3 1/2 stars. Just as a few others, we have seen this unpretentious building and restaurant for years but never went. Until last evening. The first Sunday of each month is special at El Morocco as the evening is filled with belly dancers. The entertainment starts at 6:30, takes a short break around 8:45 and continues until all of the dancers have performed. Certainly some dancers are better than others but it is honest to say that all were entertaining. The food is very good. Be careful not to fill up on the appetizers as the main course is sumptious. Both of us had the chicken with vegetables and couscous. It was fall-off-the-bone delicious and the vegetables were cooked nicely though the zucchini was slightly overcooked and soggy. A very minor carp to be sure. So why only 3 to 3 1/2 stars? Because the restaurant was nigh unto insufferable hot!! The AC was running but inadequate. Everyone in the place was hot and shimmering with perspiration if not downright sweating. This is absolutely unacceptable and will keep us from going again. The service was very good and well organized. The few people serving get A LOT done. They hustle! Get a modern AC unit installed, El Morocco. read more

Hey, it is what it is. Foreign food in an environment that attempts to transport you to a different place. Its not a place for a business meeting or a group of toddlers. Its a 6 course dinner and a show. Worth the time and money for a special occasion; its a cool experience. The food was much tastier than I expected. I was prepared to leave hungry not being a fan of sweets in my meats.. But the food was delicious. Groupon deal took a nice bite out of our bill..! read more

Went here one night.. There were only 5 of us total in the whole restaurant. There was belly dancing -- and it was really, really awkward. I felt embarrassed for the belly dancer since she didn't look like she was enjoying what she was doing either. The food.. So $75 for two people, I don't think it's worth it. But again, this is based on a one time experience. I don't think there will be a next. So, I went on Yelp to check on the reviews and that really shocked me they have good reviews here. Maybe it was just a bad time when I went. read more

Overall good. Like: free entertainment. Two menus. One full meal, $30, includes soup, salad and entrée. The other is a la cart, includes soup and entrée -under $20. Dislike: over cooked food. Meat was so over cooked, it fell of the bones. On the bland side. read more

El Morocco - Belly dancer - Moroccan Near Me - Pleasant Hill, California

I give this place 5 stars for the show and amount of fun we had, but three stars for the food. Honestly I don't think people come here for the food, but once the belly dancing starts and they start to pull people up... It's just a huge party. Everyone was dancing ! So much fun read more

El Morocco - Moroccan Near Me - Pleasant Hill, California

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We came here with a groupon, but it was clear that no one else was: this place is fantastic without the need of any gimmicks or promotions. It's $30 per course, but it's a 5 course dinner WITH entertainment! The food was amazingly delicious, and never having eaten Moroccan food, I was more than pleasantly surprised. Most families with kids will arrive at 6 or 6:30, watch the 7:30 show, and take off. Later that night, there's more people coming in for the 2nd and even 3rd show. Too late for me, but obviously, people come here for a good time! Check out the pictures: the portions are huge, and everything tastes delicious. Probably not the place to go if your on a low sodium diet, but salt tastes good, so it's all good. :) One last thing: a lot of the meats have a sweat twist to it, but by no means does that mean the meat is sweat. I got the chicken couscous and it was great. Chicken was NOT sweet, but the couscous had raisins. Good times. :) read more

