Mourad / Aziza
Mourad Lahlou has given a new, dynamic face to his native Moroccan food at two locations. In 2001, he opened Aziza in the Outer Richmond District, where the menu is creative, reasonably priced and served in more traditional surroundings. Mourad, opened this year in the rehabbed Pacific Telephone Building, has a similar creative sensibility, but the surroundings are breathtakingly beautiful. Architect Olle Lundberg used Moroccan reference points and the grand scale of the building to come up with a magnificent four-star design. Prices are also higher. At both places, diners can go for a tasting menu or a la carte, with such dishes as feathery light couscous with brown butter and a scattering of blossoms. At Mourad, don’t pass up the whole roasted chicken, served with an array of sides. Cuisine: Moroccan (contemporary) Specialties: Mourad: tasting menu of 10-plus courses ($150); shared
family-style plates Aziza: Chef’s
tasting menu of 9-plus courses
($98); lentil soup with dates and
celery; duck confit basteeya. Seats: Mourad: 86 (plus 30 in the bar); private room for 22. Aziza: 128
(plus six at the bar); private rooms
for 24 and 32 Prices: Mourad: $22-$48 (plus 4% S.F. surcharge). Aziza: $19-$27
Noise rating: Parking: Valet $20 (Mourad), $12 (Aziza) Vitals: Mourad: 140 New Montgomery (near Howard Street), San
Francisco; (415) 660-2500. www.
mouradsf.com. Dinner nightly. Full
bar. Reservations and credit cards
accepted. Aziza: 5800 Geary Blvd. (at 22nd Avenue), San Francisco; (415) 752
2222. www.aziza-sf.com. Dinner
Wednesday-Monday. Full bar. Reser
vations and credit cards accepted.