"Located in Harlem’s Little Senegal, the name Pikine refers to the prosperous farmland that lies to the east of the Senegalese capital of Dakar. The cooking of owner Amadou Ba reflects this lushness, with a thiebou djeun made from bluefish that offers a spectacular six vegetables and sports red rice nicely crusted from the bottom of the pan. The peanut sauce called mafe is shot with okra, which ramps up the slipperiness. Go at lunch for classic Senegalese cuisine and the occasional Gambian dish; at dinner, the menu turns to North Africa and France for inspiration." - Robert Sietsema