El Mansour Reviews

We make the reservation 1 week before the day and I explained it was for birthday for a people who came from Europe. When we arrived, we received a table for 2 but I reserved for 3. we asked to have an another table, the restaurant was almost empty, but they said us that if we were not happy, we could leave! We left and we had to find a another restaurant to celebrate the birthday but it was 10 pm!!! I work for an international magazine and I will wrote a review on it!

We went early on a Wednesday evening, when the place was not crowded at all. Fantastic personalized service, very inviting environment, and delicious food. The menu is all prix fixe now, with full five course dinners going for $40-42. Every course was freshly prepared, in-house and from scratch. The wine list was good and reasonably priced as well. And while eating with your fingers (right hand only!) was encouraged, forks were provided for those uncomfortable with this way of eating. Plan to spend 1 1/2 to 2 hours to experience this culinary delight course by course.

I have eaten at over a hundred Moroccan restaurants around the world (one of my favorite cuisines). Tonight 3 of us had the Feast with Lamb with honey and almonds and Lemon Chicken. Great food, excellent service. This place ranks among the best I've had. Would go back again.

Visited this restaurant after a hard days work. What a delightful place to sit down and unwind. You don’t even have to get up to wash your hands because the washer is brought to you. We all shared the tester platters, had 2 Moroccan bottles of wine, and enjoyed Tabatha, the belly dancer.

I haven't been to El Mansour for years, but the last time I went, it was good. Good food, live entertainment and a fun atmosphere -- a great way to spend the evening. Make sure you clear your evening because the dinner is served in five courses, culminating in mint tea. Also, belly-dancing starts at 8pm. For entrees, I recommend the honey lamb with almonds. Also, do NOT pass on the chicken bastela -- amazing!!

An entertaining and unique experience in the city. Came here on a whim on Friday night and were lucky to be seated (reservations really recommended.) Loved everything about our experience; the cushioned seating, the music and entertainment, the hand-washing service, we felt really pampered and taken care of. Lest you think this is just some gimmicky place, rest assured the food was excellent. We started off our 5-course meal with their silky lentil soup, followed by their salad plate, and the delightful bastilla. Our entrees — chicken with lemons and olives, and couscous with vegetables — were great. We ended the evening with knafeh, fried bananas and mint tea. Definitely a place to check out!

I love this place. Every time I come here I feel like I have left the U.S. It's beautifully draped in tapestries and low candlelight, The belly dancers are so entertaining and it's great for families At around 32$ a plate (a steal for San Francisco) for a 5 course meal including desert and handwashing with rose water it's a great value and experience. Great for birthdays and anniversaries.

We loved El Mansour! The food was to die for, and was a unique and fun experience. Be sure to allow a significant chunk of time to fully experience the meal--about 2 hours. It begins with a handwashing ceremony, since no utensils are provided. Guests sit on low cushions in an eye-pleasing Moroccan tent-like room. The meal is served family-style, except for the main dish. The crispy, sweet, crepe-like chicken appetizer is wonderful! All the main dishes (we shared) were delicious--flavorful, but not over-spiced. We were glad that the tasty dessert was small, since we were already full by that time! Oh, and then the belly-dancing began! That's when my brother expressed his appreciation of the place. The dancing was fun and sensual, but tasteful. There was nothing to discomfort the families with kids. The staff were all friendly, and helpful in deciding what to order. (The menu is basically prix-fix style, and about $30 per person.) Street parking was slightly challenging, but we did OK. They open at 5:00; we made reservations for 6:00, but noticed the crowd didn't really pick up until 7:00 or so. Belly dancing begins at 8:00. We will be back!

