I really wanted to give this place 4.5 stars, but Yelp can be ass. This restaurant absolutely nails the things that are hard to teach: hospitality, atmosphere, and making guests feel welcome. From the moment you walk in, it feels less like a restaurant and more like you've been invited into someone's home for dinner. The cocktail program deserves its own shoutout. Every drink was thoughtfully crafted and easily some of the best cocktails I've had in the area. The service was warm, attentive, and genuine without ever feeling forced. As for the food, everything we ordered was excellent. The standout dishes for us were the goat cheese appetizer, the oxtail entrée, and the pound cake dessert. There wasn't a single dish that made us think, "we shouldn't have ordered that." At the end of the day, plenty of restaurants have good food. What sets this place apart is the overall experience. Great food, great drinks, great people, and an atmosphere that makes you want to stay longer than you planned. We'll definitely be back. read more

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We ordered two appetizers: whipped goat cheese (with black garlic honey, radishes, sumac, and chapati) and the griot wings (tamarind-glazed, which is the spiciest option), along with two entrees: the lamb griot (served with couscous and sweet plantains) and the oxtail barbacoa (served over their version of mac and cheese). Starting with the appetizers, I'd say these two were my favorites of the night. The chicken wings (5 pieces) were tender and flavorful, featuring a very unique spice blend. The whipped goat cheese wasn't overly gamey, it was perfectly creamy and paired well with the black garlic honey, which tasted a lot like fig jam. The homemade chapati was great too. However, the ratio of cheese to bread was a bit off. We heard a server asking the next table if they wanted more chapati, so we assumed an extra piece was complimentary. We later found out we were charged $6 for it, which was a bit of a surprise tho. As for the entrees, the oxtail barbacoa was the biggest oxtail I've ever seen. It was packed with tender meat and rich gelatin, and the radiatori pasta with gouda was wonderfully creamy and delicious. The lamb griot was a unique dish I hadn't tried before, while the portion of lamb wasn't huge, it was very good. The plantains were amazing and slightly sweet, making the whole dish incredibly flavorful. Overall, it was a really cool experience. The food is highly seasoned and flavorful without being overly salty like most restaurants, though it is definitely on the pricier side. Our server was very busy that night, so checking out took quite a bit of time. The atmosphere is awesome with great decor, merchs, and live performances. ps. The chairs are incredibly hard and uncomfortable, I couldn't sit in them for too long lol read more

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I was really excited about my 6pm reservation. I arrived early and sat at the bar and had a glass of wine while I waited for an old friend I haven't seen in awhile to arrive. Things started off pretty good. We sat right at 6pm. Service was really spotty. A woman was kind and quickly refilled our water. Our server took a while to arrive and greet us. As chefs we were there to both catch up on life as well as see what the hype is all about . Appetizers- out of the Agua Chile. We ended up starting with the whipped goat cheese and wings. Then ordered the lamb, shrimp moqueca, and the oxtail. Yes, three entrees for two people along with 4 glasses of wine and two starters. All good intended to be hot except for the wings came out cold. We asked for medium rare on the lamb and it came out mid well. They kept trying to remove our dishes during dinner- several time, while we still had food on the plates. Our server actually came and took my plate without my permission. He cleared our table and asked if there was anything else and we said we wanted to see a dessert menu. He instead brought us out check. We asked again for the dessert menu and he said they only had one dessert and it was a bread pudding. After reading other reviews I noticed this was just a lie to get us out. Can't think your guests are that stupid. We still had wine in our glasses and declined the one dessert. Been there exactly 1 hr and 45 minutes at that point. He came to our table almost immediately after and said he hated to be the bearer of bad news but the next reservation is here and we need to go. That's after we tipped him generously. Just a little advice- post on your reservation page you have a time limit, don't be rude, let people eat. Chicken was dry and over cooked. Food was seasoned well. Server left a bad taste... I hope my feedback helps. read more

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LATHA is a unique culinary experience of a restaurant serving up some delicious pan-African cuisine. This spot is located at the historic Heritage Square in Downtown Phoenix where street parking will be your best bet. Inside, they have a cozy and homey feel with African-inspired decor. Wifey and I stopped by for brunch with a reservation and were seated right away. We ended up getting the Burnt Onion Hummus, Fried Chicken & Banana Rum Waffle, and the Steak & Eggs. Everything that we had was delicious! All of the staff here, including the owner, are all very friendly and welcoming. Definitely book your next table here for brunch or dinner and you will not regret it! read more