Not bad, but kinda disappointing. Maybe it's because we went on an off-night--Wednesday, I think--but this place was a little bit...sad. There were only two other parties in the place. Interior has traditional floor-seating tables, which is neat--or you can have bench seats on the lowered table if you don't want to sit on pillows on the floor. I like how there is an "experience" in eating, where you do the same traditional things one would do, such as the server first bringing a large bowl and a pot of warm water for washing hands (I highly suggest going to the bathroom afterwards to use soap!), and then having the typical cultural dishes included with dinner, and then again washing hands between dishes and after finishing your meal. My one gripe was that I REALLLLY didn't want to have the lavender water splashed all over my hands at the end of the meal, but when I refused, the woman looked sternly at me and said, "you must!" Who was I to argue at that point...? I have no beef with lavender flowers, but concentrated lavender water smeared all over my hands with a smell that doesn't go away for hours...YUCK! The food was just okay. We (3 of us) ordered two full meals and a third dish to share--the meals came with an appetizer, veggie/meat main, two side dishes, and dessert. Probably was about $30 per person for that. The food might sound like a lot, but other than the main dish, it was a little disappointing--the side dishes included salad and bread, so it's not really all that impressive. Flavors, if memory serves, were relatively bland. If you go here for the experience, make sure you go on a good night--Friday/Saturday--and view it as an experience, not as a super good meal. The meal is only average. What was more awkward than the empty restaurant was when the belly dancer came out and danced for only 3 parties. She was a good dancer, but having only 3 parties in the whole place made it go from "oh, neat," to "oh, creepy" in two seconds flat... Probably just me... This place should really get 2.5 stars, not just 2. If you go for the experience, it's neat. If you go just for the food, it's only average. read more

Took the family for a groupon! Fabulous time. Each course unique to us. Even my 12 yo ate heartily! We got a great belly dancing show after dinner. It's slow paced and enjoyable. Very courteous service. read more

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We went to this place excited to experience something new but we were disappointed for the price we paid at $29.95 per person. The appetizer was a sweet pastry dish served before the main course. For a minute I wanted to ask the server if she served us the desert by mistake! The lamb dishes that we tried "Lamb Tagine" and "Royal Couscous" were tasteless and looked like leftovers with no attempt at making them presentable... a blend of boiled meat, onion, carrot, olives, simply everything except the kitchen sink. Plus the two dishes tasted exactly the same! We did not feel it was worth the price charged. Certainly not a place to go back again. read more

Thank you El Morocco for making me feel so special and appreciated for my birthday weekend. The BFFs along w/ the hubby set a night out of Moroccan food and Belly Dancing. The owner was so welcoming and really catered to our group w/ special drinks, even a Shirley temple for my little one. Food was delish, as was the service superb and welcoming. The belly dancers we're exceptionally entertaining. I can't believe how much fun/cardio it is to belly dance. Will definitely come back for food and fun! Great for families too, they're very welcoming to little ones! Thank you again! Pictures show the fun! read more

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I brought my friend here for dinner for her birthday and we really enjoyed it! The lentil soup was delicious and the filo dough with chicken and egg was yummy. I ordered the couscous royal which came with lamb, chicken and vegetables. The meat fell off the bone and was very flavorful. We enjoyed the belly dancers as well. It was a little pricey, but you get a lot of food, so be prepared to eat! read more

So I just spent two weeks in Morocco. Now I think I know what great Moroccan food is supposed to taste and smell like. El Morocco, although good, could kick it up a notch. I think it has to do with the freshness and intensity of the spices. Oh and in two weeks, two or three meals a day, never saw, not even one belly dancer. read more

Such a find! I love this place! Relaxed and colorful atmosphere with live belly dance. Food was amazing! I had honey almond lamb, sooo good. Rich taste, the meat's very tender. Excellent experience :) read more

I have been here a few times over the years and the food is always delicious. The atmosphere is relaxing and it's always a good time watching the dancers! I would highly recommend trying it El Morocco! read more

This is such a hidden gem within the cute town of Pleasant Hill. I went here for my 25th birthday with family and every single one of us had an absolute blast. Once you step in the ambiance, decor, and music makes you feel like you're right in with the Moroccan culture. You're greeted with friendly smiles and are seated immediately. The booths are awesome and beautifully decorated with designs and special Moroccan styled chairs. The food exceeded my expectations and I enjoyed every single course. A huge variety of different meals with the perfect balances of flavors. I love restaurants that serve family style. The entertainment is one of a kind. The belly dancer was so talented and got the entire audience involved. I got up there and danced with the crowd along with my little 7 year old sister. This place is perfect for families and little ones, anniversary dates, special occasions, or just to have a fun wine and dine experience. I can't wait to bring all my loved ones here, it's a guaranteed great and memorable time. read more

