That little Moroccan hole in the wall or off the beaten path middle eastern place - Rick Steves Travel Forum
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That little Moroccan hole in the wall or off the beaten path middle eastern place

Years ago (a least a decade if truth be told) I wandered around the area of our hotel while my wife took a business meeting. I stumbled upon a very small Moroccan restaurant with the entrance below street level. The food was wonderful, the tea refreshing and the service polite to the extreme. Needless to say, I don't know where it was and doubt it is still there. But hope springs eternal.

My wife and I will again be in London next week (she on business once again, me retired) and I intend to see if my luck still holds.
Be it once again Moroccan or middle eastern, I don't really care. I am just hoping to stumble upon gold again.

We will be staying near Primrose Hill but will not be tied to that area. If any of you have a place in mind that fits, I promise not to spread the name around.

Regards,
Dennis

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Do you remember the name of the hotel you stayed at? Or the tube station you used to get there? That might help narrow it down a little. Le Rif in Seven Sisters Road is the only Morrocan place I'm familiar with, but there's many others. That little strip of Seven Sisters Road has a few North African shops and restaurants I think.

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8016 posts

This will be to the south of Regent’s Park, but Naroon is my favorite restaurant in London, and we’ve dined there at least once on each of the last several trips. The food is outstanding, it’s Persian (ask them - not Iranian, Persian), and started out as a tiny place on Great Titchfield St., in the Fitzrovia neighborhood. Within a year, they’d become so popular that they moved into a slightly larger place across the street. They’ve now expanded into a small space next door, so not minuscule, but still small enough that making a reservation is wise.

They’ve also opened a second location several blocks west, in the Marylebone neighborhood. I don’t know whether two locations qualifies as being a “chain,” but they’re very personal, and the food is superior. In August this year, we went to both the second location as well as the first one, which is just down the street from our usual B&B. At either location, their entrances are at street level, so neither is quite a hole-in-the-wall, but you still will still have a fantastic meal, and neither is on a completely beaten path.

Still African, but not Moroccan nor Middle Eastern, there’s another notable, new Restaurant a few blocks south of the original Naroon, called Chisuru. Although it’s not super posh, and doesn’t present itself as a usual Michelin-star place, it was awarded a Michelin star right after opening on Great Titchfield Street. The Star is for the quality of the Nigerian dishes, and you won’t get little artistic bites arranged exquisitely on the plate, but will get extraordinary spice flavors. Prices are also much less expensive than at a typical 1-Star Michelin Restaurant in London, and lunch is cheaper than dinner.

One last suggestion, back in Marylebone, is Ishtar. For Turkish, it’s the best I’ve had this side of Turkey.

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BTW,
If anyone is planning to visit Lisbon, I will return the favor regarding hidden gems in Lisboa, Cacilhas, and Cascais

Dennis

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8016 posts

Dennis, we haven’t been to Portugal in a very long time. And it’s not like being in Portugal, and not exactly hidden, and actually pretty pricey, but an outstanding Portuguese restaurant in London is Lisboeta, on Charlotte Street.

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Cyn,
Sounds like you are a valuable resource.
It turns out that my wife has a business event this coming Thursday in lower Marylebone or Upper St. James (depends on what you call it, I guess). Actually, we will be where New Bond Street morphs into Old Bond Street (near Green Park Station). We are done about 21:00 and will no doubt be hungry. Do you have any suggestions in the area?

Regards,
Dennis and Elinore

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8016 posts

Dennis and Elinore, that area’s a bit out of my normal terrain - socially and financially - but on a food pilgrimage, we went nearby in 2020. Dinner at Michelin-starred chef Jason Atherton’s Pollen Street Social was a treat, but wound up being the last dinner that trip, as the Covid Pandemic was declared by the U.S. and the UK the next morning, which required scrambling to get back to the U.S. as flights were getting canceled, and now the restaurant has been changed, too.

The Pollen Street Social location was just a few blocks north of those Bond Streets, and that particular restaurant was closed in July this year due to tough economic times for pricey restaurants. Chef Atherton has reopened the space as Mary’s, simpler, with upscale burgers, and a Blind Pig “speakeasy” bar/restaurant, but I haven’t been to either (yet). Next time in London won’t be until at least Spring.

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Cyn, if you like Turkish you should consider venturing out to Hackney or Haringey.

Dalston and Stoke Newington in Hackney and Green Lanes in Haringey is where the largest Turkish community resides.

I did a little Google to see if there's any places I know on "best of" lists and there's a couple on the list from Time Out that I'll link to below. Hala in Green Lanes and Mangal II in are places I've been. I think it's the case for most ordinary people who live in London that they'll have their pick of quality eateries for whatever cuisine in their home borough or neighbouring borough, rather than the really posh places in the west end or central London.

https://www.timeout.com/london/restaurants/londons-best-turkish-restaurants

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Dennis, for after your wife’s event, I recommend Noble Rot in Shepherd Market (not to be confused with their Soho and Bloomsbury locations). Shepherd Market is a quaint little enclave in the otherwise very chi-chi Mayfair, which is the name of the area where you’ll be - Marylebone (where I live) starts north of Oxford Street.

As you’re staying in Primrose Hill, give Greenberry a try - it’s delightful for brunch/lunch as well as dinner. A great neighbourhood establishment.

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GerryM, thank you. “Local” means good, authentic, and relatively affordable!

Margaret, Shepard’s Market sounds like a great place to know about, too. Mayfair and Belgravia residents don’t have to dine like royalty all the time, do they?

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Tbh, I don’t think Mayfair has many full-time residents…a lot of the properties there are held by wealthy foreign individuals as investments. That contributes to the particular vibe of the area. But there are some hidden gems that don’t have Michelin star prices!

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Margaret,
Noble Root seems to be spot on both in terms of location and price. I will reserve a table before we depart

On another visit years ago, we stayed at a friend's flat on King Henry's Road. We ate at Lemonia, the Lansdowne and had a pint at the Pembroke. I don't think Greenberry Cafe was there yet. Maybe under another name. We will surely check it out this time.

As this is a rather quick trip (arrive Tuesday PM depart Sunday AM) I don't know how much time I will get to explore. We have theatre tix for a Saturday matinee of "Waiting for Godot" and I am determined to make a pilgrimage to Greenwich .

To all; thank you so much for all these leads. I have taken note of them and hope to hit one or two while in London

I downloaded the TfL app to find my way around the Tube. Is that a useful one or is another better?

Regards,
Dennis and Elinore

PS: Don't forget to reach out to me if anyone is visiting Lisbon!