Mataam Fez Moroccan Restaurant

Went in by 8 they said no dance I reserved for 8 clock dinner. i asked him according to your web site it says hotel close by 9.30. He said no 8. Always call them. Very unprofessional. food just
was hubby birthday I told him we drove 15 miles to see the belly dance too he is like you have to mention it when you reserve. we took groupon he said take 2 .when we went to pay he said no only 1 groupon per table. you might try your luck if you go by may be 6.30 or 7. Any ways I won’t recommend

Dear Mataam Fez, why do you refuse to remodel? That is the same red carpet that was there 20 years ago. I love you, but there is a major ick factor in going to your restaurant.
The food is good — lamb was great. The soup was great. The salads were meh. Especially the beets — they tasted a bit off. Tea was delicious, as well as the fruit. It’s pretty hard to eat cous cous with your hands when it doesn’t stick together at all — might be a sign of proper cooking, but it made a mess :)
The belly dancer was good at moving, but not the best at belly dancing.
I love this place, and I was able to overlook the disgusting stained carpet (out of nostalgia). I don’t think my guests were able to, however, and since you sit so close to the floor, I understand why they were grossed out. Who knows what the kitchen looks like if the dining room is in that state.
But I still appreciate the restaurant because I love Moroccan food and I’ve been going to Mataam Fez since I was a kid.

Very enjoyable! The family wanted to try something new, and we were delighted by the experience. Never having dined here before, we were a bit skeptical, but the staff was friendly and helpful. The food was very flavorful, and not so far beyond our comfort level. Everything we tried was good, and we will certainly return.

What a fun and unique dining experience in Denver.
Mataam Fez has been around since I was a kid but I hadn’t been in years.
We went with two friends on New Year’s eve 2015. Upon arriving at 7:30pm we entered the small atrium, which was freezing (high in the teens that day) and put our coats on the small rack in a side room. The dining room has a main level and upper level. We were seated quickly (we did make a reservation) and given menus.
At Mataam Fez you eat with your hands so they start by doing a rinse with mineral water and giving you hand towels. It is one of the few times you can eat without utensils and it be perfectly normal whether you’re an adult or kid (or a bit of both in my case!)
You choose an entrée and most range from just under $ 30 to a bit above whether lamb, poultry (mainly cornish game hen) or vegetarian.
You get a lentil soup with bread as the first course. From there there are multiple salads including a carrot with raisins in rose water and other savory ones. My favorite is the bastilla, which is basically a chicken pie, covered in powdered sugar in a phyllo dough.
For my main course I chose the cornish game hen with almonds, peaches and honey. It was cooked very well and the meat fell off the bone. While it was a sweet dish it was not overly so. I just wish I had more of the bread they served with the soup to sop the delicious sauce with. They do serve a large plate of cous cous and vegetables alongside the entrees (one big plate to share for our table of 4) but it’s not easy when using your fingers.
For dessert they give you a plate of fresh fruit and then bring tea. Fruit is fine but nothing unique; the tea is sweet but not overly and very refreshing.
The main entertainment is the belly dancer. She was very good and also interacted well with all patrons from young kids to an overly enthusiastic older gentleman who videotaped her perfomances (all of them).
The only thing I didn’t like was a chipped glass they served my beer in. When I mentioned it to one of the servers he took it away promptly but I had to ask another server to bring me another glass and beer after not getting anything after 10+ minutes of waiting. This is a small thing but when paying for a drink not that hard for the staff.
With a Unilocal discount upon checking in! or groupon being offered why wouldn’t you try this delightful Morrocan restaurant?

My absolute favorite restaurant in Denver! Best food! Best atmosphere! Best staff! My family and I have been going here for 25 years to celebrate birthdays or to just grab a great meal. The food is full of flavor and to die for! It’s on the pricier side but you get so much food its 100% worth every penny!

Mataam Fez is an experience in every way! You’ll sit on cushions, you’ll watch belly dancers (and can even dance with said belly dancers, should your heart desire), and you’ll participate in an elaborate hand washing ritual before each course. It really is a lot of fun!
The food is decent and reasonably authentic (based on the 2 weeks we spent in Morocco last summer). The salads were more plentiful, the pastilla a little sweeter, and the main dishes were a little more elaborate than most of what we’d had, but we’re very tasty.
I had the beef brochette, and it was very tasty and tender, accompanied by a sweet rice. None of it was left by the end of the meal as my dinner companions had to sample some after hearing how good it was.
Why 3 stars?
First, it was a little dirty. The spot I sat initially was wet. Ick.
Next, while you get a lot for your $ in terms of each meal consisting of a soup, a salad, a pastilla and a main along with tea, it just felt like a bit more than I wanted to commit to financially more than once.
Finally, in a nod to authentic Morroco, there weren’t many alcoholic beverages available (which is probably to be expected given that most places in Morocco don’t serve alcohol).
Fun for an occasion, but likely won’t return

If you are looking for a fun laid back, entertaining and delicious meal, this is the place to go. The tables are low and you sit on cushions on the floor. After they wash your hands, the food starts coming. There are no silverware. The food comes is 5 yummy courses. The service is attentive and helpful. The belly dancers are fun and entertaining. Don’t be fooled by the outside of the restaurant, once you get inside it is very comfy.

