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Reviews & Tips

  • 0

    How have I not gone here until now?! Lately, I've been in a bit of a restaurant rut and trying to shake out of it. So, I stumbled upon this little gem. It's a bit out of the way, but the prices are unheard of and the food is simple and flavorful. Don't expect to get in and out of here in a hurry. The chef/owner/waitress/busser is juggling many jobs, and that makes service a bit slow at times. The national dish is a treat; the yucca fries are a disappointment; the juices are brilliant!

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  • 0

    Overall, I'd rate this place a 4.5, but since we have to go by whole stars, I'll bump it up to a five.

    The appetizers (Nem and Croquettes) were delicious. The appetizer size is not that large, and I give the waitress kudos for letting us know. But here's a suggestion: instead of wolfing down the appetizers, take the time to cut them up into small bits and let them linger on your mouth for a bit. The flavors are excellent.

    I ordered the Mafe and it was delicious. Could it have used a bit more meat? Yes. Could the rice have been a little less dry? Yes. But overall, this dish is well worth ordering.

    I was a bit hesitant about going to this place because of some comments about very slow service. I didn't see it. The waitress did a fine job. I should say that there were only 4 other tables with customers, so I'm not sure what happens when the place is full. But as far as my experience, there were no problems.

    My friend ordered the Michoui (lamb shanks) and he said it was fantastic. It looked fantastic.

    I've never had Senegalese food before, but I'll definitely be sure to return there and try the other dishes.

    Also, the decor of the place and its convenient location are bonus points.

    The only two negatives wer the Latin American music and the volume. Maybe it's my limited understanding of Senegalese culture, but half the time, I felt like I was in a Mexican restaurant. I have excellent hearing and the music was so loud that the only way we could understand one another was to speak much louder than normal. I'm also a big believer that sounds, like smell, affect the taste of the food. So, turn the volume down a bit, keep the music authentic, and Teranga is a clear winner.

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  • 0

    Teranga is a gorgeous, inviting and warm South End spot. I loved the decor, the drinks (both alcoholic and non-alcoholic; everything was delicious in a riot of unexpected flavor combinations), and the music. Our waitress, though, seemed to be alternately helpful and hurried, and we had a bit of a hard time deciphering what was what due to a great similarity between several of the appetizers. My parents are from Ghana, so West African cuisine is not foreign to me. But as there were three pan-fried cakes and pastries that all looked alike when they were delivered (two that contained fish and one that did not - a problem for our diner allergic to seafood, who avoided all three), there was more than a little perplexed comparison and passing around for taste tests. Though confusing at times, the atmosphere and aesthetic of Teranga - not to mention the entrees, which were challenging but occasionally superb - made it an easy and engaging place to while away an evening with friends.

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  • 0

    I saw Chef Marie-Claude Mendy of Teranga in the South End participating in Ted Allen's show "Chopped" and I was so impressed I had to check her restaurant out.  Let me start by saying that Marie-Claude is genuinely warm, friendly and fun; a far cry from the stern, focused look that never left her face on "Chopped."  Chatting with her feels like an old friend you haven't seen in ages. No exaggeration.

    And now for no additional exaggeration...

    I WISH MARIE-CLAUDE HAD BEEN THE CHEF IN THE KITCHEN ON THE EVENING I WENT.  Why?

    Well, while my Thiébou Djeun (National Dish) was tasty, it wasn't chef quality.  Simply put, the fish was dry and overcooked, and and the stewed vegetables were anything but as there was hardly any sauce on my plate. My friend had the Thiébou Yap and he encountered the same problem but was spared the little fish bones I had to pull out of my mouth every other bite. :(

    Appetizers:  The Salade de la Teranga was fresh and bright and the Brochettes de Crevettes were so yummy we could have ordered more.

    Service - It's been said on other reviews how painfully slow the service is.  Friendly young men and women that just so happen to operate at a glacial pace.  I don't know why as the place isn't that big. Good for those who like to linger with friends and savor new flavors.  Not so good if you're the anal type that's always in a hurry even when you have no place to be.  

    Located in the South End on the corner of Mass Ave and Washington Street, this little gem is warm and inviting and lends itself to a group meal or a romantic night out.  The place is spotless with decor that is clean and modern offset by colorful Senegalese art on the walls.

    I'm going back because I really want to give Teranga another star (I don't like to exaggerate and rarely give 5).

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  • 0

    Nom nom nom! The food here is so delicious. I must say that it is great to have a West African restaurant in the city. I have to start off by saying that I am vegetarian... and Nigerian. Gone are the days that I can just go to an African party and get my fill of tasty food. Unless my mom is cooking, I don't have veg-friendly West African food.

    ... and then comes Teranga. No word of a lie, I closed my eyes, moaned, and then sighed after my first bite. The food is that good! For the veggies (and open-minded non-veggies), try the fataya, salade ordinaire, and/or thiou legumes. Trust me, your taste buds will thank you.

    Dessert here is just so-so, but you can still have a sweet accompaniment after or alongside your meal. Try the bissap juice or ginger juice. Tasty beverages!

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  • 0

    This is one of those out of the way, fairly priced, really nice places that flies under the radar. Expect slightly slow, but very friendly, service. Presentation is done well, the portions are generous and the food is very tasty. Some how, in what has the look of a trendy small restaurant, they have maintained the aura of a cozy family restaurant.

