La Louisiane — Senegalese / French, Saint-Louis
La Louisiane occupies a prime verandah position on the Île Saint-Louis' main boulevard, the colonial street that runs along the island's centre, flanked by the Maure-style colonial architecture that distinguishes Saint-Louis from any other West African city.
The menu produces a comfortable Franco-Senegalese hybrid: Senegalese fish preparations alongside French bistro classics, the brochettes that cross all regional boundaries, and the thiéboudieune that the city's own tradition demands.
The Gazelle beer, Senegal's national lager, is served cold and continuously. The evening terrace, as the boulevard quiets and the river light fades, is one of Saint-Louis's most consistently pleasant social experiences.
La Louisiane functions as much as a social institution as a restaurant, the place where residents and visitors naturally converge, where the day's conversations continue from afternoon through evening, and where the city's social life is most visibly conducted.
Best Occasion: Great for Birthdays
The boulevard verandah, cold Gazelle rounds, and the social energy of the island city's most animated evening venue. Birthday celebrations here acquire the specific warmth of Saint-Louis hospitality.
Best Occasion: Works for Informal Deals
The verandah's social neutrality and the relaxed atmosphere make La Louisiane ideal for the informal conversations that precede or follow the formal negotiations.