Cafe Mogador - Broad Channel

Fantastic birthday dinner with our 91 year old aunt.

My friend and I were exploring Brooklyn and found Cafe Mogador in the neighborhood. So glad we stopped in because the ambiance here was immaculate and the food was so flavorful. We did a walk-in instead of reservation so the wait was a bit long, but we did come in on a Friday night and the restaurant was on the smaller side and was packed. The food wait was also on the longer side, but again, it was a busy Friday night.Hummus/Falafel Platter (5/5):The hummus was on the grainier side, which is my preference because I love the texture. The falafel was beautifully green in the middle, crispy on the outside, and soft on the inside. This was a well-made staple.Merguez Sausage Rice Plate (5/5):I don't know how they make their sausage, but it was so flavorful with a subtle kick that paired so incredibly well with the cucumber yogurt and rice for the perfect bite. The presentation of the sausage on the rice made me laugh a bit and slightly skeptical but it was simply delicious.Lamb Tangine w/ Charmoulla Green Herbs Couscous (4/5):The lamb was fall-off-the-bone tender, and did not have that strong distinct lamb odor at all. The slight tartness of the charmoulla herb sauce cuts the heaviness of the meat, so I didn't get sick of the giant dish after a few bites of the meat. I took off 1 point because I felt like it didn't pair well with the couscous, but that's just a personal opinion.

Wonderful atmosphere, incredible Mediterranean food, and lovely human service.

I came here on a date for brunch, and while the date itself left more to be desired, this cafe was absolutely fantastic. Within this eatablishment is a hustling and bustling cafe, yet it never felt frantic and uncontrolled inside. The staff were busy yet never overwhelmed and their service was excellent. We were seated quickly and presented the menu right as we sat down. Our waiter was great at explaining the unique offerings. We both opted to get eggs Benedict, where I got the Moroccan and she got the Norwegian. She also had a plain coffee while I tried their Elderflower Rosemary Spritz. She said her coffee was good. My Spritz was pretty good, although I didn't taste much of the Elderflower in it. The food itself was fantastic. We didn't get to try each other's food but both of us kept commenting on the speed of preparation, presentation, and the flavors. The spicy tomato sauce they gave us on the side was indeed spicy, but full of flavor. I put it all over my food. The eggs Benedict was cooked perfectly, and the accompanying side salad was a nice finish to the entree. I wish the portions were bigger, but they were definitely suffice to say the leastWe opted to share a cheesecake afterwards. I don't remember what kind it was. It had a topping reminiscent to a gravy made of apples and cinnamon, and it came with some slices on the side. The cheesecake was fantastic and it was pretty hard for me to not destroy it in seconds in front of my date, as we were sharing it. Overall, Cafe Mogador was an excellent place for brunch. I would definitely recommend it if you wanted to go on a date, or even to catch up with a friend. The location isn't too crazy in terms of parking too, as I found it right around the corner. We did visit on a Sunday, so that could have been a factor. It's also worth noting that there's a park nearby where you could walk afterwards, and the view is really nice. It would make a perfect end to a brunch here. High recommended by yours truly. The only reason I didn't opt for 5 stars was the lack of flavor in the Spritz. I also think the pricing is a little high in relation to the portions of the food. Don't let any of that deter you from visiting however, as this restaurant was still amazing. Shame that my date wasn't as good as this cozy restaurant, but had I not gone, I may have never found this hidden gem

Must visiting in Williamsburg. A taste of North Africa in the middle of NYC.