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Torn on this one. I made a reservation for a group and requested to sit in the quietest area possible. We were set up at a lovely table on the patio-it was really nice. Road noise occasionally, but not terrible. The fragrance of the flowers, the misters and the occasional bird visitor added to the quaint charm of our experience. At first, the service was great. We had a couple different servers-seems there was some confusion on who would be taking our table-but friendly folks, regardless. The pacing of the drinks and the appetizers started out ok too, but over time started to slip. Drinks were forgotten, one person's starter didn't come out at all and our server became less and less available. When it came time for our main course, 4/5 people received what they ordered. When the wrong dish was presented to the fifth person, she recognized that it wasn't right an politely questioned it. The girl who was delivering the food (not our server) pushed back and said that it was pretty close, "it's fish isn't it?" No, we paid for an upgraded dish and this wasn't it. She had to wait another ten minutes to get her correct dish, while the entire group awkwardly waited and picked at their remaining appetizers to try to look busy. Drinks continued to wait...we were told that the bar tender was behind. No apology for the dish mishap, no acknowledgement when one person tried two bites of food and then pushed it away. (Turns out the corrected dish was rushed-overdone on the outside, underdone in the middle). I would have loved the opportunity to make it right, but staff seemed to vanish. It does have some great character and potential-maybe we just hit it on an off night. read more

LATHA - African Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

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LATHA!!! Just an absolute VIBE with Mouthwatering flavor packed food!! I was invited to LATHA for a small birthday gathering, and it was so much more. The staff were welcoming and knowledgeable. Our waitress was attentive and helpful with recommendations on what to order according to our palettes. Everything I ordered was amazing from my drink to my food and without the waitress keen input,I might of made the wrong choice. The ambience was a vibe!! Afro centric and chic, with beautiful outdoor dining and decor. They also had some good photo op spaces to take pictures. One last thing the owner was front and center assisting her staff and greeting and engaging with all who came,and that is something you don't always see and I would've never known until someone mentioned she was the owner! Thank you for creating a beautiful place for food,friends,family and CULTURE!! To anyone looking for fantastic food and vibe please go to LATHA!! read more

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Had a wonderful time here for a Saturday night dinner. Tip for those coming, there's only valet out front with limited spots. I'd recommend parking elsewhere and walking over! Starting off with service, Jasiri could not have done a better job! His recommendations were fabulous and he was beyond attentive. Loved chatting with both him and the lovely owner! She came by our table twice and also gave some recommendations. Drinks were divine. I had the King Kiungo (per Jasiri's rec) which was delicious. Slight spice with some sweetness. Had the watermelon salad and goat cheese appetizers which were tangy and fresh to get us started! For my main, I adored the dayboat moqueca with salmon. Super flavorful with perfectly cooked salmon. The vibes outside were phenomenal with a live saxophone player, nice lighting, and pretty decor. Would be a lovely date night spot! I cannot recommend this place enough and am so excited to come back! read more

LATHA - King kiungo and passionfruit mojito - African Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

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Went there for a friends birthday and the service was great. The owner was in the gift shop and we had a little chat with her, super friendly. The food itself was absolutely fantastic, we asked for the peri peri wings extra spicy and they delivered, perfect mix of spice and flavor. Oxtail was a very unique flavor profile and also amazing. read more

LATHA - Peri peri wings - African Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

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Came here for my 3 year anniversary and what an unforgettable experience! From appetizer to dessert, each meal was made with heart and soul. I have no feedback on any of the dishes we ordered because they were that good. They take care of you so well. I love the ambiance and the option to choose from indoor/outdoor seating. I appreciate that their menu also has a range of vegan and gluten free options. Sorayyah, our host is a local artist who made the murals outdoors. She gave us a sweet gift for our anniversary and also showed us the shop located inside. Everyone working there is so personable, it leaves a mark on you. 6/5 stars and would seriously come back again. Thank you so much for the best restaurant experience this year! read more

