Argana

Not sure that it’s fair to rate this place under the circumstances, but we arrived here a little after 7:00 PM on a Thursday to find the doors locked and the restaurant dark, even though the «new summer hours» sign in the front window indicated it should be open. I understand that unexpected things happen, but a «sorry that we had to close unexpectedly» note in the window would have been nice. As it is, not sure whether the place is closed permanently or what…

Instead of heading to Havertown for great Thai noodles, we decided to try Moroccan food here. We arrived at 7:00 on a Thursday evening to find the restaurant closed. BUT the sign said they were supposed to be open. So disappointing. Oh well, we are happily dining at another favorite, The Avenue Deli.

Oh man, this place is sooo good and is such a welcome break from the monotony of American chain restaurants in Delaware County. Argana is a small establishment on Lansdowne Ave. packing huge flavors and bright, festive eastern décor.
The lamb tajine is my favorite dish. This is similar to a lamb stew but with bold Moroccan flavors and prunes. Yes, prunes. The sweetness is the perfect accompaniment to all those spices. If you can’t finish the whole dish it’s still delicious when reheated the next day.
The appetizers are hit or miss… some are really good — like the hummus — but others are pretty underwhelming (I’m looking at you, tomato and cucumber salad. What’s that on top? Ranch dressing? Really?)
As for dessert… delicious baklava.
Can’t wait to go back here.

Oh Argana, I’m so disappointed! I had been dreaming of going here every time I made the commute from Philly to Lansdown so, Imagine my delight when husband suggested it on a whim. I think I would have had a better time watching Frozen with my kid. Argana should advertise it’s self as Moroccan-​esque seeing as how most of the food on the terribly limited menu, wasn’t Moroccan at all but Middle Eastern. When my husband pointed that fact out to our Server she just said ”Oh, yeah well, that is true,” After ordering we waited… and we waited… then sat and waited some more. I promise we waited for almost 18 minutes and the place wasn’t even packed. I felt we should have gotten the appetizer for free and it was a miserly portion at that. A plate of Baba Ganouj, which was very good, and a few mouth fulls of Pita Bread. A Foreshadowing of things to come. I ordered the Shrimp kabob and my husband ordered the Fish Tagine. They where all out of the dishes we actually wanted.
I don’t know if they hide the meat in the kitchen or what but the Fish Tagine was just a small hunk of fish slathered in sauce with potatoes. It didn’t even come in an actual tagine. My shrimp kabob, which didn’t come on a skewer, was a few morsels of shrimp piled onto a bed of rice with a ton of vegetables on the side and the tails where left on the shrimp. The dish was Something I could have easily made at home. The french fries where bland without a drop seasoning. It was nothing Moroccan about it in any sense of the word. I could have overlooked the fact that it wasn’t Moroccan if it was actually good but it didn’t even have taste going for it. We both ate what we could salvage and our Server brought us the check. Blessedly, my husband is very meticulous and noticed we had been overcharged $ 10. It was an accident I’m sure, but it’s still a major infraction in my book. Just the sugar on top of already abysmal food. I had pinned my hopes on the merguez sandwich that I ordered to go. Got home tasted it and it was bland as well. Not terrible, just bland. I guess they have an aversion to seasoning. All in all I think the place and food is pretty mediocre and it might be okay for people who don’t actually know what Moroccan food is supposed to taste like. We won’t be going back and the only reason I’m giving it 2 stars is because I liked our Server.

Overall had a good experience dining at Argana. Want to give more of a 3.5 star rating as the meal was enjoyable but I don’t feel like it was worth a full 4 stars. Service was extremely pleasant and attentive. The owner came over to introduce himself and invite us to come back on a Saturday night around 7:30 when they have a belly dancer perform.
Falafel appetizer was just meh, not a huge amount of flavor. Also bread served with falafel was clearly not freshly prepared. Entrees were significantly better. We ordered the Lamb Tajine and Chicken Tajine with olives. Both entrees were very flavorful and large portions. Baklava was standard yet tasty.
Basically, I would return here for the entrees which were extremely flavorful and reasonably priced.

Unbelievable that this place wasn’t packed on a Friday evening: the Moroccan food is delicious, the waitstaff great and the prices very moderate. Plus there’s parking nearby.
For appetizers we had the beet salad (warm, at our request), spinach pie (very similar to spanakopita, a large portion) and olives (three different kinds, one of which was very spicy).
Entrees included the kefta tajine (meatballs in a spicy tomato sauce and a couple of poached eggs) and the lamb special (similar to the lamb tajine, but with peas and artichokes).
I was pretty much full after this, so of course we still had baklava and date cookies — both very tasty (and the baklava wasn’t overly sweet).
The restaurant is a BYOB (Landsdowne is a dry town, a concept that I still can’t get my head around), but this helps with keeping the night out wallet-​friendly. And there’s plenty of space.
What would I change? The lighting is a little bright and doesn’t suit the concept, but this is a minor quibble. Argana is worth a drive, even from Philadelphia. And there’s belly dancing on Saturday nights! Give it a try, people; you’ll be glad you did.