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  • 0

    It is a good place to experience some "Africa" in Boston. It looks like a place truly run by Africans, waitress, cook, efficiency...

    The place is not big. So, if  you have a big party (more than 8), think twice.

    The entrees are good, especially for us who almost never experienced African food before. But in small portion though. If you are hungry, don't expect a single entree can fill you too much.

    The appetizers are boring, although they make them look good by putting in fancy plates with decorations.

    I would order two entrees and skip the appetizers, if went again.

    Their special non-achohol drinks (can't remember the names) are VERY GOOD, VERY SPECIAL.

    So, definitely try them.

    The major downside is their efficiency.  We went on Sunday, when they are quite buys. Waited for 30 minutes for the appetizers to come out, and roughly the same time for the entrees as well. So, be prepared for that.

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  • 0

    Though I've never had Senegalese food before, I have had food before and this food is delicious.  It reminds me most of Moroccan food - tangy rich broths with meat and veggies accompanied by couscous or flavorful buttery rice.  

    The presentation of each dish was very nice.  The juices were great - loved the ginger juice in particular though it's a bit gingery if your palate hasn't sufficiently hit puberty yet (I used to hate ginger as a child).  The desserts were creative and well crafted (beignets made out of millet!).

    The service is a bit brusque and their bathrooms operate on the gas station key system.  Which could be awkward if you leave said key on the hook while you're inside.

    Bathrooms and service aside, the food is delicious and beautifully presented and I cannot wait to go back. Oh and most of the meat is halal!  4.5 stars.

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  • 0

    You have to check this place out at least once--where else are you going to get Senegalse in Boston?

    It was my first time trying Senegalese food, so I don't have a great baseline to compare this place against. To give you an idea of what it's like, I think Senegalese is to West African food as Cajun is to Southern food. Not that the flavors are similar, but that it just has an extra kick, at least as compared to Moroccan and Tunisian food (which you can find elsewhere in this city). Same general types of dishes (couscous and stews with a bit of French influence), but punched up a notch with some bold flavors. E.g. the Yassa Guinaar is a grilled bone-in chicken breast smothered in this really sweet lemony caramelized onion sauce.

    Quality of food is about what you'd get if you had a friend from Senegal and his/her mom was a pretty good cook. The dishes are pretty simple (most of the dishes are just a baked meat or stew with some plain rice/couscous on the side). Chicken breast was a little dry, croquettes de poisson appetizer (fish cakes) a little mushy, but the lamb shank was super juicy. As a bonus, they say the meat is halal, except one or two dishes.

    The presentation is definitely a cut above what your Senagelese friend's mom can do. The rice is plated with molds, the sauces on the appetizers are drizzled in swirly patterns and/or served in little spoons that sit on the plates, which are huge and rectangular, making for a pretty dramatic presentation. Doesn't totally mesh with the home-cooked feel of the food, but the effort is good.

    Desserts are unique, but most miss the mark. Thiacry (sorta like rice pudding) is really thin-- closer to a horchata than a substantive dessert. Beignets Dougoup have a bit of a misleading name-- don't expect French style beignets, but rather really dense fried dough discs that aren't too sweet. Mango Tarte Tatin was great though: super ripe caramelized mangoes in a pastry shell with creme anglaise.

    Ambience is bistro-esque, lots of dark woods and dim lighting. Bathrooms require keys to get into, like a gas station (why don't they just put locks on the inside?). Servers are friendly but a bit unprofessional-- one abruptly stepped away while taking our order to shut the door to the hall that leads to the bathrooms. If you go during a busy time, service can be incredibly slow and you'll have to wait forever to get your food. And although they supposedly closed at 11pm, we got a "hey our kitchen is closing so order now" at only 9:40pm.

    Don't forget to try one of the crazy juices. The bissap is awesome, with a taste between prune and cranberry and rosewater (it's actually made from rosella fruit). The ginger juice is super strong, but great if you like ginger.

    In short, great place to try something different and expand your culinary palette.

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  • 0

    What a hidden gem!  The drinks and food are very flavorful and complex and each bite is an explosion of herbs!  The owner and waitress were exceptionally nice and friendly and the ambiance unique and soothing.

    The bouye drink is a must!!  It's made from the fruit of the baobab tree and tastes like a light lassi.  I think it has cream in it, but it's certainly a worthwhile indulgence!!  The drink was so interesting and unique that I followed it up with the Ginger juice, which was equally amazing (and lighter)!.

    The appetizer portions are relatively small but shareable as most orders come with 3 pieces.  I recommend the accara (like a friend dough but made with black eyed peas), fataya (almost like a samosa), and nems (spring rolls due to the Vietnamese influence in Dakar), and the sauce that comes with them is delectable.    

    For entrees, I had the Dibi - grilled lamb shoulder chop with pickled onions slathered in mustard sauce.  Oh my goodness - the seasoning was just perfect.  Full of flavor yet not too overbearing.  The onions added just the right amount of tanginess and mustardy taste that offset the salt in the lamb.  The sweet potato fries that came on the side were the right balance of crispy on the outside, soft on the inside.

    My friend had the Michoui, which was also spectacular.  You could practically see the lamb hanging onto the bone by a thread.  Another friend ordered the Mafe, which was also stewed to perfection.

