As a refugee, Ullys Mouity came to the United States from Gabon 12 years ago. For more than a decade he knew something was missing in Syracuse: an African restaurant.
Mouity opened The Taste of Africa at 820 Danforth St. on Oct. 24, and he said it has been doing very well since its grand opening. The Taste of Africa’s food is based on traditional Congolese cuisine that Mouity grew up on in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The restaurant serves food from central and east Africa since he also lived in Gabon for a large part of his life and his wife is from Kenya.
The Taste of Africa is open every day of the week except Sundays and Mondays. It’s open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, and is open until midnight on the weekends.
Mouity added that he met an African worker in Syracuse who was so happy about the restaurant that he told Mouity, “‘I should be thanking you, this is amazing and this it makes me feel at home.’”
The restaurant has been pulling in patrons due to the fact that it is a new cuisine for locals to try and it caters to those familiar with African cuisine.
Mouity said he believes that for those native to Africa it’s like “a taste from home.” He knows that for African people who come to the restaurant, the familiarity of the items on the menu and the seasonings used can remind patrons of their cultural roots.
He mentioned that there was a Ghanaian restaurant a few years back, but it didn’t last.
“I’d have a lot of parties at home with family and friends, that’s when this idea came to my head. I wanted to do something in the community where everybody can come experience African food, not specifically Congolese food, but at least have a taste of Africa somewhere in the Syracuse community,” Mouity said.
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Due to this restaurant’s niche market, Mouity has to purchase some of his produce from an African market in the area. Their fried plantains are from the African market so they can be as authentic as possible.
The Taste of Africa’s most popular dishes are oxtail, shish kebabs, grilled ribs and tilapia. Almost everything on the menu is centered around a different protein topped with a marinade or sauce.
One thing that The Taste of Africa prides itself on is affordability. Items on the menu range from $5 to $20. The menu has signature entrees, but is also based on combos. The price ranges for the combinations vary on of the amount of meat and sides a customer wants.
Every combo comes with a side of white rice, but if a customer wants to change their side to fried rice or a different side dish it’s an additional $2. Mouity said he wanted it to be easy to come into the restaurant and purchase food even if you only have $5.
Mouity urges people to come in and try the restaurant for themselves. He said he loves to hear what people say about his food and make their own judgement based on the quality of the food.
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