Capitol Hill is chock full of all kinds of restaurants — each one more different and unique than the next. Although inconspicuously located, Mamounia is one such restaurant that offers its own pleasurable atmosphere along with great exotic food.

Located between Pike and Pine Street on Bellevue Avenue, Mamounia is an authentic Moroccan restaurant that not only gives its guests excellent and delicious food, but also introduces them to new ways of dining. All the tables come to knee height and patrons sit on large round pillows — in the same way they do in Morocco. The décor within is genuinely Moroccan as well. Brightly painted walls fill the modest sized room, which is dimly lit by small hanging chandeliers.

The food is delicious. If you’re new to Moroccan cuisine, there is something on the menu that will please almost anyone. The tea is the first place to start; warm, sweet and extremely authentic — a surefire way to begin a Moroccan dining adventure.

If you are feeling unsure on what to get for your main course, the menu offers a variety of choices that are simple, yet have wonderful flavors. If you like chicken, you can choose to get it with orange, olives or raisins. If you like lamb, you can get it with either eggplant or prunes. If you like seafood, the grilled prawn skewers with peach sauce is delicious.

If you’re a vegetarian they have dishes to accommodate as well. The most authentic part of the restaurant is that utensils are optional; traditional Moroccan cuisine is eaten with your hands, so this is a prime place if you want to shove your food in your mouth with your fingers and get away with it.

— Ben Schock