Menara Moroccan Restaurant

Old restaurant; probably has been in the valley at least 35+ years. Near SJ airport; extra parking across st and in back of building.
Food was ok; for 2 people; better to order a la carte than the combo dinners
fish tangine: chunks of basa like fillet in green chermoula sauce.
morocco salad: looks like some diced tomato w/​some spices and veggies. No lettuce; spread on bread
grilled veggies: they looked grilled; was ok, bell peppers; zucchini; no tomato
Menu looks dated; execution not so precise.
Complimentary baklava like dessert. Mint tea at end is sweet.
Was ok; great belly dancer. Went on thu night; completely empty.
Hard to sit on such low tables and cushions.
Carpet, cushions, walls all old. Could use a cleaning. Table setting would be preferable I think. Doesn’t look like they are profitable.

There are definitely some slightly weird aspects to this place, like how incredibly empty it is on weeknights, but overall I’m a fan. It’s a fun and different experience, and it’s great for my friends who don’t like spicy food but want to try something a little exotic. The lentil soup had excellent flavor, and the b’stilla is definitely classic. The fish, veggie and couscous bowl for 2 could have served 3 (we took some leftovers) and the free baklava and mint tea at the end are a nice touch (although the tea was a bit too sweet for me and has caffeine — would prefer just straight-​up mint herbal tea). Overall, a pleasant, relaxing experience, especially if you go with people you enjoy hanging out with :)

Have been here earlier 2012 – 13 for GNO and my wedding anniversary.
We really enjoyed the Vegetarian 6 course meal.
However during my last weeks Girls Nite Out (GNO) our experience was not that great.
They changed some items in the meals and the potato croquettes served with tangy tomato sauce had changed. The new dish involved boiled potatoes with some mint and cilantro… was so bland. Most of the dishes did not taste the same.
Was disappointed with the vegetarian 6 course meals.

Poor service and the food was mediocre.
I came here with a group of friends… some of us had checked into Unilocal to receive the complimentary sangria… much to our dismay, it was completely watered down. I honestly think they had adds water to the glass. The table next to us had also ordered couple of sangria but theirs definitely did not look watered down. My guess is that they didn’t utilize the Unilocal check in. Why offer the complimentary sangria with a Unilocal check in if you’re going to be cheap about it?!
At the end of the meal, we were served mint tea. While it tasted like mint tea, the waiter accidentally splashed the hot tea on my friend. Although he laughed it off and apologized, training can definitely be improved here.
Overall, the tea was good, entertainment was decent, food was meh, service was lacking some. I doubt I’ll be coming back.

The food here was great! I had Lamb and the meat just fell off the bone! Great service also! If you have never been to a Moroccan restaurant I would recommend this one for sure! And the Baklava is to die for!

The food here is very good, and the atmosphere takes you to another world! Just relax and enjoy it. Have fun. We had the Cornish Hens and the Lamb and everything was amazing. Book it for a special occasion!

Had a Groupon for this place and used it last night. This place is a hidden gem. Truth be told, from the outside it looks a little seedy, especially at night given that the neighborhood isn’t that great. But once you walked in, it was like you were transported into another country. This place is as ethnic as it comes, with our server even dressed up in typical Moroccan gear.
I was really looking forward to getting one of their feasts but was told the Groupon only applied to a la carte items — bummer. But the bf and I shared a chicken b’astilla, rabbit tangine, and prawn cous cous and everything was so delicious and ended up being the perfect amount for two to share. They even give you complimentary baklava and mint tea when you’re done, which was a perfect way to end the meal.
The waiter/​bartender was super nice, and even allowed me to use the Unilocal voucher of a free sangria in tandem with the Groupon I had, which most places usually won’t do.
To top it off, they have belly dancing every Thursday-​Sat night. The dancer was super nice and I liked that she engaged the audience by pulling each table up to dance with her one at a time. Sounds scary, but it was actually a lot of fun and helped us to get on our feet and work off the big meal we just had.
Great place!

This place threw me off, it is plain looking outside, but when you go in, its like you’re in a whole new world.
–Food was hot and fresh… mmm good food.
–Bartender made good drinks (Sweet, but strong!)
–Bellydancer was pretty good, she kept us all entertained.

Had my 30^th birthday dinner here and we had such an amazing time! The staff, bartender, belly dancers are very nice and polite! The fiod were also amazing!

Dinner tonight was absolutely fabulous, with delicious, scrumptious, mouth-​watering food and delightful service. Everyone was friendly and very helpful. We had the Menara dinner feast which was exquisite. Value was well worth the price, with plenty of food, absolutely no chance to leave the restaurant hungry. I didn’t get a chance to see the belly dancer, but knowing Menara, I’m sure she’s really good as well.
If you’re looking for a wonderful, authentic atmosphere and ambience, this is the place to go. I highly recommend Menara Moroccan restaurant and will be back next time in in town!

Report card
Ambience — ⁴⁄₅
Service — ⁴⁄₅
Variety — 3.5÷5
Taste — 3.5÷5
Value for money — ³⁄₅
This place is good for experiencing one of a kind dinners with loved ones. We went there for a friend’s birthday party. The food was flavorful, not many vegetarian options though. The baklava and the Moroccan mint tea were delish.
You ought to be on time for the belly dancing show, though. It starts at 8PM and lasts close to an hour.

Ambience is really good. food was good but little expensive. good to go with group. they have good menu for drinks as well. Belly dancers are awesome you can dance also. Must check it out!

