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This is a Complete List of Participating Restaurants
in New York African Restaurant Week 2017
You’ve got your 3-course-meal voucher & you’re counting down the days ‘till you get to dine out in one of the most anticipated & quickly growing food festivals in the city! But how can you possible choose from all there is to offer? We’ve organized the New York African Restaurant Week’s (NYARW) restaurants by neighborhood & outlined some of the featured items, types of dining experiences & Customer favorites at each one! While we know it may not make it EASIER to choose just one, we hope this guide helps you for Restaurant Week & helps you to find your new repeat favorites!
Harlem
These days Harlem is known for it’s boom in locally owned, unique French Restaurants, but the Harlem Food Renaissance is just that: you can find new & exciting options for so many different types of food! Harlem is home to 10 of the 25 NYARW Restaurants. With everything from touted French-Senegalese fusion dining to Ghanaian or Afro-Fusion; the Harlem options are endless!
Ponty Bistro
2375 Adam Clayton Powell Blvd
New York, NY 10030
Ponty Bistro has been featured twice on the Demand Africa blogs; and for good reason! Ponty Bistro is one of the most prolific French-Senegalese restaurants in New York. Originally from Dakar, Senegal the two first cousin chefs at Ponty Bistro are dedicated to an authentic & outstanding Senegalese dining experience!
Learn more about Ponty Bistro in NYARW here!
Learn more about Ponty Bistro from Africa Everywhere here!
Accra
2065 Adam Clayton Powell Jr Blvd
New York, NY 10027
Accra offers a unique experience serving Ghanaian food in Central Harlem. Everyone loves the Banku & Okra Stew as well as the Joloff Rice, Plantains & Palm Nut soup. Ghanain reviewers often comment on how its Ghanaian food like it’s supposed to be made & that Accra tastes ‘just like home!’
Peque Vinos & Tapas
231 W 145th St
New York, NY 10039
While one of the only restaurants featured that is not specifically African, Peque Vinos & Tapas is a great place to have a drink & sample wide variety of Tapas with many culinary influences. A perfect place to take a date, or have an intimate dinner, Peque has so much to offer!
Lenox Sapphire
341 Lenox Ave
New York, NY 10027
As featured on the Demand Africa blog for their Thursday Night Jazz performances & their delicious Afro-Fusion Menu, Lenox Sapphire is a staple of Harlem dining! You can’t go wrong for a wonderful night out!
Patisserie Des Ambassades
2200 8th Ave
New York, NY 10026
With what many say are the “best Almond Croissants in New York” Patisserie Des Ambassades offers a unique opportunity for classic European-style meticulously crafted pastries & renowned espresso drinks. The restaurant also serves a full menu of traditional French-Senegalese food. Everyone who sampled one of their many fish entrees left full & happy; commenting on the delicious flavors & generous portions!
Pikine
243 West 116th St
New York, NY 10026
Pikine diners enjoyed the Grilled Tilapia & Chicken Dibi most, mentioning these two standout dishes most often! However, the extensive and distinctly Senegalese menu at Pikine stands up against the hard hitting competition in the area! Pikine is well known as a Harlem Senegalese staple!
Kingston
218 W 116th St
Harlem, NY 10026
Kingston may be one of the most well-known Jamaican restaurants in the city! Lucky they’re an option for NYARW as well! The Rum Punch flows & diners can enjoy a wide variety of options for lunches, dinners & brunch on the weekends! If it’s your first time, some standout menu items include: Jerk ANYTHING, Pork Bites & the Rasta Pasta!
Massawa
1239 Amsterdam Ave
New York, NY 10027
This Columbia University Adjacent Ethiopian hot spot was featured in our Blog as one of the best Ethiopian restaurants in the city. It’s proximity to several area Universities means its introduced COUNTLESS newbies to Ethiopian food, so their standards are high to give a great, authentic experience! No one leaves disappointed! Massawa always offers an excellent meal, coupled perfectly with a coffee or homemade ginger tea.
Le BaoBab
120 W 116th St
New York, NY 10026
Le Baobab is as authentic Senegalese as it gets, with tastes that bring some diners straight back home! Some standouts at Le BaoBab include the grilled fish and Magi onions, fried guinea fowl, chicken and couscous & many diners comment on the look & feel of Le BaoBab as ‘like family’.
Hyacinth’s Haven
2374 Adam Clayton Powell Jr Blvd
New York, NY 10030
Hyacinth’s Haven is one of the first Jamaican Restaurants in Harlem & has garnered a fantastic reputation for delicious food, drink specials & a wonderful inviting atmosphere. Many noted that Hyacinth’s Heaven is truly a hidden gem! They’re known to have some of the best cocktails in Harlem & an excellent brunch!
Brooklyn
When you think of an areas in New York that are known for experiencing a huge surge in culture & culinary destinations- Brooklyn is first to come to mind! These days Brooklyn is it’s own culinary destination. So, it’s no wonder Brooklyn hosts the most featured restaurants in NYARW: Eleven! With options just as diverse & exciting as Harlem, your cross-cultural culinary adventure awaits in Brooklyn:
Bar Omar
188 Grand St
Ground Fl
Brooklyn, NY 11211
A unique and incredible dining experience in Williamsburg. From their website: “In the 1970s, Omar Guerda was among the first to introduce North African flavors to Parisians. Chez Omar, in the Marais, quickly became a staple in the rich Paris restaurant landscape, where next-door neighbors and international artists alike enjoyed gathering. In 2016, a sister location opened in the bustling neighborhood of Williamsburg, Brooklyn, in New York.” Try the Chicken Bastilla or the Brik au Thon.
