Marrakesh Restaurant Reviews

This was more than dinner it was a cultural experience! With delicious food and excellent service you are in for a treat. A PERFECT date night! They do a 5 course meal for everyone who comes in, but is very reasonably priced. They’re also on Groupon.

My wife and I came here several years ago and loved it. So we made a special trip there while passing through Portland a few weeks ago. We were rather disappointed. The food was good, but nothing to get excited about. I found a couple of the dishes too sweet. To top it off the carpet was old and very dirty. Not a good thing when you are sitting on the floor on a small cushion!

Okay I like eating with my hands, with great savory food, very good service, good conversation. Because we had four people we had "the feast" which included five main dishes, a huge amount of food, very diverse selection from their nightly specials. You can order individual plates and share these, less food, still a great diversity of choices.

So much food, it was really good, on the sweet side. The restaurant was heaving with families and couples. The staff are very pleasant, a good one off experience - I may be too old too enjoy sitting on the floor and eating with my fingers, fun if you are in the right frame of mind!

Enjoyed a great meal here in the Northwest district of Portland. You are seated on cushions on the floor and given a towel for you lap, You hands are washed at the table and then you get Soup, then a salad to share, then a shared Appitizer, then each person chooses a main dish, we had Spicy Lamb and Apricot Chicken, both very good, then pudding and tea for dessert. Then your hands are washed again at the table, No silverware is used so you eat with your hands, Very good service and excellent food.

My son, husband, and I visited the Marrakesh Moroccan Restaurant for a Sunday dinner. We used a Groupon for two of our meals, which made it more affordable. We all ordered the 5 course meal, as the ala carte menu is only available on weekdays. We were quickly seated and our waiter explained how the food was served because this was our first time. We made it through the hand washing and our first course was quickly delivered. The lentil soup was delicious, and the salad was too. The appetizer that followed -- a pastry filled with meat and egg and dusted with powdered sugar -- was shared by my husband and son as I don't eat meat. For our entrees, my son ordered the Brochette Marrakesh (lamb skewers), my husband ordered the tagine of braised hare, and i ordered the couscous T-faya (couscous with onions, raisins and chickpeas). My husband was the only one willing to try everything and he declared the lamb skewers the winner. The couscous was good, but a bit hard to eat with my hands. All of the servings were good sized and we did not go away hungry. The tapioca-type pudding and mint tea that were served last were tasty and not too heavy, which was good because we were pretty full. I was glad that we arrived relatively early because the place filled up, and the later diners seemed to be waiting a long time for their next course to arrive. We suffered a rather long wait at the end to get our desserts and bill. There were only two servers and they were having a hard time keeping up with the courses at all of the tables when it was full. I'm not sure we'll return. It was fun but time-consuming, and eating with our hands was not especially enjoyable. The food, however, was delicious. If sitting on tufted stools and eating with your hands is fine with you, and you have lots of time, I would recommend Marrakesh. Last comment: we didn't see any belly dancers, though I suspect that they don't always appear on Sunday evenings.

I had never been to an authentic Moroccan restaurant, and we were staying at a hotel just across the street, so my mom and I decided to give it a try. You enter and it's very dark, with no natural light. It almost feels like you've entered another world. You can sit on the floor, on cushions, or on plush chairs. The menu had plenty of great choices, both exotic and tame. I was a little annoyed that they wouldn't let me make modifications (I wanted the sides on a chicken dish but with lamb instead). But the food ended up being wonderful. The salad wasn't at all what I expected, with delicious eggplant. My lamb kebabs were flavorful and delicious. My mom really enjoyed her cous cous dish. At one point, loud music turned on and a scantily-clad woman came out and belly danced around the restaurant. It's a little weird to have someone shake their near-naked selves right next to you as you eat dinner, but it was kind of mesmerizing to watch. It seemed as though some other patrons came just for the belly dancing show. Service was slow, but I think there were only 2 waiters working. But prices were reasonable and the food was very flavorful! An interesting experience for sure.

It wasn't just amazing food, but an entire experience! You pick your entree and get a full 5 course meal at an affordable price. Each dish is to die for. Plus you eat in a traditional Moroccan style, from the seating to washing your hands after courses (sometimes with orange blossom oil). The tea with dessert is also fantastic!

Decided to visit this restaurant by chance when saw it during the day on my way to Nob Hill. Very nice area by the way. Went later on a tuesday evening, so missed the belly dancers. As far as the food goes, I liked everything. My order consisted of 5 courses. The soup, the bread with the dip, the powdered chicken pastry, the beef kebabs with rice, dessert and tea. The decor and music is very appropriate and adds to the ambiance. The gentleman that served us was very friendly. It was ackward to eat with the fingers at first, but got used to it. Highly recommended place. Hop in the NS line street car and is right on the Northstrup and 22nd stop.

We are here visiting, and wanted to go and expierence something different. The ambience was great, our daughter Over in, the food was bountiful. We went when there was a belly dancer so great, great value.

Marrakesh has SUCH an interesting and exotic atmosphere. Fun sitting on the stools on the ground. We were delighted to find out that the meals are a standard 7-course meal! Started with a lentil soup –which we drank straight out of the bowl – followed (after a salad) by b’stilla royale, a DELICIOUS appetizer that consists of chicken, egg, and spices wrapped in phyllo dough topped with powdered sugar. Fantastic service. Nice to end the meal with Moroccan mint tea. We can’t wait to come again. Marrakesh is my top recommendation to eat in Portland. A really good value.

We had to wait quite a while by the door before anyone noticed us, but once we were seated the waiters were very helpful. They washed our hands at the table, and gave us large napkins to wipe our fingers, because at this place, you eat with your hands.The food was very good, and plentiful, but the best thing about this place is the atmosphere. Sitting at the low tables, on padded stools, the walls covered in rugs, It is as if you were transported to another country, and enjoying the hospitality there. The restaurant is in an older building, but even that lent itself to the feeling of having gone to visit a far away culture. They have some very good belly dancers, and and I noticed the table next to ours had a large group who were enjoying themselves so much! It was good to see.

We had reservations for 7 people and when we arrived we were seated right away. The restaurant has 2 floors and was very busy but in a festive way. Our server was very friendly and explained the menu well. We ordered the family feast, YUM! The presentation was wonderful. First our server poured water over our hands to wash up. The 1st thing we were served was a Morrocan salad and bread. We were then served a very unique appetizer of ground savory chicken covered in a filo dough, followed by lentil rice soup. The main dishes included 2 lamb dishes, one with couscous and one with egglant, and four chicken dishes-prunes & chicken, a spicy chicken, apricot chicken and a chicken shish. All the food was tasty and different. The dessert was a sweet yogurt with a toasted coconut topping. We enjoyed all of the food. I was at first taken aback that all of the food was to be eaten with bread or by hand rather than utensils and sometimes it would have been nice to have a plate but the food itself was tasty and unique. Just as our teenage sons were getting antsy to be finished a belly dancer started performing. She was excellent and really interacted with the guests. She performed several dances including a sword dance. Definately a fun place to take visitors.

like other reviewers, we felt the seating was uncomfortable, and the space between tables too narrow. Our waiter was not as helpful as we saw other waitstaff appeared to be. The menu was a five course meal. The best items were the savory lentil soup, the tasty salad, and this weird but wonderful pastry appetizer with meat and eggs in a phyllo dough with powdered sugar on top. The bread was good too. However, the main courses were not as memorable. I had lamb, which was tender, but the sauce was not worth savoring. My husband had chicken, and he felt the same way. The dessert was not to our taste. The belly dancer was charming.

They have an authentic moroccan setup (disclaimer: Never been to Morocco). Belly dancing, low tables seating, washing hands in a bowl on your table (servers do that). Its definitely a unique experience. they have a 5 course setup with $18 - $20 per person. Loved the mint tea which comes with the dessert. Servers were polite and quick. i gave it 4 stars because our table was very close (touching) to a couch where some other couple was already sitting at. Highly recommend reservations.

We ate at Marrakesh our last evening. It was wonderful! Great experience, like dining in someone's home. Did the full course meal. Service was excellent. Food was outstanding. From the hand washing to the end with the tea, everything in between was wonderful. This is something everyone should make time for when in Portland.

You will not be disappointed with Marrakesh. The food is excellent, staff is friendly and they get you food not too quickly and not to slow just perfect. Lots of vegetarian selections for the non meat eaters. I can not reccomend the food here enough. Hint they run a lot of Goupon's for a 5 course better meal deal. The rose water to clean your hands at the end is a little strange and keeps your hands smelling floral all night.....

We had the Roayl feast! Plenty of food for 8 of us! Every course was fabulous!! And of coirse there was a belly dancer!

If you haven't been here then you are missing a 5 course meal that is sure to please even the most critical of foodies. Set in the classic NW neighborhood of Portland Marrakesh delights the visual senses as well as taste. The painted/carpeted walls are reminiscent of middle eastern cultures, and create a feeling of community as you sit on one of the couches or cushions around low tables. The waitstaff is dressed to match the enviroment, and they even have belly dancers in the evenings. Be sure to bring some extra cash for tips. The Apricot chicken stole the show with its sweet flavors that are sure to please the pallete. Hot sweet mint tea and a custard finish off the meal perfectly, and settle the belly for the food coma that is about to ensure. Have a driver because you may pass out on the way home due to pure culinary pleasure.

