Just a few blocks south of the famously large Texas State Capital Building is an unexpectedly exotic culinary treat, tucked away amongst coffee shops and oak trees - Marakesh.
Named for the famed North African city in Morocco (made infamous by an episode of Absolutely Fabulous), Marakesh features authentic North African and Middle Eastern cuisine that is not only to die for, but won't kill your food budget for the week. The restaurant is housed in a fabulous 19th century vintage stone building, complete with hardwood floors and authentic Middle Eastern artwork adorning its walls.
Marakesh serves lunch and dinner seven days a week from 11am to 10pm, and offers live entertainment several nights a week, including belly dancing on Friday nights. (You haven't eaten until you've eaten inches away from a belly dancer balancing a large scimitar on her head as she dances hypnotically.)
It's hard to go wrong with any choice on the menu at Marakesh. There are over 20 sandwich choices on the lunch menu, including a few traditional American po'boy options, and a delicious array of tempting delights available for dinner. Of particularly amazing note are the grape leaf appetizers (vegetarian available for those of you who don't like the meat), the grilled chicken with couscous appetizer, and the baklava with walnuts. Marakesh's hummus and babaganouche are nearly enough to satisfy the palate on their own, and each entree is sizable enough to leave guests wobbling out the door with satisfaction. The wine list, though small, is regularly rotated to allow guests to try unusual new offerings, not the least of which was a Hungarian red called Egri Bikaver, translated loosely as Bull's Blood.
One need not be as rich as Patsy and Edina to enjoy the decadence of North Africa - just come to Austin's version of Marakesh.
