Recommends

Don S.

Joined 1 year ago

I have been to this restaurant many times and I will continue to go there often. The food is great....best Moroccan food I've found in LA. The owner is charming and helpful, and the staff is pleasant as well. The decor is exotic and fun. Belly dancers on Friday and Saturday nights further liven up the experience. I read some negative reviews on this site, and they are not fathomable to me....completely contrary to the consistently first-rate experience i have had, each and every time I've been there. I've been the last patron there several times and was never rushed. Nor was I ever pressured to order fast, although I know the menu pretty well by now and actually order quickly.

Doesn't Recommend

ElizabethLA

Joined 3 years ago

Rude service, hostile environment, food poisoning. For starters the servers must of had a very bad day before coming to work. Think of a convenient store clerks who hate there job and act like they make minimum wage.

They were not helpful with ordering food. The wait staff became impatient and hostile at answering questions about the food even though t restaurant was practically empty.

I was with a couple of friends who didn't like the food at all and so didn't eat. I on the other hand was starved so I sampled all the dishes we had. What a regret! Later I actually threw up from eating there. Food Poisoning.

I do not recommend going to this restaurant .

Recommends

bridgetblonde

Joined 4 years ago

this place was awesome. I went with my boyfriend and good friend on a friday night....not many people there....at first i was concerned but then the awesomeness came! The food was so great and the staff seems like family and happy to be at work. I plan on going once a month for sure!

Doesn't Recommend

HungryHippo

Joined 3 years ago

Terrible, high pressure service. Ah! How do you rate a restaurant where the experience is so terrible that you consider walking away before you even order, but the food when you get it is tasty?

Overall, I am a low key diner, but I created a City Seach profile due to this experience. If I had been with my husband or friends, instead of at the restaurant for work, I would have left. I cannot recommend this restaurant to other people since the dining experience is hostile.

My visit to Koutoubia mirrors the other reviews. Michael, the owner, is very high pressure and demanding. He became upset when our dinner group didn't order swiftly enough (despite the restaurant being empty at the time) or when we expressed confusion over the menu. I also had the unique experience of having Michael attempt to stare me down a during the ordering.

Doesn't Recommend

davidhanna

Joined 4 years ago

really bad place to go to. the owner was pushing us to order more and he did not give us time to think about what we want to eat. when the bill came we found out that he charged us $25 extra when we asked him why he said that it was for a drink that we never got.

Doesn't Recommend

elise2003

Joined 4 years ago

A Serious Let down. I was drawn to the restaurant by the marketing on the web site with great food and entertainment, but after spending some time there I realized that the service was changing progressivley from one visit to another. To make matters worse the owner of the restaurant was serving our table. Our experience started off very welcoming, but before we knew it we felt a very hostile environment. We felt very pressured to order dinner even though we had verbally explained to our host that we were still waiting for our friend. Any one in their right mind would understand the situation. Perhaps it was a cultural difference regardless the customer is always correct. And in most businesses the center of the universe. Customers are the reason why small businesses thrive and they must always keep them in mind. Especially during this hard economy, where vendors will snatch customers at a blink of an eye!!!!!!

Recommends

jordanalorraine

Joined 5 years ago

Exotic food in a beautiful atmosphere. WOW! All of the senses are aroused in this best-kept Westside secret locale. Luxurious tapestry hangs from the ceiling above platform sofas peppered with colorful, textured pillows in the bar and lounge areas, where a belly dancer entertains a diverse crowd on Friday and Saturday nights. The soft ethnic music compliments the aromatic Moroccan spices and array of creative cocktails served up by the friendly staff in traditional attire. Owner Michel Ohayon greets diners in French, Italian, Arabic and Hebrew and escorts them to cozy booths for not just a meal, but a cultural journey. Excellent for drinks, dates or groups, this place is an absolute gem!

Recommends

wilwhim

Joined 5 years ago

We had a nice evening. A friend of mine discovered the restaurant on the internet and we searched it out without knowing what it would look like- She and I were happy to discover that it has a beautiful ambiance - The French woman who seated us asked if we had a reservation which seemed strange as the place was empty- but eventually it did fill up. I had a glass of Chardonnay (7.- was not a full glass) She had a virgin fruity drink (10). The service was always polite and helpful. I had the poisson du vendredi (20.) which I liked a lot though the fish seemed a little underdone. She had a dish with chunks of lamb and vegetables and couscous (don't remember the price on that). We were both very happy with the food. The service continued to be excellent through out the evening. The music bumped up when the belly dancer came out which was a little annoying as we were having a nice conversation... the dancer clearly wanted everyone to watch her, and though I always want to support a performer when they are performing I just decided at a certain point that it was more important to give my attention to the lady I was with than the lady who was gyrating 8 ft away... it actually got a little uncomfortable. The entire evening ran about 62. plus 20ish% tip = 75. It was on the whole a nice evening and I would definitely return. You want to sit in a corner on the couches- I can't imagine sitting on a stool for the entire evening.

Recommends

Contributor

Joined 10 years ago

Editorial Review by Kim Cooper. Exotic decor, belly dancers and steaming pots of mint tea set the stage for family-style Exotic decor, belly dancers and steaming pots of mint tea set the stage for family-style couscous and tagine main courses.

Recommends

becssilverstein76

Joined 5 years ago

Amazing ambience and venue!. We hosted my rehersal dinner here and let me just tell you...SPECTACULAR! Everyone had a blast and the staff was so accomodating! I definately recommend Koutoubia for special events and parties. It is so unique and people of every age enjoy it. The food was phenominal...way better than DarMagreb or Marrakesh by far! 5 stars all the way!