This restaurant is a nice change from the mostly bland variety in this section of Delaware County. The space is rather small, there’s not a large number of tables, but feels bigger than it is by the mirrors, lighting, and colors. It’s right on the corner of Lansdowne & Baltimore, if you’re looking for it, you can’t miss it.
Had the lamb tagine & a vegetable soup. The flavor of the soup was pretty good, though I think it could have been a bit spicier. The lamb was very tender, in a nice sauce, and came with some bread to mop up the sauce. By default, I just made some sandwiches out of it.
Prices aren’t too bad either, a bit lower than what you might pay in Center City for a similar meal, and the portions are good.
Definitely will make this a future stop, and try out some more items on the menu.

It is always good to have another Moroccan restaurant to go to. Moroccan food has long been popular in Philly with its hearty components enhanced by an aromatic blend of herbs & spices. Argana is well-​located at the corner of Lansdowne Ave and the Baltimore Pike.
Actually I didn’t find the food exceptional here but everything was tasty enough and it was a BYOB so it is good on the wallet. Apps included a large serving of falafels and a fine spinach pie. The tagines had the usual slow-​cooked consistency in the meats (tried both lamb & chicken). However, I would prefer to have them served in a tagine itself rather than just on a plate. The restaurant was fairly busy and there was only one waiter but he tried his best to be as attentive as possible under the circumstances.
All in all, this is a credible Moroccan eatery for those who enjoy the flavors of North Africa.

When you have the chance to ride with a belly dancer (Thanks Anastasia!) to an interesting dining experience inside a restaurant you’ve been curious about you need to roll with the occasion. Especially when it gives you the chance to sample another eclectic Lansdowne BYOB and savor some Moroccan eats for the first time. And overall Argana managed to deliver quite the festivity.
I might be a little biased since I was part of the entourage, but even when I’m not I can marvel over the entertainment they bring in for their belly dancing nights have to offer. From watching classic moves (and possibly even someone balancing a sword on their head), to having the chance to learn some moves yourself; you definitely get a spectacle. And you can enjoy some authentic Moroccan eats in the process.
Each dish is reasonably priced and well proportioned. and from classic appetizers like hummus and spinach pie, to sandwiches shawarma and merquez; to huge portions of tajine and kabobs; you definitely have your fill. Even though prunes are generally something I dread, I just had to try the Lamb Tajine. and the succulent chunks of lamb and sweetness of the sauce made it a win, especially when combined with the Moroccan bread to scoop it up. splitting a hummus app also gave me a chance to savor some of the best I’ve ever sampled. the only thing that could have been better was the french fries which I expected to be a little more like the portion Middle Eastern spots like Alyan’s offer with the peppers, onions, and spices. But they were decent for what they were.
Belly dancing is on hold until Ramadan ends in a couple of months. But you still enjoy the awesome eats and BYOB in the meantime.

Food good, service was good. I”d come again. Proves you can’t judge a book by its cover

Not good. We came here a few weeks after it opened and our food was terrible. Bland hummus for an appetizer, and my chicken kebab was straight out of the box. I could have actually made it better at home! Lukewarm boxed rice and absolutely no flavor to the kebab. Less than mediocre. We were very disappointed, considering the cost. I have no idea why a Moroccan restaurant owned by Moroccans could fail this terribly, unless they think their customers have no tastebuds. Seriously disappointing.

