Photo provided by Mourad
Instantly, you get the feeling this place means business. on the way to our table, I noticed a long and expansive bar with a selection of notable spirits that raised my eyebrows, particularly the bourbon. although modern, the decor gave me a warm feeling through use of its dark woods, brick, and grey marble. one of my favorite parts about mourad; as a party of two we were seated in one of the circular benches on the perimeter of the dining area and not smack dab in the middle of the restaurant where everyone is staring at you, or even stuffed into a bustling corner as previously experienced at other places. Our bench was covered in alcantara (suede-like) a nice touch that did not go unnoticed. As an introvert I give tremendous Kudos to the one responsible for Mourad's seating arrangement! Yes this place is super fancy, but not once did I feel out of place nor unwelcomed at Mourad. Although Mourad was packed, we felt like we had the whole place to ourselves.
With a michelin star comes high expectations in terms of service. mourad easily lived up to its expectations as a michelin-starred establishment. Our waitress was always on point and attentive. before each course, the serving spoons were always meticulously placed at the edge of the table. I did use the spoon to pour a little water into my whiskey and replaced it in a different arrangement. as our waitress walked by, she noticed the spoon being off center and placed it back in its original and symmetrical position. Needless to say, this was A good sign of attention to detail. One of my favorite things about dining at places like these is that your table will have a team assigned to it. Anytime they walk by, they are scanning your table to see if anything is out of place or needing to be taken away. during our dinner, no stuffy attitudes were encountered, everyone was welcoming while being attentive at a level equivalent to being described as Defcon one. You will feel as though you are the center of attention, but in a good way.
During our dinner, My girlfriend and I shared 3 appetizers, 2 entrees, and A dessert. in Order we had the Oysters which came in with a saucer of tomato cucumber mignonette, as well as an amberjack kanpachi, and finally the octopus with brussels sprouts. Everything worked very well in terms of flavors besides the kanpachi; which was a touch too acidic but still enjoyable. Besides that little speed bump, the rest of our dinner went seamlessly including the braised beef cheek and lamb with rutabaga and eucalyptus powder. In case you are wondering about desert, we ordered the chocolate, peanut, and dates with spiced marshmallow. there is no doubt a lot of thought was invested in preparing the meals, let alone to how the dishes will look. When laying your eyes upon these dishes while being served, you can't help but realize you are about to find out what a beautiful painting tastes like. It is why I enjoy dining at places like Mourad. your dinner encompasses more than just the eating. dinners like these are also a stimulation of all your senses.
I give mourad 4 forks out of 5. If you are ever in san francisco with a craving for mediterranean food with a kick, put mourad on your to-do list. with its eye-opening food, super-attentive service, and relaxing un-snooty atmosphere, our dinner at mourad was a highlight during our trip to san francisco. It is easy to see why mourad has earned the highly-coveted; michelin star.