Please share your Marrakesh dining experiences.

[northern michigan]

I've booked Marrakesh for our Candlelight Processional package. I've read the menus on all ears. The roast lamb, shish kebab, and chicken kebab sound pretty safe. However, I'm not familiar with Morrocan herbs and spices. Are they strong flavors or more subtle?

I'm also concerned about DD13. She's willing to try new things, but if she doesn't like their morracan dishes, will they bring her some chicken or a hot dog from the kids menu so she doesn't leave hungry? I hate to spend $38.99 and have her get up from the table starving. Or will I need to buy her another meal from say the american paviliion on my own?

Any Marrakesh experiences you can share are appreciated. Thanks.

 

[jackmac]

I've gone to the Marakesh on my last 2 visits and found it to be very good to good. The sampler was the best bet. The spices seemed to be mild with cinnamon the main flavor. The belly dancer is very good and she always seems to bring the youger girls up to learn to dance. They do have a chicken dish that is good. I would have no problem recommending this restaurant. It is different, the staff is friendly and it is entertaining. If you are a DVC member there is a 20 percent discount.

 

[helenk]

I loved the food at Marrakesh, I do not like spicy food, I do not even like ground pepper. The food was delicious, a very subtle type of flavoring.
My daughter is a picky eater and she loved the Lemon Chicken. The belly dancer was great too.
Marrakesh is on my list of places to eat when my husband and I go in December.

 

[northern michigan]

Sounds like Marrakesh should work out pretty well. I thought Biergarten would be fine last year, but DH wasn't impressed and DD then 8 pretty much turned her nose up at the food. I, however, loved it!

Anyone else have any Marrakesh experiences to share?

 

[bntlyclg89]

I know I am in the minority here but DF and I went to Marrakesh in October 2004 and wasn't impressed with the service (server was VERY rude). We eat Middle Eastern food on occasion and this just didn't stack up (bland, cold, greasy chicken). I know this restaurant is a favorite of Dis'ers but we won't be returning to it this October. (Le Cellier here we come!!!)

 

[PrincessKitty]

DH and I thought the Marrakesh was a lovely restaurant with great entertainment (a band and a bellydancer!) and pleasant service, but the food was totally bland. It tasted completely unspiced to us.

 

[Beauty]

Ick we didn't like it at all but different tastes for different people. It wasn't spicy at all to me, kind of bland with no taste. We didn't care for it at all and have no desire to go back.

 

[zulaya]

I am from MN. I don't do spicy. I loved Marrakesh.

I'd categorize the spices as mild. Not that cinnamon was used, but that's the mild, subtle type of flavoring that we got.

The sampler feasts are great. I have a DD who is the pickiest eater in the whole freakin' world and she ate all her chicken (but she didn't like the lamb, I think it was? It's been 2 years). I think you are safe.

 

[northern michigan]

Those three posts in a row there made me real nervous, but maybe it'll still be okay for us. Maybe those few Diser's have a richer palate than I. Our family is rather simple in our tastes. Not that we like bland, but definitely nothing dramatic.

Any more opinions.

 

[MouseDogMom]

DH and I like all kinds of food, but DD (14) isn't real experimental. We love Marrakesh. We did a sampler meal last time, and nothing was really spicy. There were some interesting flavors, but there was enough variety that if something didn't appeal, there was plenty of other food to fill you up. The chicken was a big hit with DD.

 

[bavaria]

I love ethnic food, and love spicy food (I even completed two diplomas in Indian cooking after completing my training in the kitchen in Germany, but that's a different story!)

I last ate at Marrakesh about a month ago, had the veggie couscous. It was fine, but rather mild. I wouldn't worry too much about someone being put off by the spices unless they are strongly opposed to cinnamon, cardoman, etc.

I do love the bread there, and the iced mint tea... it's a very quiet and cool place to relax over lunch. Although I have only ever eaten the veggie dish there, the food appears to be a very mild version of the true cuisine. It's not one of my favourite places, but on a hot busy day you can usually get in without an ADR, and the food is acceptable if not exciting.

You may want to check out Tangierine Cafe as an alternative if you are concerned....

 

[northern michigan]

[You may want to check out Tangierine Cafe as an alternative if you are concerned....[/QUOTE]

I don't think that's an option for the Candlelight Processional pkg.

 

[bavaria]

Sorry, what I meant was since it's counter service, go in and take a look at the food. It will give you a better idea. I realize that you don't have much flexibility sometimes to cancel/rebook for the CP package, but it may help you to see/smell the items they have there......

 

[undertheseas]

We loved it! I hate spicy foods (mild salsa has me running for water) but it was great flavor. We had good service, they were really attentive, the portions were huge. DD got up to dance, it was adorable. I told DH I wish I had a stomach like the bellydancer, he said "me too!"

 

[northern michigan]

Sorry, what I meant was since it's counter service, go in and take a look at the food. It will give you a better idea. I realize that you don't have much flexibility sometimes to cancel/rebook for the CP package, but it may help you to see/smell the items they have there......

Thanks, I'll have to remember to do that. This way the kids will be more comfortable with it. Appreciate the tip.

I hadn't realized they had belly dancers. Should be fun. My DD9 just made dance company. Maybe she can come back from WDW with a new move or two! LOL Now I have a few months to work on my reserved DD13. It'd be great to get her involved.

 

[Ron from Michigan]

We ate there for the first time a few years ago and it was very good. The Mint Tea they serve is so good.

 

[ICEMANPAD]

We just ate at Marrakesh approx. 2 weeks ago and loved it. Our waiter was wonderful. My DH and I had the sampler platter and enjoyed everything on it. My DS (5 year old) is a very picky eater and did not like anything on the children's menu. The waiter asked what he would like and we said a plain grilled chicken breast and veggies would be fine. No problem, my ds loved his dinner. Also, the belly dancer came over to our table and danced w/ ds. It was a great meal!!

 

[MickeyMonstersMom]

I'm probably in the middle of the diners' spectrum: I'm not adventurous by a long shot, but will cautiously try new foods. I decided to try Marrakesh on my last solo trip and worried a little about it, but ending up liking it so much I'm planning on eating there the next time I go to WDW. I tried the chef's special, which was a chicken shish kebob on a tomato-based sauce, with rice that appeared to have frozen mixed vegetables in it. The rice was a little disappointing, but the kebab was perfectly cooked and not spicy - and that tomato sauce was perfect! There was also a tomato and cucumber relish-type deal on the side, which was so good I printed the recipe from allearsnet.com when I got home. The entree was preceded by some excellent bread and a simple salad, plus (IIRC) a brewat roll, which was well-made but I didn't care for the mixture of spices in it. Dessert was an apple crepe smothered in honey - very sweet but it fit the meal well. The CM at the podium was abrupt (rude?) when I checked in ten minutes ahead of my PS time, insinuating that my early arrival somehow inconvenienced her, but I shook that off and my server made up for that with friendly and attentive service. Mmmm...

Off to make that PBJ sandwich for lunch now.

 

[northern michigan]

We just ate at Marrakesh approx. 2 weeks ago and loved it. Our waiter was wonderful. My DH and I had the sampler platter and enjoyed everything on it. My DS (5 year old) is a very picky eater and did not like anything on the children's menu. The waiter asked what he would like and we said a plain grilled chicken breast and veggies would be fine. No problem, my ds loved his dinner. Also, the belly dancer came over to our table and danced w/ ds. It was a great meal!!

Your report made my day! Thanks! I was worried about spending $38 for DD13 and having to buy CS food when we left!