    All in all, a terrific place!  We even got some cake at the end as the owner was celebrating an event with the staff.  It was heart warming seeing how the restaurant was a family, and that's certainly how we were treated.

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  • 0

    I wish there was a 4.5 star rating possible as this homey Senegalese restaurant is not flawless but it is truly delightful.  The owner, Marie, is a lovely, warm and gracious host and a damned good cook.  The food was delicious.  I've never had West African food before and found it fresh, fragrant, and spicy without being overwhelming.  We had the braised fish, the Teranga salad and the spring rolls, all very yummy.  The service wasn't super fast.  Americans used to instant gratification might become impatient.  But when the food was served it obviously was coming right off the stove.  The waitresses were very nice as well.  Some points of feedback: I wish they had more vegetarian/sea food entree options.  They only had one.  Also, they need to fix their front door which does not close completely without some assistance, definitely a flaw in a small restaurant on a frigid night.

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  • 0

    I went for brunch on a Saturday at around 12pm today. We were the only ones there (yay?).

    The waiter gave us the lunch menu. Confused, I asked for the brunch menu. He came back with it, then a couple minutes later, told us that they "did not have stuff for brunch today."

    Ok, fine. They also ended up not having a couple dishes listed on the lunch menu as well. I had expected this after reading Yelp reviews. A little disappointed, we ended up ordering the "National Dish", herb filled fish in tomato stew with vegetables and broken jasmine rice.

    The food was good, the rice tasted great, but in this FREEZING Boston weather, it was ICE COLD in there. Was a door open? Was a window open? Seriously, us 3 girls ate with our heavy winter jackets on the entire time. Consequently, our food COOLED down at the most rapid speed. Our experience froze our bodies to the core and unfortunately despite the good food, we became very VERY unhappy girls.

    Though they did not have many dishes on the menu to serve and the restaurant was an igloo, the waiter was nice and easy going.

    Does everybody not go there for brunch/lunch? Absolutely NOBODY came in during our stay. I would come back in the summer, for sure. Oh, and good music.

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  • 0

    Really delicious stuff. It always seems packed on the weekend, so I like their convenient take out.

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  • 0

    Four star food, but the TV really killed my experience here. We were seated at the bar directly in front of the television which was showing a program on prisons, contraband and something about feces (lots of jail sewage footage and the word "feces" repeated in closed captions). I really hate to whine about this when the food was so good (more on this), but watching a prisoner strip search is a real atmosphere killer in an otherwise adorable and intimate restaurant. I would have (should have) complained, but the service is a little spotty and when presented with the choice of getting napkins and silverware or changing the channel, I picked the former (although on second thought perhaps eating with our hands was the better option).

    As for the food itself - WOW. This was my first time eating West African food. We loved the vegetarian nems (incredible spring rolls in absolutely delectable dressing), Michoui (marinated roasted lamb shank stuffed with herbs and served with a caramelized onion sauce and Moroccan couscous), and the Thiébou Djeun (National Dish, an Herb-stuffed white fish cooked in tomato stew with broken jasmine rice served with cassava, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, eggplant, and pumpkin. My husband loved the Thiébou Djeun so much, he practically licked the platter clean.

    We will certainly be back, but next time we will ask to be seated by the window where everyone appeared to be having a lovely time, oblivious to the television.

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  • 0

    I live a couple of blocks from here, so I wasn't concerned with parking (which is by meter).

    Food definitely tastes the way it would if you would actually go to a family's home. My friend and I tried the Chicken stew served with rice and let me tell you--the flavors were all over the place...fireworks of spices and sweetness soothing your mouth. You must accompany your meal with the spicy Ginger juice and Plantains served with their special sauce.

    That's it. This place is for those exploring exotic cultural cuisines. And if you're there on time, you will get a great seat in their small space.

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  • 0

    **WORST SERVICE EVER**
    We waited over 1.5 Hours for our food.  The waitress gave our group of 8 people a miniature plate of bread to share during the entire time--the same size a group of 2 would receive and never offered or brought more.
    When the food did come, only 4 of the 6 meals came out.  My meal was lukewarm, at best.  Some of us had nearly finished eating before others had even gotten their food.
    When we expressed our dissatisfaction, the waitress didn't offer to comp any dessert/drinks/appetizers....Instead (!) she forced us to pay 18% gratuity on what was obviously extremely poor service.  I left feeling Teranga went out of their way to make me feel unwelcome.

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  • 0

    This place is amazing. The food was delicious and the service was as good as American service gets.

    Appetizer: fataya. It is delicious!

    Entree: my friend got michoui and I got poisson braise. Both were amazing. Their sticky jasmine rice is delicious.

    Dessert: gateau genoise. The taste of rum is very strong in this.

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  • 0

    Everything has SOO MUCH flavor.  And not your typical run of the mill flavors.  Most things have interesting flavors that I have never experienced before.  It all began with the Ginger juice beverage - spicy, refreshing, and chock full of powerful ginger vibes.

    The appetizer portions were quite small, which resulted in the 4 star review but everything tasted excellent and was cooked well.  I highly recommend the whole fish entree.  Something about eating an entire animal makes me smile.  They do the fish right with a crispy skin and tender flesh.  It is stuffed with some kind of chutney which only adds to the experience.

