I returned for restaurant week and the experience was most definitely very different compared to last time. Â The portions were smaller, the staff more rushed and at the end of the meal there was no tea show. I loved the tea show here so missing it just made me sad inside.
As always the food was well done and carefully prepared but this time I didn't feel as transported as last time. Â Maybe third times the charm?
The most horrific, tasteless, expensive meal I have ever had. Â I actually called the health department - it was that bad!!!!! Â Get this, dinner for three, no utensils, no dishes (seriously, you all grab off of one plate, no utensils) and no appetizers - over $150 dollars
Lukewarm, tasteless soup, pickled stuff passing for salad (complete with a flying insect, hence the health department call), boiled mystery meat - we left before tea.. Â This ordeal took 2.5 hours - skip it as this is NOTHING like Moroccan food.
I haven't been to a good Moroccan restaurant in a while and happy to say, this place nailed it!
I liked the couches and pillows to sit on. You wash your hands with lemon water because you don't get utensils. You eat with your hands! Very fun and something different to do once in a while.
The prices are a little high here but it is because you get so much with your order. All the main dishes come with soup, assorted salads, bastilla which is absolutely amazing and I wish I could eat it every day! Then comes your actual meal and finished off with tea and fruit.
We tried the Lamb Mouchi and the Cornish hen with apricots and honey. WOW. Absolutely delicious.
Since so much food comes with your meal, we had to take a lot of food to go. We simply could not finish it all.
I highly recommend this place for a delicious meal and an activity out of the ordinary.
I'm happy I tried this place and for that reason, you should perhaps try it too. I also enjoyed the staff, even though I didn't see them very often as I think they forgot our table several times throughout the evening. It took a lonnnnnnng time to get our drinks and our check. Still, for the novelty and staff, I'll give this place two stars.
The food was ... not great. I had the spicy chicken and it was really very bland. The best thing is the chicken in phyllo dough, but there wasn't enough there to serve four people. Good thing our friends ordered a veggie option, as well.
The other problem I have with this place is that it's super dingy. I'd be afraid of what I'd see if the lights were on full force. The carpets and rugs are run down, the tablecloths are subpar, the tapestries are tattered and hanging oddly. Walking into this place feels like walking into a scary apartment building. The waiting area was bad. Last (and worst of all) the price is just way too high for what you get. Not even the belly dancing or tea pouring is worth paying all that money for what can only be called unimpressive food.
After several years, I was able to visit this place again. The decor is still delightful and the dancer was superb and so was the service. But the food was not as good as I had remembered it. The soup and bread were okay, the "salad" was just barely okay. The Bastilla that I had dreamed of, and was salivating for, was skimpy and did not have the layers that the ones in the past had. It was okay but not like it was, glorious, in years gone by. One mistake that we made was that we ordered 2 entrees when one would have fed us just fine. So the entire meal was very expensive and my date pretty much hated the food. I liked it okay and took some home for my Mom who enjoyed what I brought her. I am a sad, sad person to have to give it this review.
Review Source:When this restaurant first opened back in 1979, the food and the service were stellar. Over the years, the food and the service began to deteriorate. My last visit---just three days ago---was abysmal. From the smelly mildew odor of the old carpet  to the surly, sullen young man who "greeted" us, the experience went from bad to worse.
The food---which for years had been heavenly---was barely edible. My favorite was always the chicken with lemon and olives. On this visit, the cornish game hen was overcooked and tasteless. There was one tiny slice of preserved lemon, no onions whatsoever, and exactly two olives. Another friend ordered the lamb with artichokes---normally a delicious feast. This time, it came as something unrecognizable. There was a small boiled lamb shank on the plate that was totally bland and a single undercooked artichoke. Another member of our party orderd the lamb brochettes. The two teensy shish kabobs should have been called lamb pellets because the pieces of meat were so small and overcooked.
