loads of food, loads of fun. went with my husband (carnivore) and a friend (vegetarian) and a great time was had by all. spring for a bottle of wine, this is the kind of place where you should just go "why not"!
the belly dancer was cool for the ambience, and yes they DO accept dollar bills! my husband had suggested we bring some, and i had responded with a vehement, "they're not strippers"! turns out they are not opposed to extra cash.
all that aside, the tricks of the tea man were the highlight, hands down.
the five courses were delicious and fun too. we were there, comfortably entertained and sincerely enjoying each course, for 2.5 hours.
we won't be going regularly, but what a great time!
I had my first date with my wife at Mataam Fez in 1985. It became our favorite special place to eat. Our daughter grew up going to Mataam Fez and we have many pleasant memories. However, in the last year, under the new ownership, the quality of the food has truly declined. The soup is thin and tasteless and the once fantastic bread is now just a bread. The bestelia was small and overcooked It is obvious that corners are being cut and quality is just not there. We are truly saddened that our long favoriete restuarant apparently doesn't really exist anymore.
It was the worst night for all of us! I took my boyfriend there for his birthday with another couple. When I made reservations I asked about the belly dancers I was told they would be there all night and they would go to all the tables. Our reservation was at 9pm on a Saturday night and when we got there they where stripping tables of the linen in the front part of the dining room and put us in the way back of the restaurant. There we were virtually forgotten we never saw the belly dancers.Upon leaving I inquired about the belly dancers I was told they went home at 8:30.
Feeling like something a little different than the usual sit down meal experience. This is it! I've been here a few times over the years. Though it isn't a place I suggest to frequent, it will definitely be a fun night out with friends or family.
The food is quite good. If you can't imagine yourself eating with you hands, be forewarned - there aren't any utensils here. As you are seated on the floor accompanied by pillows, you feel like royalty enjoying five courses with nothing but you and your bare hands. It takes you to the exotic land of Morocco as you enjoy savory wedding soup to Chinese gunpowder tea and everything in between. For the entree, I suggest the honey and almonds cornish hen - NomnomNom. The pleasant rinse of rose water between courses prevents you from feeling like a barbarian. But give your hands a chance, you don't really have a choice. Do you really want to be that guy/girl? You know, the not fun one? I thought so.
The atmosphere isn't necessarily "authentic", but the experience most definitely is. Be sure to go on a weekend and be entertained by live belly dancing - get up there and learn some moves, it's a lot of fun! Overall, 5 stars because there's nowhere else like it. Definitely go! Stay hungry my friends!
Good GOD this is delicious stuff. Just got back from eating a few of their lamb plates. Make darn sure to have their "featured" dishes, as they are unspeakably good.
Five courses for around 30 bucks a person; a *perfect* romantic, exotic atmosphere that feels rich and luxurious; and the fun of being annointed with rosewater after your meal and watching a belly dancer.
The soup was incredible from the first drop; the salad consists of a sample of 7 delicious mini-dishes; the b'stella was flavorful and flaky and delicious; the entrees were beyond mind-blowing; and the dessert was a small fruit plate, perfectly refreshing after getting completely, unbelievably full.
I ate here a couple of months ago but didn't get a chance to put in my yelp review, (sorry).
The food here is really good. Some of the best Moroccan I've had. And great service. We came here on a Saturday night and was treated to the full belly dancer and acrobatic/contortionist server tea pouring experience. A lot of fun.
The only thing that really kept it from getting 5 stars was environment. A little dark and a little dingy. But don't let that keep you away. I would (and plan on) coming back here again. So far, it's my favorite Moroccan restaurant.
I went here with a big group a few years ago (my entire dorm floor) and had an absolutely great time. This place really does feel like an authentic experience without the cheese that can come with it-basically, I felt like they weren't over-doing it, it felt real.
First of all, the inside is designed to look like it's under a giant desert tent-already very cool. As per custom, you sit not in chairs but on cushions on the floor with lowered tables.
Before your appetizer (I've forgotten what we had), you wash you hands when they bring out a pot of warm water and run it over your hands, then it lands in a basin below. Same thing for when your entree comes out.
