Marrakesh Restaurant
13003 Ventura Blvd.
Studio CIty, CA 91604
(818) 788-6784

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I have been wanting to try this place for some time, but never got around to it, for some reason I thought it was all cushions and not really low tables and benches, but it is really an interesting experience with good food. The food is served family style in many courses, and though traditionally you wouldn't use a fork, they do give you a fork for a few courses. Not too expensive, though not cheap either, but with the belly dancer it is really a cool place to check out!

A note is you should take a look at the menu online, which was a little different when we went there, but is given orally without prices, and it is a per person price without drinks (except Mint Tea at the end of the meal) and runs from about 23.95 per person to $34.95 per person and I think it is a 4 person minimum for family style, so not sure how it works for less than 4 (we had six).

The meal is served in many courses, starting with a Harira Soup which is a very tasty vegetable soup with lentils, tomatoes, garbanzo beans, celery and spices and you drink it out of the bowl. I really enjoyed this soup.

Next came a salad with freshly baked break that they keep brining out so you can get more bread. They actually gave us forks and we kind of scooped the salad onto the bread and ate it. My favorite was a marinated eggplant salad. There is also one with tomatoes and cucumber and the 3rd are spiced carrots.

The big hit of the evening was the bastilla which is a Filo dough stuffed with chicken, eggs, and almonds baked and covered with powdered sugar and cinnamon, and was incredibly tasty, if a tad too sweet for my tastes.

For the main course you get a choice of different kebobs with shrimp, lamb and chicken (and all 3 were very tasty, and this is how I like lamb the best) and you can get less or more of these and either rabbit or fish or lemon chicken and we also got a lamb dish with a honey sauce that was slightly gamy but very very tasty. The Lemon chicken was top notch, though not very lemony, but it really just came apart in your mouth.

To finish you get a bowl of fresh fruit some incredible baklava and a cup of very sweat fresh mint tea.

It didn't seem like I actually ate that much food, but was very, very full afterwards. Maybe it was the bread?

This place is really great and I am glad I tried it, plus it is fun to see the belly dancer who will give lessons to those adventurous enough at your table.

Parking is Valet for this and the next door Pinot Bistro (another excellent restaurant) and costs $3.50