Cafe Mogador

No lie, had a bite of the grilled hanger steak and said it was the best steak I’ve ever had. Looking back I was really hungry, but it was really good! The watercress and fries were a simple accompaniment– but it worked.
Also had the grilled sardines as an app, which was savory, fishy, and crunchy. Good, but wouldn’t necessarily have them again.

Really great mediterranean place in the East Village! I went for brunch and it was a bit of a wait (not too ridiculous though). Small space so waiters might bump into you but still good service. The food is delicious! I saw a celebrity there — the daughter from Taken? Anyway really nice brunch spot in the EV

UGH. HANDS DOWN MY FAVOURITE BRUNCH SPOT.
seriously. Go here if you want to eat great food, not if you want to find a bottomless brunch place with shitty food. Café Mogador has great traditional brunch food with elements of middle eastern cuisine which adds just the right twist to every dish. It is always crowded and only accepts cash.

My favorite Mediterranean restaurant!!! I’ve been coming here since I’ve first discovered this place. I always order the Lamb Tagines in casablanca style. Love, love, love!!! If you love lamb shanks, this is definitely the dish to try. Yummy!!!
Today, we also got the steamed mussel in white wine and spicy tomato sauce. The sauce was so delicious that we didn’t want to waste any and got more bread to dip after all the mussels were gone!
We also got the Mixed Grill, it was good but we wished there were more lamb on it but over all, soooooo tasty!
And lastly, my favorite dessert is the crème brûlée!

One of my favorites in the city, Café Mogador has never done me wrong. Its halloumi is sublime, whether with eggs and a dollop of Harissa at brunch, or for dinner, with a skewer of perfectly seasoned vegetables and drops of pesto. The lamb shank, vegetable tagine, and creamy labne are just out of this world. I’m back again and again, and I’ve yet to eat something here I didn’t like.

Had a fantastic meal here and barely waited during peak brunch hours! I had the lamb tagine with cous cous, and my friend had one of the eggs Benedict brunch specials. Everything was delicious and I love that brunch comes with coffee and orange juice (the latter of which I drank — it was fresh squeezed and tasted amazing). My lamb fell off the bone and was substantial enough that I had leftovers. Definitely going to return here!

I really enjoyed the food, ambience, and service.
My husband and I stumbled in there on NYE and I had a wonderful feeling about the place from the door.
Unpretentious, cool people, with good music and GREAT FOOD.
I ordered the seafood dish with couscous.
Our server was patient even thought kitchen was closing.
They had a pre-​fix, of course. For about $ 60 you get a delicious 3 course meal.
They gave us cute little hats and whistles to ring in the New Year. Good times and will definitely be back. Have a feeling will be a go to from now on.

The lamb tagine is amazing! I would recommend this to anyone coming here. I got the one with potatoes and cos cos. The sauce goes really well with cos cos and the potatoes. The lamb is very soft. The portion is pretty big. I was really full with just the entrée. Definitely coming back!

Café Mogador is a perfect brunch spot in East Village/​St. Marks with a Moroccan/​middle eastern spin. Its a good change from the typical brunch spots.
Likes:
— Short wait time — A friend and I arrive around 3:30pm on Sat. Even though it was towards the end of brunch time, the place was still packed! Luckily we were seated within 5 minutes.
— Moroccan Egg Benedict $ 10.50 — w/​spicy tomato sauce, mesclun salad, and potatoes. The spicy level of the tomato sauce was mild, and it complimented the hollandaise sauce well. I wish there was more tomatoes because it was a delicious pairing with the salty, crispy potatoes. Love the side salad! I’ll take any kind of greens I can get.
— Egg Benedict Normandy $ 10.50 — w/​smoked salmon, mesclun salad and potatoes. Another popular brunch option. My friend had this, and she cleaned the plate up! For the price, there was a good portion of salmon.
— All brunch items comes with orange juice (which I’m pretty sure its freshly squeezed), AND your choice of tea, coffee or cappuccino.
— Organic eggs and gluten free options available
— Good portions
Dislikes:
— There is little room between tables, which limits conversation privacy.
— Small bathroom.

