Last updated on October 31st, 2024
I’m sure you already read my review of the Royal Palm Resort in Marrakesh, Morocco in this article. During my stay, I made sure to sample all of their dining options, including their traditional Moroccan restaurant called Al Ain. The restaurant is located in the main building of the compound, above the lobby.
You’ll notice right away upon entering the gorgeous ambiance, with traditional Moroccan flair. It’s an intimate setting that feels very private and comfortable. To start the evening off, I went with a truly Moroccan wine called Gris. This is a wine in a category of its own, sitting in between white wine and rose. Definitely something worth trying during your trip to Morocco.
Normally, I don’t even bother mentioning the bread, however, the lemon bread at Al Ain was out of this world! It had so much flavor! I’d love to know the recipe. To accompany this wonderful bread was a beautiful beet soup. This was served with goat cheese and together, made a fantastic pair. Just lovely.
After the amuse bouche, it was time to move on to the starters. I obviously went with the traditional Moroccan salads which were comprised of not one, not two, but six separate dishes. I liked some more than others and in the end, they were all quite nice. The other starter I decided on was the Briouates refreshed with salad of tomato and onion. These were several deep-fried items with salad and all were quite spectacular, especially the prawn.
When a server gets excited about something, I know it will be extra tasty. At Al Ain, the server got especially enthusiastic about the lamb. Picking up on his feeling, I had to order. Definitely enough for two people or perhaps three. This was some of the most tender lamb I’ve ever had. Not only was it tender on the inside, but it had this beautiful crispy crust on the outside, which made it extra enjoyable. For the wine to accompany the lamb, I went with another Moroccan wine called Passion, which has a very intense flavor. This was a pairing I sort of stumbled on, but it turned out to be a perfect match with the lamb.
To finish off this fantastic meal it was time for dessert. I was recommended the orange salad. It was oranges that were cut up and served with cream and ice cream. Not only did it have a beautiful presentation, it tasted extraordinary as well.
During the entire meal there was a live Moroccan band playing very wonderful music. Not only did they play music they also got up and danced around towards the end of the evening and really added a sense of fun and enjoyment to the evening. Out of the Moroccan food I’ve had up to this point in my life, this was definitely the best meal. If you’re looking for great Moroccan food, great service and a fantastic atmosphere, then you should look no further than the Al Ain restaurant at the Royal Palm Resort in Marrakesh, Morocco.
The Nitty Gritty
Taste - 9.3
Value - 7.7
Feng Shui - 9
Convenience - 7.4
Service - 7.9
8.3
Phenomenal!
Restaurant
BP 2470, Km 12 route d’Amizmiz Marrakesh, Morocco
Phone: (+212) 524 48 78 00