There’s this little storefront on Ashland Avenue in Chicago’s Bucktown neighborhood called Marrakech Cuisine. If you’re not looking for it you’d ignore it. And if you were looking for it you might even think it was the wrong place.
In the front you’ll find authentic Moroccan lamps, hand-made jewelry, wood carvings, boxes, and other imported curiosities. But the real treasure is in the sunken, dimly lit room in the back.
The first treasure is the owner. He’s a gentle, soft spoken man with a smile baked into his face. He sells you the lamps, he takes your order, he cooks your food, he serves your food, and he rings you up. He’s not quick, but there’s no reason to rush.
The second treasure is the food. The menu is simple and fairly priced. Everything I’ve tried is good — especially the Harrira, the Lentil Salad, and the Atlas Tajine. This is food made by someone who cares about what he cooks and what you eat. The ingredients are fresh, and the flavors are just right, and the portions are proper (read: not too big).
Finishing off the meal with some tea made from fresh mint leaves, rosewater, and the slightest touch of honey is highly recommended. It goes well with his homemade sticky Baklawa.
This place is such a great escape from the busy street and the fussy cuisine that’s popping up all over. You’ll never need a reservation. Don’t be alarmed if you’re the only one there. It’s guaranteed good food with a truly personal touch that seems rare these days.
I would have never walked in this place had someone not recommended it to me. That’s why I’m passing on my recommendation to you. Good eats.
Matt Carey
on 13 Dec 06I went to Marrakech on my honeymoon and I have fond memories of the wonderful hospitality and amazing food. If I’m ever in Chicago I will be sure to take a look!
David
on 13 Dec 06Nice! I’m all over this. Thanks for the recommendation.
Jonathan
on 13 Dec 06Little good this does us out in Fiji, Jason. If you want to cause a bit of pain, why don’t you just send me a picture of you eating a bagel with cream cheese and lox?
Please…no more food posts. Too painful.
Darryl Remnant
on 13 Dec 06I agree Jonathan,
I am from Australia, and I am finding it hard to type, there is that much drooling going on.
Very Yummy!
- Darryl
joel finkle
on 13 Dec 06Jason, Come post over on lthforum.com—the Chicago Culinary Chat site. We can always use new blood, and the last restaurant named that (in Skokie) has been long gone.
random8r
on 13 Dec 06Wow… so you’re publicizing him to the world! He’s gonna get real busy, real quick… ;-) Will that improve the eco-system of his business, or not? Did you pre-think this, or is it simply a matter of not pre-thinking? I’m just interested in what goes on before you post.
Methinks you may potentially need a reservation soon ;-)
Brian
on 13 Dec 06I clicked through to this post from my feedreader (Google Reader), but have just unsubscribed from the SvN feed. Why? I just saw my first advertisements in your feed – a banner for a credit card company that appeared at the bottom of recent posts.
I’ll miss reading SvN, but it was just one feed out of the hundreds that I skim, and I’m not ready yet to be subjected to advertising in feeds.
Bye guys.
Dan Boland
on 13 Dec 06Thanks for the tip. I’ll have to try it out sometime.
Tim
on 13 Dec 06This sounds like a great restaurant and I’ll have to visit the next time I’m in Chicago, but… What’s up with the credit card banner ad? I don’t mind The Deck (discrete and tasteful and apropos), but that banner seems like a real departure from the 37s philosophy I’ve come to appreciate. What gives?
Leo
on 13 Dec 06Sounds good but how’s the Couscous?
blindapeinc.
on 13 Dec 06@brian: Are you sure the advertising comes from 37signals? I don’t get advertising on their feed. I suppose thats coming from your google newsreader…
@37signals Now I’ll have to book flights for Chicago ;-)
David
on 13 Dec 06I don’t think I’ll be able to get to Chicago any time soon, but if you want a similar experience in Leeds, UK, I’d head to Fairuz. Impossible to describe where it is, but friendly service, and delicious, well priced, Lebanese food.
Brian
on 13 Dec 06@blindape: Actually, I think that Feedburner, SvN’s feed provider, is probably the one inserting the ads. From a subscribers pov, though, it doesn’t matter.
Maybe your reader is stripping out the ads or you’re not subbed to the Feedburner feed? shrug
I remain unsubbed, but will check back here a few more times over the next several days to see whether the SvN team does something to yank the ads.
See: http://feeds.feedburner.com/37signals/beMH
Peter Hentges
on 13 Dec 06I had a similar experience at a Carribean restaurant in Minneapolis. The owner took the order, cooked, served and handled the check and my friend and I were the only people there for most of our meal. I love finding little places like that, so thanks for the recommendation; I’ll be sure to look it up next time I’m in Chicago.
JF
on 13 Dec 06See ya later, Brian.