Obviously, there is no longer a Moroccan cook in the kitchen at Mataam Fez. A Moroccan cook would not turn out such tasteless, pathetic food that in no way resembles the wonderful cuisine of Morocco. Trust me, I have been to Morocco three times, and I never had a meal this lousy even from a street vendor!
The fact that two members of the wait staff can pour mint tea into tiny glasses that rest on their upper arms or on top of their foreheads does not make up for the unfriendly service and the simply unpalatable and overpriced entrees. By the way, even the side dishes have been reduced in size.
After over thirty years of going to this restaurant, I can adamantly say that I will never go again. This has been my worst dining experience in the past year, maybe the past five years!
With my Mom in town I wanted to try something new and unique, why not Moroccan. Â This place is located on Colfax and gets excellent reviews, so I listened to my fellow Yelpers and made reservations. Â I would rather they be on Open Table but their website is easy to use and I received a confirmation for my reservations. Â
We arrived promptly at 7pm and were seated immediately in the back room. Â This is as authentic Moroccan as you get to sit on the floor on some comfy pillows with a lower round table to eat from. Â Even though there are a lot people seated per room the noise level is still very quiet which is very nice. Â
The entree prices look steep at first with an average of $30, please keep in mind this is for 5 courses, you choose your entree and they take care of the rest. Â
We had a couple of there classic Moroccan drinks that included plum wine, wowza, did we both suck down these drinks. Â Those were very tasty.
Here's how the night progressed:
1. Place a white towel over your left shoulder for the meal (as your napkin)
2. Rinse your hands - warm water poured over your hands
3. The soup of the day (1st course) - Lentil soup for us - It was delicious and a nice beginning dish
4. Vegetable dish which includes, eggplant mash (my name), curried carrots, roasted beets, potato's, spinach, and a palate cleanser for between bites. Â This was by far one of my favorite dishes. Â Keep in mind you are eating all of this by hand, the authentic way.
5. A savory Baklava kind of dish with ground chicken, almonds, and spices wrapped in puff pastry topped with powdered sugar and cinnamon. Â This is delicious, it can be a little interesting to eat with your hands. Â Totally terrific with sweet and savory hitting all over your taste buds.
6. Entrees are next where we indulged in the Rabbit (their signature dish) and the Cornish Hen with lemon and olives. Â Both of which were amazing, the consensus was the Rabbit was the best and what we would order again. Â The couscous was a little difficult to eat with your hands, fun if anything. Â The roasted veggies were perfectly cooked and delicious.
7. Rinse your hands - warm water poured over your hands and then sprinkled with rose water to give yourself a wonderful fragrance.
8. Dessert - fresh fruit with a warm cup of tea which had such a wonderful aroma and taste. Â Delicious.
9. While enjoying dessert, enjoy a good 10-15 minutes of having a beautiful and exotic belly dancer doing her thing around the room. Â She was amazing and makes me want to take some belly dancing lessons. Â Make sure you put a dollar or two on the strap around her arm, she was truly a pleasure to watch and a great entertainer.
**Using the Yelp Mobil application, if you check in you can get 15% off your bill, which is pretty nice. Â
I would totally recommend this place for groups and for a great meal. Â Can't wait to come back with a group and try more items.
We go to about Mataam Fez once a year. It is definitely a "special occasion" place, as it would be too expensive to go more often. But for the experience and the food, it is worth every penny.
Most nights there are belly dancers if you're there at the right time. The belly dancers are always fun and that, combined with the cushions on the floor and the pillowy atmosphere, Â make you feel like you're dining in a palace as a sultan's honored guest.
The food is also fabulous. There are five courses, and everything can be made vegetarian. You start with soup and bread; followed by a salad plate; a bastilla (a flaky pastry with powdered sugar and fruit inside, with chicken for the carnivores); an entree; and for dessert, a fruit plate with mint green tea. The only part of the meal that isn't quite as exciting is the entree; there are three vegetarian choices, but they are all rather bland. You can get couscous with vegetables, an artichoke with vegetables, or just straight up vegetables. I would be okay eating the other four courses without an entree, and there would still be enough to fill me up.