Absolutely love this restaurant! I've done my birthday party there and it was great, fun and entertaining! The food there is delicious! I love the lentil soup and the lamb kebab they have there. My favorite dessert is baklava, I always order! read more

This place was so much fun! A friend of mine wanted to check it out because she was considering having her husband's birthday dinner here (she decided to do it). The food was super tasty, and though we had intended to order the ala carte, we didn't make this clear, and they ended up giving us the 5 course meal. But the food and service was great, so we just went with it. It's a very authentic Moroccan experience, from the hand washing, to the floor pillows, to the belly dancing, to the food (of course) and the mint tea... If you aren't starving, I wouldn't do the 5 course meal, because that is a whole lot of food! I ended up bringing almost my whole entree home because by the time I had soup, the Harira, the "salad", and the Bastilla I could hardly eat my chicken with honey, almonds, and raisins. We even got to have a little mini belly dancing lesson, which was totally fun! read more

I have been visiting this place for many times. Everytime is a fun time. The food is not exactly the best, but the atmosphere fills the gap. My favorite are Rabat and the mint tea. The belly dancers always a treat. I would recommend this place if you want to have a fun birthday party or fun dinner date. Too bad that I moved out from Trivalley, I haven't been able to visit since then. I would love to go back sometime. read more

I went here Saturday night because my cousin came in from out of town and I wanted to do something fun/different with him. We told the owner it was our first time and he moved our table (without us asking) so we'd have a better view of the belly dancers. The food is really yummy and is pretty well explained in other reviews so I don't feel the need to go into detail. Be aware, if you order meat there will be bones in it, so if that is not your deal best to order a non-meat dish. I really enjoyed the atmosphere and I even got up with a few others and attempted to belly dance. (I did get caught voguing and dropping it like it's hot, since that is about all I know how to do. Thank goodness the girl had a sense of humor about my dance style.) I would recommend this to anyone for a fun and authentic experience. I will definitely be back! read more

This is a very different dining experience to most restaurants. The inside of the restaurant is dimly lit and the seating is on low benches/cushions. It has the feel of being inside a tent in the desert and quite conducive to big groups. The menu does not have a la carte prices - instead, a 5-course meal is $35 (inclusive of gratuity) and served family-style. Four courses - salad, soup, pastry and baklava are set, while you pick your entree from a selection of 10. As a vegetarian, I could eat everything on the set menu except the bastila pastry, but they were willing to make a vegetarian version. The appetisers were especially delicious (lentil soup + salad with two kinds of sides (chickpea-based and a quasi-tomato salsa... can't remember the names but they were both great). At 8 o'clock, the belly dancing show started. The dancing itself wasn't anything great but it was really fun to watch the guys squirm when she danced up to them, AND made them get up front and dance along with her. Other than the food being somewhat pricey for its quality, it's worth going to the restaurant for the novel menu and dining style. read more

Date night with my sweetie included an abrupt change of plans so we decided to go to dinner. We Yelp'd placed and saw El Morocco. We decided to try it and I'm glad we did. Good food, friendly and kind people, fun entertainment, lots of parking - FUN! They offer ala carte & full course menus so that helps with all budgets. We did ala carte. Lentil soup was very yummy. Bread was good. The veggie cous cous was flavorful. I mostly enjoyed how very sweet the owner is. He greeted us, was very kind and humble, and seemed very happy to see us. The belly dancing was fun to watch. It is great to see people working to learn their skill. We could tell she was great but also still learning and I love supporting that. They invite you to dance too sometimes and it's fun to do it with a group of friends. The only reason I am not giving it 5 stars is (1) it's a tad bit pricey for somone on a budget and (2) the music was a little too loud for me. Next time we'll just be seated a little farther away from the speakers and that might help. Definitely, give this place a try!! read more

