Chez Florence — Ewe / Togolese, Lomé
Chez Florence is the restaurant that Lomé's Ewe community considers their table — a family-run establishment in the Adakpamé neighbourhood that has been producing traditional Ewe and Togolese cooking for two generations with the consistency that family continuity ensures.
The menu is the Ewe canon: akpan (fermented corn porridge), sauce gombo (okra stew with smoked fish and palm oil), akoumé (cornmeal paste eaten with fish or meat stews), and the exceptional peanut-based sauces that define the Ewe culinary tradition. These are dishes cooked the way they are cooked in Ewe homes, with no concession to international taste.
Florence herself — the founder's daughter, now running the establishment — is frequently present and frequently opinionated about the cooking, the ingredients, and the cultural significance of the dishes her family has served for decades. Her explanations transform the meal into an education.
The palm wine served on Fridays and Saturdays — tapped from palms in the surrounding villages and delivered by motorcycle — is fresh, slightly fermented, and entirely different from any bottled or commercial palm wine product.
Best Occasion: Ideal for Solo Dining
Florence's hospitality makes solo visitors feel immediately included. Order the akpan and ask about the gombo sauce — the conversation will sustain itself from there.
Best Occasion: Great for Team Dinners
Communal dishes, shared sauces, and Florence's running cultural commentary creating a team dinner of genuine educational value. The palm wine on Fridays provides the closing ritual.