Everything about Fatou & Fama -- West Philadelphia's new Senegalese restaurant -- seems odd. The menu advertises West African, Soul Food, and West Indian cuisine; the wait and kitchen staff are all relatives who appear to be conversing over a family dinner rather than running a business, and the d‚cor is both spare and beautifully adorned with African artwork. However, the customer is advised on the menu to "come taste my vision" -- and the vision is absolutely delicious.
Fatou & Fama is the brainchild of Fatou N'diaye, an immigrant of Senegal who opened it just over a year ago. Although the food is cheap -- with appetizers running at $3.95 and entrees ranging from $8.95 to $12.95 -- the taste is as regal as the owner herself. With a royal gait, smooth and buttery skin, and a smile as inviting as your grandmother's, Fatou is the best advertisement for her own restaurant. The cuisine, which is made out of "love and care" is both savory and bold. The oxtail stew special ($10) -- stewed oxtail cooked with onions, green peppers, garlic and fresh tomatoes -- is a gem. The rich meat is served on the bone and literally melts in your mouth. The baked catfish is unlike any fish I have ever tasted -- tangy and juicy with hints of lemon and mustard. The Yassa chicken -- fresh-grilled chicken marinated with garlic, mustard and lemon, cooked in a brown onion sauce and served over white rice -- is also a good find at $8.95. Other items on the menu include fried plantains, served with hot pepper sauce ($3.95), stewed red snapper ($11.95), southern fried chicken ($8.95), and Chebujen -- the Senegalese national dish which consists of fish marinated with herbs and spices, cooked with a variety of vegetables and served with either red or white sauce, depending on the day at $10.95. Choices of side dishes run the gamut from crunchy mac and cheese, to the pungently sweet and spicy candied yams.
Fatou & Fama, in accordance with its casual atmosphere, is BYOB and wine is served in tall water glasses. Since the service is not the fastest, bringing a couple bottles of alcohol to sip as you wait for your food is recommended.
Fatou & Fama is open Tuesday through Thursday from 11a.m.-10p.m., Friday through Saturday from 11a.m.-11p.m., and Sunday noon-8p.m. A buffet menu, including dessert, is also available Tuesday through Friday for $7.95.