Um...I totally LOVED this place when I went, but, shortly after my visit (after I had posted on Yelp) I started feeling realllllyyyyy sick. I threw up for 12 hours after my visit....sad to say, but I will NEVER come back here....2 weeks later, I can't even smell the aroma that was there without gagging...FOOD POISONING is NO joke!!!! read more

The lamb kamama was delicious. But I highly recommend making a reservation because not knowing that you should my family and I were forced to sit on the floor which for two hours and being people of long legs that need to be stretched this was very uncomfortable. Other than that no complaints and the belly dancer was absolutely great. :) read more

You go there for the whole experience! We made our food family style and tasted everything. We took our parents and sister from out of the country. They loved it. The dancers were super entertaining. People went to dance with the dancers and we're friendly to all kids. I really recommend this place. read more

I called on a Thursday night to make reservation for a party of 16 for my Birthday the next day. I spoke w/ the owner who was extremely polite and accommodating. When I arrived the owner came up to me and said are you Jessica? Happy birthday! and led me to my group. Our dinner was amazing, the lentil soup was extremely tasty I wanted to take it home w/ me :) My 6 year old daughter ate everything!!! For parents you know how difficult it can be to feed your children.She ate the soup, salad, Bastille and chicken. Our server was great! The Belly dancing show was fabulous! Makes me want to take lessons. The night in a whole was outstanding! I could not have celebrated my birthday at a better place! Thank you El Morocco for making my birthday special! read more

Went for a dinner with girlfriends. We had a amazing time. The belly dancers were wonderful! The food was so delicious! You get a 5 course meal for a very reasonable price. We had a few bottles of wine and they were very reasonable as well. I had the lamb with honey and almonds.. it was tasty.. but maybe next time I will get something else as it Was a bit sweet. The service was top notch. I would definitely recommend and will definitely come back! Definitely worth the drive from the city to go here! read more

Delicious food, great service and wonderful entertainment. The fabric and furnishings are pretty dingy, I don't know that I would want to see this place in the full light of day, but I'm looking forward to eating there again nonetheless. read more

I love this place and you get what you pay for- it's an experience. They come and rinse your hands at your table before your meal and again with an orange blossom oil after your meal so your hands will stay fresh. The food is delicious and plentiful- don't order a la carte, all of the courses as part of the whole meal are definitely worth the cost. Their lentil soup made me LOVE lentil soup from the moment I first tried it, so that alone is worth about half the price. On top of it you get a show. They have belly dancers twice a night who will encourage you to stand up with them and try your best hip shaking. It's really fun and entertaining, just don't forget to tip the dancer (If you can get the money in her costume... those hips are fast)! On top of everything, the owner is always there making sure you have an authentic and wonderful experience. This place is a gem! read more

This place is awesome!! My girlfriends and I met up here last Friday night. The service was IMPECCABLE and the atmosphere was relaxing. We ordered "Magic Moroccan" cocktails... They were STRONG and very good. We all had the Lamb & couscous; it was good, not the best but good. Belly dancers were so much fun, inviting and got everyone involved. If you want to change dining out up a bit; I highly reccomend this place. Go have fun!! read more

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I can't decide if I like this place...because I feel weird sitting on the floors....but excited about belly dancing. My senses are so confused! read more

Ok, so this would be a nice place for a date. The staff was amazing and the dancing was fun. (Unfortunately there was a large group with little kids and they were not well controlled, even after the staff told them to control their kids. No fault of the restaurant). I felt the food was a bit flat. The flavors were bland. And I tasted everyone's food. Chicken with vegetables cous cous and some lamb... it was just flat and lacked flavor. I expected Moe for &40/person. If you are going for a show go ahead, just expect the food to be all that great read more

