Occo

nat08

The best rose petal martinis in London 17th November 2008

2 found this helpful

Pretty intense statement - but it's true! I first discovered this amazing bar/restaurant two years ago and promptly recommended it to everyone I met! It's centrally located but not slap bang in the middle of the craziness that is London town. The manager Sam is a real pro and the people who come along know how to enjoy themselves - it's very friendly.

Food is nice but I really visit this place for the gorgeous rose petal martinis....zipping across town just to sip these beautifully presented and mouth watering martinis.....

The decor is stunning and it's a fantastic venue for any event. Pop along to sample a martini - and tell me what you think!

Zebra

Authentic Moroccan Experience In W1 18th October 2008

1 found this helpful

Nestled on an inconspicuous street corner equidistant to trendy Marylebone High Street and bustling Edgware Road, Occo Restaurant and Bar is a stunning venue that successfully transports the style, flavours and culture of native Morocco to London. At Occo, the capital’s beautiful crowd rub shoulders with locals in a truly authentic Moroccan setting that has earned it a reputation as ‘Momo’s only real competitor in London’. In a quiet suburb of Marylebone, this bar and restaurant was quite a find and definitely a new favorite local haunt.

Arranged over several levels, the venue is comprised of four separate spaces, each with its own unique style, décor, lighting and atmosphere. The ground floor accommodates the main restaurant and bar area, along with the secret space of the Boudoir – an opulently furnished room with dim lighting and padded walls. The conservatory is located on a half level between the ground floor and the basement, and is an oasis of light during the day, and an intimate private dining area by evening. The basement is home to Mim: a comfortable subterranean candle lit space featuring a private entrance, dedicated bar, low sofas and DJ decks. With a total capacity of 250, there is a space at Occo for every kind of gathering.

The design scheme attempts to convey the philosophy behind the food on offer at Occo – authentic, but contemporary Moroccan. The materials, colours, lighting and fabrics all adhere to a North African theme and indeed the majority of the fixtures, furnishings and décor were sourced and imported directly from Morocco. The head chef is Ahmed Hamidi; a Moroccan native who takes pride in drawing culinary inspiration from his homeland and sourcing the majority of his herb and spice supplies from Marrakech. Hamidi is responsible for masterminding the venue’s popular lunch, dinner, tapas and brunch menus which retain a strong Moroccan emphasis jazzed up with a modern twist. The high quality food on offer is complemented by an excellent cocktail list and an extensive list of Moroccan, new world and international wines.

We had the starter of Chermoula marinated crab cakes, served with a small herb salad and caper aioli. It was delicious, the crab was fresh and the herb infused mayonnaise was the perfect match. Our favorite among the mains was the roast marinated duck breast with honey, coriander and ginger, served with mango, mouli, dates and pomegranate julienne salsa salad. Also popular is the traditional Chicken tangine with reserved lemon and green olives, served with sauté harissa baby new potatoes - although it was a little spicy for the more conservative British palate. Seafood fans will appreciate the Swordfish steak served with avocado, sun blush tomato and chickpea salad, served with an olive oil and parsley vinaigrette.

With a daily happy hour from 5 -7pm offering 2 for 1 deals on cocktails, Occo has to be on the list of places to check out for anyone living or visiting central London.

bellaphon at 20/10/08

I'm sorry if I've offended anyone but this sounds like some PR exercise.

Lacrimosa at 20/10/08

Sorry Zebra, but I have to agree with bellaphon. Your review doesn't sound kosher - a pity, given that this restaurant was already getting good reviews from ordinary (but less well informed) diners.

Add Comment

dryremedy

Brilliant! 13th October 2008

0 found this helpful

Until I had moved into London town, I had never been to a proper Moroccan restaurant before. I had tried Moroccan cuisine, but this would have been at gastro pubs so not authentic at all. The décor is nice and comforting. The service here is absolutely first rate though! You really are made to feel welcome when you first arrive, they are so happy to see you! You don’t have to wait long before being seated either. The waiting staff are always at hand should you have any questions or need anything else. The food arrives promptly and tastes absolutely delicious. I really do love coming to this restaurant!

blackpenwriter

spot on! 6th October 2008

0 found this helpful

This is a new one on me! I had never been to a Moroccan restaurant before and I really didn’t know what type of food and dishes that would be available. I am glad to say I had a fabulous time! The staff were really nice and really helpful to me – I had no idea what to have and the serving staff gave me a number of ideas of things I might like. I took their advice and am pleased to say they got it spot on. I loved everything that was ordered. The food here is absolutely delicious and I have been back several times as a result. The prices are also great, really cheap for the amount of food you get and the quality too

pindulgence

Fantastic atmosphere 14th September 2008

1 found this helpful

My friends insisted i try Occo. I have never been to a moroccan restaurant before so i wasn't too sure about what i would experience in terms of flavours or tastes. The place itself is welcoming and friendly, perhaps because of the decor - its so warm and cosy! The staff are the same, very willing to just chat or give advice about what to order or what is the speciality of the chef. We all chose differently and the meals were delivered to our table quickly with the minimum of fuss. The tastes were fantastic and the food was truly delicious. I think i ate too much! The prices are around average for a meal in this area

ReemMaghribi

fusion moroccon food 2nd December 2007

8 found this helpful

great moroccan food with whatever tmosphere you fancy - pub/bar/restaurant/club!

outside seating on the relativelly quite crawford street gives you the opportunity to sample their great shisha.

the bar, formerly a pub, has a nice atmosphere and design (wood and copper), with sofas and chairs and tables.

the 'red room' is small with comfy red wall sofas all around and perfect for a private party of around 25 people.

down the stairs to the light breez blue conservatory formal dining area, perfect for a working lunch or romantic dinner.

then down again to the intimate club/bar area. purple sofas and stools. again, perfect for private cockail party.

the food is very good and a good variety. traditional moroccan with a definite twist. prices are reasonable and the bar is fully stocked.