Argana occupies the corner long held by The Lansdowne Diner. Some of the former restaurant’s dated appurtenances remain in place but the new owners have done a credible job of creating a Middle Eastern feel in this once-​dingy space. Sometimes the owner tries too hard to create an «authentic» North African experience, and that means cranking up the volume on the Chaabi — and that’s fine, until it’s not.
The hummus is very good and it’s served with pita triangles, olive oil and dry oil-​cured black olives. The first time my wife and I dined here the pita was warm and slightly soft, but the second time we ordered the hummus appetizer the bread was a little on the stale side. My wife’s beet salad was exceptional, she said, but her pita also tended toward the zestless (owners please take note).
A highlight of Argana’s menu, and any Morroccan restaurant worth its salt, is a mint tea known in the Maghreb as «atai.» Maghrebi-​style mint tea is a green gunpowder tea boiled with lemon verbena and sugar and served in glasses rather than cups. It is traditional to pour the atai out of a stainless steel or silver pot and from a distance in order to create a light layer of foam across the surface of the tea. Our first waitress hazarded the traditional foamy pour without an excess of splashing; our second waitress was too timid to try. But the tea is spectacular, hot and intense. If you’ve never tried atai before you’ll be pleasantly surprised and permanently hooked.
We’ve shared four entrees here. On our last visit I ordered the Chicken Tajine, opting for olives and lemons rather than seasonal vegetables. The presentation was eye-​catching and the flavor complex and compelling. A good Tajine begins with a mixture of cinnamon, peppercorns, cumin, paprika, red pepper flakes, and cloves toasted in a very hot skillet. This is one among several reasons why Morroccan flavors last so long on the tongue and palate after a good meal.
The keys to a successful Morroccan meal are very fresh herbs and a great deal of time, because the meats are practically stewed (or should be) in clay over a low heat. My chicken was cooked to perfection — not quite falling off the bone but tender enough to be split with a fork. I can’t say that I was impressed with the olives or the lemons (which should have been preserved, no?) but the plate was satisfying enough and the portions expansive. My wife ordered their Kefta Tajine and told me that the ground beef was moist, delicious and very nicely seasoned.
Our second visit to Argana was a little more touch-​and-​go. Our earnest waitress startled us with a cigarette lighter which she used to ignite a table candle that stubbornly refused to remain lit. She refrained from frothing the atai from a height and instead setlled the pot down onto our table, guardedly tipping the spout toward each of our glasses in turn.
The hummus platter we ordered as an appetizer was very good but the pita was dry and chewy. It took a full forty-​five minutes for our entrees to appear and my wife was presented with a Chicken Couscous when she ordered Lamb Couscous. The waitress was apologetic and rushed to correct her mistake.
My wife’s meal was very good, she said, though someone in the kitchen was a little too heavy handed with the onions. My Lamb Kebob was good, with just the right combination of nutmeg, coriander and cumin in the rub. But the meat was tough, and I was surprised that the kabob arrived without the traditional mint, parsley and yogurt dipping sauce one typically finds in a Morroccan eatery.
This is a fine local BYOB with a pleasant staff, ample portions and an unhurried ambience. You’ll enjoy Argana. Remember to ask your waitress to froth your tea but be careful because the squat silver pots are very hot, as they should be.

I had high expectations… unfortunately.
I was curious to see what the hype was about from some of the other readers. I have never eaten Moroccan food before and was looking forward to this treat as I love experiencing the taste of other cultures.
I arrived at the restaurant at around 9:30 PM. As I walked inside, I noticed the look on the server’s face as if «Oh great, here comes another customer». The restaurant was scheduled to be open until 11PM so its not like I was walking in 30 minutes before closing. Even if I was, I should have felt welcome, which was far from the feeling that I got. I was quickly sat at a booth and offered a menu. I was unfamiliar with the foods here so had no clue what to order. When the waitress came back I explained to her that this was new for me and asked her for recommendations. She started reciting out descriptions of the food with no excitement at all and no opinion on anything. It seemed as she did not want to be bothered and wanted to get back to cleaning all the other tables. I ordered a sampler for the appetizer and a Lamb Tagine for the entrée.
The appetizer came out, which was 3 different items. I got absolutely no explanation from the waitress about what was on my plate. It wasn’t bad tasting but I felt as though I had to rush it because as soon as my appetizer came out, I saw my entrée sitting on the table in the kitchen. The chef looked out the kitchen window and saw that I was still eating my appetizer and quickly pulled the plate back in, hoping that I would not see it there. About 10 minutes later I finished my appetizer and the waitress stopped cleaning her tables so she could come bring me my entrée. The Lamb came out and I gave it a try. It was cold and dry. Had barely any flavor. Nothing. The only thing that tasted like anything were the prunes that were on the entrée. I got a take out container, put the lamb inside of it, and gave it to someone that I knew would appreciate it. My 120 lb Italian Mastiff puppy at home.
BIG DISAPPOINTMENT! From the food to the service. Sorry to say but I would not recommend this place to anyone.