Take a second to look at the pic and spot the dude with the red cap - coz that's going to be you if you happen to be celebrating your birthday here. It is a sign telling the belly dancer "I'm supposed to be pulled from my seat and dance with you". If you are a shy type of person like me, just drink a lot of wine... and you should be fine (I didn't, gives me heartburn). Contrary to one of the reviews, I was not forced to join and I didn't feel uncomfortable at all. It was fun watching them though, especially other diners' kids dancing next to them, trying to move their hips. My friends took me here for my birthday and it was a good experience - the way they make you wash your hands on the table before eating, the manner by which seating was set up (cushions on the floor), how they pour tea from an "elevated" height, the belly dancing..I did enjoy it. I would not come here for the food however. Most of the food selection were sweet (I like sweets but they're a little too sweet for my taste. for dinner.) - Lamb with Almonds and Honey, Lamb with Honey and Onions, Chicken with Almonds and Honey, something else with honey.. yeaaaa I think you get the point. If you like a sweet dinner then maaaaaayyybe I would recommend this place for the food. I had Lamb with Honey and the Lamb was fall off the bone. My friend had Lamb Tagine, (yes, there were a few savory items and this is one of them) and hers tasted good, I wanted to steal her plate. But, still - too many honey something. I can't tell you if the whole thing is worth the price coz my friends paid for my dinner :D. I definitely recommend this place for the experience - just perhaps eat some before you get here? Just in case the food disappoints you. Maybe check the menu first and then decide. read more

El Morocco - Belly Dancer who will eventually get you to belly dance with her - make sure you drink enough wine - Moroccan Near Me - Pleasant Hill, California

Very nice place , we celebrated a birthday and all of the people had a good time, thank you guys for having us

Excellent food, excellent service, excellent drinks, excellent atmospher excellent dancer! Perfect score and will most definitely come again. read more

We took our mother here for her 70th birthday and had a blast! The Service was great, as was the food. We loved the interactive dining experience. My mother was treated like royalty. Our group even had a teenager who thought everything was fantastic! We dined on various entrees (chicken, lamb, Cornish hen)-yummy. I recommend doing the entire meal NOT ALA CARTE. The Bastila was delicious! read more

We liked the Bastilla the most. It is a pastry stuffed with chicken, egg and almonds with cinnamon and powdered sugar on top. It was pleasantly delicious. The main course was alright. We enjoyed the entertainment. read more

Went here for a date night dinner with my boyfriend. The food is amazing! and the staff is awesome. It would be a lot of fun for a Birthday party I think. I love watching the people dance with the belly dancer. read more

We had the set meal with five courses and loved everything especially their bastille (chicken nut pastry) which was custard-like from the egg inside. We also like their lamb tagine which was very tender and accompanied perfectly cooked vegetables including chunks of apple which looked and felt like perfect potato wedges. The setting/music/service was impeccable. The only thing I would recommend is for guests to sit on the floor because their tables are very low and hard to eat off of. We will definitely come back! : ) Highly recommended for good food and belly-dancing (check dancing schedule on their website). read more

In my search of something different in Pleasant Hill, I came across El Morocco. With my boyfriend in tow, I dragged him to a restaurant we have yet to venture. Excitingly, the vicinity was decorated appropriately and the amount of food given was plentiful. A belly dancer coaxed my boyfriend and several men in the audience to dance with her making it the highlight to my night. Bottom line: Not the greatest most amazing place in the world, but an awesome place to hang out, eat some good food and watch someone shake their booty for you! (Prereferably someone you came with =D) read more

Great place to eat. Tucked away in the heart of Pleasant Hill is this place. In the same shopping center as a chevron and Kinders (Yum :)) I had the Cornish Hen, both of my friends had the Lamb plate and mix plate. Food was really really good, service was outstanding, and restrooms were clean. only minus one-star for the lack of talent the belly-dancer had. They have more than once dancer that preforms there, so maybe it was just our luck. I would be back FOR SURE. read more