I decided to have the rabbit (first time having it ever), which was a great choice. It was delicious, very succulent and juicy. Well cooked. Another part of this place is that you use no utensils-you eat with your hands. It was very cool just picking the meat straight off the bone.
In addition to all this, they have very good belly dancers that will dance around but also pull people up and teach them how-it was really fun seeing my friends learn how to belly dance.
I've only been here the one time, but I really need to go back-it's one of the better dining experiences I've ever had.
Great for dates or groups, this joint's got a lot of character. The menu can be a bit pricey for the product, but it's worth the unique experience. Kick back on the floor with an abundance of plush pillows and marvel in the entertainment. Scolding hot tea will be tossed about and belly dancers will frequently come your way, be sure to bring cash for tips.
Reasons why I did not give the Fez five stars include my comfort with the cleanliness of the floor pillows, the awkward belly dancer tipping situation, and the price for the product. Otherwise, you can miss having this classic Moroccan resturaunt experience.
Last night, some friends that were visiting Denver for an Iron Maiden concert took me to this not-quite-Turkish delight for dinner before the show. One of them had dined here before, and could not stop raving about the place's entertainment and menu. And although the list of dining experiences that would cause me to be late for Eddie and Co. is a short one, I must confess, this makes the cut. Mataam Fez proved to be one of the most fun, educational, and--most of all--sumptuous dining experiences I've had in ages.
For those of you who are new to the Moroccan dining experience (as I was), here's what you can expect (multicultural pros or 'spoiler sports', feel free to skip this part):
-You will sit on the floor. You will probably bump knees with your tablemates. You will get used to it. -You will wash your hands with lemon water, and your face will be splashed with rose water. You will feel strangely refreshed and fragrant. -You will wipe your hands with a hand towel draped over your left shoulder (cultural reasons--stray from the lefthand path). You will do this a lot, since your fingers are your only eating utensils for this meal. -You will be served a delicious, filling five-course meal. You will only select the main course, from a short list of entrees (including lamb, hen, chicken, rabbit, and vegetarian dishes). The kitchen staff will do the rest for you. -You will leave feeling content, not bloated, unless you are a finicky eater, too much of a wuss to sit on pillows for a couple hours, or a combination of the above. If this applies to you, your adventure ends here: turn to page one and start over.
Once we got past the short-lived culture shock of this foreign approach to eating (not a bad thing), the food took center stage. For the first course, we were each given a small bowl of the day's 'wedding soup', which consisted of a warm, lentil-based porridge. I literally licked the bowl when I was done. First course, very promising. Second course came in the form of a plate arranged with various chilled veggies, legumes and starches: highlights included the fava beans and spicy carrots. I couldn't get past the 'dirt' taste of the shredded beets, personally, but the rest of the fare was gone in a hurry.
The middle course was both the strangest and most savory one of all--we were treated to a Middle Eastern pot pie (forgiveness, please) consisting of spiced chicken, baked in a crumbly phyllo dough crust and topped with powdered sugar. The closest thing I can liken it to on my clearly limited palette would be baklava...it was the kind of dish that would've provoked a gag reflex on paper, but proved absolutely delicious in person! Must be tasted to be believed.
Up next was the penultimate serving, or main course. Everyone chose their own entree according to taste (plenty of diversity, in spite of limited selections), and dug in, fingers first. The table shares a 'side' plate of cous cous, veggies, and dipping (?) sauce. Feeling sweet, I opted for the cornish game hen with peaches and almonds. Afterwards, I'm now convinced that the bird is the word at this restaurant. The hen was well done, and fell right off the bone, juices dripping as I raised each bite to my mouth. For those of you who appreciate a well-done round of poultry, be sure to try this dish. The peaches were a mystery, as they had the telltate appearance (and taste) of the Del Monte variety--not what I'd expect for the pricetag here. Otherwise, I was wholly satisfied by my selection, and awaited the final course with a light heart and content stomach.
For dessert, entertainment takes precedence over abundance, as our server performed a different 'trick' before serving each one of us our glass of sweet, hot tea. Fancy footwork now behind us, we chowed down on a plate of fresh fruit (slices of melon, orange, kiwi, and a stalk of grapes) while awaiting the bill--anxious not to keep Brucey-Bruce waiting.