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Me and family went here today for brunch. DEELICIOUS! AND you feel SO welcomed! This place is different in many ways and the food is amazing! I had the chicken and waffles, WHAT!!! A few of us had the waffles which have a beautiful rum infusion, slight sweetness yet hearty comfort tastiness. The chicken, nice and crunchy with a nice, i believe, harissa flavor. I had the beautiful hibiscus mimosa. There were a few shrimp and grits at the table, and a few non-alcoholic teas. Everything was perfect! We stared with those wings...squeeze the lemon on them, it WILL ENHANCE the flavor, STAT! The hummus is ALWAYS a starter for 3 of us at the table. It's mild, the chunky veggies do it for us! The bread, get a second order to share, it comes with 1. A lovely day was had today with my auntie, the 2 nieces, and her Goddaughter. 4 generations-YASSSSS! Check out the brunch too! Dinner pops as well, but brunch feels so good! read more

This place is absolutely amazing. I want to spend all day here! Great music, beautiful decor, amazing team, quaint exclusive feel and food to die for!! My husband joked that if this place was closer to home he would know where to find me! This is truly a gem and it's on my drop by list when I'm downtown. I wish we had a beautiful and exquisite place like this in QC! Thank you for an amazing lunch!! read more

Pro-tip: You can come here to claim the Chase reserve OpenTable credit. They offer discount discounted parking in the nearby garage. If there's something you're interested in trying, maybe call ahead to see if they have it as we were shocked how much of the menu they were out of. Highlights: Although it's very short for only an hour, the happy hour discounts are pretty good and the burger in particular was tasty. I also enjoyed the pork chop entree with the mashed sweet potato. Lowlights: When we arrived to get seated, a couple had just left and told the hostess that they've been sitting there and no one ever came to get their order - kind of a red flag to start the night with. I had looked at the menu ahead of time before deciding to come here and there were items like the wings and huli huli chicken that I wanted to try so it was pretty disappointing to find that they were out of them. Overall, I thought the food was very overpriced and I wasn't really blown away by the flavors or the textures of most of the items we ordered. read more

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We celebrated a joint birthday dinner at Latha after hearing about it online, and it was absolutely delightful! We didn't spend much time looking at the menu before we decided we had to do the chef's journey 3 course meal. For the quality and amount of food you get it is definitely worth it. I also went with the wine pairing option as a little birthday treat. The ambience was warm and cozy. It felt like eating in someone's home. The decor was very nice and really captured the pan-African vibe. Lastly, the service was outstanding. Everyone was so personable. Our table had a happy birthday sign on it from the minute we walked in, and one of the co-owners came by to personally wish us a happy birthday and see how things are going. Then, they surprised us by gifting us bracelets with our Akan names based on the day of the week we were born. It was very special and informative! read more

LATHA - African Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

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The saxophones kept getting louder.... We really wanted to like this place. Found it through our Chase portal as a top restaurant in Phoenix. But unfortunately was very disappointed, primarily in their service. There was one waiter serving the entirety of the outside patio - like 8-10 tables. One man. He was very kind, but had zero sense of urgency given he was servicing 10 other tables. By the time he got to us, we had been seated for 20 mins. Put in our drinks and our apps. Didn't see him again for 40 mins to take our food order. Let's start with drinks. My husband ordered a wine and I ordered a lemonade. It took 40 mins for our drinks to arrive. Our drinks arrived after our appetizers did. I'd maybe show some leniency if we had ordered mixed cocktails but 40 mins to pour out of a bottle is crazy. On top of that, they brought the wine in a mini carafe and didnt bring a glass, which took another 15 mins to arrive. When the apps came, we noticed we didn't have forks, so we waited 10 mins for anyone to see us as our waiter was busy chit chatting with other tables. When we finally asked someone for forks, we waited another 10 mins to finally get it. At this point we've been seated for over an hour and have not been able to eat. We then waited another hour for our entrees to arrive. My husband ordered another wine, which took another 40 mins to arrive. It was around this time that we noticed the entire restaurant staff was dancing on the porch of the restaurant while we were still waiting for our second wine, entrees, and napkins, forks, whatever we asked for. I love employees having a good time, but yall are busy. Be serious. Everyone on that patio had been waiting for things. You can have fun and do your job at the same time. Or at least hire more help. Also, at this point, we were approached by who we can assume is the manager, who informed us that they ran out of rice. On top of the 6 other dishes they had run out of . Their menu is tight and small - how can you function running out of the majority of your dishes? In total, we were there for almost 3 hours, for 2 apps and 2 entrees. The food was good, but the portions were small and very overpriced for what we received. The saxophone music was cool though. I'll give it that. read more

