At Thieyp, the motto is “rice and peace” – and they mean it! In the heart of the Matonge neighborhood, Papy, Aurélie and Félix serve down-to-earth West African home cooking, centered on the grain that anchors every meal. The rule is simple: two mains on the menu each day, no more, cooked just as they would be at home. That evening, juicy chicken fritters dunked in a delirious garlic sauce set the tone, before a deeply comforting mafé featuring XXL lamb shank, a gloriously peanutty sauce straight out of Mali, rice (a tad dry, unfortunately!) and grilled carrots and peppers. Equally tempting was the red thiéboudiène, Senegal’s national treasure of a stew, with perfectly cooked red mullet, fragrant rice infused with tomato and fish stock, and a sweet and spicy chili-carrot sauce. Vegetarian dishes available upon request, served alongside rice or attiéké, plantains and seasonal vegetables. · Gwen Dalle

Feeling thirsty? Three traditional homemade soft drinks prepared by Papy’s mother: bissap, ginger or baobab (€4.90 each).

Price: Starter €12.50, mains €21.90 to €29.90, desserts €8.50 to €10.50.