As other reviewers have commented, the damage at Mataam Fez can be considerable...figure $30-$40 per person. But consider this: When was the last time you got all of the following for thirty bucks while dining out:
- A diverse, but undeniably satisfying, five-course meal - A meal consisting primarily of fresh fruit and veggies, and no processed foods - A free dance lesson with a trained exotic dancer (prepare to add the 'tush push' to your dancefloor repertoire) -An educational experience that matched your dining - An extremely diligent, friendly, and patient staff (our server was quick to answer all our n00b inquiries, even asking kitchen staff about the origin of oriental dancing in Morocco)
To be sure, I will be back to Mataam Fez someday. The only thing that's holding me back from a five star review is my suspicion that the other entrees cannot stand up to the excellence of the Cornish game hen--and the possibility of fresh peaches hiding from me in the kitchen. Hopes are high. Oh, and one more thing...
Just went to Mataam Fez for the first time last week. Overall, I really enjoyed the experience. The food was hit or miss, to my taste anyway, but overall a filling and satisfying meal. They serve 5 courses so even if you only like 3 of them, you'll get a good meal.
Two of us went on a quiet night, so we got a large-ish corner table. This made the whole sitting-on-the-floor thing pretty comfy because we were able to shift around and stretch out our legs if we wanted to. I can't imagine going with a big group or on a busy night and being crammed in there on the floor. My legs would fall asleep.
I had a lamb entree that came with an artichoke and olives (two of my favorite things) so I was pretty happy. My boyfriend had a spicy chicken dish that was also very good. I think it's a little annoying that they don't put the prices on the menu. Customers should be able to know what they're getting into. Also, the only wines by the glass are a basic, cheap merlot, chardonnay or rose.
Overall, a fun experience with great service. The belly dancer was a little noisy and distracting, but that's part of the fun. The tea service was probably the most entertaining part to me (they do all these sort of acrobatic tricks with the glasses and boiling-hot tea). I probably won't be back on my own accord, but if friends were having a party there I'd happily attend.
based on 30 reviews
27 Comments
loads of food, loads of fun. went with my husband (carnivore) and a friend (vegetarian) and a great time was had by all. spring for a bottle of wine, this is the kind of place where you should just go "why not"!
the belly dancer was cool for the ambience, and yes they DO accept dollar bills! my husband had suggested we bring some, and i had responded with a vehement, "they're not strippers"! turns out they are not opposed to extra cash.
all that aside, the tricks of the tea man were the highlight, hands down.
the five courses were delicious and fun too. we were there, comfortably entertained and sincerely enjoying each course, for 2.5 hours.
we won't be going regularly, but what a great time!
I had my first date with my wife at Mataam Fez in 1985. It became our favorite special place to eat. Our daughter grew up going to Mataam Fez and we have many pleasant memories. However, in the last year, under the new ownership, the quality of the food has truly declined. The soup is thin and tasteless and the once fantastic bread is now just a bread. The bestelia was small and overcooked It is obvious that corners are being cut and quality is just not there. We are truly saddened that our long favoriete restuarant apparently doesn't really exist anymore.
It was the worst night for all of us! I took my boyfriend there for his birthday with another couple. When I made reservations I asked about the belly dancers I was told they would be there all night and they would go to all the tables.
Our reservation was at 9pm on a Saturday night and when we got there they where stripping tables of the linen in the front part of the dining room and put us in the way back of the restaurant. There we were virtually forgotten we never saw the belly dancers.Upon leaving I inquired about the belly dancers I was told they went home at 8:30.
Feeling like something a little different than the usual sit down meal experience. This is it! I've been here a few times over the years. Though it isn't a place I suggest to frequent, it will definitely be a fun night out with friends or family.
The food is quite good. If you can't imagine yourself eating with you hands, be forewarned - there aren't any utensils here. As you are seated on the floor accompanied by pillows, you feel like royalty enjoying five courses with nothing but you and your bare hands. It takes you to the exotic land of Morocco as you enjoy savory wedding soup to Chinese gunpowder tea and everything in between. For the entree, I suggest the honey and almonds cornish hen - NomnomNom. The pleasant rinse of rose water between courses prevents you from feeling like a barbarian. But give your hands a chance, you don't really have a choice. Do you really want to be that guy/girl? You know, the not fun one? I thought so.