Absolutely loved the vibe at Latha. From the moment we walked in, the energy was on point--laid-back but still elevated. We went for brunch and the DJ was outside setting the tone, which made it feel like a whole experience, not just a meal. The food was amazing. The oxtail shakshouka was rich, comforting, and full of flavor. The shrimp aguachile, served with crispy plantain chips, was fresh, bright, and had the perfect balance of heat and crunch. We also tried the Dayboat Fish and Grits, which were cooked beautifully and absolutely hit the spot. Latha is one of those places where the food, music, and vibe all come together effortlessly. Definitely a spot worth returning to. read more

LATHA - Oxtail Shakshouka - African Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

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This is a great 'date night' place :). Parking is across the street and is valet- lot is not huge so Uber it if you can. It's $15 plus tip We love the vibe here- it's a house- so many small rooms for seating. We booked an earlier reservation so we basically had a room to ourselves- which was really nice. The menu is fresh and focused on foods and recipes that are African or Brazilian based so it's creative. For drinks, I ordered a Sauv Blanc $16 And hubs had a Brazilian beer $10 We also ordered the pimento cheese appetizer- that BREAD was amazing. For our entrees; I had the Peri peri chicken $34- excellent and perfectly spicy. And hubs had the Waygu flat iron $42 with mashed potatoes. We did not order any sides but there was plenty of food. My chicken was the star of the evening. Our Server, Taylor, took really good care of us, was personable and friendly We also enjoyed a chat with the owner and love that she makes the rounds to check on everyone. The patio is lovely- next time we will have to sit outside. read more

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Second visit did not disappoint. Upon entry we were given a short tour and introduced to the staff, shown the shop, and introduced to one of the owners. Service is extremely friendly and well done. Live music comes from the patio. Our party of 4 ordered the burnt onion hummus, watermelon salad and shrimp aguachile for appetizers. All were delicious and this was near perfect amount for 4. For entrees, we ordered the veggie moqueca, Moqueca with Halibut (which was quite large), pork chop, and Chicken piri piri. For desert the mango tart. Before we left we stopped and picked up coffee sourced from Africa. Well done! read more

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I tried the Latha Wagu burger for the first time. If i had to list my top 5 favorite burgers in the Valley, this one would on it. This juicy burger comes with pimento cheese, house-made pickles and spicy mayo on a grilled brioche bun. I usually cannot finish an entire burger, but this one was devoured. It's Friday night and the live music started at around 6-ish which added to the vibe. The service was fantastic as usual. Since I'm a regular, I've tried almost every item on the menu (besides fish). The only thing that that I would not order again are the brussel sprouts - there's just something about them that don't hit for me. And recently, I've been flabbergasted by the very small (maybe 8oz) bottle of water for $8. So if this would be an issue, avoid ordering bottled water. Enjoy! read more

LATHA - Latha Burger - African Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

Latha offers a promising concept, focusing on contemporary pan-African cuisine. It is an "immersive experience where you celebrate and discover Africa and the African diaspora's diverse and delicious flavors." The vibrant, welcoming ambiance and generally attentive service set the stage for a great meal. Options that are vegan/can be veganized are clearly labeled. Same with GF options. However, more care can be taken with those who have dietary restrictions. For example, there was no substitute for the caramelized honey dressing for the salad. A squeeze of lemon ain't gonna do it. In addition, portions were off. The vegan moqueca was noticeably smaller in serving size than the dayboat moqueca. For a place that champions community, Moqueca can take greater care to make all dining experiences equal. read more

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3.9 * in my book. Not really sure what's the hype tbh. * Day boat moqueca w/ salmon * Adobo rubbed pork chop * latha burger (hh menu) * whipped goat cheese dip (hh menu)-comes with chapatti * burnt onion hummus (hh menu) -comes with chapatti * awaze grilled shrimp (hh menu) Service was excellent and there was no wait when we dinned in (4:30). Happy hour runs until 5. The deals are about $3 off an item. Inside is nice and vibrant. We learned that they were completely out of the chicken wings & oxtail, which are the two most popular items. The shrimp, salmon, & burger were excellent. That said, some of the other stuff kind of fell short of expectations. The hummus & goat cheeses were okay, but felt like they weren't a good value. The sauces on the dishes were okay, but it felt like they were trying too much. The bread was dry. The portions are reflectively small, especially compared to the burger. read more

