Whether it’s a drive-in, a draft house, or a serenading mariachi band, the elusive combination of food and entertainment is dying out. Dupont Circle haunt Marrakesh, though, masters the art of bringing entertainment straight to the dinner table by pairing hypnotizing belly dancers with delectable Moroccan cuisine.
From the outside, Marrakesh is unassuming, almost completely camouflaged by the run-down concrete buildings surrounding it. Except for a dark orange door with a gold knocker, there is little sign of the restaurant’s existence. You knock on the door, it opens, and before you know it, you’ve gone down the rabbit hole into a world filled with rich tapestries, vibrant mosaic walls, wait staff in traditional Moroccan attire, and even a fountain.
Marrakesh aims to provide an authentic feast, and it delivers not only in the quality of the food, but also in the atmosphere. Guests sit on low cushions or chairs, surrounding a large bronze plate that serves as the table, and everyone gets a towel that doubles as a plate and napkin. Before the meal begins, the staff—whose service remains quick and friendly throughout your stay—helps you execute a quick hand washing ritual before eating. While some dishes, especially the couscous, may seem to require utensils, eating by hand accentuates the sensuality of the food and the feeling of total cultural immersion.
Marrakesh has no written menu, as they only offer a seven course prix-fixe menu that ends up being a steal at $35 a person. Some of the dishes, such as the salad course, lemon chicken, and the couscous Grand Atlas, have familiar Mediterranean flavors, but it is in the more foreign meals that Marrakesh truly shines. The B’Stella is an amazing layered pie made of phyllo dough, chicken, nuts, egg, and onion, topped with confectioner’s sugar and cinnamon, a suspicious-sounding combination of ingredients that produces a surprisingly ambrosial and addictive dish.
Another standout course is the Tajine of Lamb with almonds and honey. The lamb is so succulent and tender you can easily peel it off the bone, and the honey does not overpower it’s natural distinctive taste. If there is one dish that could instantly transport you to Morocco, it would be the lamb, although the final course of hot mint tea and honey-soaked baklava comes in at a close second.
While the food is worth the price, the dizzying hips of belly dancers truly makes the Marrakesh experience. The atmosphere is intimate and celebratory, and by the night’s end you may end up dancing with the belly dancer or the people next to you. Unique, authentic, and utterly enchanting, Marrakesh is definitely an oasis that is not to be missed.
Marrakesh is located at 617 New York Avenue NW.
Reservations are required; call 202-393-9393. Marrakesh only accepts cash.
