Two New Eateries in Henry Clay Building

Two new places have recently opened in the ground floor of the Henry Clay building at 3rd & Chestnut (facing Chestnut). A Dooley's bagels has just opened, as well as Road to Morocco, which offers a tea salon, lunch service (haven't been yet but the menu looks great!), as well as a selection of Moroccan gifts, decor, and wines. My co-worker went and said everything was very tasty.

Road to Morocco has been open a while. It's owned by a Sullivan chef instructor. I don't know if Chef is still teaching or not, but he was there when I was a student.

Road to Morocco has been open a while. It's owned by a Sullivan chef instructor. I don't know if Chef is still teaching or not, but he was there when I was a student.

Yup - owned by Eddie Maamry (a neighbor of mine). He mentioned to me he may teach one class at a time, but his focus is clearly on his new store. It's quite interesting, and also has a selection of Moroccan wines. Check it out!

are they serving tagines?

are they serving tagines?

You know, Ron, I don't know, but I doubt it. I don't think he has much of a kitchen to work with, mostly just a coffee/wine bar with some lunch items. One of us on this board will check it out soon and provide more color, I would think.

Wow. I love that building.

You all are making me jealous and sorry I don't live there anymore.

I have a copy of the menu (still a work in progress), and so far, no tagines. There are appetizers such as Kasbah shrimp, spanikopita, and babaganooj, sandwiches including gyros and feta sandwich, mains like mosaka and mega cheese triangles (6 baked cheese filo-dough triangles served with yogurt sauce), a couple of salads, and some pastries (boorma, lady's fingers, goreebay, and mamool).

Like I said, the owner told my friend that this menu is tentative, so don't hold me to it!

[Robin Garr]

I have a copy of the menu (still a work in progress), and so far, no tagines. There are appetizers such as Kasbah shrimp, spanikopita, and babaganooj, sandwiches including gyros and feta sandwich, mains like mosaka and mega cheese triangles (6 baked cheese filo-dough triangles served with yogurt sauce), a couple of salads, and some pastries (boorma, lady's fingers, goreebay, and mamool).

Like I said, the owner told my friend that this menu is tentative, so don't hold me to it!

I'm sure it's tasty, but this looks more like a typical generalized Middle Eastern/Greek menu than authentic Moroccan.

I have a copy of the menu (still a work in progress), and so far, no tagines. There are appetizers such as Kasbah shrimp, spanikopita, and babaganooj, sandwiches including gyros and feta sandwich, mains like mosaka and mega cheese triangles (6 baked cheese filo-dough triangles served with yogurt sauce), a couple of salads, and some pastries (boorma, lady's fingers, goreebay, and mamool).

Like I said, the owner told my friend that this menu is tentative, so don't hold me to it!

I'm sure it's tasty, but this looks more like a typical generalized Middle Eastern/Greek menu than authentic Moroccan.

You gotta' pay the rent ... maybe being too localized would be a marketing issue in downtown Louisville, not sure.

[Robin Garr]

You gotta' pay the rent ... maybe being too localized would be a marketing issue in downtown Louisville, not sure.

I don't doubt it, TP. Thinking about it, all the Moroccan-run restaurants around town do this - Marrakesh at Highland and Baxter and Oceanside (?) next door to Al Watan. They do have a couple of Moroccan dishes, but I guess there's just not enough knowledge of the cuisine or demand for it to justify a full-service restaurant. I guess you could add Jarfi's to that list, now that I think about it. It doesn't purport to be Moroccan, but Jeff does offer a mean tagine, as I recall.

I guess there's just not enough knowledge of the cuisine or demand for it to justify a full-service restaurant.

It's that tricky "demand" thing that I was talking about!

North African cuisine is the new hot trend. Tagines baby!

[Robin Garr]

It's that tricky "demand" thing that I was talking about!

Yeah, that, too.

Now for a completely different story...Check out The Road Morocco that just opened Monday in The Henry Clay. Wine bar, coffe, tea, pastries and moroccan gifts including tangines. The owner is Eddie Maamry from Sullivan. It is really a neat place and they are super nice. The green tea with mint and orange water is awesome! I bought two of each pastry and loved them all!!! Godd luck to them!

I had posted the above reference to Road to Morocco back on May 24th. The lunch is a very recent addition and the menu looks interesting enough. I didn't notice a kitchen before and am curious as to whether or not it is actually made on the premise or brought in from somewhere else. Still, I love the place!
As to Dooley's, went for lunch yesterday. They have a lot of bugs to work out in staffing, service and organization. One very nice employee told me more help was soon to arrive! I was unimpressed with the food. $5.19 for a turkey wrap the had one piece of turkey, too many greens and no dressing, a dab of cream cheese and was very dry. Didn't include anything such as chips or pickle even!
Went to Theatre Square Deli today for lunch and had a very tasty buffalo chicken wrap in a tomato basil tortilla with celery and blue cheese, came with chips, pickle and drink for $5.99 Much better deal and tastier!

Robin you are correct, Jarfi's does do a Chicken Tajine that is Chef Jarfi's Mother's recipe.

You gotta' pay the rent ... maybe being too localized would be a marketing issue in downtown Louisville, not sure.

I don't doubt it, TP. Thinking about it, all the Moroccan-run restaurants around town do this - Marrakesh at Highland and Baxter and Oceanside (?) next door to Al Watan. They do have a couple of Moroccan dishes, but I guess there's just not enough knowledge of the cuisine or demand for it to justify a full-service restaurant. I guess you could add Jarfi's to that list, now that I think about it. It doesn't purport to be Moroccan, but Jeff does offer a mean tagine, as I recall.