Maison Touaregue

Like many other reviewers here I liked this place when I went years ago, but I went today and it wasn't as good as I remember. The lamb starter I had was greasy and bland, and while the meat in my lamb tagine was cooked to perfection and very tender, it was also bland and very salty- I couldn't taste the spices at all and it was nothing like a good tagine.

That said the friends I was with ordered from the fish and vegetarian menus and they loved what they ordered, and seemed very happy with the place. The rosemary bread I had as a side order was a very nice alternative to garlic bread. I wouldn't write this place off completely but I would avoid the lamb dishes.

Finally, the staff were very friendly and helpful- no rudeness whatsoever on our visit- and the atmosphere and decor were good. Could be a good place to go for bread and olives and a bottle of red but not a three-course meal.
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Overall rating
Food 3 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 5
Sunday, March 30, 2008

I went here with 2 friends on Friday evening and was absolutely appalled. The initial reception on the door was friendly enough, but the service thereafter left me feeling pretty cold about the overall experience. The waiter who came to take our orders had very arrogant body language, stood behind us to take our order, so that we had to turn round and looked like he was chewing gum. He gave us hardly any eye-contact, asking us what we wanted looking out of the window on the far side of the restaurant. He then proceeded to tell me that the first 3 options on the menu that I had chosen, I couldn't have......giving no particular reason and sniffing as he stood there. He then proceeded to patronise me by choosing things for me like I had never eaten in such a restaurant before. Well he would have been right, because I think I can honestly say that I have never been to a restaurant with such poor, bordering on disgusting, service.

When our food arrived, my friends found their dishes quite bland. I must admit that my mixed kebab was deliciously cooked, with a real smoky flavour......but unfortunately the service was bad enough to stop me from ever returning under the same management again.
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squemilie - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 5 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 1
Tuesday, November 27, 2007

I like others on this site visited this restaurant around a year ago and thought it was good.

However, I returned recently and found it vastly over-priced and sloppily served.

After picking my way through olives which looked a little off I was served with what basically constituted a shish kebab on a place and some old lettuce.

At £13 this glorified kebab on a plate didnt really cut the mustard for me.

Also the overweight waiter stood making lewd comments at a young lady with no concern for who could hear, reffering to her as "shakira". She eventually complained about the olives.

Not recommended.
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oli
Overall rating
Food 1 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 2 | Value for money 0
Sunday, July 29, 2007

I am embarassed that I arranged to have my Birthday party at this restaurant. I came here a year or so ago and it was great, however, this time was a shambles!

I'd booked a table for 10 downstairs specifically to have shisha after our meal. I arrived - we got seated downstairs, then the management hurried us upstairs because since my booking a week ago they had taken an order for 60. Suits them i suppose! Upstairs - where you aren't allowed to have shisha we then had to wait 20 minutes before our food order was placed (which is supprising as it was the set menu for 10). We finally managed to order drinks another 20 minutes later which took a very long while to arrive.

Once the food arrived it was clear that there was not enough - which is unusual as last time we had too much, about 8 dishes got shoved on the table - between 9 people. When the mixed grill arrived it fed half of us.

The rude manager and remedial staff upstairs did themselves no favours and we refused to pay service - it wasn't an enjoyable experience at all and I would reccomend MOMO as an alternative.

DO NOT GO HERE!
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Alex
Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 2
Sunday, June 17, 2007

I visited Maison Touaregue for my brother's stag do with 7 others, and i was impressed above all by the service.

We all ordered set menus at £22.50, with no obligation to choose it as you find in some restaurants who simply decide to restrict their menus for large groups. It was extremely good value, coming with a huge array of dishes. While it was a shame that we had ordered 8 of everything, and realised very quickly that we wouldn't need nearly that much (only about 3 portions of each dish), the waiter was extremely attentive, and asked us regularly if we wanted more. I was worried this would be added to the bill, as he was so keen but it wasn't. We ordered 2 bottles of house wine, which were averagely priced at £17 a bottle, and were lovely.

The basement is a good place to sit, however one of our party realised that there was water on the floor around our table. The belly dancer was hihgly entertaining. This is a restaurant i would certainly recommend. The staff were friendly and the decor was in true Moroccan style. If you don't know what to have, order the set-menu.
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Overall rating
Food 6 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 9
Saturday, April 21, 2007

FANTASTIC i ate here and i felt i was in marrakesh itself. it was the way that you expect a moroccan restaurant to be, very cosy and home like. we were in the bar on a friday night with a few friends we had to book 3 weeks in advance but the wait was deffintely worth it. the food was superb as i have been to morocco before so i know what it should taste like and it was most deffinitely up to scratch. i have now become a regular and any of my friends that are looking for a venue to host thier parties i strongly recomend they go there. if you are a prude or a an old foggie don't go as the relaxed lively atmosphere wont be to your liking(and i would like to be sitting next to you) but if your like me and enjoy the warm morroccan hospitality then you should go.
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h. harran
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 8
Wednesday, June 07, 2006

I went here late last Friday and was very put off by the rudeness of the manager. We weren't sure whether we wanted to eat in the upstairs restaurant or drink in the late-licence bar area downstairs. The manager told us to "stand outside and once we'd made up our minds, think about coming back in". Being spoken to like that was like I was a small child being sent into the corner by my headteacher. A real disappointment, as I've eaten here before and didn't have an experience like that.
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Dom
Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 4
Wednesday, May 31, 2006

I have been to this restaurant many many times over the past 4 years (when it used to be called something different but was essentially the same!) and have never, ever had a bad experience. I simply cannot understand how anyone could leave here feeling unhappy. The staff are extremely friendly and accomodating - i have often been downstairs with large groups of friends for drinks only - they have always fit us in. On Valentine's day I wanted a quick drink with my boyfriend but no dinner and this was the only place that would accomodate us. On the occasions that I have eaten upstairs in the restaurant I have found the food to be authentic, fresh and flavoursome: not to mention reasonably priced. I wouldn't advise people book downstairs for food if they are not prepared to find themselves in a lively 'bar' atmosphere... but there's always upstairs, and anyway - that's what's great about this place - it's the only place in Soho that's got a fabulous atmosphere, with cheap drinks, no pressure to eat (but you can if you change your mind) AND you can get a seat on a Friday night but end up dancing on it by Saturday morning! And if you're really lucky you may get to dance with the beautiful belly dancer!

Not for wingeing restaurant critics.
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Louise
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 8
Thursday, May 04, 2006

John, we don't seem to have been to the same restaurant! I love this place and am going back next week, great food (i love the cous cous!), great atmosphere and not too hard on the purse. Drank for hours in the bar downstairs after and had a brilliant evening. I fully recommend it!
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Claire
Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 8
Wednesday, March 22, 2006

Very disappointing. Not suitable for large parties or if you are hungry. Staff are very rude and service is exceptionally slow. A party of 23 where sat at a table more suitable for 10. It took over an hour before a drinks order was taken and the entire ordeal took more than 4 hours. It's a shame as the food wasn't bad but there was no where near enough and it was cold when served. Avoid
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Ian - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 5 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 2
Sunday, March 19, 2006