Meredith B.
Yelp
This restaurant is, quite frankly, the epitome of charming. The decor is clearly done by hand, the painted stenciling slightly askew, the front window a darling mishmash of brocade and little sparkling candle-lamps and the odd hookah. A large mirror on the far wall stands like some magic portal in the back of a slightly chintzy bazaar, lending an airiness to the room along with the natural light from the wide front window.
We were greeted by the proprietor, who learned all of his cooking from his mother and now shares the kitchen with his wife. Determined to ensure every visitor is treated to a flawless experience, he brought bottles of water and then proceeded to tour us through the menu, giving sound advice indeed on where to begin (and to end) the meal. Chatty and teasing, he is wonderful to talk to, but also knows when to vanish again and let you enjoy your food.
And you Will.
Sweet heaven.
The caliber of the food brought to our table is far higher than a glance at the tables on the patio or the slightly drippy geometric patterns on the wall prepares you for. The plating was frankly lovely, and the flavours were absolutely to die for, from the lemony, garlicky eggplant to the sizzling, olive-studded chicken tagine. I came looking specifically for the pastilla, and the cinnamon-and-sugar-dusted, chicken and almond-stuffed pastry did not disappoint. Ultimately, the three of us could not finish everything, so a few scraps of leftovers, and a significant amount of baklava got packaged to go home. I recommend it, honestly, let the experience last as long as you can.
So- We live hours south of this precious little place with its long couches and little round bolster pillows, but we Will be back. I'm sure I can find some sort of excuse in the area to make my way back up again, and bring friends. A significant portion of the menu is vegetarian, even, including nearly all of the appetizers (just get the mezze platter), and several other options including a tagine and a falafel gyro. There are also fish options for those who are pescatarian. And for full inclusiveness, it's wheelchair accessible as well.