Apparently my mom used to breastfeed me here when I was an infant (tmi?) and recently I got to come back for dinner and had a great experience. The place has a lot of space and really great ambiance. When it’s nice out you can sit outside!
My friend and I split a small dinner/​snack before going to see Allegiance on Broadway (would recommend that show!!!) We got the tomato ginger soup, a side of falafel and the mixed platter. The mixed platter came with pita and was amazing! It had hummus, babaganoush, tabolui and arabic salad. Everything tasted fresh and was just enough to have us full but not stuffed. The falafel was freshly fried and crispy
Service was kind of slow even though it wasn’t crowded, so I’m deducting a star.

First time here. Loved it. Went on a Friday, and of course, its was crowded, but they sat us quickly.
I recommend sharing appetizers. Loved the Grill Mix

Go for the food. but leave wanting to stiff the server DANA!
FIVE STARS FOR THE FOOD! We ordered Pot of Moroccan Mint Tea, Mixed Platter of tabouli, babaganoush, hummus & arabic salad, Lamb Tangine, and Grilled Hanger Steak. Everything was executed perfectly in the kitchen.
So, nearly two weeks after our visit to Café Mogador, the bad taste in my mouth is obviously not from the yummy food.
ONE STAR FOR AMBIENCE/​SERVICE. It’s a shame how snide eye rolling and a crappy attitude from one server, DANA, ruined our evening and leaves a black mark for Café Mogador service. Unfortunately for me, both Server DANA and I forgot the well known service adage and mantra «The customer is always right.»
The lovely hostess seated us at a comfortable table, but server DANA clearly wanted us at a smaller, cramped table in the corner. My husband is 6’2″ and our daughter 5’9″– I wanted to stay at the larger table. Server DANA would not budge – she wanted us to move. Server DANA argued that the table was reserved for parties of four. We made our displeasure known, and reluctantly surrendered and moved for Server DANA. Sooo. Imagine my ire when another party of three was seated at my table of choice, just moments later! BTW, just as I predicted, our corner table was too small to accommodate my long-​limbed family’s dinner plates, tea kettle and cups, etc. I had to place our waters, condiments and bread plates on the floor. So uncivilized.
Post meal, we complained to assistant manager Mikhail and General Manager Jeanette (?). As a retired server myself, I pointed out that comping the pot of mint tea or offering an appetizer would’ve gone a long way to soothe this disappointed customer. Instead, the general manager explained that server DANA, a longtime employee, is usually a good worker. I guess after ten years of waiting tables, I’d be bitter like Server DANA, too

Café Mogador is an adorable brunch place! The food is fantastic. Since their dishes are Mediterranean inspired, it’s a nice change from traditional brunch dishes.
I’ve been here a couple of times and only for breakfast (weekday brunch). The portions are perfect for me. I always left happy and full.
Middle Eastern Eggs ($ 10.50):
I liked this dish especially since it came with a pita (suh soft). The hummus is really good, but I didn’t really like the flavor of the tabouli.
Moroccan Eggs ($ 10.50): RECOMMEND
I like this dish better than Middle Eastern Eggs. The sauce is super flavorful and it’s not spicy (at least not the burning spicy), plus I lovedddd the home fries it comes with. The potatoes are delicious — crispy & salted — ohmygod.
I got poached eggs for both dishes & they always cook it perfectly. (:
Moroccan Tea:
I was NOT a fan. I don’t really like mint flavored dishes/​drinks. Plus it was not sweet. I’d skip it unless you like mint. Or I would just recommend ordering a cup instead of a pot if you just want to try it. Bc I shared a pot between 3 people and we didn’t even finish half of it… it was a struggle to drink it.
I think the dishes are very similar to Café Orlin & if you don’t mind walking a block further up (if you’re coming from the train station), the prices here are a little cheaper!

So delicious and authentic and warm and cozy.
From the mint tea to the halumi eggs (brunch) I was transported a million miles away! Yum yum yum!!!

delicious food and amazing service.
There was a discrepancy with our bill and the server took off the bottle of wine we were mistakenly served entirely — which was a pleasant surprise to say the least. I love the atmosphere here too, really cozy and comfortable. I came with friends but would definitely stop in again with my boyfriend. the wine prices are pretty good and the platters are great for splitting and having tasty hummus and pita. The baklava is also amazing.

mint tea-​ask for half sugar and it’d be perfect! so good we had 2 pots!
had chicken tagine with couscous and it was so good i finished everything! almost licked the plate clean. everything was rich and flavorful! hummus was my fav! i think it was prob the best i’ve ever had!

