The most intimate dining experience I could ever imagine. I wish I ate slower when I was there because it really deserves to be enjoyed to the fullest c:
Joe M
Food was good but the service was absolutely the worst I have EVER experienced in any restaurant anywhere. We asked for water twice and never refilled again. He forgot our teas and then charged us for them. There's only 1 guy taking orders, serving good and bussing / cleaning tables. He's trying. I sincerely doubt we'll ever return.
Abdelhamid Azzaz
I went there with a big group of family and friends. We were excited to try the Moroccan food. I ordered couscous with vegetables and braised chicken. The food took sometime to make it to the table, and then the waiter started bringing it.The couscous and the vegetables were very flavorful and delicious, but the chicken was grilled not braised as described in the menu, and there were only 3 small cubes of grilled chicken on the plate!!! I was a little disappointed in this! My wife got the basil coconut pasta with shrimp, which also came with 3 shrimps and it was overly sweet!!!The decor is nice and authentic, but the food experience was not 100% authentic or impressive!Coming to the prices, I think they are overpriced (about $23 for some 3 cubes of grilled chicken and some couscous with vegetables) and we had a 20% gratuity added to our ticket!
Jacky Cook
I wish I could give this zero stars.The service was horrible. Server acted like I was an inconvenience. I was ordering and he walked away before I could order my drink. Decided just to drink water. Water was warm so I asked for ice. Instead I got another glass of warm water. Food was very bland and not worth the price. I could have done a better job preparing at home. Finally had to get up and find some salt because the entire tme I was there the server never came back to see if I needed anything. It wasn't because he was busy. I was the only one in there. When he brought my check he didn't say anything. Not even a "thank you". I gave exact amount and left. First time in my life I have ever refused to leave a tip. I had a rare opportunity to enjoy a nice meal out and I ended up wasting it on this.
INDYASPHALT24
We were paving a parking lot adjacent to this restaurant. I ordered chicken pita & red potatoes for lunch. It was out of this world!! Excellent food & service. Will definitely come here to eat again!!
CarolynL
I was very disappointed with our most recent visit (August 2022). We went with friends from out of town, and I was embarrassed to have recommended it. We hadn't been in a few years, and back then the food was delicious -- lots of complex spices and meat so tender it would fall apart with a fork. This time, the tajine had very little flavor. The chicken was a little tough, as though it had been baked and then plopped in the sauce. The server only ever came to our table if we flagged him down and requested him. Both bathrooms had wet and slightly smelly floors; the women's had standing water and the men's was wet and squishy and smelled vaguely of sewer. I hope they get back to their old standards, but as of right now I would not recommend.
Kylie Lockett
Super cute restaurant and such a great experience! I would highly recommend to come here. The flavors of the food are incredible and make such a fun environment to get out of the norm of American food, if you are looking for something like that. It’s a small restaurant so seating is very limited and it’s hard to get in sometimes from what I hear, but if you can get in it’s definitely worth it. It’s on the pricier end of the spectrum for a restaurant as well, but again it’s worth it in my opinion.
Ecmancini
This is an intentionally-designed restaurant with a Moroccan flair. Even the outside of the building is painted in Mediterranean colors. The kabobs were very good but the famine dishes were stupendous. The warm bread is tasty. The Zaalouk, an eggplant dip served with tiny pitas, was out of this world. The mussels in cream sauce were excellent although nearly have of them did not open with cooking. There was only the waitress and the cook so service was slow as molasses but we weren't in a rush anyway. Wine list is disappointing.
We walked in and we were people in the restaurant. Horrible service and awkward - we ended up walking out after about 20 minutes - never was offered any type of beverage - it was just a weird experience!
Ryan Waszczuk
Amazing food, they just need more cooks to keep up. Well worth it though!
Tiny place, off the beaten path. Great food & flavors, one woman working serving and clearing tables, so be patient! The only complaint we had was a rude table near us that was disrespectful to the staff. Hidden gem of a place! Had the honey lamb tagine, paella, honeyed lemonade. Glad we found this place!
