I stopped in here for a late Sunday lunch. The thieboudienne was delicious and the restaurants aesthetics were warm and pleasant. This is a gem of a restaurant in Madison and I can’t wait to go back.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Verlyn Severson
The restaurant looks cool and the Suya Lamb and fried plantains were delicious. Also the staff seemed nice and I got there right when it opened so I had no problem placing my order or getting it in a timely manner.
What I didn't think it was so great was the change in menu and what appears to be an elimination of the 2 side dishes that were supposed to come with every entree.
I had to pay for the only side I got and because they didn't have Lamb with bone in you couldn't get a lamb dish without paying an extra $2 for boneless which did not seem fair.
I hope they work things out so it's more clear when you get there exactly what you're paying for, and I would suggest reconsidering cutting out the sides with the entrees.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
fatima sibi
An incredible place. A decoration that makes us feel a warm atmosphere. Smiling and welcoming staff… the key element, the food! Presentation, flavor, totally magical spice cocktail! I recommend you take a look there, you won’t be disappointed!😊
Vegetarian options: There are enough vegetarian choices, whether it be sauces, compositions and even appetizers...
Kid-friendliness: The children are well settled.
Wheelchair accessibility: Comfortable seats
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Christopher Hughes
The grilled lamb was delicious.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Grilled Lamb
vimbai juliet
The food is delicious🥰
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Allocco Fried Plantains, Grilled Lamb, Poisson Braise Grilled Fish, Grilled Goat Meat w Riz Gras and Attieke
Sara Dillivan-Graves
We had a group of five on a Friday night. Every single thing we ordered was absolutely delicious, and everyone was incredibly kind and helpful. We will absolutely be back. I recommend grabbing some friends and ordering as many items as you can so you can try them all. You won't be disappointed.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Kelvin Alfaro
Les Délices de Awa is an incredible find in Madison! I recently visited with my son, and we were both blown away by the quality of the food and the warmth of the experience. We tried the chicken and beef pastels, which were perfectly crisp on the outside and packed with flavorful fillings. The rice was fragrant and well-seasoned, and the plantains were cooked to perfection—sweet and tender, with just the right amount of caramelization. The portions were generous, and you could taste the care and authenticity in every bite. This is a place I’ll definitely return to and highly recommend to anyone looking for a truly delicious and authentic meal!
Service was excellent. I've never had West African food before but am now hooked on it! The spices, flavors were amazing! A very cozy, welcoming place. Come check out an amazing local restaurant and go on a fun food journey!
Dietary restrictions: Halal
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Grilled Goat Meat w Riz Gras and Attieke
Patrick Deming
Our group of four tried Les delices de Awa for dinner Saturday evening. I haven't eaten much West African food but what I had was sensational. :)
The restaurant is located on busy Atwood, but we found parking in the lot behind the building. The restaurant doesn't have a lot of seating but even though it was Saturday night we found a couple of two tops to slide together. We ordered at the counter and sat down. They brought pitchers of water and our food when it was ready. It did take a bit longer than we expected for our food to arrive. There did seem to be a steady stream of folks doing carry out of delivery.
That said, when our food arrived, it was amazing. I wish I could tell you exactly what I had, but I failed to take a photo of the menu, and the menu online is not the same. I can tell you I had the lamb. The seasoning on it was unlike anything I have had before but I highly recommend it and would love to have it more often. The plantains were slightly sweet and better than any plantains I have had. My other side was a dish I had not heard of, but it was also delicious. I can't say enough about the unique spices and seasonings. We all really loved the food and I look forward to returning and trying more of the unique flavors.
Ah, the evening held such promise—a reservation at an African restaurant that my girlfriend and I had been eagerly anticipating. Our taste buds were ready to embark on a flavorful journey across the continent. Yet, the true journey that night seemed to be the endless wait for any semblance of service.
As a food critic with a love for African cuisine, I was prepared to indulge in culinary wonders. But instead, we were left parched and unattended for 25 long minutes—long enough for a tomato to ripen or an awkward silence to turn into an awkward eternity. Water? Not a drop. Interaction from the staff? Not even a crumb.