    I think what Terranga gains from the most is being a block away from Toro (our original destination for the evening).  However, since Toro is always packed, Terranga deservedly gets the overflow.

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  • 0

    Excellent food. I had the lamb stew! I plan to come back many times. Ask for the pepper sauce!!!

    Pssss don't tell many people because once people discover this small place, it will be impossible to get it!

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  • 0

    I had been to Teranga on several occasions before deciding to have my wedding dinner there!  Marie-Claude and her awesome staff did a superb job that evening. The food was delicious, perfectly presented, and came out in a timely manner. Everything was as it was supposed to be that evening - nothing out of place. The staff did an excellent job decorating and managing the space available to us. The place was jammed full of my friends and family, and was amazing. Thank you so much to the staff at Teranga for making my wedding night simply fabulous!!!

    It should be noted that Marie-Claude designed an 8-course meal for that night. She worked with me over several iterations to make sure we had each course perfect. In addition to the meal segment, we also had a cocktail hour with four fabulous h'ordeuvres and two signature cocktails.  Again - perfection. The dinner courses included: grilled vegetarian salad, gazpacho, couscous, rib-eye, brussel sprouts, seafood dish, African rice, and cheese plate. I would go into detail on each of these courses, but I'd rather save my energy. Trust me: all of it was amazing.

    If you go on a regular night, you will find that the pace of the service is relaxed. Do not expect immediate and swift service - that is probably not what you will get. I personally enjoy the service at Teranga, but some people desire to have their every need met immediately when dining out. Go for the food, the insight into the Senegalese culture, and the award-winning dishes of Marie-Claude!

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  • 0

    What a lovely staff & a lovely evening!  After a long deliberation process (I'm a girl, after all), I picked Teranga for a surprise, intimate birthday dinner for my boyfriend.  The restaurant does not take reservations, due to the size, but the chef personally called me to assure me my friends should have a table as it's typically not so busy on Sundays during the summer.  I dropped the cake in the afternoon & the staff again assured me that they would do their best to ensure my party has a table before we arrive.
    I really loved the intimate & cozy ambience of the restaurant and the lively ethnic music in the background.  Our server (I wish I knew his name) was very friendly, attentive, but not obtrusive.  I liked that the menu had a great selection of vegetarian fare.  We ordered 2 bottles of wines and a few appetizers to start - Accara & Brochettes - both delicious!  The table ordered a variety from the main courses.  I was able to nibble on friends' dishes and everything was delectable.  I had Dibi and the meat was perfectly cooked, swimming in delicious flavors.  My other half had the national dish, Thiébou Djeun, also mouthwatering & full of flavor.  I tried the Brochettes de Poulet - while good, it was just a bit dry compared to everyone else's dish. The only hiccup was that a friend's entrée arrived when all of us were half way through our course.  I can overlook that since everything else was so perfect.  To top off the night, they turned the lights off and brought out the cake, which was very special.
    I enjoyed that this restaurant felt homely and comfortable.  It's definitely a great spot to get together with friends for some delish food & drinks, or an intimate date night.  Go try it out today!

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  • 0

    When it comes to drinks, the Bissap is where it's at! I know most people won't even order something without booze in it, but believe me, this is so much better than half the cosmos I've had! This sweet purple juice concoction is sweet as sugar but finds a familiar tang of fruit. Try it, believe me, it's love at first sip!

    I still recommend the Accara for an appetizer, but the soft Croquettes de Poisson with garlic and cilantro are another fishy option. I loved it, but try at your own risk - this is NOT for those who abhor the aquatic.

    Nothing quite tops the cracked jasmine rice in the Thiebou Yap, IMO, but the marvelous Michoui tastes as pretty as its name. Tender lamb that falls free from the shank before it even hits the table is a clear winner.

    Clearly Terenga still handles lamb like a pro. That meat just fell off the bone, and it went down so easily with a sweet swig of Bissap. I may live across the street from Toro, but sometimes I'll walk right by it for Terenga!

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  • 0

    Teranga is quickly becoming a favorite.

    There are not any other west african restos in boston so this place is a real treat. The atmosphere is homey yet chic and the servers are attentive. The food is delicious!
    The first time I went we started with the fish cakes. For main courses, I had the dibi and my friend had the mafe. The fishcakes were tasy and The dibi was incredible! It was the best meal I'd had in recent memory. The lamb was succulent and the spices were flavorful but subtle. The mafe was equally impressive with wonderful spices and the most beautiful bed of jasmine rice.

    The second visit to Teranga was not as impressive as the first. My friend had the Thiébou Djeun, which is a Senegalese mainstay, but it was a bit dry and the seasons were just OK. I had the Yap which was very tasty. The flavors were nice although I found the lamb to be a bit overcooked. Still, all in all a good meal.

    We also had the ginger juice which was spicy but definitely something different and fun.

    Because I'm still reveling in the first visit, Teranga gets four stars. I will definitely be going back.

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  • 0

    Went there for a quick pre-shopping lunch after stumbling upon its website. Senegalese food? Don't mind if I do! The restaurant is small, homey, with just the right about of Senegalese decor. It isn't campy, which I appreciate. The restaurant was pretty empty, and the server was attentive but gave us space to enjoy our meal.

