Marrakesh Express

Reviews & Tips

• 0

  Our family stopped in for lunch before driving back to Virginia from our vacation at Topsail.  Last year, I was super impressed with Marrakesh in Jacksonville, so we decided to give this location a try.
  
  We were not disappointed!  We all went for the lunch buffet, since we couldn't decide what to order from the menu - it all sounded so good.  So, here's the drill...  
  
  Once you order, the staff starts cooking the meat that you ordered as part of your buffet.  Then you get a plate full of appetizers from the buffet: hummus, tahini salad (cucumber & tomato with tahini), baba ganoush (eggplant dip), tabouleh, faoul (fava beans with tomatos & spices), salad, and stuffed grape leaves, served with homemade pita (yes, homemade).  All of them are drizzled with olive oil and sprinkled with spices.  Go back to your table and start nibbling on your appetizers and sipping your mint iced tea.  Yes, Virginia, the mint tea is amazing!
  
  Then, your plates arrive with meat and rice.  Now you can really dig in.  I loaded up some pita with meat and a few of the appetizers.  Flavor explosion!  The marinated chicken is really tender and flavorful; the beef was tender and juicy, and the shwarma (beef & lam) was really tasty, but a little on the dry side.
  
  Then, I tried the baklava.  OMG - so good.  This was honestly the best baklava I've had in a long, long time.  There are many middle-eastern restaurants near my home in Virginia, and they could all take lessons here on how to make this dessert.  The small sprig of mint added just the right amount of zing.  I'm definitely returning on our next visit to Topsail.
  
  If not for the dry shwarma, this place would get 5 stars!
  
  The staff was super friendly and helpful.

  Review Source:

  Posted on 06.21.12 Steve R.

  • Report
• 0

  Very friendly staff, amazing food, awesome Turkish coffee, and yummy fresh pita to take home for later. A bit pricey for lunch, but worth the splurge every now and then.

  Review Source:

  Posted on 02.21.12 Marge A.

  • Report
• 0

  Good food fast, staff actually good for jacksonville

  Review Source:

  Posted on 02.19.12 Ben G.

  • Report
• 0

  We love the original Marrakesh restaurant in Jacksonville, so when we stumbled upon Marrakesh Express on a recent trip to Lowe's, we were so excited! This location is more like a small cafe setting, with only a few tables, but an awesome "Mediterranean" grocery store inside. They sell all different types of imported items (spices, candies, foods, canned goods, etc). The family that owns this (and the original Marrakesh) are absolutely delightful. They're so nice and accommodating, letting you customize your plate options however you like (example, trade rice for second salad choice, etc).
  
   As for food recommendations, you have got to try their chicken. It's so tender and deliciously marinated that it literally melts in your mouth. I love the "chicken kabob" plate (their rice is phenomenal) and my hubs likes their shawarma (most people's favorite from dish at Marrakesh). And their iced tea... I could go here just for their iced tea. Sweet or unsweet, either is delish... and this location sells it by the gallon! There are so many other awesome dishes to try... especially their appetizers!
  
  I cannot rave enough about both Marrakesh locations... they are truly a breath of fresh air in Jacksonville, a town with very little going for it in the "restaurant" market. Thank you Marrakesh for finally bringing super tasty food to Jacksonville, NC!!

  Review Source:

  Posted on 11.02.11 JanDe V.

  • Report