I visited a cozy Moroccan restaurant on a sunny Thursday around 11 a.m. in early May for brunch. I ordered the Moroccan Eggs with merguez sausage, which were perfectly spiced and full of flavor. The mint tea was also refreshing. The restaurant has a warm, bohemian vibe typical of the East Village, complete with exposed brick and inviting lighting, not to mention the lovely outdoor seating. The service was attentive and welcoming. The total cost for the meal was around $25 per person, including drinks. After all these years, it remains one of the best Moroccan spots in NYC!
Moroccan restaurant
Cafe Mogador
East VillageManhattan


East Village
Manhattan
The brief
About Cafe Mogador
Classic Moroccan flavors & outdoor seating draw a bohemian crowd to this neighborhood standby.
Health inspection
NYC DOHMH Grade A
Score12(lower is better)
Inspected11/13/2025
Grade A is the highest mark from NYC's Department of Health — about 90% of restaurants earn it.
Community Rating
4.5
out of 5
3,015 community reviews
Rating aggregated from community reviews across platforms. Read full reviews on Google or Yelp for detailed diner experiences.
Reviews
What diners say about Cafe Mogador
15 verified Google reviews
4.5
15 reviews
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Excellent experience, been years without going to Morroco and this place brought back so many memories, if you are into experiencing a nice taste of morrocan food and also want to sit on a very romantic date, this is the place. Food amazing and ambience was spectacular
Recommend the hummus platter with falafel and the mint lemonade. nice place for brunch, very busy but we were seated quickly. Cute patio for sunny days.
I used to come to Café Mogador when I was in college nearby, so returning to the same spot almost 20 years later brought back wonderful memories and emotions. Needless to say, for any restaurant to survive more than two decades in a fast-paced foodie city like New York is no small feat.<br><br>The food was excellent then, and it’s still excellent now. The lamb tagine, salmon, and okra were all delicious. For appetizers, the labneh with za’atar, cauliflower, and grilled shrimp are especially tasty. And the baklava is truly to die for—in fact, you might as well order it first. Why not? Live a little.<br><br>Great staff, very reasonable prices, and a romantic atmosphere. It definitely deserves a visit from everyone—students, tourists, and old-school New Yorkers alike.
Amazing food, extremely attentive service and charming ambiance. LOVED the cardamom oatmeal and halloumi poached eggs. Dessert was amazing as well! Can’t wait to come back. Also everyone was helpful with accommodating gluten free restrictions 🫶🏻
I fell in love with Moroccan food the first time I ate at Café Mogador. The food is consistently delicious, and the whole place has that warm, cozy, late-night vibe that I love. My must eats? The lamb shank with stewed apricots and prunes, the sautéed calamari, and for dessert, the knaffeh topped with roasted pistachios and rose water syrup. Reservations are highly recommended, as the restaurant is always bustling. Dinner at Café Mogador? Always a win.
Perfect spot for breakfast. The Middle Eastern breakfast was light, flavourful and delicious. There were a lot of great options to choose from on the menu, I could go there every day for a week and get something new each time. Had a black americano too and it was great. They were quite busy, so staff were not super attentive but welcoming and friendly regardless 💫💫💫💫💫
Food definitively the highlight of this location. Food prepared with balance and care. Hot sauce with hummus was amazing and eggs very well prepared. Salad with beets and vinegrette excellent. The postcard with the image of the owners grandparents made the visit more meaningful. Busy but service prompt and seating quaint. Will visit again.
Host is quick & attentive. Servers are sweet & polite. Food portion & presentation is poor. I expected the lamb dish to have more starchy vegetables. All the meats were tender. The lamb taste was an 8/10. The skewers, sausage & salad were a 10/10. The “fresh” nonalcoholic drinks were questionable. Timing was also off from the kitchen (additional salad came 10 minutes later). The price for 2 people was $80 before tip. I would not come here again. Thank you for service.
A friend and I visited this spot to try an off-menu item, an anise-flavored spirit called Arak. This was the second drink in a series of many from around the world. The drink has a strong scent of licorice and it paired quite nicely with a pita bread and Matbucha, a tomato & jalapeno-based spread. Quite a simple meal but delicious indeed. Worth a try!
Cafe Mogador was outstanding. The food was incredibly flavorful and beautifully prepared—everything tasted fresh and thoughtfully made. Service was friendly, attentive, and efficient without feeling rushed. The atmosphere was warm, lively, and inviting, making it a perfect spot for a relaxed meal. Easily one of those places that lives up to the hype and is worth coming back to. Highly recommend!
Did brunch here. The Moroccan eggs I ordered seemed like a deconstructed shakshuka. It tasted fine, but didn’t really stand out to me. The bread that came with it was very tasty so if I’m back here for brunch, I’d ask abt a dish that has more of this bread.
Great food and ambience. The couscous with the chicken had a mild and pleasant flavor. There was some extra broth on the side to pour into the couscous.<br><br>The lamb shank tagine with dried plums and apricots was hearty and flavorful. The rice was deliciously bathed in the lamb stock.<br><br>The Moroccan music and eclectic crowd provided a lively atmosphere.
I reserved a 3 PM on a Sunday. It was still brunch time so options were limited, so I ordered halloumi eggs. They were delicious. The service was good. I think dinner might be a 5 star. I especially liked that they served a little salad on the plate to add some brightness to the plate.
LOVED THE FOOD. First time in a Moroccan restaurant. It was delicious. The pita bread was so tasty. The eggs are cooked to perfection. The chicken is so tender and the spicy sauce on the side is perfect with it. Get the country breakfast and the other one. OMG and the orange juice so fresh and hydrating. Good experience and excellent to the point service 🫓🥘🍽️
Reviews sourced from Google. Displayed for informational purposes. Ratings reflect reviewer opinions at the time of posting.
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