Aziza

3/12/23 2pm Sunday 4.5 stars

I brought a friend in to have brunch here. I like that their brunch plates are healthier than American ones. I got the eggs Benedict and a latte. The crispy potato rounds are outstanding. They use both purple potatoes and golden potatoes. My dish came with a healthy side salad.

The ambiance feels upscale, and brunch prices are average for this area, so paying for this ambiance with high ceilings and lots of natural light for a catch-up or hangout is worth it.

My friend got their shakshuka. It's the first time he had it in his life, and he's happy with his first time shakshuka experience.

The hostess who doubled up as our waitress was very kind, helped us get seated as soon as possible, and was very thorough with explaining what was used as ingredients for our food. The bussers were good about refilling our waters.

It's been a long time since I last visited Aziza. There's been a pandemic and a renovation of the restaurant in the interval. The new version of Aziza is spectacular; it's light and airy with well-spaced tables. And the food is better than ever.

The trio of spreads offers three quite distinct takes on how to begin a meal. I loved each one. And the lamb shank was beyond any expectation.

Aziza is not inexpensive but it is worth every penny you spend here.

Waited about 10 mins with reservation at 1:30p for brunch on Mother's Day. The space is inviting with modern/Moroccan touches, lofty ceilings and exposed structural features. Service can be a little high brow (similar to Mourad). We ordered the eggs, salmon tangine and the signature date cake.

Presentation and plating are quite nice. Aziza elegantly uses mainly savory and sweet flavors. We really liked the salmon tangine. It was very creative stew that plates nicely with toast. It's very flavorful but balanced. The sourness and oily complement the dish very nicely. This feels like an elevated version of the shashuka. The eggs were simple but very well prepared. Similarly the date cake had a nice blend of sweet and salty with the butterscotch. The attention to detail is nice.

Bathroom situation is a little tough. Overall I recommend for brunch or dinner as a cheaper alternative to Mourad. Presentations are similar.

A michelin star wonder in the Richmond area as my first taste for Moroccan cuisine. Interior was chic and brightly lit dinner area with high table tops. Server was attentive with water and drinks. Hero of the dish was the different spices. We tried the red and green charbouleh. Red (parprika) completed with the charred prawns. The green (herbs)charbouleh completed the asparagus. Trio of spreads is a must get. Each spread has it's own different flavor from spicy to rich to creamy . Finally, the 24 hour slow cooked braised lamb with farro was worth the wait. Lamb meat just melt off the bone. Farro is now my new favorite couscous. I love the nutty texture. Don't forget to order the cornbread early as it takes time to bake.

Dishes:
PIQUILLO & ALMOND | DILL LEBNI & SMOKED TROUT ROE | WHITE BEAN & BLACK OLIVE
CORN BREAD | HARISSA BUTTER
ASPARAGUS | GREEN CHARMOULA | PINENUTS | MARROCANAISE | CURED EGG YOLKS
CHARRED PRAWNS | RED CHARMOULA | HARISSA EMULSION | BLACK GARLIC | CONFIT GARLIC
BRAISED LAMB SHANK | FARRO | CELERY ROOT | PARSNIPS | MOYER PRUNE | HERB SALAD

I visited Aziza for my birthday and had the most wonderful evening. My sister and I were seated within 5 minutes of arrival (we had a reservation). We enjoyed the mussels, cornbread, lamb & salmon tagine. Their food is packed with flavor; perfectly balanced to please the palette. The cornbread stood out as I have never tasted cornbread even half as good as this one. Incredible & off the charts would be a complete understatement. A relaxed, yet classy ambiance complimented with impeccable & friendly service. Thank you for a great birthday!

Came to Aziza for weekend brunch and enjoyed our time here!

The pancakes were delicious, highly recommend those. A few other items were a miss, like the shrimp and grits (only came with 3 shrimp, all of which were really overcooked) and the avocado toast ($20 for a slice of toast with avocado and scrambled eggs).

Service was friendly and attentive, and the restaurant wasn't too busy. I'd come back to try their dinner service next time!

Ten years later, an update...

A heavy hand in the kitchen with the salt. The lovely glass carafe on the table was refilled 3-4 times before our entrees arrived with practiced quickness.

The cous cous was well constructed and the trio of dips was well spiced. The circle flatbread was tender and beautiful. We dined at Aziza at this location once before and enjoyed the cornbread. This night everything was just so salty.

The elegance and nuance of the Aziza of old seems to have shifted into more of a hustle bustle atmosphere. Our server was attentive and tried to gently steer us away from the cabbage. I'd like to for nostalgia's sake but am not yet sure if I'd return.

Was able to walk in without a reservation on a Wednesday night for a party of 3. FOH had dimmed intimate lighting with a laid back brighter dining room in the back past the bar. Interesting interior design and interesting playlist throughout the night.

-Trio of Spread was delicious, interesting flavors went well with the warm flat bread.
-Mussels were our all time favorite, we actually ordered extra bread to dip in the vadouvan butter.
-Whole Branzino was cool, meaty and the all the garnish made this dish flavorful.
-Corn Bread was really good, especially with the harissa butter
-Basteeya was my least favorite, but my friends liked the texture and flakiness of the breading

Service was good but it did slow down as the night got busier. Overall, had a wonderful dinner experience. Would like to come back and try the lamb shank next time as well as get the mussels again.

Aziza is a Moroccan gem that dazzled us from the moment we stepped in. Kudos to our waiter who delivered service with a side of warmth. Despite being early for our Saturday reservation, they swiftly seated us in the midst of the beautifully arranged dining space that promised an evening of culinary adventure. The back dining area, draped in calming blue hues, added a touch of coziness to the ambiance.

As the Moroccan-infused journey began, we kicked things off with drinks, and my tequila cocktail set the tone perfectly. The starters, beef kafta and salmon, were like a flavor explosion on our palates. The kafta carried robust, savory notes, and the salmon's sauce was a masterpiece. A surprise star before the main act was the cornbread with harissa butter - absolutely divine. The main course brought the Basteeya, wrapped in a delicate puff pastry. While the filling, with a chicken confit base, leaned towards pork or lamb flavors. Although, I couldn't help but eye neighboring tables adorned with tantalizing dishes like buttermilk chicken and lamb shanks. A memorable culinary experience in the heart of the city.

Literally the cutest aesthetic with delicious Moroccan food located in the Inner Richmond so you have a chance of finding parking!

Highlights:
- trio spread: look how pretty these dips are & each flavor is so diverse with super fluffy warm bread
- prawns w harissa sauce: the prawns are gigantic & I think harissa anything is perfect
- cornbread: YUM it's HOT and you get butter & ITS SO GOOD (it's a HIT)

You gotta come here for a cute girls night. The cappuccinos & cocktails are also delicious & there's ample of space. There's even a room in the back that's perfect for large parties

Service is AMAZING they are so attentive of your every need.

Just a great way to wrapup 2023!

We had been to Aziza many years ago and were excited to return as we had good memories of food. And it did not disappoint.

We started off with the trio of spreads, of which, the piquillo and white bean were my favorites with the warm fluffy bread.

The kefta was just excellently grilled and delicately flavored meat that melts in your mouth. Members of my party raved about the Branzino and were fighting over the last pieces. The basteeya was the dish I had good memories of from the past and it delivered.

The drinks were good, in particular the polar bear. The service was on par and the restaurant has a nice cozy vibe. There's street parking around the restaurant which makes it easy to hop in and out.