Madiba
195 Dekalb Ave
Brooklyn, NY 11205
One of the only specifically South African restaurants on our list, the several variations of Bunny Chow (Durban or Seafood- just to name a couple of standouts!) in the quintessential bread bowl are filling & unmissable!
Amarachi Prime
189 Bridge St
Brooklyn, NY 11201
Offering great Happy Hours as well as endless options for lunch, brunch & dinner Amarachi is known in the central Brooklyn area for their chicken curry & fish tacos. But every unique dish on this African-Caribbean fusion restaurant is worth exploring!
Café Rue Dix
1451 Bedford Ave
Brooklyn, NY 11216
Café Reu Dix is known by the neighborhood locals for their exceptional Happy Hour. But, also featured on Demand Africa as one of the crowning Brooklyn French-Senegalese restuarants, Café Rue Dix is a major contender in the NYARW list. Customers recommend Thiebou Jen or the Branzino.
Joloff
1168 Bedford Ave
Brooklyn, NY 11216
Joloff, named after one of the most poular West African rice dishes is introducing traditional Senegalese to the Bedford Stuyvestant neighborhood & garnering a loyal following! Recommendations include Fataya Djeun, Fish Balls, Fried Yucca or Plantain, & the Yassa Yap (a succulent lamb dish in a lemon & onion sauce).
Bati
747 Fulton St
Brooklyn, NY 11217
Bati’s warm and welcoming ambiance brings the best of Ethiopian & lots of Vegan options to the Ft. Greene area. From their website, recommendations include: “Doro Wett, a hearty, spicy stew that is served with a piece of chicken thigh and an egg soaked in the sauce.” From their extensive Vegan Options: “The Missir Wett (lentil stew) takes the king’s place, made with base of red onion and berbere” & of course they offer Ethiopian Honey Wine (T’ej).
Angela’s
417 Nostrand Ave
Bedford-Stuyvesant, NY 11216
Angela’s is one of the top rated Jamaican restaurants in Brooklyn! With countless glowing reviews & recommendations: Jerk Chicken, OxTail, Codfish Sliders, Grilled Shrimp & Plantains are just a FEW standouts! Take advantage of your 3- course & fill up on all of your Jamaican favorites at Angela’s.
Buka
946 Fulton St
Brooklyn, NY 11238
Native Nigerians are proud to have this home-away-from home locally. From one Yelp reviewer: “The goat meat pepper soup is probably the best thing on the menu, and I highly recommend it. The Ogbono is also good last time I had it. You may want to try the Moi Moi and Puff Puff as well.” Others also mentioned the pounded-yam fufu with goat & egusi sauce. For beverages, make sure you try their palm wine and fresh homemade ginger juice!
Kombit Bar
279 Flatbush Ave
Brooklyn, NY 11217
Named after a traditional Haitan farming ritual where farmers come together for the good of the the community, Kombit Bar is a relaxed & cultural atmosphere to unwind with an extensive drink list or traditional Haitian fare.
Grandchamps
197 Patchen Ave
Bedford-Stuyvesant, NY 11233
From their website: “Grandchamps is your local family kitchen bringing the community together through Haitian cuisine in the heart of Bed-Stuy. We relive our childhood memories at the dinner table by providing wholesome food (made with love) while celebrating Haitian culture.” Give Grandchamps a try for lunch or dinner. You won’t be disappointed.
Paradis Des Gouts
1136 Broadway
Brooklyn, NY 11221
Bati’s warm and welcoming ambiance brings the best of Ethiopian & lots of Vegan options to the Ft. Greene area. From their website, recommendations include: “Doro Wett, a hearty, spicy stew that is served with a piece of chicken thigh and an egg soaked in the sauce.” From their extensive Vegan Options: “The Missir Wett (lentil stew) takes the king’s place, made with base of red onion and berbere” & of course they offer Ethiopian Honey Wine (T’ej).
Midtown
Stuck in the hustle & bustle of Midtown, but need to escape to an authentic African paradise? Amongst the well established restaurant culture spanning cuisines from all over the world, two stand-out African restaurants in Midtown are featured in this years NYARW:
Queen of Sheba
650 10th Ave
New York, NY 10036
One of Demand Africa’s Top 5 NYC Ethiopian Restaurants, this place is an institution. Bring a group for the meat & vegetarian sampler platters & let the honey wine flow! The also now serve Gluten-Free Injera!
Tagine
221 W 38th St
New York, NY 10018
One of the hippest food trends throughout African influenced cuisine in NYC is Tagine. So, head to this Midtwon hotspot named after the flavorful dish (where the Lamb Tagine is most popular & the warm Semolina bread received raves!). If you dine on the weekends you can also enjoy hookah & bellydancing performances in the warm & inviting atmosphere.
The Village
Head further south to the cobblestone caddy-corner streets of The Village, a culinary paradise, for our final featured restaurant:
Le Souk Lounge & Restaurant
510 Laguardia Pl
New York, NY 10012
Both a lounge & restaurant, Le Souk offers a one-of-a-kind night out experience. Featuring beautifully executed & authentic Moroccan dishes, the ambience & vibe of the restaurant are also sure to impress. Diners mentioned the standout short ribs & seabass, as well as the kale & grilled octopus appetizers. Le Souk also has a unique & well-loved dessert menu. Try the saffron pistachio ice cream or chili chocolate cookies & cream.
See what we mean? With all there is to choose from, you may want to consider TWO NYARW passes! The options are endless & with something for everyone, NYARW is sure to be a hit again this year! Let us know your top picks, favorites & best experiences from NYARW & happy eating!
Check out this NYARW video!
Check here for a full list of NYARW events!
Have a restaurant you would like featured on Demand Africa? Reach out! We’re always happy to share insider tips & hot new local favorites.