The atmosphere isn't necessarily "authentic", but the experience most definitely is. Be sure to go on a weekend and be entertained by live belly dancing - get up there and learn some moves, it's a lot of fun! Overall, 5 stars because there's nowhere else like it. Definitely go! Stay hungry my friends!
Good GOD this is delicious stuff. Just got back from eating a few of their lamb plates. Make darn sure to have their "featured" dishes, as they are unspeakably good.
Five courses for around 30 bucks a person; a *perfect* romantic, exotic atmosphere that feels rich and luxurious; and the fun of being annointed with rosewater after your meal and watching a belly dancer.
The soup was incredible from the first drop; the salad consists of a sample of 7 delicious mini-dishes; the b'stella was flavorful and flaky and delicious; the entrees were beyond mind-blowing; and the dessert was a small fruit plate, perfectly refreshing after getting completely, unbelievably full.
We'll be back (often).
I ate here a couple of months ago but didn't get a chance to put in my yelp review, (sorry).
The food here is really good. Some of the best Moroccan I've had. And great service. We came here on a Saturday night and was treated to the full belly dancer and acrobatic/contortionist server tea pouring experience. A lot of fun.
The only thing that really kept it from getting 5 stars was environment. A little dark and a little dingy. But don't let that keep you away. I would (and plan on) coming back here again. So far, it's my favorite Moroccan restaurant.
I went here with a big group a few years ago (my entire dorm floor) and had an absolutely great time. This place really does feel like an authentic experience without the cheese that can come with it-basically, I felt like they weren't over-doing it, it felt real.
First of all, the inside is designed to look like it's under a giant desert tent-already very cool. As per custom, you sit not in chairs but on cushions on the floor with lowered tables.
Before your appetizer (I've forgotten what we had), you wash you hands when they bring out a pot of warm water and run it over your hands, then it lands in a basin below. Same thing for when your entree comes out.
I decided to have the rabbit (first time having it ever), which was a great choice. It was delicious, very succulent and juicy. Well cooked. Another part of this place is that you use no utensils-you eat with your hands. It was very cool just picking the meat straight off the bone.
In addition to all this, they have very good belly dancers that will dance around but also pull people up and teach them how-it was really fun seeing my friends learn how to belly dance.
I've only been here the one time, but I really need to go back-it's one of the better dining experiences I've ever had.
So much fun!
Great for dates or groups, this joint's got a lot of character. The menu can be a bit pricey for the product, but it's worth the unique experience. Kick back on the floor with an abundance of plush pillows and marvel in the entertainment. Scolding hot tea will be tossed about and belly dancers will frequently come your way, be sure to bring cash for tips.
Reasons why I did not give the Fez five stars include my comfort with the cleanliness of the floor pillows, the awkward belly dancer tipping situation, and the price for the product. Otherwise, you can miss having this classic Moroccan resturaunt experience.
Have fun!
Last night, some friends that were visiting Denver for an Iron Maiden concert took me to this not-quite-Turkish delight for dinner before the show. One of them had dined here before, and could not stop raving about the place's entertainment and menu. And although the list of dining experiences that would cause me to be late for Eddie and Co. is a short one, I must confess, this makes the cut. Mataam Fez proved to be one of the most fun, educational, and--most of all--sumptuous dining experiences I've had in ages.
For those of you who are new to the Moroccan dining experience (as I was), here's what you can expect (multicultural pros or 'spoiler sports', feel free to skip this part):
-You will sit on the floor. You will probably bump knees with your tablemates. You will get used to it.
-You will wash your hands with lemon water, and your face will be splashed with rose water. You will feel strangely refreshed and fragrant.
-You will wipe your hands with a hand towel draped over your left shoulder (cultural reasons--stray from the lefthand path). You will do this a lot, since your fingers are your only eating utensils for this meal.
-You will be served a delicious, filling five-course meal. You will only select the main course, from a short list of entrees (including lamb, hen, chicken, rabbit, and vegetarian dishes). The kitchen staff will do the rest for you.