What a shack, overpriced and most of all not even remotely close to what you would get in Fes, Morocco. Moroccan food is flavorful, this was a complete disaster for my taste pallet. Don’t have time to write a detailed review right now, but what a disappointment. We will never return to that place. All of these positive reviews mostly come from ignorant Americans that really do not know what is the standard.

At Mataam Fez, you always get a five-​course meal, and you only have to choose the main course. You start off by washing your hands… because you eat everything with your fingers. That’s right, folks! It was a bit strange, but I quickly adjusted. It was even a bit fun. The only thing that was missing was the opportunity to properly clean your hands in between courses; a small bowl of water on the table would have been nice, especially following the main course. My fingernails still smelled like my delicious main course, so I trimmed them when I got home.
One other thing to note is that if you’re using a Groupon, make sure to read the fine print: you can only use one Groupon per table, or two if there are at least six people. I found this a bit disappointing, as I purchased two Groupons for me and my friend; using both would have given us a free meal, but we were only allowed to use the one. This is a bit different from other restaurants I’ve dined at that take Groupons.
As for the food… Five stars for the food! The food is hearty, flavorful, and DELICIOUS. The harira soup starter was homey and warm, followed by a vegetarian side dish course that consisted of spiced eggplant, spinach, a vinegary diced tomato dish, pureed cauliflower, and beets. All were delicious, but my favorite was the eggplant, which is surprising because I have never before met an eggplant dish I liked. You also get a palate cleanser of sweetened carrots and raisins.
Following the two starters was the bastilla, which is a savory pastry filled with chicken and almonds, and dusted with powdered sugar and cinnamon. It sounds a bit strange, but it is extremely yummy. Be careful when digging in (literally, haha) because if you have sensitive fingers like me, you might get burned.
For the main course, we shared the rabbit dish and the cornish hen dish. I personally liked both and thought they were full of flavor, but my friend did state that the rabbit dish was a bit bland. You also get a vegetable side dish with cous cous and sauteed veggies.
In between the main and dessert courses, a waiter will come around and splash rose water on your hands — it smells DIVINE and does help in taking away some of the lingering smells from your main course, especially if you were tearing into meat like I was. I would definitely advise cupping your hands and getting as much of that rose water as possible and rubbing it all over your nails.
Finally, you end with a sweet tea — I think it was a variation on mint tea, but I’m not positive — along with fresh fruit. Fruit doesn’t sound that amazing, but when I think of feasting on fruit at a restaurant, I think of the old, cheap stuff you get at a Chinese buffet, so I was pleasantly surprised when the grapes, cantaloupe, and honeydew were in peak ripeness. Plus, I was way too stuffed to entertain a larger dessert.
Service was excellent — the waiters were all very knowledgeable and courteous.
The most memorable part of your dining experience, even with the delicious and saliva-​inducing food, is probably going to be the entertainment. We enjoyed watching a belly dancer sashay to a heart-​thumping beat while dexterously utilizing finger bells and, later on in the evening, little pots of fire. Be sure to bring some cash to reward her with a tip! We both felt bad that we didn’t have any on us.
Also, one of the waiters does a cool show when he serves the dessert course. He balances glasses of tea on his forehead, whisks them around without spilling a drop, and plays with the guests. I was the (un)fortunate guest who was the focus of his attention — only unfortunate because I think I ruined his act by refusing to catch a glass of tea he was winding up like a pitcher on the mound because I am TERRIBLY uncoordinated. I did get splashed a tiny bit when he did this action, but it wasn’t terrible, though a little startling.
All in all, I would definitely return! I would definitely recommend giving this restaurant a try.

Always wanted to try here, and finally got the opportunity with a groupon. Like previous reviewer said, it could use an update. The tables were quaint, and it looks really small from the outside, but is pretty spacious once you get in there. All the servers were very nice and explained things to us, so we knew how we were supposed to eat. The only frustrating thing was that it took 45 minutes (we were ending our second course) to get our drinks. Also we didn’t have just one waiter. We had like 3 or 4, so never knew who to flag down. Also the tea service we got was meh. When we came in one of the guys was pouring it from his head, but when we were served tea he just poured it and waived his hands around and then gave us an already poured glass from a platter. The belly dancer was great, but get there early because they leave at 8:30. All in all a good experience.

Really great experience! Completely different to anything else you could do on Denver. Great food, excellent service!

Delicious!!! Fun atmosphere, neat cultural experience! If you haven’t been, you’re missing out!!!