AGREED A DIFFICULT ATMOSPHERE AND THE HUBBUB ADDS TO THE PLACE'S CHARM BUT THERE'S NO DENYING OLD FASHION RESTAURANTEURING IS IMPORTANT.   AT THE START OUR PARTY OF FIVE WERE SEATED BY THE HOSTESS AT THE "WRONG" TABLE AND HAD TO MOVE ACROSS THE ROOM WITH NO HELP SINCE WE HAD ALREADY BEEN SERVED THE FIRST COURSE.  THE NEW TABLE HAD BEEN SET SO DISHES AND GLASSES JUST PILED UP.  NONE OF THE STAFF SEEMED TO CARE. ALL WERE WATER BOYS. OUR ORIGINAL SERVER JUST DISAPPEARED. WE FINALLY FLAGGED THE HOSTESS DOWN AND ASKED FOR HELP.  WHEN ASKED WHERE OUR SERVER WAS SHE SAID HE WAS BUSY "MAKING DRINKS'>  BY THE THIRD COURSE THE SERVER REAPPEARED. THEN DISAPPEARED AGAIN. NONE OF US EVER GOT OUR HANDS WASHED AND AS FAR AS I COULD TELL NOBODY IN THE PLACE DID DUE TO THE STAFFING ISSUES.  GREAT BELLY DANCER BUT THE FOOD WAS JUST OKAY AND THE PORTIONS TINY. THE MYSTERIOUS SERVER FINALLY REAPPEARED WITH A $650 BILL IN HAND ($100 GRATUITY INCLUDED). I BELIEVE A NEW OWNER TOOK OVER THE PROPERTY A YEAR AGO AND THEY SHOULD START GOING BACK TO THE ORIGINAL FELLOW'S POLICIES.  DON'T KILL THE GOLDEN GOOSE.

For an all around good time you can't beat belly dancing and eating with your fingers. Morocco is one of my favorite countries and this food is very authentic and yummy. The lamb with prunes brought back very fond memories. The lentil soup also reminded us of eating on the street with donkeys and dust. Fabulous.

Not too many people there when we entered ( it was right near the Legion of Honor museum in the Clement area and so we took a chance on it) and we were happily surprised at its excellence. Very traditional decorations- parquet tables and cushions and the many course dinner typical of Moroccan restaurants. Our waiter was great. We began with the washing of the hands which is traditional, had wonderful lentil soup, lovely spreads and pickled vegetables followed , then the "pigeon pie" ( not the best I've ever had but very good) and then I had the chicken with honey and prunes which I thought was very good. My brother had the chicken kabobs and liked them a lot ( easy to overcook- which they did not) and there were several other lamb and couscous dishes. All much appreciated. We had really good fried bananas and a cream derssert with a thin wafer crust which were extremely tasty. We had the traditional mint tea, washed our hands again- and congratulated ourselves on a "find". This restaurant deserves to be busier.

Often times it is challenging to find good vegan and vegetarian options on a menu, but it was so easy here. Our pre-fixed dinner was truly authentic and delicious, and the service was impeccable. We also greatly appreciated the unique cultural atmosphere of the restaurant. Treat yourself to a unique experience-- you'll be pleased that you did!

Dress casual because you will be sitting on pillows. Mediterranean atmosphere to the hilt. I love the way they serve tea.

basically a room with tables around the outside and room for the belly-dancer inside. Very private and the service was very personal. It was a very different experience and worth the cab ride if you want something a bit different. Food was great.

I had read the stellar reviews and checked in early on a weekday with my golfing partner after playing at the adjacent golf course. It started out well with very welcoming and friendly service in a nicely decorated place with original Middle Eastern rugs, cushions and tables. They did play the same Gypsy King tape (Spanish) all over again:-) I also do agree with previous reviewers that the hand washing service is a nice touch. However, then it started going South: The menu only consists of prix fixe dinners at $40.00 incl. soups, pre-selected appetizers, deserts etc. No choice of separate appetizers (hummus, tabuleh, falafel, olives, salads, entrees which usually makes this cuisine so interesting and diverse) We were advised that we could order the entrée only which we did. Wines by the glass are only cheap brands @ $8.50 per glass. The chicken kebab was tasty with a small portion of couscous and veggies. Pretty average at best. The disturbing part was the check that spelled out charges for the full prix fixe dinners. I let the waiter run my credit card before I asked him about the rather high charge for a simple chicken dish. Without a second of hesitation he admitted the mistake and presented us with $40.00 in cash to compensate for the difference. I leave it up to the reader to make up your own mind of what you would think about that. Still, $20.00 for a simple chicken kebab dish seems rather on the high side for a restaurant that basically has very limited menu choices. Not sure how this place gets all the good reviews? My advice: check out other places. I will!

