Cristina Ruiz

Review of Tangierno/Koullshi Lounge

Tangierino is good in a can't-take-it-very-serious...

Tangierino is good in a can't-take-it-very-seriously, why-is-this-so-expensive sort of way. The two of arrived around 8 PM on a Friday, sans reservations, but were luckily able to nag one of the last spots in the upstairs dining room. We were seated on a comfy couch surrounded by overhangin curtains and pillows. With the drapery, rugs, and tinted lamps, the atmosphere is romantic and comfortable but a little awkward since we're almost sitting side by side and looking out into the middle of the room instead of across the table and looking at each other.

A few minutes later, the lights are dimmed, the music is cranked up, and a bell-ringing belly dancer starts to wiggle around the room. This is more uncomfortable than it is entertaining, as the lighting and noise make it nearly impossible to continue our conversation. We're forced to watch this scantily-clad hip-shaker go around the room. Do we make eye contact? Do we pretend to ignore her? Luckily after 5 or 10 minutes the show is over, and we can peruse the menu.

My dining partner spent some time in Morocco and wanted to try some traditional tagines. He told the waiter what he was looking for since the menu items didn't look familiar, and the waiter let him know of a chicken and lamb dish that sounded similar. The Tagine Djaj was spinach-filled chicken with lemony sauce and green olives with a side of couscous which came in a separate bowl. The Couscous Royal consisted of a sweet lamb shank served with a filo-wrapped merguez (a kind of spiced sausage) and vegetable couscous.

Both meats were moist and tender and the entrees came with a generous mound of couscous, so we took a good amount home. My dining partner claimed that he enjoyed the flavors, and the dishes overall seemed authentic but was disappointed that the tangines were not served with the lids on. There was no "ta-da!" moment when they appeared, as there is in Morocco. I'm also sure that the prices aren't this high in Morocco, as each one was nearly $30. Considering that most of the meal comprised of filling couscous, I honestly don't know why the food costs this much. Maybe the money also goes toward the awkward belly dancer's salary.