It’s a flavorful experience for the palate. We arrived 20 minutes after opening and it was quite but the hostess was welcoming. The ambiance is intimate and comfortable. The server and staff are very attentive even as the restaurant started to fill. Our food kept coming at a timely manner allowing us to experience each course. At about 8 the belly dancer came out to dance making the dining experience unforgettable! I can’t wait to come back again!

If you are into breaking bread with friends and experiencing one of a kind dinners with loved ones, this is the place!
I am so amazed by the enthusiasm the workers have over their food and culture. You can really tell how authentic and genuine they are. It is such an amazing and heartwarming experience that you have got to try with close friends.
Perks:
–Washing hands together at the table
–comfy cushions to sit on the floor and comfy benches (if you don’t want to sit on the floor)
–full bar!
–can enjoy a game (separate bar area with tv’s that broadcast sports)
–Imported wine
–freshly baked bread
–the entrées were not oily and you can tell they were made on the spot
–fresh yogurt
–complimentary baklava
–giant portions: we ordered the cous cous dish and it argued for at least 3 – 4 people rather than 2
Will definitely come here again!

Sit on the floor, eat with your hands, watch a belly dance show, and not have to wait for a table… what an experience! The dining room is gorgeously adorned in red velvet and ornate fabrics. The «chairs» are cushions on the floor. You wash your fingers in a silver urn before eating. The food was really unique. Its not the best Moroccan food I’ve ever had, but it was good and the experience was really cool!

Do you like belly dancers? Personally, I don’t particularly enjoy them, but if you do, make sure to show up right before 8pm or 9pm because that’s when it starts. Now… onto the review.
First thing you should know about this place is that it IS pricy. If you’re going to come here, it better be for a birthday party or some event… or you could just be really rich and wear 5 $ 10k apple watches on your wrist. ANYWAYS, this restaurant is no doubt unique and exotic, but the price you have to pay for it is quite steep.
We got a ‘Le Dinner Fantasy’, which required EVERYBODY to pay $ 33.95 dollars for the meal, we had no flexible choice. Once chosen, if you have 5 or more people dining (which we did… we had 5), you had to pay an extra 18% to your bill. I don’t remember the exact total, but it was a hefty amount.
The food, to be honest, wasn’t good. It wasn’t horrible, but after the first two dishes, I couldn’t «have fun». Sorry guys. Every dish in the end was sweet, sweet chicken, sweet this, sweet that. It felt overcooked and which so many spices in each dish my mouth and tastebuds were overwhelmed. It was a horrible experience all over, especially adding the extremely mediocre belly dancer.
BUT there was ONE pro. Free drink! Anything screaming free always catches my attention, and this time it was a Unilocal checkin. If you check in, you get a free Sangria drink and MAN it was good! It was the highlight of the night. If the free drink was the highlight of the night instead of the $ 35 + 18% + other crap meal and a half naked women shaking her belly, there are a lot of things going wrong with the restaurant. Oh, and did I mention nobody ever responded to me when I wave and make eye contact?
Oh, they had tea and they poured it from really high up. That was pretty cool.

I don’t remember liking this place much, despite having been here twice and ordered take out once. I guess the whole experience is not so memorable which makes sense why I can’t recall much in detail.
The food was ok, I remember it being pricey though … perhaps they’ve changed their prices but typically the portions versus price is just not very good value.
I think the chicken is good, but other than that everything else was just alright. There are better places for Moroccan food IMO.

After eating at El Mansour in San Francisco, Menara seems a little… dated and worn around the edges; however the food is amazing and you get a lot of bang for your buck!
The vibe is definitely more casual and not as formal. The belly dancer was fun and performed for a longer period of time.
Depending on the dinner you order, it’s always a multi-​course affair.

I love this place so much it’s ridiculous.
Since we had already eaten at House of Genji the previous week. We had to get another crazy meal in. I had not been here in forever. Came back with a vengeance and a huge appetite. Everything was delicious. The hubby had never had Moroccan food before so it was fun to watch him experience something new.
The wait staff was awesome and everything was constantly refilled without question. From the rose water scented water to clean our hands to our courses coming out in a timely manner totally on point. We asked a lot of questions through out the meal and the staff was patient and totally answered all of them.
It’s family style so everyone digs in. The décor and seating is comfortable.
Our group got the Casablanca.
The fish was perfect.
The chicken was well seasoned.
The chicken turnover was amazing.
Bread was warm and replenished frequently.
There is belly dancing on some nights.
The bar is fully stocked and loaded.
Clean restrooms and plenty of street parking in addition to a mini lot.

Menara isn’t an every day kind of restaurant, but for any, and all special occasions you’re bound to have an awesome time.
If you’re kind of a shy fly and averse to eating with your hands this might not be your bag, but if your an extrovert who loves to dance this is totally the dining experience for you. I love to eat with my hands (
), and I’ll take every chance I can get when it comes to getting my man to shake his groove thang at the request of a belly dancer, so I’m sure it comes as no surprise that this is by far one of my favorite special occasion restaurants.
The food is always well cooked, well timed, and darn filling. Depending on what you choose, your courses will vary but you’ll usually get a combination of a Moroccan Salad, Vegetables w/​Cous Cous, Braised meats & Mint Tea w/​Baklava to finish the meal.
Seating is ample and service is always friendly. Menara is perfect for large groups and is always an impressive meal for out-​of-​towners. No one we’ve ever brought to Menara has ever forgotten the fun time they had!