I've only had West African cuisine a handful of times in my life, but Keobi stands out as one of…read morethe best ones. We ordered the asaro and egusi with plantain fufu. Everything was terrific and strongly flavored. The asaro, a yam stew with shrimp and greens (though I located very shrimp if at all) had an intense, somewhat smoky savory flavor. It was also quite starchy and did not require any rice or fufu accompaniment. The egusi stew with chicken was also incredibly flavorful; I preferred this slightly more over the asaro. Paired with the soft steamed and lightly sweet but more neutral-tasting plantain fufu, the egusi was really tasty. As others have noted, the food did take a while to prepare. It appeared that there was only one woman working both the front of house and the kitchen. There were no high chairs. The restaurant was clean and nicely decorated for the holidays. Our kids were entertained by the Afro beats playing on the TV. Overall we had a very delicious and comfortable experience at Keobi.

Very quaint restaurant. They had a friendly staff. I believe the owner is also the chef and he was…read morevery accommodating to my order. I ordered egusi with fufu and a plate of jollof rice and goat meat. And I say don't walk... run there and get your order. You will not regret it. Even my children who have basic taste buds and are quite picky ate the entire plate of jollof rice and goat meat. I will be back to try more dishes.

Umana Yana - Washington Ave, Albany, NY If you're looking to…read morestep outside of the ordinary and experience bold flavors in a welcoming atmosphere, Umana Yana is a must-visit. This was my second time here--my first visit was dining in with friends, and this time I ordered takeout. Both experiences were consistently impressive. Known for its Ethiopian dishes and outstanding vegan cuisine, Umana Yana brings African culture to life through its vibrant décor, flavorful food, and thoughtfully crafted drinks. Every detail reflects passion and authenticity. It's no surprise that actress Tabitha Brown made a stop in Albany to experience the restaurant's highly praised vegan offerings. That's a testament to the reputation they've built. For my meal, I ordered the jerk lamb lollipops, jollof rice, and slaw. The lamb was tender, juicy, and packed with just the right amount of jerk seasoning. The jollof rice was rich, well-seasoned, and full of flavor, while the slaw added a fresh, crisp balance to the meal. On my previous visit, I tried the wings and waffles, and they were equally delicious. Two visits, two different meals, and not a single disappointment. Whether you're a longtime fan of African cuisine or looking to try something new, Umana Yana offers an experience that's just as memorable as the food itself. If you don't know, now you know. Add Umana Yana to your list--you won't regret it!

Service: 1 Just…read morebought some property in Albany, NY with my man, all the way from Los Angeles, CA!! It was a cloudy day, we wanted some decent Caribbean food & found Umana. Black businesses in LA respect their people and take their businesses very seriously, so I assumed this place would do the same. Unfortunately, we were treated like pests over a small misunderstanding. The waitress-Mercy, misheard me on our drink preferences & began giving us the good ol " Caribbean" cold shoulder . Why so sensitive? The sorrel sangria had way too much cinnamon. Also, I wanted pikliz with my meal, but she did not return after the drink mishap. We quickly learned, this is not a BLACK BUSINESS, this is an AFRICAN BUSINESS & they will quickly show you the difference. Food & Drink: 3 Goat roti gave a a little stomach ache, but it was decent. Oxtain was not tender, not good. The plate was mostly bones & gravy & rice. Plantains & jollof were good. The drinks were delicious though, but they were not strong at all. Price: 2 Spent 100$ so basically 25$ for each item, including the drinks. Overpriced and very small portions. The sides are literal pints, like the babyfood jar size. I was like ??? We usually pay this much at high scale Haitian restaurants in Manhattan, and completely understand the price because we are experiencing amazing customer service, food, ambience &scenery. Better to order takeout, but i heard it very difficult to do that here. Idk lol weird. Black/Indigenous Americans, do not bring your money here. You are not completely welcome here.

I cant say enough about the food at Tara's! The menu has so many options and vegetarian dishes to…read moretry. I enjoyed dinner on the back patio Wed evening. I had my heart set on Maqooda but the kitchen was sold out. The chicken tikka masala is always 5 stars. Creamy spiced tomato sauce and plenty of tender chicken. As I was preparing to leave the chef brought me a freshly cooked Maqooda. He also offered to bring me more rice. This extra effort really makes guests feel special. Tip use the Inkind app for purchases to gain points for future purchases.

Tara Kitchen continues to deliver with delicious, complex flavors. We enjoyed the intimate…read moreatmosphere of the Schenectady original location. Our server was personable, attentive and sweet. She gave us recommendations and she wasn't wrong. My Lamb Tagine Tangia was so good. The lamb was tender with a mix of sweet and savory flavors. I was able to enjoy some the next day too. Others got Chicken Tagine M'Chermel and Lamb M'Kwara. All were appetizing and tasty. For appetizers we had some delicious orange flavored hummus, pickled cauliflower and harissa olives. I especially loved the hummus. Ground Lamb Cigars were also appealing. Two had homemade mango lassi. It was a wonderful night out. Our clothes smelled like Moroccan food as we left. None of us complained.

One of my favorite things is discovering new purveyors of international food. So I was very…read moreintrigued when I saw Alima's West African food stand at an area market. The menu sounded awesome. The curry green beans and the lentil soup seemed like a good place to start and we also got a bunch of the fresh drinks including lemonade with mint, hibiscus tea and the regular lemonade. All that excitement and anticipation went out the window 2 seconds after paying. Every one of the drinks was diluted to within an inch of its life. It was like we were drinking tap water with literally 1 drop of flavor. And at $4 a cup, I felt that it was a major rip off. As for the food, it was not served hot and the flavor wasn't bold or interesting. I felt let down on every front and having spend nearly $30 on everything, I also felt a bit cheated. One star. Not very good at all, would not recommend.