I thought this restaurant was really cool.
As soon as you walk in you see a decent atmosphere. The seats are low and comfy. You can sit on a pillow or a bench seat. Also have the options to extend your comfort by taking off your shoes (I didn’t).
Since there is no silverware they wash your hands and provide a towel.
The food is good and very affordable. You order an entrée and it comes with a 5 course meal.
They also put on a little show for the customers
If you don’t mind eating with your hands and you trust 4 of your 5 dishes being unknown then I would def recommend this restaurant

The place is nice and relaxing and it is nice to kick back and relax after you eat. The food is not that great, Moroccan food should be full of flavor and it wasn’t!
I had the chicken with olive and lemon and I got it grilled with 2 olives and 2 lemons, not Moroccan style in olives and lemon gravy! like it should be I will not go again, I can get grilled chicken at the grocery store if I want to and not paying $ 30 for it.
The tea was very good

I should be clear that I gave this place 4 stars because of VALUE. You get a lot of bang for your buck (especially if you get the GroupOn).
The good:
–Food was better than average and the chicken b’stilla is incredible
–Cheap and even cheaper if you have the Groupon
–Sit on the cushion on the floor for the authentic feel
–Belly dancers as entertainment
The bad:
–The décor is minimal and reminds me of being in a college dorm covered in tapestries
–The belly dancers accept tips which you stuff in their waist-​strap thing… this is awkward when little pre pubescent children are getting excited over giving money to the pretty ladies and when your hands are dirty from stuffing your face full of chicken b’stilla
We really did have a good time here and would recommend it to others.

The Good: Excellent ambiance. I was mesmerized by the décor. Unique experience sitting on cushions on the floor and eating with your hands. Felt very intimate, and thankfully not too awkward. Also, FIVE courses! I thought the five course meal would be too filling, and it would have been if I hadn’t taken some of the entrée leftovers home. Perfectly flavored dishes and expertly cooked lamb. Probably the best I’ve ever had. Friendly service and great timing with the different courses. Also enjoyed the entertainment (belly dancing with a sword!). Perhaps my favorite part of the whole meal. The waiter also did some cool drinks with the drinking glasses.
The Bad: Pricey, pricey, pricey. At least $ 30 a person depending on which entrée you choose, and they don’t let you share. The couscous served with the lamb was too plain for my taste, but I suppose it did help balance out the saltiness of the meat. Disappointed that «dessert» consisted only of fruit, but I’m told this is typically Moroccan fare. Also, not sure that belly dancing is appropriate for little kids, of which there were several at the restaurant. They only serve dinner and you HAVE to have a reservation to eat here. It gets full quickly.
The Ugly: My Groupon wasn’t honored. I was told I needed to purchase a two entrees in order to use it, even though this stipulation wasn’t listed anywhere on the Groupon. I was forced to buy another full five courses, which set me back considerably.
Overall: You need to be adventurous to dine here. Worth the price tag to have a unique experience! Just count on spending at least $ 30 a person or you’re in for a shock.

Ambiance much? The wait-​staff is extremely helpful and very friendly.
I ordered:
Slow-​Braised Lamb «Rocs» that was melt in your mouth tender.
Cornish Hen — Lemon & Olives which was earthy, tasty, juicy, and again tender.
Artichoke M’kally — Such good flavors in this artichoke dish. Complex in its simplicity.
Sitting on pillows and eating with your hands makes this an intimate experience that I would enourage everybody to try.
Belly dancers provide a sultry touch and the tea pouring techniques are breathtaking!

The food was so-​so. There are three vegetarian options, which is always nice, but I found the vegetables to be over cooked and mushy.
The appeal of this place lies in the entertainment. We visited with friends and our kids, and they throughout enjoyed the unique experience. For the price, however, I suspect there are better options in town.

Mataam Fez is the upgraded Moroccan version of Casa Bonita. Instead of cliff diving, the huge draw is the hawthawthawt belly dancer. (Question: what do you call a beautiful belly dancer who twirls around with a sword balanced on her head? Answer: anything she wants to be called).
Around for 40 (!) years at the same now semi-​forlorn looking spot on Colfax, MF needs a nip and a tuck, but remains like your favorite aunt who doesn’t know that her lipstick is a little smeared and she forgot to shake the bottle of hair coloring before application.
MF is a 3 star place it’s fun to go, especially if you’re taking an MF virgin there for the first time. Sitting on the floor on bolsters in a tent-​like setting. Having rose water sprinkled over you and eating gooey or hard-​to-​grasp foodstuff with your hands. It’s all a hoot. It kind of makes you forget that your 5 course meal (you choose the entrée; the other 4 courses are always the same) is good, but not great, Moroccan food.

You definitely need to be adventurous to eat here. No, utensils, shared plates where everyone uses their hands. Its great for flu season.
I don’t want to be negative, but I’ve had better Moroccan in town.
The atmosphere is lovely though and I would recommend it to try it once.