The service and ambience were homey, but the tajines were disappointing and prices surprisingly…read morehigh to me. The main dining room downstairs is a long, narrow space with limited buffer between tables. That was fine for an early Saturday lunch, but I imagine it makes for an unbearably loud experience when the place gets busy. Service was extremely friendly and made you feel welcomed. Quite a few regulars dropped by for a quick lunch while we were there, adding to the overall warm ambience. I ordered the tajine with lamb, prunes, and almonds. It had a ton of broth but wasn't served with any bread to soak it up. I also didn't find it particularly filling. If I were to return, I'd stick to the couscous as that received better praise from my fellow diners and appeared to be what all the regulars were ordering. Prices also took me by surprise given these are inexpensive dishes to make. As a minor concession, you can get a free kir house cocktail with your 2016 carte Chti. Unless I were in the area in desperate need of a couscous, I'd go with another option.

From the owner: C'est bon comme là-bas ! Pour aller au Maroc, plus besoin de prendre l'avion... Il vous suffit…read mored'entrer dans ce restaurant pour avoir un dépaysement total. Entouré d'objets d'art marocain vous pourrez y savourer des plats authentiques et raffinés, tagines et autres couscous.

Ordered some couscous and got given more food than I could possibly eat. Let me say I tried.because…read moreit was very very good. I went for the Merguez, but that is really a small part of the meal. It is mostly about the couscous and the vegetable broth (if that is the word) that comes with it. I've loved Moroccan food since discovering it in Paris and this was very similar to what I remember having there, right down to the sweet potatoe and olives starter with matchsticks.. The waiter here was a really nice friendly guy, although I did take his warning regarding the spiciness of the chilli sauce as a challenge to use the job lot on my couscous. It was hot, but not deadly.

From the owner: Fins gourmets que vous êtes, venez donc vérifier ce délicieux adage en passant les portes de La…read moreMenara. Le nom Menara évoque un vaste jardin planté d'oliviers, aménagé sous la dynastie des Almohades et niché dans la ville de Marrakech. Un endroit paisible, où il fait bon flâner ou se laisser aller à la rêverie. C'est cette ambiance que vous retrouverez à La Menara de Lille. Toute la gastronomie marocaine vous y attend. Le Chef vous réserve de belles sensations gustatives avec des plats comme la pastilla, plat de fêtes par excellence, les coucous ou le tajine. Vous vous sentirez si à l'aise dans cette médina du Nord, que vous vous surprendrez sûrement, attablé à la terrasse, sirotant un thé à la menthe en refaisant le monde.

From the owner: couscous, Orientalread more

An average place to have a sandwich after a drinking night in the neighborhood…read more They propose kebab, burgers, hot or cold sandwiches. I took a kebab (you have the choice between bread or galette). It's not the best one I had in my life but it did the job to fill my stomach. They are linked at a bar so they close late which is convenient.

From the owner: On devine le voyage. « Je veux transmettre les vieilles recettes de chez nous, mais j’ai aussi…read moreimaginé des plats un peu différents. » Mille-feuille d’aubergines, tajines d’agneau, figues et safran ou poulet, poires et miel, pastillas au lait, ou encore gaufres de pommes de terre « pour rappeler le Nord », servies avec une escalope de dinde. « On ne se livre pas au supermarché, mais on achète de bons produits, frais, à deux pas d’ici, en petite quantité. »