Jennifer Pruett
So I’m going to tell you about an unusual adventure I had a few evenings ago. I decided to check another restaurant off the ever growing google maps list. I’ve been trying to hit up the Saffron Cafe but my schedule never really matched up to when they were open. I headed there and was excited to try out the Moroccan food.I found a place to park (paid parking) behind the restaurant. I went inside and a voice called out from the kitchen to sit wherever I liked. There was only one other table inside and one on the patio so I chose a round table. Thought that would be able to accommodate the food I’d order.After I was seated the waitress came out and asked if there was “just one?” Let me just say please don’t say this to someone who is dining alone. It doesn’t bother me but it takes a lot of courage for some people to eat by themselves. This makes them feel bad. I read an article a few years ago about it and I’ve never said “just one” again.After she handed me the menu a gentleman came into the restaurant. He sat down at a table nearby so I invited him to join me. Surprisingly he came over and sat down. We ordered and I chose the saffron mussels appetizer and the lamb tangine. My “date” ordered Chef Sentissi’s Traditional Lamb M’Rosia and a house salad.My mussels showed up and I offered to share. The waitress brought out a small appetizer plate. There was One pound of fresh steamed mussels prepared in a rich & creamy saffron sauce with garlic & sweet basil served with warm bread for dipping. They had a sort of sweet flavor but delicious none the less. Our meal showed up shortly after. I was excited to try a tangine. The one I picked had lamb leg, peas and artichoke hearts in a rich saffron, garlic, and ginger sauce garnished with pickled lemon. Honestly I was a little underwhelmed. Lamb was tender. Sauce was lacking flavor. It was expecting it to be super flavorful. I shared with my guest.His entree was enormous and he let me taste it too. The couscous and vegetables were very good but the star was the leg of lamb. Here is the description from the menu: A 16 ounce bone-in New Zealand lamb shank slow-roasted for 5 hours in a rich & hearty vegetable purée sauce of onions, potatoes, carrots & garlic prepared with the sweet flavors of honey, nutmeg, & cinnamon along with the deeper flavors of ginger & clove - all balanced with lots of saffron & just a touch of cayenne...Sweet & spicy perfection!It was a touch spicy but overall had an amazing flavor. I was jealous I didn’t order it! We ate and had some awesome conversations about traveling and food. I tried something out to my comfort zone and it turned out to be great. I learned so much about someone new and enjoyed myself. Can’t wait to do it again soon. Try something new and invite a stranger to join you for a meal.I’ll be back to try something else on the menu. I want to get a dish that floors me. Until my next meal…grab your forks and get out and eat and let me know where.
The Tagine Lamberel is advertised as one of the top dishes in Indianapolis and I was looking forward to trying it. I was disappointed with the tough meat and the dish overall lacking in flavor. It was just okay, nothing to write home about. I was also disappointed it came with French baguette on the side. I was expecting a more authentic experience with flat bread or something.
Angie F
The beautiful exterior murals were marred by an unkept enclosed patio. The floor and tables needed attention; some window panels were slashed and so rain-spotted it was difficult to see through them. While the interior ambiance was warm and colorful, fixtures and surfaces needed dusting. We were greeted with a smile and promptly seated. Thereafter, service was painfully slow--even though the dining room was relatively empty during most of our visit. Almond Chicken Tangine was piping hot, but relatively bland and overwhelmed by nearly 3/4 cup of raisins. The divinely-scented Lamb Honey Tangine was well-cooked but cloyingly sweet; further, there was little flesh on the bone. We split Tiramisu for dessert--the best part of our meal, but an unexpectedly small portion given the nearly $9 price. Having read impressive reviews, we were somewhat disappointed with the value of our meal. We are uncertain we will return.
DallasDTDiner
This place has gone downhill since I moved away eight years ago. This was a favorite - the owner/chef would come out and greet tables, service was spectacular, the food full of flavor. Fast forward to 2022: This experience had extremely slow and inattentive service, food lacked most flavor with some tasting like it had been microwaved, and overall presentation from dirty menus to chipped wine glasses made an Indy favorite an Indy disaster. The previous owner must have left - the love for food, unique flavors, passion for service were non-existent. I feel embarrassed I recommended this restaurant and made my party suffer through a truly forgettable meal.
