Like its seductive sibling in Mayfair, the Knightsbridge branch of Mamounia Lounge piles on the glamour and glitz with velvet fabrics, gold-fringed drapes and funky illumination. Moody ambient music plays as the kitchen roams freely, picking up ideas from Morocco, the Lebanon and other regions as it goes.
Hot and cold mezze essentials are all present and correct (tabbouleh, hummus with marinated lamb, falafels, bourek pastries, haloumi), as are grills, kebabs and various riffs on the couscous and tagine theme (try the version with chicken, preserved lemon and olives). Pastries provide a sweet sticky fix, and there are some punchy, aromatic wines to sip.
From the new a-la-carte menu, some stand-out dishes include kadaif prawns (king prawns wrapped in crisp kadaif pastry), chicken livers with zaalouk (a velvety smoked aubergine with a tomato concasse), and the mixed grill (shish taouk, lamb fatayel, lamb kafta and chicken kafta).
Racy signature cocktails and shisha pipes reinforce Mamounia’s lounge credentials, while belly dancers are on hand to pump up the party vibe at weekends.