We’re experimenting with running Feedburner ads in the feeds every few posts. We’ve done it before in the past for short periods of time and we’re doing it again now.
But this isn’t the proper thread to discuss this. This post was about a restaurant in Chicago. Let’s please keep this on topic. I’ve removed some of the off-topic comments and any further off topic comments will be removed.
Chris
on 13 Dec 06I actually went to Morocco last Christmas for the first time and the country as a whole probably has the simplest general menu. There were honestly about 4 different types of meals across the whole country (yes, we really cross the whole thing end to end), and we got very bored with it very quickly.
However, with that said, the opportunity cost of not getting something else you wanted is never there, so even though the menu is boring, you’re eating something great every time!
AW
on 13 Dec 06Once when my wife and I were in Marrakech (Jami al fana) flea market and I went to buy some shoes. The owner didn’t have my size but sat me down and told me not to go anywhere. He ran as fast as he could to got some shoes from other stores and brough them over to see if they fit.
At the end – he wanted the customer not just the 1 sale.
Despite this – Moroccans are known fo their hospitality. If you go to buy something, you’ll end up w/tea or fresh expresso in your hand while they ring you up. This might sound weird to us, but life is much simpler and moves slower over there.
nickd
on 13 Dec 06I like how the only restaurant rec on this blog ever (to my knowledge) is three blocks away from my house. Win.
Alex
on 13 Dec 06Interestingly enough, this is exactly similar to a restaurant that opened up across from my work just recently. It’s called Tagine, and it is also Moroccan cuisine.
I have made friends with the owners and chef as I am there almost twice a week now. It’s a dimly lit with circular oak tables, couches with comfortable pillows and low-lying stools.
The food is absolutely amazing. I have never had a bad meal. They bring dishes on the house and I always have good conversations.
I have to say, it’s my favorite place to eat in LA. Glad there are other places like it.
Mike
on 13 Dec 06$3 corking fee?!? That’s inhumane. Nothing simple about that.
Shane
on 13 Dec 06The only Mediterranean restaurant in my neighborhood was just replaced by a hot dog place. Never mind that there is already one across the street. I really need to move out of Lincoln Park. Wicker Park is my top choice so far.
Rachel
on 13 Dec 06noooo! shh, this place was supposed to be a secret! Just kidding…though one of the things i like about it is empty it is even though it’s great food and service. However (and Jason let me know if you feel differently) I was really hoping for better in the falafel department, mostly because I can not find a place that does falafel really well in this city for the life of me and find myself driving to Pita Inn whenever I want some. Anyway, I haven’t had their falafel in about a year but I found it mealy and missing something…maybe they’ve changed the recipe or I tried it on a bad night.
@Shane…are you talking about Kabul House? I used to drive by there all the time and we finally decided to get around to going and it closed! Grrr.
JF
on 13 Dec 06Rachel, I haven’t tried the falafel there. Have you tried Sultan’s Market on North Ave just west of Damen?
Dan Boland
on 13 Dec 06Pita Inn…. Homer Simpson drooling noise
Rachel
on 14 Dec 06@Jason – I have, and maybe again it was bad luck but I wasn’t blown away. Definitely the best I’ve tried in the city but they came to me kinda mushy and slightly overspiced, or the spice was off-balance or something. Listening to myself, it’s possible I’m a falafel snob. :) I did falafel-and-hummus my way through the better part of a trip to Israel so maybe I’m just being picky. Though, seriously, Pita Inn is considered a semi fast food version of mediterranean food but their falafel is pretty spot on, at least to my taste. Second on the Homer Simpson drool…
Ben
on 15 Dec 06Ah yes. Sultan’s Market…
I recently relocated from Chicago after living there for a decade, and it’s always on the list of places to go to when visiting friends. Now, Marrakech Cuisine has made the list.
We should be reminded regularly that there’s more to life than clean code, elegant design, and biz dev optimization. Thanks for the food posts.
Rocking Morrocan
on 15 Dec 06I would have Kafta Kabob and taktouka on the side I am assuming that it comes with homemade bread, with some Briwat Rolls for desert.. yummy :)
Rob
on 15 Dec 06Yeah, I’m going to try it tonight, its just about right down the street from me. I just moved into Chicago about 3 1/2 months ago.
matt
on 18 Dec 06i don’t get the whole sultan’s market thing. Everybody seems to rave about it, but it seems a bit overrated…like that other place up there Feast. Another similar little hole (maghrebine as opposed to moroccan though) is couscous over on taylor. Hole in the wall…guy who takes your order usually cooks your food. Falaffel are decent…hummus is the bomb…skip the couscous…the tagines are quite excellent. Service isn’t that great so go when you’re not in a hurry (cause he’s usually the only guy there).
Heather Paquin
on 19 Dec 06This sounds so delicious, I’m going to have to buy some rose water right away!
This discussion is closed.