away to an intimate eatery tucked away in a far off souk in Marrakesh. The waiter is very soft spoken to carry on the air of mystery.
4 stars