Little Morocco Reviews
by Alex C.
Little Morocco is unquestionably my favorite restuarant in Astoria ... and I would have to disagree with Ian, the fryer oil is always fresh there and you can taste it with absolutely anything deep fried you order on the menu. Ever since Little Morocco opened I have ranted and raved about the merguez and finally it seems as if it is finally getting some attention. All of the meat there is always clean and fresh, perfectly seasoned and generally cooked to perfection. The staff and the owners are extremely nice and very accommodating every time I pop in. Their Kefta gets an honorable mention for sharing pretty much the same attributes as the merguez. Always fresh, perfectly cooked and absolutely delicious. Some people have voted "Yes" on delivery but for the most part they don't deliver because they don't have enough staff to consistently deliver. Still ... well worth the walk no matter where you are in Astoria.
by Mike L.
I've got to agree with Brian V. This place is a little bit of a trek, but so very worth it! Take the train, hop on a bike, zipcar yourself over to this tiny place for the merguez sandwich (A MUST!) and work your way through the kebabs. The menu is simple and the staff is very courteous. The last time I was there, I was fortunate enough to sample one of owner Atif's latest creations, a non-menu item of shredded chicken baked in filo pastry. Perhaps not a Moroccan speciality, but delicious nonetheless!
by CAFE D.
Oh yeah, believe the hype! NY Times awarded this tiny lunch counter The Best Merguez Sandwich in NYC in Spring 2008. And they were absolutely on point with said assessment! $6 buys you the juiciest, smokiest links of merguez nestled in a tender hero sandwich, littered with onions, olives, tomatoes and lettuce. A perfectly satisfying meal - a true "10". But indulge thyself as we do and spring for a side of the "Kebda" - overnight-marinated lamb liver, charcoal grilled and sure to convert any offalphobes out there. Moroccan tagines are also available for the absurdly cheap price of $8-$10 and include choice of two sides. Be smart and choice for one of those sides "Barba" - spiced beets and carrots. A verifiable gem in Astoria.
by Kevin O.
A lot of decent if not spectacular food for a good price. I've been here twice now and there were Moroccan people eating there, so I guess they're doing something right. Minus a few points for nonexistent seating and only offering couscous (what everyone thinks of when they think Moroccan food) once a week. Awesome mint tea!
by Jill M.
this cafe is outstanding. it's always busy but they know what they're doing here. you're in and out in a small amount of time, and the sausage sandwiches here are incredible.a toasted roll with spicy grilled merguez sausages, topped with cucumber and tomato and a generous mustard drizzle is a must try. in fact i am contemplating skipping out on work and going to get one right now.
by Nicole S.
So apparently I'm in the minority here, having not tried the sausage sandwich yet...I think I was on a vegetarian kick the last few times I was here. But I can say that if you are on a similar kick, well the falafal sandwich is damn good too! Same deal, lots of onions, good tahini, etc., and green olives! Which always bring me joy. Great, filling meal for 6 bucks (cash only). I am going to bring myself to try the sausage soon.
by Preethi C.
I have some friends who live around the corner from this cafe, so I stopped in for some takeout one day on the way over to their place. I ordered the lamp kebab plate, which came with rice and a salad. The food was pretty tasty and very fresh the service was very friendly. They deliver, but sometimes they get so busy (especially now that it's Ramadan) that they don't pick up the phone - it's best to just walk in.I highly recommend the harira soup as a small meal or as an appetizer - it's a hearty chickpea and lamb stew.If the weather is nice, there is plenty of outdoor seating it's an interesting neighborhood to people watch. I find that this restaurant is mostly populated by Arab men so I'd feel strange if I was here all by myself.Parking in this neighborhood is next to impossible so I would definitely take the train here or walk here if you live close enough.I'm not sure if I would trek all the way out from Manhattan or Brooklyn just to come here - but it's definitely a great option if you live in the area. Since I'm in this neighborhood pretty often, I'm definitely going to be back!
by Ian S.
A new addition to my Astoria A-list.The merguez sausage was a poignant blast of savor-truth. Very good hummus, baba ghanoush, and falafel. The fries were cooked in oil several generations deep with flavor.
by Lena P.
So I decided to check this place out with my bf because of good reviews. I was left disappointed.The merguez sandwich barely had any sausage. It was mostly all fillers. The merguez platter was mostly rice, and the actual sausage was flavorful, but super dry.I also had a falafel sandwich, which was decent, but nothing great.
by Marc A.
