Africana Restaurant and Lounge
2701 Atwood Avenue
Madison, WI
The Eaters have always been big fans of African cuisine, owing from our great experiences at places like Au Village in Paris and, most recently, Ethiopian Diamond in Chicago. In Madison, African fare has traditionally been the territory of East African-centered Buraka on State Street – that is until Africana opened its doors earlier this year on Madison’s east side. Co-owners Yul Ouattara and Zeba Mamadou have created a restaurant that brings together a number of tasty, and well-priced West African dishes that provide filling for a gaping hole in Madison’s fairly balanced global cuisine scene.
I (M) went straight for the maffe. The words “peanut sauce,” “tomatoes,” and “African spices” lept off the menu page, and minutes later I was presented with an aromatic blend of all the above ingredients along with fufu, a traditional West African food accompaniment of pounded yams. While quite tasty, admittedly the dish was not what I expected. Rather than a stew, the tomatoes, onions, and peanuts had all been pounded into the sauce and poured over the chicken. In an interview, the co-owners said they scaled down the food’s spiciness (probably for the softer palate of American audiences), but I really think this dish could have benefited from more spice and more heat. What I really underestimated was the fufu – thick, heavy, and filling, it was almost impossible to finish half of what I was served without my stomach expanding to maximum size. The fufu alone would have been a hearty meal, but combined with the maffe it was nearly impossible to finish the food I was given.
L had Yassa, a Senegalese dish of lemon-marinated chicken with onions and mustard sauce served on a bed of white rice. 
The mustard sauce was flavorful, yet delicate. The chicken was fall-off-the-bone tender and was marinated in the same mustard sauce. However, this dish is not for anyone who doesn’t like onions. L didn’t mind them, but there were a few too many for her personal taste.
During our meal, Zeba, the assistant manager, came to meet with us and chatted about the restaurant and the food. Throughout our meal, the service was very friendly, and the atmosphere welcoming. We’ll definitely be back to sample some more dishes. We also hear they have some good music and dancing at night – and free WiFi!
1 Comment
September 16, 2008 at 8:40 AM
This looks like a yummy place, thanks for sharing your review & lovely photos.