Morocco Dining - Epic Bucket List Adventures

Crossing the desert from Fez to Erfoud took the better part of a day. We didn’t drive straight through or rush. When traveling, particularly by bus, it’s nice to stop and smell the roses. Before stopping for lunch at the Kasbah Asmaa, we had a short visit with wild Barbary Apes alongside the road we were traveling.

Unplanned Stop with Barbary Apes

Macaque in Morocco's Mid-Atlas Mountains

Our journey included an unplanned stop in the middle-Atlas Mountains. Here, we interacted with a troop of Barbary Apes. This unexpected experience added a delightful touch to our day.

Lunch at Kasbah Asmaa

We stopped for lunch at a desert restaurant and hotel called Kasbah Asmaa. The restaurant is located at Route d’Er Rachidia, Midelt 54350, Morocco. Midelt is strategically placed about halfway between Fez and Erfoud, making it a convenient stop.

Convenient Location and Spacious Parking

Kasbah Asmaa sits right along the highway with plenty of parking. The parking can accommodate tourist buses, making it accessible for large groups. The restaurant is large enough to seat several buses at a time. However, it wasn’t crowded during our visit.

Unique Dining Atmosphere at Kasbah Asmaa

We chose a room at the back of the restaurant where our entire group could fit. The rooms were different colors, with photos and pictures on the otherwise sparsely occupied walls. Our room was green with small chandeliers hanging beneath mildly gaudy colored glass.

Limited Menu but Tasty Options

The lunch menu was a bit limited but offered something for everyone. It featured traditional Moroccan fare, primarily a variety of tajines. The daily special was fish. I ordered the chicken tajine, a dish I enjoyed throughout Morocco. It’s flavorful and always on the menu. My wife ordered the same but asked for white meat. Both dishes were tasty, although her chicken was a bit tougher.

Beverage Options and Pricing at Kasbah Asmaa

My lunch included a choice of drink. Morocco is a Muslim country, but you can usually buy beer and wine. I had a choice between Casablanca Beer or Flag Speciale. I opted for the Flag, a typical lager that was decent. The food was good, which is most important. Tajines cost around seven to eight dollars, standard for the places we visited.

Service and Facilities

Service at Kasbah Asmaa was decent but nothing to brag about. It was difficult to get the waiter’s attention, except when he took our order. The menus were in English, making things easier. The bathrooms were moderately clean and required a small fee. While not the most exceptional meal, the food was good and the atmosphere interesting.

Final Thoughts

Kasbah Asmaa provided a pleasant lunch stop on our journey from Fez to Erfoud. The experience with the Barbary Apes and the unique atmosphere of the restaurant made it memorable. If you find yourself on this route, Kasbah Asmaa is a convenient and tasty option.

Spacious and Welcoming

Chez Rafiq has a spacious dining area, offering plenty of room for large groups to dine without interference. At typical travelers, our first stop was the restrooms. We found the restrooms to be modern and impeccably clean—some of the nicest we encountered in Morocco. For anyone familiar with travel in developing countries, you’ll understand why this is a noteworthy detail. In the West, such amenities are often taken for granted.

Dining with a View

We dined in the newer section of the restaurant, featuring broad windows that let in ample sunlight. The rooms were large with high ceilings. Tasteful accents, including ornate carvings and brightly colored pillows, created a pleasant atmosphere. Our small table was adorned with simple floral patterned tablecloths and miniature tajine-shaped salt and cumin dishes.

Chez Rafiq Serves Delicious Moroccan Cuisine

The menu, like most tourist stops, had a limited selection. I opted for the chicken tajine with lemon and olives, while my wife chose the vegetable soup. Lunch began with traditional bread and olives. Our food arrived quickly, served hot, with the soup coming first. Entrees arrived shortly after the soup. In spite of the size of our group, the staff were efficient and attentive. They seemed eager to cater to everyone’s needs.

Stunning Scenery

Our view from the broad windows was exceptional, overlooking a large bluff across the highway and a narrow valley behind the restaurant. The terrain of the High Atlas Mountains is often uneven, with steep drops and cliff faces. Chez Rafiq is situated on a broad, level area, perfect for the bus we were traveling on. The area seemed prime for additional expansion.

Exterior of Chez Rafiq facing toward the mountains.

Exploring the Grounds of Chez Rafiq

After our meal, we had time to use the restrooms, enjoy the scenery behind the building, and visit the gift shop next door. The shop had the usual tourist items—geodes, trilobites, pottery, tajines, clothing, etc.—at slightly high prices, as expected. We spent more time enjoying the fresh air outside, appreciating the crisp mountain atmosphere. Looking back, I think I should have checked the gift shop for salt and pepper tajines. They would have made a nice reminder for our trip.

A Worthwhile Stop at Chez Rafiq

Chez Rafiq is one of the nicer stops we visited. While geared toward tourists, it stands out for its efficiency, friendly staff, cleanliness, and excellent scenery. The recent construction didn’t detract from our experience, and the crisp mountain air provided us with a refreshing break from our bus journey. Importantly, the restrooms were in excellent shape, comparable to a western restaurant. Almost as important, there was no fee to use them. It is not uncommon to find restrooms that charge a small fee when traveling in other parts of the world.

If you find yourself traveling over the High Atlas Mountains, don’t be deterred by the touristy appearance of Chez Rafiq. The food is good, the prices are reasonable, and the service is excellent.

Tag: Morocco Dining

Morocco Mountains: Scenic Route with Lunch at Kasbah Asmaa