Dakar NOLA sits in a renovated cottage on a quiet stretch of Leonidas Street in Uptown New Orleans’s Riverbend neighborhood. A communal table stands at the center of the 18-seat dining room, with smaller tables arranged around it. At the back, an opening gives diners a view into the kitchen, where chef and co-owner Serigne Mbaye cooks just a few feet away.
Raised in Senegal, Mbaye builds Dakar’s seven-course pescatarian menu around Gulf seafood, South Louisiana produce, and memories of his childhood in Dakar. Recent dishes include tuna seasoned with Fulani suya spice, a crawfish-filled take on fataya, a Senegalese savory pastry, and Mbaye’s version of jollof rice.
Co-owner Afua “Effie” Richardson leads the front of house, where service draws on teranga, the Senegalese culture of hospitality. Dinner opens with Ataya, a welcome tea infused with ginger, turmeric, and mint, and some later courses are served family-style in keeping with West African dining traditions.
Dakar NOLA won the James Beard Award for Best New Restaurant in 2024. In 2026, it ranked No. 4 on North America’s 50 Best Restaurants list, and Mbaye received the James Beard Award for Best Chef: South. The seven-course tasting menu costs $175, with reservations released 21 days in advance for three seatings Tuesday through Saturday.