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Was super excited for the food, but sadly they didn't have wings and oxtail which I was looking forward to. The happy menu has a variety of options to choose from for food and drinks. The burger was the best deal! The hummus and whipped goat cheese were really good! Only thing for me was I didn't really like the Chapati. The shrimp was okay and it came in 5 pieces. The pork chop was tender and the best part was the sauce on top and the side which tasted similar to a sweet potato mashed. The Dayboat I liked the salmon a lot. The sauce and rice grits were okay. I probably would not get this again. Service was good. The restaurant got busy so try to make a reservation if you can. Lots of cozy seating and love the decor inside. read more

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Had a fantastic meal for dinner. Service was also amazing! Highly recommend. Will definitely be back read more

LATHA - Southern Pound Cake - African Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

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Fantastic find! The waitstaff are so gracious and kind. We ate outside on a beautiful fall evening. I shared some of the hummus and this was definitely the best hummus I've ever had! And the bread that went with it, so tasty. Next I had the Dayboat Fish Moqueca with shrimp, which had rice grits, roasted coconut chutney, broccolini, chimichurri, pickled onions. It does have a bit of a spicy kick. Flavors were fantastic. Oh, I also really enjoyed the Sorrel Tea, which had hibiscus, pineapple, ginger, and spices. I ordered it cold which was very refreshing, although if it had been cold outside (does that ever happen in Phoenix, yes, yes it does), I'd order this hot! I lastly I tasted the Southern Pound Cake, which was quite filling. read more

LATHA - DAYBOAT FISH MOQUECA - African Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

Reserved a table for four for 5:30 pm on a Tuesday evening. We arrived on time and were able to park in the valet parking for the pizza restaurant next door. We were seated immediately on the outside patio, which we had requested. Our guide introduced herself and brought us water. One of our party decided to order the three-course meal while the rest of us ordered one main course each. We were able to steal some of the hummus and chapati as there was enough to share. I ordered a red stripe beer and the lamb tagine. An excellent choice, even though before I arrived, I had already decided to order the jerk pork chop but changed my mind as you can't find lamb on many menus. The manager checked by a couple of times to make sure everything was running smoothly. Our guide was attentive and our food arrived very quickly. Overall the meal was excellent. This is definitely a restaurant I will return to. read more

LATHA - Table setting. - African Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

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What an incredible meal! We had the watermelon salad (refreshing), whipped goat cheese with black garlic honey (creamy), and the shrimp aguachile (spicy ) with plantain chips to start. For our mains we went with the dayboat moqueca with shrimp and the oxtail barbacoa. Food is served family style so it's easy to share. Everything was delicious. Our server, Charity, was lovely and the owner Evelia, stopped by to check in. Will definitely be back for Sunday brunch! I recommend sitting on the patio, it's gorgeous. read more

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I really wanted to like this place in fact, I am willing to give it another try next time I'm in phoenix. But what did it for me was the attitude from the greeter. I walked up the stairs and said "hi can I get a table for two?" he said "first of all how are you?" I said, " oh! I'm sorry I'm fine. How are you?" he looked at me and said "do you have a reservation?" I smiled and said no I just got off the plane from "New jersey and I really wanted to try this place." (I looked around and saw a lot of empty tables so I figured it wouldn't be a problem.) he looked at me and said." Hmm you still should've made a reservation." Then he asked me what I plan on having while I was there. (It seemed like such an odd question).. I looked around and said" dinner and drinks" . He grabbed a couple of menus and said come with me. We were seated immediately. Which was odd because I thought we needed a reservation... anyways I counted about three waiters who said that they would be attending us when they finally settled on one person who was a really nice young lady. However by then,I was already in a bad mood. I didn't even pick the right dish. I had a vegetarian dish that tasted horrible. But my friend really enjoyed her meal I also looked around and everyone else's food looked amazing. (I'm usually good at ordering I just was having an off night. I blame the host lol) On the plus side,they have live music and the owner came out and introduced herself. That was really nice and the reason why I'll give it another try when I'm in town. But i'll make sure to have a reservation to avoid an attitude from homeboy. Lol read more

