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Bissap Baobab
Category: Restaurants African African [Edit]
3372 19th St(between Capp St & Mission St)
San Francisco, CA 94110
Neighborhood: Mission
(415) 826-9287
- Hours:
Tue-Sun 6 pm - 10:30 pm
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Very Loud
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
572 reviews for Bissap Baobab
Review Highlights
"Amazing introduction to Senegalese food."
(in 63 reviews)
"The sauce for the fried plantains was also quite yum."
(in 51 reviews)
"My favorite was the Seafood Coconut with red rice."
(in 30 reviews)
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572 reviews in English
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Review from Shirley L.
San Francisco, CA
2/8/2012
I can officially say this place earns my 5 stars. I've been here for lunch/dinner before when the restaurant used to be on Mission St, here for my birthday gathering (heyyy free birthday pitcher!), and because of my recent discovery...HAPPY HOUR!
who knew this hidden happy hour (5-7PM) gem of culture existed. The Baobab Coupe Decale was what got me: your choice of 1 appitizer, 1 entree, and 1 cocktail drink for $20. (and for $5 more your choice of dessert which I highly suggest). The HH menu will never get old because you can choose what you want and its not all the fried carb-y stuff thats usually happy hour food.
cocktail: Sorange- whiskey, tamarind, orange juice.
appetizer: Pastelles- deep fried goodness filled with marinated beef or feta & spinach or tuna. It was like a cross between a empanada and a peroski.
entree: (always) the Yassa- marinated onions in a lemon, garlic and mustard sauce with Chicken. Love everything about this, the sauce, how the tender chicken falls off the bone, and the sweetness of the onion.
dessert: Banana Flambee- bananas sautéed in butter & rum with vanilla ice cream. It. was. yums. i thought nothing gets better than a banana split, but the rum syrup was a definite win with the rich vanilla ice cream.
i splitted this and was full and had a good buzz going. The restaurant is cute and intimate, and very colorful inside. They got reggae nights too if you dig that. The bartenders and servers are always friendly! What up to "Bye?" the bartender (not sure how to spell her name) on the service, generosity, and her film buff knowledge. Definitely going to return (if my work schedule permits me) to come back for more happy hour. Where else can you get Franziskaner beer for 3 bucks in sf during hh, someone please tell me?
come.get.some. -
Review from JoAnn G.
San Francisco, CA
2/3/2012
Came here for the 1st time with a girl friend after work. The lovely bartender told us her favorite drink was the fleur so we tried it- mmm whiskey ginger cocktail... refreshing and delicious. The yucca fries with fresh guac for dipping was fingerlicking good. I ordered the tilapia coconut dish with rice- sooo creamy and the fish was seasoned and cooked really well. Service was great from all 3 peeps working the front room- super chill yet attentive.
Oh, and between 5-7, you can get an app, entree and cocktail for $20! I already know I'll be back next week with my man-man. -
Review from Beth W.
San Francisco, CA
12/10/2011
The good: We were welcomed into the restaurant and seated a few minutes early, even though it wasn't our reservation time yet. The drinks were yummy (I had a hibiscus margarita; my date had the hot ginger, since he was nursing a cold) and the meals were flavorful and unique. I had the riz au kari (rice and curry) with lamb -- this is not an Asian curry, though it certainly resonates with that -- it has much more in common with the rich spices of Ethiopean food. My date had the tilapia dish, which came with a massive amount of food.
The so-so: Our waitress was somewhat inattentive; she didn't mark down our appetizer (chips and guacamole), and when I asked whether they were corn chips, she then brought the dish to our table without confirming what kind of chips they would be. We had to flag someone down after a long wait to get our check. And, especially towards the end, it was pretty loud and we had to shout to hear each other.
The amusing: we were seated next to a couple who may or may not have been on their first date. Their conversation was mind-numbing. He went on and on about how he falls in love too easily and how women also tend to fall in love with him. She bragged about her ability to introduce people to new kinds of food. It was a huge weird ego-fest. And, since the tables in this place are so close together, we were practically part of the conversation. Are all first dates like that?
We'd definitely go back -- for the food and the drinks. After all, what are the odds we'll be seated next to those people again? -
Review from Johnny W.