The entry of this restaurant reminded me of Morocco with the tlle and architecture. Once we sat down and I looked at the ceiling, it seemed more faux. I was pleasantly surprised to find the food delicious. It was not inexpensive, but the portions were generous. There were a couple of big groups there (as customers) and the belly dancer's performance made me feel like I was at a Disney property.

The chicken with prunes is so yummy and the best Bastela ever. Such happy memories...

This place was absolutely phenomenal! We came here on a Tue night. We were the only customers here so it felt like we had a private dinner even all to ourselves! The waiter one of the best waiters I have ever had! Even though the owner is Asian, the waiter is Moroccan. So he knew his stuff when we had questions regarding the food. We opted for the 5 course and chose the honey lamb and the chicken with lemon and olives. My favorite was the chicken with lemon and olives however the lamb was phenomenal as well! By the time the meat came out, I was so stuffed I could barely eat half of what was on my place. This is probably one of the best Moroccan restaurants I've ever been to. I loved the rose water at the end. I couldn't stop smelling my hands. The belly dancer was amazing! Apparently the night we went, this particular belly dancer is an award winning belly dancer and has won numerous competitions. She only performs Tue and Sun nights. She is amazing! We even got private lessons for free! All in all, we would definitely come back here. My friend and I absolutely fell in love with this place. It's definitely one of my favorite restaurants in SF and definitely the #1 most memorable dinner experience I ever had.

This in my second time. The service and the food are excellent. The owner Soufiane makes you feel at home. The lamb, the pastella, are out of this world. He actually deviated from the menu and at our request had the kitchen make us pastella with lamb instead of chicken. I recommend this place for an evening of excellent food and the entertainment of belly dancers.

If you want a true family dining experience, this is your place! The food is great and it the restaurant takes you back as if you were in Morocco. There is some dancing and you may get chosen to do a little dancing. This is worth a trip if you're getting tired of hotel restaurants, etc.

Extremely disappointing! Lentil soup was edible but from there it was all downhill. Lamb tough and overcooked. Seasoning was weak for Moroccan! Never to return.

What a find and delicious dining experience. As soon as you walk through the door, you feel like you've been transported to Morocco. The atmosphere is warm and friendly, the staff and owners make this a memorable experience. The food is delicious and very generous portions. The price of the meal includes soup, relish platter, bread, Bastilla...OMG, your main course, and then dessert complete with mint tea. Definitely a dining experience!! Love this place.

Off the beaten path, but worth an uber. You walk into this gem and are warmly greeted. Seated at low, plush couches, the server will come and wash your hands for you. Following that, you are in for a delicious multi-course meal and good wine. We have never been disappointed with any selection. You'll end with hot tea poured the traditional way. Make reservations and ask for a seat in the dining area farthest from the front door. Also, there is wonderful belly dancing so make sure to arrive before that. Be prepared to dance - it's a fun, interactive experience.

