10/26/09

Overpriced, forced to eat with fingers!

by maincoon81

This place was just the worst ethnic food experience I have ever had. We went there for a friend's birthday and were not told how much the experience was. For $30 you get a series of appetizers that you have to eat with your fingers (they refused to let me have a spoon). You have to eat things like shredded beats, mashed potatoes, and couscous with your fingers. No flat bread to scoop or anything. Disgusting with swine flu going around! The entree was overcooked and not very flavorful at all. The "entertainment" was a sub par belly dancer that left after she figured out that we weren't going to tip her right then. It took a good 20 minutes between courses, so our five course meal took 2 hours! Our bill was $360 for 7 people, and for that price you can go to a really awesome Indian restaurant where you can at least eat with a spoon. Horrible experience! I honestly think it should be illegal not to post prices on your menu, as well.

• Pros: Neat atmosphere
• Cons: Expensive, food unflavorful, messy

02/17/09

If you can't handle that many people, don't try to sit that many people

by BopsyKitten

Just like everyone else I made reservations thinking they would treat me and my date like Moroccan royalty, instead they made it more than clear that everyone in the restaurant was putting them out. I made reservations a month ahead of time for Valentine's day. When I got there no one was there in the waiting room but customers. And since she was so overwhelmed we would have to figure out ourselves who was to be sat next.

When its finally our turn the server takes three couples back to what was a hallway with tables. She seats each couple while the rest of us wait in this crowded hallway, in the way of other servers trying to pass out food. When its finally my turn I get say at an unfinished, homemade table with NO TABLECLOTH. We climbed into the table, practically sitting on the laps of the people next to us.

In about 5 minutes the busboy brought us some water. We asked if we could get a tablecloth.Then another waiter comes about 10 minutes latter to take our drink order. We order a bottle of wine and ask for a TC. After this the lady to our right offers us one of hers. Then about 5 minutes latter, our wine comes. I debate not having them open it till I GET A TABLECLOTH, but the waitress was very nice and at least looked like she was listening to my request. More time passes and no TC. The lady next to us is ready to take her food off her table to give us one of hers. But at this point its matter of principle.The guy came to wash our hands - again we ask - NO sorry, Just they are very, very busy. The fifth time we ask we finally get a greasy tablecloth.

Then the soup comes. And mine has a inch long pointed shard of bone in it.

The busboy claims to be the manager. We explain the issues we had asking 5 times for a tablecloth and then get a bone in the soup. He 1st says it wasn't a bone, but that isn't gonna fly cause at that size you could see the marrow. Then he says its lamb and lentil soup and WE SHOULD EXPECT BONES. What????

• Pros: Homophibic, unclean, unsafe, rude
• Cons: Horrific service, uncomfortable pack in like sardines, and when was the last time they washed those pillows

11/10/08

My fav birthday place!

by ess1125

This is one of my all-time fav places to eat! I go here every year for my b-day and never regret it. I definately think that there are things you should know going in:

*Leave the kids at home!!! Unless you have super adventerous kids-they probably won't like the food.

*Be prepared to try new food-there's no burgers or steaks here!

*Yes, you may have to wait-even though you made a reservation. Since they do thier best to schedule the belly dancers and the "tea performers" at the end of meals, it's important thet they seat a certain area at the same time. Your wait maybe extended if others have not shown up on time or they need to fill an area.

*You have to sit on the floor! Yes there are plenty of super comfy pillows but the service (5 courses) is super long. If you can't sit for that long-you might skip it.

All-in-all it's super fun, the food is yummy and you definately won't forget your experience!

• Pros: new, exciting, entertaining, happy/full tummy
• Cons: the wait

06/02/08

Outstanding, amazing evening :)

by treehugginmama

My husband took me here for my birthday, and from outside on Colfax, I was a little curious why he picked it, but once we got inside, I was totally mesmerized. It is covered ceiling to floor with Moroccan tapestries and rugs, it's very warm and elaborately decorated. You do sit on cushions on the floor (I was about 6 months pregnant and I was comfortable) and you eat with your hands, which I personally love. It was really really expensive, they don't even have prices on the menu. So go for a special occasion and close your eyes when you get the bill LOL It was totally worth it though, the food was just out of this world and I really appreciated the waiter's amazing service - every time he served us a course (it's a multi-course dinner) he had to kneel, which I felt bad for him for, but he was really gracious. And then at the end he did this cool tricksie tea-glass act, balancing the glass on his forehead and pouring hot tea into it, etc...It was awesome :)

05/28/08

Pleasantly suprised.....

by cmarcel

I went here last month and was pleasantly suprised. The ambience is better than other Moroccan restaurants. There was plenty of food and at a decent price. It wasn't crowded at all on a Thurs. night, but it would be a great spot to go to with a group of atleast 4 on the weekends. We enjoyed the belly dancers and all other traditional steps while sitting on the floor with no shoes on. We ate with no utensils, and only the white napkin to wipe our hands. But the food was great, and so was the service. The tea at the end was very good too! I would go back again. And I've been to several Moroccan restaurants, including Morocco itself.