San Francisco, CA
1/30/2012
I really loved the ambience and live music, which took the experience to a whole different level for me. The food was great, and generally had an all-around good experience.
Two criticisms: The drink service was especially slow, and it took about 10 minutes for water and drinks from the bar to arrive. For the second round they sent too much beer, which was comped, so that sort of made up for it. The "infused" rum is basically just a pina colada, and the menu description is very misleading. One would expect an infused rum to be basically full proof rum, with bits of fruit floating around in it, but it's actually a creamy, sweet, and weak cocktail. I don't know what they make it with, but it's not worth the $8/glass $85/pitcher they charge for it. -
Review from Mayra L.
San Francisco, CA
11/23/2011
I came never have enough of their Hibiscus margaritas! seriously, those things are AMAZING..
OK, now that that's out of the way, let me explain to you the many reasons I love Bissap. They have a delicious variety of traditional Senegalese food, with a lot of vegetarian options.
I usually order the riz au cari when I'm there, which is vegetables in a red curry sauce with couscous. I have also tried the Mafe and the yassi, which are both equally delicious. Their fried yucca is also a good way to start the meal off.
Their drinks are one of my favorites. The Tatu and the Flamboyant are delicious. The Tatu is a hibiscus margarita and the Flamboyant is vodka, hibiscus and lime. Equally delicious.
The atmosphere and service is great as well. I think this is a great place to go if you want to try something new. -
Review from Mack S.
San Francisco, CA
1/20/2012
Great drinks! I also really enjoyed the food. I'm not a vegetarian, but skipped the meat for this meal and didn't miss it one bit (opted for the crispy tofu, which was great!) The place is small and was very busy when we were there. There seemed to be only 2 servers handling the whole place. They were perfectly friendly, but clearly sweating it out. They would switch on us occasionally, leading us to some concern that our order might get messed up; however, everything came out just fine and with good pacing. They also had a "before 7pm" three course meal + drink for $25 - we got there just a few minutes before 7 and they were happy to let us take advantage of that, which was great.
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Review from Danielle L.
San Mateo, CA
10/31/2011
Wow. Awful service and they weren't even full. I had to ask three times for our drinks, they never brought water or the appetizers we ordered, (I asked for water twice before giving up) it was impossible to get the waiters attention, and they delivered our second pitcher of drinks after we finished eating.
To top it off, the "Riz au Cari" with lamb...tasted and looked like skirt steak. Both of us at the table who got it agreed,and we had others at the table taste it as well...it tasted nothing like lamb, everything like cheap skirt steak.
The rice that came with it was cold, and, in terms of sanitation, I could see the guy in the back pulling out meat from a tub that was not refrigerated, but sitting on a table the entire time (the two hours it took for them to feed us our entrees), not washing his hands or using a towel in between touching the raw meat and the plates that were coming out. Lovely.
But heck, what do I know? Would I recommend? Not in your life. Would I go back? Maybe if someone paid me. Maybe. Well, no, not really. I would be afraid of contracting something.
One star...the drinks did taste good, when we finally got them. -
Review from Mike V.
Came here for a fund-raising event to combat hunger in Africa, but I stayed for the music (amazing band, great vibe, very fun to dance to), and stayed even longer because they had franziskaner on tap for $4.
Great location (hidden a little between the two main drags off Mission). Chill vibe. Good place to hold down a long conversation (or many short ones between songs).
I'll definitely be back and look forward to trying the food next door at Little Baobab. -
Review from Jennifer C.
San Francisco, CA
1/7/2012
I was excited to finally try this place! The hibiscus margarita was just as delicious as everyone says it is. I got the lamb but had a bite of my friends fish and it was delicious. The lamb was good too but I would get the fish next time.
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Review from Robert Q.
San Leandro, CA
12/18/2011
One of my favorite places in the City!
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Review from Becca S.
10/3/2011 Seated via OpenTable
As often happens, I had been planning on trying Bissap Baobab for quite a while. I live nowhere near the Mission and am hardly self-motivated, so found it relatively difficult to get there. And yet, as will happen, an opportunity presented itself, and I found myself at Baobab for my boyfriend's birthday (his 31st, if you must know). Having also taken him to the Greek festival that day, we had done our fair share of eating, so I was simultaneously loving and loathing the idea of eating more.
