I saw this place on my way to a friend's house and knew I wanted to try it. I have seen a few African restaurants pop up recently in the area but this one posted their menu in the window, which is enticing because the food looked so good. It's Liberian, which I've never had so the foodie in me was stoked to try something new.
That space has been other restaurants in the past, including Patton's and The Seafood Trap, and I hadn't been to either one so I don't know if they changed much of the interior. However, it's very cute. It has tables (no booths) with colorful tablecloths, a small bar, and a large window area where you can see into the kitchen, although most of the window has been covered with fabric and art.
There's a TV on the wall that was showing African music videos while I was there but it wasn't loud or distracting. They have sheer window covers along the south facing wall that gives the space an elegant feel. It was clean and spacious with beautiful art on the walls.
The menu is not overwhelming and there are photos so you can see each dish. I decided on the cassava leaf stew that came with white rice. I really wanted to try fufu but when I asked if it paired well with the cassava stew, the chef was hesitant and I could tell that it was probably not a good match. He recommended I try it as intended, with the white rice so I did. I'll try fufu next time.
The food came out quickly, or maybe I was just in good company and didn't notice the time. Either way, I am an inpatient person and didn't feel that was tested at all waiting for our food. One thing I noticed while we waited was that there were no drinks listed on the menu. There is a bar and in the corner of the restaurant there is a vending machine. I'm not sure if those are the only drink options, no one said anything and we were brought a clear pitcher of water so that was what I drank.
I had never tried cassava leaf stew before. It had smoked chicken and turkey neck inside. It was mostly green and reminded me a little of creamed spinach. I expected some broth but it was thick and drizzled with palm oil (I think). The taste, however is unique, similar to a mix between greens and palak. There were bits of chicken bone in some of the pieces of meat, which isn't usual in American cooking but is common in most other parts of the world. I wasn't turned off by the bones, I just chewed carefully and enjoyed the flavors dancing on my tongue. The white rice was as expected, nothing great or different about it.
My friend had the palm stew and fufu and said it was flavorful and she was glad she chose it. Both dishes had a spicy kick, which wasn't mentioned on the menu so if you're a wuss like me, keep that in mind. It wasn't enough to make me stop eating, but my lips stung and my nose ran a bit. However, the heat didn't survive refrigeration so when I had the leftovers for lunch the next day (portions are generous), it wasn't spicy at all and heats up well.
If you're looking for something different and to explore flavors not often found in Central Iowa, give them a try. The owners were super excited to tell me about the dishes and I could tell they are proud of their food and make it with love so let's support them so they can stick around for years to come. read more
