Tyla Fergusson-Platt ventures into parts unknown at the Anthony Bourdain approved, Saveur de Poisson. Tangier’s cult favourite seafood restaurant.

Saveur de Poisson is the type of establishment that revels in its obscurity. It doesn’t need to tell you why you should eat here, they know they are good. Tucked in the corner of a quiet backstreet, in walking distance of the Grand Socco, you would never guess the quality of dishes being served here behind its unassuming façade.

There is no menu. You are served what the fisherman has caught that day. The waiter brings you your food in a professional, if curt, manner. There are no thrills, no pleasantries or conversations about the cuisine, at Saveur de Poisson they let the food do the talking.

Baby Shark and Monkfish Tagine

I did try to get some more information from the owner about the food and the restaurant; however, he was in no mood to talk to a journalist. He had plenty of customers and anyway, isn’t a prime spot on an Anthony Bourdain documentary advertisement enough? Yes, the late, great Anthony Bourdain is also among the list of famous admirers of the restaurant.

Anyway, the queue of people looking to get a seat week in week out tells you everything that you need to know. What are you waiting for?

Our 5-Course Masterclass

We started with a simple fresh hot bread with fish soup. It was a light, well-seasoned starter that teased what was to follow. The real winner though was the sublime sauces served with the hot bread, in particular the fiery Harissa. It paired well with the cooler fish soup; it had a depth of flavour that I hadn’t experienced before.

During each course you are poured a steady stream of Prune and Strawberry juice. It’s refreshing for a culinary experience not to have alcohol as part of the meal. It seems to have the effect of increasing your appetite, allowing you to get through the large quantities of food you are presented with. It was my favourite part of the meal, it complimented perfectly with the food and was happy at how much the waiter filled my glass back up.

Grilled Fish

Grilled Fish – One of the best in Morocco

Next up was the grilled fish. Now my general experience with fish in Morocco is mixed. When I visited Essaouria, an east coast fishing town, I expected the seafood cuisine to be of high quality. However, even in the famous fish market restaurants, where you can pick the fish straight from the fish sellers, the fish was overdone and lacked flavour. Agadir though is different story, the fish glided off the bone and was cooked to perfection. At Saveur de Poisson, I had the same experience.

Me and my companion went quiet once the fish was served. Conversation felt unnecessary, the food was just too good to not focus my full attention on eating. The fish was lightly coated in fresh herbs from the Rif mountains and drizzled with a zesty lemon. Like in Agadir the fish was soft and melted in the mouth, it barely required chewing.

At this point I expected that the fish was the main course and desert would soon follow (mainly because I couldn’t read the french sign at the entrance). I was surprised when a large tajine was served at our table, where we met with an intense burst of steam to both our faces. Although its good, its not quite as dramatic as the grilled fish. The Monkfish and baby shark is tougher due to the longer cooking time, but the spiciness of the dish is a great counter-weight to this.

Honey, grounded nuts and strawberries

The simple but sublime desert

It sounds simple but the combination of honey, grounded nuts and strawberries just can’t be matched. At this point I was craving some sweetness after the savoury overload of the previous four courses. The quality of ingredients is key here. The honey is rich, the right medium between liquid and solid, coating the nuts in a delectable, heavenly sweet blanket. The desert reminds me how light all the food is. You would expect after 5 courses that you’d be unable to move, but with each new course you feel ready for more.

The interior of Saveur de Poisson

Final Thoughts

If you’re looking for a genuine, authentic Tangier experience, look no further than Saveur de Poisson. A restaurant loved by locals and given the thumbs up by Michelin starred chef Anthony Bourdain. Prices are reasonable for 5 courses, coming in at 250 Dihram, around £20.

Saveur de Poisson is open from Saturday to Thursday from 1-5PM and then from 7-10:30PM. It is closed on Fridays. Make sure to get there early to get a seat, queues can be quite long at peak times.

Address: 2 Escalier Waller, Tangier, Morocco
Phone number: +212 5393-36326