    I had the Mafe, which is a lamb and vegetable stew. Filling, comforting, and full of warm spices, the stew put a kick in my step on a cold Boston day. The portion was perfect with a nice cup of jasmine rice on the side.

    Definitely warrants a return!

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  • 0

    Swung by with my in-laws last weekend to celebrate the big 4-0. Small but very cute space. Waitress extremely nice and seemed really interested in making sure she understood what we were looking for in our Senegalese meal. Appetizers were fantastic: we split the fataya, which is a fish stuffed puff pastry thing, the spring rolls, and the fish cakes in garlic sauce. My entree was a little less delicious. I got the chicken skewer, which was ok, but a little dried out, though the Jasmine rice was delicious. My mother in law got the fish and said it wasn't so good, though she didn't specify.

    Overall it was a good, but not great, experience. I think I'd go back, but it wouldn't be my first choice.

    Also, right after we got there our waitress dropped a tray of glasses all over the floor near the kitchen. Twenty minutes later, it happened with a different waiter. Either the floor is slippery, or we have bad karma. Weird.

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  • 0

    My husband and I live in the South End and absolutely love trying new restaurants. We consider ouselves to be foodies. We tend to critique our meal during and after, and may have even thought about starting our own website for Boston restaurant ratings:)
    We tried Teranga in January 2012 and LOVED it. The food was delicious -- very comfort food-esque. Flavorful, hearty, and down-right great! I recommend the Mafe (traditional Senegalese dish) --- if you enjoy lamb you should definitely try this. The only reason I didn't give Teranga a 5-star rating is because the service was so-so (took them quite a long time to take our drink orders or to even come over and greet us at our table), and the front door kept being left open and the place was pretty drafty -- they need to get one of these entrance-protector things for cold weather.
    Overal, I highly recommend Teranga.

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  • 0

    Very cute! I had the fish cake appetizer, ginger juice, and mafu. All things were good, and nothing especially spicy (I'm a spice pansy). The ginger juice did have a kick but that was part of the charm. They have some Vietnamese food options on their menu which I thought was really cool.

    The chef (Marie Claude) came out to speak to us--she was really sweet! The vibe is chill and the restaurant is dimly lit--very date friendly. Prices are reasonable. Recommend.

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  • 0

    Charming Charming Charming.....in every aspect!  The atmosphere: cozy and comfortable!  The food: fantastic!  Chef/Owner Marie-Claude Mendy as well-put together, humble and charming as she was on Food Network's Chopped!  I must admit, ending a meal having a lovely conversation (and taking pics with...) Marie-Claude was simply wonderful!

    Our waitress was friendly and personable.  She added to the comfortable, welcoming atmosphere.

    Dinner:

    Starters:

    I enjoyed the fish cakes (Croquettes de poisson) were light and nicely flavored.  The cilantro+garlic sauce was a nice, fresh addition.

    The shrimp skewers (Brochettes de Crevettes) had just the right amount of kick.  The jumbo shrimp were perfectly grilled!

    The fried black eyed pea batter (Accara) left much to be desired. There was a hinted flavor of black eyed peas but the 'fritter' itself was dry and not too appealing.  The tomato-onion sauce added the intrigue the dish was missing.  It was tangy and packed a bit of a kick.

    Entree:

    The grilled tilapia (Yassa Djeun) was out of this world and left us picking over the bones of the carcass!  I LOVE a whole fish (head and all)!

    The National Dish (Thiébou Djeun) was a beautiful dish!  The King fish was perfectly cooked, especially for such a hearty fish...it was not dried out as it easily could have been.  The description of 'herb-stuffed' however was bit ambitious. Though it was seasoned very well, the actual herb 'stuffing' was sparse.  The broken jasmine rice and stewed veggies(cabbage, pumpkin, etc.) were fantastic.

    Dessert:
    We ordered the beignets.  One of my dinner companions is from NOLA..these were like no other beignets I've ever had.  They were more so like doughnut holes.  They were moist and the crème anglaise sauce was great.

    I washed all of this down with a glass of ginger juice!.

    Just what the South End ordered!

    This place is definitely on my list of top 10 spots for gastric satisfaction!

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  • 0

    One of the worst meals I have ever had for the price I paid:  Including tip, for two people, I spent $55, not including the $40 parking ticket I got from a sneaky meter maid.

    ATMOSPHERE:  Adequate.
    SERVICE: Inattentive and later, when I complained about one of the desserts, defensive -- tried to blame me for not understanding "African" food when I stated that a creme brulee should not be a lukewarm thick soupy mess underneath the caramelized crust.
    FOOD:  TERRIBLE.

    I have eaten grasshoppers in Uganda, live ants from the tree and chicha (manioc drink fermented by saliva) in Ecuador, and ant eggs in Mexico.  I also have friends who are Senegalese and have enjoyed their cooking.

    Teranga simply sucks.

    (1) Bissap juice :  This is simply hibiscus flower juice.  Very good, but hibiscus juice is always good.
    (2) Bouye (baobab) juice:  First time I've had this, and it was very good.
    (3) Bread:  Slightly stale thin toasted sourdough bread with some kind of brown oily thin soupy sour onion-based dip.  Not good.
    (4) Fataya:  Deep fried triangular fish pastries, like small empanadas.  Flavorful with a creamy sriracha-accented sauce.

