Kif

We really thought that by the end of our meal people were going to come out and shout «Surprise! You’re on camera! And you will die in 24 hours!» but it didn’t happen.
Although we did all feel quite sick.
This was the weirdest/​worst meal I’ve had in a very long time. There was no chef, just two dishwashers kind of cooking the food. My one friend was served raw chicken. $ 18. My Couscous was just boiled and put on a plate. No sauce. $ 18.
The waitress/​bartender was Russian and couldn’t understand English. She made Mojito’s with tequila.
They played the same fours songs (two by WAR and two by Dr. John) very loudly on broken speakers on repeat; approximately 15 times each song. There was a coke straw next to the toilet. They couldn’t take cards that night either. Super sketchy.
The only plus was alcohol was 50% off. Thats why it has two stars instead of one, but perhaps it should only be one star…

Some friends and I were coming from Fort Greene Park on a mission and had a mission to find some good Mojitos.
Score!
The sign had a deal outside for exactly what we wanted, and what a gorgeous place it was! We didn’t have any food, so I can’t say much about that. But the drinks are pretty nice.
After a while, we were ready to head out, when we heard live music coming from what looked like a tiny back room so we decided to check it out. And holy shit! We were outside. You couldn’t tell because of the low clothed ceilings in the mid dining room, but you’re lead out to a beautiful back yard!
We sat and listened to jazz for another hour or so. I loved hearing «Moonlight in Vermont» on a summer night under the stars. I was sad when the band was finished playing, because I didn’t want the moment to end. I’ll probably stop by for another good occaision.

I’m giving 5 stars for the purely excellent service and kindness of the staff, which blew us away.
I came here with a friend on a casual saturday afternoon, and we stopped in for a quick meal before heading elsewhere.
The outdoor patio is amazing and very peaceful, I almost forgot we were in New York. If it’s a nice day out, enjoy the patio for a few hours. They have hookah!
We tried the falafel, which was the best I’ve ever had and the pita and hummus, which was excellent as well.
We left, and my friend forgot her camera, so the waitress ran about 2 blocks to give it back to us. Now that’s amazing! So kind, and I’ll be sure to be back!

I have lived in the neighborhood for two years now and never tried this place because my friends always said not to. But after going to Israel I have a need to try every Shakshuka in the city. Kif calls theirs Shoucka Choucka (?) for some reason, ensuring that our waitress could not pronounce it correctly. But maybe it shouldn’t be called Shakshuka because it didn’t really taste like it. It came in a Tagine, which is cool, but it smelled and tasted really burnt. At first we thought that was an interesting touch and then it just started tasting weird.
But the staff was very friendly, and they kindly made us a yummy small side salad that wasn’t on the menu. Décor is nice and the yard is great. If only the food were better.

I really like this Ft Greene neighborhood. I have a few friends that live here, and every chance I get to go there I enjoy it.
Kif is a cute little café situated on Dekalb, offering middle eastern food.
Tagines — 3 stars
Mixed eggplants — 4 stars
Hummus — 3 stars
Space & layout — 4 stars
Service was friendly, and quick. The overall layout of the space, with the draping fabric from the ceiling, and the decorative moraccan lamps gives it a great vibe. Would go back for the vibe, and food. Good times.

I really wanted to like this place, which is why I’m rounding up rather than down from 2.5. Ambience is a shabby Arabian-​nights kind of feel. Tables are close together, lighting is flattering, and the place has an intimate feel. «Kif» means marijuana in Moroccan Arabic, which seemed like a cheeky way to name a restaurant.
Food is Moroccan-​themed, but not terribly authentic or well-​executed. I was in the mood for a tagine when I opted for a Moroccan place, and they didn’t have any tagines on the menu! I was happy to see merguez though, and sated my craving for Moroccan spices that way.
I’d consider trying Kif again, but won’t be going out of my way.

My cousin and his fiancée had their private engagement party here so I was more than willing to try something new on Dekalb. The entertainment was great. They hired a fabulous henna tattoo artist and Ayanna Lee with Acoustic Soul provided her sultry and smooth voice accompanied by sing along ballads.*
The food, however, was disappointing. The best thing I tasted was the spinach and goat cheese cigars. Everything else was bland and not worth talking about. The décor does in fact transport you to Morocco but other than that, you’re in good ol fashioned Brooklyn.
*By the way, Ayanna Lee and Acoustic Soul performs every Friday at Kif from 8p-​10p.

The Good.
The garden. I love it.
The pita is fresh and fantastic.
The olives, almonds and feta appetizer is excellent.
The couscous and broth in my lamb tagine.
The Bad.
The lamb itself was disappointingly tough and stringy.
The service, although nice enough, was off:
–Items no longer available shouldn’t be on the menu.
–Items shouldn’t cost more than they do on the menu.
–If you’re not going to bring me the beet/​goat cheese salad I ordered, you shouldn’t charge me for it either. It’s only fair.
The Ugly.
Nothing. Life is beautiful.

