La Trattoria di Giancarlo, Marrakech

As many of you will now have gathered from my past reviews, I have in fact been to Marrakech this summer. I did love the local cuisine and am always up for trying new foods but it doesn't always agree with me. One night there I just wanted to try a cuisine I was familiar with in a lovely restaurant and so I referred to my top ten guide for the answers. In the new part of the town, outside the city walls is a very modern up to date area where the ...
...coming with familiar shops and restaurants so this is where I decided to dine. My map in tow, I walked down some quite dimly lit streets looking for Trattoria Di Giancarlo which the book stated was a lovely restaurant but judging on where I ended up it seemed I was heading the wrong way. However, after asking a few locals it appeared this was the right way and once I was staring the restaurant in the eye it did seem posh after all.

Obviously, ... more

As many of you will now have gathered from my past reviews, I have in fact been to Marrakech this summer. I did love the local cuisine and am always up for trying new foods but it doesn't always agree with me. One night there I just wanted to try a cuisine I was familiar with in a lovely restaurant and so I referred to my top ten guide for the answers. In the new part of the town, outside the city walls is a very modern up to date area where the French seem to have located themselves. It is up and coming with familiar shops and restaurants so this is where I decided to dine. My map in tow, I walked down some quite dimly lit streets looking for Trattoria Di Giancarlo which the book stated was a lovely restaurant but judging on where I ended up it seemed I was heading the wrong way. However, after asking a few locals it appeared this was the right way and once I was staring the restaurant in the eye it did seem posh after all.

Obviously, from the name you can tell that they are an Italian restaurant and it really is lovely here from the minute you walk in. It opens around 7.30pm and as I walked in two members of staff were there ready to seat me. They at first asked if I wanted a drink as there is a lounge when you walk in which is rather homely and fancy to have drinks in but I just wanted to eat so they walked me through to where food was served.

This is when the experience really comes alive, it is almost like you have stepped onto Italian soil when walking through here as there are draping vines, stone balconies and what seems like a scene from a Tuscan setting. On a very Italian backdrop, you have neatly laid out tables, a swimming pool lit up with tables around it and the balconies and trees all around to create a rather unusual but pretty dining out experience, it is very romantic.

The website itself describes the setting as being a divide of lounges and terraces with a large seating capacity. In the summer they say have dinner by the pool or by the fireplace in the winter times.

The waiters were all very lovely, smartly presented and always willing to help with even a bit of laughter among them. All speak English very well and were funny as well as being attentive and polite. They have a wine list of course which I didn't decide to buy from but the range isn't bad.

Now, for the food there is a list of appetizers you can read the menu in French or English, I opted for English obviously as some things just don't translate the same and my French needs to be revisited. The starters were the likes of rocket and parmesan cheese salad, beef or fish carpaccio, shrimps in a garlic sauce and more salads. I didn't opt for a starter as I knew I wouldn't be able to eat the rest if I did but in true Moroccan tradition they did bring out a basket of warm breads like olive bread and a light tomato dip with a side of some olives also.

For the mains, they had a range of pasta's again as follows: Pasta Arrabiata, Pasta with Pesto, Four Cheese Pasta, Seafood Gnocchi, and Cooked Lasagne which is what I wanted. It seems typical but I just wanted something nice which I knew I would like and also Lasagne is cooked differently in every restaurant and I can't cook it myself so love to have it done outside. When it arrived, it was a perfectly sized dish, quite medium and it was delicious. Probably one of the best lasagne's I had ever had cooked just right and just the right size too.

They also did meat dishes for mains as well like Escalope in Lemon or Bolognese sauce, Beef steak alla Pizzaiola, Duck Breast in Honey Sauce or Grilled Beef Fillet in sauce. My friend had the Lemon escalope which she said was lovely and it was very nicely presented too again quite a fair amount and it arrived with fresh vegetable and a side dressing of sauce

Lastly they have a selection of fish dishes such as Monkfish in a Lemon Sauce, Monkfish in Curry Sauce, Grilled Sole alla Plancia or John Dory or Sea Bass Fillet.

Once finished with my mains I requested the dessert menu as I have a sweet tooth and always leave room for this. The desserts were quite a range with traditional Tiramisu which I purchased, Panna Cotta, Warm Chocolate Cake with Ice Cream, Lemon Meringue Tart, Pears Marinated in Red Wine & Cinnamon, Walnut Cake or Fresh Fruit Salad then Ice Cream or Sorbet. I loved my Tiramisu again I have had a lot of hit or misses with this being one of my favourite desserts of all time. It wasn't too strong this one and was nice and creamy. My friend purchased the Pears which I wasn't too sure about but they were also unusual they had a fizziness to them but were lovely.

Once I had finished my plates were instantly taken away, we were asked if we needed anything else and they didn't make me feel like I had to be rushed out. The place was steadily busy but the later it got the more arrived. This restaurant is like a hidden gem in Marrakech because where it is placed you would not expect it but I would definitely revisit. It is one of the prettiest and nicest dining experiences I have ever had. It roughly cost about £20 each for a main and a dessert and a drink which to me is not bad at all as well as leaving a tip because the service was up to standard.

They have an official website at http:// www.latrattoriamarrakech.com . Here you can make a private reservation, see a photo of the exact place I am describing which will give you more of an idea of just how lovely this is as words cannot describe it. Reviewing this has made me want to go back as it was so nice and for the price great. If you are going to Marrakech this is a must, one of the best Italian meals I have ever had! 

...less