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An impressive meal from start to finish! We came here for an anniversary celebration and were thoroughly satisfied with everything we ordered, as well as the friendly service and cozy, globally inspired atmosphere. To start, we had the Rum Punch -- a great cocktail option that truly tastes like a tropical punch -- and a wonderfully tart Latha Lemonade. The host provided an incredibly thorough walkthrough of the menu, including some of the cultural inspirations behind dishes and where the daily fish was sourced. For our appetizer, the Whipped Goat Cheese was phenomenal. The cheese was whipped into an airy and mild final form, topped with an unexpectedly (but delightfully) sweet black garlic sauce. Every bite with a crunchy radish slice was extra delicious with the super soft chipati bread too! I was equally amazed by the Dayboat Moqueca. The salmon had the crispiest skin, while the salmon was perfectly flaky and tender. The chutney and chimichurri were so flavorful, and the grits made it a super filling dish. The Tamarind Wagyu Flat Iron Steak was great too -- thoroughly marinated and spicy, balanced by a creamy, rich pom puree. Parking for the Heritage Garage was easily validated at the end of our meal. Can't wait to return and try more dishes, whether to try their brunch or have another lovely dinner out! read more

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I can definitely tell there was a lot of thought put into the menu, but I just felt that the execution fell a little short of my high expectations, especially at the higher price point. The service was great and one of the owners even greeted us and gave us some recommendations, so I absolutely can't fault them for that. The live music was also a nice touch. We started with the Whipped Goat Cheese, which was beautifully presented, and we really liked the mildly savory cheese with the honey and the accompanying chapati. I think it was a touch too sweet though, and the black garlic component was overshadowed. The Honey Hot Wings had a nice heat level and great crisp on the skin. For the mains, we began with the Pineapple Piri Piri Chicken and while I loved the seasoning and cook on the chicken, I wasn't a fan of the labneh being layered beneath the surprisingly mild jollof rice. We also got the Lamb Tajine which we enjoyed with the spiced curry and pickled onions. The best dish of the night was the Chocolate Brigadeiro Torte for sure. Super well balanced, not too sweet, and the mousse made for a perfect bite with the chocolate and whipped cream. read more

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The Service is spectacular as we were met by the owner when we checked-in and was never anything but uncompromising and off the chart. The pork chop the chicken wings, the poundcake dessert there are no words that can adequately describe I'm embarrassed that I never knew about this fine establishment and it took a gift card to get us here Easily our favorite restaurant in Phoenix. Did I mention the whipped goat cheese house-made honey with the house bread stuff that dreams are made of read more

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A group of us visited during restaurant week. We had a fabulous time! The restaurant had a nice charm. A converted house, there's multiple rooms including two dining rooms, a barroom, and a market Each of us ordered different dishes and shared them amongst each other. The wings have a kick! They are spicy, but good. The sea bass and the salmon were both cooked just right, very flaky. The oxtails were not falling off the bone, but they were saucy and tender. And the porkchops (Chef's kiss!), I would go back for them. Great for intimate settings and groups. They staff wasn't attentive, but very friendly. We asked for things more than twice. Two people in our group participated/purchased the wine pairing. They forgot to bring out a wine for one of the courses. We loved browsing the market and purchasing items for local artists. There are stairs leading up to the entrance. read more