-You will leave feeling content, not bloated, unless you are a finicky eater, too much of a wuss to sit on pillows for a couple hours, or a combination of the above. If this applies to you, your adventure ends here: turn to page one and start over.
Once we got past the short-lived culture shock of this foreign approach to eating (not a bad thing), the food took center stage. For the first course, we were each given a small bowl of the day's 'wedding soup', which consisted of a warm, lentil-based porridge. I literally licked the bowl when I was done. First course, very promising. Second course came in the form of a plate arranged with various chilled veggies, legumes and starches: highlights included the fava beans and spicy carrots. I couldn't get past the 'dirt' taste of the shredded beets, personally, but the rest of the fare was gone in a hurry.
The middle course was both the strangest and most savory one of all--we were treated to a Middle Eastern pot pie (forgiveness, please) consisting of spiced chicken, baked in a crumbly phyllo dough crust and topped with powdered sugar. The closest thing I can liken it to on my clearly limited palette would be baklava...it was the kind of dish that would've provoked a gag reflex on paper, but proved absolutely delicious in person! Must be tasted to be believed.
Up next was the penultimate serving, or main course. Everyone chose their own entree according to taste (plenty of diversity, in spite of limited selections), and dug in, fingers first. The table shares a 'side' plate of cous cous, veggies, and dipping (?) sauce. Feeling sweet, I opted for the cornish game hen with peaches and almonds. Afterwards, I'm now convinced that the bird is the word at this restaurant. The hen was well done, and fell right off the bone, juices dripping as I raised each bite to my mouth. For those of you who appreciate a well-done round of poultry, be sure to try this dish. The peaches were a mystery, as they had the telltate appearance (and taste) of the Del Monte variety--not what I'd expect for the pricetag here. Otherwise, I was wholly satisfied by my selection, and awaited the final course with a light heart and content stomach.
For dessert, entertainment takes precedence over abundance, as our server performed a different 'trick' before serving each one of us our glass of sweet, hot tea. Fancy footwork now behind us, we chowed down on a plate of fresh fruit (slices of melon, orange, kiwi, and a stalk of grapes) while awaiting the bill--anxious not to keep Brucey-Bruce waiting.
As other reviewers have commented, the damage at Mataam Fez can be considerable...figure $30-$40 per person. But consider this: When was the last time you got all of the following for thirty bucks while dining out:
- A diverse, but undeniably satisfying, five-course meal
- A meal consisting primarily of fresh fruit and veggies, and no processed foods
- A free dance lesson with a trained exotic dancer (prepare to add the 'tush push' to your dancefloor repertoire)
-An educational experience that matched your dining
- An extremely diligent, friendly, and patient staff (our server was quick to answer all our n00b inquiries, even asking kitchen staff about the origin of oriental dancing in Morocco)
To be sure, I will be back to Mataam Fez someday. The only thing that's holding me back from a five star review is my suspicion that the other entrees cannot stand up to the excellence of the Cornish game hen--and the possibility of fresh peaches hiding from me in the kitchen. Hopes are high. Oh, and one more thing...
Scream for me, Morocco!
Just went to Mataam Fez for the first time last week. Overall, I really enjoyed the experience. The food was hit or miss, to my taste anyway, but overall a filling and satisfying meal. They serve 5 courses so even if you only like 3 of them, you'll get a good meal.
Two of us went on a quiet night, so we got a large-ish corner table. This made the whole sitting-on-the-floor thing pretty comfy because we were able to shift around and stretch out our legs if we wanted to. I can't imagine going with a big group or on a busy night and being crammed in there on the floor. My legs would fall asleep.
I had a lamb entree that came with an artichoke and olives (two of my favorite things) so I was pretty happy. My boyfriend had a spicy chicken dish that was also very good. I think it's a little annoying that they don't put the prices on the menu. Customers should be able to know what they're getting into. Also, the only wines by the glass are a basic, cheap merlot, chardonnay or rose.
Overall, a fun experience with great service. The belly dancer was a little noisy and distracting, but that's part of the fun. The tea service was probably the most entertaining part to me (they do all these sort of acrobatic tricks with the glasses and boiling-hot tea). I probably won't be back on my own accord, but if friends were having a party there I'd happily attend.