Atmosphere: Very exotic and Moroccan (I guess you could say) with ambient lighting, colorful walls and draped ceilings. The whole restaurant is not big at all and there are several corners for different tables of guests to sit at. Service: Our waiter was funny, efficient and accommodating. It's custom to only use your hands to eat Moroccan cuisine, without utensils, but the 7 of us were squeamish about ripping parts of our shared entrees by just using our hands so we asked for utensils and the waiter was very understanding. I think he was Moroccan. He also explained the dishes to us well. I especially liked the rose water cleanse at the end of the meal. It made my hands smell so good and made it feel extra soft. Food: The food was always served promptly. We had the lentil soup (really good), salad and dips which we ate with the constantly refilled bread, a sweet and savory chicken pot pie, several entrees of lamb, seafood and chicken, mint tea and dessert. The food was all delicious. The chicken pot pie is really unique because it had powdered sugar on top of it, yet the filling was salty. The entrees of lamb were all cooked to fork tender. Basically, nothing I could complain about the food. Entertainment: The belly dancer that danced that night initially basically stayed on the other side of the room as they were tipping her a lot. But mid way of her 30 min show, she came more towards our side of the room. We tipped her and she taught a few members of my family how to dance. She also did a cool sword balancing act on her head. Overall, I would come back again but only if I had a special occasion to celebrate.

it was a'ight. the napkins (towels) smelled funky... i enjoyed the belly dancing though (not me belly dancing but the entertainment).

It is hard to say that the food is the best in the city, but it is very good. What makes this a 5-star restaurant is the atmosphere and entertainment. First, off the decorations are all from Morocco --- these are not fake decorations --- you have the experience of being in a tent with fine seating arrangements --- don't worry you don't sit on the floor (though you can eat without silverware if you want --- using the delicious bread). Ordering --- on the right side of the menu there are about thirty dishes ---- you have about three "meats" (actually cous cous, chicken, or lamb) with various combinations (i.e. with olives, with vegetables; with honey). With the meal, comes soup, a vegetable plate, bread, chicken pie appetizer and dessert). Love everything (I have ordered the honey lamb and the chicken with vegetables). I can't say which I like the most: the soup, the bread, the chicken pie appetizer or the honey lamb.....all are "5" rated. During the meal, there usually is a belly-dancer performing for about 20-30 minutes --- sometimes at 7:30 and sometimes at 8:30 (maybe both). She gives lessons for the last 5-10 minutes for those that want to embarass themselves or had a little to much to drink. It does not matter which of the 12 or so tables that you sit at --- she visits all the tables (she loves receiving tips). TIP: great place for a birthday celebration; tell Jack the owner and he will sing HB for you.

really exotic good food.

El Mansour is the perfect place for a fun and whimsical evening out. The service was outstanding, the food was good, and the atmosphere was unique and cozy.

I love Moroccan and Mediterranean food, so I try all the Moroccan restaurants I can find. No other Moroccan restaurant in the SF Bay Area pulls it off like El Mansour. The full dinner is an experience you won't forget (or regret), even though it's a little pricier than other meals ($36-$38/person). The inside is a big tent covered with rugs. They begin with big silver urns for washing hands, then bring on course after course that is delicious. The chicken Bastilla (chicken pie in filo dough--appetizer) is the best I have tasted. The lamb and rabbit entrees are delicious. No silverware, but you get a towel. Tea is poured from a great height with fried banana dessert, concluding the drama of the meal. Nice wines are available to go with the meal. We make reservations for holidays and always enjoy the entertaining meal, as well as a belly dancer. I've been going there for 30+ years and still go back!

My husband and I celebrated our anniversary by having dinner at El Mansour. Our night couldn't have been better. We had never tried Morrocan food before but came in with an open mind and empty bellies. Our dinner started with bread and delicious lentil soup. Then traditional Moroccan salad and an appetizer that is like if you mix a chicken pot pie with funnel cake. It was delicious. Our main course was chicken and vegetables and my husband had the chicken and lamb. All flavorful and tender. Bread still making the rounds. While we enjoyed our main course we enjoyed a beautiful bellydancer who let some of us patrons join in on the dancing. We finished with dessert and delicious mint tea. Our server even brought us a special surprise for our celebration. Overall an amazing experience we both enjoyed fully.

