Cafe d’Afrique, 137 Nicholson Street, Footscray

Cafe d’Afrique is renowned for the being the first African coffee shop in Footscray.

Proprietor Faisel Pkesy reckons it’s also the first African business of any kind in this neighbourhood – and who am I to argue?

Keen Footscray watchers will know that Cafe d’Afrique was closed for what seemed like ages.

But – oh, joy! – Faisel and his wonderful enterprise are back.

There’s new artwork on show, but the welcome and the food remain the same.

Faisel says he may introduce a menu once things settle down a bit.

But, heck, we like the no-menu set-up.

We’re not the only ones who wander in here and say: “What’s on?”

 

 

For Bennie and I, that means a gloriously rich lamb key wot – that terrific gravy is made without tomatoes.

Bennie has his with rice.

 

 

I have mine with injera.

There are some bones in the lamb, but the meat is fall-apart tender and delicious.

We each also get a serve of an equally scrumptious okra stew, also with lamb.

 

 

As well, we  are provided a side bowl of a beaut lentil stew and …

 

 

… matching crisp, fresh salads.

The price of our lunches is $15 apiece – that seems to be the going rate for everything here, no matter what choices or configuration you go with.

The coffee, of course, is excellent.

And that costs $3.