Mamounia Lounge

I booked the Mamounia Lounge for my boyfriend's birthday after googling for a good Moroccan meal/experience. This was by far the best, and judging by the amount of results that came up relating to the restaurant, I thought I better try it out. Even better that when I searched for the restaurant on Square Meal, there was an extra 40% off food. Booked the table for 8pm, arrived at 5 past and had to wait a further 25/30 minutes for our table to be ready! Not to worry, we ordered cocktails at the bar and sat there talking (extensive cocktail list, and very well made!) When we finally sat down, the service staff were very attentive. We turned to the mezze section and ordered our starters (hummus & pitta, sausage platter and stuffed vine leaves). After 5 minutes someone came back and told us that the vine leaves were not good quality that day and he insisted that we change our mind. We said that we would just leave it and have the hummus and sausages, but to make up for it the floor manager sent us moussaka to the table (free). It was a really lovely gesture, and it was also very yummy!! When we came to ordering the mains, with the selection quite vast we needed a bit of time to figure out what we wanted to eat. After choosing the shawarma, we were told that they didn't have them today (again back to the drawing board), I opted for Shish Taouk- (Skewered cubes of grilled Chicken Breast marinated in Garlic, Lemon and Olive Oil) with Mamounia Special Rice –(Brown Rice fried with Chermoula, Garlic Butter, Peppers, Pine Nuts and Parsley). My boyfriend chose Kafta Hala Biyeh- (Grilled skewers of Lamb minced with Red Peppers, Parsley and Onion) with chips. We both absolutely loved our meals and my boyfriend said it was the best Kafta he'd ever had (and he's eaten a lot!) When it came to dessert we were both really full but because I had phoned up earlier that day to arrange sparklers for my boyfriend in a dessert, I pushed that we had baklawa. However, when the baklawa came, there were no sparklers…No point to say anything as the moment was lost. We obviously couldn't finish the baklawa (as we couldn't eat anymore in the first place) so got the waitress to package it up for us to take home. When the bill came, we were pleasantly surprised, even more so when they forgot to add the extra 40% off food and came back with the amended bill! The atmosphere as a whole was good considering it was a wednesday night, the house music in the background and the low lighting added to the good atmosphere too. All toilets (apart from the disabled) were locked which was also a shame, but again only nit picking. All in all had a really lovely evening and will definitely return, it's just a slight shame about the number of small issues that occurred (waiting half an hour for the table, not having the food we wanted, forgetting about the sparkler even though I had phoned up earlier that day, and the toilets)

We came for afternoon lunch. When we presented Groupon deal we were using, attitude of the staff and managers changed dramatically and since then we were treated something like “the poor nuisance we must serve”. Despite me trying to grab attention to place order, other tables coming after us were served first, manager clearly showing who the boss here is. After long time we finally placed order. The food itself was good quality bur lack presentation and any of the WOW factors I would expect from restaurant of this price level. Despite spending much more that just Groupon value, the manager did not say a word when processing the payment, not even thank you or good bye, despite making mistake on bill before and having to correct it. The attitude of the staff was absolutely outrageous WITHOUT A GLIMPSE OF PROFFESIONALISM, particularly when we saw how differently they treated regulars with shopping bags form Harrods. My message is clear DO NOT GO THERE UNLESS YOU WAIVE MONEY TO THE STAFF AND CARYNIG BAGS FORM HARRODS, or you will be treated as a scum. I can use quote from one review “Mamounia Lounge Knightsbridge indulges you in Arabic culture …” , you who have been to north Africa know, what that really means, and how Arabic culture worships money. Well you have a great example in the middle of London. Enjoy!!

I called up this place and they told me i could not book, but to arrive on the day and if there is space they would accomodate me. I went along and saw there was space for at least 10 people. I was in a party of 8 girls and was ready going to order food,snack, drinks and shisha. Once i got there they told me that they held certain area for ‘regular’ customers. Apparently certain areas are reserved for regulars that come apparently everyday!! We told the manager and the matradee that we were paying customers and would be ordering food, etc – they still declined, and were condesending about it I think the place was pompous and the policy riddiculous – how do new customers even become regular if they are not given a chance to sample the food etc. There is also a minimum spend for bar food of £30 per head – very excessive. I would not recommend this place to anyone!!

I was going to Harrods and saw Mamounia… What a cool place! They are doing the best shisha in town! I was impressed!! And the food was excellent, hommus, sambousek cheese, shish taouk and of course mint tea!!! Yummy!!! but the best part wasn't that… Liz hurley was eating next to me! I will recommend this placeto everybody: vip and everyday people like me! ;-)

I was very excited by the opening of Mamounia in Knightsbridge and was hoping to have a good night there with some friends. It turned out to be the complete opposite, I was completely dissatisfied. The restaurant is beautiful and the decor is of a high standard, however, sadly to say the service there was the poorest service I have ever received. There is a high level of favouritism and if you do not have contacts with anyone at the place do not expect to be treated with respect as a customer. After being seated to smoke shisha we were told that we could only stay for 1 hour which we agreed to. However, 15 minutes later a waitress told us we would have to leave as there was a booking for other people – something they failed to tell us when we arrived. She also told us that we could return when another table becomes available and pointed out that the table beside us have been there for two hours and were probably going to leave soon. I found it hard to understand why they would choose to ask me and my friends, who had only been there for 15 minutes, to leave and not the other table who had been there for 2 hours!! We asked to speak to the Manager, who completely lacked even an ounce of professionalism, and when we asked her this question she simply replied, “We have our reasons”. It was clear that there was a system of favouritism. Me and my friends were utterly offended by the complete lack of respect, we were not treated equally to the other customers and you should not expect to be treated as such unless you know some one there. I would never go back to Mamounia and I would warn all my friends against going there as well.