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.