Opened in 2000, Mamounia is hot! The welcome begins outside with Moroccan decoration as you enter through a thick impressive carved wood door and brass entry decoration with velvet ropes. The only Moroccan restaurant in Beverly Hills, located at 132 North Robertson Blvd. Mamounia has a club atmosphere, intimate and authentic, transcending you to being somewhere like Marrakesh. Famous guests have included: Nicholas Cage, Janet Jackson and Diane Keaton. Interestingly, Jean Claude Van Damme, star of "Legionnaire" which was shot in Morocco has also eaten here. There is nothing not too enjoy at Mamounia.

Mamounia is fast becoming the party place of choice for Hollywood celebrities. The latest to check it out is comedian Jim Carrey, who celebrated his birthday party with a select group of friends in January.

Inside you'll find crushed burgundy and golden velvet tapestry sofas and pillows unlike the conventional wooden furniture of conventional restaurants. You sit close to the ground and have a sense of being intimate with your guests. This comfortable seating immediately beckons you to relax and enjoy the dining experience. The tables are ornate wood inlay with elegant red candles setting the mood. There are cast iron decorative partitions and a small private romantic room is hidden in the back for anyone who might be fortunate enough to sit there.

Although the room is small and intimate, its high ceilings give you a feeling of space and of not being crowded. The candle sconces on the wall add to the atmosphere of the dimly lit room. Painted archways, stained glass chandeliers, Persian carpets, formal curtains and other beautiful fabrics cover the walls. Ornate smoking pipes and leather tooled bolster stools create a setting unlike other American or European restaurants.

The romantic and sensual lighting compliments the room. The ambience takes you to another world transforming your reality for the time you're there. It's quiet and romantic, perfect for a holiday party or a birthday party with a group of friends. This is not a restaurant where you might want to create an intense business feeling unless your business associate needs loosing up. It's more for a private experience and fun time. Close friends or your mother-in-law would be able to enjoy this experience. It's more public and sharing in a traditional Arab way. Certainly somewhere to bring your mistress if you have one. It's what you might think an Arab sheik might experience in the creative pockets of your mind. My friend commented, "It makes you wonder what it must have been like to be a French Foreign Legionaire in the Casbah a 100 years ago. Just like in the movies."

The music is upbeat Moroccan, quite energetic and rhythmic. There is belly dancing twice during the evening. So make sure not to miss it. The dancer is clad in a traditional elaborate Arab outfit, which is exciting and titillating. It is simultaneously professional and exotic. The dancer uses tiny brass maracas in her fingers and tantalizes you with her belly moves and grinds. "It's extraordinary" my friend commented, "You must have muscles in the right place in order to move like that". Certainly, he is right.

On both of my visits, women danced with the belly dancer, engaging in intimate moves. Because of the passionate and intense feel, guests are readily seduced onto the dance floor with the belly dancer. This is all part of the fun - watching people enjoy themselves, moving freely and shedding their inhibitions. No one cares and it's magic to see.

The owner, "Mohamed Benkhay" is hands on. He welcomes each guest and is quite informative about the menu. He sits and explains the delicious food and speaks with a gentle quality, exciting you about what is to come. Your dining experience begins with the traditional washing of the hands with Tas. Each person puts washes their hands over an elaborate brass dish under warm water poured from a brass kettle. This ritual creates a group feeling and sets the mood for the fun to come.

The food is traditional with numberous choices on the menu. I can say that all the various dishes we tried were delicious. We began with a top Moroccan wine, Amazir from Beni M'Tir Rouge. It was a pleasant compliment to both the appetizer and food that followed. It was musty and had a thick body without being too heavy. All very fresh, sweet, herblike and healthy, the excellent appetizer we shared was served group style. It was an aromatic blend of deliciously seasoned eggplant, diced marinated cucumbers, carrot salad and olives served on a bed of lettuce. The soup was a lovely tomato based stock with vegetables, also very healthy.

Then came the featured Bastilla. Delicious and exotic, it is a layering of chicken, eggs and crushed almonds wrapped in thick layers of pastry dough, baked and topped with powdered sugar and cinnamon. The key to it is the cinnamon and powdered sugar, a classic Moroccan dish that is best eaten hot. This is a must for the meal with its lovely flaky pastry.

The Shrimp Brochettes are served on skewers with rice. They are well grilled, very tasty and clearly marinated. The meat was succulent with an abundance of flavors with hints of paprika, and cumin.