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This place has been on my list to try forever and once I knew they were going to participate in AZ Chef's Week, we definitely made a reservation. The restaurant is located in Heritage Square and they'll validate $14 of the $20 parking ticket for the garage (there was a sign noting $20 for event parking, but honestly could not see any event going on before or after we dined and we weren't sure how much of it would be validated) or you can valet in front or try your luck at street parking (surprisingly wasn't bad and a friend paid $3 for 2.5 hours?). We came for a Friday dinner and there was a live violinist going around to add to the ambiance. The restaurant is inside a cute cottage house so there's not many tables and therefore, highly recommend making reservations. There's a cute outdoor area with tables, but it was too terribly warm to sit outdoors (definitely a great idea for winter though). Also appreciate one of the owners greeting us and checking on us throughout the night. With Chef week, we had 2 options for the appetizer, entrees, and the one desert (cheesecake) wasn't available so had our pick off the 2 regular desserts on the menu. Our waitress was friendly, but she kind of disappeared in between greeting, getting our drink order and then our food order... We tried the following: Pineapple Piri Piri Wings - pretty good, love the attention to detail in it being served with a separate bowl for the bones. I would've liked more of the sauce/seasoning! Adobe Rubbed Flank Steak - had asked for it to be rare, but since 2 others had ordered theirs as medium rare, we realized our plate had been switched midway. No big deal, but very kind of the server and also owner to offer to make it again. Loved the wooden plate and the veggies and cous cous as it paired wonderfully. The steak was also super tender even with heating it up the next day for leftovers. Passion Fruit Torte - wow, I've never had passionfruit, chocolate, and avocado together. Very unique. I can't recall the name of my drink, but it was essentially a spicy lychee cocktail and so delicious. I thought the Serrano peppers would overpower the lychee, but surprisingly it doesn't and you can still taste the fruit. Does have a nice kick to it, but still tasty and would order it again. There's also a nice gift shop with lots of trinkets and clothing! You could definitely get a gift for yourself or someone in your life as it ranges from sauces, skirts, jewelry, soaps, candles, etc. read more

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What an amazing experience! My friends and I were in Phoenix to celebrate my 30th birthday. We made a last minute reservation for 8 PM on Friday night. We were welcomed with a beautiful tour of the space and an explanation of the menu when we sat down. There was live music , which was beautiful. After we ordered drinks, we danced with other guests on the porch! Most of my friend group ordered the Chef's Journey on the menu. The wings were delicious, spicy but flavorful. The picture I included was the piri piri chicken which I really enjoyed as well! The staff members were so friendly and welcoming as well. 10/10 highly recommend! read more

LATHA - Pineapple Piri Piri Chicken - African Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

Pan-African food was completely new to us and Latha knocked it out of the park. It's tucked inside the historic Silva House at Heritage Square and feels like walking into an elegant dinner party, not a restaurant. Warm, intimate, and genuinely special. What we ordered: The tamarind barbacoa wings are a must-order. Suya spice dry rub, perfectly juicy, with a serious spice kick -- and squeezing the fresh lemon over the top completely transforms the flavor. This might be the best restaurant chicken I've ever had. The oxtail barbacoa over housemade mac and cheese is their most popular dish for good reason. Fall-off-the-bone tender, incredibly rich, and the mac and cheese pairing is unexpected but totally works. My husband's adobo rub pork chop over sweet potato puree was equally impressive -- perfectly cooked, not a drop of moisture lost. The staff even sent us home with a complimentary Chocolate Brigadeiro (avocado mousse, sorrel, date jam) -- rich, smooth, and the perfect ending. Service was warm and knowledgeable throughout. If you've never tried Pan-African cuisine and want something genuinely different in Phoenix, Latha is the move. We'll be back. read more

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Went back to Latha and brought out of town guests. It did not disappoint! The host gave us a little tour of the bar and shop (didn't know the shop was there last time), introduced us to one of the owners who was there and the singer who was entertaining that night. She had an amazing voice! The drinks and food were all fantastic. I will need to get the shrimp aguachile and burnt onion hummus every time I go! I also bought some coffee in the shop that is really good. It was not an inexpensive night but it's worth it! read more

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Definitely come here for the happy hour as there is a good selection of food items and drinks that are slightly cheaper. My favorite item by far was the Lata burger as it was very juicy and the perfect amount of Pimento cheese. The service was friendly and the food came out quite fast. We came at the start of happy hour and it wasn't as busy, but by the time dinner time hit, it was packed. So make a reservation if you plan to come around peak dinner time. It was my first time trying Pan African food and it was very tasty. The persimmon topping they had on the pork chop was spectacular! read more

