A Hint of Morocco in Rotterdam

Descending the stairs into the Restaurant Safir is like stepping into another city.  It might not be quite Morocco but the decoration, music and staff outfits all work together to transfer you straight out of Rotterdam.


The Service
The staff were incredibly helpful and accomodating when it came to selecting dishes, something I was a bit nervous about as we were visiting for Restaurant Week, where there is normally a set meal for the evening.  With an allergy to seafood I was most grateful to be able to mix and match my three course meal from the vegetarian dishes and add in one of my favourites, chicken.  Throughout the meal, the staff were attentive and pleasant, with no ‘that’s your table, not mine’ mindset so often experienced now-a-days.

The Food
Starters of Moroccan soup with lamb and couscous salad with paprika, aubergine and carrot were accompanied with fresh bread, olives, toasted bread and a tomato, olive oil topping.  The main course consisted of chicken with roasted potatoes and olives for me and lamb with dried fruit and almonds for my friend, Anna.  Both were well cooked, deliciously seasoned and attractively presented.


The highlight of the meal was dessert, crème brûlée with vanilla ice cream.  Typically I am not a fan of crème brûlée but Safir’s perfectly crisp caramel topping on top of a creamy, vanilla custard had me wondering if I could sneak into the kitchen for seconds.

The Atmosphere
Safir goes well out of their way to create a pleasurable atmosphere.  From the serving dishes and tangines to the Moroccan style tiles and carpets, every detail has been thought about.  This attention to detail, in addition to the tasty food, clearly pays off because the restaurant was almost full after about 7pm.  However, even this had been well thought through with tables spaced well enough apart that you didn’t become part of your neighbour’s conversation.


Restaurant Safir – Vijf Werelddelen 91/G, 3071 PS,  Rotterdam
Telephone: 010 4862318    Internet: http://www.safir.nl
Opening Times: Tuesday to Sunday 11:00 – 01:00 (kitchen closes at 22:00), Closed Mondays