But wait! There's more to experience. You also take off your shoes in the restaurant, and eat everything with your hands. (Don't worry, the server comes between courses to rinse your hands with lemon water.) The server also gets into the act, pouring the tea with fancy flair and doing trick pours and twirling the glasses all about without one drop of tea spilling.
And on a cold, snowy winter's night, there's nothing better than enjoying a belly-filling feast and being entertained in a most decadent way. Enjoy.
The only reason Mataam Fez is not receiving 5 glowing stars is...I know how lame this is...but seriously...the pricing and inconsistency therein with the food. Â I understand you get a lot of food, and I love Moroccan food as is, but the quality is just not on track with my expectations of a $30+ and up meal. Â
The atmosphere is so much fun, belly dancing (sometimes better than others), traditional Moroccan style, tea dancers etc, BUT the actual food and the price you pay is a bit unbalanced.
I have been a couple times in the past few months, and ordered the lamb and artichoke the first time which was great, and the hen with olives and lemon. Â After 3 courses leading up the entree, (all traditional fare, and tasty), the entree is served and I must say I continue to be disappointed. Â The lamb dish, although a hefty plate of food, was served cold, and tough. Â The hen, with olives and lemon, had one olive, and no indication of lemon on the plate. Â
Also, a side note, the alcoholic drinks are NOT a good way to go..Keep with the Kasa (the house beer) and you can't go wrong.
I want to return, but don't think spending $32 for a meal that doesn't match the quality of the price is going to be worth it for much longer.
2.5 rounded up. Â I've been to a few Moroccan places like this, and I wasn't terribly impressed with Mataam Fez. Â
We ordered the Lamb Mishwi ($32) and the Lamb Brochettes ($29.95). Â Prices are not on the menus. Â The entrees were mildly flavorful, but nothing special. Â The side dishes were good, but it was difficult to eat everything with our hands, especially the lamb mishwi (which is like stew), the couscous, and the some of the chopped veggies (consistency of salsa). Â The bastilla was probably the best part of the meal, in all of its flaky savory and sweet goodness. Â
They pour warm scented water over your hands to clean them before your meal, but still if I went with a group of people, I don't think I could share a common plate with everyone with all the licking of fingers. Â
The floor seating in the back room was interesting. Â It was a narrow space and the belly dancer bumped into empty tables a couple times. Â Service was okay, and the dancing was entertaining. Â The air was a bit dank, and the pillows, carpets, and tapestries could use a deep cleaning. Â Good thing the lights are so dim.
Expect to be there for 2-2.5 hours. Â It's an interesting experience if you haven't visited a Moroccan place before. Â There are better ones out there, though.
We are so fortunate to have this experience here in Denver. Â Great for parties of adventurous people, maybe two or three couples to provide moral support in this cultural experience.
I don't know how to eat the food with my fingers, whatever I tried was messy and not working.
But I did learn how to belly dance and recommend that everyone take a break and shake it a little, it helps with the digestion.
Where else will you find so many bottles of wine (malbec, shiraz) for $20? Its sure to help your belly dancing!
Mataam Fez is a fun exciting taste and sensory adventure! When I go for Moroccan food (Which isn't very often) this is usually where me and my friends wind up. The venue is perfect with lanterns, plush cushions and floor seating. It makes you feel like you stepped into Marrakech.
Did I mention there's also belly dancing? With all inclusive embarrassing pick out your friend and make them dance with the belly dancer lessons! It's great for a laugh and all the finger foods make it a new sensory food experience which is a must do for all foodies. P.S the waiters will also do amazing tricks with the drinks.
The hungry kitten says: Go here when you need to drink mint tea and see hot belly dancers while eating food with your fingers!
This place is such a blast! Once you step inside it feels like you aren't in Colorado anymore. Â They do a wonderful five course meal with an exciting tea service near the end. Â Everything tasted full and fresh. Â I really enjoyed the 'salad' course where they bring out a number of cold vegetable dishes to sample and I loved them all. Â The spinach was was so flavorful and I even ate the tomatoes and beets (and I almost never eat those). Â I had the lamb and artichoke entree which was cooked perfectly. The fruit at the end of the meal was wonderfully ripe and juicy.