I've been trying different ethic foods everyday for the month of February and Moroccan Tajine is…read moreranked 1st on my list for the Albany-area. Soon the menu will reflect the addition of salmon items. Thank you Moroccan Tajine for sharing your culture from Casablanca (Location confirmed with the Chef). Give it a try I recommend it :0).

This seems to be out of business. The phone is disconnected its not there!!! What a…read moredisappointment. Also, the food gallery is open and drafty

Came by this place by accident. Was in town to move my daughter back into school at Union and we…read morewere looking for a new place nearby to eat. The first couple of places we had in mind was already closed and we drove by Jollof Kitchen. We've never had African food before and we're a pretty adventurous family when it comes to food, so when we saw that they were still open... why not? First of all, very friendly staff! Took time to explain the dishes as we weren't familiar with the cuisine. You order and pay at the counter, and they bring your food to your table. It's a very casual dining room with plenty of tables for a decent crowd. We ordered the chicken curry, a peanut stew with meat (I forget what it's called), then a lamb dish with jollof rice. WOW! All dishes were amazing!! And huge portions! We had a lot left over and my daughter asked for us to leave it all with her so she can have the leftovers all to herself! LOL Accidental find, but we'll definitely be back again. Great food, great service!

The food is authentic, prepared in-house, and delicious! The portions are very generous. The owner…read moreis awesome.

I'm a big fan of Jamaican food, what I call "yard food " ( a little nod to the Jamaicans with that…read morereference) and this is as good as I've ever had. Excellent excellent food, friendly service, what's not to love. Thank you for the deliciousness.

I have experienced Tara's food in a variety of contexts: ala carte at the original Schenectady…read morerestaurant, on the generous lunch buffet, and now in the prepared food incarnation at the repurposed Guilderland restaurant which is now primarily for takeout though you can dine in if you like. It's very approachable Mediterranean food: an overused word but the best way to describe it. Tara uses a lot of spices that will be new to many diners, but the results are well balanced and will not turn off people who are afraid of heat or funky smells. I've dined at this location when it was a sit down restaurant and now it is a "Mediterranean market". You can order a/combination meal with an entree and two sides, to eat in or take out b/a variety of specialty prepared dishes which were designed in collaboration with former New World chef Ric Orlando c/snacks such as dolmas, baclava etc d/jarred spices and sauces, made by Tara (they are great) and others. There's also a nice assortment of dishes, famines and coffee urns for sale. I ordered a chicken and spinach taigine with chickpeas and orange plus seasoned rice for my sides and it was a very good and filling meal with generous portions. Also took home several jarred items and a tub of dolmas (great) and baklava (too dry) at $4.95 each. Not a five star meal because the combo order was not heated thoroughly with some cold sections, and the baklava needed some honey syrup or other moisturizer. But very good food and a great resource if you are in the area.

I might be the odd one out but I was a little under whelmed by my experience at Tara Kitchen. The…read morefood was great, but I wanted more. Literally. This was my first time here so I guess we didn't know what to expect as" Upon entering, it is a nice space, smelled great, comfy seating and nice decor. Our service was great and everything came out quick and fresh. We started out with drinks, wine for me and a Moroccan beer for my date. We were also served hot tea, which tasted exactly like sleepy time tea and honestly I felt really tired by the time I left. We wanted to order the cigars, the restaurant was empty and had just opened for dinner about 30 minutes before we arrived. They were sold out ... okay. We decided to order the Casablanca platter of hummus, olives and pickled vegetables. This large serving of hummus came with 4 small triangles of pita. Not even enough to eat half the hummus, and when we asked for more we were charged. The hummus was delicious and fresh, the olives were an excellent pairing with the hummus and the veggies offered a bright bite as well. It was a great balanced plate to share for a starter. We have been trying to eat lighter so we decided to split the Lamb Tangina, this was not ideal. While there was enough for us both to feel satisfied, the portion for $30 left some to be desired. There were about 5 small pieces of lamb, a few potatoes, and the vessel was mostly filled with (delicious) broth. This was also served with less than 1/4 cup of basmati rice, I am not even joking. It was like a 2oz cup of rice for this brothy dish. We thought it was comical. After saying that, it was so freaking delicious. The lamb melted under the weight of your spoon, the broth flavor was deep with complexity from the smen (fermented butter) and preserved lemon. It was kind of like a soup, I was just eating spoon fulls of the broth. I would definitely come back, and at least we know what to expect as far as serving sizes. It's just pricy for what you actually get, but I suppose the flavors were worth it and I'm glad to have experienced it.

Came here on a weekend for a quick bite to eat while exploring noho. For about $13, this sandwich…read morewas pretty filling and not too fishy, which was a plus. There were also no bones, which was great, though I wish there was some sort of dressing or more oil and salt in the sandwich. The fish itself was plump and substantial, and the veggies tasted fresh. The bread was also hearty, but it felt like it was missing something, maybe acid or fat. Oil or lemon would have been a nice addition, but it was still a solid meal for an afternoon of walking. The staff was also very friendly, and the restaurant inside was nice and cozy. Though we didn't eat inside, I did notice that the air conditioner wasn't quite working and it was a bit warm inside, but it didn't affect us so much since we ordered to go. They also had a nice display of desserts at the register that I'd love to try on another trip back here!

The food here is always amazing and so flavorful. Recently tried the chicken with couscous and the…read moreroyal and both were great. Chicken falls off the bone. Lamb is moist. A must-try!