The scene played out like an ironic twist of culinary theater: the staff seemed locked in a secret pact, intensely focused on the kitchen while the patrons around us looked like extras in a play called “Invisible Customers.” One almost wonders if they were preparing for a Michelin review from a ghost.
After a solid half-hour of testing our patience and pondering life’s mysteries (like how to get a waiter’s attention), we decided to cut our losses and take our appetites elsewhere. $150 later, spent at a different establishment, we concluded that at least our wallets were lighter, even if our spirits were too.
As for the future of this establishment, I fear they may have perfected the art of cooking up disappointment. With a business model like that, I’d wager they’ll be closed by February 2025—unless, of course, they start serving invisible food to match the invisible service.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Karen Haigh
The fish was amazing, and I loved the ginger juice.
Utterly delicious, complex, nourishing food in a beautiful space. I went for a dinner date and was worried at first because I saw no vegetarian meals on the dinner menu, despite having checked online. The server was very kind and patient and explained the vegetarian options I could order from the lunch menu, even though it was dinner! I had the vegan bowl (jollof), which was superb.
Vegetarian options: Vegetarian options are mostly on the lunch menu, not dinner, and some are restricted by day. But ask the servers what’s available and you might be surprised.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
S Bean
This is easily some of the best food in Madison. It fills a space that was severely lacking in the area. I’m vegetarian and while there isn’t a huge selection of dishes I can eat (I never expect a restaurant to have any so I was super excited to see they had even a few!), it doesn’t matter because the dishes they do have are so incredibly flavorful, rich, and perfectly balanced.
I went with two people who do eat meat and they were equally excited about the chicken and lamb dishes they ordered.
I’m so excited to have this place in the neighborhood, I would eat here every day if I could. Thank you for bringing joy through your cooking!!
Elohim Luc
Awa , is there anything you can do to improve customer service? I know you can do better. Warm and happy welcome is important, no matter how good th food is going to be.
I stopped in here for a late Sunday lunch. The thieboudienne was delicious and the restaurants aesthetics were warm and pleasant. This is a gem of a restaurant in Madison and I can’t wait to go back.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
The restaurant looks cool and the Suya Lamb and fried plantains were delicious. Also the staff seemed nice and I got there right when it opened so I had no problem placing my order or getting it in a timely manner.
What I didn't think it was so great was the change in menu and what appears to be an elimination of the 2 side dishes that were supposed to come with every entree.
I had to pay for the only side I got and because they didn't have Lamb with bone in you couldn't get a lamb dish without paying an extra $2 for boneless which did not seem fair.
I hope they work things out so it's more clear when you get there exactly what you're paying for, and I would suggest reconsidering cutting out the sides with the entrees.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
An incredible place. A decoration that makes us feel a warm atmosphere. Smiling and welcoming staff… the key element, the food! Presentation, flavor, totally magical spice cocktail! I recommend you take a look there, you won’t be disappointed!😊
Vegetarian options: There are enough vegetarian choices, whether it be sauces, compositions and even appetizers...
Kid-friendliness: The children are well settled.
Wheelchair accessibility: Comfortable seats
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
The grilled lamb was delicious.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Grilled Lamb
The food is delicious🥰
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Allocco Fried Plantains, Grilled Lamb, Poisson Braise Grilled Fish, Grilled Goat Meat w Riz Gras and Attieke
We had a group of five on a Friday night. Every single thing we ordered was absolutely delicious, and everyone was incredibly kind and helpful. We will absolutely be back. I recommend grabbing some friends and ordering as many items as you can so you can try them all. You won't be disappointed.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Les Délices de Awa is an incredible find in Madison! I recently visited with my son, and we were both blown away by the quality of the food and the warmth of the experience. We tried the chicken and beef pastels, which were perfectly crisp on the outside and packed with flavorful fillings. The rice was fragrant and well-seasoned, and the plantains were cooked to perfection—sweet and tender, with just the right amount of caramelization. The portions were generous, and you could taste the care and authenticity in every bite. This is a place I’ll definitely return to and highly recommend to anyone looking for a truly delicious and authentic meal!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Allocco Fried Plantains, Beef Pastel
Nice fancy place, food 10/10. Service, 10/10. Chill party music always playing. Food does take a little bit to arrive.