When you go here make sure you keep an open mind and have fun with it. Â They are going to have you wear a towel on your shoulder, eat with your hands and they are going to sprinkle you with rose water. There is also a beautiful belly dancer and a neat, acrobatic tea service during the meal. Â It is going to be a long dinner so plan accordingly. Â We got there at 6:30 pm and didn't leave until 9pm.
My only complaint here is the location but there really isn't much they can do about that.
For those of you who have never experience Moroccan cuisine, Mataam Fez is a must!!
This place has been around for as long as I can remember, and is one of those "Colfax" gems. Â A meal here consists of sitting on fancy pillows around low tables, communal dishes eaten with your hands, and of course, talented belly dancing for entertainment. Â From the moment you walk in the door, you forget you are on Colfax, and even in the States.
Moroccan food is somewhere between Ethiopian and Indian, with a heavy emphasis on honey, nuts, dates and other fruits. Â The menu is not very large, but it does not need to be, as there are many side dishes and every option is very good.
I used to love going here as a kid, and it can be really fun with a large group. Â But keep in mind that the flavors, and eating customs, are significantly different than "American" restaurants.
Dinner was 5 courses and around 70 bucks for 2 people. Food was exceptional, the belly dancing and hot tea pouring tricks was amazing. My date and I had a incredible time.
The place opens at 530 and I suggest you get there at 530 when the place is clean and there is no wait. Very healthy food, the coos coos was fun to try to eat with our hands. And the chicken was incredible. They recommended the lamb, but I have had better. I will be back. :)
What a great experience and the food was equally good. Â The vegetables and fruit were soooooo fresh! Â Great experience and perfect for groups of friends. Â It's a 5 course meal (you only choose your entree) and takes about 2-2.5 hours so plenty of time to enjoy with your friends/family. Â It's fun to eat with your hands :) Â
The Moroccan Chicken Bastilla is amazing and the Roast Chicken was probably the moistest chicken I've ever had.
Food was excellent. Not a big veggie eater so I could have passed on the first couple of courses. Had the rabbit which was excellent (but watch for small bones). Plan on spending 2 hours + to eat your dinner. Of course you eat everything with your hands which adds to the experience but I would have been happier with a fork & spoon. $32 per person + drinks.
A lot of food and we had left overs. I would recommend.
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. Â 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!
Mataam Fez is one of the most unique dining experiences you can have in Denver. Â It's quite a treat eating a five course meal sitting on pillows on the floor with entertainment by belly dancers (and the serves with your dessert tea!) Â The first time I had a meal here was about a decade ago for my sister's birthday, and not much has changed - and shouldn't need to. Â I don't have a ton of experience eating at Moroccan restaurants to offer a comprehensive comparison, but every course offers amazing textures and flavors of food. Â For entrees, I would highly recommend the honey/peach roasted Cornish game hen or the rabbit. Â The only downside for this place is the $$$ you need for the five course meal.
Beware - if you drop by Mataam Fez for your birthday (like I did a few nights ago), be prepared to show off some impromptu amateur belly dancing skills yourself!
We had a group of about 15 for a friend's birthday there. Â It was cramped in the private room, but they should be glad they put us in a separate room. Â Actually, I was glad they did, because everyone could have their conversations at their end of the table, but when something funny happened, the whole group could witness/hear it, too.
I do think the food is slightly overpriced, but then perhaps it's eating with my hands that left me hungry, because it is difficult to neatly break off a piece of b'stella without coating one's self in a pound of powdered sugar.... Â And it's sort of a social experiment - I think people eat far less when they have to share. Â There would be food leftover in the two middle courses, but no one finished off the last of each thing.
The food was very good, except we had vegetable soup as the first course, due to a bunch of vegetarians in our group. Â I don't eat lamb, but vegetable soup is my sworn enemy. Â The broth was seasoned/spiced really well, though.
