Hidden gems are the little establishments that are out of the public eye and wildly underrated. Dar Zaki is truly hidden away in the maze of Rabat's medina and its inconspicuous entrance seems as if it was purposefully trying to stay out of the limelight. The food however deserves all the praise and attention.
Located on one of the many side streets of Rabat's old medina, Dar Zaki is a few steps away from the busy Rue Souika. The restaurant is a hidden gem in many ways. The front door is inconspicuously placed in a recessed section of the street's wall, and on top of it an unlit name board. It's plain entrance makes it very easy to miss, especially if you are passing by during dinner time when the small road is dimly lit, if at all.
Entry into the restaurant felt similar to a speakeasy where a couple knocks on the door, a hushed exchange with the host on the restaurant's current availabilities, and a duck into the dim and narrow hallway suggest that you've stumbled upon a rabbit hole.
And indeed, through the short and dark rabbit-hole-of-a-hallway, a brilliant new world can be found: an open-air riad-styled restaurant.
There is much to take in with the tiled walls and tables, sculpted archways, painted columns, and hung paintings of Moroccan scenes.
The dining space contrasts greatly with the reception hallway and even more so with the quiet street that is just beyond the restaurant walls. The courtyard-like dining area, characteristic of a riad, is filled with Moroccan patterns, textiles, and motifs. The space feels traditional but far from stuffy. In fact, it radiates an air of modern polish. Every object is neatly placed, giving a sense of order despite the range of colours and patterns saturating the space. Possibly due lack of windows facing the outside world, typical of a traditional riad, the dining area feels very private. It's the perfect place for an intimate meal for two, or a couple more.
The food
The food at Dar Zaki truly blew me away. The finesse and clarity of flavours and textures of each dish were outstanding. We ordered the 'Brania', 'couscous végétarian', and 'tarte aux noix et aux dates'. Let's talk about these in detail.
'Brania' is a lamb tajine with eggplant fritters (pictured). A tajine is a North African dish where meats and vegetables are slow-cooked in the earthenware it is named after. Lamb and goat are often used in Moroccan tajines. The lamb in the 'Brania' is incredibly tender - it breaks apart under the slight pressure of your fork. The lamb tastes meaty and earthy, without being gamey. The tenderness of the lamb is enhanced by the crunch of the eggplant fritters. Coated in couscous and dusted with spices, the fried eggplant remains crispy even when soaked in the running juices of the lamb that flood the tajine. The 'Brania' is a dish well-balanced in many ways.
The 'couscous végétarian' as the name suggests is a main dish of couscous paired with slow-cooked slices of courgettes and carrots, and topped with tefaya - a sweet and jammy Moroccan mixture made up of caramelised onions, raisins, cinnamon, and honey. The couscous is so light and airy, it is almost powdery. Paired with the soft and salty vegetables, and sweet and spicy tefaya, the dish comes together with a drizzle of the buttery sauce that comes with the couscous. What's more, if you can take a few spoonfuls of couscous on your plate and pair it with the lamb tajine, you are in for a huge treat. The powdery softness of the couscous, and melting tenderness of the lamb are like two dancers brilliant in their own right, but when they meet, they waltz. Or to be precise, their meeting is like an intricately choreographed and executed Tsakiwin - Google it.
Finally, we get to dessert. The abundance of dates in the country means that a date tart can only be good - and Dar Zaki does not disappoint. A thin shortcrust base that is rustically home-made, a rich layer of jammy dates topped with caramelised walnuts... sounds heavenly doesn't it? It definitely tasted like it.
I would gladly go back to Rabat, so that I can stop by Dar Zaki for another lamb tajine and date tart.
A meal I think about
Dar Zaki is one of those places that pop up in your mind just when you've forgotten about it. I can almost taste the hot succulent lamb and feel the airiness of their couscous. If you ever find yourself in Rabat, do visit Dar Zaki - if you can find it.
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