Cafe Mogador
New York
At a glance
Reviews
We visited for a birthday celebration in a group of six. The restaurant was completely packed, so made sure you have a reservation! The overall experience was great, and they even brought out a complimentary small dessert for the birthday girl, which was really sweet. For the food, everything was decent. I ordered the duck dish, which was okay, but the vibrant, aesthetic atmosphere more than made up for it. Keep in mind it gets very lively and noisy inside!
I really wanted to love Cafe Mogador given the hype, but it ended up being “mid." While the atmosphere is undeniable, the food and value just don't keep pace with the reputation. The Lamb Shank with Couscous was a letdown. While the meat was tender enough to fall off the bone, it was surprisingly bland—it lacked that deep, aromatic spice punch you expect from a Moroccan tagine. It felt more like a standard pot roast than something special. The Chicken Bastilla (pie) was fine, but a bit dry and one-note, and the Grilled Halloumi was a total budget-killer: $16 for exactly three small slices of cheese is a tough pill to swallow. The only real highlight was the Eggplant Dip, which was creamy and well-seasoned, but it’s not enough to carry the whole meal.
TLDR; Apparently this is a local favourite and I can see why, even as a tourist. The flat bread is absolutely perfection and the various dips, like the labneh, is a must try! Staff were also very attentive and polite. Only downside is side is some things are a little pricey for what you get. The camomile tea is a good example, literally just a tea bag that you have to put in yourself for 5 bucks.
Truly exquisite! The appetizers, main course, and dessert were indescribably delicious. The ambiance and service were excellent. I highly recommend it and would definitely return. Good price and delicious food 👌🏼 We order to start Labne w/ zahatar, Babaganush, Hummus For entrance Moroccan tagine with Lamb Shank with couscous plus Casablanca chickpeas, raisins, caramelized onions / Salmon and Duck uffff marvelous! And for dessert strawberry and ruibarbo cramble with vanilla ice cream 👌🏼
Incredible food and unreliable service The host and first server were rude to our friend who arrived before us. We had a couple other servers stop by to fill water, take orders, or ask about dessert. Service felt both rushed and inattentive That being said, food was amazing. Highly recommend the lamb shank tagine
