Believe it or not, this is one of two Somalian restaurants within just a one-block strip of Clark Street. Like its neighbor, Kilimanjaro Restaurant, this popular hangout caters mostly to East African taxi drivers. Flashing colorful lights border one of the restaurant's signs, and mouth-watering smells float out onto the sidewalk in front.
Buffets rule here, especially around the popular dinner hour. Don't even bother asking for a menu—the friendly server will dart to the back to look for one, but he likely won't find anything. Just go ahead and choose a couple pieces of deliciously greasy, pancake-like anjera and load 'em up with simmered strips of goat meat and a veggie chili called foul. Baasto, a Somali-style pasta with red sauce, and a slightly spicy, Somali-style rice dish are two more popular buffet carbs worth a try.
While you munch, check out the soccer game likely airing on television. A handful of booths and a bunch of scattered tables provide ample room for eating, and the same colorful lights that line the sign outside are strung up around the restaurant's low ceilings, making for a homey atmosphere. Most customers seem like regulars here, but that doesn't mean that they're unwelcoming to new faces.
Centerstage Reviewer: Alicia Eler
