La Coupole Essaouira Beach — Restaurant in Essaouira

Disappointing Experience at an Upscale Restaurant in Essaouira

I visited this upscale restaurant in Essaouira today, and unfortunately, the experience was quite disappointing, especially given the high prices.

We ordered our food, and the starters arrived promptly and were fine. But then, we waited a very long time with no further service. Neither the empty bread plates nor the starter dishes were cleared away. When I asked the waiter if our main courses had been forgotten, he simply said, “I don’t know,” and walked off without clearing our table.

Eventually, the food arrived. I had gnocchi with chicken and truffle, but from the very first bite, it was clear the chicken was completely dry, tough, and inedible. I looked around for someone to check on us, but no one came to ask if everything was okay—which it definitely wasn’t. I ate the gnocchi since I was hungry, but the meat was impossible to eat.

After we finished, again, nothing happened for a long time—at least 25 minutes we sat with our dirty plates in front of us. I called over a waiter, asked him to clear the table, and explained that the food was not acceptable. I even asked if he understood me, which he confirmed, but instead of addressing the issue, he packed the dry chicken to go. When I tried to explain again, he thought I wanted more of it and left.

At that point, we decided to pay and leave. The whole situation was frustrating and handled very poorly. We had to get another waiter who finally understood what had happened. He came back with the message that the manager had agreed to remove the starter from the bill because, according to her, there was “no gnocchi left on the plate”—a response that felt more like deflection than a genuine attempt to resolve the issue. Most notably, the manager never came to our table herself to speak with us or offer an apology.

Overall, the service was inattentive, communication was poor, and the quality did not live up to the restaurant’s upscale positioning or its prices. I cannot recommend this restaurant based on my...

A WARNING TO GROUPS OF WOMEN visiting this restaurant! TL;DR - staff we dealt with were incredibly misogynistic (except for the manager), food was barely edible, tables seated later were prioritized before us, and we ended up leaving before the meal was finished.

We booked a same-day reservation for a birthday dinner for one of us, and when we arrived, they tried to get the 5 of us women to share a table with a group of 3 men who were already seated at one end of a large table. We let the server seating us know we weren't comfortable with this and he laughed in our faces and told us that was all we were going to get, and that any other free tables were for reservations made before us. While I understand the pecking order for reservations, his attitude was extremely dismissive and off-putting, so I asked to speak to the manager. He laughed again and said the manager would just tell us the same thing, but the manager that came and spoke to us was much nicer and tried his best to make the situation work. They got the gentlemen at the table to move to a smaller one, and we sent them a bottle as thanks for making us comfortable. After we were seated it took FOREVER to have our order taken, we watched several people who were sat after us have their orders taken first. Then our plates were brought out in a random order; some entrees along with the appetizers, and when the octopus entree was sent back specifically because it was undercooked and impossible to chew through, it came back (in the exact same inedible condition, with the ends burnt but the rest still chewy) even before the other missing entrees came out. In the end, we were so put off that we ended up cancelling the rest of the dishes that hadn't come out yet, paid our bill, and left immediately. Would NOT recommend to anyone, but specifically groups of women because of the attitude of the...

I recently had lunch and had a mixed experience that left me with conflicting impressions. While the service and atmosphere were commendable, I unfortunately suffered from food poisoning after the meal, which significantly impacted my overall satisfaction and vacation.

Let’s start with the positives. The service was excellent. The staff members were attentive, friendly, and accommodating throughout my visit. The restaurant itself boasts a pleasant ambiance. The decor is stylish and modern, creating a welcoming and cozy atmosphere.

However, I must address the unfortunate issue I encountered: food poisoning. After consuming a scorpion fish dish, I fell ill and experienced the unpleasant symptoms associated with foodborne illness. This incident was incredibly disappointing and concerning, as it indicates potential lapses in food safety and hygiene practices within the kitchen.

While I acknowledge that food poisoning can occasionally happen even in reputable establishments, it is still a matter of utmost importance for any restaurant to prioritize the health and well-being of their patrons. I strongly believe that thorough investigations and preventive measures should be in place to minimize such risks and ensure the highest standards of food safety.

In conclusion, left me with mixed feelings. While the service and atmosphere were commendable, the unfortunate occurrence of food poisoning raises concerns about their commitment to...