Walking into this restaurant, you enter another world. There's a belly dancing prancing table to table, you eat with your hands, you receive a five course meal for under $20-now that's a formula for a great evening. I would highly recommend it. One warning, though- Many people sit down on floor cushions and misjudge the support, falling down on their tushies. Beware!

Made a reservation several weeks in advance for my wife and I. Special occassion so I rented a Limo. We pulled up and people were spilling out into the street. Got out of the Limo and driver pulled away. Worked my way inside, looked for a person to check in with. Couldn't find anyone at first. Finally, went back into the kitchen and found a person. Told me there was a long wait. Told them I had a reservation. They told me it would be 90 minutes or more. Called the limo driver back, asked him if he could recommend a good restaurant. He called and made arrangements for McCormick and Schmidt's. We walked right in and were led to a table. Treated very well and the food was fantastic. I have since used the same Limo Company and ask for the driver by name. I plan on visiting McCormicks again, but still haven't and probably never will visit Marrakesh again.

More food than we could handle and it was all good. Loved the phyllo dough appetizer filled with chicken and scrambled egg, dusted with powdered sugar. I had the chicken with apricots and husband had the lamb with eggplant - both great. the belly dancer was great and added to the experience.

This restaurant was right near our hotel so we decided to introduce our son to Moroccan food. The $20 5 course dinner was a steal, but some of the food was not particularly good. Soup was standard, the salad with bread was delicious. We were not fans of the bastilla that comes next but loved the chicken with lemon and olives. Dessert was inedible but the mint tea was sweet and perfection. The real star was the belly dancer who did an amazing sword dance and balanced it on her head for I don't know how long! We had a lovely young girl as a server and it was a relaxing environment. Just wish was a bit better. Still, it's worth a go just for the whole experience!

Took my boyfriend here for our 1 year anniversary/Valentine's Day day and it was an experience!! Pros: Tons of food for your money! The food is great and you will leave totally stuffed. The service is average but the authenticity of this place is amazing!! The waiters are dressed in authentic outfits and a belly dancer comes out every hour or so and gives a show!! Cons: Reserved a table for two since it was V Day and ended up doing "Family Seating" and got sat with two other couples.. That was awkward! All in all great place! Just be prepared to socialize with strangers ;)

We invited friends to this place. We had a couple of finicky eaters with us so it was a bit of a risk. I am glad to say they absolutely enjoyed it, and volunteered to take leftovers home. (We are visiting Portland so it wasn't an option for us to bag it up). The food was very, very good. Each dish was rich in flavor and a pleasure to eat. There were 6 in our party and we ordered the Feast which made it easy with pre-selected dishes. It was easy to substitute any of the dishes. This was very enjoyable!

My husband and I bought a coupon through Groupon for a 5 course dinner for $29 total. Our first course was Lentil soup second course was a salad Third course was B'stilla Royale which is a pastry thing filled with chicken and egg fourth course is an entree of our choosing and the desert was coconut pudding with mint tea. Before eating they wash your hands with warm water and oils. This was truly a fun experience, at 7:30pm a belly dancer come out and dances for about an hour. I will definitely be coming back with a group of friends.

Its been a couple of years but always go to Marrakesh when in portland. Its not for every week but a great evening with a sig. other or friends. Moroccan restauarants are not always easy to find and this is one of the best. The dancer adds to the experience. When

If there were negative stars that is what I'd give this place. We had reservations for Saturday night at 6. It was a very special occasion with close friends to celebrate a retirement. We had confirmed the reservation and we arrived just before 6. The entry was packed and we made our way to the host. Yes we had a reservation but we were told to" go find a bar and have a few drinks because it would be at least an hour, maybe more"! No apology? Nothing. We left and ended up having a wonderful dinner at Caffe Mingo! I should have paid attention to the numerous negative reviews. There are so many great choices with awesome service and people that care. Don't go here. Simple enough.

This is one of the best dining experiences in Portland - no other restaurant I have visited in Portland even comes close. The decor is great and makes you feel like you are in another culture. The waiters are in traditional clothing and they make the experience great with their hospitality. The tables are low, and you can sit on a low couch/banquette or on a low cushion. The waiter brings glasses of water and two bath towels. Then they bring over a kettle of warm water and a basin that you hold your hands over. They pour water over your hands to wash them. Next they bring bowls of lentil soup with Moroccan spices - very good. You drink from the soup bowls. Next comes some great bread and a salad of cucumbers and other vegetables - also very good. You eat with your hands. Next is a puff pastry and chicken appetizer - the pastry is sprinkled with powdered sugar and cinnamon - and the whole thing is delicious. After that is your choice of one of about 15 entrees. My husband had the rabbit tagine and I had the couscous with lamb and vegetables and more bread. I could not finish mine - so much food! You can have silverware if you request it, but eating with your hands is part of the experience. Next they bring back the warm water and basin to wash your hands. Then comes dessert and mint tea. They pour the tea from on high and they sprinkle your hands with rose water. While we were enjoying the coconut pudding and tea, the belly dancing started. All In all a great experience and a lot of flavorful food.

Never had Moroccan food? Not sure if you will like it? You will. Just go. If you have at least 4 people order the Royal Feast- chefs choice of a medley of plates. Upon entering you are literally whisked half way around the world, with low tables, seating on pillows, & a true dining experience with belly dancing (Wed-Sun).

This restaurant is an experience that everybody should try. Keep in mind it take you about 2 hours to eat dinner. Being is it the only Moroccan restaurant in town you really can't read it against anything. It is up to par with many that I've been to around the country. Certainly not the best but also certainly not the worst. Plan on spending $20 a person for the 5 course meal it's the only way to go and well worth the price.

I've been going there for years it has always been one of my favorite restaurants . But this time they fell on their face . A lot of this happening with covid . The B'stilla was outstanding, as usual. However the rest of the items were lacking flavor development. The harira was just a salty, lumpy soup. The zaalouk was full of lime juice. The sauces for the meat or now a thick, gooey sugary mess. A real put off. And it's still a delight to go to this restaurant I just wish they'd get their act back together. This visit warrants three stars but I gave them an extra star for ambience and for old-time sake

Very small, so very crowded, you definitely need to make reservations and you sit kind of elbow to elbow, but works if you want to meet new people. The service is great and the food is really good. Unfortunately the soup and appetizer that comes with the meal is always the same, but very good. The lamb entree I had was out of this world, very flavorful and melts in your mouth! You have to love eating with your fingers! Definitely an experience!

They accommodated our large group easily. Wonderful, tasty food, such a variety to enjoy. Amazing lamb, tender chicken, and veggie options as well. Plenty of food to take home afterwards...

So delicious! This restaurant is really fun, you sit on the floor on Moroccan poufs and eat with your hands.

...and the food was good, too! If you really want a dining experience that is both exotic and unusual, this is the place to go! We had a party of 8, and ordered The Feast, which was a good way to go. If you have a large group and order a few days ahead, you can get part or all of a lamb for your group dinner.

If you're looking for a cultural experience, this is a good place to be. First off - the food is great. That said, you kind of need to be more than a standard 'burgers and fries only' American person to eat here as the flavors are very different from that. The place is wonderfully decorated and you sit on these cushion-type ottomans close to the ground and the table is short. You'll place a towel over your lap, and they will bring water for your hands to be washed. You will order a main dish, however the rest of the five course meal is a standard thing. No utensils are used so you'll eat with your hands alone - although they will bring you utensils if you refuse to eat with your hands. The first thing up is soup (which you sip from the bowl), then a delicious cucumber and tomato salad with bread, then an appetizer that is bread-like with meat in the middle, and then the main course. I ordered the Chicken Brochette, although I wouldn't order it again (it was really just chicken and rice, which I feel I could have gotten elsewhere). Your hands are wash again and they sprinkle your hands with rose water, and then mint tea and a dessert is provided. The experience itself was very lovely. This isn't an 'in and out' restaurant, this is at least an hour as they give you plenty of time between meals. I actually quite loved that. My only complaint is that the waiter could have been friendlier. He was not very warm and seemed dismissive at the beginning of the service. However it was never rude and I will return in the future! No belly dancers was disappointing.

I was excited to try this place because every time I passed it there were lovely smells drifting out. The food was okay. nothing really struck me. None of the food was terribly bad but it certainly did not leave with wanting to come back for more. The service was very friendly and the decor fun. Could be a fun place to go with a group of people.

This is a really great Moroccan place! My husband and I are both vegetarian, and they were happy to accommodate. I would suggest making a reservation. We didn't have one, but arrived at 5:00pm, just as they opened. It was pretty packed by 6:30pm when we left. The food is delicious and the portions are HUGE.

When you step in the restaurant, you are instantly transported to another time and place. Seating is low and authentic to the experience. Food is delicious and plentiful. The waitstaff is gracious and helpful to new patrons.

Just returned from Morocco and felt like having Moroccan food so we drove across town- at rush hour (always a thrill) for take out.. Got ther when they told us to arrive but there was no food. They forgot to place the order. No apology, No offer of free food if we wait, nothing. Just- hey- you are busy. It was 5:30 on a Tuesday. There were three people in the restaurant. So now we know- this is their idea of busy. I guess we should all get used to this as the new normal now that marijuana is legal and a store is nearby. But it is my first experience with restaurant staff saying, hey- it's cool, we forgot. Well, it was not cool. It was unacceptable- to me. Maybe that is ok with you. In that case- this is your restaurant.

