Delicious Dakar

Friday night my friends and I were all feeling a bit under the weather- colds,sinusitis, allergies we were all suffering and needed comfort food with a bit of spice. Something new. Something from Senegal? Oh yes!

Welcome to Dakar Restaurant: a hidden gem in Central Falls! This new restaurant is on Roosevelt Street and shares a parking lot with Pulaski's bar and a taxi company so just mind where you park. Inside the walls are a deep goldenrod with green tables decorated with painted red gourd vases. The jewel tones were warm and cheery on a cloudy autumn night and the atmosphere was casual and dimly lit.

Dakar is a byob restaurant for the moment. They do have some traditional drinks hibiscus juice, ginger juice, or the two blended together and they also serve Senegalese coffee.

I tried the combo hibiscus and ginger juice.It is an enchanting lavender color, sweet and floral with a zingy ginger kick to the finish. In the middle of winter, sipping this will taste like a little bit of heaven !

We ordered Naem (pronounced Name),Dibbi and Chebujenn. Naem are eggrolls, but think Lebanese meets Vietnam. I know that sounds far fetched but trust me they are mouthwateringly goooood! Crispy fried wrappers contain a spiced ground beef and shrimp mixture that's been tossed with rice noodles. There's a zesty dipping sauce too. Ask for extra napkins , you will want them.

Our entrees arrive a few minutes after we finish the Naem. The timing is perfect. I ordered Chebujenn, a traditional fish and spicy rice dish with vegetables. The rice is warmingly spicy, a gentle heat that is dispersed through the food and works on my sinuses, but is very mild compared to things like scotch bonnet peppers and wasabi. Mixed in with the rice are bits of vegetable and sausage and a blend of other spices. Surrounding this is a cooked cabbage leaf, a carrot, and a large piece of yucca, which tastes a bit like fiber-y potato, and two chunks of fish still on the bone. The fish is yummy, succulent and heavy. It was cooked with a spicy, pepper- herb- green (okra perhaps) mixture that is hotter than the rice and sweeter but the amount is tiny and contrasts nicely with the oiliness of the fish.

My friends had ordered Dibbi which is lamb with caramelized onion served over couscous with a side of cooked onion tossed in a lemon mustard sauce. Now these are flavors I would never have thought to blend but the lemon- mustard- onion combo is tangy and delish! I look forward to coming back so I can enjoy a whole plate of it!

The owner came to tell us that his sister is visiting form France and is making crepes for dessert. We decided we might just have to try one. While we wait, we look at Google maps of Dakar- how amazing to have dinner in Rhode Island and look at the Senegal coastline via your phone!

The crepe was light and dry with a chocolate filling. Not quite "wafer thin" but close. It is not the dense crepe I remember from Paris, but after the rich meal the lightness is a perfect compliment.

We basked in the contentment of good food, making mental notes of what we want to try on our next visit and ponder what to bring for wines, perhaps a Sauvignon Blanc, Albarino, or a Pinot Noir? The possibilities are many and Dakar's menu is on their website: www.dakarrestaurant.com so you can plan your beverage selections. Bon appetit!