The 'salad' course is amazingly good - not a salad, so much as a platter with sections of carrots, potatoes, beets, fava beans, and there were supposed to be a couple other things on our platter that we didn't ever get. Â But the potatoes and fresh beets and fava beans (mashed a bit, so this is the one thing I really didn't enjoy eating with my fingers) were all really tasty. Â
With vegetarians, we got to try both the vegetarian b'stella and the meat-filled version. Â Both were delicious. Â Like everyone says, meat + powdered sugar - who knew? Â The veggie one had fruit in it, mostly, I think. Â This is the can't-miss course.
I got the hot and spicy chicken as my entree, and it was really good, both the chicken, and the sauce. Â The problem was, they put a community platter of cous cous and vegetables in the center of our table, but conditions were so cramped in our room, that to try to reach the center of the table, scoop up some cous cous (and invariably lose half of it in my drink, I'm guessing) would have been a major production, as we were all sitting there, limbs carefully folded origami-style. Â So I actually felt less than full after all those courses, and for $56 (but that did include at least a couple Marrakesh layered wine drinks).
If you think I'm kidding about the cramped conditions limiting my ability to reach the cous cous, let's just say that the belly dancer came in to perform for our group, and she was essentially stuck in the confined space of the doorway, and couldn't fully extend her arms. Â It's our fault for having a big group of people, but both she and our server who did the elaborate tea service after dinner had limited room to do their performances. Â
Nonetheless, we had a blast. Â It's not some place I'd eat regularly, but the food is simple, yet good, and it was definitely fun for a special occasion and a big gathering of great friends.
This place is positively fabulous. Â All those whining about sitting on the floor and eating with their fingers may as well go home and leave it to the foodies. Â Then they complain about the bill - please this is a taste of another world without having to fly elsewhere! Perhaps McDonalds and a movie is more your style.
The food is authentic, the atmosphere is enthralling, the service is attentive, Â the entertainment is awesome and it's all worth every penny of the bill. Â I have visited with a gal pal on girls night out, Â with my husband on date night, and as part of a large group, and have never been dissatisfied. Â The Pastilla is to die for! Â The finale of Chinese Gunpowder tea is such a thrill - the servers really go the extra mile. Â
If you are into cultural experiences, have fun! Â If not ~ go complain somewhere else.
My first visit to Mataam Fez was for the April Book Club meeting. Â I wasn't exactly sure what to expect. Â Tara filled me in on the whole sitting on pillows thing, I wasn't too excited but it was part of the whole experience. Â
I was a bit uncomfortable with the whole sitting in the dark on dirty pillows and cushions, but I got over it.
I wasn't too excited about my entree, the beef skewers. Â They were a little chewy and the accompanying couscous was flavorless. Â As stated before it was definitely a bit of a hassle to eat with my hands. I did enjoy the soup and salad assortment served before the meal. Â The b'stella (sp?) was a bit odd, but pretty good. Â It was really hot so it was hard to break into it with our hands, plus it was covered with powdered sugar. Â
Although there was a lot of food I still feel like I overspent. Â If the menu was available a la carte I might enjoy it more.
The entertainment was great and created a festive atmosphere. Â Tara's belly dancing was the highlight of the evening. Â Thanks for taking one for the team. Â
I probably won't be back unless I have amnesia.
The place is all about experience. Â I've been twice: the first time was Amazing, and the second was just pretty okay.
The food is quite tasty, in an unexpected way. Â The check is also quite unexpected. Â Once you've had a meal at Mataam Fez, you'll find yourself wondering if you ever need to go back, except to expose someone you care about to what is really a very unique dining experience. Â And once for them is also probably enough.
That being said, it really is worth the one-shot. Â The food is pretty decent, and the sit-on-the-floor-and-eat-with-your-hands serving style makes for an exquisite and novel experience. Â Even the Casa beer is pretty tasty. Â Add in the belly dancer, and there's just no reason not to give it a try.