    Now comes the gastronomic horror:

    (5) Thiebou Djeun:  If you are going to represent this as the national dish of Senegal, then you'd better pull off a fantastic dish.  ** It was horrible. **  For the quality and quantity, way overpriced at $15.

    ---  Fish:  Supposedly "herb stuffed."  I didn't see any herbs in the very small cut we received.  Notably, friends of the owner, who were seated next to us, received HUGE portions.  We only got an approximately 5 inch x 2 inch cut of dried-out thick white fish with lots of bones and a distinctly fishy (ie, not fresh) odor.
    --- Broken rice: Decently flavored with the cooking sauce.  But how could someone screw up rice?
    --- Veggies: Count one small chunk of carrot, one bite of eggplant, one bite of cassava, one medium cauliflower floret, one bite of pumpkin, and some flecks of cabbage.  There was not enough veggies to even get a sense of how they contributed to the dish.  (Of course, the owner's friends next to us got heaping portions.)

    (6) Mafe:  A lamb stew with meat featuring a lot of gristle and way heavy, gamey flavor, swimming in an oily ground nut (AKA peanut) sauce.  My husband had to keep spitting out gristle, whereas I just gave up and swallowed it.  Portion?  Could not have been more than one commercial-sized ladle.  We're talking TINY for $14.

    (7) Thiacry:  Advertised as a thin pudding with couscous, tropical fruit, and raisins, it came to us at room-temperature, with the "couscous" tough, grainy -- essentially undercooked.  I suspect the grain was not the Middle Eastern couscous that I am familiar with, as the pudding -- really just a thin sauce -- featured dark brown chewy kernels.  I've seen a similar dark brown grain, whose name escapes me, in pan-African groceries.  While this dessert was passable, we were not given any tropical fruit, even though I asked straight-up for the whole shebang.  When an ingredient is labelled optional on the menu, as the tropical fruit was, then are you automatically opted in or out?  Confusing.  The four raisins did not cut it.  The entire thing did not cut it for $6.

    (8)  Creme rose:  Described as a sorrel-flavored creme brulee, this dish was horrendous.  We broke through the caramelized crust only to find a room-temperature thick soupy pink mess.  I was certainly NOT going to pay $6 for this, and so after some effort, I successfully flagged down the waitress.  I told her that creme brulee is supposed be like soft-set custard or flan, not some thick soupy mix.  She then lectured me about how I have to realize this is AFRICAN food, and is different from what I may be used to.  I then told her that I have Senegalese friends, that I know that the French colonized Senegal and left a legacy of French-influenced food, and that when someone says "creme brulee", they likely mean a soft-set custard or flan with a caramelized crust, not this mockery.

    Simply because this is a Senegalese restaurant (and please, people, do not refer to Teranga as an African restaurant -- Africa is a continent, not a country), does not mean it is exempt from clear-eyed criticism.  Those who wax eloquent about the food here, including the New York Times and the Boston Globe, blind themselves with their desire to be hip, cool, and PC ("I had Senegalese food and it was the bomb!").  Saying Teranga is bad is NOT the equivalent of saying all Senegalese food is bad, or that Senegal is bad.  I've had great Senegalese food, and Teranga is NOT it.

    Bad food is bad food, and the chef's ethnicity is irrelevant.

    Review Source:
  • 0

    I am a picky eater, and ambience-wise, hard to impress. Teranga is soaring in the charts on both accounts.

    DRINKS:
    My date and I started off with drinks. He had the Grimbergen double (Belgium) which was delicious. I thought it tasted mildly like horehound. I got the Bissap juice, which was a taste explosion in and of itself. Made of hibiscus flower, tinted with extract of vanilla, and combined with pineapple juice, this was a juice from heaven.

    FOOD:
    Oh, the food, glorious food.

    For an appetizer: Accara (fried black eyed peas with a tomato-onion sauce). Superb, even for my non-vegetarian friend.

    For an entree: my date got Michoui: marinated roasted lamb shank (falling off the bone) served with a caramelized onion sauce and Moroccan couscous. When they say "falling off the bone" they are not kidding. The waitress even gave him the nod of approval to have literally stripped the bone of its contents. Tender enough that no knife was needed. It was a beautiful piece of meat.

    For the vegetarian: I got Couscous aux Legumes, which was cauliflower, cabbage, sweet potatoes, white potatoes, green bell peppers, carrots and onions in a spiced sauce (tasted like cardamom) served over couscous. I had enough to bring home and have a meal today.

    No dessert for us, but only because we were full and content as we were.

    The bill was reasonable, the location was fantastic, the atmosphere was cozy and quiet, the service was impeccable (totally willing to give recommendations, too!), and even the music was something I could listen to for hours (another thing I'm picky about).

    I recommend this place with as many upward facing thumbs as possible.

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  • 0

    We went to Teranga on Valentine's day to avoid the crowds at some other restaurants. We've been meaning to try it since it opened but never got around to it. The atmosphere was nice, I really liked the music selection, but the seats were a little close.

    The food was good but the flavors were Americanized (understandably after reading some of the reviews). The Thieb was missing tamarind, the mafe needed some okra, and the thiakry wasn't sour. They were all still good as they were, but not quite like they should be.

    If you're looking to try more authentic tasting Senegalese try little Senegal in New York- but be prepared, authenticity isn't always for the feint of heart.