I've walked by this place for years. I've watched as it started to put tables outside and install fake astro turf on the sidewalk. I watched when it put up a fake plastic awning to keep out the rain. I've watched as it is filled on late weekend nights with Egyptians enjoying wonderful late night meals. The smoke is thick, the language loud and Arabic, and the place is vibrant with energy. It is, for all intents and purposes, a perfect looking eatery on that one block of Steinway. And yet, I never went in until my girlfriend called me late one night while I was at the gym. She asked for me to bring her some food. Little Morocco was the only place open so I stopped in and picked up their world famous merguez sandwich. Like their sign says, the NY times loves it. I figured it was worth a try.The place was empty on that weekday night. There was two people behind the counter and a loan man sitting at the counter. The food case was filled with delicious meats and meat based things. I looked at the menu. The guy behind the counter looked at me. He asked what I wanted. I said a merguez. He took some pieces of sausage type meat and threw it on the grilled. He also started a pot of coffee in an intricately designed pot that either didn't have a hot handle or else the man behind the counter has no nerve endings in his hands. The meat sizzled. Time moved slowly. The counter guy looked at me up and down. My sandwich done, it was placed in a roll covered in veggies. It was wrapped in foil and placed in a paper bag. I paid for it and walked out. I hand delivered it to my girlfriend who quickly devoured it. I was lucky to get a few bites from it and, my God, what a delicious sandwich. The meat was tender and flavorful. The roll crisp. The veggies melted into the meat. It was exactly what a meat hoogie should be. I couldn't believe I've never eaten there before that one day. Considering how popular that place is and how delicious those few bites were, I can't help but thing that there is a reason why this place is still there. And why I need to go back very soon.
by Mario B.
Little Morocco was truly a slice of Morocco - I went there last week with a buddy of mine who had been to Morocco a few times, and he was determined to have their famous Merguez sandwiches. As we walked up the block, the mosque across the street let out, and it seemed like the entire community was headed to the corner restaurant. While I maneuvered for a table outside, my friend was caught in the small ordering line. . . Now when the mosque lets out, and unless you know arabic, be prepared take charge, and yell your order at the guys behind the counter, because there is no real "line". This can be frustrating if you're not prepared to give your order. . .We were given the sandwiches and our drinks, and were told that we didn't have to pay until after we ate to make sure that we were satisfied with the food. Very noble, and we were not disappointed. . .The merguez sandwich was packed with sausage and fresh ingredients. The flavor really did explode through my taste buds - thumbs up! Also the price was right - the sandwich was about $5 bucks or so. . .So, the next time you're headed to this area of Queens to do some hookah shopping, or looking for soccer jerseys, be sure to stop into Little Morocco for an authentic Moroccan experience - Peace.
by Shan K.
A relaxed atmosphere....Perfect place to sit out and drink mint tea and relax with friends. The food was really good and quite inexpensive for the quality. i will definitely recommend Merguez sandwich and if you can make it on friday, Couscous....since its only served on fridays....
by Brian V.
I came back here meaning to just try the falafel because I was in the neighborhood. Then the person in front of me ordered a merguez and I had to get that. Not in place of the falafel, in addition to the falafel. As my sister occasionally says, I didn't get this way by eating salads.The merguez is still awesome, and I really liked the falafel sandwich also. I was a little nervous about the green olives, but the combo worked.Just go here already.If there's only one thing slightly close to a negative, it's that my old apartment was not that far away (maybe 15 minute walk) and they said they wouldn't deliver there. But if you're going to go and get 2 sandwiches, you should probably walk there and back anyway. How has this place not been reviewed yet?Yes, it's not in the hippest part of Astoria (corner of…
by Tina K.
I decided to try this place because of the reviews and was left disappointed.I ordered chicken/lamb over rice with salad, and to my suprise I only got 4 pieces of meat and the rest was rice. I love Tzatziki sauce and asked them to drench my food in it, by the time I got home and dried my food, the "tzatiki" sauce was just buttermilk ranch, so my dish consisted of 4 pieces of meat, rice, and 2lbs of ranch.I would never go back
by Jeff O.
The coal fired grill makes the meats so refreshing. Fire turns into FIRE and the flavors just jump out at you. They do a great business and for a good reason. I'm actually not a huge fan of the Merguez. Fuck the NY Times. Just because they make a claim doesn't mean I have to follow. I like whole concise menu. Barely a page for every item. I doubt there is a wasted letter. I don't think one meat stands on top of a hill, I think their entire process does. It all seems a big rush to get you awesomeness, the anticipation is of a man on a mission. The accompanying mixed salad is remarkably amazing, first time I've ever loved olives. First time I've ever even tolerated one. The rice was excellent too. The meat was an afterthought. A non-thought. what the hell is happening to me? They are open really late. I need that because I'm open really late. I eat where taxi drivers eat. I'm gonna turn some of them on to yelp so I can fan them.So, all I know about Morocco is Camus, straight of gilbralter, and Little Morocco on Steinway by the BQE. I don't know... seems pretty awesome to me...
by emily h.
Another food gem of Astoria.Don't let the hole in the wall status fool you. This is the place for homemade merguez and great kabobs. I have a feeling if you make it a late night stop that you often get a little extra in your order as the very friendly owners are trying to sell off all their daily stock of meat. Seriously delicious merguez (sammiches!) and good kabobs make for a great meal, whether it be 2am or 2pm. I recommend only eating there if it's nice out (outdoor seating), otherwise take it to go or have them deliver!