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Dakar NOLA

New Orleans

Narrative diasporic dining from Senegal to South Louisiana

The vibe: You'll find buzzy chatter coming from the communal tables throughout the intimate and brilliant Dakar NOLA, a tasting menu restaurant inspired by the coastal cuisines of Senegal and South Louisiana. Now in a new location on Leonidas Street, the restaurant features a dividing line of spear-like wooden rods separating the host area and dining room, a wall of intricate West African masks and engaged diners anticipating each course with a sense of wonderment. All this makes for a warm and welcoming environment that feeds heart, soul and body.

A warm welcome: As dinner service begins, co-owner Afua 'Effie' Richardson is generally seen – in some of the most fashionable attire imaginable – greeting guests with a smile, laying a foundation of comfort extended by excellent service staff. Richardson handles front-of-house, while chef Serigne Mbaye leads a stellar kitchen through seven progressive courses, delivered to each table with care that feels familial.

Signed, sealed, delivered: Mbaye's unmasked pride for his Senegalese roots is printed on the menu. His personally signed welcome note says: 'Each dish is a reflection of my heritage, crafted with intention and love. May the flavours serve as a warm reminder of our shared connection through food.'

A taste of two homes: The next page on the menu shows the meeting point of the cuisines of Mbaye's current and ancestral homes. There's the fonio (an ancient grain) salad, mixed with West African millet and dressed with citrus-honey vinaigrette, a version of shrimp and grits that substitutes thiéré (Senegalese couscous) and adds coconut tamarind sauce, and a beautiful jollof.

Culinary storytelling: The dishes at Dakar NOLA tell their own tales and inspire more to be told at the table. It's a place where possibilities for cultural connection are plated, shared, consumed and remembered. It's a gift to and from the African continent, building a new narrative of what role the traditions of Africa have in one of America's most storied cities.

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