The most intimate dining experience I could ever imagine. I wish I ate slower when I was there because it really deserves to be enjoyed to the fullest c:
Food was good but the service was absolutely the worst I have EVER experienced in any restaurant anywhere. We asked for water twice and never refilled again. He forgot our teas and then charged us for them. There's only 1 guy taking orders, serving good and bussing / cleaning tables. He's trying. I sincerely doubt we'll ever return.
I went there with a big group of family and friends. We were excited to try the Moroccan food. I ordered couscous with vegetables and braised chicken. The food took sometime to make it to the table, and then the waiter started bringing it.The couscous and the vegetables were very flavorful and delicious, but the chicken was grilled not braised as described in the menu, and there were only 3 small cubes of grilled chicken on the plate!!! I was a little disappointed in this! My wife got the basil coconut pasta with shrimp, which also came with 3 shrimps and it was overly sweet!!!The decor is nice and authentic, but the food experience was not 100% authentic or impressive!Coming to the prices, I think they are overpriced (about $23 for some 3 cubes of grilled chicken and some couscous with vegetables) and we had a 20% gratuity added to our ticket!
I wish I could give this zero stars.The service was horrible. Server acted like I was an inconvenience. I was ordering and he walked away before I could order my drink. Decided just to drink water. Water was warm so I asked for ice. Instead I got another glass of warm water. Food was very bland and not worth the price. I could have done a better job preparing at home. Finally had to get up and find some salt because the entire tme I was there the server never came back to see if I needed anything. It wasn't because he was busy. I was the only one in there. When he brought my check he didn't say anything. Not even a "thank you". I gave exact amount and left. First time in my life I have ever refused to leave a tip. I had a rare opportunity to enjoy a nice meal out and I ended up wasting it on this.
We were paving a parking lot adjacent to this restaurant. I ordered chicken pita & red potatoes for lunch. It was out of this world!! Excellent food & service. Will definitely come here to eat again!!
I was very disappointed with our most recent visit (August 2022). We went with friends from out of town, and I was embarrassed to have recommended it. We hadn't been in a few years, and back then the food was delicious -- lots of complex spices and meat so tender it would fall apart with a fork. This time, the tajine had very little flavor. The chicken was a little tough, as though it had been baked and then plopped in the sauce. The server only ever came to our table if we flagged him down and requested him. Both bathrooms had wet and slightly smelly floors; the women's had standing water and the men's was wet and squishy and smelled vaguely of sewer. I hope they get back to their old standards, but as of right now I would not recommend.
Super cute restaurant and such a great experience! I would highly recommend to come here. The flavors of the food are incredible and make such a fun environment to get out of the norm of American food, if you are looking for something like that. It’s a small restaurant so seating is very limited and it’s hard to get in sometimes from what I hear, but if you can get in it’s definitely worth it. It’s on the pricier end of the spectrum for a restaurant as well, but again it’s worth it in my opinion.
This is an intentionally-designed restaurant with a Moroccan flair. Even the outside of the building is painted in Mediterranean colors. The kabobs were very good but the famine dishes were stupendous. The warm bread is tasty. The Zaalouk, an eggplant dip served with tiny pitas, was out of this world. The mussels in cream sauce were excellent although nearly have of them did not open with cooking. There was only the waitress and the cook so service was slow as molasses but we weren't in a rush anyway. Wine list is disappointing.
We walked in and we were people in the restaurant. Horrible service and awkward - we ended up walking out after about 20 minutes - never was offered any type of beverage - it was just a weird experience!
Amazing food, they just need more cooks to keep up. Well worth it though!
Restaurantji Recommends
Tiny place, off the beaten path. Great food & flavors, one woman working serving and clearing tables, so be patient! The only complaint we had was a rude table near us that was disrespectful to the staff. Hidden gem of a place! Had the honey lamb tagine, paella, honeyed lemonade. Glad we found this place!