    Review Source:
  • 0

    I have visited Teranga twice - the first visit being stellar and the second visit being mediocre.

    Honestly... I was blown away on my first visit. Granted the service was EXTREMELY slow but the friendliness of the server counteracted this somewhat. Any qualms I had about the service dissipated when my (lamb/pork? I don't recall) chops hit the table. They looked divine and their taste lived up to their presentation. The medley of spices was heavenly: flavorful with a spiciness that was not all heat but had complexity. The wine that I ordered complemented my dish and all was well.

    On the second visit, I ordered the same dish.... yet it was completely different. Not as breathtaking, simply ok. My friends were also underwhelmed by the cuisine, stating that it was simply so-so. The one constant was the service though.

    All in all, very cute place. I'd return when I had plenty of time to spare and with the hopes of having an experience akin to my first visit.

    Review Source:
  • 0

    Positives: The Michoui (a lamb stew served over couscous) and fataya (kind of like a fish filled empanada appetizer) were flavorful and well-cooked.  And, the restaurant was clean and nicely decorated.  Plus, I don't think you can get Senegalese food elsewhere in Boston.  Overall, it has the potential to be a nice and unique place if they clean up the negatives (particularly the odd method of seating customers!).

    Negatives:  The fish portion of the national dish, Tiebou Djeun, was very, very dry, but judging from the reviews, perhaps it was intended to be so?  I wouldn't recommend getting this.  Service and especially seating is very off-putting:

    When we (a table of 2) walked in at ~6 PM on a Saturday night, we were needlessly seated adjacent to the only occupied table in the restaurant while the rest of the place (~15 tables) remained empty.  Seeing as the tables have only about a foot of space between them, this arrangement seemed a bit strange and made dinner conversation awkward.  Even more, when the guy at the occupied table left, we were then asked to scoot over to his table.  And when another table came in, they were seated at our previous table.  When they asked if it was possible to move a couple of tables down, they were told no and that the tables were being saved in case a big table came in that night.  Alas, no big tables (or any other tables for that matter) came in by the time we headed out -- but this strange seating policy has lost Teranga two potential repeat customers.

    Some friendly advice to Teranga: please pay more attention to the comfort of the customers you've already managed to get in the door rather than saving space for potential customers that may never show up.

    Review Source:
  • 0

    I walk along Washington Avenue (ish)
    I never thought I'd see a Senagalese restaurant
    See a Senegalese restaurant

    With an old-style storefront
    The kind of menu that hypnotized me through
    Hypnotized me through

    And I tried
    I tried so hard to like this place
    And I tried
    I tried so hard to like this place
    I couldn't like this place.

    Maybe Yelp raised my expectations
    I expected more than just brown lamb stew
    More than brown lamb stew

    The spring rolls (Nems) were actually really good
    Delicious but way more roll than meat
    Way more roll than meat

    And I tried
    I tried so hard to like this place
    And I tried
    I tried so hard to like this place
    I couldn't like this place

    The dessert was kinda drab
    Some donuts that were good not great
    They were good not great

    I didn't find service slow at all
    But it was awkward and kind of unfriendly
    Kind of unfriendly

    And I tried
    I tried so hard to like this place
    And I tried
    I tried so hard to like this place
    I couldn't like this place

    Review Source:
  • 0

    The most important thing you need to know: This place is slow. Very, very slow. Do not come here (esp. with a large group) expecting to be out in under 2 hours. It just won't happen.

    I actually find that I only ever experience such extraordinarily slow paces at authentic, "ethnic" restaurants like Muqueca or Chicago's Bolat. Must have something to do with a small staff and everything being prepared from scratch. Teranga might be the slowest restaurant I've ever been in, but luckily, the food is worth it.

    Thanks to our large party, I was able to sample many dishes. Highlights are definitely the Mafe (hearty lamb stew, absolutely delicious), Thiebou Djeun (national dish, good if you like fish), the tomato sauce of the Accara and the national dessert whose name I forget but is served in a glass.

    Being Boston's only Senegalese (and one of Boston's only African) restaurants, Teranga is definitely worth a visit if you can clear a few hours in your calendar. Though the food takes forever to come out, the service is actually great (our waitress was so friendly) and the restaurant is sleek, clean and beautiful, with exposed brick and dark tones.

    Review Source:
  • 0

    My roommate said it best: "If the meals were $2-3 less expensive, this would be a home run."  So, this is really a 5-star review....if I weren't paying massive tuition right now.  

    Service was excellent.  Cheerful & knowledgeable.  
    Atmosphere is classy, hip, and quaint all at the same time.  We sat at the bar b/c there wasn't a free table (on a Sat night).
    Food was exquisite.  Two great entrees.  One great app. One average one (free pass). Even the beers were interesting & $5/ea.  

    If I return once more & it's consistent, I'm gonna sack up, pay the check happily, and give Teranga one more star.

    Review Source:
  • 0

    Senegalese cuisine is by far the most interesting and well developed of West African cuisine, drawing from african, french, and portuguese influences.  

    I have visited Senegalese restaurants in New York and Paris, as well as in Senegal itself, and was very excited when I heard we finally had our own restaurant in Boston.