What an A plus meal. The food was delicious, from the lentil soup and appetizer that accompany every meal, to the healthy portions of delicious entrees, and the lovely tea and dessert. We liked sitting on stools low to the ground and on a couch with comfortable pillows, and my toddler daughter got a kick out of the no utensils policy and the tableside hand washing. The food and service were terrific and I can't recommend it highly enough. The portions are huge, so go here on an empty stomach or prepare to bring home leftovers.

The Marrakesh is a FUN restaurant. Come prepared for entertainment. We always get the feast and especially fun for 4 or more! Reasonable and very, very filling. The Belly dancer is fun to watch and very entertaining watching everyone watching her get tips!! LOL! The plum chicken and apricot chicken is my favorite but I also Love the greeen olive chicken! The servers are in costume and very professional, a little cold but that could be the moroccan way! It's a fun place to eat with your hands, sit on pillows and just feel like you are in another country! Great for birthdays, anniversaries, first time dates or any occassion. I have visited the Marrakesh about 15 times and have never been disappointed. It's priced right and the food is GREAT!

The atmosphere, food, and service at Marrakesh were outstanding from start to finish for our family of three, including an adventurous 14-year-old whom we convinced would find something to enjoy on the menu. We really enjoyed the immersive eating experience, from the seating around the low tables, eating with our washed hands, belly dancing, and five-course meal. The food was great, starting with the rich, hearty lentil soup, the shared salad of tomatoes, zucchini, and other other veg in a mushy sauce, to the yummy basket of bread. The appetizer was an amazing filo dough thing with scrambled eggs and chicken dusted with powdered sugar that was amazing, and probably our favorite part of the meal. For our entrees, I ordered a delicious chicken tagging with lemon and olives, my wife the couscous with chicken, and my daughter the chicken skewers with basmati rice. All three dishes were excellent, tasty, and way more food than we could eat, after already consuming three courses, so we took half of our food home. To wrap things up, we each had small slices of a milk/almond/egg pie thingy that was super-tasty, washed down with hot mint tea. Overall, a great dinner experience, attentive service, in a great atmosphere. Highly recommended among the many other excellent dining choices near 23rd Avenue.

We made reservations at Marakesh and were seated right away in the downstairs part of the space. Seating consits of smaller tables, low benches and cushions. We tried ordering the Moroccan beer and wine, but they had none of the beer. The red wine was actually pretty good. We opted for the 5 course meal which you choose your entree and the rest the same for everyone. You start by getting your hands rinsed off with a pitcher and a cistern on your table along with a hand towel as a napkin. The first course was a thick tomato based lentil soup you drink from the bowl. The second was a salad with chickpeas...this was hard to eat with no utensils, so you make do with bread. The next was a phylo dough chicken pie looking dish. Our entrees were a special breaded whitefish and a honey lamb. The dessert was mint tea and a fruit cup. All the food was delicious. It is a lot of food, but is fresh and delicious. Our server wasn't the most attentive of folks, but they seem to seat in waves, so she has many tables to hit at once. The belly dancer was a hit with the crowd as well, dancing to several songs and giving the tables the opportunity to slip money into her outfit. It was a lot of fun, the food was good and the price is reasonable. I would avoid sitting in the seats on the main floor near the entrance, The people waiting are kind of on top of the tables. We will definitely be back.

We had our daughters rehearsal dinner here, it was fun besides being really excellent food. You'll like it

I had their feast dish along with 4 friends. Truly an experience. Great food and excellent ambiance. We were well looked after and some fun entertainment added to the enjoyment.

The headline says it all, you can have great food but if your service is terrible, the experience is poor. I called more than a month ahead to reserve their party room. I paid a $100 deposit to hold it, very understandable. I had a party of 18. When our group arrived we were told first that there was no reservation. Then we were told that our reservation was not properly transferred from the computer to the reservation ledger for the night so the staff did not prepare. No accountability, no offers to comp even a single beer or glass of wine. Then our group of 18 was squished onto 2 small tables and we waited nearly 20 minutes for our drink order to be taken. Our waiter sensed we were unhappy and basically told me I had no right to be angry at him for a mistake that someone else had made. That was just the tip of the iceberg of rude service. Then when the bill came there was some shady dealing with gratuity followed by more rudeness when the bill needed to be split. I didn't even remember the food the next day, which is a shame because it was delicious. Bottom line: get it to go and take your important events elsewhere.

Marrakesh was the choice for our daughter's birthday dinner. The grandsons (ages 7 & 9) were intrigued by the seating, ottomans instead of chairs, eating with their hands and the dancing after dinner. They are inquisitive and our wait person patiently answered all our questions, so we all learned something in addition to enjoying dinner. The meal is several courses including soup, salad, bread and a sweet mint tea for dessert. Our group tried several of the lamb and chicken dishes. All were deemed excellent. It is a fun and tasty evening for a special occasion . I am

I love set menus in ethnic restaurants and this one was one of the best I've had. The 5 course meal for $20 was a fantastic bargain. Didn't have a single complaint about any of the dishes we were served. I had the hare that had a wonderful spicy sauce. Friends had a spicy lamb, chicken and lamb brochettes. Be prepared to sit on the floor where it is most comfortable .. and be prepared to eat with your fingers or scoop up the sauce with the bread. The "napkin" is about the size of a bath towel and I love seeing how saucy I can get them. The belly dancer made it alot of fun for a slow dinner with friends. I'd go back in a minute!

Dining at this Morracan restaurant is like stepping through the looking glass into another time and space -- the atmosphere feels authentic. The menu is primarily a gourmet experience of Moroccan roots; that lets you dive in a world of culture that is expressed through decor, service, and food. The attentive staff in dressed customary costumes of the region. The dishes are authentic to the region and served (mostly) family style in large serving bowls and plates from which one eats by dipping and scraping with fresh-baked bread pieces and one's own fingers (no silverware in this establishment). I have dined there enough times to strongly recommend the tagine of spicy lamb and also the braised hare - satisfyingly delicious! Check out the rest of the menu by visiting their website. Plenty for the vegetarian to choose from too. I don't recall if alcohol is available to drink, however, you won't miss it with the fantastic mint tea the generously plied throughout your dinner. Entertainment? Wait for the belly dancers to perform (tipping the dancers is encouraged). Watch out men, they may invite you to get up off your floor cushion, push away from your low table and join them. This is a place to eat slowly and share time with friends, a most enjoyable evening is in store for you.

Had been wanting to experience Marrakesh for a while and finally made a reservation for our date night! Charming atmosphere, friendly servers, good food, and a belly dancer made the evening terrific. In Moroccan style, the tables and seats are low and the food servings are shared. Most courses are eaten without utensils (though I'm sure if you asked they would bring some). We both selected lamb as an entree and it was incredibly tender and flavorful. Each of the five courses had unique flavors & were attractively displayed. Our server answered every question about ingredients and preparation. If you want a dinner that is a departure from the regular restaurant atmosphere, you must try Marrakesh. Make a reservation, the space fills up quickly.

Went here for a birthday party on a Friday night. The service was super slow, but food was pretty tasty. We just shared combination of chicken and lamb dishes. Nice ambiance with the belly dancers.

This is an experience as much as a meal. The ambience is wonderful, the food, which they bring at intervals, is delicious and fresh and really well done, the dancers are very good, the whole experience is a good one. You will feel like you've brushed shoulders with another culture.

Marrakesh is one of Portland's best date restaurants, because your reality is transformed from the moment you enter. From the rugs and tapestries covering the walls, to the heavy drapes blocking out all light, it literally feels as if you've entered a Bedouin sanctuary. The belly dancers make for great entertainment, and if you're so inclined, you're welcome to recline on large cushions on the heavily carpeted floor. You will leave STUFFED, and in all likelihood, you'll take good with you. All meals are served in five-course style, and there are a multitude of vegetarian options if you're so inclined. The waitstaff dresses in traditional Moroccan attire, and in every experience I've ever had here, the service has been warm, friendly, and absolutely attentive. Insider tips - while tempting, the Moroccan red wine leaves something to be desired. If you're in the mood for authentic drink, try the indigenous beer instead, or stick to something more mainstream. And the lamb is insanely tender (whether you get it with eggplant or raisins).

Went here for my bday celebration dinner with friends and family, six of us. We all really enjoyed ourselves; the food is amazing, belly dancers entertaining and great ambiance. It truly was a one of a kind morrocan cultural experience! Eating with your hands was a little challenging, you make it work by using the bread like a utensil. You can ask for utensils by request but it's just part of the experience. We all shared our food and I tried 4 different entrees and they were all delicious. The meat is so tender and falls off the bone. The lamb was very good and they had this special of the day, chicken in an amazing curry sauce. Yummy!

My wife and I stopped going to this restaurant because of the horrible service. Rude and inefficient staff. Six years later, we came back because of family visiting and wanting to experience the food and atmosphere. They screwed up our reservations but got us a table. There was a young waiter with an accent that was really getting on everyone's nerves. Rushed and rude even though the restaurant was about 1/2 empty. He forgot some of our order, didn't come back with water and also had an attitude. He had a trainee following him and even her looked embarrassed by his behavior. It took two hours for the entire meal. We were just waiting, staring at each other in disbelieve of how slow they can be. This was definitely the last time showing up over there. I actually apologized to our guests for ruining their night. I'll give it two stars just because some of the food was still decent.

