I have been a fan of Lebanese cuisine since my first encounter nearly a decade ago at a small diner near the university campus. I was hungry and the fresh Falafel roll with veggies immediately won me over. Now, Marrakesh NIBM Road is the spot to satiate my hunger for some Lebanese delicacies.
Hummus, Baba Ghanoush, and Falafel have since then become a regular feature in our kitchen. But it still isn’t as regular as I would like it to be. Getting all the ingredients at one time is still rare. But with Marrakesh I have most of these just a phone call away, now that they deliver Lebanese food to NIBM Road and the neighboring areas.
Like Falafel, the first thing that you come to think of in association with Lebanese food is Shawarma. Shawarma is kind of a vertical Rotisserie stacked with mixed meats or just one meat and slow cooked in the oven. The meat is marinated in spices and shaved off as needed to make rolls wrapped in Pita bread.
At Marrakesh, the lamb Shawarma was served in Pita bread with a mixture of Hummus, Tahini, Yougurt based sauce – something like Tzaziki – and pickles.
The lamb was soft and spiced with a mixture of non-Indian spices, which is good. I would hate to see tandoori chicken mix used for the meat in Shawarma roll. The roll was a bit too soggy for my liking. But the pita bread was fresh and held all the gooey stuff quite well.
We ordered the open face Falafel roll and it was a big surprise. The Falafel here was crumbled with the other accompaniments of the roll and served with Pita bread on the side. Although unusual, you will like this style of serving if you hate to dig into soggy rolls and burgers.
Along with the fabulous Shawarma, Falael, and Hummus, the Marrakesh menu also has something for those in your group who do not waver from Indian food. Marrakesh has an extensive Indian menu with the usual curries and some new grilled items.
The Chicken Chop is a must try if you like the creamy, garlicky versions of kebabs. Chicken Chop appears to be a open faced chicken drumstick marinated in a creamy mixture of spices and grilled just enough to keep the juices inside.
If you are a non-vegetarian, it is impossible to resist a nice juicy drumstick. So the next time you have an urge to rip apart some meat off the bone, head on to Marrakesh and order their Makrana chicken kebab.
Extensive Indian menu at Marrakesh boasts of a range of rotis that you can try with their curry. There’s Zatar Naan, Black Sesame topped Naan and some cheesy garlic naan for kids.
The NIBM Road Marrakesh is located on the way to the Corinthian Club. The two level seating is quite airy and gives you the option to sit at the lower level, facing the road or inside overlooking the seating below. The staff here is a bit rusty, but you will like the food. The food is both tasty and economical.
The Lahm Shawarma at Rs. 120 can easily be a hearty workday lunch. The portion sizes are generous. You can easily share the Garlic Hummus with Pita Bread or have it all as an evening snack. The Hummus has a good garlicky flavor with a hint of lemon. The right balance of chickpeas and Tahini gives it a lovely creamy texture.
Marrakesh also has an eclectic dessert menu with Indian Phirnee, which is quite sumptuous and the middle eastern Baklava. The Phirnee is served in a kulhad (clay pot) and is somewhat thicker than what you will find at other places.
Marrakesh NIBM Road
12, Budhrani Boulevard,
NIBM Road, Pune.
Tel: 020-30162315
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