Argana is great! I often talk in my reviews about food that is cooked with the most important ingredient, LOVE. And this place definitely uses a lot of love in everything they do. This review is for our second visit. We had both the Chicken Tagine with olives and preserved lemons, and the Lamb Tagine with prunes and olives. The chicken was tangy and flavorful, the olives and lemons are a well balanced tart, and salty combo, and the chicken slow cooks in those flavors until it falls off the bone. This dish is extremely flavorful! The Lamb was more subtle in sweet and savory flavors, and was equally tender. We also had some creamy and delicious Baba ganoush. Every thing came with fresh, warm pita bread. We also ordered rice pilaf, but it probably wasn’t really necessary because the portions are big, and with the meat and bread, you don’t need much more. The pilaf was not that interesting, but it was a good extra thing have with our meal.
There was a soup at the top of the menu that I had the first time i went there, it was a bean soup, and was really excellent. I only didn’t get it the second time because my friend wanted to try the Baba-​ganoush. I’ll definitely get it next time because I have been thinking about it ever since!
One thing I noticed in both of our visits was that the service was a tad slow or disorganized. (Both of our visits were on slow weeknights… I think a monday and a Sunday night.) But the restaurant, with it’s view of Lansdowne, is pleasant enough that I hardly noticed. I recommend BYOB, they will graciously open it for you and that too, made the wait for the excellent food fly by.
I think you have to order carefully here. Maybe not everything is as good as other things on the menu? I had the merguez sausage sandwich during my first visit and it was lackluster.
The man who owns the restaurant was charming, very sweet, and chatted with us as we were leaving.
Overall, this is a great restaurant that has become a ‘go to’ in my mind. And i’ve been telling all my friends about it! See for yourself!

The food just isn’t that good. My wife and I went for dinner one Friday night and were very disappointed in the fare. We ordered the falafel appetizer but found it to contain WAY too much anise, all you could taste was licorice flavor. For our entrees, we ordered the lamb tanjine and the couscous with vegetables. The hunk of lamb that was served in the tanjine was half fat — huge, huge globs of fat. The couscous was OK, but not worth going back for.

It seems funny to me that more than one person has said their food here was bland. I had the exact opposite experience with baba ganoush and a falafel sandwich. The baba ganoush was smoky and flavorful; garnished with olives and olive oil and served with a large amount of pita. The falafel was also very flavorful. The only criticism I can give is that the falafel balls are huge, which makes eating it in sandwich form really difficult. Extra napkins!

I’m kind of upset to write this review because of all the positive experiences people have had thus far. I found the two items I ordered to be rather bland and flavorless.
Stopped in for lunch and grabbed the hummus appetizer and the beef shawarma. I was excited to try both and hopeful of the possibility of a new place near work that would expand my dining options.
The hummus tasted like chickpeas and water, that’s all. I couldn’t find garlic, lemon, tahini or even salt. They also provided a very small amount of pita with it. The top was drizzled with oil and there was an olive. I shared that with 4 of my co-​workers and our opinions were unanimous about its lack of flavor.
I was disappointed by the shawarma. Whenever I’ve seen it in the past, it was thinly shaved off a rotating vertical spit and had a great consistency. Mine however looked like chunks of ranch steak or skirt steak that I struggled to find any flavor with. The rest of my pita contained some sorry looking romaine, a couple slices of tomato and a sauce (maybe yogurt based) The sauce helped a little but didn’t save it for me.
I will say that the place is clean and from what I’m told, is a huge improvement over what was there previously. The food unfortunately did not meet my expectations.

The family owned restaurant exudes a friendly vibe, from the smiling owner to the eager but inexperienced server. Appetizers are standard, as is the mixed salad. I liked the lamb tajin, a generous plate for the price, with large pieces of soft, tasty lamb. A complete disappointment: the «seafood pastilla» more reminiscent of an enclosed Chinese stir fry than the complexly layered moroccan dish expected.
In general, while much of the food tastes fine, it really lacks sophistication and finesse. Moroccan cuisine is multidimensional, having incorporated the food of many cultures. I especially love the ingenious use of spices in Moroccan cooking. All of that, alas, is not much in evidence at Argana.

We have been going back and forth on when we were going to try Argana. I finally broke down, and went today for take-​away for lunch. Today’s lunch was their combination appetizer and Harira. The portions were absolutely worth every penny and I had more than enough for lunch. My only complaint was that the pita is so tiny. Not that I could have eaten a bigger pita, but the one they gave, although good, was tiny. Outside of that? No complaints! I will be back.
As an added bonus, when I went in there, I saw several familiar friendly faces in the restaurant and in the kitchen window. A lot of the staff that is on now is the best of the best of the former Lansdowne Diner staff. Score! I really hope that they succeed. This place is absolutely awesome.

Nice lamb. Fabulous beet salad. Tagine means stewed, mild and subtle spice. Friendly staff. Bright and airy décor. Reasonably priced. Great food! A welcome addition to Landsdown. We’ll be back.