I love this place and enjoy bringing friends visiting from out of town here. It is like dinner theater entertainment with great food and excellent service.

I discovered this place back in the early 90's when I lived in NW Portland. I have gone back for special occasions, dates, or whatever excuse that I could find whenever I had the chance. You really can't go wrong with an entrée selection. I have tried most of them. I usually go with one of the lamb dishes. The one with raisins is exceptional considering that I usually HATE raisins! Somehow they manage to make them palatable in that dish. I suggest making reservations early and to get there late enough in the evening for the belly dancers. That never gets old. I am trying to concoct an excuse right now to go.....

With advance reservations for 5:45, we arrived on time but were told we"d be seated in the basement but that it wasn't open for another 15 minutes. After a 20 minute wait, we were shown downstairs. The room is large and not of the same ambiance as upstairs - a disappointment. Service was slow - it seemed unnecessarily so. The waitress forgot several of the things we requested., Overall, food flavors were good and quantity of dishes served was quite ample. At the end, the waitress found about my grandson's birthday and brought a piece of baklava complete with candle. A nice touch, even though the pastry was rather dull and unimpressive. And, eating with fingers just isn't my thing, I guess. Overall, things would be much better if restaurant added depth to wait staff. But, food quality was interesting and certainly out of the ordinary.

Food was very good but service was surly until toward the end (maybe when the tip was looming). The waiter did not want to accept our Groupon, which said it was valid any day but New Year and Valentine's Day. Most distressing was that the waiter told me that the B'stilla Royale was "vegetarian," maybe because I wanted to order a la carte, which was not allowed on weekends (nor mentioned on their website). Last time I checked, chicken was not a vegetable. Thus, a tossup: plentiful, delicious food; service with an attitude.

I visited Marrakesh with co-workers on the way to Lan Su Garden. The atmosphere was enchanting and the service top-notch. The experience was fascinating. I can't say if it was the best Moroccan food, as it was my first Moroccan food! You will be eating with your hands, but have a choice of using a fork if you wish. My skewer was a bit tough, especially with no knife unfortunately. The eggplant dish (vegetarian) was actually the best at the table. It is a fun place to take out of town guests!

My wife took me here for my birthday and at first I was impressed because I love authentic experiences, but after sitting uncomfortably for 20 minutes at a tiny little table on a cushion with no back rest with the staff just walking by like we didn't exist, I began to get discouraged. The sad thing is it wasn't even busy and there were comfy booths available but we were not offered one of them. When we finally got noticed the waitress wasn't very friendly. I actually liked the food but my wife was not impressed with eating with her hsnds and having to scoop a gravy type mixture with rice with my bare hand became a little too authentic for me, as well. She asked the waitress for a fork and she said they don't have any. We looked around and some others were enjoying the food with utinsels?? Poor service, ok food, I won't be going again. Tangier has much better food and service.

Fun atmosphere, great staff, talented belly dancer, fun and authentic attire. But, the food is so so. Lentil soup is quite watery and too much oil. Again, too oily of rice, too much oil in vegetables. Mint tea is nice. I’ve lived in the Middle East, so I know how Arab food can be like it was prepared for a king. I’m so sad the food was not great.

I went to Portland with my school's Art & Culture Club, and it was the first time I had eaten Moroccan food. It was absolutely amazing. My favorite was the eggplant dip and lentil soup. And I loved the tables. It's not everyday you can sit on a couch, eat with your hands, and have people wash your hands for you! : )

The minute you walk in you’re in a new world. It was our first time and that’s how it felt and we were pretty excited. I just wish that they could have explained the food a bit better since everything was new to us, the tables, the seating the food. The waitress was rushed and seemed to dump our food and move on. Still it was fun but probably won’t go back but I do plan on cooking Moroccan food myself.

This was a fun restaurant to visit. We have nothing like this where we live in Montana and we're ready to try something new. We took our 3 and 7 year olds who are pretty adventurous eaters. The experience was exciting for them with everything from the hand washing to eating with our hands. The 5 courses were good and very filling! Between 2 adults and 2 kids it ended up being about $80. They charge per person so splitting meals isn't really an option. My husband really liked his lamb brochette (?) and I thought my lamb and eggplant was okay. Overall the food and the production of the meal was fun and well worth the money.

I physically got uncomfortable with the seating - low seats, and awkward with a dress, but this place is great. Wonderful food and a great atmosphere topped with good service.

First time eating at a Moraccan restaurant and didn't know what to expect but everything was wonderful. The ambiance, wait staff and food were all very, very good. The 7-course meal was not as big as it sounds, but believe me, you will NOT leave hungry! We had so much fun and can't wait to try it again on our next visit to Portland. Truly a hidden gem!

We have been to the Marrakesh Moroccan Restaurant several times since we moved to the area in 2005. We were never disappointed coming here, both for their food and belly dancer entertainment. When you order dinner here the food comes in a series of courses which is of course different from the vast majority of restaurants and a very nice change to experience. They have a nice selection of entrees to choose from. I remember enjoying their hare (similar to rabbit) dish on at least one of our visits here. The waiter/waitress will come by your table frequently to see if you want more of their homemade bread which is also very good and goes well with the food. Their tea is also quite good. The belly dancers do a very good job and it's nice to give them a tip when they come by your table. You do more or less sit in a cushion on the floor here but they can make it more comfortable for those who aren't able to sit that low to the floor. The parking can be a bit difficult going here but it's in a very nice section of Portland, in the northweast section of Portland. We used to get a good deal with a coupon from the Entertainment Book for this restaurant but in the last few years we haven't seen a coupon in that book for this particular restaurant.

We went to Marrakesh on a Wednesday in August for our son's 18th birthday. We made a reservation after checking to be sure there would be entertainment. When we got there, the restaurant was very busy. We were seated with menus but it took a while for anyone to come back to our table. The employees seemed to be moving as quickly as is humanly possible. Even so, it took a long time to get service. We got water and ordered our dinners and drinks. We were served bowls of lentil soup and a bread basket was brought around. The soup was delicious! Our next item served was a salad appetizer and more bread. There are no utensils so fingers and bread are your tools to scoop your food. We enjoyed the salad. A large pastry was brought to the table. It was hard to hear the waiter as he rushed around but I know he said chicken. I looked it up on my phone and it turned out we were served a B'stilla Royale. My research says it is a classic Moroccan dish with poultry seasoned with sweet and savory spices. The poultyr is baked in puff pastry and served with sugar on top. It was a very interesting combo of flavors. Our main dishes were served next. I ordered lemon and olive chicken. It was moist and tasty but there wasn't a dominant lemon flavor. When the entrees were served, we asked about the entertainment. The waiter said there was no belly dancing because the dancer didn't show up. We were very disappointed. At 2 times during the meal, we were presented with a hand washing bowl and basin. It was difficult to get water refills even though the person doing water service was running as fast as he could. At the end of the meal, we were given mint tea and a pastry dessert with honey. The decor is lavishly layered and interesting. The music was traditional to the Moroccan culture. Overall, this was a rich experience with a couple of exceptions. We were disappointed in not having entertainment for a special occasion as well as by the lags in service. We will return on a night when the entertainers are present.

Awesome experience. We ate with our fingers and enjoyed delicious Mediterranean cuisine. I recommend the experience to everyone...don't forget to bring money for the belly dancers. :-)

The Marrakesh was decorated with bright colors and my husband and I sat in a booth while the younger people in our party sat on short ottomans. You eat with your hands and they supply you with water and hand towels. The food was really good and not too spicy. On the weekends they have a belly dancer....it was a fun, delicious night.

Our first time to eat Moroccan food and we thought the quality of the food was very good but the grandkids were not as excited about the idea of eating with their hands as we thought they might be. Surprised to have only one waiter who tried hard to take care of everyone but... If we go again, we’ll be more careful about the volume of food as the entree portions were quite large

If the show is the thing, then go for belly dancing and fancy-schmanzty tea pouring, which is all good fun and we liked it. But the food is disappointing except for the lamb dishes. Seating can be awkward, and it's noisy so conversation if you're with a group is difficult.

We went to Marrakesh because we were in town for the weekend and I've always heard about the good food and the belly dancers. Reservation was made for 5:30pm since we were told the dancers come out at 6pm. We arrived when they opened at 5pm and there were people waiting in line for the doors to open. We were immediately seated. The food was a excellent quality and quantity for the price and the service was good also. It's was a bit difficult to understand what the waiter was saying because he seemed rushed. Also he kept bringing out additional courses before we were done with what we were eating. However, the setting and the food is excellent. I cannot emphasize enought how much we enjoyed eating here. The food was like mom made it. The beef kabobs were delicious and so was the lamb dish we got. If you're not used to eating with your hands ask for silverware they have it! Our only disappointment was we had to be at a show at 7 and the belly dancers never came out so we had to leave. Maybe next time because we will definitely be back.

The decor is fun and matched my vision of Morocco. Full disclosure I have not been to Morocco but it looked like the Disney movies I have seen. We had made reservations about 1 week in advance but they still tried to put is at a very crowded, middle of the room table. We asked if we could have a table against a wall and we did move, which was much better. Everyone sits on stools which look fun but are not all that comfortable. The service was friendly but slow with only two servers working a crowded house. One point, they do not give you silverware. Instead you eat with your hands. Now I am not above grabbing a handful but in hindsight it may have influenced my order. I had the couscous. Not easy to eat couscous by hand. Which brings me to my next point. Do not take a first date there. The food itself was decent but a bit over priced. Glad I went, don't think I will rush back.

