Restaurant News

Happy New Year!

Back in Dakar now, so more news and reviews soon.

New Opening:

Le Temple d'Or - A new 'Asiatique' takeaway has just opened in Point E. No sign of a delivery service yet, but you can pop in to their shop by the SGBS bank and have a look at what is on offer in the chiller cabinets. Meals are pre-prepared and then heated while you wait, or you can warm them up at home. The usual Sene-Chinese specials are available, alongside Thai curries and some impressive fresh spring rolls. Friendly staff, and cheap too - ideal for a midweek dinner when you can't be bothered to cook or go out.

Le Temple d'Or: Boulevard de l'Est x Rue de Kaolack, Point E, Tel: 77 579 95 71

Other News:

The 2008-09 edition of Repertoire des Restos is now available priced 2500Fcfa. Although officially published last September, this latest edition has been hard to find. Shell stations across town are now stocking it by the till.

Bon appetit!

Culture and Cuisine in Plateau

Fancy a spot of culture with your food? Here are a few spots in Plateau for when getting drunk is not necessarily the main aim of the evening.

Le Bidew Bi at L'Institute Francais Leopold Sedar Senghor (aka the CCF), 89 rue Joseph T. Gomis, Plateau.
A nice semi-outdoor space that hosts plays and concerts (sometimes attracting big stars from West Africa), has a decent menu, laidback social atmosphere, and quality artists workshops to browse. http://www.institutfr-dakar.org/

Recommended:

• Great fruit juices
• Decent salads

Avoid:

• Sometimes it's randomly booked for private functions, so call ahead.
• The kitchen has often run out of your first choice, and your second choice.

Kadjinol station Avenue Albert Sarrault X Salva, Plateau.
A cinema / bar / restaurant all in one. Pull up a sofa and watch arthouse flicks with a beer in hand. Movies are often shown in their original English or Spanish verision, with French subtitles. They'll even take requests if there is a particular film that you've missed. http://www.kadjinol-edu.com/

Recommended:

• The food isn't bad, some Thai bits and bobs and the odd brochette.
• Films come free

Avoid:

• You pay a premium on food and beer, which pays for the film
• You may be the only party in the place.

----------------------------------------------------------

Since my previous post about Point E, I've been enjoying a few drinks at a cosy car called 'Le Celtic' in Point E. You can find it on an un-named (to the best of my knowledge) avenue, one street east of Rue 5/Birago Diop. I guess it would by Rue 6, or 5-and-a-half.

The owner is part Irish, hence the Celtic, but its not an Irish pub by any means. I haven't eaten there yet, but it seems popular. A bit of live music here and there, and pleasant outdoor seating (bring the insect repellent) makes it a decent place to go to wind down after work.

Apparently Lalibela has a new chef and is back on form, so a visit there in the next couple of weeks is on cards.

Within Staggering Distance of Point E

To kick off Dakar Restaurant Reviews, lets look at some of the restaurants within staggering distance from Chez Jiffler in Point E. I've left the local cafes and patisseries out, for a future round up.

Just4you, Avenue Cheikh Anta Diop
The legendary Just4you is where you can see some of the best Senegalese musicians do their thing. Orchestra Baobab often take the stage on Saturday evenings, but you can also catch young hopefuls doing an early evening set. When the place is full, service is slow, but why not drop in a bit early (and get free admission), have a leisurely meal, then soak up the music over a few Gazelles until the wee small hours.

Recommended:

• Decently priced modern French-Senegalese cooking, and the odd curry thrown in.
• Pitch up early and catch the show for free.

Avoid:

• Ordering late when it's busy.
• The bit around the corner from the bar furthest from the stage can get a bit dark and mosquito filled.

Chez Mimi, Avenue Cheikh Anta Diop
Unremarkable Senegalese grills, along with pasta and pizza on Avenue Cheikh Anta Diop. Quiet and fairly straightforward. There is a bar outside, or airconditioned dining room.

Recommended:

• Pizzas and Pasta are OK. It's not too expensive

Avoid:

• Would struggle with larger groups.

Jardin Thailandais, 10 Boulevard du Sud, Point E.
An upmarket Thai with attractive gardens and an indoor dining room. Jardin T can cater for large groups, or will happily accommodate a table for two. Flavours are refreshing and almost spot on, and the staff are friendly. Book ahead.

Recommended:

• The "Tom yung kai" soups are great, as are the curries
• Female friends all seem to love the Lychee "Kir Thai" (tooth-achingly sweet cocktail of lychee juice and white wine)

Avoid:

• If you're on a tight budget.

Mini Resto, Avenue Cheikh Anta Diop
Nice restaurant, shame about the uninspiring name. Especially as it's not very small. Cameroonian and African specialities and a good mix of customers from all over West Africa bring good vibes.

Recommended:

• Good aloko.
• Decent Brochettes

Avoid:

• Sauce gombo (but then one should generally avoid that)
• Cockroach spotting
• Standing on a slug in the toilets

Lalibela, Rue A, Point E.
A fantastic rooftop venue with low dining tables, charming owner, but the Ethiopian food is inconsistent. I hope they turn this one round as it has the potential to be a great place.

Recommended:

• Atmospheric restaurant

Avoid:

• The food is inconsistent

La Fiesta, VDN
Cheerful bar and restaurant with a straightforward menu. Occasional live music (covers usually, I enjoyed a phonetic rendition of Phil Collins one evening), and the most friendly and enthusiastic waiter in Dakar keep the punters coming.

Recommended:
Pizzas are OK

• A great place for a social meal, followed a few beers, and a game of darts, a bit like a pub in that sense.

Avoid:

• Getting hit by a car while staggering along the busy road outside.