Dakar NOLA has quietly solved one of its biggest barriers to entry: you no longer need a $175 reservation to eat there. The James Beard-winning Senegalese restaurant has opened the Dakar Terrace, a walk-in-only, à la carte patio tucked beside its new home on Leonidas Street, offering small and shared plates without requiring the full tasting-menu experience.
Chef Serigne Mbaye opened Dakar NOLA in 2022, building the restaurant around the communal, tasting menu-style of service and hospitality that draws on his Senegalese roots, according to Axios. A seat at that dinner still costs $175, plus drinks. The new Terrace is designed as a far more casual option, making it easier for people to pop in without committing to the full prix-fixe experience.
A Bamboo-Lined Patio Along River Road
The Dakar Terrace sits along the River Road side of Dakar NOLA’s new Leonidas Street location, described as an open-air and bamboo-lined patio. The restaurant relocated to 937 Leonidas St. from its original spot at 3814 Magazine St., moving into the former Mat & Naddie’s space, NOLA.com reported. The outlet noted the move would add a more casual à la carte menu served on the covered patio, alongside the restaurant’s existing tasting menu inside.
Unlike the indoor dining room, the Terrace takes no reservations at all — it’s available for walk-ins only. The menu itself stays tight, with fewer than a dozen dishes spanning small plates, shared options, sides and desserts.
What’s on the Menu
Diners can order the akara sous kaani, black-eyed pea fritters served with a caramelized onion and tomato sauce, or the poulet maafé, a braised chicken dish Axios described as sumptuous. The Terrace menu also offers small plates and shared options…