Restaurant Marrakesh
Epcot
Lunch
Date of Visit:	2/25/2007
Time of Visit:	12:00
Adults in Party:	3
Children in Party:	1
Total Cost:	$80.00
Average Price Per Adult:	$25.33
Ten Point Scale
Food:	8.5
Value:	8.5
Service:	8.5
Environment:	9.5
Overall Rating:	8.8

Perhaps because of its exotic menu (or rather, a menu that few visitors even read because the concept sounds exotic), Restaurant Marrakesh doesn't sport the long lines at lunchtime that others do, and it fills up for dinner later than others. On most days, lunch reservations aren't needed. Dinner is another story.

Don't skimp on the drinks: the non-alcoholic specialtry drinks, mixtures of juices, are to die for at $3.75 each. We had the beef brewat pastries ($6), which resembled eggrolls. It was a touch dry, and the flavor was subtle, bordering even on bland. Note: this latter observation is disputed by my wife, who liked them unequivocably. We also had the Jasmina salad, which came with a combination plate. It was a smallish dish that packed in the taste: an overdose of balsamic vinegar on onions, cucumbers, and tomatoes, all fresh and strong. The bread brought to the table (dark wheat loaves) was fresh and hot and tasty.

The chicken couscous ($18) was several chunks of chicken breast grilled in an interesting glaze that gave it the appearance of salmon, but tasted fine. It was loaded with couscous. The chicken kebab ($16) put chicken chunks and a few assorted vegetables on skewers and grilled them, leaving the meat tender and moist. The red sauce used here was heavily tomato-based.

We also had the Berber feast ($25), which in addition to the salad and an unremarkable (and tiny!) fruit salad dessert, came with a chicken skewer and a leg of roast lamb. The lamb was a delight, literally falling off the bone because of its tenderness. Seldom is meat cooked that perfectly. The flavoring was again mild, allowing the lamb to taste like lamb, and there was a lot of flavor to it. Those who abhor the ick-factor in meats that include bones should steer clear; there is some work to separate out the meat, though the tenderness makes it easy. The lamb was the highlight of the meal. One dessert that was a hit was the crepes ($6) with apple, almond slices, and honey, served with a generous dollop of ice cream.

Service was slow for us. We were there right when it opened at noon, but did not receive our food until 1:00, and the entire affair lasted 90 minutes. We also were never asked if our ice waters needed refilling, which they did. 

The atmosphere is quiet most of the time, with gentle African music thrumming indistinctly in the background, and people murmur rather than make much noise. That changes every hour or so, when musicians come out with microphones and start up loud music, and the audience soon sees why: a bellydancer comes out for a few numbers. It's not too suggestive - this is Disney, after all - and it lasts only ten minutes. This good atmosphere is reflected in the service score, which otherwise would have been much lower.