Darna

First, the restaurant is a little expensive, but no more so than many other restaurants in Jerusalem, and for us it was by far the best dining experience in 3 weeks for the amount we paid (less than 600 shekels for 3). The ambience is subtly Moroccan, and again, this was the only dinner we had in this city where the background music was both authentic and NOT LOUD (making the music a nice accompaniment to dinner, rather than something that drowned out conversation, as was the case in most other restaurants. The service was excellent, and the young man who poured mint tea at the end put on quite a show, pouring the tea from at least 2 feet above the glasses. The inside temperature was quite comfortable, even though Jerusalem in August was in the 90s (F) - 30s (C), and we found the benches with cushions very comfortable. Two families came in with someone in a wheelchair, and there is a ramp from the front door, and the wheelchairs were easily accommodated at the tables. Looking at the dates of various other reviews, it seems most of the positive reviews are from relatively recent visits, and most of the bad reviews from a while ago, so perhaps there has been a change in management that accounts for the apparent improvements. Our waitress suggested combinations of dishes to be shared, but she did not push them, and we took her suggestions. We started with meat-filled pastries lightly dusted with sugar and cinnamon - perhaps unusual for an appetizer, but not overly sweet and it was a nice start to the dinner. For main courses we had couscous with beef, a glazed cornish hen tagine, and a stuffed artichoke tagine. There were 2 or 3 tagines on the menu with cornish hen, and this one was both delicious and almost boneless (one tiny bit of bone, and plenty of meat). The 3 artichoke hearts were at least 2 inches in diameter and were stuffed with a tasty ground meat. The beef was tender and tasted like a good brisket, with vegetables and fruit along with the couscous. None of the dishes were overly spicy, but sufficiently so to add savour to them. We shared the large assortment of more than a dozen small cookies/pastries, which ranged from marzipan-stuffed dates to light, dry macaroons, with plenty of variety. Yes, they were sweet (not surprising for cookies and pastries), but not cloyingly sweet, and following them up with green mint tea was almost decadent it was so good.

As I have said in reviews posted over the years (most recently in 2015) this is one of our all-time favorite restaurants in Jerusalem. The Moroccan cuisine is outstanding, the setting is fascinating and the service, while occasionally a bit slow, very helpful and accommodating. It IS expensive -- but I don't mind that when the meal is worth it. In our (my wife's and my) this place is second only to Ha-Eucalyptus here in Jerusalem.

From you outside, a shabby alley, you begin to wonder what you are getting into, but once you turn left into the restaurant, the magic happens. Low tables and stools in Moroccan decor, effusive friendly management and helpful friendly waitstaff, but then the spectacular food. When we arrived at 7:30 in the evening we were the only customers, but when we left at 9:30, the place was packed. Reservations are essentials.