This was my first time here and the interior is lovely, waitstaff friendly and music appropriate. The belly dancer was delightful and interacted with my teenage daughter to the point she was beaming (thank you!). We ordered the several course meal and most of them were okay, one was amazing and one terrible (mustard chicken?). The dessert was disappointing so I ordered a baklava to make up for it, which was also disappointing. We had I think mango lemonade which was very nice. Did not think it was worth the cost.

A caterer recommended that we try out Marrakesh for our daughter's birthday dinner, what an excellent choice! I have to admit, I'd never eaten in a Moroccan restaurant before so I really didn't know what to expect. What we got was a pleasant surprise! The food was excellent, a 5 course meal at a fixed price, and our server was very accommodating of our ignorance at the process. From learning that she would rinse our hands (finger foods), to the sharing of the appetizer and dessert, the whole meal was an exciting experience. We all had leftovers to take home, there was far more food than I would have expected for the price. I will definitely remember this restaurant for a long time and hope to eat there again the next time we are in Portland.

Marrakesh is an outstanding restaurant. Impossible NOT to find something on the menu to your liking. The atmosphere seems authentic, nice belly dancing entertainment. BUT: if you are older or suffer from back or joint problems, you may not appreciate the low pouf/cushion style seating. Also: be aware that all,parking is on-street and you may have to walk a block.

Daughter took us out to Marrakesh. When you enter the door you enter another world. What an amazing place. you feel like your in Moroccan, except the staff speaks pretty good English. The food kept coming and was GREAT. Problem was way to much. When we left we took enough with us for another meal. You eat in the tradition of Morocco, with your hands, not as bad as it sounds. Great Staff, Great Music and Great Food

We have considered the Marrakesh many times before and finally tried it. It was well worth it. There are rugs on the floor and the walls, and most of the seating was on low ottomans not far above floor level. I immediately fell off the ottoman and had to struggle to get up. Looking around I noticed all the other senior citizens were sitting on couches. I shared the couch with my wife. If you haven't spent time in the Middle East it all seemed quite exotic. . You really did get 5 courses for $19.95, and it was quality food. Remember this, you can ask for utensils. We did eat the salad and the next dish with the scoop it up using bread method. My main course was lamb with almonds and raisins in a honey sauce, We got utensils for the main course and the pudding dessert. Maybe everyone does. It's right on the street car line, so it's easy to get to. All in all I'd say it's a different and enjoyable dining experience.

We went for my birthday last year. I love everything about this restaurant. The food, the service, eating with your fingers, sitting on the floor, the belly dancing. For a brief span of time you feel as if you are transported to another time and place. Such a great way to spend a few hours and really get the full experience. If you haven't gone yet, go!!! The food is DELICIOUS!!!

Fun, authentic Morrocan experience sitting on hassocks, getting your hands washed by the waiter, eating with your hands, belly dancer and tent palace decor. The food is variable in its quality. We got the Royal Feast for a group of four or more. Some dishes had wonderful flavors. Others were muddy and tired.

We came to this restaurant with a reservation. We were seated by one server then we were ignored for about 15 minutes others were seated after us and were given their water and towels and got their hands washed, because it is part of the meal to get your hands washed before you eat. An older server which was really moody and looked tired and not wanting to be there came up to us and said stick your hands out I'm going to wash your hands and then washed them really fast and walked off, we didn't even have towels to wipe off our hands so me and my husband sat there with our hands drenched in water I then saw another server walking by about couple minutes later and asked for a towel and he got us a towel. Later the same older server came back explained the menu really really fast I could not understand him I asked questions and he just kept pointing at the menu and wasn't very great at explaining it and we ordered one thing we had no clue how our five course meal was going to be but the food was not great and my main course which was apricot chicken was served and was barely warm had so much fat on it was disgusting and abviously reheated not freshly made. The dessert which was like a piece of a cake but like a cookie also was dry on one side and wet on the other side it was obviously really old and probably should have not been served to anyone. Just from the food I think that they are you not using fresh food and reheating food instead of making things fresh. The only good thing about this restaurant was the beautiful belly dancer that's entertained everyone and the decor. The service and food is horrible. I wasted over $40 for a 5 course meal that was cold, not fresh, horribly prepared and not likely a dessert that was out of date. Do not recommend this for a meal, maybe just a drink to watch the belly dancers.

My kids have loved this place since they were little- one of the appetizers is a fillo dough filled w ground meat and scrambled eggs and the whole thing is covered in powdered sugar- what's not to like for a kid!!! And you eat w your hands (although my son who normally uses his hands when we want him to use a fork asked for a fork at this place!!). The apricot chicken is sweet and savory so another hit w the kids. Not challenging type of food. The couscous is hard to eat w your hands so don't be shy about using your towel they give in the beginning of the meal. The mint tea is a perfect ending.

A gem in the city of Portland, a real foodie city. The menu is good with many choices but the 5 course meal under $20 is a great choice. Hand washing and a towel is provided at your table or if seated on a floor cushion since you eat with your hands and lots of bread. Great flavors and feels like you are in a tent in the desert.

Exceeded expectations. $20 dor soup, salad, appetizer, entree, and dessert with tea. Food quality - wonderful. Atmosphere - i felt like I was in North Africa. Quantity - waay more than I needed. And , what interesting and unusual food! Can't wait to do it again. The service was excellent. Everyone here was having a good time; kneel on the cushions, eat with your hands, and have a blast.

Marakesh Moroccan Restaurant was a blast. The food was delicious and the belly dancers were an excellent and fun source of entertainment for my boyfriend and I as we ate. We really enjoyed eating with our hands and our waiter was very knowledgeable on Moroccan tradition. I was skeptical at first because the reviews said it smells like a bathroom. Well, unfortunately, it kind of does, but the fun time and great food totally made the slight bathroom smell worth it! Great deal for your money as well. I will DEFINITELY be returning. Great for dining with family, friends, a date, or alone!

This unique spot has cushions and wall tapestry, and for the most part flavorful food. The standard 5 course meal is reasonably priced at $22 pp. When we went, it included delicious lentil soup, a refreshing salad with eggplant, appetizer, entree and dessert. Each member of the party selects his/her own entree. Although the appetizer offered that evening included chicken, our waiter had it made without and it was delicious (as was most everything else). The vegetarian couscous was the only disappointment- it was bland. It is perfectly fine to ask for silverware. We had no problem getting a table at 5:30 on a Sunday but you may need reservations at busier times. Certainly worth the 15 minute walk from the pearl district.

Missed the belly dancers on the weekend. Food was great, ambiance was fun and service was very good. Overall a fun experience and I would go back if I was in Portland.

Lovely ambience with pillows and fabrics everywhere. The lemon and olive chicken was tender and flavorful. The phyllo dough appetizer was a great surprise. Waiter recommended a great bottle of wine.

The dishes arriving at the table as part of the standard five-course dinner were a continuous stream of joy. Except the entree. Go figure. Fortunately, by the time the entree arrived I wasn't all that hungry anymore anyway. A nice salad, an extraordinary lentil soup, a chicken pastry...all brought big smiles to my face. The mango juice and beautifully spiced fruit dessert did as well. The main course -- Couscous Marakesh -- was soooo bland, I can't imagine it was cooked by the same person who prepared all the nicely balanced dishes that came before and after. I had mine with lamb. I picked out the pieces of lamb and they were ok...though the vegetables were almost as tastless as the couscous. I'd go back, I would. The other courses made me so happy I was willing to just pretend the couscous never happened. PS -- Don't judge me, but I used a fork and spoon. I don't know how to eat with my hands. That didn't seem the time to learn. I don't feel I missed much. I didn't really think I was going native, sitting as I was in an especially self-consciously hip area of a self-consciously hip town. And the giant gleaming white bath towel they provide? Spoils the mood a bit. (Also probably not all that authentic, I'm guessing.) But oh well.

Sorry but this has nothing to do with Morocan food. Tasteless and the hygiene in this restaurant is far below standard. We never go back.

We had a date night and pick Marrakesh! It's been over five years at least for the both of us since we last visited the restaurant. I, seriously, love when a long time place doesn't change under the pressure of weird society beliefs. Just so you know, it is a FIVE COURSE MEAL. You start with Lentil Soup, then a salad, next in an amazing dish that is Fillo dough, sprinkled with powered sugar and filled with an assortment of delicious meat. By the way, you should do your best to eat everything with your hands. This unique culture believes in having a "Touching" relationship with food. Food=Love. After the third course is your picked meal you have chosen from the menu at the start of your visit. I picked the chicken sautéed with honey, almonds, and dates. My boyfriend ordered the Lamb with raisins, onions in a honey sauce. You wash your hands twice during the five course meal. You have dessert and then mint tea to finish the feast! Walking in the place is packed to the max with blue and red decorations. The tables and chairs are low to the ground, I wouldn't call it "chairs" just round plush things to sit on. The servers are dressed in traditional Moroccan clothing. I love the service. They don't rush you to get the next course out and they hand out a TON of bread to soak up all the juice at every meal. They take the time to explain how things work and if you can't stand to get your hands dirty they do offer forks.

