No menu?
This was the first stop in our Non-Ethiopian-African-Adventure of last weekend.
We'd enjoyed Ngoma on Wilshire and had been looking around for some new non-Ethiopian African choices when we happened upon an article that mentioned some Nigerian restaurants in Inglewood.
Bamboo Cafe is a bit of a drive over highway and land streets. It's located near the racetrack. We were curious as to what to expect, as we'd called a couple of times and been told: "Yes, we're open until ___, but we're closing early because I'm going to the store."
When we walked in, the place was practically empty on a Friday night and the kitchen seemed closed.
"Hi," I said. "Are you guys open?"
"Oh yes!" said the owner, very friendly.
"Do you have a menu?"
"Oh no!" he laughed in a jolly way. (We were later to find out there *was* a menu. I guess it was some sort of off-night?) "I can cook you up some goat with rice."
"How much?"
"Oh, say $10."
Hm. Okay.
The dish that came, accompanied by spiced spinach, was very good, and quite SPICY. (In a nose-running, teary-eyed way.) But very tasty.
He said: "A few people are out of town." I said: "Do you normally have a menu, or is it always like this?"
"Hold on!" he said, and then left the building. (We still don't understand where he went.)
He returned with a very nice postcard that said "Bamboo Cafe" with a full menu. (Why did he have to leave the building to find this is yet another mystery.)
Aaanyway, the food was good. The decor -- dusty old plastic flowers and an interior that seemed more like someone's bare little living room -- was charming and cozy.
If you want a glossy, Hollywood / Silver Lake style hipster place, DON'T go here.
If you want an interesting, friendly, authentic little African vibe, definitely go! read more