A Moroccan Dream is how I would describe this place. Today I was searching for an adventure and that I found. «The Garden is now open» is like music to my ears. Sophie, my waitress, was such a sweetheart and Monir the manager was very nice as well. The garden is beautiful and the food was HEAVEN! It was sooooo good it made now sense. The music was the only thing that threw me off. I would expect to hear something along the lines of Toumani Diabate but there was some funk music playing.
It’s very hard for me to rate 5 stars, but it really deserves a 5. I love this place and definitely plan to return VERY soon with many of my friends! :-)

I came for brunch. I wanted to like this place, but it underwhelmed. I ordered the eggs with merguez. It was supposed to come with English muffins. It did not. I wanted them poached. They did not poach them. (Although they warned me they probably wouldn’t be able to, and said they would do sunny side up). It was ok. The eggs were a little overcooked. The greens were boring. The sausage was good (I love merguez), but it was too breakfast sausage-​y for me.
The bloody mary was underwhelming too.
I would be curious to come back and try the tagine with meatballs. That looks really good actually.

The backyard is now open and it provides great ambiance for dinner: Lights, candles, a warm interior décor brought to the outside. Very sexy.
We came here on a Saturday night for dinner. We ordered the chicken samosas which lacked a bit of flavor. For our entrees I had the special: seafood tagine which were mussels, salmon, shrimp, eggplant, peppers, and string beans in a delectable sauce. Beau had the seared chicken breast with mashed potatoes and substituted the brussels’ sprouts with mixed veggies.
The food, service, and ambiance was quintessential I heart Brooklyn cuisine.

I’m surprised someone had issues with the service. I went on a thursday night and the staff was so sweet, charming and courteous. Two of them which I assume would be the owner and his wife, both french and pretty upbeat and very attentive.
I was satisfied that they had a mojito, which for some reason I had a hard time finding on dekalb. and my friend ordered a hot spiked tea, which was also good. We both ordered a side of fries and lamb sausages to share. though the sausages were a little tiny, they were pretty well spiced. The fries on the other hand, were very gorgeous looking. Hahaha. I havent seen well cut and not over fried fries in a long time.
as the food was taken away, the container of mayo fell and spilled onto my friend’s jacket. Soon enough, the owner followed up with a washcloth with soda water on it, which was really kind of them. And if that wasnt enough, we got a complimentary dessert.
and my friend was all, «hands down, we’re going here for brunch.»

Had brunch at Kif a couple weeks ago and sat in the garden, which was nice. We had the meatball tagine, lamb sausages and lamb sliders. All were quite tasty! The bloody mary and mimosa, not so much.
I’d go back!

Tried out Kif with the latest Groupon and was relatively pleased with the results. to the point where I’m indecisive about my conclusion for dinner. I feel that most management gets really worked up by Groupons (don’t they have to volunteer the offer??), so I didn’t mention I had it when I made the reservation.
We got seated in the back which reminded me of (and smelled faintly of) a genie’s lamp. The couches were really fun at first until the food arrived. resulting in us hunching over a coffee table sharing the food.
Appetizers were delicious — tried the eggplant purée (the pita was almost not quite enough), chicken samosa (a fave), and the cigars (there was a spice in it that wasn’t to my like but pretty good).
I wasn’t crazy about the entrees as it didn’t seem flavorful enough but i’m being voted out of my opinion for that. According to my companion, the moulet et frittes were the best quality she’s had. I will agree the shoestring fries were on point but i have no basis to compare mussels. Sauce was light. Lamb shank was gamey — the sauce was the best part which we eagerly scooped onto the couscous.
For dessert, we had a flaky pastry which reminded us of cereal. The watier/​owner found out it was my friend’s bday and brought out a banana bread pudding on the house. AMAZING dessert. absolutely amazing
the only ish i had with the place was the following:
1. i forgot to print out my groupon and pulled it up on the app… which the owner had some issues with. i ended up saving the groupon as a pdf and emailing it to him. so ended up being a non-​issue
2. apparently with a groupon, the restaurant wants to be paid in cash. meh sorry. and here are 2 credit cards to split the bill on
3. we told the bartender to put the initial drinks at the bar on our tab… and she forgot. and when i was called back in to pay for it, i was told that anything under $ 15 needed to be in cash.
clearly, i have issues with cash.
otherwise, it was a lovely dinner w/​great ambiance. service was spotless. food was tasty.

We swung by to try is restaurant on a Saturday after going to the Brooklyn Flea Market. The place was comfy, with a warm interior and seating. The hostess/​owner was conversational and you felt welcomed.
Even though it said Mediterranean food which i thing is pretty generic but we were pleasantly surprised that it was really French Moroccan. We order the Choukchouka and Meatball Tangine which was served in a ceramic dish with a side of warm pita bread. It was just right and we had spicy on the side. The dish was a delight and my only complaint. I wish there was more!
I’ll be certainly coming back to this establishment.