    I wasn't disappointed.  As many have written, Teranga is cozy and warm with exposed brick and subtle African artwork on the walls.  Our waiter greeted us and brought out this amazing savory dipping oil and bread.  My wife ordered the Tiebu djen (spelling?) which is the national dish, consisting of cracked rice slow cooked in tomato sauce/peanut oil/garlic sauce, accompanied by firm white fish, manioc, carrot.  It was very good but I would have preferred to have it served with fresh hot peppers as Ive had it before.  I ordered the Chicken Yassa, which is roasted chicken breast smothered in peppery caramilized onion reduction.  Our son had the steak skewers, which he enjoyed immensely.

    We didnt try the deserts.  The beer list was interesting, including a Haitian beer which I've never seen before on local menu.

    Contemporary Senegalese music (Yousou Ndour) played at a nice volume.

    Beyond the food, the best part of the experience was the proprietress, Marie Claude.  She came out and spent a delightful 15 minutes with us after our meal, talking about her approach to food and her mission to bring her native culture to Boston.

    Review Source:
  • 0

    My husband sucked the eyes out of the fish head on my plate.  He's a gross human being.  How often do you find a restaurant brave enough to provide their diners with a whole fish?  Bones and all?  That's usually a Chinatown adventure.  And I wish more places would do it- it makes a huge difference on flavor.  My tilapia was actually flavorful- and not just mushy white stuff on plate, which is usually how it comes out.

    Teranga's menu is unique.  Definitely unlike anything else in Boston.  The two times I've been there have been successful endeavors.  I suppose the service might be a tad slow, but I was having such a good time with my fellow dining companions it didn't bother me.  

    Husband had the Mafe- a lamb stew- and raved about it.  Other diners at the table enjoyed the Brochette and another lamb dish, name of which escapes me at the moment.  Appetizers were the fayata (I think- the pastry filled with fish) and poisson croquettes.  Only issue with those: only three pieces per app- hard to split with a table of four.  Or even with a table of two.  Have also had the little black-eyed pea balls- the sauce they come with is amazing.  

    And definitely try their juices- the ginger drink is divine.  I just wish they had some vodka to throw in there. Ah, the trouble with Boston's archaic and puritanical alcohol licensing laws.  At least they have a lovely, well-priced wine list to more than make up for it.

    Oh- and the decor?  It's understated, lovely, very south end- exposed brick and all.  But what makes it more impressive?  The previous inhabitant of this location was a nasty, nasty, nasty Chinese take out place- complete with bulletproof glass that charged you 25 cents for chopsticks and 10 cents per crappy duck sauce packet.  No joke.  It was seriously ugly.

    Review Source:
  • 0

    I'd never tried Senegalese food, and I'm always looking to expand on my collected foodie experience, so Teranga excited me.  We were seated promptly, and the service seemed okay... at first.

    Two dreadful mishaps took place that evening.

    (1) The appetizers took almost an hour and a half to arrive.  Our server was nowhere to be found, and finally she came to our table to inform us that there was a problem with the printer in the kitchen, and that our order was never actually received.

    (2) The main dishes finally arrived, and my food came with chunks of eggplant between each piece of steak on the skewer.  I'm terribly allergic to eggplant, and this ingredient was not identified on the menu.

    To Teranga's credit, a manager did come to the table and ask if she could get me something else.  Turns out that dish is premade, and everything had been in contact with eggplant.  Given the amount of time it took to get our food, I opted for nothing at all, and listened to my tummy rumble as my friends finished their meals.

    There are, though, some positive things to be said about Teranga...

    The food smelled fantastic, and the appetizers were great.  They have a vegetarian menu (you just have to ask for it).  Also, the ambience is fantastic, although the tables are awfully close together.

    Review Source:
  • 0

    Once in a while, if you're lucky enough, you happen upon a restaurant (be it by chance or research) that delivers an experience that mirrors sitting in the home of a family friend, eating their family's home-cooked food and sharing stories, laughter and good company.

    Teranga is just such a place.

    Nestled on the unmistakable corner of Washington and Mass Ave, tucked in next to Cru, Teranga is Boston's only Senegalese restaurant. Translating into 'hospitality,' Teranga is the creation of Marie-Claude, the owner and proprietor, a welcoming, genuine woman who is a South End local. During our meal, she came over to ask where we were from, because she did not recognize us as one of her regular customers. She later brought out our entrees and let us know that, being a new establishment, they were open to suggestions...she would love our honest opinion. We chatted about the food, her dream of opening the restaurant, how people often mis-pronounce her name and just anything that came up!

    The food was packed full of flavor, yet simple and delicious. There were really spicy notes here and there, which would occasionally surprise my taste buds, and then blend back in with the more subtle elements. We tried the Pinotage (a South African wine blend of Meritage and Pinot Noir), the nems, the whole Tilapia, the Dibi lamb and the Beignets. Marie-Claude even brought out a sampling of her favorite dessert, simply because we were new to her restaurant and she insisted we try it, as it was a traditional Senegalese dish! It was a creamy yogurt-like dish with couscous and chunks of mango, flavored with vanilla and some lighter spices. I contemplated licking the bowl.

    For four drinks, an appetizer, two entrees, a dessert, coffee and tea, the bill, with a generous tip, came out to $100, a welcome bottom line for the South End and a steal, in light of the hospitality, atmosphere and service.

    I am looking forward to going back to visit Marie-Claude and sample more of her delicious, homemade cooking!

    Review Source:
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