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i will start with the food here is a 5/5, and every dish had perfect flavor and seasoning. When we sat we were asked if we wanted still or sparking water. Thinking still was tap we were given one bottle of a clearly non tap water, abd then a refill bottle of tap water. We were charged $18 for water on our bill. I asked about this and our server thought we were given two of the nicer bottles... We ordered hummus as a starter. It was. as stated above, delicious and a 5/5. The portion, pictured, is not very large and comes with only one piece of bread. We were asked if we needed additional bread or plaintain chips. This was not clearly stated as another additional charge of $6. Given that the vegetables are inside the hummus, I am not sure how we would have been able to enjoy it without just using our forks if not the chips or more bread. Now for the mains. Our table ordered the Dayboat Fish, Awaze Chicken, Wagyu Flat, and Lamb Griot. All were excellent, and the Chicken and Lamb are pictured. From the time we placed our mains to the time they got to the table was roughly 55 minutes. This would have been fine if we were told ahead of time as the hummus was not sufficient for 4 people, or if given some type or table bread or crackers...but at close to the 30 minute mark our server came over and asked if we wanted another round of drinks as our food would "be right out" The sides I felt were not worthwhile, and I was the only one at the table who had more than one bite of the rice or broccolni, the latter of which I thought was bland and undercooked. Overall, I would be interested in take-out, but the nickel and dime additions without warning on the water (which I thought was tap) and plaintains were a bit of a turn-off, and knowing that the mains take a long time would have changed my order. Note: I would have given 3.5 or 4 stars for this meal itself, but the last time I went I waited at my table for over an hour before getting my drink order...so I feel a theme. read more

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Latha was so incredible!! The staff were all SO friendly and all the food was amazing. I made a reservation for Friday night and my friend and I split the whipped goat cheese to start and I got a pineapple passion fruit mojito. For my entree I initially ordered the oxtail barbacoa which was delicious but the pasta was way too spicy for me. The staff made sure to get me a different dish I could eat so I got the pork chop per their recommendation. Lastly, my friend and I split the chocolate torta. The flavors of all the dishes were perfect! We sat on the patio but the restaurant is a converted house and they have a room with merchandise as well. read more

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I was excited to try this place and it was pretty good, but I think all of our expectations were a bit higher. We really enjoyed our evening and the food was good for the most part, but my boyfriend thought the halibut was quite bland and lacking flavor. I had the oxtail and it was fantastic, but I wasn't a huge fan of the mac and cheese. I sort of felt like if I'm ordering one of the most expensive items on the menu that it would maybe come with some vegetables or a different side dish. You could order sides extra so I did get a side salad, which was good. We also really enjoyed our appetizers. The shrimp with avocado was excellent and the whipped goat cheese was also really nice. read more

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I visited Latha for Restaurant Week and had a truly enjoyable experience. Evalina, part-owner, greeted me warmly right at the entrance, setting a welcoming tone for the evening. Our server, Angelina, was absolutely phenomenal--attentive, friendly, and made great recommendations. I started with the Rum Punch, which was decent--not the standout of the night, but a refreshing way to ease into the meal. The Pineapple Piri Piri Chicken was a solid choice--flavorful and satisfying. But the true MVP? The Caribbean Honey Hot Wings. I asked for them well done to be on the safe side, and wow--they brought the heat in the best way. Spicy, yes, but incredibly tasty. I'd come back for those wings alone. For dessert, I tried the Roasted Strawberries and Cream Cake. It was a really good end to the meal--especially the cake itself. I'm not usually one for fruit in my desserts, but I could definitely appreciate how well-executed it was. All in all, a delightful experience. I'll be returning soon--and you guessed it, I'm having a second helping of those hot wings. Bonus points: they even have a small store inside where you can pick up items to take home, such as the hot sauce they use on the wings, which is made in house and that added a fun and unexpected twist to the visit. read more

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This is one of our absolute favorite places to eat in Arizona. We truly love and appreciate how Pan-African cultures are honored and woven into every recipe. We started with the watermelon salad and goat cheese salad, which is always a hit, and the bread that comes with it is so delicious. The ambiance is so intimate and the service is great! Every time I've visited before, the oxtail was sold out--so I was thrilled they had it available this time, and it did not disappoint. It was phenomenal. The macaroni and cheese was perfectly cheesy and incredibly creamy--honestly, it tasted like the noodle itself was cheese. My husband ordered the chicken, which was also excellent. But the real star of the show was dessert. The pound cake, served warm, was beyond delicious and absolutely incredible. This place is truly a gem, and we love it beyond measure. Highly recommend! We love this establishment and wish it many more blessings! read more