The first thing I noticed was the very friendly ambiance. It's dark, wooden, colorful, cozy, and yet trendy and funky in a way that made me feel pretty cool for being there. If you've read my other reviews, you'll know "Does this place make me feel cool?" is a fairly non-negotiable criterium.
Anyway, we had heard the drinks were good, so we ordered some. And they were good! Don't you love how simple life is sometimes? They have all sorts of wonderful, exotic drinks featuring hibiscus juice, ginger, and tamarind juice. They weren't terribly strong, which is of course good for all you cheap dates out there. For everyone else, why not order two?
The food was certainly the star of the show. I knew it was going to be a good meal when we got the Avocat Creole and I got to taste a nice big mouthful of crab salad seated atop a half avocado. It tasted every bit as good I thought it was going to, and the flavors and textures melded perfectly, and creamily so. For my entree, I had the Yassa with tilapia, and that was pretty fantastic as well. The fish was cooked perfectly, was tender, and was a hefty hunk of filet. The onions were caramelized, and the sauce was tangy and spicy. The fluffy, buttery couscous was a perfect foil and as much eating as we had already done that day, I ate the whole plate. Dessert also looked delicious, but instead we opted to roll ourselves home.
Service was very friendly, and my companions' dishes looked (and tasted! I had bites) every bit as delectable as mine. My boyfriend had a good birthday, and I had a good my-boyfriend's-birthday. I love when that happens - don't you? -
Review from Matt S.
San Francisco, CA
5/18/2011
So we go to Baobab Tuesday to celebrate the birthdays of two friends. One whose birthday falls on a Monday, and the other whose falls on Wednesday. (this is important to the story)
We arrive very thirsty and see that they have a special birthday deal on cocktail pitchers: buy one get one free. Awesome!
After getting really excited about this our server (who we later find out is also the manager) tells us that she wont do the special for us because one birthday was yesterday and the other is tomorrow. Are you kidding me?
We came here with a huge party JUST to celebrate two birthdays and you are going to pull this technicality shit? The worst part is she makes it seem like we are trying to swindle her or something. We came here specifically to celebrate a birthday. We have cake with candles. We are not scammers.
Treating your customers like this is just bad business.
They get an extra star because the appetizers were actually pretty good. I would have enjoyed the cocktails too were it not for the bad taste left in my mouth from the birthday ordeal. -
Review from Christine K.
San Francisco, CA
7/8/2011
Good food!
I'm not well-versed in African food, but I really dug this place. Maybe it was the fact we had a party of 8 and we sat at the biggest table in the joint. Maybe it was because the waiters were friendly and chill. Maybe because the food was solid and well-priced. In any case, it was definitely worth the visit.
We sampled everyone's food, which was a variety of fish, lamb, chicken... dibi, mafe, coco, etc... all tasty.
Yum: Lamb dibi- simple, clean flavors.
Meh: Crevette coco (sauteed shrimps in coconut sauce with couscous and roasted veggies). Too much sauce in my book. -
Review from Taffany H.
Berkeley, CA
6/29/2011
When my brother's friend suggested that we meet him up at some place sounding like we were in for another night of "Pizza," I was like, well ok...I guess...
But that was good! Because we were actually having Senegalese food, yes! I didn't know what to expect and was pretty hungry for something new. Bissap's food is on the slow side--meaning, be prepared to wait for your food. But for us, it was worth the wait since the food was YUM.
I especially liked the chicken dish...can't quite recall the name. There were about 6 of us and we basically ordered one of each from the whole menu and I would vouch for all of them.
My tips for you is this, sit down, relax, order some drinks and appetizer, and just get ready to be wowed by their food. Then wait a bit for your food to digest, because the bill will also come just as slowly as the food. Yah' man...just relax...enjoy your meal and let Bissap show you the way... -
Review from Tam T.
5/27/2011
I found this place on yelp and wanted to try something new.
Another prime example of eating with my eyes. 4 people, 10 dishes. We wanted everything on the menu.
