Cherry Mania

Le N'gor Tapas.
We've been here before on Dakar Restaurant Reviews. Something about terrible service, but a lovely place for sundowners. Locals refer to it as "Pied dans l'eau", or should that be "Les pieds dans l'eau'? Whatever.

Anyhow, it's got a nice upstairs bit now, doing tapas. It's an inventive Senegal-ised version of tapas, so don't expect elvers on toast, but do expect tasty bites. Each selection of tapas is named after one of the tribes of Senegal (Peul, Serere and so on) and is enough to amuse a group of, say, four people over cold beers. Service is perky.

The upstairs terrace is bright and breezy too, and just far enough from l'eau to be out of earshot of horrid French children tormenting pelicans.

Le N'gor Tapas
Route de la Corniche des Almadies
Tel: 775 04 30 06

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N'ice Cream
Mentioned in my last post, N'Ice Cream (whoever came up with that name is probably still recovering) is an excellent spot for a massive portion of ice cream. N'ice Cream is on my mind right now as I've just eaten some of their product at the Ecole Gastronomique. According to the flyer, pressed into my hand while I was weak from three courses and wine, they have more than 40 flavours every day (e.g. Cherry Mania!) and do deliveries.

N'ice Cream
97, Avenue A. Peytavin
Tel: 33 823 35 45
www.nicecream.sn (currently not working)

The Ecole Gastronomique

Ecole Superieure Gastronomique et Hoteliere Arnaud
16b, Rue de Kolda, Point E. www.esgha.com Tel: 338 699293

You should go here for lunch. It's open Monday to Friday for a set lunch (the menu changes daily, no vegetarian options) between 12 and 3pm and - here's the best bit - three courses of decent French cooking will set you back a mere 5,000 Fcfa (drinks extra).

Run by the charming Jean-Pierre Arnaud, the school is set up to train young people in the hospitality industry. With this in mind, expect slightly uncertain fine-dining style fussing and a short questionnaire at the end. It's a small price to pay for the kind of French cooking which rivals some of the top places in Dakar.