Moroccan Comfort Food From An Award-Winning Chef.
Hailed by Eater NY as “the city’s best Moroccan restaurant to have opened in years,” and included in their “15 Hottest New Restaurants in Manhattan” (March 2023), Tara Kitchen Tribeca is the latest venture from Chef Aneesa Waheed.
For over a decade, Tara Kitchen has featured vibrant, deeply flavorful food that has earned it a devoted following in locations across the Capital Region and in Wildwood NJ.
Vibrant, not fiery, our dishes are seasoned with spices that reflect Morocco’s history as a cultural crossroad and celebrate Chef Aneesa’s talent for building beautifully balanced flavors out of unexpected combinations.
Michael Lupo
Normally, I go to the Schenectady location, but tonight I enjoyed dinner at their Troy eatery, and it was phenomenal. I started my meal with the Chappali Kebab, a spicy, flat, minced chicken with pomegranate and arugula. For the main course, I chose to go with the Lamb Biryani, lamb cooked in special spices, yogurt and topped with fragrant saffron infused rice. Everything came out quickly, and tasted incredible. I especially enjoyed the Kebab, which had a juicy, flavorful texture. I will always be loyal to my local Tara’s, but this location was very accommodating, as well!
… moreJacky Lam
Tara Kitchen is one of the best restaurants in Troy! The Moroccan food is bursting with flavor—every dish feels authentic, fresh, and made with care. The tagines are a highlight, cooked to perfection with rich spices. On top of that, the atmosphere is cozy and welcoming, and the staff is always warm and attentive. A must-visit spot if you’re looking for something unique and delicious!
… moreKevin Zeng
P Alright, gather ’round, folks, because I’ve found a place that’s practically a portal to another culinary dimension. My last visit there was nothing short of a revelation. The food? Oh. My. Gosh. It’s not just good; it’s mind-blowingly amazing and unlike anything else you’ll find in the area. You can taste the high quality, the love, and the sheer effort poured into every single dish. Seriously, it’s like tiny edible works of art.
And the service? Top-notch. They’re like ninjas of hospitality – attentive without being intrusive. Plus, I remember a glorious Thursday special with buy one get one. I’m crossing my fingers it’s still valid, because a deal like that on food this good is practically a public service.
Now, let’s talk about the ambiance. stepping in feels like you’ve been whisked away to a vibrant marketplace. The Moroccan design is absolutely stunning. It’s so pretty, you’ll probably spend half your meal just admiring the intricate details. So, if you’re looking for an incredible meal in a beautiful setting, stop reading this and go. Now!
… moreJun Simons
Edit: After recent visits have had worse quality, I no longer recommend Tara Kitchen as a must visit restaurant in troy, though its still an okay dinner spot. Months ago i visited and had poor service (which i understand was due to a new waitress, but yikes it was bad). Most recently, the menu has been changed removing the spicy options (including the spicy date sauce) and many of the best dishes. The lamb with smen also was worse during my last visit. I dont think the food at the troy location was ever up to par with Schenectady, but this seems like a disappointing direction. If i enjoy my next visit more, then I will update my review accordingly.
— my original review below —
Have been to the schenectady location many times, and am happy to discover the troy location is also delicious and flavorful, with the same tea, rice, pita, and menu options.
I love the tagines, particularly the lamb with smen, chicken with oranges and spinach, and the spicy date sauce which is quite spicy. Always also order the eggplant dip
Ive only come here for lunch once and it was good but the dinner selection is better.
The staff were kind and helpful, and i like the larger open space in the Troy location. The food is also presented beautifully.
… moreIsabelle Prak
They don’t take reservations. On Saturday evening, the waiting time was about 30 minutes. Once got our table, they were so busy that we were waiting almost 20 min with an empty table (no drinks, no plates..) until everything (our ordered meals, glasses of water, tea, ustensiles) arrived in the same time. I ordered the chicken tagine. The meat (chicken breast) was overcooked, so hard to chew and the tagine was too sweet. I can’t finish it. I love their rice and bread, I would come back and try other specialties in different timing.
… morejanice
Excellent food! The service is excellent, always coming by to see if she can refill our sweet tea (free) and water. Her recommendations are excellent and we enjoyed ourselves tremendously. Will have to go again soon!!!
… moreShubhi Gautam
The flavors and aromas of the dishes at Tara’s Kitchen are intoxicating. The food is authentic, with incredible flavor combinations and a diverse menu! My favorite entrée has to be the tagines—stews cooked in traditional pots. The lamb tagine with chickpeas, parsley chermoula, and tomato jam is a must-try, along with the lamb tagine with vegetables in spicy date sauce. Their lamb is always so juicy and tender that it literally melts in my mouth (low-key drooling right now). The portion sizes are perfect, and I love their pita bread—so soft and warm. It’s wonderful that they have a dedicated “Vegetable” section for vegetarians, which made it so convenient when deciding where to take my aunt for dinner.
The appetizers were very good too; we had a sampler of all three dips, Moroccan cigars, and potato patties. I also appreciate that the food comes out steaming hot, and you can see them making it fresh in the kitchen. The baklava was also fantastic.
Everything about the ambience feels so Moroccan, from the music and paintings to the cutlery and placemats. The staff were nice, serving food quickly and answering any questions we had. However, on one visit, one of the staff members was very sick and coughing a lot, which made me a bit nervous, especially with a little baby with us. I hope the restaurant can be more mindful of that in the future.
I also wish they had their Moroccan wines in stock; every time we’ve been, they never seem to have it.
Tara’s Kitchen is a wonderful spot that captures the essence of Moroccan cuisine. I’m looking forward to returning and trying more of their delicious dishes!
… moreHeather Rolland
We ate dinner here on a crazy busy night and were so impressed with the food and service. Friendly and professional staff took wonderful care of us, and the warm dog salad was outstanding. We’ve tried a few tagines and had the Cous Cous for this meal. Generous portions and delicious flavors. We’ll be back!
… moreCourtney Shea
I got a gift certificate through the WTEN be our guest program. My boyfriend and I went to this location because we live in Troy. The restaurant is small and intimate and well decorated. The staff was very kind and accommodating and asked us if we had any questions about the menu. They told us most of the dishes that we picked were very popular across all three restaurants. The food was well seasoned and very flavorful. We shared an order of the Moroccan cigars, while my boyfriend got the lamb pepper fry and I got the hyderabadi wedding chicken. A nice gentleman ended up paying for our dessert, we chose baklava, our favorite. Would definitely come back sometime, especially with the restaurant so close !
… moreClaudia Isabelle Smithie
We love Tara’s kitchen, and this was our first time eating at this location. The food was delicious as usual. However, after dinner, our car unfortunately broke down, but the staff were so kind, allowing us to sit in the restaurant while waiting for AAA and letting us charge our phones even after they closed. Would highly recommend Tara’s to anyone visiting the area – it’s easily one of the best restaurants around and we will be back to their Troy location next time we’re here!
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