Café Mogador is a rare place where I won’t hesitate to choose any random dish on the menu. If it is your first time here, LAMB TAGINE with cous-​cous is excellent. A lamb portion is huge and the aroma makes you feel hungry all over again. They have Morrocan mint tea and coffee. They also have a very good wine list.
The only problem: good luck getting served. I already waited an hour outside, even at 10PM. The waitress attitude didn’t make anything faster or more comfortable. Don’t get so arrogant because there’s a line of people even at late night.

There are always people waiting to eat here, well its because the food is THAT good.
APP:A friend and I shared the grilled halloumi with grilled vegetables on a skewer on top of green sauce and bits of pita. This is a popular dish to definitely order if you’ve never had fried (goat/sheep’s milk) cheese. Mhmmmmm. The dish displayed distinct flavors of each ingredient.
DRINKS: We shared a large pot of mint tea with half sugar (instead of wine), it was aromatic, light, and just what we needed after a YTTP yoga class.
MAINS: She ordered the chicken tagine with lemon and olive (2 pieces) and it was acidic and very juicy. I ordered the lamb tagine in a spicy green sauce (1 large piece) which was bursting with flavor and spice but was not actually spicy at all. And when I bit into my lamb it was soft and peeling off the bone. We dumped our basmati rices directly into our meat dishes and finished our plates within minutes. The food here is gratifying, savory and well seasoned.
For a Monday night, the place was packed. I definitely recommend the wait. It looks like New Yorkers do appreciate well priced tasty foods! Thank you East Village for this gem.

I’m an out of state student who just returned from a long semester of pharmacy school. The first thing I did, was go to Café Mogador after leaving Penn Station. 5pm to 530pm is probably the best time to go, to beat the crowd. Around 630 to 7pm is too packed. Its a little cramp but the food is consistently great.
This time I’ve went back for their lamb tagine with potato/​turnip/​saffron with cous cous (I’ve tried apricot/​prunes during the summer) and their grilled merguez and basmati rice. The lamb always falls off the bone and is rich in flavor, doesnt have that weird taste. I love their cous cous, so fluffy and delicious. I keep going back to their merguez, it is spicy but a good kind of spicy that isnt too overwhelming or lingers in your mouth for too long.
Each portion is a decent size for a person. I’ve always thrown in an extra appetizer for each person to make sure we leave lunch/​dinner with a full and satisfied stomach. I might only go here every few months when I’m on break but It is definitely a place I like going back to.

This is one of my favorite spots in East Village! The food is fresh, but could be a little more flavorful, and I wish they had more vegetarian entrees. Still, the atmosphere puts it at 5 stars. The lighting is dim but there are cute little lights and photos that make it feel warm. It’s the perfect place to bring a date or an out of towner.
Wait — I came here with a friend for dinner on a Friday night. We arrived at 6:30pm and there was no wait. By the time we left around 8, the place was packed! Our server was very nice and knowledgable about the wine list.
Appetizers — The food was delicious. We started off with the cauliflower in yogurt with spelt berries and the Halloumi cheese with vegetables. The yogurt and cauliflower was delicious, but I wish it came with pita bread to scoop up since the yogurt is very liquidy. The Halloumi cheese was delicious! I will definitely order this again next time.
Main course — We then split the vegetable tagine. The okra on top was a wonderful, crispy touch. I think I would have liked the dish to be a little more spicy, but it was still yummy.
Wine — We also each got a glass of red wine. The Rioja and the Grenache. It had a great kick to it, but wasn’t too overpowering. The Rioja was much more subtle.
Overall, I highly recommend this place for the decent food, great wine selection, and wonderful atmosphere. Plus, it’s on a fun street, so after you can go to another fun bar or grab dessert elsewhere.

The food is so good! Well made, rich flavors and good presentation.
Neat place for a dinner date.
The service is great, at least the times I have been there.