Food was delicious and the atmosphere was great! We had 3 kids ranging from 2-9 who all really enjoyed it as well. They were very friendly with the kids, and the belly dancer even brought them up to dance with her!

I have eaten at El Mansour for almost 40 years and I enjoyed it every time. They have had the same chef for 29 years so the menu and food are consistently good. It had been several years since my last visit so I was very pleased that my favorite dishes were still available. All the lamb choices are scrumptious. You should try one even if you're hesitant. It is such a unique and different dining experience and you should allow at least two hours from start to finish. It is a several course meal starting with soup and bread and special salad plate that everyone shares. Next comes a delectable chicken appetizer with flaky pastry crust coated in powdered sugar. After the main coarse, the meal ends with banana fritters and special hot mint tea. Most evenings there is a belly dancer to entertain.

Celebrated a birthday here sunday evening. Top notch service from the moment we walked in, the staff went above and beyond. The belly dancer Samaia was impressive and engaging, she got a large number of guests to dance with her and her set was fun to watch. The food was superb as always. Multiple courses, full of flavor and served with delicious bread that is far too easy to fill up on. If going with a group get the family platter so that you can try a bit of everything. The sweet chicken and the savory lamb ( my favorite ) , perfectly cooked kabobs all complimented by veggies and cous-cous, you can't go wrong!

Friends who live in the area invited us to dinner when we were visiting. The food was delicious and even our not-so-daring-an-eater high schooler loved it. I can usually do without a belly dancer on the restaurant floor, but the setting for this made it work. I had the cous cous with chicken, but the honey almond chicken was a good choice by others at my table.

Last week while in San Francisco we went to El Mansour Moroccan restaurant. From the very start to the end the experience was excellent. We were greeted at the door extremely warmly by the owner and were immediately seated. We had a five course meal which was really delicious in every aspect. The waitstaff is very knowledgeable and extraordinarily pleasant so the experience there was superb. We had arrived by cab and before the end of the meal were told by the host that he had already called for a cab for our return trip. When the cab didn't arrive after 20 minutes he stood with us while we waited for the cab to arrive. We definitely will return to El Mansour when we are in San Francisco.

My dear friends were out to please me--I had one " lay-over" meal in San Francisco before boarding a flight to Taiwan. We hadn't dined together for at least four years, and they call San Francisco home. We are all centered on the food-- is it fresh, prepared with love and skill, surprising you just a bit, while satisfying you totally? Is it worth the price? El Mansour delivers on all of this and more. The restaurant itself is deceptively large, with upstairs dining as well as a lively main floor bar scene. We had to prod the hostess to give us a better table so we could talk. The star of the meal was the whole roasted snapper. It was crusted with exotic spices, cooked to perfection, with an after taste of the ocean and dreams. The flat bread is not really aflat bread, but it sure is delicious, and the eggplant appetizer was not the usual preparation. This is a place where you eat family style, sharing plates and staking out territory on the morsels you crave. Each bite makes you want more. I would have rated this a 5 star except for our quirky waiter who interrupted us at inappropriate times and had way more of an opinion than is clled for. He did suggest letting the bartender create a custom cocktail when I inquired about a cucumber/ vodka. drink (True food in Denver serves one that is heaven on earth). The resulting drink was cucumber, ginger, vodka and a few things I couldn't quite place because I consumed it so quickly. Just a wonderful evening and meal, with friendship, great food, and tastes that linger.

