L'Araignée Gourmande

L'Araignée Gourmande is a seafood restaurant on the waterfront of Oualidia, a small fishing and oyster-farming town on the Atlantic coast of Morocco, roughly 170 kilometres south of Casablanca in the Doukkala-Abda area of the Casablanca-Settat region. Oualidia is built around a calm tidal lagoon sheltered by a natural rock barrier, and the lagoon's oyster beds produce some of the best-known shellfish in the country. The restaurant sits along the lagoon edge and benefits from views of the water, fishing boats and oyster parks, making it a popular stop for road trippers and weekend visitors from Casablanca and Marrakech. Oysters are the signature dish and are normally served by the half-dozen or dozen, with lemon and shallot vinegar. Other specialities include grilled fish of the day, shrimp, spider crab (the araignée de mer that gives the venue its name), clams and seafood platters. Meat and salad options are available for non-fish eaters. Prices run roughly 150-350 MAD (about $16-38) per person, with oysters priced per dozen at fairly low rates compared with European markets. The atmosphere is casual and relaxed, with terrace tables facing the lagoon, a breeze and the sound of boats. Dress is casual and noise levels are low to moderate. Alcohol availability varies among Oualidia restaurants, so visitors who want wine should confirm in advance. Reservations are recommended at weekends, in holiday periods and during the summer, when families come from the cities, and booking a day ahead is typically enough. Weekday lunches are easy to walk into. Oysters are traditionally eaten in months containing an R in some European customs, though local farms supply year-round, and visitors often choose cooler months for the best quality. After the meal, a walk to the lagoon beach or a boat trip to the oyster parks fits naturally.