As far as dining experiences go, Menara Moroccan Restaurant in San Jose dances to the beat of an entirely different drum. With delicious, multi-course Moroccan dinners eaten sans utensils and energetic live entertainment, this restaurant delivers the unexpected in more ways than one. 

The first sign that Menara isn’t your average eatery is apparent as you step inside the spacious foyer, reminiscent of a Moroccan riad, or an interior courtyard. Complete with an octagonal fountain in the center, multicolored glass lanterns and a Moorish-tile ceiling, the foyer hints at what’s in store once you are seated.

As the maitre d’ ushers you into the main dining room, which conjures up visions of an exotic Marrakesh den, don’t bother looking for a traditional table-and-chair setup. Like the other patrons, you’ll be settling down on a lounge sofa adorned with vibrantly colored throw pillows or sitting cross-legged on a round leather cushion.

Patrons feast on six-course meals finger-food style, giving new meaning to the phrase “finger-licking good.” There are five different dinners on offer, each featuring the same appetizers and desserts but with different main entrees ranging from rabbit, lamb and chicken to fish and vegetables.

While waiting for the food, enjoy a Moroccan Magic cocktail made with rum, orange and pineapple juices, and sweet and sour mix. Your waiter will come around with towels and a basin of warm water to wash your hands in preparation for the first course, the salade moroccaines, a salsa-like dish made with cucumbers, olives and tomatoes and served with warm bread for dipping. Then comes the b’stilla, a savory chicken pastry made with phyllo dough dusted with cinnamon and powdered sugar.

Next up are the entrees, which might include aromatic braised rabbit seasoned with paprika; chicken stewed in a rich lemon sauce; or tender lamb glazed with honey. Accompanying the entrees is a plate of couscous with assorted vegetables.

After polishing off the last morsel and again washing your hands, sit back and relax as the lights dim, the music swells, and a belly dancer bursts onto the scene with  mesmerizing moves and chiming finger cymbals that keep the beat going. The energy becomes palpable as the dancer entices diners from every table to get up and join on the floor. It’s all in good fun, and even the most uncoordinated feel at ease learning a thing or two about this ancient dance form.

While enjoying the show, polish off your meal with a refreshing mint tea and delectable baklava—and round out a memorably global dining experience. —Stephanie Soong

Hours: Open nightly, 6-10pm.

Where: 41 E. Gish Rd. (at N. First St.), San Jose

More info: 408/453-1983; www.menara41.com