Bites Nearby: Tissa’s Le Souk du Maroc

The last place you want to be tonight is the kitchen. Let’s eat out!

Restaurant name: Tissa’s Le Souk du Maroc

Address: 2 Pennywise Lane, Old Saybrook

Phone number: 860-395-1781

www.tissasmarketandcafe.com

Cuisine: Owners Kathleen and Mohammed Benjdid infuse sandwiches, wraps and superlative pastries with the flavors of Mohammed’s native Morocco and the Mediterranean.

Price range: $6.50-$8.50 for sandwiches and wraps; $1.99- $6.99 for locally-made ice cream, sundaes, pastries and specialty drinks.

Take out:  Wraps, sandwiches and daily specials are packed for take-out.

Kid-friendly:  What child doesn’t jump at the chance for an ice cream cone? There’s outdoor seating as well as tall chairs at the original marble soda fountain counter where kids can watch the staff scoop ice cream or turn scoops into milkshakes and signature sundaes.

Why you should go right now:  The Benjdids have given the historic James Pharmacy a new energy and offer customers an escape from the ordinary.  The sandwiches reflect the flavors of Mohammed’s childhood: tabbouleh and grilled chicken wrap; Moroccan chicken wrap with preserved lemons, spinach and goat cheese, and lamb kefta burger with yogurt sauce on ciabatta. Mohammed also prepares Moroccan stews in the traditional earthenware tagines, fresh salads and a soup of the day. Kathleen’s Moroccan pastries are extraordinary; you’ll become addicted to the pistachio baklava and the buttery bird’s nest pastry. The couple also has created a marketplace of Mediterranean ingredients and utensils, and they continue to offer catering services.