Make sure to bring a wad of cash. Â Include some singles to tip your belly dancer. Â It's totally worth it, if only for the extra-personalized shaking...
I had an absolutely fabulous time - and then the check came. I think it shook out to be about $100 a couple, which I did not expect. Luckily, Todd had been here once before and knew to bring a bank roll.
The rest of the night seems to echo my experience with the check.
The - "I love sitting on the floor" transitioned an hour later into - "My knees are killing me! Did I just kick someone under the table?"
The "This is fun! I'm eating with my hands!" transitioned into "How the hell am I supposed to eat couscous with my hands!"
...and so on.
The entertainment was awesome. The belly dancers and the teapot tricks were the best parts of the evening. It was a little awkward when the belly dancer approached our area and asked a bride-to-be to get up and dance and she began to cry. A noble friend volunteered in her place. Of course, my heart began to pitter-pat because I just knew she would eventually make her way over to our group. Being one of the only females on the side of the table you could actually extricate yourself from, I sensed my impending doom.
As if in slow motion, I was invited to learn to bellydance. My wallflower side said "No!" but my daredevil side said "Why not?" - and I rose to the challenge. It was a little embarrassing, but I just tried my best to focus and see this as a learning opportunity and NOT make eye contact with anyone I knew so I wouldn't burst out laughing. I wouldn't say I did a good job, but I don't think i did too shabby, either.
Overall, a pleasant evening I recommend experiencing - once. The food was good and you'll get a good description of it in other reviews, and while I left full, I didn't leave feeling like "OMG, that was such a great meal, I just couldn't stop eating." which I gotta be honest is what I expect for a $100. I simply gave up eating when my hunger was assuaged, which is maybe the point. Eating couscous is problematic - sure it tastes good, but it is hard as hell to scoop/dangle into your mouth to eat. Having couscous fall in my shirt is not fun.
I have to say I sat on a pillow and put my hands on some crumbs. It kind of made me feel icky, but I guess that is what happens when you all eat with your hands while sitting on the floor.
My initial thoughts on Mataam Fez are that I'm glad I went and experienced it, but I will probably not go back again. I know that I'm paying for the experience, but I can't help feeling like I paid a little more than the experience was worth to me.
The food seemed to be hit or miss for me. The starter was lamb and lentil soup with bread. I'm not a huge fan of lamb or tomato broths, which is what it was in. I take 3 sips and pass. Next came what they call a salad and I call a tray of yumminess. It had carrots, beets, potatoes, spinach, chickpeas and eggplant. Maybe that was all and maybe one of those is incorrect, but that was my conclusion of what they were. I discover it's hard to eat mashed up vegetables with your fingers. I try to use bread. It gets crumbly. Aha! The aforementioned crumbs are explained.
Now they bring us meat dessert? It smells like a funnel cake. It's dusted with sugar and made of philo dough. But, inside is meat and cinnamon. I'm not a sweet and savory mixer of flavors so I try one bit, albeit a small one. Me no likey. Next please.
I order beef on a stick. It is a very nice flavor. It is kind of hard to chew. It is served on cous cous with raisins and almonds, which is very delicious, but harder to eat with my fingers than anything I have tried so far. I think I would have had better luck with the soup. How do toddlers do this?
Last course - the most delicious tea ever! And fruit. I like this tea a lot. But, it scares me to watch the server balance glasses on her forehead while pouring the boiling stuff out of a pot and into the glass.
The server's tricks with all the dishes - juggling balancing and so on are amazing and worth seeing as is the belly dancer. But, by and large, the food I had just wasn't my cup of tea.
As a healthy eater I thought I might try out this moroccan food place popularly known for it's belly dancers, finger food, and no chairs. When I walked in I had a deja vu from a dream I think I had a few months ago.