So I’m going to tell you about an unusual adventure I had a few evenings ago. I decided to check another restaurant off the ever growing google maps list. I’ve been trying to hit up the Saffron Cafe but my schedule never really matched up to when they were open. I headed there and was excited to try out the Moroccan food.I found a place to park (paid parking) behind the restaurant. I went inside and a voice called out from the kitchen to sit wherever I liked. There was only one other table inside and one on the patio so I chose a round table. Thought that would be able to accommodate the food I’d order.After I was seated the waitress came out and asked if there was “just one?” Let me just say please don’t say this to someone who is dining alone. It doesn’t bother me but it takes a lot of courage for some people to eat by themselves. This makes them feel bad. I read an article a few years ago about it and I’ve never said “just one” again.After she handed me the menu a gentleman came into the restaurant. He sat down at a table nearby so I invited him to join me. Surprisingly he came over and sat down. We ordered and I chose the saffron mussels appetizer and the lamb tangine. My “date” ordered Chef Sentissi’s Traditional Lamb M’Rosia and a house salad.My mussels showed up and I offered to share. The waitress brought out a small appetizer plate. There was One pound of fresh steamed mussels prepared in a rich & creamy saffron sauce with garlic & sweet basil served with warm bread for dipping. They had a sort of sweet flavor but delicious none the less. Our meal showed up shortly after. I was excited to try a tangine. The one I picked had lamb leg, peas and artichoke hearts in a rich saffron, garlic, and ginger sauce garnished with pickled lemon. Honestly I was a little underwhelmed. Lamb was tender. Sauce was lacking flavor. It was expecting it to be super flavorful. I shared with my guest.His entree was enormous and he let me taste it too. The couscous and vegetables were very good but the star was the leg of lamb. Here is the description from the menu: A 16 ounce bone-in New Zealand lamb shank slow-roasted for 5 hours in a rich & hearty vegetable purée sauce of onions, potatoes, carrots & garlic prepared with the sweet flavors of honey, nutmeg, & cinnamon along with the deeper flavors of ginger & clove - all balanced with lots of saffron & just a touch of cayenne...Sweet & spicy perfection!It was a touch spicy but overall had an amazing flavor. I was jealous I didn’t order it! We ate and had some awesome conversations about traveling and food. I tried something out to my comfort zone and it turned out to be great. I learned so much about someone new and enjoyed myself. Can’t wait to do it again soon. Try something new and invite a stranger to join you for a meal.I’ll be back to try something else on the menu. I want to get a dish that floors me. Until my next meal…grab your forks and get out and eat and let me know where.
The Tagine Lamberel is advertised as one of the top dishes in Indianapolis and I was looking forward to trying it. I was disappointed with the tough meat and the dish overall lacking in flavor. It was just okay, nothing to write home about. I was also disappointed it came with French baguette on the side. I was expecting a more authentic experience with flat bread or something.
The beautiful exterior murals were marred by an unkept enclosed patio. The floor and tables needed attention; some window panels were slashed and so rain-spotted it was difficult to see through them. While the interior ambiance was warm and colorful, fixtures and surfaces needed dusting. We were greeted with a smile and promptly seated. Thereafter, service was painfully slow--even though the dining room was relatively empty during most of our visit. Almond Chicken Tangine was piping hot, but relatively bland and overwhelmed by nearly 3/4 cup of raisins. The divinely-scented Lamb Honey Tangine was well-cooked but cloyingly sweet; further, there was little flesh on the bone. We split Tiramisu for dessert--the best part of our meal, but an unexpectedly small portion given the nearly $9 price. Having read impressive reviews, we were somewhat disappointed with the value of our meal. We are uncertain we will return.
This place has gone downhill since I moved away eight years ago. This was a favorite - the owner/chef would come out and greet tables, service was spectacular, the food full of flavor. Fast forward to 2022: This experience had extremely slow and inattentive service, food lacked most flavor with some tasting like it had been microwaved, and overall presentation from dirty menus to chipped wine glasses made an Indy favorite an Indy disaster. The previous owner must have left - the love for food, unique flavors, passion for service were non-existent. I feel embarrassed I recommended this restaurant and made my party suffer through a truly forgettable meal.
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