Food Wise — Kif has an amazing Moroccan soup (ask for a side of Harissa) for an extra kick. The menu is rather quaint considering the traditional Moroccan and Mediterranean palate but the items are seasoned well overall. The chicken samosas and falafel are indeed a win. There is a hint of sweetness that provides a surprise treat for your taste buds.
Operational Wise — The wife (part owner) was incredibly rude, spoke negatively about customers (in French) on what would be an otherwise dead cold Thursday night in Brooklyn. This turned me off from ever eating there again.
It is unfortunate that the husband and wife team couldn’t seem to appreciate the extra business provided by new and socially upward bound of clientele of lawyers, doctors, producers, and directors because of how we looked. We over tipped the bartenders and server (the wife) yet she in turn treated everyone with disdain in a very smug and culturally surprising manner.
Shameful — I really liked the food and the drinks. Too bad the bartender that made them quit.

Vey few things say «Welcome back to NYC!» better than a tagine.
Right?
After a summer break in Italy, Kif was the first place I visited once I got back. This is one of the most welcoming and relaxing restaurants on this busy stretch of Dekalb. Perfect for an unpretentious date, or to just relax with friends. The patio is ideal for the summer, and the tent that connects the dining area inside with the patio is simply beautiful.
My gf and I shared the home hummus with pita for appetizer ($ 5). The hummus was wonderfully creamy, and the pita light and fluffy.
We then shared two tagines: the lamb tagine ($ 20) and the seafood tagine special ($ 24)[2]. The lamb shank tagine with with caramelized roots vegetables rutabaga, turnips, carrots and couscous was as delicious as I remembered it: a large chunk of meat on the bone, nicely charred and super-​tender, packed with flavor. But the seafood tagine was the star of the night: plump mussels, tender chunks of salmon, and scrumptious, large shrimps, all happily swimming in an orgasmically flavorful broth! I absolutely loved this dish, and mopped up every last drop of its luscious broth. I hope they add it to their regular menu.
It’s BYOB for the moment, since apparently they’re in the process of renewing their liquor license. I find this a bit odd[1], and although it is good for your pocket, I was really looking forward to that cold glass of Palm. Also the bar at the front looks welcoming and alluring, and I can see myself coming here just for drinks once it gets cold.
Unfortunately they don’t have clafouti on the menu any more…
The place is still understaffed: for a Sunday night, there were a lot of customers (about ²⁄₃ of the tables outdoors were taken) but they had only 2 people working the tables.
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[1] Shouldn’t the renewal be automatic? Or at least it shouldn’t take months???
[2] All tagines come with a side of cous cous.

Delicious food. Just don’t be in a hurry. Oh, and have cash or Amex. And possibly your own booze, they’re BYOB at the moment.
The spinach cigars, chicken almond samosas and lamb sliders keep me coming back. The space is filled with intricate lamps, lounge-​y pillows and a general sense of leisure. Like I said, this place takes their time.
Beware the bitchy waitress with the long curly hair. She doesn’t think she owes you anything.

M. and I has finally dragged our behind to Kif again after it closed during the winter months (for renovation?). We ended up here after our attempt to try out other restaurants in the area but we were so hungry and found nothing interesting so our tummies just took over.
M.: «Ohh. I want tangine! Seafood, no, Lamb leg»
We sat down in the garden this time for a change (an awesome space by the way) and got our menu.
M: «WHERE ARE THE TANGINES?»
Yep. Menu changed, mainly the entrée section (appetizers pretty much stays the same). Prices are up by 1 – 2 dollars, no biggie. It’s BYOB for now (run there and enjoy it while it lasts). But man! No tangines and those awesome pita burger?
Currently occupying the entrée section are the hanger steak, salmon, porkchop and organic chicken breast.
M: «Chicken breast!?»
We were sadden that what brought us here and what seemed like the trademark in our memories were gone from the menu. Kif offered an variety that was not found in the restaurants of the area.
M: «Now this menu looks like everything else around here» (ie: Chez Oscar, iCi, Cornerstone).
The table next to us, who were not listening in, commented similarly. They were wondering about the tangines too. One of them said «Now this menu is so –white-​«.
After a brief exchange with the lady who seems to run the place, she explained that there will be offering something more than tangine, there will be special nights and live bands. Sorry, I’m not sold on that. There are places in the area with live bands and dancers already and similar entrée menu (actually those dishes are almost everywhere). I’m sure your dishes must be tasty but Kif, you already have your niche that made you stand out in this neighborhood why change it to be like everybody else?
We ordered a bunch of appetizers (the mini sliders were great but I find it pricey at $ 13 for 3 small ones. A Kif burger used to be $ 10 and was a satisfying entrée) and called it a night.
Personally I want to come back here, to give it another try. I know that running a business is not easy and hopefully things will turn around.

Kif is a great spot in Fort Greene, especially for a group of mid-​twenties wanting to drink while noshing on great Mediterranean appetizers!
I started off with my friends ordering plates of pita and hummus — the pita comes semi-​fried and toasted, a GREAT pairing with the hummus. Lamb sausages and spinach-​stuffed cigars were also spectacular. The BYOB polcy didn’t hurt also as we had 6-​packs of beer in their freezer to store.
After the appetizers, the entrees were more under-​whelming. I ordered the veggie couscous with vegetables… and it was just that. Not much flavor or excitement — did I mention how the BYOB helped?
The service was great, such nice people (which would give them a much higher rating usually), but the bland entrees made me go with three.
Keep the BYOB. We like it.