The other day decided to go and give a try to Iloli,
an upmarket japanese restaurant that our friends A. and S. had liked
so much. The restaurant is very well made and gives the impression
that could be anywhere in the world, warm woods, perfect lighting and
an open kitchen with perfectly japanese people working on it. Even if
the interior is really cozy, specially the tables in the mezzanine
(consider booking there), we decided to sit outdoors, in a large
terrace surrounded by beautiful bamboo, it was the evening and the
heating was just Comme il faut. The setting was perfect. We asked for
some gin and tonic at 90 dirhams (no choice of gins, only Bombay, so
not bad anyway) and had a look at the menu. Because the names are
mainly Japanese they provide you with what they call a little
"passport" containing the explanation of all their dishes.
Nice touch. Waiters were extremely kind and well informed. There is a
selection of menus around 500 dhs but we like to do things our way so
we asked from the carte. I ordered the tuna tartar as a start and
foie gras and shiitake ravioli as a main course...priced at 220 dhs.
Very very expensive for Morocco, even by snob casaouis standards. A
really tasty amuse bouche arrived, some rolled beef deep fried, very
good. Then the tartar arrived...or a microscopic sample of it. Very
well made and fresh, it was really a pity it lasted for about 2
minutes, without exaggerating there were probably around 60 grams of
tuna meat. At 90 dirhams was hardly a bargain. We kept drinking the
white wine, a Pinot Grigio. The ravioli on broth arrived; of course
being Italian I know I cannot expect the quality I eat at home when
my aunty cooks, but really I expected better for the price of a two
days salary of a mid-income person in Morocco. I could taste the
foie, but broth had no taste, and I don't buy Japanese have no taste
for good soups. So big disappointment. People seemed to be enjoying
their overpriced pasta with clams (are we in a Japanese?). M. after
eating what he ordered and everything being so tiny, had to ask for
something else. We had a look at the desserts, all priced at 120
dirhams. No comment. Since we were curious about such a wonder price
we asked some desserts to share, typical Japanese desserts like
moelleux au chocolat...we were automatically transported to Tokyo.
But not because of the special taste, but rather when the bill
arrived, worthy of the most expensive city in the world.
So the conclusion is simple, everything was rather
good, but disconnected from the prices. So if you dont care about
money you can very well give it a shot. Do not expect any kind of
ambiance around you, rather romantic dinners going on and very low
voices and a Buddha Bar CD from 2007 going on and on and on.
Restaurant Iloli: Najib Mahfoud, Casablanca, Morocco
Tel:+212 608-866633
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