This restaurant is close to hotels and once you enter, you feel as though you are in a different world. Totally exotic. Sit on cushions around round table. Decor is interesting with authentic rugs of Morocco. Love the music and ambience and seeing the belly dancer. If only I could do her moves! Food is excellent flavor and quality. Our waitress was super nice and accommodating.

I wasn't quite sure what to do when I went into the restaurant. I may have done all the wrong things and looked quite silly, but the food was wonderful. It was a new experience to sit on the floor and eat at small tables using our hands. I had the Tangine Lamb with Eggplant, if you're not a big lamb fan this isn't for your, but it was good. My husband had Brochette Marrakesh and it was amazing, that's what I'll get if we get a chance to go again.

I love visiting this restaurant. The decor is amazing and makes me feel like I've stepped out of Portland and into a tent in Morocco. I love all of the little nuances. Sitting on a pillow around a low table, rinsing your hands tableside, eating with your fingers, the music and the belly dancer! The food is good. We tried lamb, chicken, hare, and a vegetarian dish. All were very tasty. The lentil soup starter was delicious! The rice pudding was also fabulous. Great place to take the kids too!

Found this little gem on a review on Trip Advisor and boy oh boy it didn't disappoint. We went on a Tuesday night, didn't make a reservation, but they found a table for us. $18 for a delicious 5 course meal. Absolute bargain. The protocol is to eat with your hands but they can provide cutlery. We opted for the hand option. Original, delicious food and cracking value, I can't recommend it enough. The waiter explained each course to us, answered questions and was very polite and helpful. The decor is beautiful, we sat on cushions on the floor. From the outside it doesn't look like much, but opening the doors and the place welcomes you into the wondrous cave of delicious smells and a charming atmosphere. Just fab.

Go to marrakesh for the experience but not for the food. Worst middle eastern food out of many middle eastern restaurants we have visited.

While I've eaten at other Mediterranean restaurants, I've never been to one where they serve 5 course dinners. The variety of flavors between the various courses was amazing, as was the service. I've never been anywhere that brought out warm water to wash your hands before and during a meal! The first course was warm bread and lentil soup, followed by Salad Marrakesh. Since I'm a vegetarian, they prepared their B'Stilla with raisins, rather than the normal chicken. The combination of sweet raisins and powdered sugar along with the savor spices made an interesting dish. For entrees, I had their Breka Vegetarian which was tasty. My wife had their apricot chicken. Both were good. Only for dessert did we use any silverware (spoons for eating the pudding). It was fun to eat with our fingers. We want to visit again, scheduling a time where their belly-dancer is performing.

I had no expectations of the food for Marrakesh and was most pleasantly surprised by how tasty it turned out to be. The wait staff is incredibly helpful and patient. The entertainment is literally lovely.

Hi! Second time there (first was 4 yrs ago), and still just as delicious and entertaining! Though consuming all the food without utensils definitely takes some getting used to! But well worth it - we had 7 people sharing a feast, and the variety and freshness of the dishes was excellent! It's not a complaint at all, but the low hassocks to sit on really take some effort to get up from, particularly after all the food! :-)

Delicious and fantastic service. We cannot wait until we can go back! We had a tour scheduled after dinner so we had to speed our exit but I will definitely not do that again.

We went to Marrakesh because I bought a Groupon for this restaurant. We made reservations for 5:00 on a Sunday. When we got there, there were people already waiting for the doors to open. Now I understand why! What a fun experience! From sitting on hassocks, to eating (mostly) with your hands, it was definitely a unique experience. After having our hands washed by Achmed, our funny and excellent server, we ordered the 5-course meal which started off with a very flavorful lentil soup, followed by an eggplant puree surrounded by a nicely marinated cucumber salad. After that, we were served an appetizer called Bastilla, which was comprised of the oddest combination of ingredients: ground chicken, scrambled eggs and spices in a puff pastry shell, topped with powdered sugar and cinnamon. It was nothing I would ever think to make but it was very tasty! As entrees, my husband selected the spicy lamb tangine, and I chose the Tangine of Lamb M'Rouzia (with onions, raisins and honey) - I liked his better, as mine was very sweet and I have more of a "savory" palate. Both dishes were "fall-off-the-bone" tender and easy to eat with your fingers! :-) The "dessert" was a simple triangle of something similar to a flat sweet cornbread with an almond placed in the center. I didn't care for it and I was *very* full after eating everything before it, that I took and bite and left the rest. Overall, it was very good and we will definitely be back to try out more of their flavorful menu!

The decor borders on tacky and the restaurant could use better ventilation - there was the definite odor of perspiration in the warm air. However, the experience of having warm, scented water poured on your hands then dipping chunks of chewy bread into a tomatoey lamb sauce, while being entertained by a belly dancer made it a pleasant evening. We had the 5-course meal that started with lentil soup, followed by a large salad, then B'stilla (sweet Middle Eastern chicken pot pie), two entrees, topped off with sweetened fruit desserts and Jasmine tea, poured in a dramatic fashion high above your glass! It was a busy Saturday evening, but the service was good and portions plentiful. Though the kitchen is located next to the entrance, making awkward intersections of waiting guests and staff inevitable. I thought the food lacked spice, though my partner liked it. This is production Middle Eastern food - not that that's a bad thing. I prefer spicier food. A good place if you want something different from the standard sit-down restaurant.

The food is great, the atmosphere very unique, the floor cushions are actually comfy. I love to go here every year or so.

This is a very authentic Moroccan Restaurant. Lots of young college kids mingled with tourists and regulars. Seating on the floor on cushions. There was a bit of a wait as no one wants to leave. The belly dancers are only there for a short period of time, and I suspect that is why everyone was hanging around. The food is good and you can ask for a fork instead of eating with your hands. They have this amazing orange water they pour on your hands after eating. Fun evening.

Picture yourself in a Moroccan home, seated on the floor on large ottomans or on comfy couches, with waiters dressed in moroccan attire... that's Marrakesh. The food was well prepared and served in large quanities! The price was fair!. We went on a Sunday evening because the belly dancer was to perform - she did, but for only 15 minutes. We were hopin for longer! The waiter was courteouc and the ambience comfortable.

Honestly I don’t understand all the 5 star reviews..but when I decided to check it out, I fully understood. These people really work on you to put 5 star reviews...offering free things etc. All you have to do is offer good food and have good service and you wouldn’t have to beg people to leave 5 star reviews! The place is run down and dirty, the people that work there are rude and the service is slow, and the food is blah. The dancer was great, but I saw her trip on the stained and crusty rugs that are all over the place. Save your money for other restaurants that don’t have to beg for your 5 star reviews!

Went here on a Monday night, which was very slow but kind of nice. The whole interior is decked out to the gills, and the waitress was in traditional garb. The food was delicious, and plentiful - lots of leftovers. Would definitely go again, but would be sure to go on a belly dancer night.

Took two ladies there. You sit on cushions and have your hands washed. They offer mint tea but have a fair wine list. Dinner includes everything, even dessert. We had lamb shishkabobs and a tagene veggies and an apricot chicken of some sort. The belly dancer was great. She did a 20 minute set starting at 7:30 on that Sunday night. I'll probably only go back when other out of towners visit. 20.00 a pop with wine extra.

I have been here to Marrakesh twice now and am so pleasantly surprised, happy and satisfied each time. The dining experience is like no other. The food...divine. From the rose water hand bath at the beginning, to the lack of silverware (a good thing)...wonderful. And the courses....so, so good with flavors that work so well together. They accommodate vegetarian well too. A definite must-do!

The menu is a set menu with several courses and only one course can be chosen by the customer. My main complaint was that there was simply too much food and my husband and I were subtly encouraged to finish each course before the next would be brought to the table. I had to ask for take-away boxes twice. It does feel as if one is in a foreign country, at least initially -- until I was so full I just wanted to leave and was glad I was really in Portland -- but the decor is atmospheric, the waitstaff while no-nonsense was really a nice guy and seemed concerned we might not be enjoying ourselves as we should. I would go back now that I understand what to expect -- the amount of food involved. I did feel a bit rushed. The best thing of all, in my opinion, was the music, and secondarily the dessert, which was a pudding with toasted coconut on top. I would recommend this restaurant for the overall experience and the food was delicious.

We missed the belly dancers the night we were at Marrakesh but every other aspect of our meal more than made up for it. The whole experience was fantastic, the food was exceptional and the service was attentive and friendly. The amount of choice in the main meals means everyone can find something they'll like, in fact with the amount of food we could have probably shared the main and still left the restaurant more than satisfied! It was a good thing we had a nice walk back to our accommodations to help with the digestion. The mint tea and milk pudding were a perfect closer to the meal.

My wife absolutely loves this restaurant, so we go here at least once a year for her birthday or other special event. Personally, I only like the food - I do not love it. However, my wife, son, and daughter all love the food, so perhaps I just have weird taste buds. Anyway, the ambiance is awesome. However, be prepared to sit on low squishy small chairs because this is the restaurant's way of providing an authentic Moroccan dining experience. I am not Moroccan, so I cannot vouch for the authenticity of the decor, but it certainly is quite pleasant to view. This restaurant is located in the heart of Portland, so parking is often challenging to find. However, we avoid this problem by dining early around 5pm which is exactly when the restaurant opens. Service has always been excellent. Twice per meal, your server rinses your fingers with warm water over a tin container. Who knew that getting your fingers washed could be such a cool experience?! Of course, they also provide towels to dry your hands. The facilities are very clean. The air freshener in the men's bathroom can sometimes be quite strong and overwhelming, but I guess that is better than the other extreme. Last, but certainly not least, the belly dancers are certainly entertaining.