Plus points for the mood set by the scenery and as far as I know, authentic food. Like people said, the four course meal is pretty healthy. My favorite part was the sweet pastry like appetizer that had chicken inside it. At first it sounds weird, but when you taste it you're surprised that poultry can be the main kick in this delicious starter. The other thing I liked a lot was that you can eat as much of those thick square shaped pieces of wheat bread. My main course was the honey almond lamb that seemed to disappear way too quickly.
The main reason this place wasn't five stars for me was because I didn't like the fact that I had to eat on the floor with my hands. I absolutely can't stand feeling and being messy. Even though I'm not the one who's going to have to clean it up, I felt extremely terrible for leaving crumbs all over the place. I also couldn't help but wish I had baby wipes with me because my fingers were all sticky and wet. If you don't mind sitting on the floor and eating with your hands than this place will be phenomenal for you. But for people like me, I think I might just take the food home and eat it with a fork even though this terribly destroys the whole purpose of the experience.
Yes, I'm giving it five stars.
Five stars, even though the decor was horrifying.
Five stars, even though the bathroom stalls were the size of coffins.
Five stars, even though I really, really, really wanted a goddamn fork.
Why? Two words, dear friends: meat dessert. The flakey, sent-from-heaven bastilla, esentially a savory chicken pie made with filo dough and topped with powdered sugar and cinnamon. I awoke the next morning, a smile playing on my lips, because that night, I had dreamed I was eating it again.
It's that good.
Ahhh. Mataam Fez. The place that will always hold a special niche in my heart as The Place I Ate A Sheeps Spine And Then Had Diarreah For Two Days.
BUT. Did you see that i still gave it four stars? Its delicious! I got the wrong thing. I dont even remember what thing I got but it was basically the equivalent of an elderly sheep's back and tasted like carcass of grandpa, but we all make a mistake here and then.
However, the pastille is pretty much my favorite thing ever, and the bread you use to sop everything up is something I wish I carried around with me at all times. Â The chicken with apricot sauce is delightful. I also love a beet, and fortunately Moroccan cuisine also loves themselves a beet. See? We're friends. I dont let a little Old Sheep Spine get in the way of a beautiful relationship.
This is one of those restaurants that is not just about the food but the whole experience.
There is food and it is delicious.
There is atmosphere and it is unique and cool.
There is service and it is performance.
We went here for our anniversary dinner and we decided to bring the kids (I know, how romantic) so that they could experience it.
The kids were...stunned. Â At first they were kind of weirded out by sitting on the floor,eating off the table and sharing everything. Â By the time there was dancing, juggling and balancing a teacup on a foot while pouring the tea they were giddy.
When you're in the mood for a nice change of pace Matamm Fez is the place.
First of all, Mataam Fez is NOT CLOSED. Â It's much alive and every bit the unique and delightful experience I had hoped for. Â (Note: the Boulder location is the one that is now closed, but the one on Colfax is definitely still going strong)
There is certainly no other restaurant in the city like this-- I don't know if this is truly what it's like to eat in Morocco, but if it is, I don't see how anyone can get anything done the rest of the time! Â As one reviewer mentioned, it is a meal you need to allot 2-3 hours to enjoy. Â
It's mostly a prix fixe menu that comes with 5 courses, where you choose the entree. Â This includes an excellent lentil and lamb soup, an assorted salad/appetizer dish, B'stella (a sweet pastry that's an appetizer but for those of us with a sweet tooth, how can you not love it when dessert comes BEFORE dinner?), your entree selection, and a fruit salad and mint tea to top it off.
We had the special for the day-- a juicy hen served with honey, almonds and peaches which I highly recommend if it's available when you go. Â Our other dish, a braised lamb with artichoke, was decent, but nothing to write home about.
Service was great, with talented servers who find unique and acrobatic ways to pour your mint tea. Â For the most part, we enjoyed eating sans utensils, but if you get the Cous Cous, I might recommend a spoon for that dish only.
Other surprises await, but I won't ruin them here in this review. Â Bottom line-- great, romantic and fun place to spend a relaxing meal... reasonable price (expect around $30 per person) and good, though not fantastic food.
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