Tam Tam D’afrique

Many African restaurants specialize in one specific cuisine only. Which is limiting, considering the varied types of dishes to be found that emanate from this vast country. So what does one do in a world of singular concerns? Why one ignores it.
Tam Tam D’afrique is one such restaurant that seeks to rectify this by offering a wider variety of cuisines from many different countries in Africa. As our lovely and gracious host explained to us, «My husband and I often want two different things and we’ll end up going to two different restaurants for take out. We decided to include it all instead,»
This restaurant is barely three weeks old but does such a job. There’s Central African, West African and to a lesser extent East African specialities on the menu.
And with such a varied menu and a prime spot on the corner of Mont-​Royal and St. Denis (complete with terrace) it is sure to shine.
While the menu is limited on Sundays, the food was excellent. The previously alluded to owner and hostess was so welcoming we felt at home there. She explained what she had on the menu for that night, as well as the fact that on Tuesdays (they’re closed on Monday) the rest of the more extensive menu is available. She was also quick to steer us in the right direction by discouraging a choice of side dish which would not have complimented our main entrée, too. Always welcome.
My dinner companion and I had the same thing: braised chicken with plantains and salad. It was uniformly excellent, as was the small cup of hot sauce to accompany it.
And considering how much food you get the price (nothing more than 15 on the menu) is way more than reasonable.
I am looking forward to going back on a fuller menu day to try the more sauce heavy dishes which will make the specific order from specific country of origin really stand out, I think.
Best news for club goers and night owls? It’s open until 4 on Friday and Saturdays. And like most good African restaurants it also serves as a community hang out of sorts. In other words, you can chat all night long, and dance to the authentic music if you want to, and no one will look at you funny.
Highly recommended for a relaxed atmosphere (on Sundays) or jumping one (on other nights,) for food, and excellent, welcoming service.
Come for the food but stay for the down to earth and awesome slice-​of-​life atmosphere. And be sure to say hello to one of the the owners, the wife. She is super cool. As she said to us «Our house is your house.»
Indeed.