What a wonderful atmosphere, you feel as if you are in a Moroccan tent. The food was wonderful. You start with having your hands washed, then your first course of salad and soup, entree, dessert and tea. I ate so much I could hardly walk back to the car.

My mom and I had dinner here on a recent girl's trip to Portland. It is very conveniently located right across the street from the streetcar stop at 21st and Northrup in the Nob Hill district. The festive décor is very authentic with beautiful rugs, low tables and colorful poufs or banquettes for seating. Come hungry and be prepared to eat everything with your hands. The staff is very attentive - your waiter will rinse your hands over a silver bowl and provide you with a towel for your lap. The food is excellent and comes in multiple courses. We had enough left over for a great lunch the next day. Be sure to try the mint tea at the end of the meal - very tasty! I have had Moroccan all over the country and this is as good as you will find anywhere. A great experience and a great value.

We got a croupon for dinner here. We arrived for an early dinner and were promptly seated ( just inside the door). Service was excellent. Our waiter in pointy fez and short pants described the specials- i was only able to make out parts of it due to the loud music. You sit at low tables on low sofa or low ottoman. Legs/ knees do not fit under so we sat hunched and at an angle to the table. I found it a great relief to stand up and allow my digestive tract to re-align after the meal. The food was tasty and interesting. My complaint with the food is the method of eating it. They bring around a large basket of cubed bread. Take what you need to consume the dish. The bread is what you use to move food from plate to mouth. I am familiar and comfortable eating with my hands and it works well with ethiopian meals using injera bread. This is different- more like focaccia bread which is extremely difficult to capture food with. I ate way more bread than i wanted to. We were too early for a dance performance. The place is very popular and filled rapidly. Portions are generous Other than seating and method i would say it was very good - but we wont be back.

Enjoyed my visit. I don't eat this kind of food often, so it was a fun experience. Very fresh and savory provided by a friendly staff. Ambiance is a bit campy but part of the charm. Just be aware, most seating is on low, squishy "stools."

Great food, atmosphere and service! Be ready to use your hands for this experience. If you are looking for unique this is the place!

If you are looking for fantastic food and great ambiance, you have found it with this place. The service is amazing as is the food. Great place to take out of towners for a treat or the family. I've been here several times and always a pleasure and with a bonus of a belly dancer while dining. Great place, can't go wrong here

Have been here twice and have never been disappointed. SO much fun and great food and the price is good too!

The food, service, atmosphere, and music are all the things you look into when enjoying your dinner. This place has it all, plus entertainment! the food is just amazing, the music and atmosphere are so upbeat and happy. And the service is great too! Love it here.

Moroccan styled casual dining with cozy ambiance. Food menu has several veg options. Low on staff as it took 30 mins for them to take our order, but food arrived in good time.

We walked down the street from our hotel. We hoped for a quiet dinner but left satisfied with a "to go" box. My husband still complains about sitting on a cushion on the floor. I traded places with him so he could sit on the bench. We didn't want a large meal and ordered 2 dishes from the ala-carte menu. Both were delicious. Service was outstanding, although we did have to wait because the place was full and servers were busy. The belly dancer wasn't the best I've seen, but the larger groups seemed to enjoy her performance.

We loved everything about this place. The decoration is amazing, we really feel we are in Morocco. The food is delicious, the server was very helpful. And the best thing was the price, really affordable. Can’t wait to go back.

If you're looking for something a bit different, check out Marrakesh. I am always taken aback at how delicious their food is. The service remains good, even when they're incredibly busy. On certain nights, there is entertainment with spectacular belly dancers. The five course meal for around $20 is, in my opinion, a steal. We have been here several times over the last eight years and always enjoy ourselves. The honey, almond, chicken is tender, juicy, and delicious. I love that they wash your hands in between courses- a silly decadence but really very pleasant. The dessert is amazing and it comes with a very refreshing mint tea. The atmosphere is fun, the staff is friendly, and it makes for an overall experience rather than just dinner.

Visited this place while in town, very unique experience and atmosphere. The food was different (out first time eating Moroccan). Nothing to write home about but the service was warm and welcoming.

Wonderful Morrocan food and ambience. Belly dancers perform too. Service was excellent and prices pretty good for the city!

Made reservations for my girlfriends birthday because it was something new and wanted to try. We had 2 people in our party cancel, so we called and let them know ahead of time. They said that was fine. So the next day a man calls us from this place 30 min before scheduled time and told us it was unacceptable and cancelEd our reservation and kept our deposit. This is not cool. We were bringing 10 people and gave them plenty notice. I'd get it if we lost half our party but 2 people? What a joke and scam.

We were a bit reluctant as we didn't want a touristy experience but we were pleasantly surprised. The decor was tent like and put you in a Moroccan mood. The servers are all dressed in authentic looking garb and treated us with great respect. You have to sit on cushions on the floor so if this is a problem for you tell them when you make your reservation. My husband rolled off the cushion (it was actually hilarious) so they gave him a firmer seat. They do have benches too. The meal starts when they wash your hands with warm water in a ceremonial style. This is necessary as you eat the entire meal with your hands! As you start a belly dancer comes around to entertain and it's a lot of fun. There is delicious soup, a fabulous salad with lentils, bread is provided to help you eat. You have several choices for your entree. The lamb and chicken are great. You will be stuffed so desert is light and fruity. We had the Moroccan mint tea to finish and it was excellent. We had a great time and the price was very reasonable.

Like many places in Portland, it seems it is not just about the food, but the experience. This place offers both great food and a great experience.

Surprisingly fabulous evening ... delicious (and plentiful) food, attentive service (thank you, Emad!) -- a leisurely evening and a cultural experience.

We had a very enjoyable experience at Marrakesh which was right beside our hotel. The food, bellydancing, and ambience were excellent. Make sure to make reservations if you have a group of more than 4 or try to arrive early to beat the crowd.

Dining experience with great food, good atmosphere, traditional customs, belly dancing, 5 course meal.............

The food is delicious, and a 5 course dinner (huge portions) is $19.95. I paid only $4 for a local craft beer. I enjoyed the lentil soup, a memorable chopped vegetable salad, ground chicken in filo pastry with cinnamon, tagine of lamb and eggplant, bread, baklava and mint tea. The amount of food would have been enough for 2 people and it was wonderfully seasoned and prepared. Marrakesh provides what I can only assume is a traditional Moroccan dining experience. Couches and ottomans are only about 18 inches high, and the round tables are no higher. What I did not expect, was the absence of eating utensils of any kind--no forks, no knives, no spoons, no chopsticks--nothing. One eats with one's hands. There was nothing served to me that could by any traditional definition be described as finger food--the bread excepted. Picture if you will eating chili con carne with your fingers. Pushing food around with pieces of bread helped, but not very much. My server provided me with a large terry cloth tea towel and ceremonially washed my hands before and after the meal. Frankly, I could have used something more along the lines of a raincoat during dinner and a quick shower after. The server did not attempt to enlighten me as to Moroccan dining conventions, so I was left on my own to figure out how to shovel the food from the plate to my mouth. I am fairly well attuned to foreign culinary traditions, so I was surprised to find myself so far outside my comfort zone. At no point was I asked if I would prefer a fork, and I am much to stubborn to have requested one. I feel so ethnocentric saying this, but I could not fully appreciate the excellence of the cooking while struggling so awkwardly to eat it.

Take the no 15 bus to Marrakesh restaurant, put your camel to bed...Dine in an exotic room with tents on the ceilings, stained glass lamps, low inlaid wood tables surrounded by benches or poufs. Authentic cuisine served family style in 5 traditional Moroccan courses. Food was savory, sweet flavorful and overflowing the plates! Belly dancer entertains some evenings to enhance the experience!

We went to celebrate a birthday. The food was not as spicy as I thought it would be. They serve five courses lentl soup and a salad followed by an egg and chicken dish served in puff pastry. You choose your entree. Everything is eaten with your hands they wash your hands at the table before you are served. The servers are very knowledgeable and friendly. The belly dancer was wonderful. We had a great time!

\Went there the first time with my husband, son and daughter in law and enjoyed it so much that the next time we were in Portland I took my other son with us. It was a little wierd at first eatting with your fingers but once we got into it it was really fun. The five course dinner is the way to go. Lots of food and everyone gets to try something different. Both times we had so much food that the kids had leftovers to take home. The belly dancer is reallty fun. My husband and I got the chairs and the kids sit on the floor. It is a really fun restrurant and great food. I would definately make reservations, you never know how busy they will be.

Went with our adult children and had a great time. Food was very good, fresh and served with panache. Atmosphere delightful, though we would have preferred seating upstairs, the basement was more than adequate. We made reservations for the 6PM Belly Dancing show, which apparently did occur upstairs at that time, but it was closer to 7:30 before she made her way downstairs. Worth the wait and a good time was had by all. Very family friendly with many kids in attendance, who delighted in "tipping" the Belly Dancer with dollar bills tucked into her waistband. Definitely recommend if you are in town,

We've seen this restaurant before -- it's just across the street from Paley's Place but a world apart! We stumbled across it on Groupon but they haven't seen the last of us! The ambiance, 5 course dinner with all the ceremony around it is an absolute pleasure -- at a very reasonable price. The lentil soup was great, as was the salad, and the pastry-meat appetizer... We had the spicy lamb tangine and a special chicken with apricot and honey sauce dish... the dessert was fine as was the mint tea. And the belly dancer was superb. Highly recommended!