As a child, I hated lamb: the weird funk that settled into hair and clothes; the gamey aftertaste; the gray shade it took on after having let it sit for awhile. Now, I’ve learned there’s a world of difference between regular lamb and Café Mogador’s lamb tagine, doused in the spicy green sauce. A hungrier me would have sopped up the remaining sauce with the couscous. This was how tender the meat was: I gently prodded it with my knife and off the bone it flopped.
It’s clear that Café Mogador does meat very well. I tried a bit of my friend’s mixed grill (okay, I hoovered up a giant piece of steak and almost half of the sausage link), and regretted my lamb tagine for about a minute. I’ve heard that they churn out a mean brunch (with 1 hour+ wait times to boot), and I’d like to try their hummus and pita next time.
Servers weren’t very lackadaisical when we went on a slow Monday night. In fact, we had no less than three waitresses and two busboys checking up on us throughout the meal. The inside is very romantic and candle-​lit, and I truly appreciated being able to talk at a normal volume without having to repeat every other sentence.
Definitely worth a trek to the east side.
NEXT TIME: Moroccan tea with mint and sugar; vegetable couscous; ALL the grilled meats

Excellent weekend brunch location, although there will probably be a long wait (30 – 60 minutes). The interior is very homey and comfortable; I love the touch of cushions on the wooden benches inside.
The food portion sizes were good but, their blood orange mimosa is rather small (see photo in review to see drink size differences). The service was okay although there was a time our waitress went MIA and we needed ketchup. We ended up asking one of the bus boys and he happily retrieved a bottle for us.
The Bloody Mary was great, although it is spicy. There is a red paste that comes with some of the breakfast dishes, such as the Middle Eastern Eggs, and that red paste was extremely spicy!
Overall, I love the breakfast dishes here (and drinks, though sometimes pricey) and hope to brunch here again!

Haloumi eggs so so good. Definitely get it with the Moroccan sauce on the side! Rich flavor, wonderfully poached eggs, sharp haloumi. Mint tea is good too.
Staff is friendly and eager to help.

We had brunch at this restaurant on a Sunday. The wait was a solid hour. Couple of tips — The restaurant is in the basement of the building and you have to go down a few steps to get in so when it’s cold the cold air comes right down the steps and hits the first two or three tables that are positioned at the bottom of the stairs. If you don’t like it cold do not sit there.
Some of the servers are a little scatterbrained. It takes them five trips from the bar to bring back your coffee, cream, syrup for your French toast etc. Why not use a tray and be a little more efficient? The runners who bring the food from the kitchen are working their tails off. So bottom line the service is a little slow because of the servers themselves. You have to flag them down to get their attention and place an order or even to just get water.
The food was very good, but I would not call it excellent. The pitas were warm and seemed very fresh, the hummus available as an appetizer at brunch was a rather small portion but tasty.
The Sabich (?) egg sandwich was good but certainly not as flavorful as the description sounds. — it lacked salt and a bunch of flavor was missing. French toast is just out of place here and should be taken off the menu they should stick to their traditional Middle Eastern foods.
We saw the lamb shank with couscous going by and it looked delicious. Would return just for that.

Wow wow wow, the food here is SO DELICIOUS. I took a vegetarian friend here because I knew they’d have good vegetarian options and boy did they exceed my expectations! Their falafel are great, and the Turkish coffee was really good too. If you’ve never had it, it’s like a rich chocolatey espresso served in its own little golden pot.
We split two entrees: the vegetarian tajeen and the crispy skin salmon. I never thought I would enjoy the vegetarian dish so much but it was super flavorful and perfectly cooked in a tomatoey stew. The salmon might actually be the best salmon I’ve ever had, super crispy skin but tender and moist underneath.
Service was also wonderful, and everything was reasonably priced! Would love to come back :)

I recommend the lamb tagine. Good portion and very tasty and fresh products. The ambiance of this restaurant is friendly and worm perfect for a winter diner. I will for sure be back to taste new maroccan dishes!

Nette Bar, sehr voll. Musik dezent aber sehr stilvoll. Wir mussten leider etwas lange warten, aber haben dann einen Tisch für 2 Personen bekommen und konnten das essen genießen. Marrokanische Küche, super lecker, sehr zu empfehlen!

Très bon thé froid a la menthe. Cadre agréable et jolie serveuse.