Mourad Lahlou's Downtown Restaurant Moving Forward

So long in the works that you may have forgotten about it altogether, the new project from Aziza chef/owner Mourad Lahlou is finally moving forward. Announced a year and a half ago and in the planning phase for longer than that, Mourad's spinoff project will occupy 6,000 square feet on the ground floor of the newly revamped 140 New Montgomery building, which also houses Bar Agricole's new spot Trou Normand.

As Inside Scoop reports, the project's funding and liquor license have been taken care of and the restaurant is moving forward full steam with plans that include a bar, lounge, intimate dining room and rear patio area. Designed by Charles Phan's go-to designer Olle Lundberg, the new space will echo Lahlou's plans for the menu, which will be Moroccan-inspired but more laid-back than his Michelin-starred Outer Richmond restaurant.

With the permitting gauntlet still to run and some details, like the restaurant's name, still up in the air, it'll still be a bit before the new spot opens up. Mark your calendars for sometime late this year or early 2015, and we'll keep you posted.

· Aziza chef-owner moving ahead with downtown location [Inside Scoop]
· Mourad Lahlou To Open SoMa Moroccan Restaurant [~ ESF ~]
· Trou Normand, Bar Agricole's SOMA Follow-Up [~ ESF ~]