Ratings from 1 to 5, 5 being great:
Aloka (plaintain and Tamarind Sauce) - 4
Avocado Creole - It had fries and crab like things, not sure what it was. 3
Somone(mashed potatoe with avocado dip) 2
Pastelles (Deep friend something with beef) 4
Gambas (shrimp and Pita) 4
Riz Au Cari ( Shrimp Curry) 5
Yassa (Chicken) 5
Seafood Coconut 5
Dibi Lamb 5
Mafe (chicken and peanut sauce) 5
Everything looked a bit similar, but they all had different taste. I love this place. I want to get married here. -
Review from Rani V.
San Francisco, CA
4/10/2011
Went here last night. It was okay. We ordered the plantains, fried potatoes and the tofu with peanut sauce. Service was extremely slow even though we arrived at 9pm (seemingly after the dinner rush). Didn't really like the food (uninspired, under-seasoned and kinda dull), and I found the vibe to be kinda weird. An uber trendy place that served West African food while looping hip hop videos. It does its job catering to the neighborhood hipsters but it all felt inauthentic to me.
I realize that vegetarian food isn't a highlight of Senegalese cuisine, but I've been to other West African restaurants that manage to be a bit more creative. I saw nary a legume or any veggies (in the entree) other than potatoes and carrots. A little disappointed. Perhaps the non-veg items are better tasting. -
Review from Cihan G.
San Francisco, CA
9/30/2011 1 Check-in Here
I have to say I was a little bit disappointed with this place. Although the food was decent and the menu was reasonably priced the service sucked big time. Even though we had a reservation we had to wait 15 minutes at the door to get in, and then we were seated next to a 6 people group with a tiny table. The appetizer came with the main dishes and we couldn't even fit the plates on the table. I guess the main problem is the consolidation of the restaurant and dance club, but think twice before considering this place.
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Review from Ryan D.
San Francisco, CA
4/5/2011 1 Check-in Here
Can't believe that this place's reviews have dropped. Are people seriously dropping the rating because it's crowded? Get with it folks - that's what happens when the food is really, really tasty.
Think of chicken falling off the bone it's so tender, with a gravy that amps up the succulence to the point that you would drink a cup of it and want more. Their avocado salad is surprisingly savoury (get it!). If you're in the hood, drop in, check it out. You won't regret it. -
Review from Mary M.
San Francisco, CA
4/1/2011
The food was okay, not as good as I remembered from a few years ago. Menu seems to have changed, they don't have the grilled lamb that was so amazing. But their plantains are as yummy as ever.
Meats were a little dried out, and the pastilles (I think that's how you spell it) didn't have half the meat that I remembered it having.
Overall pretty disappointing, but since I have a http://Restaurant.com coupon I'll probably go back. -
Review from the fuzzies s.
San Jose, CA
1/15/2011 1 photo
This is gonna be my new kick-it spot! me likey!
love the atmosphere, love the service and folks inside, love the food, and love the sangria (though, it could be stronger...I make my sangrias strong)
i think i'll just throw out some adjectives to describe the place ::
sexy
chill
healthy
unique
good vibes
the whole dining experience was great! -
Review from Colin M.
San Francisco, CA
3/6/2011
Sorry, not Senegalese food. TexMex yes.
Great for those who love California cuisine, and for that type of food it would deserve more stars. But, I went there hoping to get that Senegalese food that I love, and was very sad :( when I got the same food I would have at chevy's.
Btw if you order the food with senegalese pronunciation it will take you pointing at the menu for the waitress to know what your ordering. -
Review from Lolita D.
Oakland, CA
1/29/2011 1 Check-in Here
What a great find!
The food was really tasty, and the service was friendly and fast.
The atmosphere is really fun too!
We had the plantains and they were yummy, they came with a great sauce... and I love sauce. The gambas (prawns) were a good flavor as well. We had the avocado creole as well and it was good, maybe a little mayonaisy... but it reminded me of some Chilean food my mom makes...
The cocktails were great and really well priced, I had a hibiscus margarita =) -
Review from lonni f.
San Jose, CA
5/30/2011
Went for the first time with a group of 5 other people last night, and the food is awesome. We started off with the fried plantains & sauted shrimp. The plantains were tasty, but the shrimp was so spicy & delicious. For my main course, I got the Dibi (chicken, marinated onions, plantains, salad & couscous), and it was really comforting and delicious.
One warning, there's a sign in the front window that they're moving/consolidating out of the current location effective June 1. It wasn't clear if the current menu was going to still be available at the new location. -
Review from elmira k.
