My friend took one look at the place and remarked dryly, "tourist trap." I assured him it came highly recommended by someone on a website (shoulda known)! The staff was friendly enough to begin with but was unable to make recommendations and seemed to steer me toward anything at the top of the price list. I'm a seasoned waiter and therefore familiar with this rhetoric. The red wine was served cold, which may be local to Tunisia or may not be. Hard to tell, because the people next to me drank red wine, and it wasn't cold. But then they ordered more, which aided us in seeing the portion size of the most expensive "menus" -- the next criticism on my list. I cannot emphasize how small the portions were. I got a simple veggie couscous (a la Tunisia) and had one carrot, one turnip, and a couple of undefinable pieces of something crunchy. The sauce tasted like tomato paste with water and cayenne pepper. There was a smattering of couscous, yes. My friend order the second-most expensive meat dish, which I only mention to aid in comparison, and received four ridiculously pared-down lamb chops. I mean, the meat on the bone was the size of a two-euro coin. These were placed upon a dollop of mashed potatoes, I'd say an ice cream cone dip size from a stingy, dried-out old man. When he tried to talk to someone about it, the waiters ignored him and continued about their business, which didn't include organizing the belly-dancing we hoped to see at 9:30pm.

At 10pm, we ordered the check and were duly ignored for the amount of time appropriate to our crime of having complained. The waiter charged me double for the wine (100 instead of 50) and explained that the barkeeper had poured me a double, and I had drunk it--so I should pay it. When I went to the bathroom before leaving, I was treated to the next expected scrimp--no toilet paper, no paper towels, no soap. In the end, it didn't matter, because the art was terrific. Go see the Biennale before it closes and visit Chez Marcel!

The restaurant offers a good selection of vegetarian dishes and a modern cuisine with a twist. I ordered a starter of fried eggplant with garlic pitas, followed by vegetable couscous. The food was prepared quickly and tasted delicious. I accompanied the meal with a very refreshing mojito cocktail (rum, ice, and plenty of fresh mint). My meal came to around 400 kr, which was worth every crown!

Dahab was very busy when I went at 9pm, so you may have to wait for a table sometimes. It is worth the wait and don't be put off by the garish outside. Enjoy!

When you first enter off the street, though, this will not appear to be the case. The front section is a grab-and-go kind of place with a few drinks and sandwiches, etc., but venture further back into the restaurant and the change is unbelievable! You'll see the most fantastic decor, with vibrant colours and candles.

The food is very Mediterranean, with lots of couscous and salad/vegetable dishes, all served with their special goat cheese. But for me, the most amazing thing was the tea menu--over 30 different blends, from regular black teas to exotic herbal teas. I had a Bombay tea, which turned out to be tea brewed with a little chocolate, then served with a pot each of milk and honey!

All this was for a good price, too: teas were about 50Kc (£1), and food was also good-value. It's a great place to eat or just relax with an unusual tea. GO TO THIS PLACE!