A tranquil oasis nestled in a Pasha’s old palace with an Andalusian-inspired garden. European and Moroccan fusion food with a twist, Fez Café is one of Fès’ more modern takes on Moroccan cuisine.
PHOTOGRAPHY BY SVADORE
Our first night in Fez, we are tired and didn’t have time to get a lay of the land so feel a bit uncomfortable walking to far from our Riad. Luckily, one of the most talked about restaurants in Fez is less than a 5 minute walk from Riad Anata. So we make our way through the streets of the old Medina towards Fez Café located at the luxurious Riad and boutique hotel, Le Jardin des Biehn.
Like most places in Fez, the door from the outside doesn’t look like much, but step inside the pastel colored walls and doors and you’ll be transported into a peaceful oasis and romantic haven. At its center lies an Andalusian-inspired garden filled with lanterns, flowers and orange trees.
We sit down outside on the outskirts of the garden and order a glass of their house wine to unwind from our long day (a 7 hour plane ride, followed by a 4 hour car drive..!) The house wine is incredible and probably made from it’s neighboring town of Meknes known for its vineyards and dry climate. Our waiter walks up to us with a chalkboard with the days specials. It’s obvious from the chalkboard that the menu here changes everyday based on what locally sourced ingredients are available each day. Patrick and I proceed to order the Charlotte Asperges with Cucumber Hummus and a dash of Balsamic Vinegar.
Quick video clip of the night, where Patrick and I recount how great the starter is. Little did we know..that the main course was even better!
We both opt for the Filet de Boeuf with mixed vegetables and what an amazing choice it is. It comes with a sauce that Patrick and I did not expect would be come familiar to us during our trip..the famous Moroccan bearnaise sauce. The beef was cooked to perfection, not to tough not to under cooked. Tender and accompanied by the mix of red peppers, zucchini and egg plants, you could taste the freshness of the local products.
Unfortunately, we are too full at the end to indulge in a dessert, but were happy with out little two course meal. The prices are a bit on the pricier side for Morocco. That means $20 for a starter, glass of wine, bread and main meal, but if you are coming from a place like New York? We all know that this is an AMAZING price, especially for the quality of food served at the Riad. Truth be told, if you go to Morocco, you’ll end up spending little for some of the best meals of your life. You’ll almost feel like a true Pacha.
We are glad that our first dinner experience in Fez was at the renowned Fez Café. The ambiance, food and service set us up for what was sure to be a vacation of culinary indulgence.
- Le Jardin des Biehn – Fez Café Restaurant, 13 Akbat Sbaa, Douh;+212 5357-41036; Jardindesbiehn.com/fez-cafe
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