San Francisco, CA
10/4/2011
Great food the only set back was the slow tservice. The waitress kept on asking us what we orderered.The desserts where pretty good to.
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Review from Sandy L.
Oakland, CA
Updated - 5/15/2011
Banana flambee. Oh. My. God.
When you read the description for that dish, you're like WTF? Bananas in rum and butter? Uh, yeah. I bypassed that and tried it anyways.
Oh. My. God.
Warm chocolate souffle, you gots some competition.Listed in: Sandy's Staples
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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11/14/2010
Came here for happy hour once and came back for the food as part of my project for my food place.
… Read more »
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Review from Aditi G.
South Bend, IN
4/23/2011
This place is so funky and the decor is awesome! When you walk in you see a bar right in front of you with the front of a blue car attached to it, thatched material covers the ceiling and there are bright colors and beautiful African artwork covering the walls.
I got the Yassa with tilapia over rice and it was delicious! Also got the Flamboyant cocktail that was made with hibiscus juice and it was so refreshing! This place is unique and will definitely hit the spot! -
Review from Jeanne C.
San Francisco, CA
3/3/2011
HIBISCUS MARGARITA
Hibiscus margarita, Hibiscus margarita, Hibiscus margarita, Hibiscus margarita, Hibiscus margarita!!! I want one now!
Why did I wait so many years to try this place?! I was wary walking in to see the bar built with 2 by 4s and angle brackets, makeshift bar tables and various nick-nacks. Not to mention the bar has the front of a jeep sticking out of it and tires that are not bolted to anything. My friend's little boy tried to roll one away but was distracted by the horn on the bar, luckily... I guess the charm makes it a fun place to eat and reminded me of a beach bar in the Caribbean.
Food is good, drinks are great and staff are friendly. I'm already planning my next trip back! -
Review from Sunshine S.
San Francisco, CA
Updated - 3/1/2011
Okay I have been to Bissap a few times since my last review and each one was amazing. We most recently dined here for my birthday and the service was impeccable along with the food.
Thankfully, Bissap is less than two blocks from my home, so when I get the craving for their out of this world Lamb Dibbi, I can have it as often as I please.
I have to say Bissap Baobab has the best lamb I have ever tasted. Cooked to perfection, mmmmm, my mouth is watering while I write this!Listed in: My Neighborhood
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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1/25/2011
Finally tried this place. I have lived around the corner for years and never managed to eat here. … Read more »
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Review from Shannon R.
San Francisco, CA
9/22/2010 1 Check-in Here
So delicious & so close to home! I love it here. Been going to the club since the early days but it took me a little longer to experience the restaurant. I have probably been five times now...my BF used to work there & knows most of the crew, so we get treated well when we show up! Dibi and Yassa fish with couscous are my faves, I can never seem to remember which one I love more, so I just alternate between the two. Boyf loves chicken mafe. The fried plantains with the tamarind dipping sauce are just TOO GOOD - almost like a dessert but on the main menu. The cocktails are also spot-on, I personally always get "the rose" ... you will like it if you like ginger...the flavors are so nice, its real easy to throw back a drink or FIVE with dinner!!! ;)
I don't know that much about Senegal or its cuisine but everything here is scrumptious. As a fellow patron said loudly while we were standing outside after our meal most recently, "Senegal is a Muslim country so I'm surprised this place has a BAR!" Well - authentic or not, eating & drinking here is always a pleasant experience & I think most American palates (and international ones, for that matter) would agree!!!Listed in: hottest TWENTYTEN discoveries…
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Review from Alex C.
1/8/2011
Senegal food in san francisco, who knew?!
i love the atmosphere here. I've been here three times, and every time i always feel as though i'm on a date... but i've only been here with my friends. loser status? i know. but then again, i am the self-proclaimed 'ambassador of the singles community'..
anyways. the food is delicious. I always order the dibi, which it a plate of protein (fish, lamb, or chicken), a mixed green salad, sauteed plantains, couscous or white rice. the fish and chicken are offered in generous helpings. and everything else taste great. I esp. love the sauteed plantains.
drinks are a must! they have fresh ginger, hibiscus, and other type of fruit juice. which goes well with their margaritas. also, the staff is always friendly, helpful, and always has a pocket full of recommendations.
would definitely return, whether or not i'm still the ambassador of the singles community. just saying.Listed in: default eats
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Review from Mike B.