Kid-friendliness: It's really nice and kid friendly!
Wheelchair accessibility: Yes, doors are not a problem. And wheelchairs can easily work as a seat!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Allocco Fried Plantains, Beef Pastel
Service was excellent. I've never had West African food before but am now hooked on it! The spices, flavors were amazing! A very cozy, welcoming place. Come check out an amazing local restaurant and go on a fun food journey!
Dietary restrictions: Halal
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Grilled Goat Meat w Riz Gras and Attieke
Our group of four tried Les delices de Awa for dinner Saturday evening. I haven't eaten much West African food but what I had was sensational. :)
The restaurant is located on busy Atwood, but we found parking in the lot behind the building. The restaurant doesn't have a lot of seating but even though it was Saturday night we found a couple of two tops to slide together. We ordered at the counter and sat down. They brought pitchers of water and our food when it was ready. It did take a bit longer than we expected for our food to arrive. There did seem to be a steady stream of folks doing carry out of delivery.
That said, when our food arrived, it was amazing. I wish I could tell you exactly what I had, but I failed to take a photo of the menu, and the menu online is not the same. I can tell you I had the lamb. The seasoning on it was unlike anything I have had before but I highly recommend it and would love to have it more often. The plantains were slightly sweet and better than any plantains I have had. My other side was a dish I had not heard of, but it was also delicious. I can't say enough about the unique spices and seasonings. We all really loved the food and I look forward to returning and trying more of the unique flavors.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Allocco Fried Plantains, Grilled Lamb, Aller-Retour
Restaurantji Recommends
Ah, the evening held such promise—a reservation at an African restaurant that my girlfriend and I had been eagerly anticipating. Our taste buds were ready to embark on a flavorful journey across the continent. Yet, the true journey that night seemed to be the endless wait for any semblance of service.
As a food critic with a love for African cuisine, I was prepared to indulge in culinary wonders. But instead, we were left parched and unattended for 25 long minutes—long enough for a tomato to ripen or an awkward silence to turn into an awkward eternity. Water? Not a drop. Interaction from the staff? Not even a crumb.
The scene played out like an ironic twist of culinary theater: the staff seemed locked in a secret pact, intensely focused on the kitchen while the patrons around us looked like extras in a play called “Invisible Customers.” One almost wonders if they were preparing for a Michelin review from a ghost.
After a solid half-hour of testing our patience and pondering life’s mysteries (like how to get a waiter’s attention), we decided to cut our losses and take our appetites elsewhere. $150 later, spent at a different establishment, we concluded that at least our wallets were lighter, even if our spirits were too.
As for the future of this establishment, I fear they may have perfected the art of cooking up disappointment. With a business model like that, I’d wager they’ll be closed by February 2025—unless, of course, they start serving invisible food to match the invisible service.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
The fish was amazing, and I loved the ginger juice.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Allocco Fried Plantains, Grilled Lamb
Utterly delicious, complex, nourishing food in a beautiful space. I went for a dinner date and was worried at first because I saw no vegetarian meals on the dinner menu, despite having checked online. The server was very kind and patient and explained the vegetarian options I could order from the lunch menu, even though it was dinner! I had the vegan bowl (jollof), which was superb.
Vegetarian options: Vegetarian options are mostly on the lunch menu, not dinner, and some are restricted by day. But ask the servers what’s available and you might be surprised.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
This is easily some of the best food in Madison. It fills a space that was severely lacking in the area. I’m vegetarian and while there isn’t a huge selection of dishes I can eat (I never expect a restaurant to have any so I was super excited to see they had even a few!), it doesn’t matter because the dishes they do have are so incredibly flavorful, rich, and perfectly balanced.
I went with two people who do eat meat and they were equally excited about the chicken and lamb dishes they ordered.
I’m so excited to have this place in the neighborhood, I would eat here every day if I could. Thank you for bringing joy through your cooking!!
Awa , is there anything you can do to improve customer service? I know you can do better.
Warm and happy welcome is important, no matter how good th food is going to be.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 4
Service: 1
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