We've been to Morocco many times and were frankly skeptical about what to expect. We were delighted to have truly authentic Moroccan cuisine, and the mint tea was perfect!

With all of the hype I was very excited to try out this over rated restaurant. The meat was dry, service was slow, bread was blah and dry, appetizers were good. Needless to say I am not running out the door for my next experience.

Food was delicious and not what I would consider expensive. There is entertainment with the belly dancers roaming the floor. Had the lamb stew over couscous, excellent. Warning - you eat with your hands. But, it is definitely worth going!

I thought this place had good food and a fun atmosphere. There were five courses in which you get to pick the entree. All of our courses were very tasty. The one complaint have is the difficulty of eating the food. Most places where you eat with your fingers have food that is relatively easy to eat. Here, the food comes out very hot and is not in a form that lends itself to finger food. For example: chicken breast with a mustard sauce all over it. I don't mind eating finger food but this was an unfortunate aspect to an otherwise great meal. I will be back though as the food is worth it, just know what you are getting into.

We had the royal feast. Our waitress was very pleasant and offered good advice about the dinner choices. I am 6 ft 3 inches and the low bench seats were hard on the knee's. The decor was interesting and the Dress costumes worn by the staff was enjoyable. The belly dancer was entertaining and added to the experience, but did not measurably make the event better. The 5 course meal had lots of variety, We enjoyed tasting every thing. The Main course had 5 dishes - 3 chicken, 1 Lamb and 1 Lamb, couscous, artichoke. I think the chicken was all cooked the same but had different sauces applied (apricot, lemon, eggplant). All of the meat was cooked to the point of falling apart, this made it easy to eat with the fingers. All of the food tasted good, but not exceptional. The food was warm not hot, so we did not have to worry about burning our fingers. A towel was provided to wipe your fingers with, by the end of evening, mine was pretty dirty, I did not get any food on my shirt but the floor got a good share. I am not convinced how clean the restaurants is, because, the rugs, cloth couches and cloth cushion are bound to receive stray food and unclean hands. I was constantly trying to re-position my legs so they would not cramp up, thus my hands were on the "couch" a-lot, (even though I used the towel often). The service is interesting, Most everyone downstairs were seated at about the same time 6:00. About 40-60 people. As each group (mostly 4 to 8 in a group) was seated the waitress greeted them and water was served. The courses and meals all showed up about the same time, but not necessarily in the order of seating, size of the group or what type of food that was ordered. For example: One couple arrived about 20 minutes late and was served 10 minutes before a group of 4 sitting next to them. The meal lasted about 2 1/5 hours, Most of the people downstairs started leaving about the same time. We did not have bad service, but I wish the servers were a little more attentive, we could have had the water glass filled a little more often.

Right across the street from our hotel (Inn at Northrup Station) and we love international cuisine so it was a no-brainer. Sadly we missed the belly dancer, which would have been fun. Decor is lush as is the pillow style seating. Meals are served traditional style served with bread, unless you require utensils. The food and service were excellent and the portions were huge. It was a great meal after a long day!!

We had fun at this restaurant but please go hungry they give you a lot of food, we enjoyed trying foods we have never had, would definitely recommend

I live nearby this restaurant and have eaten here half a dozen times. It is fun to visit with exotic decor. You sit either on padded benches or padded ottomans . There is belly dancing some nights. The menu is limited and all prepared In advance. It is a set dinner with a number of courses. Soup. Salad, entree, tea, desert. On my last two visits dishes have been served cold.(lamb raging once, Bastilla another time) .the dishes were not even warm. I don't understand this as the tagine is a stew made in a big pot, not made individually. Was everyone eating cold food? They do not serve couscous or rice which is unusual, even unique for a Moroccan restaurant. They may have them available for an extra charge. I am not sure about that. The service is perfunctory. They have served the same set. Menu since they opened and have no interest in being charming or acting interested in their guests. If you go, go for the experience of exotic cuisine.. not for the cuisine itself. If you know Moroccan food you will not be,impressed. It is best enjoyed by those who are not familiar with Moroccan food.

Festive place with lots of authentic choices of Moroccan entrees. If you order the family feast you will receive a 5 course meal including couple of appetizers followed by a bunch of yummy lamb/beef/chicken with cous-cous They also have live belly dancing

I can't wait to come back and bring the kids! Lots of vegetarian choices, belling dancing, lots of happy diners...it was a very nice experience.

We hadn't been here for several years, and by far this was the best experience. For what it is worth, we parked for free on NW Northrup between NW 21st and 22nd. Having received a $95 parking ticket in front of Jake's Famous Crawfish, it was a nice surprise to have no green machine to feed quarters into, and we double checked with our server about the lack of signage since misunderstood information led to the ticket in front of Jake's. Others have described the food that was excellent. I especially liked the flakey layered chicken/raisin dish sprinkled with confectioner's sugar. For my entree part of the five-course dinner, I chose the lamb and eggplant that had a rich, flavorful sauce and interesting though chewy eggplant. I knew about sitting on cushions but opted for the sofa. If you sit on the cushions, I would recommend the firmer ottomans that provide a sturdier seat that puts you about the right distance from the dishes. Although it is traditional to use your fingers to eat, we asked for forks. My only regret is that we should have left a 20% rather than 15% tip. We definitely will come back.

We hadn't been here in a long time, but thought the kids would like it. They did - loved eating with their hands and sitting on poofs. The food was very good, service very kind. We intentionally went on a non-belly dance night. It is about $20 per person, is somewhere you feel like you've had an experience, but can dress casually.

The food is fantastic (I had the chicken with apricots - not on the menu, but you can request it), the service is awesome! It's so much fun eating with your hands and experiencing a taste of Moroccan culture.

The food and atmosphere were very good. The reason I didn't give it five stars is the seating. I'm older and sitting so low was not good for my back. Otherwise, it was a very nice place.

Marrakesh is a wonderful experience with wonderful food. The five course meal is fantastic and we always take home left overs. The atmosphere is fun, the belly dancing is entertaining. I have eaten here several times on vacation and have always had great food and service. I had the fish for my main course this August and it was outstanding!

I was surrounded by tables that were still waiting to be cleaned and that is how they remained until I left after 90 minutes. There were bread crumbs all over. Obviously it must have been busy earlier but there were only two waiters. It was quite a wait for the first course to arrive. The soup was real good and so was the salad that followed. However, the third course had meat in it despite my request for vegetarian meal. The waiter took it away and returned after a while to let me know that they are out of vegetarian option. The main course of couscous was rather bland. They tried to make up for the missed course with extra dessert that left me wondering how much sugar can one have that late in the evening.

Just want to say, get your knees ready, cause you're likely going to have to sit on the floor here :). Part of the experience!! And yeah, it's crowded. And yeah, it gets busy around the times the belly-dancer has her shows. Also, part of the experience. The food is great. Especially the courses leading up to the main course. I love the soup and the salad. Soooooooo good!! Nothing else compares. And, who cares if Mohamed is not Moroccan. I know plenty of restaurant owners who do not prepare the foods he/she sells. I'm living in Mexico right now. Do you know how many pizza parlours are here?? And guess how many of them are own by Italians....Anyway, wish Mexico had a Moroccan joint. So glad that Portland does. That's why it's still around.

The restaurant was ok. I took their 5 course meal. One advice: do not take the chicken. It was horrible and kind of smelly. I could barely work though 1/4 of it. Not worth the hype.

This is one of my families favorite places. The food is amazing and the atmosphere beautiful and unique.

Decorated like the inside of a large tent, you sit on the floor or on cushions and eat with your hands! 5 or 6 delicious courses, belly dancers....a wonderful time!

Well, the place is very atmospheric and adorable. It's much about theater here, with Moroccan-costumed wait staff, a belly dancer, and showy feats of tea-pouring from high above the cups. The food was delicious! But there was too much of a good thing. Included in the entree is a small portion of a delicious lentil soup, and a chicken in phyllo appetizer, which was huge. Had we realized, we would have skipped the appetizer, because we were getting full by the time our entrees arrived, which we liked much better than the chicken thing (which is heavily dusted in powdered sugar. It's a traditional dish, but a bit weird). Our waitress was very very sweet, (and, irrelevant, but also gorgeous). The reason I might not return is the seating is so uncomfortable. They could keep the fabulous ambience while making it less awkward to sit, simply by having tables that are the appropriate height for the seats. Legs don't fit under the tables, so you have to sit either spread eagle or side-saddle from the table, which is both uncomfortable and makes an obstacle course of splayed legs for waitstaff (and everyone else) to get around. And taller folks would probably want taller cushions. I'm a mere 5 feet tall, and was uncomfortable, so I can imagine how average-to-tall people must feel.

The 19.95 per person 5-course meal is a great value at a restaurant that serves not just food, but an experience. This restaurant is excellent for vegetarians. The only critique is that the floor seating, while part of the experience, is incredibly uncomfortable. When you make your reservation, be sure to request a seat where you can sit on a bench.

Our family just had an oustanding meal at Marrakesh. The food was outstanding, the ambiance was fabulous and the service was excellent. We will be back.