An excellent choice, the Lamb with Honey sauce was served on the bone with distinct original flavors of the lambs showing through. The honey sauce on this signature dish is gentle without being overwhelming and sweet. It was so succulent and moist, it just fell from the bone. "It's a honey of a sauce."

The Lamb Kebab was also tender and moist with great seasoning of cumin, saffron and paprika. All of the meats are completely fresh which is definitely apparent. You can request difference sauces if you wish, so we tried a beautiful chili tomato relish with unusual spices, perfect for dipping the meat.

Cooked and grilled, the Lemon chicken, another signature dish was served fresh and hot. It is perfectly cooked with green olives and fresh lemon flavor. The lemon sauce has paprika, cumin, saffron, fresh slices of lemon, cilantro, and onion, and is an excellent pleasure to the palate. Again, the meat falls from the bone.

The rices were tasty without being overly pungent or flowery, not overwhelming. A plate of couscous was placed on the table, for all to enjoy with carrots and zucchini. There is also Vegetarian Bastilla which is cooked rice, eggs, crushed almonds, and onion wrapped in thin layers of pastry dough, baked and topped with powdered sugar and cinnamon.

Desserts started with a beautiful wooden bowl of fresh raw and succulent fruit consisting of extremely sweet fresh large red grapes, apples and oranges. Again, the tactile experience of eating the fruit, accomplished by the informal, natural service added to the sensual ambience. Mint tea, poured by a lovely server, clad in an elaborate Arab Caftan, accompanied the fruit. The mint tea is served in a gold decorated small colored glass. She starts by pouring it from a brass kettle slowly lifting it as she pours - quite a fun presentation.

Last but not least, the baklava. This fresh and flaky pasty desert, crispy with honey and crushed nuts was just sweet enough without being sickly. It's excellent! You won't be able to resist.

The prices are quite reasonable for the amount and quality of the food you are served. They range from $6.45 to $6.95 for an appetizer and from $18 to $24 for the meals.

Six Course meals consist of soup, salad, bastilla and your choice of one of following: Lemon Chicken, Chicken Couscous or Lamb Couscous, Fresh mint tea, baklava and fresh fruit.

The Traditional Feast consists of Soup, salad, Bastilla, Lamb Brochettes and your choice with one of the following: quail, lamb, beef, fish or lemon chicken, fresh mint tea, baklava and fresh fruit.

The Seven course Feast consists of: soup, salad, bastilla, fish tagine or Lamb in Honey sauce, couscous vegetable, fresh mint tea, baklava and fresh fruit.

For those who are less hungry the Four course Dinners which are priced reasonably from $16.50 to $19.95. These are served with soup, salad, Mint tea and baklava. They include a choice of: Shrimp Brochettes-marinated jumbo shrimp grilled on skewers, served with rice, Fish Tangine-marinated filet of fish in fresh herbs and garlic, baked with tomatoes and bell pepper, Beef Brochettes-marinated filet mignon grilled on skewers, served with rice, Lamb Brochettes-marinated tender pieces of lamb grilled on skewers, served with rice, Chicken Brochettes-marinated pieces of chicken breast on skewers, served with rice, Brochettes Combo-combination of Lamb, chicken and shrimp brochettes served with couscous vegetable, Couscous Royal-couscous served with baked chicken lamb brochettes, merguez and vegetable, Couscous Vegetable-Steamed cracked wheat topped with fresh vegetable and raisins.

Mamounia is an excellent venue for those young at heart, who enjoy a good time and tasty food. It is perfect place for a special evening or important dinner; not even the most experienced traveler would fail to be impressed with this place. It is in a central location near to the renowned Beverly Hills triangle where Rodeo Drive enchants you and where the most fabulous retail shopping in the world can be found. It is close to the Beverly Wilshire hotel where you might end your evening with a little piano jazz music in a more formal setting. It is close to the Santa Monica Freeway (I10) and is central to most anywhere in the Los Angeles area.

Mamounia is a must! If you can't make it to Marakesh, then this is a great alternative. You'll think you've already visited… Look out for menu additions and added décor in 2002!

Tel: 310-360-7535
Fax: 310-360-7328
Mamounia on the web

Opening Hours:
Dinner	Tuesday - Sunday	5 to 11 p.m.

Dress: California casual
Parking: Valet
Cost: Dinner for two, $33-$48 (excl wine)

Linda de Soto, December 2001

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