Restaurant Marrakesh Dinner Review
*This gluten free dining experience took place in August 2019. It includes information about dairy free options and information about fish/shellfish, peanut, and chicken & turkey allergies.
Dinner at Restaurant Marrakesh
Restaurant Marrakesh, located in the Morocco Pavilion in Epcot's World Showcase, is a table service restaurant that serves Moroccan cuisine. Recently, Brandon, his mom, and I had a spur of the moment dinner at Restaurant Marrakesh. Brandon had never been, and I hadn't been in years, so this was a great chance to see what special diets options were available to us both.
Atmosphere
If dining at a restaurant with lots of unique theming is something you're interested in, you can't get better than dining at Restaurant Marrakesh. The restaurant's beautiful exterior and interior make it a great place to enjoy a meal.
Restaurant Marraskesh Entrance / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW
The restaurant is situated pretty far back in the pavilion, making it a beautifully hidden spot in the park.
Restaurant Marrakesh Sign / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW
From the moment you walk up to the restaurant, you'll find yourself transported to a Moroccan oasis.
Restaurant Marrakesh - Interior / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW
As beautiful as the exterior is, the interior is even more beautiful. I love all of the intricate details, and especially all of the detailed tile work throughout the restaurant.
Restaurant Marrakesh - Interior / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW
From floor to ceiling, you can see beautiful patterns and designs that reflect Moroccan style.
Restaurant Marrakesh - Seating / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW
I also love the brightly colored walls and carpet that surround each table. Everything is beautifully and artfully presented.
Restaurant Marrakesh - Seating / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW
Though we had seats at a standard table, I loved the tables with benches built in. The bright fabric and design looked very inviting and cozy.
Restaurant Marrakesh - Musician / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW
Of course, one of my favorite parts about Restaurant Marrakesh is the live entertainment. It's changed over the years (and has sometimes included a full band). On this visit, there was one musician along with a belly dancer who came out once during our meal.
Brandon took a video of the belly dancer and live music for those who might be interested in seeing the entertainment highlights from our visit to Restaurant Marrakesh.
The Food
Restaurant Marrakesh is not owned and operated by the Disney Company, which means they don't currently offer an allergy-friendly menu. But, they will have a chef come and talk to you about special dietary needs options. Our server also seemed pretty aware of gluten free options that might be available too.
Restaurant Marrakesh - Menu / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW
Both Brandon and I took a look at the menu and had some questions for the chef which we discussed when he came to the table. I have had hit or miss experiences with chefs at the Morocco pavilion in the past -- both at Restaurant Marrakesh and Tangierine Cafe. But, on this visit the chef was very helpful and accommodating.
Restaurant Marrakesh / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW
Both Brandon and I were served a bread service before our meal. I was served Ener-G gluten free and allergy-friendly rolls, which are also dairy free, vegan, and free of the top common allergens. This particular brand of roll really needs to be heated well to be tasty. And, thankfully, on this visit, they were extremely well-heated and very tasty. The only thing I was missing was hummus. On our next visit, I will definitely be asking for a side of hummus with the bread service!
Restaurant Marrakesh / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW
Brandon was served the regular bread service and was told that this was peanut free. He said it was quite good. And, both Brandon and his mom seemed to enjoy it.
Restaurant Marrakesh / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW
On this particular visit, I had my eye on the Chicken Kabobs which came with grilled chicken breast, olive salad, and yellow rice (instead of the couscous that normally comes with the dish). This is both gluten free and dairy free.
I very much enjoyed this dish. While the chicken was a little on the dry side, the flavor was excellent. I also loved the marinated olives and the yellow rice served with it. This is definitely a dish I would order again. If you're curious about other dishes, I have also had the Lemon Chicken Tagine on previous visits and also enjoyed it too.
Restaurant Marrakesh / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW
Both Brandon and I were a little concerned about options for his special dietary needs at Restaurant Marrakesh. But, we were able to find an option that worked well for him. Brandon is allergic to fish/shellfish, peanut, hazelnut, cabbage, and chicken & turkey. The proteins were the biggest concern with cross-contamination. And, luckily, the dish he was interested in was a safe option.
Brandon ordered the Grilled Beef Tenderloin Shish Kebab. This is normally served with mixed vegetables and yellow rice. But, Brandon asked if he could substitute the rice for roasted garlic mashed potatoes instead -- which the chef said he was happy to do. Brandon said this was an excellent dish, and he was still raving about it days later too!
In addition to being safe for Brandon's special dietary needs, this was also gluten free too. The potatoes contained dairy, but you could easily order it the traditional way with rice and vegetables for a dairy free option.
Overall
We were both pleasantly surprised by how accommodating Restaurant Marrakesh was on our visit. And, even better, the food was quite good too. I wouldn't say it's our favorite place in the World Showcase, but it's a solid option that we both said we'd like to go back to again soon. As an added bonus, there is often a lot of availability at this restaurant for walk-up dining if you don't have a reservation too. We were both glad we got to go on this visit and get to check out the current options for guests with special dietary needs.
Have you been to Restaurant Marrakesh? What did you think of the options there?