Amlu Moroccan Street Eatery is a wonderful new addition to Astoria’s vibrant dining scene. This casual restaurant packs in a lot of style and flavor with everything from coffee drinks, flaky croissants, pastries and cakes, to Moroccan dips, salads, sandwiches and hot entrées, all made fresh on the spot. Visit on a Friday night for their fabulous couscous feast!
Amlu opened about a month ago and already has regular customers who come for the tasty Moroccan snacks and entrées. Owner Simo, and the hospitable manager Mohamed welcome you to try the wonderful cuisine from their homeland. The name, “Amlu” comes from a traditional spread made from almonds, honey, and argan oil. The clean, comfortable dining room invites you to relax at the sea green banquettes and upholstered chairs. Beautiful photos of Moroccan street scenes adorn the walls and traditional red felt “fez” caps decorate the tables.
We started our gastronomic journey with suggestions from Mohamed, who brought us a trio of home-made dips that included hummus, eggplant dip, and shakshuka, made from tomato, onion, and egg. These delicious dips are presented in terra cotta bowls with a basket of warm pita triangles to scoop them up with. “Briouates” pronounced BREE-what are delicate pastries filled with savory fillings. The cigar-shaped briouates are filled with seafood or spinach and cheese, while the triangular- shaped ones are filled with seasoned ground beef and mild spices ($14). One thing for sure is that they are all excellent, served with a lemon wedge and a pot of dipping sauce for a great snack or appetizer before a meal.
Chicken bastilla is an iconic Moroccan pie made with flaky pastry, filled with tender chicken, caramelized onions, scrambled eggs, and almonds. A slice of bastilla is sub- lime and warms the soul ($12). Lamb tajine is a stew of slowly cooked lamb with tomato, spices, prunes and almonds, prepared and served in a clay pot called a tajine. Amlu makes a fabulous version here and also offers a spicy shrimp tajine for lunch and dinner.
For a quick lunch, a marinated chicken sandwich with lemon and spicy mayonnaise will satisfy your hunger ($12). A Moroccan-style burger is made with beef kofta, tomato, onion, and spicy mayonnaise. Shrimp salad, classic Caesar salad, and the Paris salad with mixed greens, tomato, cucumber, cranberries, and walnuts make a nice lunch or brunch.
On Fridays only, Amlu prepares a traditional couscous feast made with lamb, beef, or vegetables. Ours was replete with a lamb shank, carrots, orange and green squashes, cabbage, chickpeas, and raisins atop a mound of fluffy couscous, all cooked and served in a tajine. This incredibly delicious and generous portion easily serves two and is priced from $14-$20, quite a bargain.
The breakfast and brunch menu offers vegetable omelets, cheese omelets, and the Paris omelet with turkey bacon, pastrami, onion and cheese. These tasty omelets come with toast, potatoes, and a side salad for a great start to your day. Freshly made sandwiches are filled with tuna salad, mozzarella and pesto, and chicken and mushroom. Check out the wide array of flaky croissants, Moroccan cookies, colorful macarons, and rich layer cakes to enjoy any time of day with a coffee drink of Moroccan mint tea.
Amlu is open six days a week from 9am to 10pm for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and brunch. Place your order for delivery on DoorDash, Grubhub, or Uber Eats, and don’t forget to visit on a Friday for the couscous feast! Welcome Amlu to the neighborhood!