Moroccan is a cuisine I actively seek out when travelling. I love it! This is a fairly typical example. Like many Moroccan restaurants, this is not the most comfortable set-up for westerners accustomed to sitting in chairs with backs. Here we sat at low tables on couches and stools. It was fine for us, but might not be for others. The staff have been schooled in the art of the show, but still it feels kitchy. A belly dancer was in when we were there and it made us all uncomfortable. The food is generally very good although we were persuaded (as were most around us) to order the Moroccan platter with an assortment of the main courses to share. This wasn't a bad idea for the first timer, but I think the individual specialty servings are probably a better bet. We liked much of the main offering, but no one enjoyed the seafood. We loved the veggie couscous and the lamb and chicken tagines (the sweet ones are really special). The starters from salads to soup to Bastela (my personal fave) were fantastic, and are all included with the meal. No one in our party enjoyed the dessert (also included and would have preferred more of the salads up front and no dessert at all. The sweet mint tea flows freely. The hand washing is a nice touch. There do not appear to be any Moroccans on the scene, though perhaps in the kitchen, because whoever is cooking knows well what they are about.

I've been going to this place for many, many years, and am happy to report it's just as good as ever. The place itself is charming to eat in--you can sit on a comfortable banquette or an a cushion on the floor, Moroccan style. The food is superb, with a wide selection of all kinds of tagines, couscous, and other Moroccan specialties. For the adventurous, I highly recommend the rabbit. But all the dishes are great, so you can't go wrong. And to top it off, there's usually a belly dancer performing on weekends.

What a unique cultural experience! Took my boyfriend here for his birthday and though there were families and groups, it didn't take away the romantic and cozy ambiance. The staff was welcoming and attentive and the food was delicious with a capital D. The belly dancing was an added bonus to what was already an amazing dining experience. A bit pricey but well worth it!

Went there when I was visiting family who lived in San Francisco. Very traditional Moroccan restaurant. The service was fantastic, the food was amazing. The belly dancer Khalilah was impressive and show so much talent, she made many guests including myself to dance with her. This is a place without a doubt worth going to if you live in San Francisco or visiting the place as a Tourist/traveller.

Tasty authentic Morrocan cuisine in a lively and very social environment. If you're looking for a different cultural experience and all together good time you should definitely try this place out.

We came here to celebrate a special event with family. We opted for the family-style meal which was a great way to try a selection of dishes. The fresh bread was served hot and none of the food was disappointing. The atmosphere was fun and the service was attentive. As we were getting ready to go a bellydancer started a show, which looked like a lot of fun.

The soup (opening course) was the most memorable part, but everything else was really good. We had the lamb with almonds: tender and savory. There was a belly dancer who was charming. And I love the traditional Moroccan decor, with fabric panels on the wall, carpets on the floor and pillows to sit on next to a low table. The service was extremely good. Parking is a little tight; you may have to park many blocks away, but hey, it is San Francisco after all. It's also a little pricey, but considering what you get (decor, food, service and entertainment) I think it's worth at least one visit. We will go again.

it had been more years than I could count since I dined here, but the restaurant still holds up to my memories. It was a quiet, rainy Tuesday night, with only 3 other tables being used, but our foursome still had a great time and the belly dancer had us all on our feet, stumbling along with her! The food is as I recalled - starting with a lentil soup and yummy bread, followed by a tasty salad platter and then bastia, a tasty pastry shell, covered with sugar, with spicy chicken inside. Entrees ranged from chicken served with lemon and olives, to lamb in a honey sauce, all well prepared. Something different and a lot of fun.

I came here once several years ago, so I thought I'd give it a whirl. I must say it is still as amazing as ever, with the same sit-on-floor seating arrangement, big platters full of meaty kabobs, gallons of wine, etc. The belly dancer was hypnotic. What can I say? something about the combination of the gyrating hips, whirling scarves, wine and red meat transported me. I may have gotten in a little trouble with my date, given my attention to the nuance of the dance, but when she took it upon herself to try a bit of solo, later at home I knew I'd be back someday.

Returned here after several years. The quality has remained excellent. Each of the four of us ordered something different, so I was able try many things. Everything was delicious, with many herb and spice combinations that are unusual compared to Western cuisine. A belly dancer performed for several minutes. This was worthwhile, but ended after about a half hour. Even though I enjoyed the performance, I was glad that it ended because the volume of the music was such that we couldn't comfortably chat among ourselves.