05/07/08

vegetarians ignored

by bbbl

We were a group of friends going out to dinner to celebrate a birthday. The food was ok, the service was not. The floors were very dirty, I know because I had brand new white socks on and after I came back from the bathroom, my socks were brown. I don't think they vacuum behind the table/cushions. One of my friends is a vegetarian so she was suppose to get a vegetarian B'stella. She asked the waitress about it and the waitress said she would inquire about it to the chef. After the waitress came back from upstairs, we got a different waiter. The waitress never said anything about the B'stella nor did the new waiter. We ate so much bread that my vegetarian friend said to just forget about it. I was appalled that the request for vegetarian B'stella went ignored. That goes to further demonstrate that the integrity of this resturant is not a priority. She was charged for a B'stella but only received a cold shoulder.

04/25/08

ARE YOU KIDDING ME?

by drodish

I read all the reviews. I have this to report on this amazing restaurant! I am appalled at the ignorance, the complete contradiction in the reviews, and the blatant stupidity of how good this AFRICAN cuisine really is!

Those idiots who brought children, you ruined the experience...not for them but by your inability to genuinely enjoy something that is not "corporate"...such as Applebees!!!! This restaurant is family friendly and not recommended for the "bland, boring and uptight" individuals....yes that might just be you!

You should NEVER go to and ethnic restaurant and expect to be seated like you were going for a steak dinner at Village Inn! Wait, if you really thought that was a steak house you should never eat in public again. In summary, Its Moroccan, its in Colorado, its pricey for the eating plus entertainment experience! If a staff member has been rude to you, you probably deserved it with your pompous attitudes! I would recommend some where like Chuckie Cheese on your next family outing! All in all, this place is out of this world. By far the best dining experience I have had!

• Pros: Everything, the food kicks butt!!!!!
• Cons: Stupid people who ruin the experience and vibe.

03/15/08

Expensive with bad seating

by ic13

We had a reservation at this place. When we arrived the place was quite full, but considering there were only 2 of us, we were put upstairs in a corner with not enough space to sit and barely enough room for the waitstaff and other people to walk past, let alone space for the belly dancer.

Food was ok for how expensive it was and we were even charged a cover to get in.

Bad experience, and I am not going back.

If you do go, consider sitting downstairs. At least you will get a fair amount of space and decent amount of entertainment from the belly dancer :)

• Pros: music, ambience downstairs
• Cons: lack of sitting space, uncomfortable, value for money, below average food

12/27/07

not recommended, questionable business practices

by frenchmusician

Not recommended. My girlfriend recently thought she would surprise me for my birthday and take me someplace different and this is where she decided to bring me. She wanted the evening to be very special. When we got there it seemed very empty and it took quite a while for someone even to acknowledge our presence. The food though not bad was certainly not worth price. The worst part however was that about halfway through the dinner we began to wonder where the "entertainment" was. Our waiter informed us that since it was a slow night that they had told the entertainment to stay home. This of course was one of the main reasons people attend this restaurant and it is part of the price of the food which is basically a flat rate. I politely asked if we could perhaps get some kind of discount. He said he would see what he could do but he never said another word about it and when we got the check it was for the full amount. This is ridiculous. At the every least they could have posted a sign saying there was not entertainment that night and we could have come back another time. It really spoiled the evening and I felt they were very rude about it even though i tried to be very polite.

• Pros: something different
• Cons: you might not get what you pay for

02/26/07

Unique Morrocan Dining in Denver

by jdonahue1971

I just got back from Colorado and (finally) have a restaurant experience to report on... It's Mataam Fez in Denver. Now I have discovered the eating experience Mataam Fez... The dinner begins when you arrive as you are greeted with friendly smiles and and an even more friendly decorative array of pillows and morrocan tapestry. A group of friends and mine started our journey into the Western coast of Africa with a cooling white wine of which they have many choices.

there are several courses that will amaze and delight even the most inexperienced diner. My more seasoned brother ordered and selected Assorted Morrocan Salads for starters. You eat with your hands in Morrocco and so to there in Denver. If that makes you uncomfortable, then it's time to loosen the tie and join the party because it's a good one there in Denver.

We ordered most of the entrees on the menu in one sitting and then took the free-for all approach and sampled from every corner of the mystical Morrocan restaurant. The Chicken, Fish, Lamb, and my favorite RABBIT.

So we ordered I think hot and spicy chicken, a delicious salmon dish and lamb brochettes and, of course,the rabbit. The rabbit and the chicken were delightfully succulent and we pulled it from the bone with the ease of a warm knife through honey bread (which keeps on coming and coming I must say.) Between each course, the Fez delivered spays of rose petal water and citrus juice rubs, warm hand towels and baths above a Moroccan kettle. All of these unexpected delights were apparently all part of the daily pampering one recieves when dining at Mataam Fez...

this is one authentic restaurant. I didn't think I could have any more fun after eating but the Fez proved me wrong as BELLY-DANCERS came to our table.

if you want to dine and enjoy yourself at the same time, while dining on the most succulent food and most unique flavors, then I recommend Mataam Fez in Denver... from there it's up to you...

Jack D.

• Pros: Friendly Service and SPECTACULAR food.
• Cons: I can't think of one...