Oakland, CA
6/27/2011
Good:
Pleasant, homey atmosphere
Exciting-sounding cocktails
Coconut-shrimp curry
Simultaneously comfort food yet slightly unfamiliar (for me) dishes
Less good:
Uncomfortable chairs and small tables
Those exciting-sounding cocktails are pricey and bland
Entrees could use some vegetables built in
Bottom line:
I'd come here once in a while if it were close by, and I'd be happy. But it's not worth a special trip from the East Bay. Word to the wise: they have some very good deals if you come at the right time and get a combo deal. -
Review from Le T.
San Francisco, CA
6/25/2011
We went here with a group of 10 for a birthday celebration. They wouldn't give us a free pitcher as advertised because it was technically one day after the birthday.
We sat around for about half an hour before someone came to take our drinks, but then he ran off before anyone had a chance to say anything. A few minutes later a waitress came to take our order. The wait for food was not too bad.
We sat next to the windows and the sun was setting so it was getting dark. We repeatedly complained about getting some of the lamps turned on because we couldn't see our food. After about 20 minutes of eating in the dark, the manager finally came by to turn on a desk lamp mounted on the loft above our table.
The food was decent. I would come back if it wasn't for the terrible service. A while after we finished eating, we had to chase them down to get the checks. We asked to charge on several cards, and they refused because they won't charge more than 2 cards. We explained that the service experience had been subpar so they accommodated our request. However, it took another 30 minutes after we gave them our credit cards before we had to chase them down again to get them back.
Food - good
Service - eating in the dark and chasing after waiters to get the most basic restaurant service, not so good. -
Review from Gurpreet S.
San Francisco, CA
9/22/2010 1 Check-in Here
Senegalese food. What is that you ask? I'm still not quite sure, but whatever I ate was quite delicious.
Servings are just about right for a single person. Drinks are A-OK, nothing fancy, nothing strong.
Service was not that great, but I guess they were crowded.
I came away confused.. I liked the food, but not sure I felt the ambience was right for some reason. -
Review from Jocelyn B.
San Mateo, CA
8/1/2010
I'm more familiar with Ghanaian food than with Senegalese food, but there is a thread of flavors and ingredients running through West African food. And I miss Ghanaian food as badly as I missed burgers and tacos when I lived in Ghana.
We were in The City for a friend's SF directorial debut at a theatre on Mission, so were driving along looking for Mi Lindo Peru, based on my Yelp research. Out of the corner of my eye I spotted a bright yellow awning, "Senegalese Food", and I nearly screeched to a stop announcing to BF that our dinner plans just changed. It's hard to satisfy African Food cravings and it's hard to recreate the dishes when you haven't grown up cooking them. So I was ecstatic to get to have at least some of the flavors and textures I miss so much from living in Ghana, and living with my Ghanaian ex.
First, they don't have any hours posted, and at five to six, didn't appear to be open. For brevity's sake, they were open, but not seating. They have a nice, small, bar, with some region-inspired cocktails. I was disappointed that they only had Red Stripe (Jamaica) and no African beers. Star was my favorite... bottled in Ghana, I don't know how prevalent it was/is through West Africa, but a girl can hope.
Before the bartender turned his attention to us, we were seated. We ordered Akolo (friend plantain with tamarind sauce) for appetizer, Mafe (chicken stewed in a peanut sauce) with rice and Thiepdien, red snapper stewed in a tomato sauce with vegetables, served with djolof rice. I was excited about the plantain, djolof and peanut stew because these are familiar things from Ghana and djolof especially is a multi-layered rice dish with little regional variation.
I was surprised that our dishes came so quickly, but they probably had been cooked all day and just needed to be plated, so I was more than happy to get this party started. However I was disappointed by portion size. If you know anything about African food, you know you have a lot of starch served with a stew or sauce... and we received a meager scoop of rice and djolof.
The Akolo was delicious and the best friend plantain I've had in a while. The tamarind sauce was mild, but a nice compliment to the plantain.
The Thiepdien was also delicious, but I expected more heat, and a bit more snapper. Our plate only had three small pieces, maybe an ounce each. Also the accompanying djolof was just what I was looking for, there merely wasn't enough of it on the plate. But I would order this again.
