Alhamraa Moroccan restaurant provides unique food, music

Charlottesville is a town full of diverse food selections, yet it still has a few ethnicities underrepresented. For some proprietors, however, just adding a new option to diner’s palettes is only one goal they have in mind.

Karim Sellam is the owner and operator of Charlottesville, Va.’s only traditional Moroccan restaurant, Alhamraa. He hopes to capitalize on the spacious location and airy interior design by building a stage. The room itself is designed to double as a music venue, though Sellam stresses, “Food is everything…it is key to start with the food.”

Sellam also owns and operates the adjacent authentic Italian restaurant Al Dente.

And, the food has come first. Alhamraa, Charlottesville’s only traditional Moroccan restaurant, has been serving dishes rich with turmeric, tomato and cilantro, and boasting traditional proteins like rabbit, goat and sardines. On Thursday nights, diners are treated to belly dancing by the local troupe, Fire in the Belly Dancing Co.

At 10 p.m., the extensive Moroccan menu gives way to a lighter tapas selection, accompanied by an imaginative martini list; and now, live music. While it is not a nightly affair, Alhamraa has featured acts such as Order and Dustin Wong, and hopes to play host to more local musicians as he blends Alhamraa’s traditional Moroccan culinary roots with the local late night music scene.

Alhamraa is located at 929 2nd St., in downtown Charlottesville and is open from 5 p.m. “until late.” More information, including a menu and calendar of events, can be found on their website at alhamraa.net, or by calling 434-972-9907.