The Ghanaian dish I was hoping the Mafe reflected is called Groundnut Stew and though the Mafe is a significantly different dish, I was disappointed in the execution. The peanut sauce was grainy and a bit too sweet. The chicken on our plate must have been stuck at the bottom of the pot all day because it had a hard, over-cooked edge that was inedible. With one small scoop of slightly dry white rice, there wasn't enough on the plate. Despite my disappointment, I liked the dish, but it could stand some improvements.
Bissap Baobab doesn't have a very large menu with six appetizers and six main courses, and it's apparent that they've tried to westernize the dishes. (http://www.bissapbaoba...)
What I really want is some authentic, hearty, West African food in a restaurant that only provides silverware if you ask for it. I like my fufu eaten with my fingers, and you can hold the tamarind sauce with the plantain. -
Review from rocio s.
San Lorenzo, CA
7/29/2010
The owner is always around and makes sure everyone is happy. The food is delicious and the drinks are even better. I looooove the coconut infused rum, i swear I can swim in it.
I'd like to see a bigger menu or for it to change with seasons.
I love the vibe there, I feel at home.
If you are in SF, you have to come here, and experience the diversity of this charming city. For reals, Senegalese food next door to Carribean food in the Latin/Hipster neighborhood....welcome to sf -
Review from Vanilla C.
Los Angeles, CA
10/10/2010
I went there a few years ago and enjoyed the food. I went on a busy busy as heck Friday night. I went there early enough to avoid the musical crowd that was about the filter in. The band was getting ready. The place attracts a diverse crowd ethnically and usually on the younger side.
In any event, the place is noisy and very eclectic, so if you like that kind of vibe during the night, then this is the place for you. I prefer to go during the day if I could to avoid the noise.
The food what good, I had the "cari Volaille" ( Grilled Chicken Breast with curry sauce and vegies. Good price and you got a great deal of food for the price. It was not to spicy, it was just right for me.
3.5 stars for the food.
3 stars for the service
2 stars for the noise level -
Review from Candida R.
Fair Oaks, CA
12/31/2010
On a night out with work mates, we stopped at this place for some dinner before going to a show. I was a little leery of African food, mainly due to watching too much Andrew Zimmerman.
It's a small restaurant, very homey. The staff (maybe owner?) was very friendly and made us feel at home. There was plenty of space between each table and I love the decor.
We started with a few cocktails. I don't remember the name of the one I had, but it was tropical and awesome. Dangerous even, I could have had 10 of them!
I ordered the coconut shrimp with cous-cous. I am not sure what is in the sauce, but it was by far one fo the best meals of 2010. I could have eaten another plate of it, and their portions are generous.
I am looking forward to coming here again, and soon! -
Review from Kelson H.
San Francisco, CA
12/29/2010
Can't say I've had too much African food, but no matter I'm always up for new things. The atmosphere is neat wall paintings and grass mats on the ceilings. The place was jamming with large groups and food was flying out of the kitchen all night.
Started off with the Aloko - fried plaintains with tamarind sauce
(A tasty way to start off the meal)
Entree:
Dibi with Lamb couscous, salad and aloko. (The lamb was really tasty and the dish is something I'd order again. The flavors really tantalized the taste buds.)
Crevette coco - sauteed shrimps in coconut sauce with couscous and roasted veggies. (I thought the sauce was a bit much, but if you like coconut that might change your tune.)
If you need a nice place for groups, this seems to be the place. The service was a little slow due to the fact of their being only one waiter and one server. If you ask for hot sauce, its gonna kick your ass, so be ready. The menu is concise and it makes for easier decision making.
Decor:4
Food:3
Service:2
Would I go back? If I was in the area and up for African food sure. -
Review from Jennifer K.
San Francisco, CA
1/6/2011
Really good food and great for events. Worth visiting again!
They do chicken the way I imagine it's supposed to be done! The food is simple (it's African food, duh!) but really well done. -
Review from Julie B.
San Mateo, CA
8/12/2010
The food is good, cheap and filling.
Senegalese food reminds me alot like Caribbean food. Any dish that comes with rice and fried plantains are winners in my book! The place is very chill and after you chill you can drink it up at cha cha chas which is right next door.
